Page 39 of Kidnapped from the Paradise Resort

“Oh,thereyou are—I thought I heard voices out here.” It was Gaela, coming out of her room. She gave Kara a friendly smile. “How are you doing, sweetie? Wasn’t that massage spectacular?”

“It was pretty unforgettable,” Kara admitted, feeling her cheeks get hot. “Actually, I was just going to take a bath to rinse some of the oil off,” she added, wanting to get back into her suite.

“Oh, don’t do that!” Gaela exclaimed. “The oil they use here in the Relaxation Grotto is special. It’s meant to soak into your skin and make it extra soft!”

“Really?” Kara said. “Well, in that case, I guess I’ll just watch something on the entertainment screen.”

“Why not come watch something with me?” Gaela offered. “I just got a bottle ofHopolawine and I really shouldn’t drink it all myself.”

“Well…” Kara hesitated. She had just promised J’orn to stay exclusively in her own suite. But it wasn’t like she’d be alone with someone she didn’t know. She and Gaela were friends—well, friendly acquaintances, at least.

“If you’re worried about Nono, he’s gone right now,” Gaela said, misinterpreting her hesitation. “I’m sorry—I know my, erteasinggets a little annoying at times.”

“Oh no—that’s not…I mean, I don’t mind…it’s not a big deal,” Kara said quickly, stumbling over her words. She supposed her new friend’s exhibitionist ways ought to upset her more, but honestly she felt so free here at the Fem Lovely Resort. It had kind of a Vegas vibe—like what happened on Paradise Prime stayed on Paradise Prime.

“Pleasecome over then,” Gaela begged, pouting prettily. “I hate being lonely—we’ll drink the wine and make some delicious snacks in the Thought-cooker and watch the trashiest thing we can find on the Love Channel. What do you say?”

“Well…all right,” Kara agreed. She felt a small twinge of conscience as she shut the door to her suite. But really, where was the harm? It wasn’t like she was leaving the resort—she was only going across the hall to hang out with her friend.

“Oh, goody!” Gaela clapped her pretty pink hands together and gestured for her. “Get in here! This wine isn’t going to drink itself!”

Kara smiled and followed her friend into her suite. She loved a good girl’s night and at least she didn’t have to worry about watching Gaela “tease” Nono. They were just going to have wine, snacks, and trashy TV.

She was sure everything would be just fine.

23

KARA

“So this wine is fromHopolaFive and they’re renowned through the whole galaxy for their vineyards,” Gaela said as she poured the dark green liquid into two large crystal goblets. She didn’t stop at half a glass but poured until the wine almost reached the rim. “It’s so fruity and delicious! Just wait until you try it. Oh, but first we have to get some snacks!”

“Sounds good to me—what do you want to make?” Kara asked, walking over to the Thought-cooker.

“Oh, would you be a sweetheart and make some of those paked botatoes like the one you had the other night?” Gaela asked.

“You mean baked potatoes?” Kara asked, grinning. “Sure. And then maybe you can make us a snack from your home world too.”

“I know just the thing—I’ll make you snaglefruss!” Gaela exclaimed. “Oh, it’s so crispy and creamy and delicious. But you concentrate on those potaboes first.”

Kara didn’t bother correcting her again. She just pressed the suction cup to her temple and pictured two perfect baked potatoes with butter and sour cream. For good measure, she added some cheese, chives, and bacon on the side. If a regular baked potato got Gaela excited, a loaded one was probably going to blow her mind!

They got settled on the couch with their wine and snacks—(“snaglefruss” turned out to be a kind of fried dough with a creamy topping and specks of crunchy root veggies that tasted like fried onions to Kara)—and turned on the entertainment screen.

“Now while I’m looking for something good, try the wine,” Gaela instructed.

“Oh, okay.” Kara took a sip and swished the dark green wine around in her mouth. It started out fruity and light but then it had a strange, slightly bitter aftertaste she noted.

“Now tell me what you think—isn’t’ it delicious?” Gaela asked, smiling as she picked up a piece ofsnaglefrussand popped it into her mouth.

“Mmm, it’s really good,” Kara agreed. She didn’t like to complain about the bitter aftertaste since her friend was so proud of the wine. She even took another sip to be polite and then wished she hadn’t. The bitterness was more than just an aftertaste now—it was actually making her lips go numb and tingly!

“Go on, drink up!” Gaela urged, nodding for her to take another sip.

Kara sat the drink down instead.

“Um, I think maybe I better eat something first,” she said. “I can’t keep drinking on an empty stomach.”

“Oh nonsense—how are we going to get good and drunk if we don’t work at it?” Gaela demanded, grinning at her. “Try one more sip—the third sip is when it really kicks in.”

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