Page 5 of Her Alien Spy
“Andethor.” The towering Bellarian, the man who’d trained him, crossed his arms over his powerful chest. “We should speak,” he said, nodding toward Andethor’s ship. Andethor nodded, hit a button on his comm, and a hidden panel on his ship dislodged, revealing a short stairway that led into the ship. He waved the other Bellarian in, then followed.
Once the door was secured behind them, he nodded. “Vexlan. I’m guessing you have news or you wouldn’t have made the trip.”
The other Bellarian nodded and took a seat at the small table Andethor ate at when he was away on long missions. Andethorsat, watching as Vexlan ran his fingers through his short hair. He looked exhausted.
“We finally may have our chance. Our Paraxian contact got in touch. Apparently Jax’el Xiaron enjoys visiting pleasure resort planets when he takes time off. And he is doing that now. For the next 7 days, as they tell time on this station.”
Andethor nodded. It was just what they’d been waiting for. Getting to the councilmember on his home planet was nearly impossible, especially now that he knew they wanted to talk to him. His staff was an impressive wall between him and anyone he didn’t want to talk to. His home, like those of every high-ranking Paraxian, was under heavy security. He traveled rarely.
“Security detail?” Andethor asked, and Vexlan shook his head.
“Apparently the councilmember doesn’t want his people to see whatever it is he plans to get up to on Eralis,” he said with a smirk, naming one of the most popular pleasure planets.
Andethor huffed out a short laugh. “So I’m going to Eralis, it sounds like.”
“You are. You should find someone to bring with you.’
Andethor jerked in surprise. “Why?”
“He’s skittish, as we well know. A big Bellarian showing up? He knows we want to talk to him. And we know he’s up to some shady shit or he wouldn’t be preventing this movement among his people to join the Alliance. But. You show up with an attractive woman hanging all over you? Just another tourist.”
And why, damn it, did his mind immediately go to Julia? Her curvy, mouthwatering body pressed against his, her lips on his neck, making it look for all who saw them that they were there to partake in the planet’s more… exotic… pleasures, like so many other couples.
His cock definitely seemed to like the idea, and he nearly growled.
“I don’t have a woman.”
The look Vexlan gave him said all it needed to: Find one.
“I’ll take care of it,” Andethor said, wondering how the hell he was going to do that.
“Do it fast. Your reservation is set for tomorrow through the next 5 rotations. Enjoy your trip, Savis Eletath.”
Andethor blew out a breath when Vexlan named that particular alias of his. Savis was a partier, known for opulenttastes, a complete damn deviant in every way. Especially when it came to women.
Eventually he nodded, and Vexlan let himself out, returning to the shadows so many of the people he knew best lived in.
Now, he just needed to collect the clothing Savis Eletath would wear, instead of what Andethor would wear.
And he needed to find a woman who’d be okay with him treating her less than respectfully.
Chapter Four
Julia finished her shift at the fitness center. She volunteered there because she’d personally experienced how much better she felt when she got regular movement, and it often helped with the sameness of everything sort of being the same, no matter what time of the day or night it was, in the middle of space. Plus, it gave her even more chances to talk to people, which usually kept her in a better mood.
She’d just stepped out of the fitness center to see Andethor leaning against the wall of the corridor, arms crossed over his chest.
“Um. Hi,” she said, wondering what the hell he was doing there. She hadn’t even realized he knew she worked here. But then again, what was it he’d said the night before about how he knew what food she’d like?
The man pays attention.
“Hi. So. I have a favor to ask you. But it’s… it’s fucking weird. I’ll say that in advance. And if you say no, there won’t be any hard feelings because the last thing you should do on your vacation is be stuck dealing with me,” Andethor said, and she raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to continue. After a moment, he blew out a breath. ”Can we grab some food and go somewhere quiet? It’s… it’s a lot,” he said with a shrug.
Julia watched him. This wasn’t the Andethor she was used to. He was tense. A little irritated, almost. She nodded. “Sure. I was about to grab takeout from that pasta place on level nine.”
“That sounds good right now. I’m buying,” he said, waving her ahead of him. They walked in silence together before getting on the crowded lift that would take them to level nine, which was where a lot of the restaurants and takeout places were located. There was another area like it on level fifteen, but the offerings on level nine were the best.
They stepped off the lift and Andethor followed her to her favorite pasta takeout place. She already knew what she wanted: Fettuccine Alfredo. With grilled chicken and extra Parmesancheese. She looked over at Andethor to see him studying the menu on his comm. “Is the ravioli good?” he asked.
