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“That’s what I asked—right before I kicked his ass out of my suite and told him not to come back.” Sonja shook her head. “Oh, I was so mad!”
“I can see why,” Melanie remarked. “I know you were expecting him to get you something sexy to wear on your wedding night.”
“I was.” Sonja nodded vigorously. “But see the thing is, he claims that he did.”
“I thought you said you kicked him out?” Melanie said, taking another sip of coffee.
“I did. But of course he came back this morning, wanting to explain.”
“Well, what did he say?” Melanie asked. “Did he have the idea that an oven mitt was sexy somehow?” She knew the Kindred didn’t think like humans—they were an alien species, after all—which sometimes led to misunderstandings and miscommunication.
“No.” Sonja shook her head. “He said the presents got mixed up. He told me he wrapped your Secret Santa present at the same time he wrapped mine—as a favor to a friend—and they must have gotten swapped.”
“But…Clear turned out to be my Secret Santa,” Melanie said blankly. “Are you saying he actually meant to give me an oven mitt?”
“I mean, it makes sense,” Sonja pointed out. “After you burned a hole in your hand trying to use the wave.”
“I guess you’re right.” Melanie frowned. She was feeling much more awake now that she’d had some coffee and the half-formed memories in the back of her mind were beginning to take shape. But she had a feeling she wasn’t going to like them when she finally saw them clearly.
“So anyway, here’s your mitt.” Sonja tapped it. “If you want to give me back the present that was supposed to be mine, Sahran is insisting that I unwrap it in front of him so he can prove he was telling the truth. I mean, I believe him, but that fight we had last night was a doozy. So if—oh, honey—what’s wrong?” She leaned forward, looking at Melanie with concern. “You’re pale as a ghost!”
“I…I…” Melanie shook her head. Finally the strange dreams and memories she’d been having had come into focus and she did not like what she remembered.
“What?” Sonja urged. “What is it? Did you already open the present? Don’t worry if you did—I won’t be mad.”
“I didn’t just open it.”
With a trembling hand, Melanie pulled open the collar of the black wrap dress she was wearing and looked inside.
“Oh my God,” she whispered faintly. “I didn’t just open it—I wore it! I’m still wearing it now!”
“What? Let me see it!” Sonja demanded.
“No!” Melanie clutched at her dress. “It’s not decent. I’m not decent. And when I think of the way I acted last night…”
“You didn’t get bonded to Strong and Clear, did you?” Sonja asked, wide-eyed. “I mean, I saw the three of you leaving together but I thought they were just walking you back to your suite.”
“No, we didn’t bond but I did do a whole lot of things I shouldn’t have.” Melanie shook her head as images flashed in front of her mind’s eye, like pornographic snap shots. The way she had pranced around in the naughty little outfit, teasing the twins and showing off her assets…kissing both of them…playing Truth or Dare…
Sucking both their cocks and letting them finger you, whispered a judgmental little voice in her head.
“Oh God!” Melanie groaned, putting her head in her hands. “Oh no, I can’t believe the way I acted!”
“What? What did you do?” Sonja demanded.
Melanie shook her head.
“Basically I acted like some cock-hungry cougar on the prowl for fresh meat! Ugh, I can’t imagine what the two of them must think of me now!”
“I know how you feel,” Sonja admitted. “I don’t know what got into me last night but I was so determined to get busy with Sahran! And then so angry when he wouldn’t do it. And now today I just feel like dog shit somebody stepped in.”
“I feel pretty horrible myself.” Melanie got up suddenly. “I can’t stay here.”
“What? Here in your suite?” Sonja looked at her, confused.
“No—here on the Mother Ship. Where I might run into Clear or Strong—or both of them!”
Melanie couldn’t bear to see the pity in their eyes—or possibly the scorn—the next time they saw her. She’d behaved like a complete party girl—acted like what Aunt Marge would call ‘a floozy.’ And she’d done it all with men almost fifteen years her junior.
I probably looked so desperate to them, she thought, feeling sick with shame at the thought. They’re probably laughing at me right now for making myself ridiculous.
She remembered how Strong had stopped the three of them from going too far and possibly bonding. No doubt because the two of them would never want to be tied to someone like her.
Washed up and over the hill, whispered a nasty little voice in her head. And unlike the night before, when she’d been able to push the bad thoughts easily out of her mind, this time they seemed here to stay. The balloons had turned back into bricks and they piled on top of Melanie like…well, like a ton of bricks.
