CaressoftheStars Read online

  She felt her face heat. "Is he paying attention?"

  Yes. I am sharing his consciousness, not overriding it entirely.

  "Oh, good. That's nice. Why are you here, dearest star?"

  I wanted to confirm for you that Yaedo is meant for you. I have waited a very long time for your perfect match and do not want you to second guess your instincts. He has been assigned to you for a purpose, but aside from your duties, he is your match in every way.

  Her blush flared a notch higher. "Is he aware of your opinion? He didn't seem too pleased to be near me back home."

  He is aware. He took your initial refusal of contact as a rejection. He was unsure of my opinion of the matter, but I have assured him that you are simply cranky.

  A relieved laugh broke from her. "Thank you, Dekkar. Is there anything else I need to know before we enter the space around the planet?"

  Only that I want your safety to be paramount. You will know when to signal me and I await your call.

  The glow in his eyes faded as the star receded. "I was not expecting that." Yaedo rubbed at his forehead.

  "Neither was I, but our star will do what he wills."

  A proximity alarm went off and alerted them to the approach of another object. Yaedo immediately turned to examine the readouts.

  "A series of satellites are around that planet, but it isn't registering on our systems. It's amazing. I can see the planet, but all that our instruments can see is the satellites."

  Huana checked her scanners, but they were as blind as the main systems. The readouts said that there was no planet, but the satellites and the huge orb in space made them liars.

  "I am going to send a signal through the system and see if we get a ping."

  "I am taking manual control and heading to the surface. Do you have a preferred landing site?"

  "If you can find a clump of living beings, aim for that. If not…" she paused and closed her eyes. Images of a huge mesa burned in her mind, but when she tried to pinpoint the origin of the pictures, it slipped away. "I can take over once we are in the atmosphere. I know where to go."

  "Your seeker talent again?"

  She rubbed her forehead. "No. This is different. A memory that couldn't be mine. Perhaps Dekkar left it behind."

  "I would not be surprised."

  She laughed and pulsed the signal through her systems. It was time to see if anyone was home.

  Hours passed with no returned signal until a tiny beacon on the surface called to them. It wasn't a manned message, but it gave a clear location for landing.

  Their earlier cover story ran into her thoughts as she checked her harness in preparation for landing. "So, I am your servant when we land?"

  "You are, but no one will touch you. That I promise."

  She chuckled nervously. "How chivalrous of you."

  He shot her a rueful glance. "Not really, Dekkar would kill me if anyone touched you before you were ready. He wants you to find the correct place to summon him back to H'skar and I will make that happen."

  His grim tone reminded her that he was in charge of the safety of the temple. She would be well guarded while she was his servant, of that she had no doubt. She also knew how Dekkar planned for her to send the signal and her blush returned full force.

  "I may speak a little roughly to you while we are on the surface, but know that if you call me in any way, you will have me at your side in an instant."

  "Thank you for the warning. I will only call if I am in desperate need."

  His grin sent warmth running through her, pooling low in her belly. "That is what I am counting on."

  The accidental double entendre in her words struck her as the arousal surged in another wave. She fought for composure as they entered the atmosphere, but she was still on edge as they swooped over the small settlement that seemed filled with life that was not being detected by the ship.

  Yaedo's hands guided them safely to the beacon and settled them on a shuttle pad.

  "Are you ready?" Yaedo unbuckled his harness and turned to help her out of hers.

  "I am as ready as I will ever be. I can't help thinking that this place is horribly familiar, though. I feel like I have been here before."

  He helped her to her feet and rubbed her arms gently.

  She swayed toward him and rested her forehead on his chest, inhaling the scent that was Yaedo alone.

  "Then you will know what to do and where to go. That is all that the star can ask of us, that we agree to be in the right place at the right time."

  She looked up and saw his face nearing hers, but a knock at the hatch jolted them apart.

  "I suppose we should begin our façade. Huana, get the door."

  She slumped her shoulders and gave her face a placid look before she walked to admit their visitor.

  "Greetings, travellers." The man appeared to be Hashka, but it was obvious that he wasn't. He didn't have the grace, the style or the subtle scent of male that a Hashka his age would have.

  Silently, Huana bowed and stepped aside to allow him entry into the shuttle.

  Yaedo moved forward to greet their visitor and the man blinked in surprise at the presence of the more powerful male. The false Hashka straightened and tried to puff out his chest, but he was a hollow reflection of the more powerful male.

  "We were flying through the sector and came across your little world. I have never been one to ignore a beacon when it was presented, so here we are." Yaedo bowed gracefully to the stranger.

  "Thank you for stopping. I am Zenik and this is H'skar, the lost world of the stars." Zenik eyed her speculatively.

  "I am Yaedo of Slithinish and this is my servant, Huana. Thank you for your hospitality."

  "What kind of servant?" Zenik licked his lips. He didn't seem affected by the repellent that Dekkar had put on her.

  "Menial tasks. Shall we adjourn to a more comfortable environment?"

  Zenik flushed a dark purple. "Pardon my lack of manners. It is just that I was not expecting anyone. This way. Please, come with me. The celebrations are just getting underway."

  They walked out into the daylight and Huana was once again struck by the familiarity of the surroundings. She had been here before, but her hands had not been blue back then.

  It struck her in a wave of memory. She had been human once, a very long time ago. As Dekkar's beloved, she had been kept from the others and when his folk left H'skar, she had been put into cold sleep until a male worthy of her was available.

  As a matchmaker, Dekkar was a harsh critic and she waited in a sleep tube in the temple for centuries. She waited, that is, until Yaedo was old enough to be her mate.

  "Huana, stop daydreaming! Zenik is arranging something more fitting with the groomers."

  She jerked at his harsh tone and shuffled after them, her hands folded together in front of her. She sighed internally as she braced herself for the groomers. This was not going to be fun, but based on the moans and sighs coming from the interior of the building, blending into the woodwork might just be her best bet.

  Chapter Nine

  Two hours of being poked, prodded, massaged, waxed and oiled finally culminated in an order for Huana to serve wine at the celebrations. Walking carefully with her newly trimmed privates and sensitized skin, she made her way into the wine cellar and began her service.

  Chaos surrounded her, but she kept her pace slow and easy. The bells on her ankles shivered as she walked.

  Huana walked through the halls of the Dekkar temple. The repurposing of the space made her shudder, but she kept it internal. The orgy was in full swing, but no star was going to receive the bounty of the energy being expended here today.

  The chain running between her nether lips irritated, but the shield also kept her from penetration by any of the participants, as did the clear untouchable markings that decorated her body. Her host had carefully provided them as a courtesy to his new guest, Yaedo.

  "Wine!" The male raised his head from between the thighs of his partner.
The woman gave her a slow smile as Huana walked to them with her ankle bells ringing.

  The thick red wine flowed into the cup and he tipped it over the shaved vulva of his partner.

  Huana left them to serve less and less people as the evening wore on. Races and species of every colour and configuration writhed on the marble floor and silken cushions. Many wore the false colours of the fake Hashka.

  So much passion and energy and it was all going to waste.

  Huana Marsh had travelled past a dozen worlds to find this one. Her temple had sent her on a journey to find the planet lost to Dekkar and she had.

  Yaedo and Zenik were watching the festivities. The look on Yaedo's face was polite interest, but Zenik's sick obsession was evident in his fondling of his cock through his thin trousers.

  As the night wore on, Huana noted several halls and a variety of secret doors that should have been known only to the Hashka. They were propped open and giggling couples went down as humans or others and came up as fake blue Hashka. One of the machines was on and it wasn't doing a complete job.

  Huana watched the moon rise, far too close to the planet for stability. Yaedo was biding his time, but she could see that he had a dozen questions to ask.

  When he made a motion with his cup, she tried to fill his wine, but another female was there before her. The uniform of the servants was translucent silk breast band and skirt. The chains that wrapped their bellies was easily visible through the fabric, serving as an anchor for the skirt. Nothing was worn on the feet and the women moved silently.

  The servant trying to get Yaedo's attention was another of the false Hashka. He didn't even glance at her while she rubbed herself against his arm, but Huana needed to stake her claim.

  Carrying her jug in front of her, she walked straight to the podium, swaying her hips deliberately and approaching Yaedo while meeting his curious gaze. The woman on his right was still trying to writhe a response from him, so Huana took his cup from his lax fingers and dumped it over the other woman's head. She then returned the cup to Yaedo's hand and filled it from her own jug.

  "I apologize for my lack of duty, Master, but repaying Zenik's kindness with service was the least I could do." She knelt at his side and he casually dropped his hand to her shoulder.

  Her body began to riot under his touch, while the spluttering female stalked away and Zenik blinked in surprise that her mild disobedience was not remarked on.

  "Huana has been with me for years. Her ways are a little abrupt, but she will remain at my side until I find my true mate. At that point, she will be up for anyone's taking."

  Zenik was staring at Huana in her transformed state. "How can you keep your hands from her now?"

  "I don't need to. Like most Hashka women, she will only become recalcitrant when she is in heat. That is still months away. Up until now, she has been very…hospitable. Dekkar was pleased with her sacrifice."

  He was toying with her elaborately braided locks as if they had been lovers. Huana had seen that manoeuvre in men shortly after tangling with a woman for the first time. Yaedo was depicting them as casual lovers and Zenik was lapping it up.

  "Dekkar will be pleased with all of our sacrifices. We have the celebration on a weekly basis. He is blessing us with the transformation of our people." Zenik was proud of what they were doing.

  "What kind of transformations?"

  "From human and other species into Hashka. I feel stronger than I ever did as a human and am faster, too. I can only imagine what it would be like to be born this way." He flexed his hand and caught the gaze of one of the wine servers. "Can I offer you the use of Henia here? She is most talented with her tongue. It would be a fair trade for use of Huana for a night."

  Yaedo chuckled casually. "A human, even a transformed one, would not have the stamina to withstand a night with me. The Hashka were designed for sex and the changes go far beyond the superficial."

  Zenik frowned and then looked eager. "Can you show me how to change the machine to perfect the design?"

  "I will see. Allow me access to the schematics and I will see what can be done in the morning. For now, I will thank you to show me to where I may rest." He got to his feet and his hand on Huana's hair dragged her with him.

  Zenik snapped his fingers and called over one of the servants.

  She led them down the hall, past alcoves full of moaning couples, until they reached an archway covered with a curtain. "You may rest here."

  Huana almost rolled her eyes at the hopeful gaze of the young woman as it skated over Yaedo. He ignored her and pushed past her ample charms into the room.

  Huana patted the young woman on the shoulder and followed her master into the small room dominated by a huge bed.

  The moment that the curtain fell behind them, Yaedo took her in his arms and whispered in her ear. "We need to share the bed. The curtains are there for a reason, privacy is not paramount here."

  "I understand, but can you help me get this damned chain off first? It is driving me nuts and I can't reach the clasp." She reached up to loop her arms around his neck and felt his smile against her skin.

  "Zenik told me about that. It's a punishment for the servants who don't act properly diffident. You seemed to fit the bill."

  She snorted and arched against him as his fingers worked at the base of her spine. When the chain released, she exhaled in relief. "Tomorrow, we will send the signal."

  "Really? I don't know if I can have self-control until the evening festivities."

  Huana grinned. "Good. We have to start in the morning. The sun itself will act as a relay for the power we are holding. From there, the rest is up to our dearest star."

  His hands stroked her spine slowly. "May I add that your current attire suits you?"

  She grinned into his chest, enjoying the spikes of pleasure that ran through her as he spoke. It had been smart of the stars to design the sound sensitivity into the Hashka females. She simply wanted to stay in his arms and listen to him speak.

  "Don't get used to it. It isn't really practical for my normal day job." Her fingers delighted in the soft hair at the nape of his neck and she relaxed completely against him.

  "A pity. Are you sure that we can't practice summoning the star?" His hands pressed her hips firmly against him and she chuckled at the firm evidence of his desire.

  "I don't think it is wise. If the power streams out of me and there is no way for it to reach Dekkar, we will have to return home to regain the energy lost."

  He sighed heavily and pressed his forehead to her shoulder. "This will be a long night."

  She ran her fingers through his hair, revelling in the silky coolness. "Long is the operative term. I haven't gotten a good night's sleep since we left our world."

  His chuckle warmed her skin. "Let's not ruin your record then. I will take the left side, you take the right."

  They parted reluctantly. Huana's body ached at all points that had been in contact with his. In case of a viewing audience, they slowly removed all clothing in the dim light of the room. Shaking with frustration, Huana crawled into the bedding and waited for the dip of the pallet to indicate she wasn't alone.

  "I look forward to the morning, Huana."

  His body heat and the shift of the mattress kept her awake for hours. She flicked her seeker gaze on when one of the serving girls tried to crawl into their room and onto Yaedo, sending the woman running with a squeak and a scramble. She flicked her gaze back to normal and curled up next to her companion, guarding him in the night against women who wanted to use him for their own pleasure.

  Using his body was her prerogative and Huana's alone. The next bitch coming through that door was going to meet a slightly less-forgiving seeker.

  Abstinence was not in a Hashka's nature and Huana was no exception.

  Chapter Ten

  The morning meal was not well attended. Yaedo and Huana sat with the few folk who had gotten up and enjoyed a ration pack and glass of water.

  Yaedo asked one of
their companions, "Isn't there anything fresh?"

  "Not on the surface. There is a hydroponic farm below, but it is primarily for vegetables. Nothing grows on the surface."

  Huana frowned as she swallowed the dry brick of rations. Her memories were of a green and lush planet. This planet was dry and barren. Nothing was on the surface except this tiny pocket of living beings.

  Whatever the stars had used as a power source was still kicking, but with such a drain on its resources, how long could it last?

  When Yaedo asked about a surface skimmer, the folk at the table were surprised, but he pointed out that they had seen a large crater that was too tempting to ignore.

  Access to the skimmer was arranged as the meal drew to a close and the exhausted people on the floor began to stir.

  "Come along, Huana." Yaedo beckoned for her to follow and in the silky clothing sans chain, she padded after him.

  The moment that they reached the outside air, she breathed a little easier. The scent of sex had been overwhelming.

  She wasn't free to speak until they were in the skimmer.

  "That smell was killing me."

  He laughed and took the controls, manoeuvring them up and away from the settlement. "I know what you mean. They seem to have embraced the idea of sex as worship, but have no concept of moderation."

  "Perhaps Dekkar will instruct them once we have gotten him back in touch with his world." Huana lifted her face to the rising sun, enjoying the flutter of her clothing against her skin. "You need to turn south."

  "I thought we were going to the meteor-strike crater."

  "Not unless you can change the trajectory of the sun. We need to be southeast of here and we need to get there fast. May I?"

  He surrendered the controls and she hit the throttle.

  Yaedo gripped the bars on either side of the flying platform. "Where did you learn to drive this thing?"

  "It's an old skill. Hold tight." Grinning, she geared the skimmer into high, aiming for a plateau in the distance. Arousal and energy flowed under her skin as they got closer and closer to their goal.