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Rolling my shoulders, I walk away from my ship and the space station duty officers towards the terminal and the hoverboard station. The light orbs delivered, my accounts richer, I’m ready to head to the strip for some fun.
Two months in space with only the computer as company, I need to immerse myself with people. Xistrosie is known as the playground of the universe, so something is bound to strike my fancy, and I’m not leaving until I’m partied out.
The space station is set a few miles from the main city on Xistrosie, amidst a sea of barren rocky hills. But the closer to the lights and civilization I get, the rocks give way to scrub bushes and cacti. I slow the hoverboard, gawking at the city before me. Tall buildings line the street with intricate fountains and gardens in front of them. Above the street, holographs play advertising the various amenities to be found. Never have I seen such an overwhelming display of opulence in one place.
Pulling into the first hoverboard station, I quickly turn the board in so that I can walk the streets. The air here even smells different, as if something sweet is cooking, but overlaid with grease and a hint of floral. Hands on hips, I look up and down the street debating which way to go. At the end of the strip, I can see the park that Xistrosie is famous for, with its mile-high torpedo ride that is guaranteed to peel the skin off your face as you reach Mach 1 speeds. No thanks, I get enough of that on takeoff.
My stomach reminds me that I haven’t eaten in a few hours, so I head into one of the middle of the road hotels. Not so fancy that I will stand out like an edger, one of the dwellers from the very outskirts of the galaxy with their outdated clothes and clunky ships. The foyer is an open dome five stories high, with a glass ceiling, designed so that we could see the stars if it were not for all the lights. In the middle of the large space, a small grotto sits with waterfall, pool, and palm trees. A trio of virtually naked girls cavort in the water without a care in the world. What happens in Xistrosie, stays in Xistrosie, and if there’s something that can be twisted or is taboo, you will find it here. This is one of the tamer displays I imagine.
Walking around the grotto, I enter the dimly lit restaurant. I wave a hand at the bartender, making my way towards one of the tables on the side, where I can see the stage, but also the door.
“Hey, doll. What you drinkin?” An Andoi woman asks, her breasts on full display while one set of hands is prepared to take my order, her other set is stroking my hair and shoulder.
“Hands off!” I swat her hands away with a glare. “A Kalimotxo.”
“How about a double? You need to chillax, girl.” The alien woman’s eyes heat as she looks me up and down, “I could help you after my shift.”
“No. A single and the drink is all I need.” I don’t swing that way, preferring strong masculine hands and a hard spouter- though with that many hands, I wonder if I shouldn’t have been so swift to say no.
“Your loss!” She almost sings as she shrugs her shoulders, causing her tower of tight curly hair to tilt. “What you eatin’ tonight?”
“Is the fish fresh?” I glance at the menu.
“Of course, ‘tis.” She glares at me. “Chef won’t cook unless it’s caught today.”
I look up and raise my eyebrow, “And where on Xistrosie would he catch a saskonich?”
Xistrosie is not known for its fishing or even it’s livestock. Much of the planet is a rocky barren wasteland, with Sageval having water shipped in annually to replenish what they cannot get from the hydroponics system.
“Err, well. . . “
Setting the menu down, I decide to go with something safe. “A Tarantalla salad with ansoli blue dressing and a loaf of the house bread.”
“Yes, ma’am. Enjoy the show.” She smiles and walks away as the lights dim even further and the DJ drops a song that’s upbeat and appealing to my ears. My fingers start to tap the table and I notice that it also has the rest of the room tapping their feet to the beat. I hadn’t looked to see what the show was, so I’m curious to see what it is.
The curtain starts to rise, exposing five sets of muscular, bare legs. My mouth goes dry as the curtain continues to climb tantalizingly slow, revealing inch by inch of masculine perfection. It stops at the men's thighs, causing the audience to groan. One of the men reaches his hand down and waves, causing laughter to break out as the curtain continues its journey to the ceiling.
Two men face the back of the stage, while three face forward. Each is wearing a pteruge, an odd leather kilt that barely covers their junk and asses. Chiseled chest muscles flex, hips swivel, and abs ripple, causing my mouth to water as heat pools between my thighs. In sync with each other, they thrust their pelvises towards the audience as the music suddenly pauses.
The hunk in the middle with ash blond hair steps out of line and starts to sing, “I might not be the one for you, it might not be the time, but darlin’ I can feel you in my soul.” Oh Lord, I need more than one drink, and a bucket of water to cool down.
“Looks like you could use this.” The waitress arrives with my cocktail and salad.
“Thanks,” I grab the drink and take a long sip, loving the mix of the tart red wine, the raisiny-vanilla tang of the soda and the citrus vodka shot. “Can you bring me another, please?”
“Sure but go slow. Those pack more of a punch than you realize.”
I wave my hand at her, my mouth full of the greens, fried spider, bitter root and the ansoli blue dressing- a blend of the sweet blue anji flowers, a hint of salty boli fish and the green soli fruit. Heaven after the re-hydrated foods I had been stuck with while in space.
While eating, I watch the men strut across the stage, flexing and bending to show off every inch of male perfection.
“Hot, aren’t they?” A male voice next to me says, causing the hair at the back of my neck to rise.
Tearing my gaze from the stage, I look at the table next to me. I had been so caught up in the dancing I hadn’t noticed the couple who had sat down. Crap, Akiyra! You can’t afford to become so distracted. Yeah, you’re here for fun, but if anyone were to get ahold of your purse...
“Yes, they are.” I smile at the couple, taking note of his slightly tattered shirt with the cuffs fraying. He had left it unbuttoned to show off an obscene expanse of dark fur with a small bird skull necklace around his neck. My eyes flit over the woman with him, her dress a few seasons old and her hair styled with jewels that are clearly fake. Neither of them fit here, and something seems off, but I don’t know what it is. Cut it out Akiyra! There is no way that they followed you. Eat dinner, have a few drinks and enjoy the show.
My attention returns to the stage, just as the men jump down and come out into the audience. I watch as they dance around the tables, each picking a different patron to give a private show. My eyes are glued to the man who had been in the middle, his ash blond hair and vivid green eyes capturing my attention. I don’t know if he can feel my eyes on him or if it’s a coincidence, but he starts to move towards me.
I sip the second drink that had arrived sometime during the show, shaking my head at my inability to be observant. First, the couple appearing next to me, now a drink appearing that I don’t remember the waitress bringing. Uneasy, I look around the room, wondering why I am so inattentive. A deep husky voice has me turning back to see Mr. Hunky standing in front of me.
“Hey, gorgeous!” a set of green eyes bore into me, “How about a private dance? You, me, and the lads?” His hips gyrate inches in front of me, causing my eyes to slide down and focus on the flaps of leather as they move to reveal hints of skin.
I slowly raise my eyes to his, “Thanx buth I jut ear fo da sow.” My words slur together, my tongue feeling too thick as everything starts to spin, and I face plant into hunky’s junk.
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