Astonish (7 page)

“Then I will ask Maksuan if he will consider it. Now, he is very uncomfortable with the subject, so we will speak later.” Niiko bowed and gave control of his body back to his host.

When Hassoi released her, Ceelie breathed easy. Rimeer approached her and slid his arm around her waist. “It is time to resume your duties as hostess.”

She inclined her head to Maksuan and went to mingle with her other guests. It was going to be a very social week, so she brought her talent to the fore.

It was a small thing to be able to have her efforts perceived as more impressive than they really were, but she enjoyed the idea that Hassoi would be thought of in a positive light.

The avatars were simply there for a good time, but after the snacking, it was time for the planets to have a boardroom-style discussion.

Rimeer and Ceelie took turns being Hassoi. When Ceelie had a break, she walked outside and took a walk in the cooling air.

“It is rather intense, isn’t it?” Carella was leaning against the railing of the balcony, looking out over the water.

“What is?”

“Being an avatar. I have flashes of memory but nothing concrete.”

“You are Terran.”

Carella smiled and turned toward her. “How did you guess? We look like a dozen other races.”

“You used the word
concrete
. It isn’t a word that translates into Alliance Common.”

“True. How long have you been an avatar?”

“Just over two months.”

“Did you get into it willingly?” Carella had an urgent tone in her voice.

“I did. It was a little weird at first, but this is where I belong. Hassoi is caring and he has adjusted me the exact amount needed to match his first avatar. I still look like me and that counts for a lot.”

Carella seemed surprised. She looked at her hands and blinked. “I suppose that is true.”

Ceelie remembered what Hassoi had told her. “You were taken as avatar by force. You didn’t have a choice.”

Carella shook her head. “She pulled me through time and used my body, then locked me in a sphere for over four centuries. When I was released, Kale and Gant were there to help me through the adjustment. Our child is proof that our bond is true.”

Ceelie smiled. “You have a child?”

“We do. Kale and I required a lot of medical intervention, but we managed to bring our little one into the world.”

“Boy or girl.”

Carella laughed. “I hope so. Kale’s people choose their sex later in life based on the surrounding population. We are just waiting until Junior is old enough.”

Ceelie grinned and they talked about Carella’s life in the Sector Guard and the peculiar feeling given to them by the celestial beings that nestled in their minds. Even though Carella resented the star who had lived in her body, she had acknowledged that it filled something in her soul that had previously been lacking.

The conference wound to a halt for the night. Rimeer showed all of the avatars to their bedrooms and Ceelie waited in their bed until her mate returned.

She opened her arms to him and caressed all of the skin she could reach. He played with her breasts, but he was a little distracted, so she took matters into her own hands…or teeth.

Ceelie reared back and bit his chest, eliciting a growl and a change in position. He shoved her to her back and held her arms above her head while his thighs parted hers. He thrust into her slowly, rocking forward in minute increments. When he was buried to the hilt and her body was stretched to capacity, he pulled back and then slid into her with a twist of his hips.

“Biting is cheating, Ceelie.”

“I didn’t know there were rules. Oh, that’s good. Harder, please, Rimeer.” She arched against him and wrapped her legs around his hips.

“If you cheat, I might make you wait, Ceelie.”

She laughed and leaned forward again, biting the other side of his chest. Her fangs pumped her essence and the power of Hassoi right into his bloodstream.

Her laughter stopped the moment he growled and drove into her with a heavy beat. They rocked and pounded together, bodies grinding and slapping against each other in the darkness. When they came, the rush of power blended the two parts of Hassoi into one, sending a thunderclap of power across the island.

Ceelie and Rimeer stayed locked together. He rolled to his back and she draped herself across him, nuzzling at his neck. “See, if it starts in cheating, we can still both win.”

“I conceded to your superior logic. Feel free to cheat anytime the spirit moves you.” He stroked her spine and she arched against him, rubbing her breasts against his chest.

Ceelie was going to speak, but a wave of power washed over her and for the first time, it wasn’t Hassoi’s power. Her eyes widened and she looked at Rimeer, “What the hell was that?”

He started laughing and his shaft moved inside her. “That was Kale-Gant and his mate, Carella. All avatars give off power when we come.”

“Even when we are off our world?”

“Yes. Now that Hassoi is within us, he goes where we go.” Rimeer wove his hand in her hair and tugged her head toward his. He laved her lower lip with his tongue and nibbled lightly.

She pushed against him and rocked her hips. “I don’t know whether to be embarrassed or competitive.”

He purred and lifted her with his hips. “I am going to cast my vote for competitive.”

She laughed and sat up on him, riding him in the darkness, their energy glowing violently as they worked together to show that team Hassoi had more power to spend than any visitors.

It was one long night.

The next morning at breakfast, Ceelie couldn’t stop yawning.

Carella came up to her and smiled. “I call a truce. No more competitive fucking. Please. I haven’t felt this exhausted since I fell out of that sphere.”

Ceelie laughed and poured some juice. “Fine. No more competition, but I have to ask, which one of you decided to go for broke? That last hour was so touch and go, it is amazing to me that anyone got any sleep at all.”

“Kale got competitive and then Gant joined in. After that, I was just along for the ride. Who started it in your room?”

Ceelie snickered. “That was my fault. I have been experimenting with biting and it sort of got out of control. The teeth were one of the adjustments that Hassoi made and I am still getting used to them.”

“We are here for five more nights. Take it easy and confine it to once a night and we will do the same. Deal?”

Carella extended her hand and Ceelie responded in kind. They broke into giggles that ended in a hug.

“Deal, but no promises on afternoon nookie. Sometimes you just have to jump them, you know?”

“I accept your terms and the truce is struck. Now, let’s get some food. I am famished for some reason.”

* * * *

With laughter between them, they drew the attention of several avatars. Speculation began in a few gazes and the avatars began silent communication between them.

A life of power was one thing. A life alone was another. If their planets could arrange for mates, perhaps centuries would pass a little faster.

It was worth a try.

About the Author

Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No co-worker is safe from her character analysis. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.

Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.