“I’m a Class Five engineer. So I can work on any system connected to thrusters and hoverpads. I just can’t operate them. Charging system, thrust capacity, fuel efficiency, directional adjusters, housing and space frame, control modules including reprogramming, you name it.”
Jovie speaks softly and doesn’t take her eyes off the iridescent orange fish like her job is second nature to her.
Our food arrives, steaming hot. Jovie doesn’t hesitate to dig in as if the heat of her fried foods doesn’t bother her. I watchher put a mozzarella stick in her mouth and bite down like it’s nothing.
“What?” Jovie realizes what she’s doing and pauses. “I may have put some hot tools in my mouth a time or ten. But when you’re hanging from a tether inside an engine, all you have is what you’ve got.”
My pants tighten, and I’m thankful for the cover of the table. “A hot tool, huh?”
Jovie gives me a dark grin that makes my cock stiffen until it’s painful. She slowly curls her tongue around the rest of her mozzarella stick and sucks it into her mouth.
My mind wanders.I wonder if she can handle an electric tool.
Once she’s done chewing, she orders one more thing. “Have you ever tried Klaphos alcohol?”
“It’s good. Why?”
A server soon brings her a tray with six different shot glasses in an array of colors.
Jovie arches a brow. “I paid a lot to be here. But I really just want to try a sip. If you want the rest, you can have it.”
She tastes the first one, then sets it down, makes a sour face, and swallows. “Oof, strong burn on that with a hint of something peppery.”
“Is that really all you’re drinking from that shot?” I ask as she continues eating.
“Well, yeah. I’m not an idiot. I don’t drink on a regular basis, and I barely made the required weight in my physical. Besides, I don’t want a repeat of last night but blackout shitfaced. I want to remember this.”
“Fair enough. Care if I finish it?”
She motions to the shot.
I take it and down the glass. “Spicebomb. Nice.”
Jovie tries each one, making different faces every time. I finish them. When she gets to the second to last, she takes two sips. “Ooh, I like this one.”
I study the glass in her hand. It’s milky blue. “Lilivanna.”
She nods as she reads the label.
I lick a lip. “Do you want me to tell you what it is?”
“Sure.”
“Promise you’re open-minded? I don’t want to make you sick.”
She squints at me. “They wouldn’t serve it if it wasn’t safe. Safety is all I really care about.”
“True. That’s fermented fruit nectar blended with kilphoro semen. Protein and alcohol.”
“No joke this time?”
“No joke.”
She tilts her head, eyes it, looks at me, then downs the rest of the shot.
My Storm claws at my skin suit, wanting out, begging me to pick her up, lay her back, and take her on the table.
I run a hand over my chest.Not in front of everyone. We can’t lose our heads. I might not be a prince, but I still represent our people. Calm the fuck down.
