If the big Kindred noticed her ruse, he didn’t mention it. Though he did seem to take a long time kneading the bread, Lan’ara thought, as though lingering over the task so they could be close.
Or maybe she was just imagining it. But was it her imagination when Need came to stand directly behind her and reached around to show her how to chop the plongas just right?
“There’s a trick to them,” he told her. “You want to be able to get the seeds out without scarring the flesh. Here—I’ll show you.”
Lan’ara pretended to watch but in actuality, she was just leaning back against his broad chest and enjoying the feeling of his big body encircling hers. That helped the cravings a lot more than just standing beside him watching him knead the bread while their forearms brushed, but she still felt like she needed more.
The flower inside her was hungry—greedy. It urged Lan’ara to do things…things that would have been unthinkable even a few days before. Her mind kept filling with images of the two of them naked in bed together, with Need on top of her, looking into her eyes as he filled her up with his thick shaft…
She told herself it was wrong to think such things and even wronger to act on them. She had to be a virgin to be acceptable to Senator Pouncenblast. But the Senator wasn’t here and even if he had been, the big Kindred was so much more attractive! He smelled so good and he was tall and muscular and strong and…
There you go again, getting carried away, Lan’ara told herself sternly. Stop it now and concentrate on making Last Meal!
She did the best she could, focusing on what she could do to change the flavor and texture profile of the yerba stew. It was basically a good, meaty broth with chunks of braised yerba and cubed vegetables floating in it. A blank canvas, Lan’ara thought. She mixed some of the warming spices she’d found in the cabinet and pureed some of the vegetables to thicken the thin broth. Soon a fragrant, spicy steam was rising from the stewpot and the bread was baking in the wave-oven.
“Well…” Need looked around. “The bread and stew are almost done and the table is set. Looks like everything here is ready. Guess I might as well go check our heading once more.”
“Wait!” Lan’ara blurted before he could go. She couldn’t bear for him to leave her now—not when she craved his touch so badly.
“Yes?” He lifted an eyebrow. “You need something, girl?”
“Would you…uh, could you teach me how to run the viewscreen in the vid room?” Lan’ara asked, searching for something—anything—to keep him with her. “I…I’d like to be able to watch something and keep an eye on the food too,” she explained.
Need’s eyebrows shot up but he only shrugged and led the way into the viewing room. Picking up the remote-glove, he pointed it at the screen and pressed the Power button.
“There,” he said flatly. “It’s on.”
“Oh…” Lan’ara bit her lip, feeling foolish. “Thank you,” she said faintly. “But, wait,” she added quickly, as he was about to walk out again. “My Lord, won’t you show me how to find the vid programs?” She sat on the center couch and looked up at him appealingly. “Please?”
“Very well.” Need sat beside her and picked up the remove-glove again. Slipping it onto his big hand, he snapped his fingers, causing a scrolling list of programs to appear on the broad screen. “You just pick from here,” he explained.
Lan’ara took a chance and snuggled close to him, leaning against his side.
“You pick, my Lord,” she murmured, laying her cheek against his shoulder. “What is your favorite program?”
“Well…” The big Kindred seemed tense for a moment, but then he slowly relaxed. With a sigh, he put his arm around Lan’ara and drew her closer. “Let’s see…” he murmured and began scrolling through the list.
Lan’ara watched the screen but she barely saw anything. All she could think about was how good he smelled—how nice it was to be held close to his big, warm body. Safe in the circle of his arms, the touch cravings eased a little and she felt like she could relax for the first time since she’d woken up that morning.
Sighing happily, she snuggled even closer, determined to enjoy the time she had with the big Kindred for as long as he would allow it.
Need knew he shouldn’t be cuddling with the girl—she practically belonged to another male. In a day or two, or maybe less time than that, he would get a call from Genu Six and it would be that damned Senator, saying he wanted her and was willing to pay to get her back.
Not that the money mattered much to Need anymore. Of course, forty thousand credits was still a lot of cash, but getting his money back wasn’t his main reason for selling her to Senator Pouncenblast. No, what made him so eager—and so reluctant—to send her to Genu Six was the fact that she had gotten under his skin.