Alien Indiscretions (15 page)

She purred throatily. “Well, well. Clan Diltan is back from romancing my sister. May I assume you got her home safe and sound?”

Diltan bowed stiffly, though Rolat could see the heat in the Dramok’s eyes. “Of course, Matara Cecilia. Tasha’s well-being is of the highest priority.”

Rolat noted that as it always seemed to happen when Cissy was around, Wal looked stunned. He had the appearance that someone had hit him over the head with something particularly hard and heavy. Tasha never made his Imdiko look like that.

Cissy drew to within a couple of feet of them and paused. She stared at Diltan with an expression that was a mix of several emotions: irritation, bemusement, and ... desire?

Rolat’s eyes narrowed. Diltan had a nearly identical look on his face. Up until now, the pair rubbed each other wrong every time they met. It would be humorous indeed if attraction mixed in with their otherwise combative acquaintanceship. Maybe a mutually unwanted attraction was why they couldn’t get along? It was an interesting thought.

Cissy shook her head at the Dramok councilman. “Damn man. I can’t believe you’d wear such a casual outfit.”

He frowned. “Why?”

“Because you are the stuffiest thing I’ve ever met.”

Rolat bit his lips together to keep from laughing as Diltan stiffened. His Dramok managed to keep his tone polite as he answered, “Somehow, I doubt that.”

“No, I’m pretty certain of it. I’ve met Earther priests that aren’t half as uptight as you.”

Diltan skewered her with a look that might have hurt her feelings had she not been tipsy. “There is a difference between being uptight and having dignity, Matara. If you weren’t so determined to shock everyone around you, you might recognize that.”

Rolat winced. Ouch. But Diltan did have a point.

Cissy’s glare was hot enough to set a fire. She poked Diltan in the chest with one red-polished nail. “I’m not out to shock everyone. I’m having fun, long overdue fun. What would you know about it? You weren’t there on Earth, Mr. Tight-Ass.”

Diltan looked at the finger poking him. “I see.”

“No, you don’t. You weren’t a woman on Earth watching her every move in terror of doing the wrong thing. Hell, we didn’t have to do the wrong thing! Every woman, no matter how careful she was or how proper she was, could be sent to prison or executed just on some man’s say-so. We were as prudish as dusty old maids, but one wrong word or look could destroy our lives in an instant.”

Cissy stepped back and scowled. “Here I can drink. I can wear tiny bikinis. I can swear. I can have sex. For the first time in my life, no one has the right to judge me for it. Especially not a guy who probably never feared for his life or the lives of his loved ones for one single second, at least not over stupid shit like cutting loose and having some fun.”

Something in Diltan’s eyes softened at her diatribe. He blinked a few times and exchanged looks with Rolat and Wal. The Nobek saw his own pain for what Cissy had been through reflected in his Dramok and Imdiko’s eyes.

Diltan looked again at Cissy, who waited for his reply with a belligerent look on her face. He nodded. In a quiet tone he said, “You’re right, Matara. I have not been through what you have. I suppose if I hadn’t been allowed to be young and a little crazy, I too would not worry so much about appearances.”

Cissy stared, as if startled that he had agreed with her. After a moment, a little smile tugged at one corner of her mouth. “You are the last person who should be worrying about appearances, Dramok Diltan.”

“Do you think so?”

She offered that amazing throaty laugh. “Damn right. You are an incredibly delicious-looking man. You could probably wander around naked all day and get away with it. Why don’t you give it a try?”

With an unsteady gait, she walked past the men as Diltan stared at her, open-mouthed with shock yet again. Cissy went to her quarters’ door and triggered it open. Instead of disappearing into the dimly-lit room beyond, she leaned against the open doorway. Her smirk was back as she looked from Wal to Rolat.

“Tell me, boys. How do you put up with your clan leader being so damned upright and uptight?”

Rolat couldn’t help himself. He said, “We get him drunk as much as possible.”

Diltan turned his glare on the Nobek as Cissy shrieked with laughter. Rolat thought he’d probably pay for the remark later, but for now he didn’t care. Cissy looked at him, giving him her full attention. That was worth Diltan being pissed off.

When Cissy recovered, she said, “You – Nobek Rolat. I knew I’d like you. You’ve got a sense of humor and can obviously let loose.”

Her gaze slid over to take in the still-silent Wal. The Earther’s eyes narrowed. “Then there’s the silent one of the bunch. You know what they say about the quiet ones, don’t you Rolat?”

Rolat couldn’t help but chuckle. “They’re the ones you need to watch. You’d be right about Wal, Matara. He’s a despicable one, this Imdiko. An outright fiend.”

Wal reddened, but he grinned from ear to ear. He knew better than to dispute Rolat’s confirmation of his naughtier tendencies.

Cissy laughed again. “Despicable, you say? Then he’s worth knowing.” She glanced at the big bottle in her hand. Her eyes widened as if surprised to see it. Then she directed her gaze at Rolat again.

“You know boys, I do hate drinking alone. What do you say we have some fun?” She pulled a face at Diltan. “You can come too if you promise to loosen up a little. Show this poor repressed Earther girl how to kick back Kalquorian-style.”

Diltan stood there, nonplussed by the abrupt invitation. However, Rolat was not about to miss his chance to spend time with the too-reckless but absolutely-entrancing Cissy. He slung his arm around his Dramok’s neck and tugged him towards the woman. After the barest of pauses, Wal followed them.

Rolat gave Cissy a nod as he reached her door, Diltan still in tow. “Thank you, Matara Cecilia. I was just about to suggest to my clanmates we have a few drinks.”

He half-dragged Diltan into the woman’s quarters. The night was looking up.

The men moved aside as Cissy joined them in the apartment. She walked past them and into the small kitchen area that was open to her greeting room. She opened a cabinet and pulled out some glasses.

As she poured them all healthy draughts, she arched a brow at them. “By the way, I go by the nickname Cissy. Cecilia is too formal. Can you handle that, Diltan?”

Diltan had recovered his usual demeanor. In the haughty-amused tone he usually reserved for when Wal was being difficult, the Dramok said, “Are you going to antagonize me the whole night?”

“Oh, you were planning to stay the whole night? Rather lowbrow of you to make such an assumption, sir.”

Diltan’s mouth dropped open yet again. Rolat couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“My Dramok, you can argue a councilman or emperor into speechlessness, but look at what this woman does to you!”

Wal also chuckled. He nudged Diltan. “I think you have met your match.”

Cissy brought the drinks to them on a tray. She gave Wal a smile that was warm instead of saucy. “Oh, so you can talk.”

Wal took a glass, still snickering. “You are an overwhelming creature, Matara Cissy. You steal every word from my head.”

She cocked her head to one side, setting down the now empty tray on a nearby table. “Is that a good or a bad thing?”

“I haven’t reached a verdict yet.”

She laughed at his wry grimace. He grinned back. Rolat had the idea that once Wal relaxed, Cissy might be in for a few surprises of her own. The Imdiko was no wallflower.

Cissy sat on one of the floor cushions arranged in a semi-circle. When she indicated they should as well, the men joined her in relaxing with their drinks.

She gave Diltan another one of her challenging looks. “Okay, so I’m overbearingly loud and brash and you’re a stuffy snob.”

Diltan scowled into his drink. “I am not stuffy.”

Rolat decided it was time Cissy cut his Dramok a break. “Diltan is much better than he used to be. At one time, he worried too much about his rank and status. Nowadays, it’s more about what is right for those around him.”

“Are you telling me there’s hope for him?” She sounded disbelieving.

When Diltan shook his head, Cissy unexpectedly softened. “Okay, I admit to being a jerk. Something about you gets my back up, but that’s my problem. I’ll call a truce if you’ll stop looking down your nose at me.”

Diltan gave her a surprised look. “Is that what you think? That I feel I’m better than you?”

“You don’t?”

“Not at all.” He gave her a searching look. “I am sorry I gave you that impression. I didn’t understand how difficult things had been for you back on Earth. I heard the bluster and saw the rowdiness and never attributed the behavior with relief at being free.”

Cissy appeared moved by his attitude. She looked at Diltan with tremulous hope, a vulnerable expression for such a rambunctious creature. “Good. I don’t want us at each other’s throats. After all, your clan is dating my sister. It could be we’re stuck with seeing each other on a regular basis.”

Rolat blew out a breath. “I wouldn’t bet on that.”

When Cissy and Diltan both looked at him in surprise, the Nobek looked at them apologetically. “I mean no offense to Matara Natasha, but I don’t feel a real connection to her, my Dramok. She is sweet and no doubt one of the nicest women I have ever met–”

“Damned straight,” Cissy muttered.

“—but there just isn’t that spark I’d hoped for,” Rolat finished.

Diltan protested with little strength. “We only get so many chances, my Nobek. It could be you will find that elusive quality given time.” He didn’t sound like he believed his own words.

Wal spoke up. “I don’t know, Diltan. I like Tasha too, but I’ve got my concerns as well.” He offered Cissy a placatory smile. “Your sister is a wonderful girl. I would be honored to be her Imdiko, but I don’t think she feels the attachment either. We’re not a good fit.”

Diltan’s shoulders sagged. He huffed and stared into his glass again. “Fine. If we’re being honest, I don’t feel it either. I want to. I’ve tried my damnedest to. You’re right though. It’s not there.” He glanced at Cissy, his expression suspicious. “So we’re not going to pursue your twin any longer. Are you going to throw us out?”

She’d watched them all with surprise and what looked like chagrin. However, Cissy recovered enough to smart off to Diltan. “Are you kidding? You think I’ll make you leave just when you’re beginning to act human?”

No sooner had the words left her mouth when she winced. “Damn, I said I was calling a truce. Behave, Cissy.” With that self-discipline, she gave Diltan a pleasant smile. “I’m glad you aren’t going to string Tasha along. She hasn’t found any clan yet that gets her excited, so don’t feel too bad.”

Diltan returned the smile. “I hope she finds good men. She more than deserves them.”

Cissy nodded and raised her half-emptied glass. “To my sister Tasha. May she find a clan that breaks her out of that prim and proper shell.”

Diltan chuckled. “But not too much. I can’t imagine how Kalquor would survive if there were two Mataras like you.”

“Diltan, why don’t you tell me how you really feel?”

That made them all laugh, Diltan and Cissy included. Rolat could sense the tension between the Dramok and Earther dissolving. He grinned at the pair, thinking how similar they seemed in their stubbornness and quick release of angst.

Wal helped himself to a second pour. “What of your prospects, Cissy? You seem to be enthusiastically pursuing your options.”

She shrugged and surprised Rolat by turning pink with embarrassment. “I don’t know that I’m into the game yet. I’m goofing off with guys too immature for me. I suppose I should be a good girl like your Dramok wants and take this lottery thing seriously. I know I’m acting foolish with the clothes I wear and the men I see.”

“And the things you say.” Diltan snickered when she blew a raspberry at him.

“Yeah, yeah. I act like a soldier on a weekend pass on Dantovon. The trouble is, we women were all straitjacketed by Earth’s insane morality for so long. I’ve always felt like I was suffocating. When it was safe, when it was just me and Tasha and our cousins, I would unload a little craziness. I had to let off steam somehow. That usually meant saying outrageous things.”

“I can imagine how hard that must have been,” Rolat said. Taken in context, Cissy’s antics made sense.

“Then there were all those months we had to go into hiding when Jessica became empress. Earth Gov wanted to scapegoat us for her ‘sins’. Armageddon was a tragedy, but it set me free for good. I guess I’m enjoying my liberty with a vengeance.”

Diltan nodded, his expression sympathetic. “So we’ve noticed. It is understandable now that I think about it.”

“Completely,” Rolat agreed. “It’s a surprise you aren’t going to greater extremes considering.”

Cissy grinned. “Believe it or not, I am trying to rein some of my exuberance in. I haven’t let anyone lure me into a pleasure club yet.”

Before he could censor himself, Rolat blurted, “If you decide to do so, please allow me to accompany you.”

Diltan choked on his bohut. Wal laughed hard enough that he nearly fell off his seating cushion.

Cissy stared at the Nobek. “So if one sister won’t do, you want to try the other?”

Rolat flushed with embarrassment. He hadn’t meant to be so bald about his attraction to Cissy. It had just popped out.

Too late to take it back, Rolat gave the Earther a shamefaced grin. “It’s not that, though I won’t pretend I don’t find you tempting. Safety is a concern. Pleasure clubs can get extreme. You should have someone who can take care of you when you walk into such a place.”

“Take care of me how?”

Cissy let the innuendo creep into her tone, but Rolat didn’t miss the tremor that was there too. She was interested, but a little afraid of him. Well, well. The bold girl had a trace of self-preservation after all. The idea of making her even more nervous threatened to arouse him.

Rolat was not a man who cared for games, however. Teasing over a long period of time was not his style. When he wanted to fuck, he made it loud and clear ... just as he was going to do now.