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Why would this fabulous creature settle for a male who can’t even walk outside his own front door for fear of being arrested? I’m going to have to step up my efforts to clear my name because I can’t live like this if I want this female in my bed.
We enter the front room, which is an open space, two stories tall, with large garden view windows letting in the simulated sunlight. There is a huge sectional couch and scattered end tables in the middle of the room. The color scheme is similar to the one I chose for my bedroom and I picked out every piece of furniture myself.
“I love this place,” she sighs, then pulls me with her so we can stand together at a window and take in the spectacular view of sunset on the garden. The Omega 9 garden is built into the shape of a rectangle, basically the center of the entire station. An imitation atmosphere arcs above us, complete with a simulation of the setting suns, streaked with pink and orange. “It's so beautiful. You know my own planet, New Earth, is semi-arid so I’m not used to so much lush foliage.”
My chest tightens. “It's nice seeing all of this through your eyes, but it almost seems new to me as well. I haven’t been here in my own home in over a year. I haven’t seen a single flower or blooming plant or felt even fake sunshine in all that time.”
She squeezes my hand and rests her head against my shoulder again.
I feel a sudden urge to take her in my arms, but I refrain. I clear my throat and continue with my explanation of the garden. “This is a recreation of the gardens on Salo and it’s tended by master gardeners. There's always something in bloom and they have events down there that we are invited to.”
“Well, events you’re invited to, because you’re the owner.”
I blink and stare down at her. Why did I say that? I’m referring to the future and as far as she’s concerned, she’s only here for a short visit. Is that what I want, this female with me for a few weeks? Or do I want her longer? “I’ve got more to show you,” I say.
And then we step out onto the private terrace.
“Oh my gods,” she gasps. “We don't have to stay indoors all the time?”
“No, we don’t.” I point out the two chairs that face the view and a small table in between, as well a large dining table that seats six. “There is a clear barrier between the garden and the terrace, so we can look out, but they can't look in. As you can see, the top is open to the simulated sky. You can feel the climate, the breeze, smell the air of the blossoms and it feels like you're sitting in sunshine. At night you can view the simulated stars. Because I was originally born planetside I made sure to purchase a garden view unit with a terrace so that I could live here indefinitely by recreating that feeling of living on a planet.”
“It sounds lovely.”
And right then her stomach grumbles with hunger.
“Let me feed you,” I tell her. “I am also hungry and ready for dinner.”
“Do you cook?” she asks. “Because I just want to warn you, I'm very good at programming a food dispenser but I don't know how to cook real food with actual fresh ingredients.”
“I can cook real food, but I'm also great at a food dispenser. I enjoy cooking traditional Hyrrokin meals. Let me feed you.”
I take her into the large kitchen and I’m immediately ravenous. A growl rumbles in my chest and saliva drops from my fangs.
“Um, what did they feed you in prison?” she questions.
“Gray gruel. Day in and day out, the same food for every meal, same lack of taste for the last year. There was plenty, but it was always the same.”
Her features soften. “That whole time you must’ve been imagining what fabulous food you’d eat the moment you got out.”
“Yes, I spent a lot of time thinking about food. And sex.”
She lets out a throaty laugh. “What did you wish would be your first meal?”
“Meat sticks and fire ale.”
“Let's do it,” she says, “Meat sticks and fire ale for dinner tonight.”
“Are you sure you don't want human food?”
“No, I want to eat what you're eating.”
“I'm going to have to program the food dispenser because I haven't been able to shop for a whole year.”
She pulls me over with her and opens and closes cabinets, picking up boxes and looking at expiration dates. “Yeah, we're gonna have to go through here and figure out what has expired and what is still good. It's been a long time since these items were purchased.”
We move over and stand next to each other at the food dispenser, chatting over selections. In minutes I have both of our plates ready. I get her a mug of fire ale too.
She claps her hands. “Let’s go eat on the patio. It’s the perfect place for you to celebrate your hopefully permanent freedom.”
