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“We’re going to need a bigger band,” Jemi laughed.
“Or just use backing tracks.”
“Lemanthev never use backing tracks,” Rusp argued
“This not lemanthev. This music is ours. We do backing tracks if music sounds best to do it,” Sherv told him. “I like keyboards for this time. And all songs in English.”
“Who will sing this stuff when you leave, though?” Irene demanded. She stuck her lower lip out in a ridiculous pout. “Are you going to be chasing other Earther women around to replace me?”
“We steal you. You sing for us, forget opera.” Sherv grinned.
“And keep me in chains between shows?”
“You do more cashool in-u-en-do?” Rusp’s brows wiggled at her. He chuckled when she blushed.
“Is it a thing for Kalquorians? Keeping their women in chains for perverse activities?” She blushed harder at her audacity.
Jemi chattered in his language.
Sherv snickered. “Perverst means good sex.”
Irene gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. Shocked laughter chuffed behind her palms, then she spluttered, “I didn’t say anything of the sort! And the word ispervert, you Kalquorian heathen. Which means weird or immoral.”
“As he tell you, mean good sex.” Rusp’s strong features lit in mischievous merriment. “More immoral, more better.”
“You three have no shame!” Irene tried her best to sound disapproving, but the giggles pouring from her ruined the affect. Talking of the taboo subject was just as thrilling as sneaking through the station to listen to bands play.
“Sex no shame. Sex like great music. I show if you let me play you.” Rusp wiggled his fingers over his drum’s skin, making it hum in distant thunder, his tongue peeking between his grinning lips.
Sherv was laughing so hard, he was in danger of falling off his seat. “Irene so red.”
“Don’t laugh at me.” She swatted his arm. “It isn’t my fault my government is crazy.”
“You so embarrassed about what’s normal. You think it’s perverst.” His humor quieted, and a hint of sadness drifted over his expression. “You even never kiss?”
“No.” A spark of anger greeted his pity. “Is it such a big deal?”
“Big deal to me. I be mad if not allowed to kiss.”
“Why don’t you teach me then?” The words were out of her mouth before she realized she’d said them.
Jemi and Rusp stilled. Sherv regarded her, his emotions impossible to gauge. “You want learn to kiss? Earth say bad.”
Irene debated walking the challenge back. She was insane to dare such closeness. What if Sherv turned lust-crazed? Except he’d done nothing to suggest he was the unrestrained sex fiend Earth insisted Kalquorian men were. Except for a few teasing comments, there’d been no hint of depravity.
We die anyway. Why should we fear taking chances?
“Earth believes everything is bad. I’m already doomed if I’m caught with you. How can a kiss make it any worse?” She lifted her chin, challenging him. Challenging Earth’s overbearing dictates. Challenging her own fears.
Sherv didn’t say anything. Instead, he reached and cupped her jaw in his calloused palm as he leaned forward. Obeying his gentle tug, Irene tilted toward him, watching as his purple eyes filled her vision. Before their lips touched, she closed her eyes against the nearness overwhelming her.
His lips brushed hers. Her insides felt as if they melted at the tender contact. After the solidity of Jemi’s body, she’d somehow expected Sherv’s lips to be hard. They were soft as they moved over hers, however. Soft and warm and lovely. The melting inside grew, liquifying her.
Having only known quick pecks on her cheeks from her parents, Fausto, and Mrs. Hoffman, Irene was surprised at how long the kiss lasted. This was no perfunctory buss, but a slow, careful exploration, Sherv’s lips investigating hers with languorous care. As the seconds passed, she lost herself in the intimate contact.
Then, raspy wetness. He licked her lips, then sucked the lower. A jolt of excitement flashed through her, and she gasped in surprise.
When her lips parted, his tongue slid into her mouth. At the same instant, he lifted her from her seat and settled her on his lap. It happened so fast, Irene had no opportunity to react. All at once, she was in Sherv’s arms, pressed to him, his tongue stroking hers.
