Page 28 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
“Same with Augo. It was centuries ago when we arrived, but we changed. The brine is in our veins, and the water is part of us. Client worlds enrich our culture, and we want to embrace our watery home.” His eyes narrowed as he stared. “Although, seeing you dripping wet is a nice bonus.”
There was the temptation to say ‘You know this is just for show’ but I stayed silent. Either I didn’t want to be hurtful, or something else prevented me. My gaze went out, and images of Nate flickered in my head, but the visual of him under the water weren’t memories. I was seeing this in real time thanks to my little friend.
Tiny was based on my brain patterns, but our connection went deeper than that. I couldn’t keep Nate to the side like a discarded pile of clothes. I wasn’t sure what he deserved, but exchanging one cell for another didn’t seem right, or it wasn’t my call. Although to be honest, I think it was an easier way for me to ‘talk’ to him. I didn’t need to be around him if he had a copy of me.
“Caan?”
Heat flashed over my face. “Sorry, I was somewhere else.”Deep in the ocean swimming with Tiny, Nate and their Ryba female guards.
The silver sphere landed on the docks, although from the crowd’s non-reaction, you could believe it was invisible. We were near an outdoor marketplace. The various carts and baskets with food and wares reinforced that. Thanks to their matter-creators, they didn’tneedto sell anything or live a certain way, but Graden had a point. Sleek and crystal didn’t fit the ‘energy’ I saw in the group. No matter where I looked there were smiles, broad gestures, and laughter.
Like with most Volardi worlds, I saw tall and thick Soturi men and the leaner Daras that were close to my build. There were no Omegas or Femeni visible. That didn’t mean they weren’t out only that I couldn’t see them. There was a time they weren’t allowed out of their homes. Graden said that time was no more.Guess me being out is proof?
Sprinkled throughout the busy crowd were short and wide grey-green Ryba males. Mouths full of teeth opened as they argued. A few had a pair of tall grey females at their side. That told me they were someone high up or at least prominent within Ryba or Volardi culture.
Graden’s voice drew out, and he picked up two tiny cylindrical tubes. “We use the gills, but they’ll use this. Pick two people from the crowd.”
There was a temptation to pick one of the Ryba, but I sensed he was trying to make a point and I shouldn’t ruin it. My finger pointed a tall Dara with slicked-back brown hair and high cheekbones. Purple specs went down his lean, tight body. I suspected he was a swimmer – all Augo men were – but he looked like he belonged in the water more than most. My eyes darted around until I found a redheaded muscular Soturi with biceps the size of thick tree branches. Back home we would have used him as a bar bouncer.
I pointed them out, and Graden whispered instructions to a silver orb each. Within a minute, it gave them the message before they both approached us with wide grins. I made it a point not to stare overtly as I studied, but the smiles seemed genuine. “My Liege!” they shouted in unison.
Graden stood tall, and his deep voice bellowed out. “It’s said the waters deep around Fedele Island has the rarest shells in all of Augo, including the golden-black ones. How would you like to come and pick one?” They were both grown men, but from the way they smiled, you’d almost think they were children on their birthday.
He gave them breathing tubes and waited while they readied themselves. Once done, we flew low over the ocean. I think we could have gone to the island faster, but we weren’t streaking across the waves like we normally did. Both men asked me where I was from and had questions about Earth I couldn’t answer beyond what the implant told. Graden asked about their families and what both men did for a living. The slimmer one – the Dara named Yil – baked pastries and the other – Kleh – forged ceremonial armor and weapons. Neither had a family since Femeni and Omegas were still rare. If there were one available, then they would have started one already. By some coincidence, they both lived in the same square on the outer ring of the city. My forehead furrowed and Graden’s dark hair and chiseled jaw lingered in my mind. This was just a deal so we could each get what we wanted. I wondered if I was cruel to him. My presence was reminding him of what he would neverreallyget – a family.
The ship rose, then hovered over a green island with two curved inward ‘horns’ on the left side. I assumed that’s where we would get the shells, and I was right.
“Kleh,” said Graden to the bigger one then turned to the smaller one, “Yil. Enjoy the brine and take whatever one shell each you find. I’ll be with my mate.”
We got ready, and the ship melted open from the top down once it got closer to the surface. Both men jumped in with a splash and swam to the left. We dove in the opposite direction.
The water sloshed around my ears and my hearing muted. It was several seconds of blinking before my vision resumed and I found myself in a valley of colorful coral while yellow light cast down. I pointed at tall green things that looked like underwater mushrooms. My hand went back and forth with minute bubbles as I tried to get Graden’s attention.
An electronic version of his voice rang in my ears. “There’s a better avenue of communication. Imagine speaking I’ll hear you.”
“Canthey?”
He touched the side of his ear. “Not anymore. Just you and I.”
I thought the gills were weird but so was this communication. It’s not like I was really talking. The implant translated the subconscious muscle movement into my speech. Just enough to make it sound like my New Texas accent but with a strange reverb.
Down we went deeper between two sheer cliffs. Graden took the lead, and I followed. In the past, that’s what Soturi and their mates did. Their sex decided, and the third sex followed; refusing out of spite didn’t seem practical. We turned the corner, and I mouthed a ‘wow’ at the white glowing crystals along the sheer cliff wall.
Fish with flippers and hard shells pivoted their three eyes while they ate seaweed from the wall. Orange glowing squares floated by quickly with no visible propulsion. Flat things that looked like lizards with membrane wings ‘flew’ in the ocean current. I heard people talk about being overwhelmed when underwater, but I don’t think I understood it until now. I was in no danger like I’d be in a saloon. All I had to do was enjoy it while my senses went on overload. “It’s beautiful,” I said.
Graden kicked as he floated in place between the cliffs. His purple eyes were darker here, but I felt them bore into me. “Yes…beautiful.”
Currents shimmied us into lazy curves while I kept my distance. I swallowed hard and heard a reverb in my head.
A few days ago, I had my life all planned out. Rescue Nate, get a measure of the man and decide what to do with him. No matter what, I’d go back to bounty hunting or die on an assignment. I didn’t think I’d be in an underwater valley with a cute Volardi man.
There’s nothing wrong with grabbing a little enjoyment out of life is there?
I stopped fighting the current, and it took me close to him. His hand went out, and he pulled me in. There in the blue-black water, we looked at each other while currents both cold and warm swirled around us. I couldn’t see, but my gills felt like they opened and closed as fast as his did. The red slices against tanned skin should look like a wound, but it either fitted him since we were on a water planet or because it was on him, it was fine. My eyes closed while my heart pounded. They opened again, and I leaned in while my lips glanced over him. Brine filled my mouth, but I still tasted him – almost like he overwhelmed the elements with his masculinity.
I didn’t have to consciously breathe. The gills gave me all the oxygen I needed while I concentrated on Graden. We drifted into a cold spot of water, and he held me tight as if giving me his own body heat. My eyes half-lidded while we slowly spun in the current. Glowing crystals, armored fish and things that looked like giant eels the length of several men darted by. I had no idea if they were dangerous. I could have asked the implant, but I trusted him.
It was a stupid romanticized thought, but it stayed.He’ll protect me.I knew I could handle myself, even without my weapons, but the idea of him doing it made me smile. My tongue plunged deeper within while he sucked back. His thick arms wrapped around tight while my fingertips pushed against his warm, hard, wet muscles. Within the watery swirls, I swam and ground my cock against his own. It was like him; big, thick and hard. I remembered what it looked like but every rut and ground gave me more of a mental map.
