Pleasure Dome
L.F. HamptonAvailable from Imajinn Books
| Sol, her mind spinning with terrible possibilities, jerked on her one piece regimentals. Shit-shit-shit, she mumbled to herself. She knew with awful certainty what had happened. Damned wormhole dyslexia. This was the last time she would trust her sight without more questioning even if meant asking a passing stranger. With her boots in hand, she shoved past her playmate only to have him grab her by the upper arm. His grip was strong but not painfully so. It had been tighter last night. Even his voice had been rougher. Now, it echoed lightly in playfulness.
"And just where do you think you're going?" "Me? I've gotten what I came for. I'm leaving." Sol flashed what she hoped was a convincing grin, twisted her arm, and again tried to get out the door. She was wonderfully sore between her legs, and her stomach was doing back flips. Too late now, stupid, stupid, stupid. "Well, I haven't finished with you yet, Captain," the man held her arm again, his warm eyes hopeful. The Dome employee crept closer, his eyes wide. "Oh, may the gods preserve us! Captain Scott." The doorman fully recognized Sol. "I am so terribly sorry, Sir. I knew my robot bellhop was malfunctioning. He must have taken you to the wrong room-to Commander Merriweather's room. How can I ever apologize to you?" The name finally registered with her. Sol's mouth fell open but no sound issued. In shock, she stared at her playmate. She finally understood the identity of her sexual toy. Rage choked her. She couldn't look at him again. With a mute head shake, she jerked her arm lose from Merriweather and scooted past the doorman. But, before she got out the door, the commander called after her. He had no idea that she wanted nothing better than to skewer him. His rough voice still teased. "Wait. I can't see that an apology is necessary. I don't know about the captain, but I'm satisfied. More than satisfied." Merriweather gave that wicked grin that exposed just the tips of his crooked bottom teeth. Why had she thought them endearing earlier? Ignorant of her feelings, he chuckled, "I think she is, too. Right, darlin'?" She ignored the warmth that lay in his pale gaze. "Yes...well, I must be going. I've a thousand things to do." Sol spit the words from between tight lips and hurried out, dodging the next lunge Merriweather made toward her. She skittered down the hall's slick floors and looked back only once. If she stayed much longer, she'd kill the man who was responsible for the best sex she'd ever experienced-and who was indirectly responsible for her forced retirement. God, help her, she hoped he hadn't also fathered her child.
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