Page 47 of Master
Just as I expected, at the mention of Tarook’s name, Atkins’ dark eyes glanced around nervously.
"Well, if you ladies need anything, I'm at your service." The mayor drew himself up to full height, which was still short, and issued a curt nod before walking away.
Mei’s relieved sigh caused us both to giggle.
"I'm on dessert table duty tonight. Want to help while you wait for Tarook?" Mei offered.
"I'd love to." Anything beat standing around and waiting for Atkins to pounce again. He might have skulked off into the shadows, but I could feel his eyes on me, slimy and hot.
For the next hour, I stayed near Mei at the dessert table, only venturing out to grab dinner for us. Everyone I met was kind and eager to help me settle on Tau Ceti. Especially some ofthe men. It was all I could do to keep from rolling my eyes at the overt attention.
Male attention was nothing new, although it had been years since I’d dealt with this much lewd gazes and lip licking. The type of attention where the men only see the outside without caring about what's inside. My blonde hair and curvaceous figure always garnered more of this kind of attention than I wanted, especially when I danced. Curtis was the only man who ever cared to look beyond my outside.
Until Tarook.
Despite our bizarre introduction, I knew Tarook truly saw me... and that feeling was sexier than all the gawks, whistles, and catcalls in the universe.
A small band made up of the alien versions of trumpet, guitar, bass and flute crowed onto the gazebo at the center of the village square. I served a rather pudgy young woman a second slice of cake as the music started. The sound was a croon of jazz and country tunes, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss when I spotted Buck near the casserole table and not on stage.
“Would you like to dance?”
I was so engrossed in Bartholomeus trying to woo Mei onto the dance floor that I hadn't noticed the man approach. He was tall and nice looking, with dark brown hair and green eyes. He might be a few years older than me, which meant shit if he'd been through the healer. Perhaps asking, 'What age are you really?' wasn't a faux pas on Tau Ceti.
“I’m sorry, I’m waiting for someone,” I said, even though deep down, I’d given up hope of Tarook appearing any time soon.
“Looks like he abandoned you,” the man said with a playful smile, and I felt my own lips curve upward in answer.
“I wouldneverabandon her.”
The growled words made me jump as Tarook stepped from the shadows, fury ingrained in his features.
“Tarook!” My voice was breathless at first from excitement, then from worry as he stepped around the table and all but chest bumped the human.
"Sorry, buddy." The man held his hands up and took a step back. "I didn't mean any harm, just asking a pretty lady to dance."
"Tarook," I cautioned, rushing around the table to lay a hand in the middle of his chest. Left unattended, he might throttle the poor guy.
He glanced down at me, tension leaving his face as a corner of his mouth quirked upward.
“Have a nice evening.” The man offered, easing away like one would from a dangerous animal.
"Thank you," I called after the guy, not taking my attention from Tarook. He eyed the human like a golden eyed lion preparing to pounce. The trouble was, the more he stared after the one human man brave enough to ask me to dance, the more he saw the others content to standby and leer. I needed to do something before Tarook went postal.
“Let’s dance!”
I grabbed his hand, feeling his tension drain away at my touch. I led him to a shadowed corner of the grassy section that comprised the dance floor. A slower selection of music played, throbbing with low notes from the guitar. Around us, couples,including Buck and Lula, swayed together, wrapped in each other's arms. I gazed at Tarook, expecting to explain why this was only dancing and not foreplay, to find him staring down at me, something like awe softening his features.
"What’s the matter?”
Tarook opened and closed his mouth a few times before swallowing hard.
“In all my travels across the vast universe, I have seen nothing as beautiful as you.”
He spoke slowly, as though wanting to pronounce each word perfectly.
"Thank you." I felt my cheeks heat. My heart thudded against my ribcage, and that spot in the center of my chest blazed with warmth. Tarook's golden eyes shone as he stared down at me. The way he gazed at me... like a precious treasure...
I loved it.
