Gwenethslantedaglanceat Ellard as their ship plunged into the darkness of space and the green-and-brown planet of Viros grew smaller.His stubborn jaw appeared hard enough to break her fist—should she decide to hit him, and the thought had crossed her mind.His pretty green eyes remained glued on the instrument panels.His conversation nil.
Her mouth firmed while her brain busily played the angles.Somehow, some way, she had to get him to talk.Something more and better than manly grunts.Flirtation, but nothing too overt.But that needed to come after he started conversing.
An entire cycle portion passed in silence, and she thought back to the advice she’d received from her friends, those who had become her family.
Ry had told her not to prattle at him too much because males didn’t enjoy useless conversation.
Camryn had warned her not to let him bully her because that set a bad precedent.
Jannike had suggested taking him by surprise and tying him up until he succumbed.
Kaya had told her to get her hands on his cock, to pet it and stroke it, and he’d follow her around like a pet.
Nanu had suggested she strip off her clothes and proposed she practice with him.
And Mogens had told her to be herself and trust in fate because the clouds predicted beneficial news.
All excellent advice, but she still needed to get him toseeher as a potential mate instead of a troublesome child, which meant getting him talking.
“Would it be all right if I put on some music?”she asked in desperation, the view gone since they’d long ago left the vicinity of Viros.The bridge of theGallantwas smaller than that of theIndy,with seating for two in front of the instruments—the minimal lights and guidance systems not much in the way of distraction—and the silent disapproval started to weigh on her chest and her conscience.She couldn’t continue this nerve-racking silence for another cycle portion.
He shot her a suspicious glance.“What sort of music?”
“Would you like to hear some Earth music?I have lots of different types.You can choose.Please, the silence is driving me mad.If I can’t play music, I’ll start prattling, and I know you hate that,” she ended in a rush.
They stared at each other for a long moment, but she couldn’t read him.Her stomach twisted, and a frisson of awareness swept her, tiny whooshes of pleasure ghosting across her breasts and to her sex.She experienced the same enjoyment whenever she used her vibrator, so definitely sexual in nature.
Weird.Ellard bore little resemblance to the man of her dreams—the one she’d described to her Earth friend, Olivia.Yes, he was big and strong, but no one could call him handsome.Some might comment on his arm since his right one was artificial.He never spoke much, didn’t initiate conversations, and wasn’t outgoing.Yet no other male made her feel this way.
Only Ellard.
“We could listen to music,” he conceded.
Yes!“I’ll play some of everything.I have lots of different playlists.”
He appeared baffled as he often did when she used Earth jargon.Never mind.She’d start and see what happened.“This is classic rock.”
A gritty male voice started to sing about being back in black.Since Ellard refrained from comment and scanned the instruments before shifting to autopilot, she relaxed a fraction, let the song finish and change to another about champions.Music she’d come to love, and each time one of the familiar songs played memories flashed to the fore.
Memories of her on theIndy.
Memories of dancing and shared laughter.
Memories of family.
Her stomach bucked at the thought, but it was true.Her friends were more family to her than her father had ever been.After the running of the Dowry Derby, he’d handed her over to Ry and turned his back on her.Not once had he attempted to contact her.She took after her mother, and the resemblance counted as an unforgivable sin in his eyes.
Another portion of a cycle passed, less strained thanks to the music.
“Want something to eat?”She unfastened her security harness and stood, aware she’d start blubbering if she continued to think of her father’s rejection.Ellard wouldn’t deal well with tears.She sensed it without proof.
He unfastened his own harness.“I want to research Narenda anyway.I knew of its existence but know little of the planet and its residents.”
“I decided to send the link message to them at the last moment.Lynx and Shiloh suspected the leaders would ignore their invitation.They attempted to land once and were escorted away by fighter ships.”
“What?”He sounded appalled.“Lynx never told me that.I thought this was an easy assignment.”
No, no, no!She’d hate him to insist they turn around and travel back to Viros.“As I mentioned, they responded after everyone else had left.Lynx and Shiloh want to meet all our neighbors and have contact with them.It’s safer that way.Lynx said something about know thine enemy.They are offering a hand of friendship by extending an invitation for us to visit.They’re willing to listen.Besides, do you think Ry and Camryn would let me go to Narenda if they thought the assignment would place me in danger?Or Jannike?”She crossed her fingers and prayed her gabble reassured him.“No, they wouldn’t.Nor would Lynx and Shiloh.Go on, admit it.”She paused because prattling made her mouth dry.She swallowed and swallowed again after sneaking a glance at him.
