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  She turned in his arms and leaned up to kiss him. “You know, I won’t be able to get out of this gown without help. It is a little beyond my skills.”

  He ran his hands down her back, flaring her arousal higher. “I will manage it. I have been here a while, so the clothing is no mystery to me.”

  “That is very comforting.” She chuckled and then laughter was stilled when he pressed his lips to hers and the weird tingling started again.

  The chemical arousal was fading rapidly to be replaced by the real thing. She had one night on this planet and she was going to make it count.

  A pleasant ache throbbed between her thighs when she woke. Dawn hadn’t begun yet, but she was still on her ship’s time.

  Yavoy was sound asleep next to her and she eased away from him slowly so as not to wake him. She gathered the chunks of her clothing together and wrapped one of the sheets dislodged from the bed around her.

  With as much dignity as she could muster with her head pounding and body happily aching, she slipped out of the huge bedroom and down the stairs. No one was awake yet except those who had to be.

  It took a few minutes to orient herself, but she managed to locate her ship and with only a bit of awkwardness, she climbed up to open the hatch and dropped inside with a sense of relief.

  It wasn’t much, but it was her home.

  A quick sonic shower and a tidying of her hair set her to rights. Lili Ann slipped into a tight bodysuit and winced at the abraded skin of her nipples, ass and inner thighs. She smiled as she finished fastening the suit. She had had quite an evening.

  Yavoy was strong, dexterous and creative with stamina. Everything she enjoyed in an alien one-night stand.

  Boots were tugged on and her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail. It was back to work for her.

  With a song in her heart, she sat at the launch controls and contacted ground control. “Ground control, this is the H’dar. I am requesting authorization for launch.”

  “This is Geko 7 ground control. Please stand by.”

  Lili Ann waited, rubbed her neck where her suit was hiding the hickey she had received the night before. She waited, fidgeted and bit her nails. Ten minutes passed.

  “Ground control, this is the H’dar. I am still waiting on that clearance.”

  “Please stand by, H’dar. We have a restraining order on your vessel.” The voice sounded nervous.

  “A what? Please explain what the heck is going on.”

  The com was silent and she heard a slow knocking at the side of her ship. Lili Ann got to her feet and walked the short length of her ship before opening the door. Yavoy was leaning against her ship with a grin on his face. As she stared into his eyes, they shifted from red into absolute black.

  “Oh boy. You are Arengar.” It suddenly made sense—the looks, the fawning glances and the approval for their companionship during the dance.

  “I am very pleased to meet you, Lili Ann. Now, get out of your vehicle.”

  Chapter Three

  Disobeying a direct order from a planetary avatar was not a good idea, so she left the H’dar and closed the door behind her.

  He offered her his arm as he started taking them back toward the administration buildings. “Thank you for not putting up a protest.”

  She smiled slightly and spoke softly. “I save my protesting for when I can get away with it. The ground crews were watching very closely.”

  “A sense of propriety. Interesting.” Arengar’s tone was different than Yavoy’s. It was deeper, darker and infinitely amused.

  She remembered her willingness to do anything and everything that Yavoy’s rich voice had requested. The pleasure she had received had outweighed embarrassment at the time. Now, she wasn’t so sure.

  From what she had learned, Avatars and their planets shared access to the same memories. She knew that her blush was now firmly in place. While it was another consciousness looking out at her through Yavoy’s eyes, she knew that he had a memory of every touch she had delivered and received. It was the most bizarre three-way she could imagine.

  As they passed the morning commuters, she asked, “Where are we going?”

  “To the communication’s centre. We have an appointment.” His voice brooked no argument.

  “I have a com unit in my ship.”

  “This has to be public. I have rousted several councillors to certify and witness this conversation.”

  That sounded ominous. “What did I do?”

  The solid-black eyes stared down at her in surprise. “Nothing. It is what is about to happen that is the matter for discussion.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “You will see.” He didn’t say anything else, merely kept their walk at a steady pace through the lovely halls of carved stone.

  “This is a fairly elaborate city for a new colony.”

  “It was the last city of Arengar when my previous Avatar passed. I sent a request through another planet for a new Avatar and Yavoy came when I called.”

  Security guards were now stationed every twenty metres. Wherever they were in the grand scheme of things, they were in a restricted area.

  “Here we are.” He nodded at the guard and the man immediately opened the door to expose a room full of screens.

  The walls were lined with seats and nine men in councillor’s garb were in position when they arrived. A few of them looked worse for wear, but all stood the moment that Arengar entered the room.

  “Make the call.” His voice boomed in the large, empty space.

  The screen flickered and three distinct faces appeared. One was Terran, the other two were Jerican and Azon respectively.

  The Terran spoke, her elaborate robes glittered with metallic threads. “Greetings Yavoy-Arengar. What do you want with her?”

  The Jerican rep rolled his eyes and the Azon’s lips twitched.

  The Azon rep cleared his throat. “You have five children, Imperial Consort. What do you think he wants?”

  Amanda Tyrell scowled and crossed her arms. “Very funny, Ambassador Ranith. Now, Arengar, what do you want with her?”

  Arengar straightened and wrapped his arm around her waist. “I want her as my secondary Avatar and mate for this body.”

  Lili Ann’s eyes widened as she finally caught on to what was going on.

  Amanda Tyrell folded her hands in front of her on the desk. “What will you offer?”

  The Jerican representative looked shocked. “Offer? He needs offer nothing to her. He is an Avatar. By Alliance regulations, he can simply claim her and she will have to be surrendered by her home government.”

  Arengar scowled. “That is not how I want to take her. She is a woman with skills and determination that my Avatar appreciates. I will have her willing with the blessing of her own people.”

  She wanted to step away, but the soothing heat coming off his skin filled her with a pleasant lethargy.

  Images of his arms around her while his body thrust into her in a pleasurable frenzy snaked through her mind. She relived three of their couplings, including the climaxes that left her trembling, in less than five seconds. Her limbs shook and she had no choice but to hold on to Arengar.

  Amy Tyrell smiled. “Well, it seems you have the willing part down. Now, what are you willing to give her?”

  Representative Ranith sat back and grinned, content to watch.

  “I would give her this world, but I have just allowed the Jerican to settle here. What would you demand on her behalf?”

  “Clothing and travel allowances, property to call her own and mining rights to a chunk of mineral- or gem-rich soil.”

  The Jerican representative spluttered. “You can’t give away our planet.”

  Arengar raised one of his snow white brows. “I really don’t think you understand the situation. I have given you the rights to colonize and minimal mining concessions, but this world is still me. I can destroy you in hours, wiping you off my skin.”

  “We have an agreement!”


  “That agreement is dependent upon the situation of my Avatar. If anything happens to him, and that includes a change in his temperament, you and yours have to go. I can tell you right now that if he does not get a mate when so many of my kind are having Avatars pair up, it will definitely have an effect on his state of mind.”

  Lili Ann winced as his hand tightened on her waist. “Do I have a say in this?”

  Amy Tyrell looked out of her screen and smiled ruefully at her fellow Terran. “I am afraid not, Lili Ann. None of us did. Remember that little clause in our contracts? They actually have the nerve to enforce it.”

  The clause that the ex-Negotiator was mentioning was in the Volunteer contract. In an effort to get the genes of the new species into circulation, each Terran gave away their right to choose their own mate. The moment that the five Champions had been tapped, the clause had snapped into effect. Every Terran in the Alliance was living with the knowledge that their future was not their own.

  A few of the men had tried to circumvent the policy, but they had ended up with a visit from a minder and now, they were happily wed to the female chosen for them.

  It was the largest drawback to being an alien in an established society—you had to do whatever was demanded of you in the greater scheme of things, no matter what your personal opinion was. Sometimes Lili Ann thought that it was the reason that they chose the men and women that they did. They selected people who would actually keep to their word.

  She sighed in submission. “I do recall that clause and I will abide by it.”

  Yavoy was suddenly looking down at her through his own eyes once again, with Arengar sharing the connection. “You will not regret it, Lili Ann. I will make sure of it.”

  She looked into his eyes, their eyes, and saw that both of them were serious.

  Amy Tyrell smiled within the monitor. “Well, that is settled. With the terms stated, it will be official the second that the initial stipulation is met.”

  Yavoy smiled down at her. “I guess that I have some clothing to procure.”

  The monitors dimmed and applause broke out as it became official. Lili Ann was now in line to become an Avatar. All she needed was a new dress.

  Chapter Four

  Sheevin was waiting and ready for her when she came out of the fitting room.

  “What do you think, Avatar?” Sheevin wasn’t asking Lili Ann, her eyes were focused on Yavoy.

  Lili Ann propped her hands on her hips and dared him to laugh. She was barely wearing anything. A good sneeze would rip the flimsy costume in two.

  Layers of tissue-thin silk wrapped her breasts, hips and down to mid-thigh. She was an advertisement for sex and there was no doubt about it when she looked into Yavoy’s eyes. She was more naked than she had been when she had been in his arms. The fabric highlighted every curve and hollow of her shape. It left nothing to the imagination.

  “No. Absolutely not.” She tapped her foot and scowled.

  Yavoy smiled. “Why not?”

  “Because I am a transporter, not a stripper.” Her frown should have been able to peel paint, but he was remarkably un-phased.

  “Sheevin, we will take that in blue, purple and the deep grey.” Yavoy rattled off the order.

  “I am not kidding, Yavoy. I can’t get into this thing by myself and I wouldn’t wear it in public.”

  He laughed. “Sheevin, get her the outer robe.”

  The seamstress slapped herself in the forehead. “Of course. I am so sorry.”

  The crystal grey robe that was produced turned the risqué outfit from the edge of sleaze into striking and swirled around her in a heavy wave. The layer made her smile. It was held together by a lovely silver clasp that joined between her breasts.

  “Fine. It is quite nice with the covering layer.”

  Yavoy laughed and got to his feet, adjusting the way the robe sat on her shoulders. “Trust me not to humiliate you in public, no matter whether Arengar is running your body or not.”

  She looked up at him and twisted her lips. “Trust doesn’t come that easily to me, Yavoy.”

  “We have all the time in the world, Lili Ann. Literally.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips and she quivered as she rose up on her toes to deepen the contact.

  She sighed slowly as she returned to being flatfooted.

  “That was nice, both the sentiment and the kiss.”

  He chuckled and put his arm on her shoulder and his thumb made tiny circles on her neck.

  She felt a haze of pleasure that started at where his skin touched hers and rippled through her body. “How do you do that?”

  “It’s a learned skill that I have honed over the last forty-eight hours.” He chuckled.

  “Arengar taught you that?”

  “Yes and no. He explained the basics and I have had to figure out how to apply it to your physiology.”

  She chuckled and they got on with the fitting.

  Sheevin put nine different styles on her, one at a time. Some Yavoy agreed to, some he rejected and others caused a heated flare in his eyes.

  By the time she was back in the first outfit complete with gauzy robe, she was exhausted. “Yavoy, I am hungry.”

  If he could have blushed, he would have, as it was, he winced. “I am sorry. I forget about that now and again.”

  “Forget about what?”

  “Eating. Arengar keeps me energized and on my feet. I rarely need to eat.”

  “Well, he isn’t running through me yet, so I am hungry. Where can I get some food?”

  He smiled. “Allow me to escort you to the local restaurant. We should be able to find something for you.”

  Yavoy made the arrangements for the clothing to be delivered to his home and he escorted Lili Ann out the door and down the walking path.

  “I can’t believe that this city was simply abandoned for years.”

  “Arengar was grieving for Lackiala. She had been his avatar for eons and finally requested release when the last of her family was dying on a world far away. Lackiala visited her great-granddaughter and they passed into the next life together.”

  Lili Ann nodded. “And Arengar went into mourning.”

  “Where he remained for as long as he could, until the Alliance buzzing around him and other planets brought him back to the point where he could entertain the idea. I was on a mining world doing nothing in particular with my life when the opportunity to join with Arengar presented itself. I offered my life to him and he moved in.”

  “Did it hurt?” She bit her lip.

  “It didn’t. It was rather like taking a warm bath from the inside out.”

  She went scarlet. That was how it had felt when they were having sex. The moment that the hot, slick rod of his cock had moved inside her, she had been lost.

  Lili Ann shivered as the memories rippled through her. All of the shopping had caused her skin to regain its earlier sensitivity.

  “Are you cold? The weather is fairly temperate.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to the living furnace of his body.

  “Not cold precisely.” She didn’t want to admit to raging hormones.

  He escorted her through a doorway and into the warm confines of a restaurant. Despite the fairly extensive crowd, they were seated right away.

  The wait staff was so eager, it was almost embarrassing.

  “Is service always so attentive when you come out?”

  He tilted his head, considering. “I suppose so. You get used to it fairly quickly.”

  She chuckled. “I can’t see how.”

  “When everyone treats you as if you are extraordinary, eventually you realize that it isn’t true. The only truth will lie in your own acts and attitude toward those around you.”

  Lili Ann smiled at the ring of conviction in his tone.

  The appetizers arrived with the salad and she worked her way through the tangy and salty salad as well as the tiny little sandwiches that were sitting in front of her.

  “You
have a good appetite.”

  “When you fly long distance with sensitive equipment, the only thing you can control is when and if you eat.”

  “And you exerted control over the one thing you could.”

  “Of course. When you can only control one part of your life, you obsess over it.” She shrugged and continued working on the appetizers.

  The waitress came back and removed the salad plates and the appetizers. When she returned with the main courses, Lili Ann’s almost ended up in her lap.

  “I am so sorry, miss.” The look that she shot Lili Ann was dark, but the one she cast toward Yavoy was almost fawning.

  It took Lili less than a minute to figure out that the elegant blue enchantress had been intimate with the Avatar.

  When she wandered off with a sway in her hips, Lili closed her eyes. “How many others are there?”

  He blinked at her in surprise. “What?”

  “How many women running around the city have been in your bed?”

  Realization dawned. “Oh. Four. I tend to take my pleasures out on women who are leaving the planet.”

  She laughed and sipped at the wine that she had been brought. “Oh. Eww.”

  “What is it?”

  “My wine has been dosed with vinegar.”

  He gave her a sceptical look and took a sip. “That is foul.”

  “I thought so. Can I taste yours?” She bit her lip as he gave her a suggestive look.

  He took a sip and handed her his glass. She carefully turned it so that her lips followed in his trace and she sipped at it.

  The waitress took a look at the glass she held and the one still on the table and frowned. When Yavoy raised the glass to his lips, she cried out and slapped it out of his hand.

  The manager appeared at their side. “Please excuse her clumsiness.”

  Lili almost giggled out loud. He had to have been watching from the kitchen doorway. The waitress ran to the back, sobbing as if her heart had been broken.

  “I will attend you for the rest of your visit, Avatar.”

  The manager took over and Lili waited until they were alone before she whispered. “She was one of your lovers.”

  He inclined his head. “She was. Yes. A few months ago.”