Page 28 of Space for More

“As your colleague and foremost expert on finding sexy aliens to bang on Spire, I must insist you let me help you. Yes, a brothel is a ‘safe’ option. But do you want your first time to be safe, Eden? I get the impression you want to experience something wild and new. Meeting a stranger at a club and having a night cycle of debauched sex—now that’s something you should try.” Just imagining what would’ve happened if I’d met Eden out at a club makes my pulse quicken.

From the dazed look on her face, I think Eden is having similar thoughts. “I guess you have a point…”

“It’s what I did when I first got to Spire. I was also a ‘virgin’—I still can’t get over how ridiculous a concept that is—when I ran away from home. Actually, that’s one of the reasons I left…” My mood sours at the memory.

“You ran away because you hadn’t had sex yet?” Eden asks, her brow furrowing. “Was it because you were scared to sleep with Phelix?”

“Hah! No.” I can’t hold back my scoff at the thought, but that’s present-day Mezli talking. Past Mezli…she was a different person. “Fine, I guess that’s one way of putting it. I was a ‘virgin’ and the thought of only sleeping with one person for the rest of my life scared me. Nexxit mates rarely take on other partners once they’ve fully bonded. It wasn’t anything to do with Phelix in particular—though he didn’t help matters by being a total ass when we met.”

As I speak, it hits me. I’ve spent the past four years blaming himfor why things didn’t work, casting him as the villain in my dramatic tale. But if I truly think about my decision to leave home, the seeds for that urge were planted long before we met. He was just the thing to push me over the edge.

In some ways, I should be grateful to Phelix. If he wasn’t such a jerk that night, I might still be back on Nexxa Itat, dying inside as I attended the same mind-numbing noble parties, pretending to be the perfect Princeps of House Frye.

Eugh. I grimace at the thought.

Eden places a hand on my shoulder and gives me a sympathetic smile. “You don’t have to talk about the past if it makes you uncomfortable. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to have your past thrown in your face, let alone having to seduce someone you never wanted to see again.”

I shake my head and pat the hand resting on my shoulder. Just feeling her hand on me soothes the scaredxalastill lurking inside me. “It’s not that. Phelix is…not as terrible as he could be. I just hate self-reflection and profound realizations. It’s much more fun to not think about how screwed up my mind is.”

“At least you’re aware that you do that. Although, I guess that on its own is a form of self-reflection…” Eden giggles as I deepen my frown for dramatic effect.

“So are we doing this tonight, or what?” I ask, eager to get back to the earlier subject and away from unpleasant thoughts.

“T-tonight?!” Eden asks, looking adorably flustered.

“If you wait, you’ll overthink it.” I wrap an arm around her shoulder and push her toward the door. “Come on. We’re going to my place to find you something to wear, and then we’re getting you laid!”

16

Itry in vain to pay attention as the wizened vuloi drones on about the practical applications ofdresmilexcretions, but my mind refuses to stay in the crowded conference hall. No, it’s still firmly focused on earlier events of the day.

Mezli’s scent of her release on her fingers as she greeted me at lunch.

Eden’s thick thigh as I tugged her skirt up.

Mezli’s tongue tangling with mine.

Eden’s flirtations and confession about remembering me during our comm conversation.

I’m so unfocused that I’d leave the lecture, but the last thing I need is for my peers to see the erections tentingmy pants and assume I’m turned on by talk of excretions. Goddess, I need to get myself under control. I came here to learn and network, not obsess overxalas. You’d think I was an adolescent first discovering his cocks.

My hand finds its way into my satchel, and I start the ritual of rearranging my datapads as surreptitiously as I can so I don’t disturb the other lecture attendees. I need order. If I can sort my things, I can sort my mind. After I’ve touched each pad, turned them off and on, and arranged them, I start to settle back into my rational mind. I sigh with relief as my cocks soften and retract.

That’s better. It’s time to remember why I came to Spire, because my professional reputation isn’t the only thing at stake. Maybe I can move up the meeting and get this nerve-wracking business settled.And then you’ll be free to have some fun…

Dammit, don’t think about them again.

I swipe into my comm and open the secure channel with my contact.

We need to move the drop-off up. Things have come up.

They don’t need to know those things are my cocks.

A few minutes pass before I get a reply.

Figure out your “things” on your own. The meet time is non-negotiable.

Don’t screw this up. People are counting on you.

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