Lost Flyght – Chapter 24

“Care to dance?” Gus sidles up to me at the bar and holds out his hand as the music starts again. All the family dances have taken place, and the party is in full swing.

“Please. I need to get out of my head.”

Slow rhythmic music plays, and Gus sweeps me into his arms on the dance floor. This is no ordinary, platonic dancing. His left hand cradles my lower back, and he brings me close with his right, straight to his chest. My smile is so broad it hurts. The heat of his body and his devoted attention warm me from the inside out. I tuck into him easily.

See? Right here, I can forget my worries. Forget about the military or India Dellis or my ship or any number of things. Right at this moment, I can let all of that go and just enjoy a moment dancing.

“Do you want to tell me what you and India Dellis talked about? Are we in trouble?”

“No. I don’t know. Maybe? I don’t think I should talk about it here.”

“Got it,” he says, pulling me in a little tighter. “I’m so glad you’re here.” He rests his lips on my forehead. “I thought, maybe, it might be too difficult for you to be here, so you would bail on me.”

“Really? Why?”

“Well, you know. Weddings and all that. I heard your father tell you that you won’t be able to have one.”

“Oh.” I rest my head on his shoulder and marvel at how he understands me. “Yeah, there was a moment or two during the ceremony when I felt sorry for myself, but I’ll get over it. There’s too much work to do without thinking of all I can’t have.”

The sway of our bodies and the four glasses of wine and the gin and tonic I’ve consumed lull me into an almost dreamlike state as we make our way around the dance floor. When I open my eyes again, Gus’s mother, Lady Nina Correa, has her laser-focused glare on me. She glanced my way throughout dinner, and the attention has not been pleasant despite our kind words to each other at the beginning of the night. I thanked her for inviting me, and she reiterated how much she enjoyed the trip on the Amagi not too long ago, but that was it. No talk of Gus and our budding relationship. I try to lift a polite smile to her now and pull my head away from Gus, but her look of disapproval does not waver.

“What’s the matter?” Gus asks, but I shush him lightly.

“It’s nothing.”

His head swivels around until he sees his mother. “Yeah, we should talk about my parents. Shall we go outside?”

“After the song is over.”

I just want to enjoy these last few minutes when he’s mine because I have no idea what’s coming next.

Outside the tent, the chilly, evening air wafts over my exposed shoulders, and the stars are out, twinkling in the dark sky. With my hand in his, we bypass all the wedding guests milling around the outdoor tables and head towards the house. He scans his handprint at the door, and it clicks open for us. The warmth of inside brings out a sigh.

“Are you cold? Here.” He shrugs off his jacket and gives it to me. The scent of his cologne, musk and vanilla, brings an absent smile to my lips.

“Come this way. I know a quiet, private place we can talk.” We snake through the house until we arrive at an interior garden, and the glass door slides open for us. Gus leads me over to a bench, and we sit down, shoulder to shoulder.

He takes my hand in his and sighs, his shoulders dropping. Uh oh.

“I’m so pleased you could be here with me tonight. It’s been like my last night of freedom before being carted off to jail, and I’m glad I spent it with you.”

My throat closes up. I don’t like the way this conversation has started.

“Watching you talk to my brothers and my cousins really hit home how much I adore your company. How I’m more like you than I am like them.” He stares down at our hands, clasped together, and I wish I could read his mind. Why, oh, why don’t the seeds work well for me?

He sweeps his thumb over my knuckles. “I wish things were different. I wish I had an understanding family who cared about my happiness, instead of battle strategies and ‘greater opportunities for advancement.’” He rolls his eyes. “My mother sounds like a drill sergeant most days, not a parent. She has been on my case for the last twelve hours non-stop. I told her, for once, I feel welcome and happy with you and your network, that I could be a part of something that made me feel whole, and it was like talking to a statue.”

My chest is hollow, like my heart got up and left, couldn’t deal with this. I scoot in closer to him and wrap my free arm around his.

“To tell you the truth, my mother is horrified.”

I close my eyes and draw in a sharp breath as my world spins. Gus pauses and inhales too.

“Oh, my God. You said that to me.” He turns to face me, his eyes wide. “You said that to me. You saw the future.”

I flashback to the time I took the prescient berries, my naked body prone on the floor of the bathroom. The sparks danced around Gus’s head as he looked at me with love and told me his mother was horrified.

I lift my eyes to him now, and the expression is mirrored on his face. That emotion is there, captured in his eyes, deep and sincere. He takes my face in his hands, and my breath stutters.

“There’s this pull, and I can’t… I can’t even put it into words. I’m in your dreams, and you’re in mine, and we’re supposed to be together. I don’t even know why.” His voice keens, broken and spent, and tears jump to my eyes.

I need to stop the pain he feels, so I lean in and brush my lips against his. This time our kiss is mutual, not just me trying to seduce him. His deft hands bring me close and bury me in the kiss, tilting me back until I’m close to losing myself in his embrace. This moment is decadent, something I know I shouldn’t have, but I’m enjoying too much to let go. Our mouths open to each other, and I groan from the way he owns this kiss. Owns it. It takes all the willpower I have not to elevate this kiss to something more.

When we separate, I stroke his beard and touch my forehead to his.

“It’s okay.” I wrap my arms around him. “I don’t know what to do, but I’ll do something. Okay?”

“Doesn’t matter,” he says, shaking his head. He squeezes me hard before letting go. “I’m to leave tomorrow to meet a new woman, Abigail Something-or-other. On Rio.”

I press my fingers to my trembling lips. “No.”

“I’m required to give it a chance. If not her, they’ll find someone else until I’m happy. Military, of course.”

No.

Nope.

Not gonna happen.

I sniff up, inhale and let it all out. I need to solve this situation and solve it quickly. I’m not going to just lie down and let his family take him from me when we have so much farther to go together.

Who do I call to the job? Devious Vivian could damage everything. Bitch Vivian is not appropriate for a family event. Loving Vivian is too soft and too vulnerable. Business Vivian pokes her head in and waves. I’ve been calling on her a lot lately to make things happen. She’s almost ‘me’ at this point, which is a strange thing to think since she really is me.

I have completely lost my mind.

Standing up, I shock Gus backwards. “I need a bathroom and to clean myself up. Then I need to speak to your mother alone.”

By the time I’ve dried my eyes, reapplied makeup, and pulled myself together in the expansive marble guest bathroom, Gus has found his mother in her private office. The party is still raging outside, but there’s never downtime for a high-ranking officer like herself. She’s probably been in her office since we left the dance floor.

Gus opens the office door, and his mother is at her desk, still in her grand dress and decorated sash. I keep my eyes off of the bejeweled tiara that must have cost as much as a moon. I’ve seen enough jewelry today to know this one is the real thing. I need to maintain eye contact and be strong.

“Vivian, please come in. Gus, thank you. I’ll return your date when we’re done.”

Gus glances at me before nodding and leaving.

Nina Correa’s eyes are focused far off, watching something only she can see in her optical implant. She’s pinched her lips in a thoughtful expression, fingers drumming on the desk.

“Hmm,” she says, gesturing to cease whatever she’s looking at. I stand and wait to be invited to sit. Instead, she stands up at the desk and places both of her hands on it, leaning towards me. “What do you have going on in your ship?”

This was not what I was expecting. Does she already know? Is she like India Dellis, already aware of what we have? Or is she testing me?

Fake it, Vivian.

“Um, in what way? It’s a ship. We do the standard stuff, like when we brought all of your art here.”

Her stare is piercing, her dark eyes boring straight through mine to see what’s in my brain. If I didn’t know any better, I would think she could read my mind.

“Your ship is in spacedock now in Lee Shipyards, is it not?”

“Yes, it is.”

“And your consort Jinzo Lee is handling repairs?”

“Yes, he is.” The back of my neck begins to sweat. I don’t want to debate the ‘consort’ title since we haven’t signed the contracts yet. It’s as good as done, though. “We expect to be up and running soon enough. We had a little fire while we were docked on Palo Alto. The damage was not extensive. I’m sure we’ll be ready in another day or two.”

Nina stares me down, so I clear my throat.

“I’m here to talk about Gus if I can have but five minutes of your time. He’s such a loving and caring man, and we’ve really clicked. I’d like to bring him into my network, but he tells me you disapprove. That you want him to become involved with someone in the military.”

She sighs as she folds her arms over her chest. Her chin raises, and the tiara catches the lights from above, throwing sparkles along the ceiling.

“You love him?”

I swallow, and I’m sure she can hear it across the room. “I care for him deeply. We haven’t expressed love for each other yet. He fits in well with the other men in my network, and he understands me and what I’m trying to achieve.”

“You’re trying to buy back your farm, is that right?” Lady Nina hasn’t given an inch.

“Yes. Gus is one-hundred percent supportive of my goal.”

She assesses me, and I hope I’m upstanding enough to please her.

Shit, I can feel it. She’s going to say no. An unoccupied area of my brain fills with the ghost of this moment, so like déjà vu.

She’s going to deny me.

“I’ve changed my mind,” she says, flipping her hand to the side. “Gus may choose his own path.”

What?

Marcelo warned me I would have to negotiate with her, that I would have to give her something she wants. She watched me at the wedding and reception like she was ready to throw me in the brig. What would have made her change her mind? This is very unexpected.

Too unexpected.

I glance over my shoulder to make sure there’s no one sneaking up behind me. The déjà vu ghost is only in my brain.

“Really? I got the distinct impression that you don’t care for me. And Gus is certain you want him to meet a woman named Abigail?”

She comes around the desk, and her expression softens, but it feels faked after what I’ve already seen from her.

“Abigail Russo,” she fills in. “I thought she would be a good match for him, but it turns out she only wants military partners as well. As I have just found out.”

Was that what she was watching? A regret note from Abigail over Gus?

I examine her face, the lines between her eyebrows, the strict V’s at the corners of her mouth. When she was on the Amagi, she smiled and laughed, carefree and relaxed. Now, she looks ready to command an army.

“Oh.” I direct my eyes down, trying to show deference I don’t feel. Instead, I want to hide how I don’t believe her. “If Gus joins my network, he doesn’t want to lose contact with you or his family.” I place my hand over my heart. “Do I have your word that he’ll still be welcome if he’s with me?”

She tilts her head and warms her smile. The emotion doesn’t reach her eyes.

“There’s nothing a mother wants more than to see her children happy. You have my word he’ll always be welcome here and in his family.”

After the night I’ve had, I feel like there’s more under the surface here than I know. She’s not giving Gus away freely. She’s setting a trap, isn’t she?

Maybe I’m paranoid. I can’t tell, but my instincts are pinging like I’m moments away from impacting on a giant asteroid of regret.

“I’m sorry I have been wary of you, Vivian. If you’re willing to take Gus into your network, then I am more than happy to give you my blessing. He’s told you of his prospects for an inheritance?”

I nod. “He’s informed me that Tiffani will inherit everything.”

Her smile is satisfied. “And you still want him?”

“I do.” I swallow hard under her intense glare.

“Then he’s yours. I will speak to my chief financial officer and let her know that Gus has been moved to your network, and he’ll no longer need an income. Will you be sure to let him know?” She turns her wristlet and stares past me into the distance. “I’m sorry I have to cut this short. I’m needed back at the wedding tent.”

“Of course,” I say, dropping my head and stepping to the side. “I will take care of the details.”

“Good, good. I look forward to spending more time with you in the future, Vivian. Perhaps we can fly together on your ship again sometime soon?”

“We’re at your service.”

“Fantastic.” Her hand brushes my shoulder, directing me to the door. She ushers me outside, and the door closes with a click, locked tight. “Have a lovely evening, my dear.”

She leaves me at the door and heads down the hall to Gus, who is leaning back against the wall with both of his hands in his pockets. He’s sure to pull himself upright before speaking to his mother, and they share a few words before she glides off.

His smile is guarded and his eyes soft as he approaches me. “Is it true?”

I nod, not trusting my voice. It’s true she gave her blessing. It’s true this is good for Gus and me. It’s also true that there’s a price to be paid for our relationship, and I have no idea what it’s going to cost me.

Gus looks up and down the hall, takes my hand, and guides me to a room down the length of the house and around the corner. He scans his hand at the door, and it clicks open for us.

“Room controls, privacy mode on.” With a small pop, the room quiets, and the lights dim. Gus approaches and follows me as I walk around the room. It’s a small library with real books along the wall, sitting chairs, and a lit fireplace. Rich people love to show off their books. I thought the same of Alipha’s library when I visited her. “So, what happened? What did you offer?”

I decide to lie. I can’t tell Gus I suspect his mother of ill will, that I feel this is a trap, and that we’re in grave danger. I need to soften it somehow.

I place my bag on the table next to a sitting chair. “It was the strangest conversation I’ve ever had.” Pretty close to the truth. “Your mother said Abigail Russo wasn’t going to work out, and that she was happy to…” Pick your words carefully, Vivian. “She was happy to see you happy. That if you want to join my network, then she would give her blessing.”

The look of disbelief on his face is enough to knock me over.

“Do you want to join my network, Gus?” I’ve never come straight out and asked him. We’ve only ever danced around it. What if, while standing outside his mother’s office, he changed his mind?

He advances on me in two great strides, lifting me up against him, sure and steady. “I’ve known we were meant for each other that first day you shut Tomu’s apartment door in my face.” He holds the back of my neck and leans into my ear. “I blinked at the door and said, ‘That’s the girl I’m going to marry,’ and I meant it.”

Our lips meet again, and the desperation is there from both of us. We’ve been waiting for this for long enough and now is the time to break open this relationship.

My hands search out his shirt buttons as our lips devour each other. My fingers shake, and I growl in frustration that the shirt won’t open fast enough. This kind of frustration is much better than the danger I felt only ten minutes ago. Gus’s lips leave mine and blaze a fiery trail of kisses down my neck to my shoulder.

“How much do you love this dress?”

“I…” I gulp in panic. “Enough to want to wear it again.”

His fingers grasp the zipper carefully and ease it down my back. “There. I want to see you naked again.”

I smile as he opens my bra, and I make quicker work of his shirt now that I’m paying attention to it. I shove it off his shoulders and jerk my own arms out of my bra straps. All that’s left are my undergarments and high heels. I ease my hands into his waistband and open the fly as he kisses me. He’s busy trying to push down my underwear with one hand and cupping my breast with the other. Ah. He pinches and rolls my nipple, and my brain loses focus.

He throws his head back. “Gah! How do women tolerate these torture devices? Take it off,” he commands, and I laugh.

“Yes, sir. You should’ve gone into the military.” I pull down the underwear and kick my heels to the side. They land in a pile of clothes.

“The only place I want to command anyone is in the bedroom.” He looks around. “We’re in the library. Close enough.”

He pulls down his pants swiftly, and my knees shake as I get a good look at him. Damn hell. He’s a lot of man, more than I’ve ever had. I need to control my desire before I fall over myself to be close to him.

I grab his elbow and ease him backwards. “Into the chair.” I keep my voice like the hard vacuum of space, and my eyes locked on his.

“Oh, look who’s in command now.”

In the lounge chair with the flames of the fireplace dancing all over his sleek body, I’m totally in love. I’ll save that thought for later. For now, I’m going to take what I’ve wanted for weeks

Thank goodness for the privacy settings because I think people on the moon would’ve heard me scream. I collapse onto him, and he holds me in his lap, tracing lines in the sweat dripping down my back. Now we’ve done it. Now there’s no returning to the relationship we had before. He’s not my employee any longer.

Even if I’ve been led into a trap by his family, we’re ready to walk onward together. I sigh as I close my eyes against his cheek and roll my hips on him again.

Later. We’ll figure it out later.