Acting Out (4 page)

“Thank you again for your offer to take me into the city to
explore, Zandar,” Jessica told her escort the following afternoon.

The large T’Kalan warrior grinned down at the small human
female and replied, “I wish you had allowed me to retrieve you from the king’s
compound instead of having a conveyance bring you to the city. It would set my
mind at ease had you been accompanied by an armed escort.”

Jessica rolled her eyes behind her replicated sunglasses. “I
have a feeling that wouldn’t have been wise. The king and I have reached an
understanding about my visit here, but he was none too happy with my conditions
and I would hate for you to get caught in the crosshairs of our argument.”

“Crosshairs? That word does not translate, but I gather your
meaning all the same. Does King Korian know you are visiting with me? I ask
only so that I may be prepared should he be displeased at our time together,”
Zandar replied, his voice cautious.

Jessica waved his concern away and her answer was flip. “I
didn’t ask for his permission and it’s none of his business who I spend my time
with anyway. Enough about the king. I want to see everything!”

Zandar’s laugh was deep and he gently guided his guest
toward the open-air market in the center of the capital. P’Hartha was not the
largest city on T’Kala, but it was still bustling with activity and was the
political and economic center for his world. Jessica felt like a bobble-head as
she craned her neck to see all the sights the alien world had to offer, and she
was amazed all over again at how clean everything was and how friendly the
citizens were. Her research via the computerized system in Korian’s home
explained that T’Kala operated on a type of progressive socialism where each
citizen was provided with the basic necessities as long as they contributed in
some way to their society. If they did not have jobs or careers, then each
citizen was expected to perform so many hours of community service a week in
order to provide for their families. It seemed to work well for the planet, but
it was also over 100 times smaller than Earth in population.

As Jessica strolled arm-in-arm with her companion, she
peppered him with questions about the solar energy the planet had perfected,
architecture, and different alien species they encountered on their way to the
market. The one thing she stubbornly refused to ask about was King Korian. No
matter that she kept replaying, over and over in her mind, the feeling of his
strong arms holding her off the ground or the growled possessiveness of his
voice. Zandar was a perfect gentleman, patiently answering her queries, and
even stopping to introduce her to those who hailed him by name. There was
little chance of her being recognized, since so few of the nobles shopped in
the market. Zandar had explained that many of them either shopped off-world, or
they placed orders for delivery through the computerized systems.

When they approached a storefront that housed unusual
animals, she tugged on his arm and pointed. “Zandar, what is this place?”

His icy brown eyes followed the path of her finger and he
exclaimed, “Ah! That would be the companion retailer. Would you like to see
them?”

Jessica barely waited for his offer before she was pulling
him toward the door. “When you say ‘companion,’ do you mean that these animals
are kept by T’Kalans in their homes?” When he nodded his agreement of her
assessment, she clapped in glee. “On Earth, we call them ‘pets.’ Most people
keep dogs or cats, but some of them also keep birds, fish, and reptiles,” she
explained.

She was overwhelmed by the myriad types of animals
available. One case held long, wriggling animals that resembled nothing more
than furry scarves. At Zandar’s encouragement, she picked up a white and gray
spotted one and shrieked in surprise when it immediately began to climb up her
arm by twining itself in spirals. It finally came to rest around her neck where
one of its ends caressed her face and vibrated with a rumbling purr.

Jessica laughed nervously. “You better take this thing off
of me, Zandar. Somehow, I just can’t trust anything without a face that I can
see.”

The warrior laughed and retrieved the
skinkt
and
placed it back in its cage. Another display caught her eye, and she dragged her
escort over to it in order to coo in delight. The animal resembled a cross
between a panda bear and a raccoon, but they were only the size of newborn
Labrador puppies. The shop keeper, a friendly T’Kalan woman, scooped two out of
the container and handed the wriggling animals to her.

“Oh, my God! Zandar, what are these?” she cooed as she
cuddled them against her neck. Their fur was as soft as down and they emitted a
scent reminiscent of crushed peppermint.

Zandar chuckled before explaining, “These are called
bimbops
.
They are imported from a territory on the other side of the planet and are one
of the priciest companions to purchase. These are but younglings, and they will
only grow to be about three times their current size. They are very loyal
companions, easily trained, and their fur will grow longer as they age. They
are highly sought after by the rich nobles for their ingrained instinct to
protect and defend younglings of any species. I had the misfortune to come
across an adult
bimbop
when I visited the home of my sister after the
birth of my first niece. I was lucky to have made it to a medi-unit before I
lost three of my fingers.”

Jessica laughed along with the warrior and continued to
cuddle and run her nose through the sinfully soft fur of the strange animals.
“Oh, I wish I could have one,” she stated wistfully as one of the wriggling
masses of black and white fur burrowed into her hair and crooned with a soft
burr
burr
.

Zandar lifted his hand and hailed the busy shopkeeper.
“Please contact the king’s residence and speak with his secretary. Tell her
that King Korian’s human guest would like to purchase a
bimbop
youngling.” The shopkeeper hurried to do his bidding, likely seeing a large
commission in her future.

Jessica’s bright blue eyes snapped up in surprise. “Oh, no,
Zandar! I can’t have one of these! I have to go home in a month’s time. What
would I do with it when I go?”

Zandar reached out to tuck a strand of her fiery hair behind
her ear. “If you do decide to return to your world, then I am sure Lieutenant
Commander Mahoney will be glad to take over the care of your companion.
However, perhaps you will grow too attached to it and wish to stay,” he replied
lightly, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

The shopkeeper trotted back to their side and her face was
wreathed with a wide smile. “King Korian sends his regards and bid me tell his
guest to purchase whatever she wishes. He further added that you have only to
charge any purchases to his estate during your time in the city.”

Jessica’s heart squeezed at this show of generosity from
Korian. She would have to make sure to thank him when she returned to the
compound this evening. With her eyes shining with happiness, she told the
saleswoman, “I’ll take this one.” She indicated the one currently napping in
her hair and regretfully handed back the extra.

“Excellent choice, my lady. The one you hold is a female,
and they are very loyal and protective of their owners,” she assured her.

Jessica and Zandar spent the next half an hour selecting
bedding, toys, collars, and food, and the shopkeeper assured her they would all
be delivered to the compound before her return. Her final purchase was a
fashionable sling made of sturdy, pale purple material for her to carry her new
companion around as they continued their jaunt. As she settled the sleeping
bimbop
inside the padded opening, she ruthlessly squashed the thought that she had
chosen the sling’s color because they reminded her of Korian’s eyes.

Jessica’s spirits soared even higher as they finally made
their way into the heart of the marketplace. There were stalls as far as her
eyes could see hawking every kind of ware she could imagine and many she
couldn’t. The air was heavy with the mouthwatering scents of cooking food, and
her stomach growled in complaint. Zandar chuckled at her chagrined look and grabbed
her hand to drag her to a nearby stand that sold a T’Kalan specialty that
resembled a falafel. The breading was soft and chewy, the meat was tender and
spicy, and the vegetables gave it a distinct crunch that Jessica enjoyed.

After their impromptu meal, they continued to stroll through
the marketplace, laughing and sharing stories as they went. Jessica was having
a wonderful time with the warrior and found him to be easy to talk to and quite
funny and gentle for a man who was so tall and intimidating in appearance. He
never grew frustrated or impatient with her questions and willingly followed
along as she flitted from one stall to the next. He even gamely helped her
select several different headscarves, even though he protested at the idea of
her covering her unusual-colored hair.

 It didn’t take long before she realized that gossip about
her had spread quickly from the companion store. Many shopkeepers began to
shout out such things as “Pretty human, our king would love to see his guest in
this dress!” or “King Korian would no doubt enjoy seeing this jeweled clip in
your hair!” It wasn’t very original as far as sales pitches were concerned, but
she did her best to at least browse each stall that beckoned her, even if she
didn’t always purchase from them. She did select a jeweled hair clip that had a
T’Kalan warrior dagger designed in phosphorescent silver stones. It was intricately
designed, down to the detail, in miniature fashion and it was both feminine and
tough.  
For Mahoney
, she reasoned, though she thought she might wear it
to the gala the next evening first. By the time the twin suns began to descend
toward the horizon, Jessica was exhausted, but elated, with her outing with
Zandar, and not just because her purchases left King Korian several thousand
credits poorer.

As they made their way back toward the main thoroughfare
where her conveyance awaited her, Jessica leaned her head against Zandar’s arm
while they strolled unhurriedly through the bustling crowd. Her heart was
overflowing with happiness, and she couldn’t wait to get back to the compound
so she could send a transmission to Mahoney and tell her all about it.

Glancing up at her escort, she said, “Zandar?” When his eyes
met hers with warmth, she continued, “I can’t thank you enough for today. I had
such a good time with you.”

Zandar picked up Jessica’s hand from where it was hooked
around his elbow and brought it to his lips for an innocent kiss. “It was my
pleasure and honor to be allowed to spend time with you today, Jessica. Perhaps
we may be able to see each other again soon, if your schedule permits? Of
course, I will be at the king’s gala tomorrow night, but it will not be the
same as having you to myself.”

Jessica came to a stop next to the hovering conveyance and
faced the warrior for their goodbye. “I would love to see you again. As soon as
I know my schedule, I’ll send you a transmission and let you know when I will
next be free.” Careful not to jostle or squish her new pet, she wound her arms
around his waist and hugged him tight. She felt his body tense for a split
second before he returned her hug gently.

Reaching down to tip her chin up with his finger, he slowly
lowered himself until his lips pressed softly against her cheek for several
long moments. Drawing back once more, he searched her eyes for something
unknown to her. “I cannot speak plainly my intentions while you are under the
king’s protection, but just know that when your month with him has expired, we
will both be free to make our own choices and declarations. Do you understand my
meaning, Jessica?”

She nodded her head silently, her eyebrows lowered with
consternation. With one final wave of farewell, she slid inside the plush
interior of the hover craft. Her heart was full of turmoil and her pleasure in
the day dimmed as she scooped her new pet out of the sling and cuddled her to her
cheek.

“My sweet little
bimbop
, what should I do? How can
that kiss from Zandar leave me cold when he is so kind and gentle and
wonderful, and yet Korian can leave me a trembling wreck of desire even after
he rejects me and leaves me wanting?” she whispered into the minty-scented fur
of the wriggling alien pet. She kissed the soft, downy fur between its rounded
ears and settled back into the seat for her trip back to the compound and the
one warrior she wanted who didn’t want her back.

It was late evening and Jessica found herself in her rooms
unpacking her purchases and putting them away while her new pet scampered after
her every step. Since it was late enough to prepare for bed, she had slipped
into a light green silk chemise with an overwrap belted around her waist. She
tried on her new headscarves, slipped a purple jeweled collar on her companion,
and sang softly under her breath as she bundled the package wrappings together
to dispose of in the incinerator.

A light chime sound at her door startled her, and her little
bimbop
stiffened and began to growl in a tiny, baby voice that made her
laugh. “Come in!” she called out, laughter still in her voice.

The door slid open to reveal Korian standing uncertainly in
the threshold, his hands buried in the pockets of his loose trousers. Jessica
felt her heart give a leap in her chest, but she tempered the smile that had
started to form on her lips and she greeted him cautiously. “King Korian, I
wasn’t expecting you, or I would have dressed more appropriately.”

A lazy half-grin pulled his lips up at the corner. “My
apologies for calling on you so late, Jessica. I only wanted to ensure that you
were well and that you had no troubles with your shopping today.” His ghostly
lavender eyes traveled up and down her length, and he added, “And I have no
complaints about your attire, for that matter. It is quite…becoming on you.”

Jessica could feel the heat climbing up her chest and
seeping into her face. “Thank you, Korian. Won’t you come in for moment? I’d
like the opportunity to thank you for your generosity today.”

Korian tipped his head in agreement and strolled deeper into
her rooms. The small, squeaky sound of a growl stopped him in his tracks and he
looked down to see the little black and white bundle of fur vibrating with
warning at his feet. His eyes lit up with delight and he slowly lowered himself
into a squat to better view the tiny protector. With cautious ease, he placed
his hand flat to the floor and waited. A few moments later, the baby
bimbop
slowly approached him, her nose quivering, until she was right upon the king’s
hand. When she determined that he was no threat, she began to make the adorable
burr burr
noise and Korian smiled. Gently, he scooped the small animal
into his hand and stood back to his feet to cuddle the creature against his
wide, muscled chest.

“She is adorable and already very fierce,” Korian chuckled
as he ran his finger over her downy head. “Have you decided on a name yet?”

Jessica couldn’t take her eyes off of where the king held
the small creature so gently and lovingly against him. Swallowing past the
dryness of her throat, she croaked, “Don’t tell on me, but I started calling
her Little Mahoney after we got home and she began to growl at everyone that
approached me. Somehow, I don’t think that the real Mahoney will be honored.”
Jessica chuckled nervously, unsure of how to react around Korian after their
last disastrous meeting.

Korian, completely at his ease, took a seat on the bed and
played with the animal by rubbing its nose and allowing it to gnaw on his
calloused finger while it playfully growled and clutched his hand between its
paws. “I think it is an appropriate name, for this little one is already quite
protective of her mistress. You know, I had two
bimbops
when I was growing
up, and they were my most faithful and loving companions. I still miss them,
even after all these years.”

Jessica found herself drifting closer to man sitting on her
bed. He was so relaxed and had his guard down for the first time since they
met. She was intrigued by this glimpse into the real man instead of one of the
masks that the king was forced to wear. She wanted to know more, see more, and
she settled herself several feet away on the bed next to him.

“I wanted to thank you for allowing me to purchase her. I
was told that they are quite pricey, but I’m afraid I still don’t understand
your monetary systems enough to determine exactly how much I spent today. I
hope I didn’t go overboard. I tried to keep my purchases within a reasonable
limit, but there was just so much to see. The marketplace is amazing! I could
have stayed there all day and still not have seen everything on display,”
Jessica gushed, her excitement from the experience returning to brighten her
expression.

Korian’s eyes softened and his smile was genuine when he
replied, “You have no need to thank me, Jessica. Not only was it my pleasure to
provide you the means to make you happy, it is also my duty to ensure you have
everything you need or want. Allow me to also put your mind at ease about the
credits spent today. The amount was so little that my secretary chastised me
for being stingy with my guest. I only wish that you had felt free to spend
more. Perhaps I can take you to visit the global market in the city of U’Tira
before you leave. It is only two hours away by hover craft, and their market is
easily three times the size of this one.”

Jessica reached out to run her finger over the fur of the
animal now lightly snoozing against the king’s neck. She felt unaccountably shy
at the king’s offer, but she agreed readily. “I would like that very much if you
have the time to spare, Korian.”

His gaze snapped up to spear her to the spot and his voice
was low and full of heat when he replied, “I will make the time for you,
Jessica.”

Jessica’s cheeks burned and she dropped her gaze, ostensibly
to resume petting her sleeping companion. “I should put her to bed,” she
murmured, changing the subject. “She’s had a long day.”

Jess slid her hands beneath the warm bundle of fur and tried
not to shiver with reaction at the spark of awareness that flooded her system
when she grazed Korian’s throat. He closed his eyes and tipped his head back to
give her more room, and she had the wild desire to lean down and lick the
column of his throat to see if she could feel his pulse against her tongue.
Instead, she bundled the
bimbop
against her breasts and carried it over
to a crate and nestled the creature inside the warm, cushioned bed she had
prepared inside it.

She stalled on returning to the temptation of the man
sitting on her bed and fussed over the sleeping companion until she could no
longer find an excuse to stay away. Instead, she began to pull her purchases
out and show them to Korian, placing distance and false cheer between them, and
even modeled some of the headscarves for his enjoyment. She almost showed him
the dagger hair pin, but she held back with the thought that she wanted to
surprise him with it. Korian was good company, keeping the tone of their
conversation light, and only a brief flash of scorn crossed his face when
Jessica thoughtlessly dropped Zandar’s name, but it disappeared as quickly as
it came as the king politely inquired after the warrior’s good health.

Before she knew it, an hour and a half had passed while they
chatted and laughed, and Jessica filled him on her exciting day and what she
enjoyed most. Korian was warm and polite, his smiles and laughter genuine, and
Jessica only caught his eyes lingering on her body a few times before he looked
elsewhere.

Korian stood from the bed and announced, “I fear I have kept
you too late, Jessica. Tomorrow is an important day for us both, and you need
your sleep. I will send Enahara to you tomorrow to help you dress, and my
secretary will meet with you in the morning to go over the agenda for the gala.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.”

Jessica drifted closer to him. She was loathe to see him go
so soon, and she craved more of this man who had dropped his guard and allowed
her to see his true self. That spark of devilment inside her prompted her to
speak without thinking. “Am I allowed to contact you for any other reason than
questions or concerns? What if I just want to say hello, or ask you about your
day?”

Korian’s eyes heated and he slowly moved closer to where she
was standing until she had to crane her head back to meet his eyes. “I would
like that very much, and I would hope that you feel free to call on me at any
time and for any reason. As I said earlier, I will always make time for you,
Jessica.”

He ran his knuckles down the curve of her cheek, and her
body shivered at his touch. She longed to twine her hands behind his neck and
pull him down to her lips, but he reluctantly dropped his hand and took a step
back. “Until tomorrow, my
thalia
,” he murmured, his lips quirked with a
deprecating smile.

She watched as he turned and walked out the doorway without
another backward glance. As the door panel slid closed behind him, she shivered
with a sudden chill. She rubbed the goosebumps on her arms and pulled back the
covers on her bed. She was unaccountably sad all of a sudden, and exhaustion
seemed to pull her down until she was snuggled beneath the warm covers. It was
a long time before she stopped shivering, but even longer until her eyes closed.