Chapter 6
The club was beginning to quiet down. Although most hours it was packed with bodies, even the Double V had its ebbs and flows. He should be finding his own way back to his ship. Instead, he signaled the barkeep for another void.
The man’s face was skeptical when he handed Zelup his drink, but the Vartik ignored him and swallowed the purple liquor until his stomach burned. His race wasn’t as affected by the concoction as others, but after an even dozen, even a Vartik started to feel the effects of the cocktail.
“There you are, sweetie,” a voice said from behind him, a green-tinged arm circling his shoulder. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Go away, Sheveen. You’ve caused enough trouble tonight.”
The female laughed. “Trouble is my middle name, Z.”
“More like annoying. I’ve told you multiple times, I’m not interested.” He wasn’t. There was nothing wrong with the woman. She was appealing, with her green skin and long dark hair, but her constant pursuit put him on edge. It was clear that she wouldn’t be happy with a one-and-done scenario. She wanted more, and Z wasn’t interested in giving it.
“But you promised to do the zero-g tango with me, remember?” She pouted prettily, a look that he was sure would work on scores of other men. Not him.
“That was before you scared off my evening’s diversion,” he grumbled. It was a strange position to be in, to be the one wanting more than a quick and pleasurable distraction. He’d been looking for the human female all night, but he hadn’t found her again.
All he had left to prove to himself that she had ever existed was a pair of shredded lace panties still fragrant with her unforgettable scent.
Sheveen shrugged lazily. “That human you were with earlier? She’s nothing special.”
Her words irritated Zelup. Because he passed as human, and for a very good reason, most patrons of other races assumed his tastes ran more exotic than human females. And Z had always considered himself an equal opportunity playboy. But at the moment, he was completely captivated by the small human female who’d escaped him before things had gotten really interesting.
“I beg to differ,” he said, standing up and only stumbling a little as he made his way toward the exit.
“Come on, Z,” the green-skinned female said, sliding close to him again. “You’re in no shape to leave. Why don’t we go up to your room and—”
“Never,” he snarled, pulling away. “Never with you. You hear me? Now stop bothering me.”
Her face looked as if it had been slapped. Later, he was sure he would regret his harsh tone, but in his current mood, he didn’t give a fuck who he offended.She’s probably right about my being too drunk, the part of his mind where the last of his sobriety lived piped up.But I don’t want to return to my room. It still smells like her.
Instead, he stumbled down the streets until he located his cruiser. It took longer than he expected since he couldn’t remember where he’d parked it. When he finally recalled how to work the hatch, he climbed inside, heading straight for the small bedroom in the back. Within moments, he was face down on the bunk.
Although he was on the edge of passing out, wakefulness lingered. Thoughts of the evening’s prey and her escape kept him from abandoning consciousness. Sheveen had said there was nothing special about her. She couldn’t have been more wrong if she’d tried.
The little human had been the definition ofspecial. She was delicate, finely formed, her alabaster skin seeming to glow from within, reminding him of an ancient marble statue of a goddess. Her light brown hair had shone with golden highlights, a few riotous curls tumbling around her shoulders. And those dusky lips, paired with high cheekbones and an elegantly arched brow. Perfection had a name and it was—
Fuck. I never found out her name.
He knew nothing about her, other than she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen and she tasted like the wine of the gods. He’d wanted to rip the mask from her face, so enamored had he been. Little could be seen through the lace, the mask even seeming to tint her eyes so that he hadn’t been able to make out their color. The mystery of the female was driving him crazy with lust.
Zelup groaned into his pillow. A royal Vartik male, laid low by his desire for a tiny human who’d run away after he’d wrung two stunning climaxes from her.
His brain started to replay those climaxes and he felt his cock straining against his pants. It was angry, furious at being denied entry into the beautiful temple of femininity he’d worshipped at earlier.
Barely able to think, he dragged himself into the shower, turning the spray to cold. He’d get no sleep with his cock throbbing so painfully. He stepped into the icy water, his teeth chattering as he waited for the temperature to do its trick.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep thoughts of the sexy little female from his mind. Instead of going down, his dick was harder than ever. With a groan, he leaned back against the tiles and took himself in hand. Remembering her taste had him licking his lips. It was only a few strokes before he was coming, his muscles tight, his back arched, his teeth gritted. It was a massive orgasm, brought on by only the memory of her.
He rinsed quickly and returned to bed, this time willing himself to find sleep before the memories overtook him again. Already, his cock was twitching. With a sigh, Zelup realized he was in for a long night.
It was hours later when he cracked an eye open. A horrid buzzing had jarred him awake, blending into his dreams and pulling him out of them. “Shut up,” he mumbled into the pillow, repeating his request at a louder volume when the buzzing persisted. At last, he pulled himself up, realizing that the sound wasn’t going to go away without his tending to it.
The console was lighting up with an incoming communication. Hitting the button, he found himself staring into his brother’s smiling visage. Calabez laughed when he caught sight of his brother’s state.
“No need to dress formally for my call, but I had expected at least some pants.”
“What the fuck do you want, Cal?”
