Baffle by Viola Grace Page B

back in a lazy, heady rhythm.
    Her over-sensitized skin took every touch of his hand and turned it into flames running along her nerves. She moaned into his mouth when her body tightened around him until he could barely move.
    In a shock of pleasure, the tension broke, and her moan was lost in a gasp as she gripped his arm for support. He thrust rapidly a few times before shuddering into her, giving her a low groan in exchange for her sigh.
    She went limp, dazed and sated.
    Geor pressed a string of soft kisses across her brow, eyes and the tip of her nose.
    Sinder was exhausted. Her night had been broken into half a dozen encounters that had brought her and Geor together in a rush of pleasure and eagerness to learn each other. The morning was a soft, slow confirmation that there was no hurry.
    After a shower and having Geor help her with the banding on her hair, Sinder dressed and shared a breakfast with him in his office.
    “So, what are you up to today, Geor?”
    He gave her a look through half-lidded eyes. “I was planning on staying in. ”
    She shivered but gave him a stern expression in return. “I am going to go out and meet people today. You can come with, or you can stay here, but I am on a new world with only you to talk to. That is a recipe for disaster if ever I heard one.”
    He quirked a brow.
    “I can talk for days, weeks even. I was used to being alone on my shuttle, so I amused myself. Being around people now and then keeps me from blathering along incessantly.”
    He chuckled and sipped his tea. “Not that I have seen.”
    She made a face and got to her feet. The heavy bands on her hair swung and clicked against the desk as she leaned over and pressed a kiss to Geor’s lips. “I promise to take no less than three guards, but I will need Alif.”
    Geor nodded and Crixox was sharing space when they said, “We will remain here, have Kema call if you need anything, and be home before dark.”
    “I will. Wish me luck.” She went to the door and picked Alif out of the six in the hallway. “Alif, you and two others will show me around Sissithan and to Aliaha. She has offered to introduce me to your family.”
    Alif nodded, and she could see a smile in the shadows of his cowl. “Of course, Lady Sinder. She will be only too happy to show off her new connections.”
    Sinder didn’t care what Aliaha’s motives were. She simply wanted to meet some of the locals to take the pulse of the people.
    Something Aliaha had mentioned was also humming in Kema’s thoughts, and to assess the situation, Sinder needed to be out where the people were.
    Alif bowed slightly and led the way out of the temple. One guard was in front and one behind them, but few, if any, folk were coming near.
    Aliaha was delighted when she entered the shop with Alif. “I didn’t think you would come today.”
    “I want to find my way on Crixox. The fastest way is by meeting the population. Take me to the town you were mentioning yesterday, and we can meet your family.”
    Aliaha laughed, “I have already met them.”
    Sinder rolled her gaze, and when Aliaha handed her shop over to her stunned assistant, they left with the older woman chattering nonstop.
    The passersby who had ignored Sinder, flocked to her now that Aliaha was next to her. Introductions were made, and a seven-minute walk took forty-five minutes.
    Once they reached the rail transport, Sinder had counted five Purists who wavered upon meeting her. Their hostility and curiosity faded as they got a close up look at her. From a few feet away, Sinder appeared to be a High Nalu woman. Her nose was a little sharper and her pupils were the wrong shape, but Kema had made the obvious characteristics to match her surroundings.
    The rail transport got them to the village in ten minutes. Aliaha was almost rubbing her hands with delight as they approached.
    “Did you warn them we were coming?”
    Ali nodded and grinned, “When I went to the back of my shop to get my bag. My daughters