CHAPTERFOURTEEN
AZURA
The bacon was so sweet and crisp on Azura’s tongue that it distracted her from the anger rising in her chest. The eggs were perfectly cooked, just slightly runny, and the lightly toasted bread was cut thick with a generous crust and soft, fluffy center.
She stared at her plate, the sunlights dancing through the wide doors seeming to accompany the wild morning song of the birds. She reached for her coffee, finding the thick foam and chocolate sprinkle extremely comforting. A barista back on Earth would be envious of this person’s skill.
“Azura?” Onyx’s voice was soft, as if he was afraid she could explode at any moment. She looked up at him and smiled, hoping her thoughts didn’t show on her face.
Fuck you, Martin! How dare you fucking do this? What kind of moron…
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Onyx asked.
“Never better,” she said, smiling. Looking at Onyx did make her feel a lot better. She wished they could linger over the food, go back to bed, and then make love again.
She imagined Onyx’s naked body stretched out on those sheets while the sunlights revealed every chiseled detail. Her mental image was so vivid that she had to press her thighs together.
She knew there was little chance of that happening. She was barely keeping her calm right now. The morning was ruined, and that was just all there was to it.
“Well, okay. So long as you’re happy. Do you want me to stay and have breakfast with you?”
She reached out and touched his hand.
“Of course, I do. I know you have things to do, though. You must be so busy all the time, and this stuff with Martin must have made it so much worse. Head out and get your day started. I’ll just take my time.”
“Okay,” he said hesitantly. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
She laughed softly. “Stop asking me, Onyx. I will tell you if I’m not okay.”
“See that you do,” he said, getting up to give her a quick kiss. “There will be attendants around if you need anything. They’ll know where to find me if you need me.”
“Thank you,” she said, kissing him quickly on the mouth. For a moment, they stared into each other’s eyes. The moment stretched out, and Azura felt her anger fall aside for just a moment as she admired the gorgeous man before her.
All mine.
The thought gave her so much pleasure that she could almost forget about Martin.
Almost.
Onyx said goodbye again and quickly left the room. Azura waited until he was gone and then hurled her fork across the room, where it clattered against the wall.
Damn him, damn that kid! What kind of fool goes running off on an alien planet? They could have deadly bunnies out there for all he knows!
For a few seconds, she let rage consume her. Azura was torn between the knowledge that he could get seriously hurt and the hope that he might learn his lesson if he did get into trouble.
The anger faded, turning into a kind of despair. She was at her wit’s end with him. She truly had no idea what to do next.
Maybe this tutoring thing would be good for him. He could use his excess energy in fight training, or maybe they play some form of football here.
She sighed, finishing her breakfast, then taking her coffee to the edge of the balcony so she could sip it slowly while she watched the town wake up.
The buildings were set close together, made mostly of a pale, creamy-colored stone. Some of them were built with lighter gray bricks or wood. The streets were wide and beginning to fill with people, all of them calling out to each other and waving as they welcomed the morning and each other.
A cool breeze brushed her face, lifting her hair. She sighed with pleasure.
It’s so beautiful here. It was like being on the ultimate vacation. I haven’t been this relaxed for such a long time.
She’d be perfectly well-rested if it wasn’t for Martin.