Page 16 of His Human Librarian

Chapter 6

Taylor

Iwake up the next morning and my mouth tastes like dry sandpaper. Ugh. I rub at my eyes. The time difference between Gravian and Tarvos must be getting to me.

A cleaning bot rolls past and I squeak with surprise. It's black, shiny and kind of cute. There was one just like it yesterday when I first arrived at the ranch.

It beeps pleasantly.

“Good morning,” I grumble, and sit up and rub my face. Then I look down, confused, because I slept in my clothes. I’m still dressed in a pink tube top and a dark pencil skirt. My shoes are off, but I don’t remember taking them off myself. How did this happen?

“Oh no, I didn’t…” All the embarrassing memories from last night come flooding back. Did I take shots of alcohol with my boss last night? I did. I so did. Jeez. I plop back down on the pillow with my hand on my forehead.

I remember everything I said and did last night in the library with Sten and him lifting me in his arms. He started to carry me upstairs, but that's where my memories end.

Now I've screamed and fainted in front of Sten Sandstone and then got completely drunk and overshared all in the same day.

I sit up again and throw my legs over the side of the bed which is a bit too tall for me. I slide off the side to stand barefoot on the cold stone floor. Then I march over to the bathroom to do my business. Afterwards I wash my hands in the sink and stare at myself in the mirror. At least I still look good, in a wild, messed up way.

Part of me thinks last night was a lot of fun. He listened to my lengthy apology and we had a bit of a drinking contest. We talked a lot when he gave me the extensive tour of his family’s library. It was enjoyable spending time with a relaxed Sten Sandstone acting in what I assume was his normal personality.

And I loved, loved visiting his private library and receiving what I consider the VIP tour. It was an amazing space with a stone fireplace, ebony wood chairs and leather couches. And there were row upon rows of ancient print books. It was like the most fantastical library, something out of a vid show or a book I'd read.

Usually, I'm always in modern buildings around lab equipment. I do get to go to the source, touch and share ancient texts. But usually, if we've been called it's usually after a natural disaster happened, and we're there to try and recover artifacts. I am not the person who gets to go to any of the fancy dinners off planet. We do have fundraisers but again, they're at the main building, modern, a little bit cold. And when I grew up on New Earth was a giant ghetto until we were rescued by the Xylans and then helped with nation building by the Gravians. Everyone was very quick to demolish old, dilapidated buildings and build new and modern.

Whenever we go off planet, I always stay with the other staff in some mobile unit or cram into shared quarters on a transport ship.

This means I’m always in awe of old buildings and the ancient text that I restore. Old dwellings that are still livable and being used by present occupants who repair and care for what they have for future generations is something I find special.

The uncomfortable clothes from last night that I slept in are removed and I put everything, including the underwear, into the wall unit.

The bathroom is small but spectacular and it looks brand new. Behind the door, on a peg, is a white bathrobe. I put it on, worrying at first it will be too small, but it’s almost too big. I tie the robe around my waist, walk into the closet to get my slippers, and then I return to the bedroom.

I feel like a princess while on this mission, getting a room to myself in a mansion on a paradise planet. Yes, all the inhabitants look like Satan, but I’m getting over that part quickly.

The cleaning bot is busy vacuuming up the floor. I glance at my tablet, which is still on my nightstand. I pick it up and see some messages from the Head Librarian wanting an update.

Nothing from Sten. Well, this could be because we haven’t exchanged contact info. The whole time I spent with him yesterday and last night, not once did we make sure that we could directly get in touch with each other. And we have a lot of work to do today.

Ooh, there’s a drink service on the table by the window. I sit down and see a whole tray set up with Traq. There are mugs and lots of choices for additions. The bot started the fire again, so there’s a crackling fireplace and the curtains to the windows are now all open.

“Thank you,” I tell the bot.

It beeps pleasantly while making my bed for me.

It's still dark outside, but the suns are trying to rise, causing the sky to streak a dark purple, allowing me to see the outline of the mountain range. This pleases me, because I'm a morning person. I usually like to be up before the sun on any planet that I'm on.

I spend time making my hot Traq exactly as I like and start feeling much better. “Okay, time to get going.” Then I tap on my tablet, getting my mind ready for the day.

Afterwards, I decide to use the cleansing unit again, only because it's so high tech it takes minutes. The robe goes back on the peg and I get in the unit and I'm done in minutes. There are so many other options, but I do the quick and fast blow, which dries my skin and moisturizes it perfectly. Luckily there’s a universal preset on the cleansing unit for hair, so I choose a sleek blowout again.

Finally, I step out and use the mouth cleanser. Then I pause to apply a light amount of makeup. The weather is again gorgeous today. There are more tube tops available to me than the one I chose last night for the dress. I go ahead and I put on another one.

Whose tops are these?

Are they for company, or does Sten have a girlfriend? I look around. Is this where his girlfriend usually stays? I frown. This idea bothers me more than I'd like to admit.

I get dressed in dark green hiking pants and a pale green top. I put on my boots and my outside gear. Then I do another turn in front of the full-length mirror, letting me see my thick thighs and waist and that persistent roll in my back that refuses to go away. But on the other hand, I think I still look cute, which today seems more important than ever considering I’ll most likely spend the day with the mysterious and sexy Sten Sandstone. I want to look for him.

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