Astonish (2 page)

She was wrapped from chest to hip in tight fabric and the flowing skirt swept the floor. Her hair was knotted, but the rest of her was fine. She was dry, relaxed and she finished drinking the water before she opened the door to smile at Gilla again.

“Come, Ceelie. We will help you prepare for this evening.”

Ceelie blinked and tilted her head slightly. “What is this evening?”

“You are our guest, you will be at our feast.” Gilla tugged her along, her smooth hand gripping Ceelie’s arm.

Under social restraint, Ceelie followed her hostess to a large gathering of women. They sat her down, polished her nails, brushed her hair and draped a heavily jewelled necklace over her head.

“Thank you for speaking in Common. It makes me much more comfortable.” Ceelie’s comment to Gilla was met with a look of confusion.

“What do you mean, Ceelie? We are speaking the language of Hassoi and Hassoi has given you understanding.”

That little bit of information caused Ceelie to revaluate her mind. There was indeed something there that had not been there before. She touched her forehead out of reflex and the woman working on her nails gave a light hiss.

Chastened, Ceelie returned to a passive state. “Do you do all of this for regular visitors?”

“We don’t usually have visitors. This is what Hassoi wished us to do and so we do it.” The young woman buffing her nails smiled. “We don’t mind. He asks so little and gives so much that it is a joy to make him happy.”

The other women smiled and nodded. There was no malice, no fear, only open hearts and open minds.

It was refreshing to see folk who were not obsessed with either ignoring or worshiping their avatar. Hassoi seemed to simply be part of their everyday life.

When one of the young women brought her some more water in a carved wood cup, Ceelie took it gladly. She was thirsty and the water slipped down her throat to cool her everywhere it touched.

She offered what was left in her cup to Gilla, but the older woman shook her head. “That water is for you alone. Enjoy it.”

There was something behind that comment, but Ceelie drank the water, enjoying the feel of it as it seemed to run through her veins.

When the light took on a red tint, the women got her to her feet and led her back to the shuttlecraft.

“Why isn’t the evening planned in the village?” Ceelie didn’t want to be rude, but it seemed strange to walk the distance to the shuttle with all the food in tow.

“He has not been offered the hospitality of the village, only the planet. He will wait until the morning to meet with the avatar, but we give him the offer of food.”

Oh crap. Keeln was not going to be happy about the pampering she had received.

“You will remain with us while you are here. Hassoi insists that you are to be given every courtesy.”

Ceelie nodded, but she couldn’t help the frisson of fear that snaked up her spine. Getting into that shuttle with a disgruntled Ambassador was a ticket to being launched out the airlock.

He would have to pay a penalty or find a reasonable excuse to ditch her, but she knew that she wouldn’t survive this trip if he was on it.

With the women around her, she was cajoled onto a chair carved into the base of one of the trees and a canopy was erected to protect her from the direct light of the fading sun.

Ambassador Keeln tried to come over and question her a few times, but the men and women of Hassoi barred him from her presence. She wanted to ask the mind of the planet what was going on, but he was no longer active in her mind.

A deep voice asked, “Care for more water, lady?”

She reached out and her hand collided with one that was far larger and stronger than any of the women in her gathering.

He had spoken in the language of the Hassoi, but his body was far more dense than that of the forest people.

Unlike the others who wore only shirts and trousers, the male holding the carved cup was dressed in boots, snug black trousers with a sinfully faithful fit and a soft green shirt cuffed with leather. A hood covered his features and all she could see was the green glow of his eyes.

Mute, she reached out to take the cup. He steadied her hand with his own and she felt a surge of energy running up her arm to pool in all of her pleasure centres.

The flavour of the energy was familiar and she squeaked out, “Hassoi?”

“Rimeer and Hassoi. We have wanted to meet you since Erocan first told us of you.” He inclined his head and she could sense the smile.

“Erocan? Oh, the avatar on Feeni.”

The water-born avatar had been a pleasure to work with and the planet had been very kind to her.

“Indeed, he was very impressed with you. He was not impressed with the Ambassador’s behaviour when he thought no one was looking.” Rimeer took a casual seat at her feet and leaned against her thigh.

Ceelie fought the urge to rest her hand on his head. His warmth was comforting as was the sheer physical presence that he wore. “So, that is why you decided to separate me from him?”

“We separated him from you, but yes. He does not deserve to have you as an assistant or in any other capacity.”

“I think he is frustrated because the other capacities are forbidden to him.”

Rimeer-Hassoi turned to her and she saw a high cheekbone and chiselled lips in the last of the sunset. “That would probably explain it. Males despise being denied what they want.”

 “It has never been an option for him. Why would he bother wanting what he cannot have?”

Rimeer-Hassoi smiled and stroked her ankle under her gown. The sensation was astonishing. Her blood started to pound in her veins and her body was awash in pleasure.

She bit her lip and stifled a moan. “How are you doing that?”

He smiled and the glow in his eyes became intense.
Drink your water, Ceelie.

Chapter Three

“It is in the water?” Her hiss got the attention of the Hassoi women nearby. They looked from her to the avatar and smiled with relieved expressions.

Rimeer-Hassoi took the cup from her and sipped it. “It isn’t
in
the water. It
is
the water. The water is from the closest spring to the heart of Hassoi and it passes through every stream and glacier on this continent before coming to a tiny stream known only to the village elders and myself. The word for the water is Hassoi Bond.”

She didn’t know what to do. “You bonded to me without telling me?”

He laughed, a rich sound that rustled the leaves in the trees and twisted the wind through the clearing.

* * * *

The Hassoi folk in the clearing smiled as one. Their planet was amused and that was a good sign. For years, he had sought a mate, a partner to call his own. The current Hassoi had evolved, but they were no longer compatible as companions for their world. It hurt that he had to seek a mate from another species, but seeing the light in his eyes as he looked at the lady, it was obvious that he had found a woman who could give him joy.

If their avatar felt joy, the entire world would benefit.

* * * *

“It seemed the best course of action as I could not speak to you until we were bonded. Well, I could have spoken in Common, but it lacks a certain amount of charm when engaged in a courtship. The language of my people is so much more expressive.”

She blinked down at him and realized that they had been conversing in the liquid words of the Hassoi.

He handed her the cup he had just been sipping from, “Drink your water, Ceelie.”

Absently, she took the water and sipped until she noticed that her obedience was causing the glow of his eyes to intensify.

“Is my drinking water turning you on?”

He blinked rapidly. “I believe it is. Rimeer is pleased that you will follow orders. His people were considerably bigger than the Hassoi of today and he is worried about the fit. The water will help with that.”

She felt her cheeks turn scarlet. “I don’t…I mean…The Alliance…”

“Has already given me their blessing. You are a class zero and thus your genes are ideal for this kind of gradual manipulation. Your personality is stable and a complement to Rimeer’s and he finds you exceptionally attractive. Based on your physical reactions, you are not indifferent to him, so this is a very good match.”

She had to blink. “I have already been handed over? Was anyone going to tell me?”

“Not before we got you here. Keeln may have gotten violent if he discovered too soon that you were no longer at his disposal.”

His casual pose of sitting at her feet was disarming. She reached her hand out and pushed the hood away from his face, staring into the features of the avatar who had mail-ordered a bride from across the stars.

His forehead was wide, his nose almost feline, cheekbones high and lips full. The dark brows and black hair with gold threads running through it made her smile. His expression was set in lines that sent a tremor of anticipation through her.

“You wanted to hide this?”

The voice was similar but different when he spoke. “My people find my appearance a little too wild for their tastes. When Hassoi and I joined, it was a different time and our people battled from coast to coast.”

“You were a warrior?”

“I was. I found the spring, drank and begged Hassoi to end the fighting. Too many of our folk died for nothing more than land that did not belong to them anyway. When Hassoi took me over, it gave them a focus and took away the false reasons for battle. Our fights took on ritualistic purpose and then faded all together.”

She smiled. “Like football.”

He gave her a puzzled look. “I can see the image in your head, but it doesn’t make sense.”

“Ritualized combat.”

“Ah. Well, once my folk were at peace, Hassoi and I made treaties with a number of races, travelled in our system and he realized that I needed more.”

“A bride.”

“Bride, mate, bond, companion, they all mean the same thing. I was lonely and I was alone. The hunt for a match began, culminating in you.”

The tone Rimeer was using went from a deep baritone to an almost-husky growl. Ceelie bit her lip and widened her eyes as the small gesture seemed to electrify the male in front of her.

She held still, unable to back away as he moved up her body to meet her face to face. His scent was musky and wild with a hint of pine. The kiss he pressed to her lips loosed her lower lip from her teeth and he leisurely explored over and over. A shout came from across the clearing, but Ceelie threaded her hands in the cool silk of Rimeer’s hair and returned his kiss, arching her neck to press her mouth more firmly against his.

He backed away and pressed her hands to the arms of the tree-chair. “Hold still. That is an order.”

She quivered and held still. His mouth took hers again and she shuddered at the effort to keep from pulling him toward her. Her senses became focussed on the pools of energy spreading under her skin. Her clit throbbed, her nipples ached and her channel was clenching rhythmically, desperate to be filled.

Normally, this behaviour would have shocked her, but with Rimeer leaning over her, their only point of contact were lips and tongue, she heard her breath leave on a low moan. Her senses were nearing the point of no return.  A light touch on any part of her body would have sent her into an orgasm, but that is not what she got.

After pulling her to the brink of a pleasure overload, he leaned back with a satisfied smile on the slick curve of his lips. “Oh yes. This will work.”

Ceelie wanted to shriek as frustration overloaded her senses.  Her voice was a hiss. “It will work? I was so close!”

He chuckled. “I am aware, but I thought it would be best not to take you in front of your new people. When you come, I want to be inside you, feeling every spasm, every shiver, every sigh.”

Ceelie was still trying to breathe normally. She leaned forward and the necklace she had been given scraped across the bodice of the dress over her nipples. She held back her keen of desperation.

Across the clearing, Ambassador Keeln was being held back by a Hassoi.

“What is Keeln doing?”

“He objected to my kissing you, so our people held him back. They also have informed me that he was attempting to strangle you after you arrived. That will have to be dealt with.” He crossed his arms and scowled at the Tival.

Ceelie felt she needed to intervene. “He thought I was telling him what to do, so he put his hand on my throat. I explained and he let go.”

“He let go because there were witnesses.” It was Hassoi speaking now.

“Where did Rimeer go?”

“I had to take over. He wanted to kill the Tival and that would not be a good start to your new life here.”

She felt that the planet would give her straight answers. “So, he was not kidding. I am stuck here?”

He sighed and reached out to stroke her honey brown hair. “We have been given the honour of providing you with a mate and a home. You are too delicate for any other work in the stars.”

“What will I do here?”

“Learn our ways, help with negotiations when the time comes and share Rimeer’s life. You can explore the planet as much as you wish. I will always be with you to act as a guide. Nothing that you desire will be restricted to you. You merely have to ask and it will be provided.”

She smiled. “I can’t think of anything right now.”

He smiled in return. “If you do think of anything, tell me. I am within you now and you will never be alone.”

Instead of fear, the idea brought her some peace. She had never liked being alone. It had always filled her with insecurity.

Rimeer reappeared in his own body. “Hassoi has informed me that I may not kill the Tival.”

She leaned back in her chair. “That will probably be for the best. He is annoying, but he is an ambassador and needs to be sent back where he came from in one piece.”

A young woman of the Hassoi came toward her with another cup of water. The woman bowed and blushed as Rimeer looked at her, but she handed the cup to Ceelie and retreated swiftly.

“Your people seem a little afraid of you.” Ceelie sipped and idly took in Rimeer’s exceptionally impressive physique.