Page 81 of Pets in Space 10
He kissed her forehead. “Let me know if anything stresses you tonight and I’ll take care of it, I promise.”
“I’m fine, this is fun.”
Twenty minutes later, Dahlia found herself part of a small group which included Captain Fleming, his wife, Mrs. Benfield and her billionaire husband, all chatting away.
“I wanted to thank you,” she said to Mrs. Benfield, who had insisted Dahlia should call her Micki, “For getting me and my family out of the refugee camp and into a better life.”
Micki gave her a hug. “Meeting you tonight is so special for me — you represent exactly what I’d hoped for when Josh and I created the foundation.
People shouldn’t have to live their entire lives in those camps.
But it’s like a black hole to climb out of.
I know — I did it the hard way through dance.
I read the highlights of your file, knowing we were going to be here on the ship for the night and I’d already told the captain I wanted to meet you.
I see you weren’t one of my dancers though. ”
Dahlia blushed and hung her head. “No, I have two left feet for sure. But I loved going to the classes since it got me out of the camp environment and the teachers were so kind and patient, even to me, who was obviously hopeless.”
“But from what I read you found all sorts of ways to be helpful on the admin side of things, which I admire,” Micki replied. “Will you enjoy the program tonight, even though dance isn’t your first love?”
“Oh yes, I enjoy watching people perform but it’s true, painting is my outlet.”
“I’m hoping to acquire one of her paintings soon,” Mike interjected.
“Your dress is gorgeous,” Micki said. “Perfect for an artist.”
“You must have had an excellent designer,” Mrs. Fleming added, giving Dahlia a wink which was so quick she wondered if she’d imagined it.
The lights flickered to warn the lingerers in the lobby to head for their seats in the theater.
As she walked with Mike behind the other couples, Dahlia speculated about the captain’s wife, who was also named Maeve.
The whole thing seemed too coincidental.
Was her voice familiar? Could it somehow be Maeve the AI?
There were rumors on the ship to that effect but until tonight Dahlia hadn’t given them any credence.
Now she was consumed with curiosity which she guessed wasn’t destined to be satisfied.
She and Mike were seated in the second row, behind Micki, her husband and the captain and his wife.
Dahlia scanned the program, deciding the lineup of performers sounded like a dream.
There was even going to be a solo by Tassia, who was the Comettes prima dancer and renowned in the Sectors for her beauty and skills.
The captain strolled on stage to say a few words to open the show, with Mike at his side to thank the audience for their generous support of the charity sponsoring the event and invited them all to attend the tournament.
There were a number of celebrities in the crowd who’d come on board to play in the celebrity version of the competition, each playing for a charity of course.
Dahlia had been introduced to many of them and her head was whirling at the memory of the people she’d met tonight.
She’d have to send a long message to her family about all of it later.
Her brothers and sisters would be especially interested.
She wished she’d felt brave enough to ask for a few autographs, for her siblings, but it wasn’t that kind of evening so she refrained.
Captain Fleming sat beside his wife again and Mike made his way to the chair beside Dahlia as the curtain rose. “So far so good,” he whispered to her as he took her hand.
The evening was magical in Dahlia’s opinion. The Comettes did many of their famous precision routines, but there were also quite a few soloists and small group dances. At the end, the Director took the stage and Dahlia noticed Micki and her husband had left their seats and were no longer in sight.
“We’ve arranged a special finale for you tonight,” Madame Cartajj said.
“As you may be aware, the Director of the foundation we’re honoring tonight is a former Comette and she and her husband met on this very ship while performing — and winning — a charity dance competition.
They’ve agreed to do a special dance for all of you, accompanied by Ryder McRhodes. ”
There were gasps and the curtains parted to show the stage lit in subtle tones and the interstellar rock star wearing white tails, standing beside a white piano.
He bowed to the audience before seating himself and launching right into one of his most famous songs, a slow ballad.
Micki and her husband danced onstage, doing a beautiful romantic dance to the music.
It was nothing fancy but the sheer simplicity of the movements and the fact the couple was obviously deeply in love brought tears to Dahlia’s eyes and she rose with the rest of the audience to give the couple and the rock star a standing ovation.
There was no encore, which was hardly surprising, but the Comettes swept onstage and closed the show with their signature dance ending in high kicks.
“The whole performance was wonderful,” Dahlia said as the clapping died down and people began to file out of the theater. “I can’t thank you enough for inviting me to be your guest tonight.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Mike replied. “Let me say goodbye to a few people and then we can be on our way to search for dessert as promised.”
When they were finally able to leave the theater, Mike said, “Would you like to come to my quarters for coffee and dessert? We can order in, anything you’d like.”
Her heart beat faster at the idea of spending more time with him and in his cabin besides. The evening had already been magical and now she hoped they were going to move to the next level of their friendship. “Certainly sounds like a good idea to me,” she said with a smile.
Mike’s quarters were in officer country and she wasn’t surprised when she entered the cabin to find it much larger than hers.
He had a separate kitchenette, a spacious living room, and the glimpse she had of the bedroom showed a sumptuous king-size bed much too big to ever fit into her simple place.
The furniture was high end, real wood, black leather, with designer accents and a few carefully chosen art pieces on the bulkheads and the bookshelves.
He went to the kitchen to make coffee and she kicked her shoes off, enjoying the luxury of plush carpet under her toes and examined the bookshelves. “You like thrillers I gather.”
“Most of them are a bit tame compared to what I’ve lived through in the military and on my career path,” he said, bringing her a cup of the precious real coffee.
“I know it’s indulgent to have real books these days versus the ebook or holo versions, but it’s satisfying to hold in my hands while I read. Cream? Sugar? Cinna spice?”
“I actually like it black,” she said, inhaling the delicious aroma. “So if the books pale next to your life, why read them?”
“A few hours of escape from the stress of my job.” He gave her a crooked grin.
“And occasionally I learn something. These authors are clever and well researched, so on occasion the heists and scams their characters pull contain useful details I can use to further safeguard my own operation.” Going to the bookcase, he plucked out a battered volume and brought it to her.
“This is one of the best, but you might not sleep at night after reading it.”
Curious, she read the old-fashioned blurb on the back. “Oh no, the takeover of a luxury cruise ship! Really?”
“It all turns out fine in the end of course.”
“And the main male character gets the girl?”
“You mean the plucky engine room mechanic who helps him defeat the mob? Naturally.” He chuckled as he sat next to her on the couch. “What would you like me to order for dessert?”
Making a decision, Dahlia placed her nearly empty coffee cup on the table and slid into his lap, looping her arms around his neck.
“There’s no need to order anything. I have what I want right here.
” Leaning forward she kissed him. If he rejected her overture, if she’d misread the situation and where the evening was heading, she was going to sink right through the deck and out into space, dying of embarrassment before the void could kill her.
Mike hesitated for an instant and Dahlia figured he was used to making the first moves, but she was not shy about certain things and she wanted this man, tonight.
He took the kiss from zero to a hundred in a heartbeat and shifted her from his lap to the couch, on her back with him between her legs.
She could feel his arousal through the thin fabric of her dress as they continued to kiss.
Mike cupped one hand over her breast and kneaded the nipple through the material of the bodice.
Dahlia pulled at his shirt, untucking it and running her hands under the edge to stroke his bare back.
He was rocking against her and she ground her hips seeking the pressure to further stoke the tremors running through her inner core.
Mike kissed her neck as she tilted her head to give him access and she knew she’d be marked tomorrow but didn’t care.
He slid one hand up her leg, pushing the dress out of his way until it bunched at her waist. Toying with the gusset of her panties, he murmured, “You’re a surprising woman, Ms. Vale, but I like it.
So wet already. You really do want this, don’t you? ”
“I think you’re the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen,” she said, breathing hard and craving more of his touches.
“I think I’m supposed to pay you the compliment, sweetheart.” He laughed and the vibration rumbled through her. “Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe you in my eyes right now.”