mat.”
Tamara stilled. A kiss was a small price to pay for a little comfort. She nodded.
Gage held her face. His ice-blue eyes seemed to pierce all her defenses. He slowly
lowered his head until their lips were a breath apart. He nipped her lower lip and then he closed the distance. His touch was gentle but firm. His lips warm and strong. She waited for him to deepen the kiss, to invade her mouth with his tongue. That’s what men did but he didn’t. He held the almost-chaste kiss for a long moment then he raised his head, kissed her forehead, and smiled. “Tomorrow we’ll play more.” He pulled a mat from one of the cupboards and handed it to her. Then he walked out.
Tamara stood staring at the closed door. She wasn’t quite sure what had just
happened. Her lips still felt the pressure of his kiss. She was a little stunned that she wanted more. She wanted Gage back again. She wanted another kiss. She drew in a shaky breath and shook her head. She’d always known he was dangerous. He always
got what he wanted and now she was his target. How was she going to get out of this mess?
She thought about the lock picks in her hair. She had such short hair that no one
ever thought to look there. Then she hesitated. Should she save them? If she unlocked herself now there was nowhere to go. Besides, she probably couldn’t unlock the door.
She’d still be stuck in here and Gage would know she had tools. “Damn,” she muttered under her breath. Better to save that surprise until it might actually help her escape.
She shook out the mat and lay down.
Fakzi padded over to her. He sniffed her hair and then sniffed his way down the
rest of her body. Tamara stayed still. Gage trusted the alien but she wasn’t sure she did.
But Fakzi merely sniffed. He didn’t unsheathe his deadly claws or open his mouth to use the sharp teeth Tamara had seen earlier.
“You are cold,” Fakzi said.
“Yes. I am cold.”
“I could warm you if you give me permission.”
Again, the creature’s strange phrasing sent a chill through Tamara. “How would
you warm me?”
“Again. A question. You should know that questions form the mindpath. As we ask
each other and answer each other our minds begin to link. If we ask and answer enough questions the thought paths between us will develop.”
“Develop. Then the path already exists. We’d be able to read each other’s
thoughts.” Tamara was learning to state her questions rather than ask them.
“There will be a mindpath strong enough to use. Yes.”
“I never realized how often I ask questions until I met you, Fakzi.”
“It is often that way with humans. I will answer some of the questions I know you
have. Gage crashed on my planet. I am an explorer. We were far away from my
civilization. Gage and I formed a mindpath. His mind is different—interesting. I chose to follow him here so we could strengthen that attachment. Yes he knows I can do this and he is a willing partner. I have avoided answering your questions because you have not willingly granted me permission to initiate a mindpath. You need to know what you ask. I will do nothing without permission.”
“Thank you, Fakzi.”
“I like you, Tamara.” He rolled the “R” in her name. “I will lie next to you. My body heat will keep you warm.”
Tamara was tired and discouraged. The thought of cuddling with the warm cat
creature was strangely appealing and she was tired of fighting. “You have my
permission, Fakzi.”
He circled a few times and then cuddled against Tamara’s back. She felt instantly
comforted by the creature’s warmth and she was surprised by the softness of his fur.
Tamara sighed and relaxed. She’d worry about everything tomorrow. In the meantime
she’d accept the comfort the creature offered.
*
The two men went to the back of the dim bar and sat at a table, nearly hidden from
view.
“Damn! Why didn’t you warn me that the luxury cruiser was going to get hit?
Tamara stilled. A kiss was a small price to pay for a little comfort. She nodded.
Gage held her face. His ice-blue eyes seemed to pierce all her defenses. He slowly
lowered his head until their lips were a breath apart. He nipped her lower lip and then he closed the distance. His touch was gentle but firm. His lips warm and strong. She waited for him to deepen the kiss, to invade her mouth with his tongue. That’s what men did but he didn’t. He held the almost-chaste kiss for a long moment then he raised his head, kissed her forehead, and smiled. “Tomorrow we’ll play more.” He pulled a mat from one of the cupboards and handed it to her. Then he walked out.
Tamara stood staring at the closed door. She wasn’t quite sure what had just
happened. Her lips still felt the pressure of his kiss. She was a little stunned that she wanted more. She wanted Gage back again. She wanted another kiss. She drew in a shaky breath and shook her head. She’d always known he was dangerous. He always
got what he wanted and now she was his target. How was she going to get out of this mess?
She thought about the lock picks in her hair. She had such short hair that no one
ever thought to look there. Then she hesitated. Should she save them? If she unlocked herself now there was nowhere to go. Besides, she probably couldn’t unlock the door.
She’d still be stuck in here and Gage would know she had tools. “Damn,” she muttered under her breath. Better to save that surprise until it might actually help her escape.
She shook out the mat and lay down.
Fakzi padded over to her. He sniffed her hair and then sniffed his way down the
rest of her body. Tamara stayed still. Gage trusted the alien but she wasn’t sure she did.
But Fakzi merely sniffed. He didn’t unsheathe his deadly claws or open his mouth to use the sharp teeth Tamara had seen earlier.
“You are cold,” Fakzi said.
“Yes. I am cold.”
“I could warm you if you give me permission.”
Again, the creature’s strange phrasing sent a chill through Tamara. “How would
you warm me?”
“Again. A question. You should know that questions form the mindpath. As we ask
each other and answer each other our minds begin to link. If we ask and answer enough questions the thought paths between us will develop.”
“Develop. Then the path already exists. We’d be able to read each other’s
thoughts.” Tamara was learning to state her questions rather than ask them.
“There will be a mindpath strong enough to use. Yes.”
“I never realized how often I ask questions until I met you, Fakzi.”
“It is often that way with humans. I will answer some of the questions I know you
have. Gage crashed on my planet. I am an explorer. We were far away from my
civilization. Gage and I formed a mindpath. His mind is different—interesting. I chose to follow him here so we could strengthen that attachment. Yes he knows I can do this and he is a willing partner. I have avoided answering your questions because you have not willingly granted me permission to initiate a mindpath. You need to know what you ask. I will do nothing without permission.”
“Thank you, Fakzi.”
“I like you, Tamara.” He rolled the “R” in her name. “I will lie next to you. My body heat will keep you warm.”
Tamara was tired and discouraged. The thought of cuddling with the warm cat
creature was strangely appealing and she was tired of fighting. “You have my
permission, Fakzi.”
He circled a few times and then cuddled against Tamara’s back. She felt instantly
comforted by the creature’s warmth and she was surprised by the softness of his fur.
Tamara sighed and relaxed. She’d worry about everything tomorrow. In the meantime
she’d accept the comfort the creature offered.
*
The two men went to the back of the dim bar and sat at a table, nearly hidden from
view.
“Damn! Why didn’t you warn me that the luxury cruiser was going to get hit?
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