Chapter 12
Zelup made his way over to Ladee, who was watching their exchange from his own bench. “Do you know which of these packages contain groceries?”
The fox looked up at him, light winking off his little monocle. “Yes,” he said after a moment, unfolding his arms from across his chest and wheeling forward. “They have a little triangle like this.” He pointed to a printed symbol on the corner of one of the boxes.
“Good,” the Vartik responded, keeping his voice low and shooting a glance at the female. She was handing a tablet back to the droid, who then rolled its way out of the lab. Zelup watched the door slide shut behind it, then noticed the green light above the panel flash to red. He’d kept his eyes on the locking panel when the little doctor had opened up for the droid. Having memorized the combination, he felt more secure in his ability to get back into the lab without having to resort to his powers of persuasion.
The human female was examining the pile of supplies, cutting into one of the larger boxes and beginning to sort through it. Her back was to him, and her shoulders were stiff. So far, the only thing he’d accomplished was to piss her off, and that wasn’t part of his mission. Maybe he could get back into her good graces. It couldn’t hurt to try.
Going down to his haunches, he spoke softly to the fox. “I know there’s a kitchen in this place. She’s clearly going to be busy for the next hour or so, sorting through this stuff. If you help me bring the food to the kitchen, I’ll make something for us all to eat.”
“I don’t eat,” Ladee said with a sniff, as if he would never condescend to do anything so disgusting. “I am powered with a battery that is constantly recharged by my own internal processes.”
Zelup gave the robot a deadpan expression. The little foxlike creature gave out a long sigh, then picked up one of the boxes and set off toward a door on the far right of the laboratory. Quickly scouting out a few packages with the triangle adorning them, he scooped them up and followed after the robot.
The fox rolled through the door and into living quarters that were more spartan than he would have predicted. The entry area had a small couch and an armchair clustered around a small table. The next room was a galley kitchen coupled with a round table and two chairs. There were two more rooms, each with open doors. One was clearly a bathroom, while the other housed a modestly sized bed piled with so many pillows that he wondered if they were reproducing while he watched.
Zelup set the boxes down on the counter, noticing a small fridge, a sink, a dishwasher, and a stovetop and oven that looked to be brand new. Perhaps the kitchen didn’t get much use.
His mother had always had a fondness for cooking, and even though she’d been a queen, she enjoyed preparing meals for the family and had taught each of her children to cook. Some had little interest in the subject, but she’d schooled them all until they had mastered omelets, roasted meat, seared vegetables, and cakes from scratch. Some of her pupils, like himself and his brother Nojan, had stuck around to learn more advanced techniques.
Cooking had a way of centering him, of letting him think clearly. Sadly, as head of the Vartik security forces, he had few chances to enjoy the task. Now, with the way his mind was reeling from being close to the sexy scientist, he looked forward to meditating while making a meal.
And if the little doll decided she liked his cooking, maybe she’d realize he wasn’t the sex-crazed fiend she thought him to be.
Well,she’s not wrong. Around her, I become a fiend. For her scent. For the smoothness of her skin. For the softness of her lips.
Zelup adjusted the growing bulge in his pants and forced himself to concentrate on the objective at hand. The fox reappeared, having returned to the lab for more supplies. Soon, there was a nice little stack of boxes around them. He and Ladee worked together to find proper places for each of the groceries, Zelup taking stock of what they had while they worked, determining how to make the most appealing offering.
“What does she like?” he asked as he opened another box. Most of what came out was in its own packaging. Pre-arranged meals that even had their own heating or cooling mechanisms. He pulled out several pre-made dishes and frowned.
Ladee shrugged. “My interests don’t tend toward cataloging all of Dr. Illya’s habits,” he said in his formal tone. “But generally, she thinks as little as she has to about food, or anything except science really.”
That about summed it up, Zelup realized. It was going to be a challenge to create anything appetizing with the dearth of fresh ingredients they had. Still, he wouldn’t let things get him down. He’d find a way to construct something satisfying while convincing the little doctor that she had to make time for the little things, like fresh meals, for her own good.
As he piled up his supplies, he came to the recognition that looking at the good doctor’s life was akin to peering into a mirror. His obsession with his coming rule and his determination to be the best king his people could have left little time for relaxation and the small things in life. Despite that, he still found time to visit the Double V on occasion and to join his family for meals. Dr. Illya didn’t even have those sporadic refuges. Her entire life was tied up in her work.
Vowing to somehow get her out of the lab while still achieving his mission, he chopped, stirred, and broiled. As he turned the problem over in his mind, he was struck suddenly by the fact that he seemed to be plotting something long term with the little lady.
I’m supposed to find the crystal thing and get back to Vartik.A dalliance with this beautiful female is not in the cards. Sure, if she happens to allow me between those tender thighs again before I find the Guardian, I’d be happy to show her the heights of pleasure. But nothing more is possible.
A deep feeling of regret covered him like a rogue wave, pulling him under the surface. Females were useful for a good time but they were not for keeping. Until he was provided with his Vartik bride, none of them could be permanent. No matter how much he might want them to be.
Was that what he wanted from the little doctor? A permanent partner? There was some appeal to the thought. Not only was her body a delight, but her mind was simply amazing. He’d met smart people before, like the nerd Nojan, but Illya’s brain was off the charts in comparison. Perhaps her intellect might intimidate weaker men, but Zelup would feel blessed to possess a woman so skilled and smart.
She also had a biting wit. And a way of looking at him like he was the only male in the world, the only one she’d ever wanted. The only one to make her surrender to a pleasure so sweet, it bordered on addictive. That look was worth any amount of sass.
But you can’t keep her.No matter how much you might want to.
Not wanting to experience the blaze of emotions that sentiment kindled, Zelup turned off his thoughts and focused solely on cooking, seeking the calm the act usually brought. It was a struggle, but at last, he was able to bring together his ingredients into something delicious.
He only hoped his little doll liked it. Maybe it would calm her down as much as creating it had him. The Vartik male dug through cabinets, pulling out plates, napkins, silverware, and two glasses. Unfortunately, the shipment had not included any wine or liquor, not even the Earth beverage, beer, that humans so seemed to enjoy.
Zelup managed to uncover some fruit juice and shrugged, filling the glasses and hoping it paired well with what he’d made. It had been slim pickings, but he’d pieced together enough fresh vegetables to create a salad of sorts, with dressing he’d made from lemon, garlic, Killian honey, olive oil from the farms on Quipp 17, and some herbs and spices.
The salad was only the starter. For the main course, he’d found a pack of bacon inside an ingeniously designed stasis field in the fridge. He couldn’t say how long it had been in there, but it was as fresh now as the day it’d been bought. Modifying an old favorite of his mother’s, he’d built a meat pie with flaky layers of crust interspersed with the bacon, exotic cheese from an exclusive shop on Anthruia which only grew more savory as it aged, and a tuber from Xax that he’d pulled out of several pre-packaged meals.
Then, for dessert, Zelup had created a sugar sculpture that resembled vines of leaves that were dotted with red flowers he’d made from gelatin and red tea from Mars. It was lovely to look at and tasted sweet and refreshing. He’d just finished setting the table when he heard the living quarters door whoosh open.
