“I’ll let you get on with your free time,” Scarlett said.“If you could point me to where we started, I’ll get out of your hair.”
His brow wrinkled, and he lifted his hand to pat his long blond locks.“I don’t understand.No part of you is touching my hair.”
Scarlett grinned.“An old Earth expression.It means I’ll stop bothering you and let you enjoy your day.”
Kane was silent for a moment.“Mistress Aelene says Ransom has fallen asleep and requires his rest.You are not a bother.My friends will want to hear more about the resort your family owns.I know I do.”
“Are you certain?”
“We’ll eat a meal and drink mead at the inn,” Kane said.“You do not require rest.”
This was what she’d wanted.Time away from her family to meet new people who weren’t attempting to find mates.More ticks on her to-do list.Honestly, if she saw another moonstruck woman with sex on her mind, she might barf.So why was she hesitating?
Ransom…
No.The dragon-man was keeping secrets.It was plain he wasn’t telling her everything about why they’d ended up here.
“I’d love to,” Scarlett said.“As long as I won’t be in the way.”
“Don’t worry.My friends are eager to meet you.”
Kane led her along the winding passage that connected the buildings.As they neared the inn, the paths became busier with males and females, all dressed similarly to Kane.Greetings spread from person to person, and curiosity lit their handsome faces as they tried not to stare.She concluded the Elevenoss race didn’t possess ugly people.
Kane ushered her into the Eagle Feather Inn.It was quieter and more orderly than a pub on Earth or in their resort bars.Why wasn’t anyone talking?Laughing?The Elevenoss people drank from tankards and ornately carved horns.Some picked at plates of colorful food with their fingers while others sat at tables and ate with forks and spoons.
Kane guided her to a silent group with a proprietorial hand at the small of her back.As one, everyone turned to face them.It was plain creepy.
“Scarlett doesn’t have telepathy,” Kane said.“You’ll need your oral skills to communicate with her.”
Ah!No wonder the place was quiet.Everyone was mind-speaking.
“Scarlett is from Tiraq, and she and her family own a resort on the island of Ione.”
“What sort of resort?”a man asked.
Scarlett hesitated, then went with the truth.“We run a resort for single females and specialize in captures.”
Kane’s friends stared.
“A capture is when a woman is seized by a man and taken away to a private place for seduction,” Scarlett explained.
One woman frowned.“The women of your species enjoy this?”
“Yes, and not just my race but many of the local aliens.Our resort is fully booked until the end of this rotation,” Scarlett said.“It’s actually nice being away from the flurry of hormones and their desperation for a man.If you ever want a change in occupation, we require more male employees.If any of you are interested, contact the resort and ask to speak to my older brother Saber.He does all the hiring.”
“What about women?”one female asked.“If we are interested in a sexual relationship with another female.”
Scarlett blinked, considered Saber’s reaction and bit back a grin.“Contact my brother and ask.”She could imagine Saber handling that query.It wasn’t something they’d considered, but they should, given the variety of aliens passing through their doors.Some appreciated more than one lover, and she was sure there would be races and people who preferred same-sex relationships.
“I’d be interested in working on another planet,” Kane said.“We are many fighting for a few positions.”
“When we first arrived on Ione Island, my brothers and most of my cousins, our friends were single.All of my brothers have mates now, as do many of my cousins.”
“How many brothers do you have?”a woman asked.
“Five older brothers.Five bossy males who order me around.”
Several women groaned in sympathy, and Scarlett grinned.
