Page 66 of Decadence

“Seems you have another visitor.” Giving her a mischievous wink, he tossed her a round, flat disc.

It landed in the nest of her sleeping pod, amongst the black liquid-silk sheets. As Zharek disappeared and the tentacle-doors slid closed behind him, the object of her desires appeared right in front of her, materializing out of thin air.

“Ikriss!” she gasped.

“Hello, Sienna,” he said slowly, his voice thick with emotion.

“Is it really you?” Instinctively, she reached out to touch him, but instead of grasping his arm, her fingers raked through thin air.

It’s just a hologram.

It was the most damn realistic hologram she’d ever seen. Ikriss stood with his hands clasped behind his back, staring straight at her.

Compared to the last time she’d seen him—when he’d been wild and frantic and naked, covered in viscous stasis fluid—he looked a lot more composed.

His longish hair was neatly slicked back, accentuating his sharp, handsome features. He wore a plain black uniform, which was impeccably cut. The simple insignia of a seven-pointed star glittered at his left breast, over his black machine-heart. Outwardly, there was no evidence of the machines that were keeping him alive, save for a few fine black vessels that snaked up his neck and disappeared beneath his silver skin.

That subtle detail told her this really was Ikriss, and not some AI-generated fantasy.

“It’s me,” he whispered, touching his ephemeral fingers to hers, as if to hold her hand.

A shiver of desire coursed through her. “You’re out of the tank, then? You’re… okay?”

“I am, for now. I’m in my office, attending to work matters. I would have come to you, but I am not allowed, apparently. This is next best option, it seems.” A tight smile twisted his lips, making him look slightly devilish. “The Fever has me, Sienna. I can’t trust myself around you right now.”

Her entire body ached with need. “When can you trust yourself, then?”

“When you are ready. Then and only then.” He walked slowly across the room and took a seat, leaning back. It was weird seeing him sitting on nothing but thin air. Of course, there was a seat beneath him, but the holo only picked up Ikriss. He steepled his hands and cast his eyes downwards, letting shadows pool in the hollows of his face.

Lost in some thought or other, he went very still, his expression inscrutable.

The former High Commander of the Kordolian Imperial Militaries looked as alien as ever, and yet Sienna couldn’t help the flush of warmth that spread through her, seeping deep into her core. Absently, she slipped one of her hands beneath the sheets, pressing her fingers against her tenderly aching clit.

With her lips slightly parted and every one of her senses on fire, she stared at him in anticipation, completely transfixed.

“I know the human way is different,” he continued, his deep, resonant voice trembling ever so slightly. His eyes were still downcast, their burning intensity hidden from her. “I have researched your customs somewhat. On Earth, humans have an endless array of potential mates to choose from, and so you have the luxury of playing a courtship game. You take your time. You trial and then reject those you find unsuitable. Some of you even take multiple mates at once.” Now he looked up, and every cell in Sienna’s body tensed in anticipation of what he would say next. “None of that is acceptable to me, Sienna. I only want you.”

A soft, shuddering sigh escaped her. She pressed harder against her tender nub, no longer trying to hide her desire.

Even if every instinct was telling her that this was too damn fast.

“I know you have endured terrible pain at the hands of our enemies. I know you have had mates before; those that have betrayed you. That will not happen with me. I swear on the souls of my dead ancestors I will never do anything to harm you, Sienna. And anyone that has ever caused you pain will taste the edge of my vengeful blade.” His voice shook. His golden eyes burned deep into her soul.

The crazy thing about it all was that she believed him.

In the short time that she’d known him, he’d only ever been true to his word.

“You’re wrong about one thing,” she said softly. “This is a courtship game, and we humans don’t always take our time if we know what we want.” It took all her willpower not to surrender to him then and there, but past mistakes in life had made her cautious. So she held back, even though she burned with need. “But what is it you see in me, aside from being the one who triggered your Fever?”

“I see strength. You are loyal. Determined. You do not succumb to your fear, and you refuse to break, even in the face of death. You are a survivor. A creator. A worthy mate. More than worthy.” Unexpectedly, one corner of his mouth quirked upwards. “You even worry about me. You don’t understand. Nobody worries about me. I am obsessed with you… and I have not even tasted your cooking yet.”

“Lucky for you,” she growled, squirming under the sheets as a flush spread through her chest and up her neck, heating her cheeks. “There’s no going back once you’ve eaten my food.” Heart pounding like crazy, Sienna blinked back unexpected tears.

He was serious.

Completely, utterly serious.

And his words were the most powerful salve to her barely healed wounds.

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