WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Irene

 

                                                                                                                    Photo credit: Jernej Graj

 Unwelcome visit?

Rusp slapped a panel on the wall next to her, and the ship’shatch closed behind her. He stared at her with what appeared to be anger. “Whatyou do here, Irene?”

 A weight slammed inher gut. She swallowed a wad of unexpected hurt at his blunt, almost harshquestion. “I…I wanted to see you guys. Say hello, maybe talk music some more?You don’t want me here?”

Jemi startled her by rushing forward and wrapping his armsaround her. Irene was suddenly pressed close to a strong body, enveloped in hismusky-spicy scent and warmth. “No want you hurt. You in danger, Irene.Shouldn’t come.”

“Rusp learn about Earth. Cruel to women who come too closeto men. We stay away and think you stay away too.”

Irene found it hard to concentrate on Sherv’s speech. Jemiwas holding her tight to himself, his rock-hard chest against her breasts,their stomachs touching, and below…

A stab of heat spiked through her. She’d never been held bya man before, and it was a revelation, her softer curves molding to hispowerful physique. She couldn’t breathe.

She almost grabbed Jemi when he finally stepped back andheld her at arm’s length. His worried gaze cleared the fog of whatever it wasshe’d been experiencing, and she returned to her senses.

“It’s okay. Nobody messes with Odeergins, right? I’mcareful.” They didn’t have to know about her near-encounter with Clan Nil.

“Is big risk,” Rusp said, his anger evaporating in favor ofconcern. “What Earth do to you if you catched…”

“If you were hurt because come to see us, I not stand it.”Sherv raked his fingers through his thick black hair, mussing it. “Why you takechance?”

Still feeling a ghostly sensation of Jemi against her, Irenewent to their dinette and sat on one of the huge chairs surrounding it. “Myworld has been so small. Not Earth, but where I’m allowed to go, what I’mallowed to do. Imagine never going anywhere, never seeing anything except whatpeople tell you is proper. Could you live like that?”

Sherv sat next to her so they could gaze eye-to-eye. Hespoke to her slowly, carefully, as if she were a child. “Your governmenttorture and kill for this, Irene.”

“Do you think I don’t know this? They took me from myparents when I was sixteen. They ripped me from my family to sing for them. Myparents would have been jailed if they hadn’t agreed to it.” Irene choked onbitter laughter. “I know all too well what my government is capable of.”

Releasing Summer