Wrapped in Fire Read online

  He frowned and shrugged. “Fairly common. I have a question for you.”

  “Sure.”

  “How often are the intimate groomers successful in creating a happy ending in your situation?”

  She paused and looked at him. He was up on his elbows and looking at her.

  “Um, they are successful twenty percent of the time. I don’t relax well with females.” She grimaced. “It just becomes frustrating more than anything else.”

  “So, what will you do when my grandfather passes?”

  She finished rubbing his left thigh, and she shrugged. “I suppose I will have to determine how much of my bond is remaining, and then, I will find a colony world accepting humans and head into the stars.”

  His body went tense, and she was in the right place to feel it. His thigh turned into a rock. “Um, okay, we are done here then.”

  She pulled her hands from under the sheet.

  “So, Master Hreon, what do you do here?”

  He growled. “I manage the habitations, population, and control the input and output from other worlds. I am the overseer.”

  She winced and took the towel off his erection, using it to clean her hands off, and then, she scrubbed the bottom of his feet.

  “Well, I am going to just head back to Hrothan’s room. You should probably take a shower and then hydrate a little.” She had everything tidied up, and she left it and bowed.

  “Am I dismissed?” She gave him a look under her lashes.

  “Yes. You are dismissed, Dorra.”

  She bowed again and escaped.

  Chapter Four

  She bolted into Hrothan’s room and pressed the door shut from inside while she thought.

  “Is he chasing you? How delightful.” Hrothan laughed.

  “He isn’t. I just found out that he is the overseer, and he got really tense when I shared my plans for the future.”

  “Really? That is wonderful. I knew one of them had to be suitable.”

  She turned to him and growled. “This was your little plan all along?”

  He patted the edge of his bed, and she sat so that he could only reach her if he lunged. “I knew that you would suit one of them. Sagar was a long shot as he prefers men, but you already know that.”

  “Oh, yeah. That was easy to figure out.”

  “So, Hreon is the correct choice. Excellent.” He rubbed his hands together.

  “Stop, Hrothan. I just want to pay out my bond and find another world with surviving Terrans.”

  “You didn’t tell him that, did you?”

  “Yeah. I did. He tensed right up.”

  Hrothan grinned. “Oh, dear. That explains the bond sale that just went through.”

  “What?” She pressed her hand to her forehead. This didn’t sound good.

  “The overseer has just tendered an offer to purchase your bond.” Hrothan waved the tablet he was working with. “Apparently, I just accepted. It is going to take you a while to earn out the one and a half million credits. Sorry.”

  She got up and walked past him and to the cot in the office. She curled up on the cot and tried to grapple with the math of the increased bond due to increased value. Hreon thought she was worth a lot. Life on Hellaz was not something she had considered, but now, she was here. She was on the surface, and she was stuck in a contract with Hreon. She didn’t know what he wanted, but she could guess.

  Dorra cried for a while, but then, she sniffled her way into sleep. It would have been easier if she had something to cover up with, but she woke up for every murmured voice and nearly silent footfall.

  At one point, she woke up to a sheet being pulled up over her and a kiss on her forehead. When he left her, more big, fat tears fell, and she hated the idea of uncertainty. She had already had enough of that in her life.

  She woke up with her stomach growling. She hadn’t managed to make time for food the previous night. Dorra got up and left the office, heading for the restroom before splashing her face with water and patting it dry. She looked haunted. There was no other word for it.

  She sighed and went into Hrothan’s room, where he was sitting and talking with Hreon. There was food, but it was on the other side of Hreon, so she would have to pass him if she wanted any.

  “There you are. Rough night?”

  She looked at Hrothan, and he winced.

  “Right. Hreon told me that they hadn’t left any bedding for you. It must have been hard to sleep.”

  She walked over to him and squeezed his hand before he kissed her knuckles. “Something like that.”

  “He had a tray brought up a few minutes ago. Have something to eat, and then, we can discuss the situation.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to manage me?”

  He grinned. “I have been giving orders for centuries. Go. Eat.”

  She snorted. “You are not the boss of me.”

  Hreon murmured, “But, I am. So, please, eat.”

  She tensed but walked over to the table, thudding into the seat and lifting the covers on the tray. She put the napkin across her lap, and she skewered some fruit, nibbling at it.

  It became obvious that she was only obeying the order without the intent to actually carry it out.

  Hreon huffed and pulled her onto his lap, pulling the tray in. “Now, eat.”

  “I don’t like being watched while I am eating.”

  He chuckled. “I am just carrying out a conversation with my grandfather about the current developmental projects. Your table manners are not my concern.”

  She nodded and kept her back stiff while she ate. They actually were just talking about the building projects. When they switched languages, she didn’t notice for a while, but Hrothan had a lecturing tone, and Hreon was speaking to soothe him. The language must have been Hmrain because she couldn’t figure out what they were saying.

  * * * *

  “You could have warned me that you were interested in her,” Hrothan growled.

  “I was not sure what my reaction would be when she touched me. Just her hands on mine had a reaction that was... violent.” Hreon glanced at the woman in his lap.

  “It isn’t your reaction that is important; it is hers.”

  Hreon smiled. “As to that. She gets wet while touching me, and her pulse picks up when she meets my gaze. It has been a while, but I do believe that those are positive responses.”

  Hrothan blinked. “Well, those are positive responses, but I saw her stunned and panicking when I showed her the bond transfer.”

  “Why did you tell her that?”

  “Were you going to tell her in a few months? When she thought she had earned her way to a colony in the stars? When she could be with her own kind? Would you have told her then?” Hrothan snorted.

  Hreon sighed, and Dorra glanced at him. He didn’t say anything, so she continued eating.

  Hrothan murmured. “You are the son of one Hmrain and descended from another. To crave a companion who is on the same frequency as yourself is normal and natural.”

  “How did you know?”

  His grandfather snorted. “You have similar tastes to myself, and as I have told her several times, if I had been a bit younger, I would have had her for my own.”

  “You are hardly decrepit.”

  “Yes, but when I look at her, I wish that she was in my past. I don’t see a future with her. However, I look at you, and I see her at your side, jabbing you with that sharp little elbow.”

  “How am I supposed to gain her cooperation?”

  “Challenge her. Play P’cha with her for stakes. Then... cheat. She is far too good a player for you to win otherwise.” He grinned.

  “She is determined that you are going to remain around for another few decades.”

  “She will have to live with disappointment.”

  Hreon looked at the plate where some vegetables had been banished to a corner of the tray. He snorted. “She eats like a ch
ild.”

  “She eats food she has seen. She hasn’t seen any of the fresh food from the growing centres. She hasn’t seen any fresh fruit or vegetables for close to six years. She is trying some now.”

  Hreon didn’t look directly at her, but she nibbled on one of the bitter green melon pieces before going back for a second. “Fine. You are right, but she is so small.”

  “You are trying to find reasons to avoid her. She is the size of her species.”

  “But...”

  “There have been at least six full Hmrain to take one of her kind to mate. None of the ladies have suffered an injury, and two have already had children.” Hrothan frowned. “What is the problem?”

  “I don’t want to injure her.”

  “She is not Gorinel. Don’t let the wounds of the past impact your future.”

  Hreon tensed and then nodded.

  “Also, remember that she has nothing and no one. There is nowhere for her to run, so don’t make her want to run. She is already in a vulnerable position, which will make her bite and snap. Be ready for it, and don’t over-react.”

  “Why does it have to be her?”

  Hrothan chuckled. “Because it is. I can’t give you a better reason than that. Contact your father for information if you need to, but figure it out quick. She can’t be stuck between being your companion and my caretaker forever. The scales need to tip.”

  Hreon caught her as she tried to ease off his lap. The tray was empty, and she looked at him nervously. He switched to Hellaz. “Even I would never pounce on a woman with a very full stomach.”

  Hrothan laughed. “See, Dorra, he has standards, even if they aren’t that high.”

  She nodded and sat very still. He felt the heat of her thighs across his own, and he sighed. He wanted all of her at once, but he wanted her to want him. It was a difficult thing, but he didn’t turn her toward him and drive into her. He applauded his own civilization while his inner Hmrain wanted nothing more than to take her on the table.

  * * * *

  Dorra looked at his face, and she could see a battle going on behind his eyes. She leaned away from him, but his hand tightened on her waist again. She turned and looked back to Hrothan, who was looking at his nails with a studied innocence.

  Hreon looked at her with narrowed eyes. “Now, what am I going to do with you?”

  She swallowed. “Uh... get your money back and send me back to the floating station?”

  “No.” The finality of his tone made her wince.

  “Um, don’t you have other things to do rather than acting as my chair?”

  “You are right. There are things that need to be done. We should go do them.” He set her on her feet and took her hand in his.

  She looked at the long fingers wrapped around her own and stared up at him. “Where are we going?”

  “We are going to do things.”

  She looked at Hrothan, but he was still examining his nails. “I know you are behind this.”

  He grinned and looked at his pinky. “Have fun, Dorra.”

  She flipped him off as she was escorted out of his rooms and down the hall. Hreon led her down the steps, and when they were in the main hall, he switched her hand from being clasped in his to sitting on the back of his wrist. It was a far more formal position.

  “Um, where are we going?”

  “I have some meetings to attend. You will be at my side. It is what I do every day and what you will do every day.”

  She swallowed and took a deep breath. “Yes, Master Hreon.”

  He looked at her and nodded, looking like he wanted to say something else, but instead, he led her out and into the city. It was quite a bit different with Hreon at her side.

  Chapter Five

  Their first stop was a salon with a clothing shop attached. She frowned. “Why are we here?”

  “You need a change of clothing and someone else to do your hair and makeup.”

  She blinked. “I can do it myself. I just need the equipment.”

  “We don’t have the time for that today.”

  The Hellaz women looked at Hreon with pleased expressions. He pulled Dorra forward and said, “Hair, makeup, clothing.” He glanced at them. “Fast. I have a meeting.”

  The ladies grabbed for Dorra, and she dodged their hands. “Ladies, lead the way. I am not an idiot, and I do know what this entails.”

  They paused and led her to the solar shower, where she got all of the dirt and oil off her skin in seconds. She was sized up by someone working on the shop side, and two ladies sectioned off her hair and wove it into a simple arrangement that was delicate and confined most of her hair. The bulk of her hair was twisted into a coil that was pinned up, and it was all wrapped up and neat in under ten minutes.

  The makeup artist couldn’t match her skin tone, so she ended up giving suggestions and standing up wearing shades of black and grey, including her lips. Her eyes were heavy and dramatic.

  She got up, and the clothing was there. It was the same style as the clothing she had on but in a softer and silkier fabric. She smiled and put the neckpiece on before removing the previous one. When she pulled the first outfit aside, she tied the second behind her back. She used the same manoeuvre with the skirt. She wrapped the new silky fabric on top, pinned it with the household icon, and then, she untucked the skirt, and it fell to the floor. She tightened the skirt she was wearing and pinned everything tight with the icon. A quick fluff of the wide swaths of fabric that she wore as a top and had tied behind her back, and she was ready to go.

  She looked at the amused Hreon. “Master Hreon, I am ready.”

  He had been lurking in the background while she was groomed, but he seemed surprised by the finished product.

  The salon owner picked up her clothing. “We will have this cleaned and sent to the residence, Master Hreon.”

  He nodded. “Thank you, Kalari.”

  He offered his hand to Dorra, and she put her hand on the back of his wrist. They left the salon, and she asked, “Aren’t you going to pay?”

  “They will send a bill to my home at the end of the month. That is how things are done here. Everyone waits for payment, even those who rent properties.”

  “Oh. Where are we going?”

  “The council hall. I spend my mornings trying to make sure that everything goes smoothly.”

  “Why am I coming with you?”

  “So that you don’t convince my grandfather to send you back to the floating station.” His tone was grim.

  “I wouldn’t... probably wouldn’t... still might.”

  “That place is appalling.”

  “My people have a saying. The devil you know. I already know about the abuse and corruption there, so I know what to avoid. Here? I am just going to be guessing the entire time.” She bit her lip.

  “Ask a question, and I will answer it to the best of my ability.”

  “Um. I will think of something and ask it later.”

  He chuckled. “Fine, but you are staying. My kind struggles to find compatible females.”

  “Your kind?”

  “Hmrain crosses. My mother was a quarter Hmrain, my father is full Hmrain and the Overseer of Thaluth in this star system. Finding a female that can put up with our demands is not easy.”

  “Um. I was tested for Hmrain compatibility. I was not even close.”

  He smiled. “If they were testing you for pure bloods, that is likely true. I am not a designed Hmrain; my needs are more... flexible.”

  She shivered at the promise in his tone. She closed her mouth with a snap. They entered the building that was slowly being populated by men and women of Hellaz.

  Dorra got closer to Hreon and changed her grip on his hand to a grip on his elbow, so she could press against him. Hellaz were big. Male and female alike. They weren’t too large by human standards, but she felt like a normal person in a world of basketball players.

  She bit her lip, and wh
en they entered the council chamber and Hreon was greeted by everyone they passed, she stayed next to him and was relieved when he sat on a high-backed chair.

  He beckoned to her. “You can either stand next to my chair or sit in my lap. This will take several hours.”

  She nodded. “I will stand.”

  “I thought you might. If you need to sit, let me know.”

  He took a piece of onyx and tapped it loudly on a block of wood. “Council is now in session.”

  The room full of Hellaz grew quiet, and someone brought the first order of business; the city expansion into the local mountain range and the power and services that had to be run to it.

  Dorra stood slightly behind Hreon’s chair and tried to get some of her missing sleep. The air was warm, her feet were warm, and the discussions were civil. She locked her hand onto the top of Hreon’s chair, and she fell asleep.

  * * * *

  Hreon felt the change in her breathing, and he hid his smirk. He glanced back at her, and she seemed to be standing with her eyes demurely closed. The even pace of her breathing made it obvious to him that she was out. He had never seen a woman sleep standing up before.

  He turned back to the discussion and worked on the logistics of getting water pipes run to the new construction without causing a drop in flow to the currently serviced areas. He kept his ears focused on her breathing but gave the rest of his attention to the project at hand.

  When he felt a change, he turned to look, and she had begun listing to one side. He got up, gathered her up, and sat back down with her on his lap, her head against his shoulder. He was careful to keep her hair against his skin so that her makeup wouldn’t be smeared.

  Councillor Deforth smiled. “I see your companion is tired.”

  He settled Dorra against him. “She had a trying night. Now, the sixth segment has limited usage and can maintain the pressure over long distances. Is the councillor from the sixth here?”

  The councillor stepped forward. “Good morning, Overseer.”