BONDS OF JUSTICE 3: DRAGEN'S FIRE
Elayne S. Venton
Changeling Press
sci-fi novella
Elayne S. Venton
Changeling Press
sci-fi novella
Julliet raised her brows at the perfect male specimen who graced the foyer of
Healing Waters. Most customers left her cold, but no female could ignore this
gorgeous male. The first thing she noticed about him was his shoulder length
pure white hair --identical to hers before she dyed it a bright pink. She fingered
her long braid while she studied him. A Shoni on Callisto?
White eyebrows arched over deep set eyes. He rubbed a dark tanned hand over
his smooth square jaw while he scanned the room. The long straight nose, chiseled
cheeks and white hair convinced her.
It had been so long since she'd seen one of her mother's people. Not many ventured off Terras Five since the Oskii war decimated their
world. They were too busy rebuilding the planet. What was he doing here?
One of the greeters rushed across the marble floor and dipped her head. "How may I service you, sir?"
"Pandora requested my presence."
Surprise sizzled along Julliet's spine. Pandora didn't entertain customers. So why had she sought out this stranger?
The greeter sashayed away, whispering to the others in the adjacent common room as she searched out Pandora. While he waited, his
legs spread in an at-ease stance and his hands hung loosely at his sides. His skin-tight black spacesuit outlined every muscular twitch of
impatience in his broad shoulders. He rolled his neck and spotted the tiny video ball in the ceiling. Even though she knew he couldn't see
her, Julliet backed away from his scrutiny.
"Daunting, isn't he?" Tasha, the security manager, narrowed the field of view and scanned him from head to toe. "Perrrrfect."
Julliet's heartbeat skipped. Yes, he certainly was.
The view of the man wavered then filled with snow and static. Tasha cursed. All the other screens worked fine. Julliet wondered if the
Shoni's unique powers were interfering with the electronics. Just what they needed, more trouble.
Meanwhile, on screen six, Kelty had disappeared from view. She pushed the Shoni from her mind. "I'm going to check on Kelty. Finish
your dinner before it gets cold."
Murmuring under her breath, Tasha pushed her plate out of the way and fiddled with the controls of the malfunctioning video stream.
Julliet heaved a sigh and closed the door behind her. She took the employee chute down to the fourth floor and walked along the gallery,
gazing over the half wall into the atrium below. The unclaimed sex caterers milled about in a dazzling array of colorful exotic outfits, the
females showcasing sensuous curves, peeks of breasts, nipples, and asses while the males wore sheer thongs or cock cages to entice the
clients.
If she strolled among the vibrant group crowded around the Shoni, would he notice her at all? Once she would have struck awe into the
visitors with her long legs, lush curves, and sultry smile. Since she quit selling her body, she no longer had to flaunt her body in
nipple-peeking bodices, low-slung pants with a cut-out for her well-rounded ass, skin-tight lycra, or shimmering translucent dresses. For
the first time in a long time, she missed parading around in sexy clothes that lit a client's eyes and made her feel wanted.
Not any client. Him.
Even from a distance, the sexual allure of the visitor wrapped around her senses. Her skin felt alive. On fire. She wondered how he
smelled -- musky, tangy, woodsy, or salty like the ocean beneath Callisto's surface? Did his hand feel smooth or calloused when he
caressed Sonja's face? She wanted to peel off his flight suit slowly, reveal the muscular bulges from his shoulders to his calves, then rub her
breasts over every centimeter of his body... Julliet shook her head. Goosebumps rose on her arms. This man held a strange appeal. No
wonder the others, much closer to the male, reacted so strongly to him.
As if sensing her perusal, the Shoni looked up at Julliet. His mouth dropped open. Accustomed to stares, Julliet stared back. If her face
shocked him, he didn't have to be so rude and gawk. He refused to drop his gaze. Awkwardness seeped into the stare-down. Julliet
backed away from the railing, not far enough to break eye contact but enough to let him know she'd stay out of his way. His sea of
adoring admirers parted as Pandora approached. His open jaw closed and reluctantly he turned his attention to the owner, kissing her
cheeks and whispering into her ear. Pandora glanced up, smiled at Julliet, then led the man away. Relief relaxed Julliet's shoulders.
Watching the pair walk away, Julliet had to smile at Pandora's choice of a glittery navy backless gown, held together by a thin cord at her
neck and waist, which displayed her bare crimson buttocks. It appeared Steele had been spanking his naughty Earthling.
Julliet wandered down the hall to Kelty's room. She knocked once and let herself in. "Kelty?" At first glance, the bedroom appeared
empty, but she heard water running. Judging by the fogged bathroom door, Kelty had rushed to wash the creature's fluids from her body.
Ugh. She couldn't blame her.
"Kelty? It's Julliet." She slid the door open. Warm steam billowed into her face. "Are you all right?" She headed toward the large open
shower secluded behind a curved glass panel.
A prickly sensation touched the back of her neck as soon as she stepped around the enclosure. Too late to turn back! Someone grabbed
her arm, twisting it high behind her back. Before she could spin around to see her attacker, her body flew against the tiled wall beneath the
water spray. Her palms slipped along the slick surface and her forehead smacked the glass tiles. Dazed, she twirled around. The tip of a
laser gun penetrated the fog. She screamed and ducked.
Tiles exploded, raining pebbles of pink glass onto her head.
Boots sloshed away. The cascading water and billowing steam concealed her attacker. Fumbling to her feet, she stepped out of the basin,
hugging the wall even though she knew he was gone. With a deep breath of courage, she rushed out of the bathroom. Cool air brushed
over her sodden gown, shocking her heated skin. She nearly tripped over the dragging hem as she charged through the bedroom and out
the open door.
A white haired demon smacked her spine against the side of the hall, holding her there with the full length of his body, his wild-eyed gaze
shuffling between her and the open doorway. Stunned, Julliet froze; her brain unable to sort out the Shoni's unexpected presence.
Healing Waters. Most customers left her cold, but no female could ignore this
gorgeous male. The first thing she noticed about him was his shoulder length
pure white hair --identical to hers before she dyed it a bright pink. She fingered
her long braid while she studied him. A Shoni on Callisto?
White eyebrows arched over deep set eyes. He rubbed a dark tanned hand over
his smooth square jaw while he scanned the room. The long straight nose, chiseled
cheeks and white hair convinced her.
It had been so long since she'd seen one of her mother's people. Not many ventured off Terras Five since the Oskii war decimated their
world. They were too busy rebuilding the planet. What was he doing here?
One of the greeters rushed across the marble floor and dipped her head. "How may I service you, sir?"
"Pandora requested my presence."
Surprise sizzled along Julliet's spine. Pandora didn't entertain customers. So why had she sought out this stranger?
The greeter sashayed away, whispering to the others in the adjacent common room as she searched out Pandora. While he waited, his
legs spread in an at-ease stance and his hands hung loosely at his sides. His skin-tight black spacesuit outlined every muscular twitch of
impatience in his broad shoulders. He rolled his neck and spotted the tiny video ball in the ceiling. Even though she knew he couldn't see
her, Julliet backed away from his scrutiny.
"Daunting, isn't he?" Tasha, the security manager, narrowed the field of view and scanned him from head to toe. "Perrrrfect."
Julliet's heartbeat skipped. Yes, he certainly was.
The view of the man wavered then filled with snow and static. Tasha cursed. All the other screens worked fine. Julliet wondered if the
Shoni's unique powers were interfering with the electronics. Just what they needed, more trouble.
Meanwhile, on screen six, Kelty had disappeared from view. She pushed the Shoni from her mind. "I'm going to check on Kelty. Finish
your dinner before it gets cold."
Murmuring under her breath, Tasha pushed her plate out of the way and fiddled with the controls of the malfunctioning video stream.
Julliet heaved a sigh and closed the door behind her. She took the employee chute down to the fourth floor and walked along the gallery,
gazing over the half wall into the atrium below. The unclaimed sex caterers milled about in a dazzling array of colorful exotic outfits, the
females showcasing sensuous curves, peeks of breasts, nipples, and asses while the males wore sheer thongs or cock cages to entice the
clients.
If she strolled among the vibrant group crowded around the Shoni, would he notice her at all? Once she would have struck awe into the
visitors with her long legs, lush curves, and sultry smile. Since she quit selling her body, she no longer had to flaunt her body in
nipple-peeking bodices, low-slung pants with a cut-out for her well-rounded ass, skin-tight lycra, or shimmering translucent dresses. For
the first time in a long time, she missed parading around in sexy clothes that lit a client's eyes and made her feel wanted.
Not any client. Him.
Even from a distance, the sexual allure of the visitor wrapped around her senses. Her skin felt alive. On fire. She wondered how he
smelled -- musky, tangy, woodsy, or salty like the ocean beneath Callisto's surface? Did his hand feel smooth or calloused when he
caressed Sonja's face? She wanted to peel off his flight suit slowly, reveal the muscular bulges from his shoulders to his calves, then rub her
breasts over every centimeter of his body... Julliet shook her head. Goosebumps rose on her arms. This man held a strange appeal. No
wonder the others, much closer to the male, reacted so strongly to him.
As if sensing her perusal, the Shoni looked up at Julliet. His mouth dropped open. Accustomed to stares, Julliet stared back. If her face
shocked him, he didn't have to be so rude and gawk. He refused to drop his gaze. Awkwardness seeped into the stare-down. Julliet
backed away from the railing, not far enough to break eye contact but enough to let him know she'd stay out of his way. His sea of
adoring admirers parted as Pandora approached. His open jaw closed and reluctantly he turned his attention to the owner, kissing her
cheeks and whispering into her ear. Pandora glanced up, smiled at Julliet, then led the man away. Relief relaxed Julliet's shoulders.
Watching the pair walk away, Julliet had to smile at Pandora's choice of a glittery navy backless gown, held together by a thin cord at her
neck and waist, which displayed her bare crimson buttocks. It appeared Steele had been spanking his naughty Earthling.
Julliet wandered down the hall to Kelty's room. She knocked once and let herself in. "Kelty?" At first glance, the bedroom appeared
empty, but she heard water running. Judging by the fogged bathroom door, Kelty had rushed to wash the creature's fluids from her body.
Ugh. She couldn't blame her.
"Kelty? It's Julliet." She slid the door open. Warm steam billowed into her face. "Are you all right?" She headed toward the large open
shower secluded behind a curved glass panel.
A prickly sensation touched the back of her neck as soon as she stepped around the enclosure. Too late to turn back! Someone grabbed
her arm, twisting it high behind her back. Before she could spin around to see her attacker, her body flew against the tiled wall beneath the
water spray. Her palms slipped along the slick surface and her forehead smacked the glass tiles. Dazed, she twirled around. The tip of a
laser gun penetrated the fog. She screamed and ducked.
Tiles exploded, raining pebbles of pink glass onto her head.
Boots sloshed away. The cascading water and billowing steam concealed her attacker. Fumbling to her feet, she stepped out of the basin,
hugging the wall even though she knew he was gone. With a deep breath of courage, she rushed out of the bathroom. Cool air brushed
over her sodden gown, shocking her heated skin. She nearly tripped over the dragging hem as she charged through the bedroom and out
the open door.
A white haired demon smacked her spine against the side of the hall, holding her there with the full length of his body, his wild-eyed gaze
shuffling between her and the open doorway. Stunned, Julliet froze; her brain unable to sort out the Shoni's unexpected presence.
