Page 98 of 80% Beef 20%
Under a domed ceiling, stalactites hung like icicles. They sparkled overhead like a star-strewn sky. Hot water lapped around us in soothing ebbs, where I bobbed in JayJay’s arms.
“Well, that’s it.” One of my hands caressed the back of JayJay’s thick neck. “I’ve let my final contract on Earth go. Everything is tied up. You’re looking at Tern’s newest colonizer.”
With me attached to him like a monkey, JayJay swam us to the hot spring’s edge, where a polished bench awaited. There, he pulled me onto his lap. His puffy lips brushed over mine for a moment before he darted his tongue out to lick the water from my neck. “And most beautiful.”
I smacked at his wrist. “Stop it. Tuga will be here any second, and I don’t want to be a squirming mess.”
He continued to suck little kisses along my neck. “But your messes are like graneth honey on my tongue.”
“Who knew you would turn into such a sweet talker?”
JayJay’s grin turned me to putty in his hands. “Does that mean you’ll stop calling me King Kong?”
“Nope. You’ll always be my giant gorilla.” I kissed his nose. “Remember when I first arrived, and you couldn’t even look at me?”
“What did you expect? I’ve never known anyone like you.” His thumbs massaged the crease under my ass, sending hot shivers through me. “My body goes haywire anytime you’re in range.”
“Okay, maybe you’ve graduated to Mr. King Kong,” I groaned.
Tuga’s shout jerked me from my bone-melting massage. “I’m heading to the cold pool.”
JayJay frowned, still running his hands over my bikini bottoms. “I guess we should join him.”
“Yes, we should.” I wriggled out of his grip.
Fresh water fed the pool from a below-ground spring, and the soothing water lapped over my waist, dulling the ache in my core as JayJay carried me to the bench built into the cave’s wall. I sat on the smooth stone, fluttering my legs around his hips where he stood in front of me. RitRat and Nebula swam like otters next to Tuga.
“So, when do you start?” Tuga asked.
“New week. Last moon’s election established a council.” JayJay swooshed his hand through the water, and the ripples expanded until they reached the dorats. Their tails—one sable, one Technicolor—twirled together as they sank beneath the water. “Their first order of business was establishing a protector force.”
I shifted my attention from the playful dorats to JayJay as a surge of pride filled my chest. Rivulets of water ran down the deep grooves between his pectorals, and his iridescent skin shimmered in the low light. “And with TeyTey and D’ovey as part of the council, they’re already making smart decisions, like naming you lead protector.”
“Bish…” JayJay brushed off my praise. “The most important outcome was Yurst having a council to hold him accountable.” Then he laughed. “But cutting off his statue spending will certainly help with hoverbike replacement.”
“You’ve found quite the place here, JayJay.” Tuga admired the hot springs around him. “I didn’t believe you at first. But I feel our ancestors are present here. It’s just like the Black Rocks of Nara on Yagras.” He glanced at Nebula, who lit up the water and the etchings on the wall with her fiber-optic light display as RitRat nipped at her neck. “I’ve no doubts that Tern is a twin planet to Yagras.”
JayJay’s eyes roamed over the markings on the smooth black wall. “These are so similar to our written word. A keeper might know what they say.”
“Yes, a keeper needs to be assigned.” Tuga paced back and forth, arms braced behind his head as water sloshed around him. “Why is the Intergalactic Federation’s ruling taking so long? When I stood as a witness against Devile, I couldn’t get a read on the supreme councillors in attendance.” He worried a hand overhis smooth head. “I can’t go back to protecting that disgraceful Rock Dweller.”
JayJay sat on the bench next to me and scooped me into his lap. “I know the truth in my heart, whatever they rule. You have a place here my friend, no matter the outcome.”
I smoothed my hand over the hard muscles in JayJay’s tense arms. “You’ll be cleared.”
After another dip in the hot pool, we strolled hand in hand the short distance to our house. Tuga strode ahead. Our wristports dinged as soon as we passed through the black rock entrance into the day’s light.
Sisip: I have news and will arrive in two suns
JayJay’s hand tightened in my grip.
Nebula twined around his calf, and I leaned into him. “Nobody in their right mind would let Devile go free.”
Hands in fists, Tuga turned to face us. “If they do, consider that bastard dealt with. I will not return to my position as his bodyguard. Or anyone’s blanting bodyguard.”
As we walked over the glossy rock path from the hot springs to our house, Geo and Makir came into view. They stood, admiring the plateau below them from the simple rail skirting our expansive patio. Charz and Pika circled their feet. Nebula and RitRat flashed in and out of their camouflage, and the greatest game of tag two tiny dogs could ask for began. An enormous crate blocked the front door.
“We brought you a little something,” Geo said to me.
