Page 8 of Trak (Virilian Mail Order Mates #1)

Seven

The first delivery was a surprise. Metal trunks were brought in on levitating racks and loaded into one of the rooms off the main bedroom.

Anna, who still didn’t have clothing, hid in the bathroom, peeking out through a crack until the racks were whisked away and the chamber closed up again.

She went in to find the trunks etched with her name.

She opened them to see a profusion of color.

Fabrics burst from them—clothing of every sort imaginable.

She opened them all, amazed by the contents.

They were not modest ensembles, ranging from tight, to short, to obscenely skimpy things made only of thin, woven gold chain.

All of them were impossibly beautiful, though.

They were items made for a queen of a kingdom with high temperatures, where clothes were more decoration than practical.

Anna wasn’t sure what she was, but a queen she was not.

She spent hours going through it all. Then…days. Or rather, what she figured was days. Time passed strangely when there was no sun and no clock.

Time passed and Trak did not come back, but the deliveries continued.

The next ones contained jewelry. Anna almost felt sick looking through the glittering pieces that would be priceless on Earth: a diamond the size of her fist, set in a silver belt—a belt , of all things!

She ran her fingers through a rope of rubies set in gold.

It was so long, she could loop it around her neck eight times.

Rings, bracelets, things she couldn’t determine the use for, and even a few tiaras lay in the boxes.

Her heart was pounding before she’d even gotten through them all.

Her father would have had a heart attack if he could see all this. He’d stolen enough jewelry to fill Tiffany store, but this was a museum-worthy haul. Surely she wasn’t meant to keep all this. But there was her name, etched into each box.

And still, Trak did not return. Her body developed a sort of cycle of sleep and wakefulness.

There was no sun or close star to give off light.

It was all black outside except for the lights of the space station and the constant coming and going ships.

The station, itself, never slept. She found it somewhat maddening to not be able to note the passage of time, but the deliveries kept her on her toes.

They arrived at regular intervals and they always surprised her.

On the second day, a helpful female alien arrived, who pointed to herself and said “Nandi.” The female was about four feet tall and had massive black eyes that took up the majority of her face.

She had no mouth, but spoke through a slit in her throat.

She tidied up the room and helped Anna dress.

She spoke a different language, but did her best to communicate.

Every few hours, Nandi came and checked on Anna and spent time with her.

When Anna asked about Trak, the small female just shrugged.

The deliveries became more unique. She received a gorgeous potted flower whose petals changed color throughout the day.

A water fountain that played music as it trickled water.

A box that projected holograms of beautiful sights on various planets—sort of like virtual sightseeing. It was fascinating.

One delivery was brought straight into the bathroom.

It was a vanity and a profusion of skin care items that boggled the mind.

Anna had no idea what to do with any of it, or if it was even safe for human skin.

Nandi helped there. She threw away numerous jars and containers with growling noises.

Apparently those weren’t safe for her to use.

And still, Trak did not come. Anna began to dread more gifts.

The chamber was filled with stuff but no trace of the male who’d sent them.

Her imagination wandered off in odd directions.

What was he doing? Was he hurt or dead somewhere?

Was he with someone? Was he using that magic mouth to kiss someone else?

Or sending for a different human—one of her “backups”?

The unwelcome mental image of Trak in a bed like hers with a bevy of beautiful females wriggling all over him began to plague her.

It was ridiculous! She had no say over what he did.

Their association was based on a contract and would last only until the arrival of his much-desired offspring.

She was a surrogate, basically. That was what she was called in the paperwork.

That was what she’d thought of herself when she signed the contract.

But it was rather difficult to fulfill her end of things if she never saw the impossible male.

Worse, she’d begun dreaming about him. Mental images of his big, muscular body haunted her.

The memory of that kiss they shared had woken her up feverish and aroused more than once.

She wasn’t sure if she despised him or wanted to tear off those tight pants of his and ravish him.

It was maddening, and finally she could take no more.

Despite Nandi’s vigorous headshaking and attempts to bar the door, Anna marched to the exit and flung it open.

It was a heavy thing, so it banged loudly on the outside wall.

She pinned Nandi with a firm look. “Where is Trak?” she asked.

With waving hands and making agitated noises, Nandi marched off and started down the narrow corridor.

Anna felt somewhat claustrophobic. If anyone happened to be coming the other way, she didn’t know how they’d pass, especially if they happened to be one of those giant Virilian males.

Still, she followed Nandi down the narrow tunnel, around turns and up strange, cylindrical elevators, until they finally arrived at a set of red doors with an elaborate screen mounted on the wall next to them.

Nandi looked quite peeved with her. She flicked a hand at the screen and muttered something in her language, then stomped off.

Alone, Anna had no idea what to do. She did the seemingly logical thing and knocked. Nothing happened. She didn’t see how her knock would be heard since the door felt as solid as concrete. She tapped her knuckle on the screen and stepped back when it blinked from black to bright white.

She tapped again. “Hello?” she said to the screen. “Trak, are you in there?”

The screen changed. A bare-chested male filled the screen, gazing at her with a confused expression. Well, at least he wasn’t dead.

“Can you open the door?” she asked.

He scratched his head, making his messy blond hair stick up even more. “Nok,” he said. “Pur liki fe mosie nah.”

“What?” Anna leaned forward. “I can’t understand you.

” Then she remembered his weird neural implant thing.

“Put in your English chip,” she told him, pointing to the back of her head and motioning like she was sticking something in her skull.

“ Chip .” She enunciated the word. Pointless, since speaking slower wouldn’t make him understand her easier.

Finally, he remembered, or must have, because he disappeared from sight, allowing her a full view of the frothiest, most ridiculously feminine room she had ever seen in her life. He reappeared with a cocky smile. “Hello, love.”

“Open the door, Trak.” She didn’t say it as nicely this time.

“What are you doing here, Anna?” he countered, keeping that smirky grin in place. “Did you like the things I sent you?” He craned his neck, as if trying to see what she was wearing. “I did my best. I don’t exactly know your taste. I do like that outfit.”

She was wearing one of the more respectable outfits—a snug dress that skimmed her thighs. “Let me in, please.” She was beginning to lose her patience.

He sighed. “Oh, alright.”

The door opened. A strong flowery scent punched Anna in the nose as she entered the room.

Red lamps hung from a pink-tinted, mirrored ceiling.

Gold ropes tipped with leather-wrapped shackles were attached to the walls and a selection of sex toys sat on display shelves.

She stood in a cliché stereotype of a brothel.

That was saying something, because they weren’t even on Earth.

Apparently sexy rooms were more universal in style than she thought, looking around with a good deal of awe.

The bed was the central focus of the room.

It was massive and filled with some sort of pink liquid.

Inside, phallic-shaped objects floated around, giving off color-changing light.

Covers and pillows were askew. Life-sized artwork, presumably depicting the owner of the room, hung on walls.

One featured a nude black-haired female with lavender skin and two enormous sets of breasts, stacked one above the other. She knelt on the bed, legs spread.

Anna squinted at it. “What is that?” She pointed to the thick, blue, petal-like folds prominently extending from the female’s crotch.

“It’s her sex, love.” Amusement edged his voice. “A true wonder of the universe, that.”

The female’s oversized black eyes seemed to move. It was as if the painting watched her. Then, a long, forked tongue flicked out, making Anna yelp and jump. The portrait had moved. “And who is she? Is this portrait…alive?”

“That’s Sinno.” Trak turned away from Anna to gaze at the oversized portrait. “The primary occupant of this room. That’s not actually her—just a picture of her. Quite realistic, don’t you think?”

Anna looked back to the door. “Where is she?”

“I have no idea.” He shrugged. “I was just staying here for a bit to give you space.”

She looked around. “You were staying in a brothel? Really , Trak.” She hated how she sounded, like a jealous lover trying too hard to be nonchalant. There was a touch of that, if she was honest with herself. The guy wasn’t remotely hers, but good grief—he was staying here?

“It’s not a brothel. Sinno was my mistress, if you must know, but she’s off-station, probably with her new partner.”

“New partner?” Anna shook her head. “And you’re okay with that?”

“Of course,” he replied, looking perplexed. “We were never bonded mates. She’s moved on and so have I.”

“Aren’t you worried that…she’ll find out that you’re here?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I thought she’d mind.

” He sauntered closer, looking rumpled and mellow.

Far too mellow. “You look suspicious. I can have my physician attest to the fact that I haven’t been with anyone since well before you arrived.

I can also show you my most recent body and fluid scan if that would ease your mind. ”

“Okay. Maybe. I get it.” Anna took another look around the room, then backed toward the door. Sinno’s painting’s gaze followed her. “Can we go? Or are you planning to stay here?” Maybe he liked the decor in this room better.

“I’d love to return to my chambers with you.” He cocked his tawny head. “But that depends on you.”

“What are you saying?”

Those muscular, scarred arms crossed over a tattooed chest. “Are you staying and fulfilling your contract with me or am I sending you back to Earth?”

Anna took a deep breath, aware of Trak’s intense gaze on her.

He’d given her almost a full Earth week—if she was calculating that even vaguely right—to decide.

She closed her eyes to block out Trak’s scrutiny, Sinno’s sultry and creepily unblinking stare, and the garish sexual push of the room. Stay. Or go.

“You may keep the gifts, if you leave,” he commented. “They were not conditional.”

Anna’s eyes flew open. “But the jewelry’s worth would total as much as what I would be paid if I fulfilled my contract.”

“Really?” He shrugged. “Good for you, then.” He stepped toward her and placed his hands lightly on her shoulders. “Anna, I would like to do this with you. I would like you to have my offspring. Ferias chose you for a reason, but you can go back. No hard feelings, love. No regrets.”

Anna looked up into his handsome face with its faint smile, and she wondered if that really was all there was to it.

Do, or don’t, no worries, love . Was there something more behind those dark-lined eyes?

And what would an affair with him be like?

He was sexy as hell and their kiss had held the promise of pleasure.

Kissing him hadn’t been taxing. Her body had responded immediately and with passion.

Going to bed with him wouldn’t be a hardship.

For the first time, she wondered what having a child with him would be like.

According to the information packet, Virilian gestations were far shorter than human ones, and newborns were tiny—two pounds when carried to term.

All human women were promised a quick and easy birthing process.

Then, they could stay to help rear the baby, or return home.

Either way, the child would be raised as a treasured addition to this struggling species.

It had sounded so straightforward on paper. It had sounded like an easy solution to her brother’s medical bill problem. Now that she was here, face to face with the complex, fascinating, and gorgeous male she’d been matched with, nothing about it felt straightforward or easy.

It did feel exciting. Anna was struck with the sudden knowledge that if she stayed with Trak, she would not return to Earth the same person she was when she left. That was the source of her fears.

“I’ll stay.” The words whispered through her lips with a flutter of nerves.

“Are you sure?” he asked, just as quietly.

“I made a promise,” she replied, releasing a long breath.

“I have no good reason to break it, aside from being unsure what to expect, and that’s never been a good enough reason for me to do or not do something.

” She looked down with a flutter of nerves.

“And I am…attracted to you. A little. More than a little.” Anna peeked up at him, relieved to see his expression open and bemused, and not at all smug.

“I want more than a kiss. I want all of it. All of you.”

Okay, that had been a bit rambling and a lot honest, but if he could follow those sentences, he’d have heard what pretty much summed up her entire life.

Uncertainty was a staple in the life of a daughter of a thief and con man.

Thing was, this deal with Trak was no con.

It was real, and the truth was, she wanted him more than she wanted to return to Earth.

“Are you certain?” he asked after a pause.

Arousal unfurled low in her belly, sending tingles under her skin. “Yes.”

He stepped close to her. “Anna, you will enjoy every second of this. That is my promise.” His voice was a sexy rasp, heavy against her hair. Fingertips slid up her spine, sending shivers of anticipation. “Come. Let’s return to our room.”