Domestic Duet: Domestic Alliance & Asset by Cora Blu Page A

replica of the other space station until they were inside exiting the bay. Warm air and lush trees surrounded the clearest water she’d ever seen, mimicking the exotic islands she’d watched on TV. The difference was it boasted red sand and white palm trees with thick tree frons that swept down to the ground under the weight of the afternoon breeze. Vacationing with an alien may prove an adventure she could handle. Theresa would never believe her if she made it back home alive.
    The scent of warm cinnamon filled the clean air as they crossed to a blue glass wall on what appeared to be a contemporary apartment building. Montage slid back one side of the glass door, ushering her and Norese inside. The captain hung back, speaking with two other karuntian.
    The modern amenities had Sadie in awe as she laid a sleeping Norese on the sofa facing the glass door. Before she got comfortable, Montage suggested she take Norese to her room, two doors into the hallway.
    She did. In awe, Sadie walked around the room that was an exact replica of the room in the space station. Soft pinks, greens, and yellows on every wall appeared to be the solar system from the eyes of a two-year-old girl. Touched by Aroc’s overwhelming love for his daughter, she smiled, thinking of the way he stood up for her in the shuttle. Was she living the story of The King and I in outer space? Both men were bald and handsome.
    The weight in her arms brought her out of her haze. On the bed, Sadie removed Norese’s shoes, setting them in her closet, then pulled a blanket over her sleeping form. When the sound of violins filled the room, Sadie knew the captain had come inside the apartment.
    Depressing the button, she left the room, folding her arms around her body to return to the front room and see the two males watching her approach. Captain Aroc Farkus held a hand out to her, yet all she focused on was the fact that he wore no vest. Swim shorts and bare feet rounded out his wardrobe, and for the first time she got a good look at the tattoos trailing his arms. Circles and lines crisscross one another in a miasma of symbols and honor pledges decorated down to his forearms. His stomach appeared fake. The shadows and valley’s created by the intricacy of his sculpted muscles, held her attention captive.
    “Let’s go for a walk on the beach. It’s a warm day, the water’s clear, and we both could use some time alone.”
    Her pulse fluttered. An unnatural rhythm beat through her heart at the visual of him on the beach. She cleared away the image, turning to take in her new home. “Can’t I see the rest of the house first? Get my bearings? See where I’m sleeping tonight.” And test the lock on the door. “Maybe I’ll take a nap with Norese.”
    “No,” he commanded, his tone ending her attempts to stall being alone with him, half-naked. “Crandall will listen out for Norese until she wakes.” He eyed her attire, then came into the apartment. “Put on the suit…we’ll swim and have some breakfast. Do you have an idea of what time it is, Sadie?”
    Out the window, the atmosphere was always dark. “Early morning?”
    “About 10am...a few hours ahead of Earth’s time.”
    “And you want to go swimming?”
    He rested a shoulder casually along the wall and folded his arms. “You refuse my generous offer of hospitality to share a meal and a swim?”
    She dropped her head in surrender. “The white string bikini you replicated that leaves little to the imagination…you want me to wear it?”
    “Our females swim nude more times than they wear a suit, Sadie. Wear a suit or swim naked—your choice.”
    When the fog cleared from his admission, she thought about the other name he’d said. Sadie scanned the room, unaware there were others traveling with them on their abrupt vacation. “Who is Crandall?” she asked when a muscled man came through the glass door. He was beautiful, near pretty. However, the burgundy goatee and ripped body marked him as far