[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
the button and the wormhole opened right over
their heads, sucking Jen inside before she could
say, Goddamn it, I hate this thing.
* * * *
Safely on board Vera, Jason jumped into action in
the captain s chair, pulling levers and getting them
the hell out of Dodge. Jen was still reeling from
transport, and sat on the floor, since she d left the
other chair on Ray s ship. Soon they were safely
away and Ray didn t even try to pursue. Vera
could outrun his clunker of a ship any day and she
guessed he knew it. Once they were in the next
star system over, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank you for saying those things, Jason. And
for rescuing me again. I ve become a right pain in
your ass.
Never! Unless you decide to start spanking
me, that is.
Jen giggled at the idea, but sobered at the
thought of losing Jason. Suddenly he was more
than a pastime to her. I didn t know you were so
introspective about your existence. I guess I
assumed you only wanted one thing in life.
Jason swiveled in his chair to face her, hands on
his knees. I do. That s who I was written to be.
64
The Bell Curve
I m okay with that and it doesn t stop me from
being interested in the world beyond. Fuck a few
Seers and they ll tell you all about the twenty-
seven dimensions and sixty-eight alternate forms
of reality and blah blah. In the end I realized that I
have little choice in the matter so I may as well
enjoy life.
Jen stared into his gorgeous green eyes,
suddenly aware how much she liked this goofy
man. Sure, he was fun in the sack and funny to
interact with, she had always known that. But he
was more than that and she was finding herself
more and more drawn to him. What began as a
game with a non-existent piece of man-candy was
shaping into so much more an entire universe
had literally opened up to her.
She held her hand out to him and he rose from
the chair, pulling her to her feet. You re a pretty
neat guy, Jason.
I ve been trying to tell you. Now what do you
say we get you home? Like you said, my universe
sucks.
She wanted to go home, climb into a hot bath
and forget the whole thing ever happened. But she
couldn t turn away from him now she only just
realized he was a whole person. She wanted to
know what that person was wholly like. I have a
better idea. Let s go to the observatory.
A slow, lazy grin, appeared on his face. Now,
65
Amelia June
that look she recognized.
Your wish is my command, Goddess. He led
her through the doorway and down a flight of
stairs. Jason s footsteps clanked on the steel
flooring, but hers made no noise at all as she
followed.
The hallway ended in a set of double doors,
which opened when they approached, spilling
white fluorescent light on the floor. Jason
murmured, Lights off. He pulled her through.
Although she knew what to expect, the view
took her breath away. The ceiling and walls were
completely transparent, billions of stars shining
light into the small space. The floor was carpeted
in a rich pile that her feet sank into, warm and
comfortable for the first time since she d come
here. Backstory had it that Jason had specially
commissioned the room to seduce Marla, his
partner in the love/hate relationship of Katya s
novels.
The room was only a few paces across, but it
felt eternal. They were near a dual-star system,
two large suns hung low and rich in the distance,
ringed by gas giants and rocky planets that each
glowed with technocolor brilliance. Mostly,
though, she was entranced by the stars, which
twinkled in all corners of her vision. She even
forgot for a moment that stars in space wouldn t
twinkle, because there was no atmosphere to
66
The Bell Curve
distort them. The tension drained from her body
as she soaked in the vast expanse in front of her.
Few people in her world would ever get an
experience like this.
Jason moved to stand behind her, hands
cupping her shoulders and gently rubbing the
stiffness from them. You must be so tired,
Goddess and you ve been in my universe two
days without a pair of shoes. Not just anyone
could survive that, you know.
She leaned against his chest, savoring the
strength and allowing him to prop her up. The
steady rise and fall of his chest calmed her. You
know, we can t really
Goddess, stop talking. He spun her around
and planted a kiss on her forehead then another
on her lips. You think too much.
That much was true.
She locked her hands behind his neck and
kissed him again, eyelids fluttering closed. He
pulled her closer until they were locked in a tight
embrace. Jen sighed against Jason s lips as they
kissed, this time with less frantic passion and
more soft regard. Her heart was beating furiously
in her chest as though she hadn t done this or
written it a dozen times, as though she was with
someone entirely new.
Jason pulled back from the kiss. Here, lie
down. The floor is made to lie on.
67
Amelia June
She got to her knees and he pushed her
shoulders so that she fell on her back, laughing.
He was right behind her, landing on top of her
and rolling over so that they were a tangle of
limbs and laughter on the cream carpet.
He ditched his boots and situated himself next
to her, flanking her right side as she lay on her
back, hands under her head. Didn t I tell you it
was comfortable?
Jen bounced her hips a few times, the floor
giving way with a slight squeak. She knew there
were springs underneath, like in a mattress. This
was not a floor meant to be walked on. Beside her,
she caught Jason s appreciative glance out of the
corner of her eye. Are you watching me jiggle?
The view is very nice, yes. But I think I m
more drawn to your smile. You ve had it rough
here, but you still find a way to enjoy yourself. I
like that in a girl. In fact, I like you a lot, Jen. I ve
spent time with a lot of women, but none like
you.
That s because the women you hang out with
aren t real.
Yes. And you are very much real, and very
much a woman, not a character. You captivate me
like no other.
But we re not
Nope, he stilled her words with a finger on
her lips. We probably aren t. But I don t live like
68
The Bell Curve
that. I live in the moment, for the pleasure of right
now. And right now, I want to take those rather
sad looking pajamas off you.
So he did, and she let him. With a nudge he had
her roll on her stomach, the soft flooring
conforming to her contours so that there was no
discomfort. Fiction could be a wonderful thing.
He straddled her hips, knees on either side of
her, and began to rub her shoulders. You re so
tense! You need some relaxation, Goddess.
He focused on her bare back and arms, rubbing
in long, deep strokes that sank deep into her core.
Muscles she didn t know she had loosened as his
hands passed over every inch of her back. Her
breathing slowed but she was alert to every touch
and caress. After a time he moved on to her legs
and feet, carefully avoiding ticklish spots. He
worked his way down, spending a lot of time
rubbing the stress out of her sore feet. Hm, your
feet are kind of dirty, Goddess.
I ve been barefoot for two days! What do you
expect?
Perhaps you would enjoy a bath in a bit?
Oh my God, that sounds wonderful. But Jason,
I m worried about Captain Ray coming after us.
Won t he find us if we just hang around?
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plalternate.pev.pl
|
