Page 69 of Elanie & the Empath
“Do you need something?” I asked tightly.
Gol’s grin didn’t falter. “I came to invite the two of you to the revel.”
“The revel?” Elanie peeked her head out over my shoulder.
Looking us up and down with a knowing smirk, he said, “And it appears as though you are in the perfect spirits for the event. Come. Join us. It’s time for you to see what our kind is capable of.”
Torches blazed and glowlights flickered,purple, red, blue, keeping time with the rhythm of the steel drums. A trio of half-naked musicians swayed back and forth as they played, their eyes closed, heads bowed in a euphoric trance.
Elanie kept close by my side as we made our way through a throng of sweaty, naked bodies writhing to the music. She wasn’t clinging to me for dear life tonight, though. And instead of keeping her eyes glued to the sand below our feet, she let them roam.
“Are you okay?” I asked, pulling her close so I could inhale the sweet scent of her hair.
“I don’t like it,” she grumbled. “We have clothes for a reason. Stars above,what are those three”—she squinted—“no,four, doing over there anyway?”
I followed her gaze to a corner of the commons where a Gorbie was on his knees, his four hands grasping hips and breasts, his head buried between the legs of a Delphinian who was passionately kissing another Delphinian while an enthusiastic Blurvan took her from behind. The Blurvan looked so much like Mr. Lagerta I was half-tempted to go say hello.
“Glorious, isn’t it?” Arlin asked, appearing at my side.
“It’s not glorious,” Elanie said, squaring off. “It’s indecent. These things should be done in private.” She gazed up at me, searching my eyes for validation.
“It is a little wild,” I agreed, even though it was no worse than a rowdy night on deck thirty-six. Which, Elanie had told me, was a deck she avoided on principle.
Arlin’s expression was soft, her voice even softer. “It is not indecent, Elanie. It’s beautiful. There is no shame here. Shame binds us, rules us. It keeps us weak and closed off. It keeps us separate. You don’t have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.” She slid her fingers through a strand of Elanie’s hair. “But there is freedom in questioning why certain things make us uneasy, in challenging our programming. Be free tonight.” She leaned in, pressing a kiss to Elanie’s cheek. “You will not be judged.”
While I stared at the women, at Elanie’s changing expression when she considered Arlin’s words, a gigantic hand slapped my back, thrusting me forward one full step.
“If you want both women tonight,” Gol said low into my ear, nodding toward Elanie and Arlin. “You can have them. If they are agreeable, of course.”
I shook my head, doglike. “No thank you. I’m good with just the one. The Elanie one.” I cleared my throat. “With my mate, I mean. But thank you? For the offer?”
“How long have you been paired?” Gol asked, unmoved by my stammering. He stood naked, with his arms crossed and his legs spread, his veiny green manhood hanging between them like the proverbial elephant in the room.
How longhadwe been together?We’d never cemented our story. “Oh, about four years,” I said, sounding the opposite of convincing.
“That’s hardly any time at all, is it?” The grin that made its way across the big man’s face caused a reflexive wrapping of my arm around Elanie’s waist.
Aside from the whole compelling bionics to leave their ships thing, I had no reason not to trust Gol. But I didn’t. I just didn’t. It was the way his eyes seemed to follow Elanie wherever she went. I’d never thought of myself as the possessive type, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Gol wanted her for himself. It wasn’t the first time I’d wished my empathy worked on bionics, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last, but I’d shave my own head to get an idea of his vibes. And I loved my hair.
Leaving Elanie’s side, Arlin slid her hands over Gol’s shoulders and said, “Dance with me.”
“Yes, my love,” Gol replied before grasping her ass and kissing her deeply. When he pulled away, he shouted “Mal!” then grumbled, “Where is that tin can?”
“Tin can?” I whispered into Elanie’s ear. “That’s a little harsh.”
Frowning, she whispered back, “Maybe it’s a term of endearment?”
“Ah. Here he is.” Gol clapped a hand over Mal’s shoulder, the force of the gesture making the older bionic list to one side.
Straightening, Mal said, “Hello, Elanie. Hello, Dr. Semson. Hello, Gol and Arlin. What can I do for you this evening? More food? More drink?”
“We need synth.” Gol arched his back, his voice thundering toward the terradome as he roared, “Synth!”
The answering roar of the revelers was deafening.
As Gol grabbed Mal by the neck, the yellow glow of the gen-1’s robotic eyes dimmed.
“Bring us rola fruit,” Gol ordered. “And make sure the fruit is fresh.”
