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LANTA COULDN’T BELIEVE she was risking her career—yet again—to meet up with Melis. There was no way he could get her on or near Earth. It was too far away and the cost surely more than he would pay to make an impression. But if there was even a remote chance he could show her Earth, she would take it.
After everyone went to sleep, she told Elkah she was going to the communal bath, and slipped through the guest wing undetected.
Her deception was due to more than curiosity. She had no resistance when it came to Melis. Whatever hold he had on her, he had it with a firm grasp. He could’ve said, “I’ll show you Luur,” and she would’ve had a hard time staying away.
He would pick a mate soon and send every else packing. She would be devastated when that time came. There would be nothing she could do about it or his choice. Their time together was fleeting, so why not enjoy Melis while she still had him?
She could go back to being her old self once she left. As long as she did her job, no one would be the wiser to how she spent her free time. She just had to make sure this remained their secret.
Lanta entered the docking bay with an excuse at the ready. She planned to tell any guards present she was checking on Una’s transport vessel. Instead she found an empty room, except for the rows and rows of parked vessels. Some belonged to guests, but most to the royal house. The bu Kumkani crest was visible on them.
Lanta stood at the entrance, unsure of what to do next. Had Melis said exactly where to meet? She wrung her hands, as she craned her neck looking for any sign on him. What if he didn’t show? Maybe he’d thought she wouldn’t?
Lanta let out a sigh, her chest deflated as she did. She’d gotten her hopes up for nothing.
Then she saw him. Her body reacted instinctively. She felt so light she rose onto the tips of her toes. A smile spread across her face. Her body seemed to gravitate toward him, even though her feet didn’t move forward.
Melis waved his hand, motioning her over. He’d changed from the tunic he’d worn for dinner into a one-piece outfit. Not exactly a skinsuit, since his wasn’t as tight as hers and he had more wiggle room. But his muscular lines were accentuated by the areas of his body that his clothes did hug. Muscles she had run her hands across and enjoyed.
Lanta swallowed the knot in her throat and made her way toward him. Her boots thumped against the metal grating that made up the floor. The sound of her steps bounced off the wall and echoed, breaking the silence. Melis stopped what he’d been doing and watched her. It made her feel self-conscious and sexy at the same time. His eyes flickered with heat. Her core responded in kind.
She didn’t think his unwavering gaze was because he picked out her flaws and catalogued them. But when his eyes lingered in certain places, that’s what she did.
When he looked at her breasts, she immediately wondered if two wasn’t enough for his taste. Were her hips too curvy or thighs too thick? Were her lips too big or hair too much? Even with the amount of heat in his eyes she still felt this way.
Growing up in a world where no one else looked like her had left her with a lifetime of insecurities. His appreciative expression, the way he looked at her, as if she were the only female on Ipakethe, couldn’t erase those feelings overnight.
She had years and years of whispers behind her back about her face, hair, skin and bone structure, but if anyone could cure her of her insecurities, it would be Melis. If only they had more time together.
They didn’t. They only had now.
“Where is everyone?” she asked when she reached him.
“I sent them away. I didn’t think you wanted anyone seeing you leaving with me.” He tilted his head as a smile played on his lips. “I wasn’t sure you would come.”
“I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t help myself.” She wanted to see him. Be with him again.
Lanta broke eye contact. The undercurrent racing through her body was uncomfortable. Mainly because there was nowhere to place the emotions she felt.
“You wanted to see Earth. You had to.”
She nodded. “I was afraid of getting caught. I thought there would’ve been more people here. I had my cover story ready for any security I ran into.”
Melis pushed a button on the side of the shuttle and the hatch lifted. “What was your story?”
Lanta ducked to enter. The inside was sleek and smooth and definitely worth more money than she could ever spend on a transporter. Not that she would invest in a two-seater anyway. There wasn’t even a sleeping room in the back. This transporter was obviously made for short distances.
“I was going to tell the guards I was checking on Princess Una’s vessel to make sure the engine hadn’t been tampered with.” She indicated the pilot’s chair. “Do you need me to navigate?”
“You can take the passenger seat and buckle up. I can handle this.”
Lanta settled into her seat. It felt just as comfortable as it looked. The soft material easily conformed to her body, enveloping her legs, butt and back.
“I don’t mind lending my expertise as a pilot. Don’t try to impress me by flying without any skill of your own. I’m not trying to end up dead.”
Melis chuckled as he strapped himself into his seat and hit a few buttons on the console. The hatch closed and the engine purred to life. “This is my personal transporter. The only one who drives her is me. Don’t be fooled by the title. Not all royals are useless. I’m quite competent in many things.”
They moved, slowly at first as he navigated from the designated slot, then up and out through the doors of the transport bay.
“So, what would you have done when the guards watched you pretend to check the engine? What was going to be your next story when it became apparent you didn’t know what you were doing?”
Lanta turned slowly to look at him. “I’m a certified class five mechanic. I know my way around engines, Melis.”
“Wait. You’re a personal guard and certified mechanic? I could see you fighting, but for some reason I don’t see you with dirt under your nails.”
“Part of my training was to learn how transporters worked so I would know if anything had been tampered with. In my spare time I also make repairs for my neighbors. I charge them a fraction of what it would normally cost if they went elsewhere.”
Melis alternated between steering the transporter and looking at her in disbelief.
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Don’t be fooled by the title. Not all humans are useless. I’m quite competent in many things.”
A laugh tore from his mouth as they rocketed up and off the planet and into the dark void of space.
The transporter was fast, faster than any personal vessel she’d been in before. But, honestly, she’d never been in one this high-end. Her rich clients preferred to travel with multiple guards, assistants, and staff. That tended to require the use of larger vessels.
Those vessels were expensive and came with the latest amenities, but Lanta quickly surmised there was nothing better than being encased in this high-powered machine, rocketing through space while watching everything from the large view window to get the blood pumping and adrenaline flowing.
Melis didn’t tell her where they headed, although she asked him a few times. Deciding the twinkle in his eyes meant he wanted to surprise her, she stopped asking. She kept her mouth shut and thoughts to herself as he worked the controls and navigated. When his tail swished her way, she grabbed it. She itched to get her hands on the control console, but settled for stroking his tail and playing with the hair on the end of it.
She was impressed that he actually knew how to handle the high-powered-machinery, and expertly, so she relaxed and let him take her on an adventure.
An hour later they pulled into a megastructure made of gleaming metal. The only lights present illuminated the landing path. The rest of the area was dark and imposing.
Lanta’s interest was piqued and she straightened in her seat. “It’s so dark. I don’t think they want anyone stopping by.”
Melis parked inside. The vessel groaned as the parking clamps locked into place and secured his ship against the ramp. Melis disengaged the engine and it suddenly felt too quiet.
“Technically, we aren’t supposed to be here and no, they don’t want visitors.”
Lanta opened her eyes wide and glanced from Melis to look out the viewing glass. She expected armed guards to race forward with blasters pointed at them any second now. Instead, they were met with a lighted walk-way and silence.
“If we aren’t wanted, then why are we here?” She put up a hand. “Listen, you don’t have to get us killed. I was impressed just by taking a trip in this slick ride. We can return now.”
A lazy smile graced his lips. “Relax. We’re fine. I am trying to impress you, but Themba would be mad if I left him to run the kingdom with Mxolisi as his second. I’m not trying to get us killed.”
Melis undid his harness and, when she didn’t make a move to undo hers, he reached over and unfastened it for her.
Melis may not have had qualms about trespassing, but she did. “Wait. Tell me what this place is first.”
Melis let out a deep sigh. “Lanta, if I tell you, it’ll ruin the surprise.”
Lanta chewed her bottom lip and stared out of the view window again. Still no armed guards ready to blast holes into their bodies.
“Then tell me this. If this is a restricted area—because it sure does look like one to me—then how were we able to breeze right in?”
“Because I’m Kgosi?”
––––––––
“BUT ARE YOU KGOSI here?”
Melis tried his hardest not to laugh. He could practically see her thoughts written across her face. She’d gone from scared, confused, intrigued, and curious in the span of a few minutes. He didn’t want her to be scared. He hoped to wow her, and give her something she desperately needed.
He’d tried to hide his excitement the entire flight to the observatory. When he’d asked her to meet him it had been done impulsively. Impulsive wasn’t in his character. As the Kgosi, everything he said and did was thought out, dissected, with the pros and cons heavily weighed before he acted. But not this time.
He’d seen how happy she’d been because Payton talked to her about old stock photos accessible to anyone. Melis wanted to make her happier.
It wasn’t until he’d declared he could show her Earth that he realized how silly he’d acted. He wasn’t competing with Payton, especially since he’d been the one to ask her to talk to Lanta initially. But there was no convincing his ego of the fact. The deep-seated urge to be the one who made her smile overrode everything and, before he knew it, he was promising something he might not have been able to deliver.
It had taken some calls and an exorbitant donation but, in the end, he was finally granted the access he requested. Two unrestricted passes to the biggest observatory in his sector.
Melis opened the hatch and stood. “I’m going to see Earth. Are you coming?”
Lanta did that thing where she chewed on her lower lip and, like all the other times, the sight of her tongue and teeth worrying her skin made blood rush to his groin.
He ducked under the frame and stepped out onto the platform then held his hand out to her. “I suggest we be quick about it. You’ll want to be back before anyone wakes up in the morning.” She worried her lip a few seconds longer then stood to join him.
They made their way across the platform to reach the security door, where he entered the code he’d been provided. The door opened and the contrast of light from dark was almost blinding. White walls and floor greeted them. Melis led Lanta down the hallway and to another set of security doors, where he had to enter a different passcode. Once they entered, they were met by the person he’d spent most of the day on a holo-call negotiating with.
“Kgosi bu Kumkani,” Urqen dipped his chin briefly. He was short and white and had midnight-black eyes. “So very nice to finally meet you. I trust your journey was uneventful?”
Melis dipped his chin as well. A sign of respect, not because Urqen was another royal, but because he was truly grateful that they’d been able to reach a desired outcome on such short notice.
“Yes, no space pirates in our path.”
Urqen tsked and began walking. Melis followed him and Lanta fell in step close by his side.
“I don’t understand why they’ve taken to hunting in this area. It’s been most worrisome to hear how many vessels have been seized by them these past months. I do hope the authorities catch them soon.” Urqen led them to stairs that went straight up. They began the climb.
“Wait,” Lanta said. “You flew us through pirate territory with just the two of us in a transport vehicle that screamed you had credits to burn?”
“I thought the benefit far outweighed the risk,” Melis told her.
Lanta shook her head. “If you were a client of mine, I would’ve advised you against this trip. I might’ve even quit before I let you go through with it. Space pirates are vicious and work without a code of ethics. They would have taken your transporter, ransomed you back to Ipakethe and would’ve sold me to the highest bidder. And why?”
Urqen reached the top of the stairs and opened a hatch. “To show you this.”
Melis climbed out behind Urqen and helped Lanta. As Urqen secured the hatch, Lanta and Melis glanced around. The large room comprised of twenty different stations, complete with ten monitors attached to the wall. There were a few people working at some of the desks, heads down, headphones on, and not paying attention to the new arrivals.
“I don’t understand. What is this place?”
Melis had guessed she’d never seen the inside of a planetary monitoring center before, because he’d never been in one either. The centers, five in total in this galaxy, were government run and, luckily for him, were in need of sponsors with “credits to burn”.
“It’s an observatory,” Melis answered.
The moment it dawned on her what they were doing here and what she was about to see, her entire demeanor changed. The happiness on her face was well worth travelling through pirate territory for.