Page 37 of Tempting Jupiter
“Safer?” She turned and headed up a steep, curving staircase.
Jupiter followed her, realizing as they went that it became almost a vertical spiral, taking them up to the next level.
“Safer for you,” he clarified.
“I see.” Her tone clearly conveyed her disapproval. “So, where are you going to go?”
The stairs opened into a corridor. The wall they faced was actually a pair of doors, etched with images of beasts he’d never seen before. One had a long horn on its snout and the other was a similar creature with wings sprouting from its back.
“Don’t laugh. I was sixteen when Roland had this done for me.”
It wasn’t laughter that sparked in his chest. “It’s beautiful. This Roland must value you highly.”
Feeona flashed him a wide smile. “He adored me.” There was no doubt in her statement.
Jupiter choked on the warmth in her voice for this man. “Will he return soon?” And if he did how would he react to the presence of two males?
Fee’s smile dimmed. “He died a few years ago. He was—” She shook her head then slid a finger in a strange pattern on a touch screen panel at the edge of one of the doors. “We were talking about where you’re headed next.”
The panels of the door slid apart to disappear into the corridor walls. He followed Fee into a room as large as the seating area where he’d left Sen. In this room, the walls were covered in a velvety fabric. An enormous pallet that had to be meant for sleeping dominated the space to the left. It was covered in soft fabrics in shades of gold. Feeona strode to the right where clothes hung from a long pole almost to the corner of the room. Shelves covered a three-meter stretch of the side wall. Everything from more clothes to shoes to things he didn’t have names for crowded the box-like spaces. Feeona stepped into a nook that started where the shelves ended, and her Bug flew up to the top shelf.
“I know you wish to leave here quickly, but—” Jupiter lost his words when Feeona slipped off her trousers and tossed them to the side. He was used to nudity. His life had allowed for no modesty, but the humans seemed to cling to their clothes like a good suit of armor.
“I know. I promised to find out about your pack brothers, and I will.” She pulled her shirt off over her head. “Actually, Alfred can help you get started while I’m out. Just explain it to him and he can search the public data logs for you.”
Much as he’d pictured it, her body was athletic with toned, lean muscles. She’d done nothing sexual but his body hardened at the sight. She faced the wall. He wanted her to turn so he could see her breasts, the folds of her sex. Holding back a growl of frustration, he forced words to form. “We still need to talk, as soon as you return.”
She pressed a hand against the wall and water flowed down over her body. “Absolutely.”
“Agreed.” It was all he could get out of his suddenly parched mouth. The water flowed down her body, stroking the muscles of her shoulders and trailing down her spine to her enticing ass. He wanted to grab her hips and bend her forward in search of the hot, wet channel that would squeeze his cock as he thrust into her.
“Great. We can brainstorm a bit when I get back.” She lifted her hair off her back and worked a sudsy substance into it.
The water pooling at her feet turned muddy as it circled a drain he hadn’t noticed. There was a lip in the flooring as well, keeping the water in the nook. As his gaze traveled back up her body he saw the caramel-colored streak the water had left along her skin. The unexpected sight held him transfixed as she worked the suds along her skin until she was a uniform tone all over. The water stopped and she pulled a cloth from some hidden compartment and wrapped it around her body.
She turned and stepped out of the space a different woman than she’d been before. The chemical tinge that had muddled her scent was gone—washed down the drain. Her hair was a darker shade. Her caramel skin was so perfect it made him think of the patron women who used creams and powders to get a similar look. Jupiter stepped closer. Unable to resist the call of her body, he traced the curve of one generous breast.
He lifted his head enough to meet her eyes. The green was gone. They were a warm brown that suited her natural appearance.
She seemed at ease. “I wish I had time, big guy.” She stretched up on tiptoes and offered her lips. He bent down to meet her and waited. She pressed her lips gently against his then spoke with her lips a breath away. “Maybe when I get back. After we talk.”
She eased back until she stood flat footed again.
Jupiter straightened. His heart thudded heavily. “When you get back.”
Chapter Sixteen
KaronaStation
EarthAllianceBetaSector
2210.150
In a corner of the station’s busy market sector, Fee stared at the impossible message. ACCOUNT TRANSACTION FAILED. The exchange with her buyer for Fitz’s nav maps had gone smoothly. She’d watched the trader transfer the payment to her account. She’d checked her account balance and it had all been there. So, why couldn’t she transfer the funds to her contact on Petro-5?
“Hey beautiful. Can I buy you a brew? Tavern’s open.”
The too close voice startled her.
