Page 75 of Galaxy Circus Act One

“That sounds reasonable. Okay, well, see you then.” The door slides open, but it’s hard to tear myself away from this man. It’s like there’s a force inside me begging me to stay with him.

“Why don’t you message me when you get home from your date, even if you’ve got someone in your bed, so I can say goodnight to you?” I get the feeling he’s as reluctant to say goodbye as I am. His hands are clenched at his sides like he’s preventing himself from reaching out to me. Desire spreads through my veins at his restraint, and I almost give in, but I need to stick to the plan. Questions then answers, and then I can get my hands on my warlock.

“Okay, I will. Bye, Xavier.”

I watch as the mist that he hides behind covers his body. “Bye,phoeall.”

The doors slide closed, and I don’t waste any time. I hurry to the elevator, using my communicator to locate Magenta. It tells me she’s once again in the rec area where I had seen her during my first tour. I send her a 911 message, and it doesn’t take long for her to respond. She tells me to meet her at the same cafe where we had a drink the first day. Was that just yesterday? It feels like a week ago.

I program in the name of the cafe because I don’t have a clue where I am, let alone where I need to go. Thankfully my communicator works as a GPS, and when I get in the elevator, it tells me exactly what button to push. Before I know it, I’m seating myself at a table and ordering a drink. I know it’s early, but this conversation calls for alcohol, so I pick something new that sounds delicious. They have a scale next to each of the descriptions, ranging from one drink to five. I pick something that has four little glasses next to it, hoping it’s enough to give me a buzz without knocking me on my ass.

It’s just popping up through the middle of the table when Magenta slides into the chair across from me, her breathing ragged and a sheen of sweat on her face.

“I got here as fast as I could. Is everything okay?” she asks, her look of concern making me smile. I’ve known her all of twenty-four hours, yet she was happy to drop what she was doing and come running. With Dylan’s bullshit, I’m still wary of trusting so easily, but apart from the grandpas, Phillip, and Fiona, she’s the only Skarrian I know who isn’t related to me. I guess I could have asked Link. If he doesn’t know something, he has access to information. I bite my lip, unsure now whether to ask her or not.

Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head, waving a dramatic finger. “Oh no you don’t. I saw you second-guess yourselfthen. That fucking dragon has you questioning your friendships, doesn’t he? Look, just because I’m as promiscuous as he was, that does not mean I see you as competition. There are plenty of men and women in the galaxy to go around, as far as I’m concerned. You’re going to make a great wingwoman in that you’re such a fucking novelty to all these people.”

“What, because I’m the freaky human, supposed Skarrian, who has no powers?” I ask dryly, sipping my drink. My taste buds explode and start weeping as I forcibly swallow and begin coughing at the unexpected kick.

Holy shit, that’s strong.I feel like I just inhaled a blizzard. There’s a menthol type flavor that makes me feel like I’ve been sucking on an iceberg, followed by something tart and citrusy. I feel like all my orifices pucker at once.

“What the fuck is that?” I ask, waving a hand at my drink, and Mags looks at it for the first time and blanches.

“Oh no, you got an Iceen freezie. They are especially on the menu for the lightning cats and people from colder climates. Not that the lightning cats ever grace us with their presence. Fucking Natalia wouldn’t even spit on us if we were on fire, and she has those boys under her proverbial claws. Sad, really, because I wouldn’t mind finding out what it was like to take one of those alpha knots, if you know what I mean.” She winks, and I forget about my drink and frozen throat.

“Seriously? They have knots on their…” I gesture to my crotch, and Mags laughs and nods.

“Yup, and supposedly a spur too. It’s like you’re doubly locked in. You can’t get away from a lightning cat. Apparently they can fuck for hours.”

Well color me officially interested… and turned on. I’m like a walking, talking ball of sexual need, goddamn it. “Apparently?”

Her smile drops, and she looks disappointed. “Yeah, they very rarely mate outside of their species. Their families tend to disown them if they do.”

“Well, now that you’ve brought up mating, I have questions, lots of questions, and these are not ones I want to ask my grandpas.”

“Your grandpas are hot pieces of ass. I wouldn’t mind being the meat in their triangular sandwich, if you get what I mean.” She winks, and I roll my eyes.

“Yes, unfortunately I do.” I gag and she laughs.

“But they are loyal to your grandma, which makes them off limits.” Her smile is genuine, so I know she respects their boundaries and won’t overstep just to get laid. I’m starting to feel a bit better about her. “Okay, shoot. Tell me what you need to know.”

I spend the next hour getting the Skarrian version of the birds and the bees talk, and while Mags tends to overshare, I discover that a simultaneous orgasm is required to count. So hand jobs, finger banging, and oral sex are all still on the table as long as you don’t orgasm at the same time. I know I was lucky to get an orgasm from any human guy I slept with, let alone at the same time as him. I guess I never had to worry about it, even if my Skarrian physiology hadn’t kicked in, because all the Earth men I slept with sucked in bed.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Lila

Alittle bit later I receive a message from William asking me where I am. When he tells me I am about to meet Saxon the vampire, and he is going to give me a self-defense lesson, I almost order another drink. Screw the potency. Self-defense lessons with a blood drinking vampire? Now that’s something I never thought I would ever hear, but if I’ve learned anything from my time on the ship, it’s that I just need to fucking roll with it. If I worry too much, my brain will explode and leave chunky bits of Lila all over the place, and nobody’s got time for that.

I send him my location, and he tells me to wait for him.

“What was that all about?” Magenta asks, leaning back in her chair and studying me like I’m in a damn petri dish. “You look like you’re going to have a panic attack.”

“William just told me my self-defense lesson, which I was expecting later on in the week, is today. Quick, I need to know everything about Saxon, because my stupid ass didn’t finish my species research. Dylan told me a little, but I’m really not sure if I can take anything he said at face value. He told me all sorts ofthings about Xavier as well, and he’s been nothing but sweet to me.”

Magenta’s eyes just about bulge out of her head at my description of Xavier. “Hold up a minute. Are you sure we’re talking about the same person? The warlock is sweet?” She looks incredulous, like I’m telling her Earth is flat or that I have three breasts and six nipples.

“Yeah, and he’s cuddly too.” The more I divulge, the more her facial expression changes to one of fascination.