Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
He didn’t think he could bear that. But given his recent experiences with human females, it seemed like a distinct possibility.
No, the little blonde was all wrong for him, he told himself. But then he looked at his back in the viewer some more. If she was wrong for him, how had she caused his Sen Stripe to flare?
Maybe it’s just because she’s human, he thought. Maybe my body is confused because she’s a different species—one that was absent from my old universe.
But he had “dated” several human females, including the one called Ashley, who had for some reason found his request that she bite him to try and activate his Stripe repugnant. Why would his body react to the little blonde and not any of the others, who looked like they would be good S’renthas?
T’zaren had no idea, but he did know that he was not looking forward to his meeting with the blonde human female and Chief Commander Rarev. He didn’t even know what it was about—only that the Commander had told him he was needed for a special mission. But to where, T’zaren didn’t know. Also, he had no idea what the little blonde human—whose name he didn’t even know—had to do with it.
Well, he supposed he would find out, but he vowed to himself not to touch her again or let her touch him. It seemed that his body was confused about her—T’zaren didn’t want to perpetuate that confusion or give the wrong impression.
The little blonde was not his S’rentha and she never would be—he was absolutely certain of that.
FIVE
LUCY
Oh my God, why am I so nervous? What’s wrong with me? Lucy wondered as she stood outside the door that led to the Monstrum Commander’s office, trying to calm her nerves. She felt like a little kid sent to the principal’s office and half suspected that Chief Commander Rarev was going to be angry with her for falling into the river which ran though the entire ship like a kind of circulatory system. What if she had somehow polluted it with her humanness? Did that even make sense?
Or maybe you’re just nervous about meeting the guy who saved your ass, whispered a little voice in her head. After all, holding onto him in the river is the closest you’ve been to any man besides Mike in a good long time. How long was it that you wasted with that jerk? Eight years? Nine?
No, she had to stop that. Lucy forced an end to the negative self-talk. She normally didn’t have this problem but for some reason, she just felt so jittery—as though she’d swallowed a double shot of espresso before she’d come to the meeting.
Trying to calm herself, she smoothed down the white silk blouse she was wearing tucked into a black pencil skirt. The outfit looked professional and—as Iyanna had pointed out—also showed off her full curves, which she kept assuring Lucy the Monstrum Kindred loved.
Lucy didn’t know if she bought the idea of a whole race of males who really liked curvy women. Mike had always been prodding her to lose some weight—which was easy for him to say. He could eat whatever he wanted and never gain weight—he had the anatomy of a toothpick—skinny and pale and pointy. Well, at least his knees and elbows were pointy—sleeping in the same bed with him had not been fun.
Stop thinking about your ex and concentrate on the meeting you’re about to have! Lucy scolded herself. Think good thoughts—we need some positive energy here!
Taking her own advice, she took a moment to catalogue some positives. Her hair was behaving beautifully—the dunking in the Mother Ship’s river seemed to have agreed with it. It was golden and glossy, styled in long, loose waves. Also, her outfit was perfect. She looked nice and professional—she was glad she’d brought the skirt and blouse and not just vacation clothes for hanging out with Iyanna.
The only thing that bothered her was the fact that the heels of the black pumps she was wearing kept snagging the deep blue moss that carpeted the Monstrum Mother Ship. She had nearly tripped twice on the walk over here and the second time she had barely caught herself before she went “flying ass over teakettle” as her Aunt Delilah would say. But other than that, everything was just fine.
“That’s right, I’m fine and this meeting is going to be fine too,” Lucy murmured to herself. “I’ll be poised and professional and greet the Commander gracefully. Then I’ll thank T’zaren for saving me and we’ll all chat nicely together and there will be no problems or awkwardness whatsoever.”
She was a big believer in visualizing positive outcomes, so this little self pep-talk made her feel much calmer and more centered.
Lifting her chin and taking a deep breath, she lifted her hand and knocked on the office door.