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  She looked up, and he smiled.

  “You were keeping me warm, Liaison Banks.”

  There was deep amusement in his eyes as his hand slowly moved up her thigh until it rested on the curve of her buttock. He tapped her with a slow beat.

  “I think I need to get to work.”

  He chuckled. “Are you sober?”

  She leaned back and nodded slowly. “I am.”

  “Good.” His expression turned into a smirk. “You are late for work.”

  Bella stared at him in shock before whirling to one side, careful not to castrate her boss.

  She put her shoes on and tugged the dress into place once again. It took some contorting, but she managed to get the back of her dress closed. In a final move, she leaned forward and tugged her breasts into place before heading for the door.

  “Well done. I was joking. None of the day staff have to go on duty for another two hours.” He stretched and kicked his blanket aside.

  She stared at him, muttered about over-muscled idiots and masochistic designers and left his quarters.

  She stalked through the halls, out the service entrance and across the lawns with the pathway spinning up to catch her steps. She was striding up her own stairs in a matter of minutes, propelled by her own steam.

  The staff were starting to stir, and a few waved at her as she stepped across her threshold. Bella paused, turned and smiled brightly, waving in return. She wasn’t going to ruin her repertoire with her new co-workers even if she was boiling with irritation and embarrassment.

  After she waved hello, she headed past her door and up the steps. The door closed behind her. Her hands undid the lacing at the back of her gown, and it gradually released. She hiked her skirts and kicked her shoes off before stomping into the lav.

  She looked at the taps for actual water and sighed. With resolve, she turned to the other connections, and when she pushed the gown off, Bella stepped into the blast of the sonic shower.

  When her hair hung straight and her skin was squeaky clean, she grabbed the crumpled gown, slung it over one arm and stomped back into the bedroom. She flicked through the clothing and found a gown in a dark purple that had a keyhole neckline, but a high collar. She sighed as she got dressed. It fastened up the front with two dozen small hooks.

  She went to the dressing table and picked up some pins, curling most of her hair into a neat chignon and tugging a few tendrils loose. The employee pendant nestled in the open neckline.

  The last part of her new outfit was a set of shoes, and she was completely dressed and on her way downstairs when she heard the knock.

  She rustled to the door and opened it to see Yimra smiling at her. “Good morning.”

  Bella felt heat rush to her face. “Good morning. Do you have time to show me how to use the kitchen?”

  Yimra chuckled. “Of course. If we are needed, our charms will alert us. Now, let me show you the variety of uses you can put your kitchen to.”

  Five minutes later, the teacup was between her hands and she and Yimra were sitting at the dining table.

  Yimra gave her a sly look. “So, how did you end up with Lord Akking last night?”

  Bella sat back. “I worked too late, he made dinner and gave me a glass of wine. My species doesn’t have a high tolerance, and he carried me up to his bed and tucked me in.”

  “Oh. We all just thought you had sex with him.”

  Bella nodded. “Under different circumstances, it might have been possible, but not last night. I was in an incredibly silly mood and he was losing patience with my endless frivolity. Men don’t generally like it when you laugh in bed.”

  Yimra laughed. “You are missing out. He is very talented.”

  Bella sat back. “So you and he have...”

  “Oh, no. He would never take advantage of one of his people. He keeps his sexual adventures to those in his social grouping.”

  Disappointment ran through her. “Oh, I suppose that leaves me out of it.”

  Yimra sipped at her tea. “I am thinking that you are in a class of your own. The position you are in as his liaison makes you category black in any court on Kloa. You are the only one of his social class at the manor.”

  Unease replaced the disappointment. “So, do you think he had me put in this position for a reason?”

  She grinned. “I am sure that he had something in mind, though he really does require an assistant. He also needs a companion. He and his family have always been more on the side of the people and on the emotional feedback they get from their partners. They need more deeply than most of our people. I think he needs you, for business and sex.”

  Bella choked and spluttered on her tea. “My people are not so...direct.”

  Yimra waved that away. “You will learn the ways of the uncovered. We don’t hide who we are or what we are. Each day is a new experience that we delve into as fully as we are able.”

  Before Bella could respond, Yimra took her cup and washed it, putting it on the draining board. “Time to get to that work.”

  Bella looked at the other woman and sighed. “Right. That is what I am here for.”

  She put in an extra bit of insistence into her tone, but she got the feeling it was more for herself than for Yimra. Yimra gave her a knowing smile, and they were on their way to the manor.

  Chapter Six

  On their way in to the morning meal, Yimra agreed to call Bella at normal intervals when it was mealtime. That should stop any repeats of the previous day.

  After breakfast, she made her way to her office and settled at her desk. Yesterday had been about familiarizing herself with the system. Today, she was going to work on making plans for supply and staffing.

  It was halfway through the morning when Lord Akking wandered in.

  “Good morning, Liaison Banks. Have you acclimated yourself to the systems and requirements of the manors?”

  “Good morning, Lord Akking. Yes, I am now fully aware of the holdings of each property.”

  “Excellent. The requisitions are coming your way. Please deal with what you can and ask me about anything you aren’t sure of.”

  He walked around her desk and took her hand. To her bemusement, he guided her to her feet.

  The kiss was not what she considered business appropriate, but it was exactly what she needed. She threaded a hand under his hair and felt the pulse under her palm. When she stepped into his embrace and pressed her breasts to his chest, his pulse thudded hard.

  He leaned back, and she opened her eyes. Flickers of silver fire were appearing and disappearing in his irises. Akking lifted a hand to her cheek and stroked his thumb across her lips.

  “You flatter that dress. It was nothing until you wore it.” He trailed his fingers down her throat as he skimmed the edge of the neckline.

  “Thank you for the compliment.”

  He smiled. “It was not a compliment; it was an observation.”

  She didn’t know where to look, so she settled for the front of his tunic. Today, it was buttoned on the left and made of brocade with a subtle pattern of a family crest. The silver on black made his hair a vivid purple that matched her gown.

  Oh damn. She had picked a gown that reminded her of him. It hadn’t been deliberate, but it had been accurate. It was precisely the same shade as his hair.

  She blushed and stepped back, wanting nothing more than to sink into the floor. She turned to her desk and waved her hand at the data she was working on. “Well, I suppose I had better get back to work.”

  He chuckled. “You are hiding.”

  Bella pursed her lips together. “Yes. Yes, I am.”

  “It is very peculiar. I have been reading up on your people, but the societies that are all clustered together on your world are confusing. Some have social mores that would have had you dead in the morning just for being with me. Other societies would have demanded that I claim you, still more that you should have woken to have sex with me and then go your own way. Which one are you from?”

>   She backed against her desk and put her palms down on the wood. “I don’t have sex without emotional attachment, and once I do, I do not expect my partner to pretend we have no connection. When the attachments break, and they do, I run away from the pain and seek out a safe place to start over, and then, I do.”

  Lord Akking quirked a smile. “Is that why you are here? You were running?”

  Bella nodded. “I wanted something new, somewhere my face wouldn’t matter. Believe it or not, on my world, my symmetry makes me very attractive to a variety of potential companions.”

  “I would believe it. It is amazing that your world let you leave. You are truly a treasure. I have looked over your case files and your dedication to your work is astonishing. My people are known for their deception while behind their masks, and you managed to not only determine the truth, but also get them to gladly file for the discrepancies in their accounts. It is a wonderful skill, and I would like you to turn your people skills to my advantage.”

  She nodded. “So, this is just a business arrangement.”

  He grinned. “By no means. I have every intention of getting you into my bed and keeping you there, but if a slow walk to that goal is what you need, I will try.”

  He gave her a short bow, caressed her cheek with the back of two fingers, and then, he left her. His office door closed, and she could breathe again.

  She patted her hair, smoothed her skirt and got to work. He must have forwarded everything to her, because her data pad began to get a stream of information and requisitions from all over the globe.

  Bella muttered, “Apparently, he really does want me for my mind.”

  She rolled up her metaphorical sleeves and started slogging through the endless requests for authorizations and payments. She had crossed the universe and she was still doing accounting. Life was entertaining at times.

  Yimra grinned. “You are really doing the accounts?”

  Bella chuckled. “I am, indeed.”

  “Can you get us a new designer for the gowns? The seams on some of these dresses bite.”

  Tima called out, “And better colours. The standard gold and grey is nice, but I would like some mixes.”

  Bella sat and listened to the requests of staff until her noodles were gone and it was time to return to her desk.

  As they walked together down the hall, Bella whispered, “Tomorrow, remind me to bring my data pad with me.”

  “I will. Being able to speak with someone who can understand what we need is a bit of a relief. Lord Akking tries, but he just isn’t equipped to grasp what a good environment means to us. Even fresh flowers make all the difference some days.”

  “I know.”

  Yimra sighed. “And that is what makes speaking to you so easy. Even the men threw in their opinions, and I didn’t even know that they had them.”

  The staff lunch was an hour before the general buffet for the guests. It made it easier to serve food when you weren’t standing with a growling stomach. Their gathering left the rear corridors and dispersed through the manor, where they were meant to be.

  The second shift would go for break, and after an hour, all of the staff would be back facilitating the trades that the manor was set up to promote.

  Bella headed up to the office where she could keep those gears of commerce turning.

  When she checked her inbox, more files had been pouring in. She started organizing those that needed to be paid and analyzed requests for new supplies and staff. Everything ran through this office, and it was enough to make her dizzy.

  She had just gotten the tidal wave of files under control when Lord Akking’s door swung open.

  “Liaison Banks, come with me.”

  She got to her feet and followed him to the door. He offered her his arm, and she took the hint. Bella rested her hand in the crook of his elbow, and they exited the offices and made their way to the main hospitality room.

  When they entered the room, a wave of greetings broke out. Apparently, everyone knew Lord Akking.

  “Ladies and lords, this is my new assistant, Liaison Banks. If you speak with her, you are speaking to me. Now, please enjoy the afternoon.”

  To her shock, that was the beginning of a long afternoon of socializing. Three of the current guests were folk that she had audited while in the capitol. They didn’t bear a grudge and were delighted to see her out from behind the mask.

  Bella learned a lot that afternoon. The exposed folk of Kloa were not only beautiful and based on the same patterns—one for male and one for female—but they had wonderful senses of humour that just took a little bit of exposure to get going.

  After she had spent half an hour with each of the seven tables, the majority of guests rose to their feet and left, one by one. A few were in deep conversation, and Lord Akking nodded to the staff members attending the room and the three men nodded.

  Bella returned to his side. “What was that nod?”

  “Ah, these four guests will be spending the night. I have authorized the guestrooms.”

  She smiled. “Of course. You would have to know who was staying under your roof.”

  “Indeed. Keeping track of how often members use our hospitality is part of our work.”

  “I thought you were Minister of Trade.”

  “I am, but greeting and entertaining my guests is part and parcel of striking a deal.”

  He offered his arm, and she put her hand in it again.

  She cleared her throat. “Where are we going now?”

  “To the gallery. To understand my people, you need to know where we came from. My family managed to keep all of our portraits going back a thousand years. We will begin at the beginning and work out way to the present day.”

  Yimra was in the hallway, and Bella could only shrug helplessly as they passed her. She was stuck going with her boss wherever he was leading her, and it appeared he was heading for his past. Dinner would have to wait.

  Lord Akking had a tension in his arm. He was obviously nervous about where they were going.

  They were back in his private wing of the manor, and this time, they passed his bedroom and headed for a large set of double doors that looked like they protected something important.

  He took a deep breath, and the doors opened for them. “Keep in mind, this was our past. We are different now.”

  “What do you do with children who are throwbacks?”

  He made a face. “It rarely happens, but if it does, they are given gene therapies to make them blend in with our people.”

  They made their way to the far side of the gallery without looking at the portraits on the walls. The shadows shrouded them.

  “We are beginning with the statuary. The Kloa were fierce, intelligent and had eyes that could stare through the souls of their enemies.”

  Lord Akking showed her the first of the statues. The being was tall, fierce and appeared deadly. Spines jutted from the ancient’s hands, forearms and spine.

  “The spines were venomous?”

  Akking nodded. “Very. We still carry the venom, but now, it has been blended into our bloodstreams. You received antibodies for it on your trip here.”

  “Oh good. The spines on the penis had me a little worried. I was pretty sure I would have noticed that yesterday.”

  The next statue was a woman of the same design—spines and eyes that had a thousand-yard stare.

  “Are these relations of yours, Lord Akking?”

  “They are depictions of the first Lord and Lady Akking. This was their daughter.”

  He showed her the third statue and began leading her through his ancestry.

  When the changes in the appearance happened, clothing was adopted. It made sense. The spinal spikes would not have made clothing easy, and the thick skins made it unnecessary.

  Bella walked with him down the early stages of transformation into grace and beauty, but something changed in the portraits. The clothing became extreme, the hair colours were vivid and body modifications began to su
rface.

  Five hundred years of evolving vanity took a sudden turn when the clothing reverted to an almost puritan sensibility.

  The couples posed in the portraits, some with children, some without, took on a steady fashion sense. Elegant, but not extravagant.

  “That is the same style you tend to use in the manor.”

  Lord Akking smiled up at the image of his parents. “It is sensible and attractive. First, the Kloa changed their bodies, and then, they changed their priorities. The Face-to-Face Club tries to honour both.”

  Lord Akking’s mother had pale lavender hair, but her son had inherited her deep purple eyes. His father had raven hair, wide winged eyebrows and the same twist to his mouth that his son had.

  “Please, excuse me for a moment.” Bella trailed back and looked at the subtle changes in the facial features, feeling some relief that the stamp was blurring with time. In a few more generations, the Kloa would be unique, as the white class were. All it had taken was a little incursion by alien DNA, and the natural order had taken over.

  She returned to Lord Akking’s side, taking his arm and smiling up at him. “Thank you for the briefing on your history.”

  “There is nowhere here to take you out on a date, so this was as close as I could manage.”

  Bella stared at him in surprise. “You are serious?”

  “I am. I am very serious about you, Liaison Banks. I waited two months to bring you here to save you from any whispers of inappropriate behaviour. I wanted to keep you here that first day, but that would not have allowed you to maintain your work credentials.”

  Bella didn’t know what to say.

  “Come, I have had dinner arranged in the private dining room.”

  She said the first thing that came into her mind. “Okay.”

  Chapter Seven

  She was served iced sweet tea for dinner, and she grinned at Lord Akking. “Are we afraid of me giving into my dark side?”

  He sipped at his wine. “I am afraid that you would not make a good decision if you were to consume wine again. When we end up having sex, I want your faculties about you.”