Leaving Triad (6 page)

“Where are you going?” she asked, shocked
that he wasn’t going to try to force himself on her. She was so
used to it because Jeremy always tried.

“I figure I will go get us a six-pack and
tell Henry that you’ll be back at work tomorrow,” he answered as he
smiled. “I’ll be back in about fifteen to twenty minutes.”

*****

Zor walked back in the room to see it
completely spotless. She had cleaned his quarters. Emily was
sitting on the edge of the bed just waiting. He smiled at her and
handed her a beer.

“What’s this for?” she questioned.

“I know you like beer, so I thought you would
like one after the day you had,” he answered.

“But aren’t you going to…” she started unsure
how to finish the sentence without sounding like a crazy
person.

“No, like I told you earlier, I only made the
bet with him to get you out of there and away from him. I’m not
going to hurt you like he did,” Zor reassured her. “Although I
might still take advantage of the VIP privileges at the bar. Are
you sure you don’t still want to leave the ship?”
Why was he
giving her an out?
He didn’t want her to leave.

“I guess the situation could have been worse.
You’re not as bad as some scumbag that I have never met before,”
she joked as she gently bumped his shoulder with hers playfully. “I
guess I’ll stay.”

“I will have you know I am wonderful company
to keep. I am also pleasant to look at,” he joked with her.

“Besides, I like my job here,” she joked back
smiling at him, then taking a huge swig of her beer. “What are we
going to do about the sleeping arrangements?” she questioned.

“We can share the bed,” Zor answered
jokingly. When she just stared at him with pinkened cheeks he
reassured her. “You can have the bed. You should get some sleep.
Your shift is almost over anyways, it won’t mess with your sleep
schedule.”

She finished her beer and tossed it in the
trash shute that sat by the door. “I can sleep on the floor.”

“Just sleep on the bed, I won’t try to take
advantage of you while you’re sleeping,” he stated, realizing she
was really nervous about it.

She got into her bag and grabbed her pajamas
out. She went into the bathroom and changed while Zor downed
another beer. Zor was shocked when she walked out, her pajamas
consisted of black shorts that were just as short as the ones she
wore at the bar and a black tank top, which showed off her amazing
breasts.

“I’ll sleep on the floor," he offered.

“No, the bed is big enough for the two of us.
We can share.” Emily laid down on the bed and Zor turned down the
lights.

How was he supposed to keep his hands off
her with her dressed like that? It was going to be one of the most
difficult nights he ever had.

*****

Zor made it through the night without getting
close to her, although it was very difficult. He woke and had to
hop into a cold shower, which didn’t help much. He didn’t have time
to take care of his needs himself. The woman was something else,
she didn’t even have to touch him to have him acting like this was
his first time around a woman.

Zor got out of the shower and put on a clean
uniform. He opened the door to the bathroom not realizing that
Emily might be changing. He stood frozen, watching as her beautiful
body was exposed. He only saw a side profile of her but the image
he saw was now permanently forged into his brain. She had a nice
softly rounded ass and her breasts were not overly large, but they
were just enough for him. She must have heard his heavy breathing
because she turned in his direction. Emily turned a bright shade of
red and clutched her clothes to the front of her.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize…” Zor turned around
and went back into the bathroom shutting the door behind him.
Sharing the same quarters was going to be difficult.

She knocked on the bathroom door to let him
know she was finally done.

“I didn’t know you were awake,” he said.

“It’s alright, it’s not like you saw anything
you haven’t seen before," she returned. “I’m starving,” she said as
she opened the door to the room.

“I’ll buy you lunch,” he said as he followed
her out.

They walked into the bar and Henry took their
order. She stopped him though before he could walk away. “Hey, is
there any way I can make up for the lost hours yesterday?” she
questioned, smiling brightly.

“With how Zor reacted, I didn’t think we
would be able to work you for a couple of days,” Henry joked. “Go
ahead and eat, we got your uniform all cleaned up for you. You’ll
be here for the dinner rush, which should give you a couple of
extra hours.”

“It’s only two hours before my shift starts?”
she said startled. “Can you just make me a regular sandwich then?
I’ll change and then eat in back.”

“Sure, sugar,” he said confused. They walked
to the backroom quickly and she grabbed her clothes. She changed
into her uniform and scarfed down her food just in time to take Zor
his food, including a beer on the house.

Zor watched her as she hustled through the
dinner rush. She did a great job keeping up with all the customers’
orders, although he hated watching the men stick their fingers down
her shirt or shorts to give her tips. She let them do that because
she got bigger tips that way, he knew that in his head. Still, it
bothered him.

“Zor, sometimes it’s best just to leave if
it’s making you upset,” Henry said as he stood across the bar and
poured him another glass of beer.

He drank it quickly, watching as one of the
men stuffed his tip down the front of her shorts and tried to
linger. Emily pushed his hand away. Zor acted quickly by sticking
his biggest bill in his mouth as she walked over to him. He was
just expecting her to take it out of his mouth the usual way she
did, but this time was the way she had only done once.

She slid across his lap and wrapped her arms
around his neck. She looked deep into his eyes but the shimmer in
hers had changed. She seemed like she had more life now. As she
took the money from his mouth, she allowed her lips to be pressed
against his for just a second to see how it would feel. It felt
like there were fireworks going off in her chest.

She pulled the money out of her mouth and
stuffed it into her shirt, then kissed his cheekbone. “Goodnight,
Zor,” she whispered in his ear, then quickly got off his lap.

“Goodnight,” he returned as he got up and
walked out of the bar.
What was that about? She had to be
feeling the same pull of attraction as he did.

Emily walked up to Henry to fill the next
order of drinks. “Sweetheart, that was quite a show you put on
there for the captain. Are you sure it’s not something more serious
going on between the two of you?” he questioned.

“No, not that I would mind,” she returned
with her cheeks flaring red. “It’s just a business deal that was
made without my knowing.”

“Sugar, you must be blind as a bat if you
can’t see it,” Talia said as she took out a tray of drinks.

“Come on, you all know how it was with
Jeremy. I just can’t get serious again right now with anyone,”
Emily stated.

“Well just take it easy on the captain, and
don’t treat him like it’s his fault that Jeremy was such an ass,”
Bethany said as went to go collect a tip.

“Really need those drinks for table three,
Henry,” Emily said smiling.

The rest of Emily’s shift went by quickly.
Most of the time, she was thinking over what everyone told her
about Zor.
Should she think about getting serious with him? He
was a lot nicer to her than Jeremy. Then again, so was Jeremy when
they first met. Should she trust Zor? He sure as hell was
attractive enough. What should she do?

She finished her shift and went back up to
Zor’s quarters. He looked like he had barely slept. “Where’s all my
stuff?” she questioned, realizing that her suitcase was on the
floor and completely empty.

“It’s all put up for you in the dresser by
your side of the bed.”

She blushed, realizing he must have seen her
underwear and bras. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“It was no problem, really. I found it
interesting. The red, lacy panty set particularly caught my
attention.” He looked her up and down, making her blush even
more.

“Thank you, Zor, that’s really considerate.”
She shivered from his perusal of her. She turned away. She needed
to show him her appreciation somehow. She grabbed all of the money
she had brought home and held it out to him.

“What’s this for?” he questioned.

“You’ve been feeding me and housing me, it’s
the least I can do,” she returned.

“I don’t do it because I want your money,
Emily, just keep it. I like your company and you help clean up the
place if you want. I’m a terrible slob,” he answered smiling. “I’ve
got to attend to some ship’s business. I'll be back later,” he
added as he left the room.

That beautiful woman had kept him up all
night again and she wasn’t even there.
What the hell was it
about her that made him sleepless? She was beautiful, her lips were
soft and tempting, and her body was beautiful. She was perfect.
Even though there were plenty of other women that were just as
beautiful, there was just something about her that had him tied up
in knots.

No matter what he did he couldn’t get her
little show off his mind. Was it genuine or just an act? He knew he
taught her how to do that, but something about the look in her eyes
had been different. Was it real or could she make her eyes glisten
like that on cue for anyone? Did she really mean to let her lips
touch his or was it just an accident? He needed some freaking
coffee before his mind exploded.

*****

Emily laid in bed thinking about how her lips
felt against Zor's skin. The explosion of fireworks she felt when
her lips touched his. She hadn’t meant to take it that far, but she
didn’t regret it. She liked seeing his response to her.
Could
there really be something between them? Could she trust him enough
to let there be? What if he just broke her heart like
Jeremy?

This had to be the most confusing thing she
had ever done. Zor filled her with a desire she had never
experienced before and a confusion she never wanted to have. She
knew so little about him, but she felt as if she knew him better
than she knew herself. She had to shake this feeling. She couldn’t
tell him how she felt, and she couldn’t let anything else like what
happened at the bar happen again. It was going to be hard but she
had to do it to protect herself, at least until she knew him
better. It was easier said than done because all she wanted was to
be wrapped in his arms.

Emily and Zor got into a routine over the
next week. Each one took turns getting ready in the bathroom. Since
Emily usually worked at night, they would share a late lunch or an
early dinner each day. Zor would come by as he had before right at
the end of her shift and walk her back to the quarters they shared.
They slept in the same bed together every night but didn't do
anything but occasionally roll into each other as they slept. It
was almost like they were already a couple—without the hot, amazing
sex.

The only time they disagreed on anything was
when it came to Jeremy. Zor wanted her to press charges, but Emily
didn’t want to do that. She just wanted Jeremy to stay in the brig
for a while as punishment and then hoped he would request to leave
the ship once he was released. She was ready to move on from him
and did not want to spend any more effort on him. Zor didn’t
understand her decision.

“You would have him walk away without
punishment for what he did to you?”

“He’s not worth my time, Zor.”

“Do you still have feelings for him?”

“Of course not. How could you ask such a
thing?”

They fought about it before Emily had to go
to work. Zor came by the bar later and apologized. She apologized
as well. She made sure to avoid talking about Jeremy after
that.

Each day she grew closer to Zor and loved
getting to know more about him. Zor grew up a loner. He didn’t have
any family and had to take odd jobs on ships to make a living. He
understood her need for independence. He made enough money to buy
his first ship and started a transportation/acquisitions business.
He went place to place, never really calling any one place a
home.

*****

“
How many galaxies have you been to?” she
asked one night as they were lying in bed.

“
Hundreds maybe. They start to all look
the same after a while.”

“
I’ve only ever been on Terra until
now.”

“
Maybe at the next outpost I can take you
out to look at the sights.”

She turned on her side with barely contained
excitement. “Really? You are so busy with ship’s business and all.
Plus the bar is always busy when we hit an outpost. Henry might not
be able to spare me.”

He reached a hand out to lightly trace the
side of her soft, pale cheek. She immediately blushed. “I’m never
too busy for you. I’ll talk to Henry and get your shift covered.
You deserve a break from the constant work.” He wanted to do
something extra special after their fight about Jeremy.

Her eyes shined with unshed tears. “Okay
then. I would love to.”

“
It’s a date,” he said firmly. He didn’t
want to give her an out. She may be hesitant about him, but he was
going to take every opportunity to prove to her that he was the man
for her. Even if it meant he had to seduce her, he was not above
using every means to get what he wanted, and he wanted her more
than anything else.

She smiled and it lit up her whole face.
“It’s a date.”

*****

Emily was looking forward to the next day.
They would arrive at the next outpost and she and Zor would have
their first date. She smiled all the time now. She had never had
that much to smile about before. She just couldn’t help
herself.