“Mmm, VIP. That’s my kind of action,” Crystal purred to Aria and Jenna.
Kate walked beside Terrien up front, Eva walked a couple feet behind them, and Jenna, Crystal and Aria followed. Terrien led them down a narrow corridor, then pushed open a door labeled “Authorized Personnel Only”. At the end of another narrow corridor, they came to an elevator. Terrien pushed a key into a lock on the control panel and the doors opened. They crowded into the small space and the doors closed.
“This doesn’t look very VIP to me,” Crystal grumbled.
The elevator seemed to speed up. It jostled a little from side to side. An uneasy quiver started in Aria’s stomach. Her head started to spin and she grabbed on to Crystal’s arm. Crystal placed her hand over Aria’s.
“You okay, honey? You look a little green.”
Eva clasped Aria’s other hand. “You don’t look well, Aria.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine in a minute,” Terrien said.
The doors opened and Kate, Terrien and Jenna stepped out. Aria took a step or two and then her knees started to buckle. Crystal and Eva grabbed her arms and steadied her. Whew, she must have had more to drink than she’d thought.
They entered a moderate-sized room with upholstered armchairs set out facing one wall. The décor had changed dramatically from the coral and green they’d seen everywhere else in the hotel. Also missing were the wooden details. This room was cool blue with very minimalist, clean lines.
Eva led Aria to a chair.
“I don’t know what came over me.” Embarrassment blazed through Aria.
“The transporter has that effect on some people.”
“The what?” Aria turned at the unfamiliar female voice.
A woman stood beside Terrien, who was taking off his suit jacket. The woman handed him a dark green jacket just like the one she wore. It looked like a military uniform of some sort.
“The transporter,” she repeated.
She pushed a button on a small console on the wall beside her, triggering a loud humming. The wall started to slide upward, revealing windows beyond. Aria gasped, echoed by several of the others, as a stunning vista of stars was revealed.
“It transported you to our starship.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Crystal stepped up to the glass and peered outside.
“I don’t know, Crystal.” Kate’s voice sounded on the edge of panic. “Look!” She pointed upward.
Aria followed her gaze. The wall panels continued to retreat over the ceiling, revealing a beautiful, but quite disturbing, view of Earth.
“Oh, my God.” Eva sank into a chair. “We’ve just been abducted by aliens.”
Chapter Two
“You.” The uniformed woman pointed at Aria. “Come with me.”
“We stay together,” Eva insisted as she stepped toward Aria protectively.
“No, actually you don’t,” the woman responded.
As the stranger grabbed Aria’s arm and dragged her to her feet, Terrien stepped in front of Eva, preventing her from rushing to Aria’s side. The uniformed woman led Aria to a door, which slid open as they approached. Aria glanced back to see her bewildered companions led out another door by Terrien and a couple of other uniformed men. Eva mouthed some words to Aria that she didn’t understand, then the door closed behind her.
“Where are you taking me?” Aria couldn’t hide the quaver in her voice.
“To meet the captain.” The woman’s heels clicked sharply on the floor as they marched along. “You should be honored.”
Maybe she should be, but she wasn’t. In truth, she was frightened and confused.
Despite that, thoughts of her steamy, nighttime adventures stirred within her and a sexual buzz quivered through her entire body. A part of her hoped this captain was a tall, dark, sinister hunk who wanted to have his way with her. She trembled in anticipation.