Discovery (Hybrid Book 1) (13 page)

The table seated twenty people, although only two place settings were laid at the far end. The tablecloth was the same dark green as the curtains and her skirt. He watched her take it all in before she turned to him with one eyebrow raised.

“Like green do you?”

His blue eyes twinkled with amusement.

“It’s my family’s colour, although it looks exceptionally good on you.”

He walked her to the far end of the table, pulled out her chair for her, and seated himself at the head of the table. He poured her a glass of fizzy white wine from an ice bucket on the table.

“I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like this in a private residence before, to be honest, it beats most of the formal receptions I’ve been dragged to. The current fashion on Terra Prime, which most other planets follow, is currently ‘minimalist serenity’ or ‘boring’ if you’re common.” A blush rose up her face. “I didn’t just insult you did I?”

He couldn’t help grinning. “It is a little over the top, even for my tastes, but it’s always been like this and we Kalzirians are all about tradition.”

“I like it.” She announced, then slapped at his arm with a giggle at his raised eyebrows.

“No, I really do. It’s so different to what I’m used to. Believe me, all those seamless, colourless expanses of glass and metal are so boring. The only time I get to see any colour is in an odd abstract piece of art. And don’t get me started on Federation beige and red. If I never see another identical embassy room I think I’ll scream.”

He hoped he hid the expression that would reveal that it was quite unlikely that she’d ever see one again, if his Uncle’s plan worked out.

“I can imagine, but you don’t have to worry about ‘serene’ here.” He made a show of looking around to check for eavesdroppers. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but as a race we Kalzirians tend, just a touch, towards flamboyance.”

Her hand went to her chest, and a look of mock horror appeared on her face.

“Really? I never would have guessed.”

Their banter stopped when Faejon appearing with their starters. The old man had been here since Tenset had been a child, and he’d always had a suspicion that there was more going on between his uncle and the servant than was considered normal. Homosexuality was frowned upon in Kalzirian society, at least in public and for the lower classes. As with everything else, position and money could hide just about anything, as long as you were careful.

The expression on Chesara’s face was one of horrified interest. He’d already caught her eyeing the large array of cutlery and wine glasses before her, and he wished he’d gone for a more informal setting rather than trying to ‘impress’ her as he would have done a Kalzirian girl.

“Everything all right?” he teased, knowing that it clearly wasn’t.

She was eying the two delicately poached crustaceans as if they were about to jump off the plate and attack her. Perhaps the ‘minimalist’ culture she’d mentioned also included food, and alcohol, judging by the way she was looking at the various wine glasses. Had the Federation truly kept her this sheltered?

“No, no problem, just wondering if this is all there is, I’m hungry enough to eat a horse, as long as it’s not one I’ve been introduced to.” She confidently picked up her wine and took a large swallow, and her eyes squinted automatically.

Tenset threw his head back and roared with laughter. She looked as if she’d just sucked on a lemon. She shot him such a look of hatred, that his laughter vanished, returning tenfold when she also started to smile and then laughed out loud herself.

“Oh God I can’t do this anymore,” she managed to get out after a few moments as she wiped a tear away from all the laughing.

“Who the hell am I kidding? I’ve got a snowflake in Hell’s chance of making it through a fancy dinner intact; I even picked the outfit that wouldn’t look too terrible if I dropped something down it.” She carried on, as he couldn’t speak for laughing.

“I didn’t read the section on Kalzirian fine dining in the folder. And to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure whether to stomp on this, make friends with it, eat it or grant it diplomatic immunity.” She indicated the crustacean on her plate, then pointed to the wine. “And I wouldn’t know if that’s how it’s meant to taste if you paid me a million credits. Besides if this is what counts as ‘not much’ as far as dinner goes on Kalzir, it’s a bloody good job I never did get to the Palace.”

‘What a woman’ he thought as he continued to shake his head, chuckling. She was stunningly beautiful, possessed a unique talent, and was totally unpretentious, outspoken, funny and sexy as hell.

After years of either ‘well bred’ young ladies who thought he was lucky to be talking to them, or servants aiming to get a promotion, she truly was a breath of fresh air. The only person who’d come close was Roseanne. She hadn’t minded knocking him on his ass occasionally, but the difference in their social status as they grew older had started to make things awkward.

It was obvious that Chesara didn’t care about his family connections, and for perhaps the first time, he’d have to win her through his own efforts, not his pedigree. It was an interesting challenge, but one he wished he wasn’t being forced into rushing. Chesara deserved better, but then again, so did his people.

“If I show you how to eat it, will you have a try?” he asked, indicating the crustacean. “It truly is superb; a very delicate flavour.”

She eyed the crustacean on her plate with suspicion, clearly not convinced.

“If you try it, I’ll get you something else to drink. We can try the whole cellar if you like, or I can get you some fruit juice or water?”

“I’m not a child, it’s just Mr ‘tight ass’ Temple has only let me have the occasional sip of alcohol and then only when it would appear rude not to at a reception. I’d like to try some more wine, as long as you do battle with the beasties. These look like instruments of torture rather than cutlery,” she said, indicating the crushing tool beside her plate.

“You have a deal,” he agreed with a smile, and rang the small silver bell to summon Faejon.

The man looked at him as if he had lost his wits when he gave him his orders, but as with all servants, Tenset knew he’d comply.

Scooting his chair over until he was right beside Chesara, he proceeded to demonstrate how to dismember the crustaceans. After liberating the first morsel of succulent white meat, he held a piece of meat out to her on a delicate two-prong fork. As she reached a hand to take the fork, he pulled it away a little, smiling.

“Ah ah, you wanted me to do this for you.” Chesara rolled her eyes, but to his satisfaction, she leaned forward to eat the bite while he held the fork.

Surprise at the delicate, buttery taste showed clearly on her face.

“See? I told you you’d like it. You’re going to have to learn to trust me a little more, aren’t you?”

Just then, Faejon reappeared with a tray holding the requested six bottles and a number of glasses. When he started to arrange them on the table, Tenset indicated he could go. The less formal he made this, the more relaxed, and receptive, Chesara would probably become.

He poured a half glass from one bottle and handed it to her.

She sniffed, and then sipped the deep red liquid as he explained that it was a wine from his own estates to the south. As her eyebrows drew together in a slight frown, he picked up another bottle and glass. “Still a little too dry for you. Try this one; it’s made in the same area, just using a slightly different grape variety.”

As the rich, sweet liquid he knew well, rolled over her tongue, she closed her eyes in pleasure.

“Well that was fast. I think I’ve found something to make you happy, I’d like to do a lot more of that.”

At the slight smile on her face, he knew he was starting to get somewhere, so he started to liberate a little more of the meat for her.

After feeding her a few more morsels, a loud rumble echoed around the room, and Chesara’s golden skin turned an interesting shade of red.

Tenset laughed and rang the bell again. The information he’d been given had said she had a high metabolism and required more food than the average human woman, more so if she’d been working. He knew she hadn’t eaten since that half pastry at the Embassy the day before, and he had no idea when her last proper meal had been.

Tenset told Feajon they were ready for the main course and after the plates were cleared, he left.

“I’m obviously not being a particularly good host; at least your stomach is being honest about it. You’ll have to be a little more forthright about your needs.”

“I can do that.”

Chesara smiled again and took a slightly larger swig of wine.

Her eyes lit up as the next course arrived. Their plates contained large juicy steaks, some boiled potatoes, and salad.

He let her eat in peace, a little surprised at the amount she was putting away, despite the prior information about her appetite. He hoped her large appetite extended to other things apart from food.

Topped up her glass carefully, he wanted her happy and relaxed, not drunk, but he knew that time was running short. If her couldn’t get her to agree to their plan, Tamas would force her compliance, and he found the thought of distressing her significantly unpleasant.

Perhaps she did have ‘extra’ abilities besides her healing talents, because rather than catching her in his seductive net as he’d set out to do, she was beguiling him like a mongoose did a snake. Although he was enjoying the experience far too much to care which one of them was winning the manipulation game.

“Glad to see both you and your stomach are a little happier.” He smiled gently.

“I know you’ve only woke up a little while ago, but would you object to carrying on with our evening somewhere a little more comfortable and talk for a while? To be honest, I find this room a little formal sometimes.”

C
hesara grinned at his ‘little formal’ comment. She was acutely conscious of the fact that she’d likely be back at the embassy tomorrow, maybe even back on board the Apollo and certainly back under Connor’s watchful eye. A little more time in this charming man’s company was certainly something that she wanted to experience.

“I’d like that very much. To be honest, I’ll probably need to sleep again in a few hours, now that you have so kindly dealt with my less than ladylike hunger pangs. But before I’m dragged back to being ‘Madam Envoy, I’d like to know a little more about your life here, it seems so different to mine.”

“Do you enjoy it?—what you do?”

She considered the question no one had ever bothered asking her before.

“I enjoy helping people and seeing other places although I don’t get to see very much of the worlds I visit. Either I’m spirited in and out without seeing a thing apart from the inside of a blacked out transport, or its formal receptions where I feel as if I’m on display, which I am. This is a lovely change. Thank you.”

After they stood, he extended his elbow and she put her hand through it, admiring the firm muscles she could feel. Just how good would they look without all this clothing covering them? It was probably an itch that wouldn’t be scratched, but it would certainly fuel her next ‘personal’ time session.

“There are a few seating areas down here on the ground floor, but they’re large and rather chilly. My room upstairs has a cosy sofa and a fire,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Or maybe she would get to scratch that itch sooner rather than later. Connor was frowning at her in the back of her mind, but he wasn’t here, and if he had his way, she’d probably remain a virgin till she was fifty. Speaking of which, why wasn’t he here now, bashing down the door and hustling her to complete the assignment?

“That sounds nice, but I hate to say it, isn’t Connor making a pain of himself about getting on with the assignment, he’d always on some sort of schedule.”

Tenset stiffened slightly, he was probably jealous that she’d mentioned Connor. She’d observed men being very possessive of their women, but in some cultures, men were happy to have several wives. In a way she could understand it, if she had the chance to have a whole group of men fauning over her, she’d love it, but having another woman try to take a man she wanted away from her? That’d be another story.

“The message he sent back was that you could take a few days to rest and recuperate after the healing you did. So, if you wish, you can consider this a little holiday. Although if you’d rather go back to the beige...”

He left the question hanging and she shivered in revulsion.

“God no, save me from the beige for a little longer. A nightcap would be wonderful, as long as you promise to behave yourself. Tomorrow you can show me some more of your wonderful horses. Besides, I’d better take that pain block off the gelding I healed.”

“Will it cause him a problem?” he immediately asked.

“Not really. He might just scratch or hurt himself there again because it’ll be numb.”

His eyes twinkled as he gave her a wicked smile. “In that case, a nightcap it is, and I promise I’ll be good if you will.”

Chesara kept her mouth firmly closed. ‘Good’ was the last thing she wanted to be.

With the wine warming her belly, and this truly sexy man paying her, not her ability, lots of attention her current feelings on the matter came into a ‘thrill’ category, not a ‘dangerous’ one. She was thoroughly enjoying his attention and she’d be back Connor’s ‘cotton wool’ care soon enough.

His rooms suited him, she thought as she took in the very masculine, dark furniture and deep, green and blue colours on the carpet and sofa. The fire was already crackling in the classic stone fireplace opposite the spacious, comfortable looking sofa. A door on the other side of this living space probably led to his bedroom.

She wondered what he wore to bed, hopefully nothing, she thought, keeping her smirk to herself. Maybe spending all that time in physical contact with Dagus had rubbed off on her, because she didn’t normally think like this, it was fun though.

There was an image of a smiling couple, both with dark hair and blue eyes on the mantelpiece. Above it, was a painting of a magnificent black stallion, his neck thickened and arched proudly.