Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Pace was someone who thought a lot of himself. His confidence served him well as an employee, though Zane was fairly certain he would not do himself any favors with a female based on Tanya’s assessment.
Pace hadn’t yet competed for a female, behaved as though it was beneath him, though he did look at Tanya greedily and Zane hadn’t liked that a bit. On the contrary, he found it untrustworthy. Pace had been the one with a few rumors up his sleeve about the man in the islands region with the means to get to Earth for more women, eliminating waiting on the government to do it. That Pace wasn’t trying to get on a wait list coupled with this demeanor made Zane sure that his employee would be open to a black-market female. Other things Pace had said about anger at Earth and the fact that the planet shouldn’t get off without severe consequences just because they were willing to part with their women made Zane decide to be wary about having him near Tanya. He’d also remarked that maybe Phallyx should take all the women since their men were clearly not only incompetent and sinister but also because they were actually willing to part with their women, they deserved to switch places with Phallyx and die off because they ceased to reproduce. Zane didn’t disagree with the second part – there was no way in the world Phallyxian men would allow another planet to have millions of their females. But the rest of it was unsettling. After Pace’s behavior that day, coupled with his attitude with conversations about Earth, Zane would be cautious.
“Your phone has been ringing a lot,” she observed. “Having me here is keeping you from your work.”
“I’d planned to be off. As you know, I was expecting you.” He gave her a smile. “But, yes. Issues with the translator software yesterday. Trying to push out updates. New rules about having the remaining Phallyxian females outfitted with the ear gems and coordinating all that. We had three women come in with their new husbands today and Pace ran tests at the office. So far, so good with the update. When I put in your new gem, I updated your software.”
“But you put the old one in.”
“The gemstone ‘talks’ to the implant that’s in your ear canal. It’s all updated even though I put the old one back in. Any problems with noise on it, please let me know.”
“Oh. Okay.”
The doors opened and a house robot rolled dinner out to them. Tanya smiled as the domed tray was put between them in the terrace daybed and Zane pulled the drapes aside to allow more of the view in. It was dusk. As he leaned over to finish getting the drapes aside, he was closer to her.
Fuck, but she smelled good.
He lifted the dome. Steak with vegetables in an herbed creamy sauce on a platter for two, the portions bisected by three cupcakes topped with blue frosting in the shape of a rose bloom and dusted with chocolate shavings and crackled candy sprinkles.
“Oh my.” Her eyes went big at the sight of the meal, which did look delicious.
Zane hit a command to turn the pyramid bed one hundred and eighty degrees, so they’d face the mountains.
Glasses of wine sat on either end of the platter. Legs stretched out beside her, their backs to the house and facing the back garden, he lifted a glass and passed it to her.
“Thank you, Zane,” she said softly.
He lifted his glass. She touched her glass to his. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” he repeated, watching her lips touch the dark blue glass as pink stained her cheeks and she sipped the wine.
“Oh, this is good. Really good.” She took another sip.
“Daxx’s special reserve. He sends me some every harvest. It’s coveted.”
“Mm. I love it,” she said.
He reached for a set of cutlery on the tray and passed it to her. “Enjoy. This is one of my favorite meals.”
“Mm,” she let out a throaty groan as she tasted the steak. Her eyes went big and she quickly took a second bite.
Zane smiled.
“And cupcakes for dessert?” she asked as she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
“They look delicious. I programed my favorite dessert flavors to be made into one of your cupcake desserts.”
“I can’t wait to try it. But why are there three?” She smiled, clearly knowing the answer to her question.
“Because you told me you always eat two.”
Tanya bit down on her lip shyly. “It looks so good. Can I break a rule and have a bite now?”
“Why shouldn’t you?”
“Because dessert is for after dinner.”
“Says who?” Zane frowned.
“Says everyone.”
“Everyone on Earth thinks that?”
“Uh, yeah. It’s how parents convince their children to eat their vegetables.”
He gave her a look of mock horror. “Then it’s a good thing you’re not there any longer.”