Laser by Viola Grace Page A

he didn’t use himself as a model for the toys.”
    Lukar spit the caf out and coughed. “Thank you for nightmares.”
    She giggled and sipped at her tea.
    He finished tidying up and asked her, “What do you normally do in the morning?”
    She looked at him. “Combat training in the morning, etiquette and armament in the afternoon.”
    “Etiquette?”
    “Icky wanted to make sure that I used all cutleries in the Imperium properly, as well using the practice to focus my fine motor skills. I can eat with my left or right hand as the situation requires.”
    “Did he cover your clothing options?”
    “Nope. Clothing was a little more advanced. Since my chest plate is silver and looks like solid metal, it acts as a shirt, or so I am told.”
    “Coming from a male perspective, it does not. It is quite hard to look away from the silver skin. You have the grace and beauty of a classical statue.”
    “That is due to your brother. My own body didn’t move half this well.”
    He set his cup down and offered her his hand. “Shall we do some combat training?”
    She slid her fingers along his. “Sure. Do you want to get dressed first?”
    He winked and held her hand in front of them as they headed for the stairs. “This wrap is enough. I don’t want an unfair advantage.”
    She grinned. “If you insist.”
     
    An hour later, she grinned down at him, sweat dripping from her cheeks as she pinned him to the mat for the fourth time. “You aren’t trying.”
    He wriggled under her, her hands on his wrists kept them tight to the mat. “You are cheating.”
    “I am naked. Only using the limbs of my body.”
    He narrowed his eyes and bucked against her. “Let me up.” His words were growled.
    She felt the prod of his erection against her inner thigh. “It seems you are already up.”
    Lee giggled when he fumed and slowly got to her feet, retaining her hold on him. When she was up and he was kneeling, she let him go and jumped back as his arms snapped forward to grab her.
    “You are quick.” Lukar grudgingly got to his feet.
    She chuckled. “When you fight naked, you have to be quick.”
    We are approaching the Oekkuadi Station. Time to get into formal wear, such as it is.
    “ Stinger says we are approaching the station. Time to get ready.” She patted him on the butt as she passed and then laughed and raced up the stairs.
    She heard the hissing growl behind her and wondered briefly at the wisdom of taunting a throwback to an ancient race. Wezians seemed to have a sense of humour, but all races worked on their own basis for comparison. Perhaps scampering off during foreplay was considered rude.
    In her quarters, she snapped into her suit and greeted it warmly. A matching warmth came from the suit itself and literally wrapped around her.
    The suit rippled around her and she smiled. There was a friend who had her back. It was a good feeling.
    The black wrap covered her hips to ankles, and the makeup only needed a minute to apply. When her hair was straight and she felt as pretty as she was going to get, she headed to the command deck.
    Lukar joined her with a wink as they approached the station. He settled into the pilot’s seat and filled her in. “Alhuradia Nastuacon is the bride. She will be our charge from the moment we dock to the moment she enters the room to consummate her marriage. Once she is officially wed, we have authorization to leave, the mission complete.”
    “Why us?”
    “The ceremony requires one woman and one man. Both must be warriors and both must be unrelated to either species, neutral parties.”
    “How have they done it in the past?”
    “Members of the Imperium court have filled in.”
    Lee couldn’t stop the questions. “Why does she have to be escorted at all?”
    “The Oekkuadi are an intelligent and invasive race. They took over Metskiat until the local populace managed to fight them off. The locals are incredibly strong but they lack the intelligence of the Oekkuadi. It is considered