"This is a wonderful place," she said, eyes growing wide. "Is there anything that they don't do for you here?"
"As long as you have money, you'll get whatever you want," Jess replied with a smile. "Anything."
Chapter Twelve
Jess had certainly been right about that, Bethany thought, her head swimming. She had just finished her third glass of something he called wine. It had taken her a while to figure out it was alcoholic, because it didn't have the harsh bite that bakrah did. This stuff was definitely going to her head. She swayed in her seat, reaching out with one finger to wipe the last of the sauce off her plate. It was rich and meaty, and so spicy that it made her ears burn. She could actually feel the hot blood rushing through them, and giggled. Jess shot her a look across the table, and she stuck her tongue out at him. He needed to relax more, she thought, taking another deep drink of the wine.
It was the best meal she'd ever had, even though Jess wasn't letting her eat as much as she wanted.
He kept insisting she was going to make herself sick. At that moment she hardly cared. Getting sick would be a small price to pay for food as good as this.
They sat in a small, dimly lit restaurant. All around them were other couples, laughing and talking softly. They all seemed happy, as if they were having a wonderful time. Music played in the background, creating a low, pulsing noise that made Bethany feel like swaying in her seat. There was something about this place that was amazing, and so relaxing she didn't even feel strange about the crazy clothing she wore any longer. Jess had been right; most of the other women were wearing jumpsuits. She might not be fully covered by the clinging fabric, but she was far more covered than the women around her.
Their waiter brought them a small bowl of something cold and sweet. There were two spoons in it, and Bethany gave a squeal of delight as she tasted it. It was the best thing she'd ever eaten. She could hear Jess laughing at her, but she didn't care. She just ate spoonful after sweet spoonful, letting each melt in her mouth and moaning with pleasure. When they were done, she stuck her finger in, scooping out the last traces.
Jess stood, and reached out to take her arm.
"I think we should head back to the hostel," he said, dark blue eyes glowing. She shivered, enjoying the way he looked at her. He was dark, intense, and his eyes burned with lust. He wanted her and it made her feel powerful. This incredible man, the one all the women were looking at, wanted her. The slave revolt really was the best thing that had ever happened in her life.
Together they walked out of the restaurant into the spaceport's main thoroughfare. Even though it was late in the cycle, the place was filled with men and women laughing and drinking. Several men looked at her in ways that made her blush, and more than one woman smiled an invitation at Jess. She craned her head, wondering in that Mary was around anywhere. She was so busy looking that she stumbled, although Jess caught her easily enough. She blinked, surprised by how unsteady she felt. Just walking was confusing; which way was their hostel, anyway?
She lurched away from Jess as something caught her eye. There was a woman in the air above one of the doorways, writhing naked with some kind of creature wrapped around her. What was it? Bethany stopped, cocking her head and staring in wonder. Jess tugged at her arm, but she refused to move. What was that thing? And what was the woman doing with it?
Jess turned back, and laughed when he saw what she was looking at.
"How does that woman just hang up in the air like that?" Bethany whispered, completely confused.
"It's a hologram," Jess said. "It's just a projection. The woman is actually inside on a stage. Or it may just be a recording."
"What is she doing?"
"That's a little harder to explain…" Jess said, a grin playing around the corners of his mouth. "It's a sex show. Entertainment. People pay money to see others performing sexual acts."
"I've never heard of anything that looks like that," she replied. Someone jostled her, and she bumped against Jess. Mmm… He smelled good. She reached her arms around him and pulled him close.
"Have you ever seen one of these sex shows?" she asked. She could feel his muscles tighten beneath her fingers, and his cock hardened against her body. His eyes grew smoky and his expression softened..
"Yes, I have been to a few of them," he said.
"Can we go?" she asked. The look on his face made her laugh. He was clearly startled by her request.
"I don't know that it's a good idea, at least not tonight," he said finally. "I'm going after Calla soon, and I don’t think this is the best way to get ready for that particularly task."
She pulled at his arm, trying to get him to follow her into the show, but he stood firm.
"Bethany, we really need to go back to our room," he said. She studied him, trying to gage if she had even a chance of changing his mind, but his expression remained the same. It wasn't going to happen, she thought mournfully.
They walked back toward the hostel slowly, Jess holding her hand, and she soon forgot her disappointment. The port was amazing, filled with hundreds, thousands, of people. Some of them spoke languages she couldn't understand, and all of a sudden a thought hit her.
"What language do I speak?" she asked. "I never realized that there was more than one. Is this a Pilgrim language?"
Jess started laughing.
"No, this is Basic," he said. "As far as I know, Pilgrims don't have their own language."
"What is Basic?" she asked. "Is it the Imperial language?"
"Well, it's the trade language," he said. "On many worlds, it's the primary language, and certainly the primary language on most space stations like this one. Almost everyone speaks Basic, although most people speak their own language, too."
"Do you speak more than one language?" she asked suddenly.
"Sort of," he said. "I speak Basic and I also know slave sign."
"What's slave sign?"
"It's a method of communication between slaves," he said. "It allows us to talk with each other without being overheard. At least much of the time."
"Do all slaves know it?"
"No," he said quietly. "Generally only Imperial slaves. Men and women raised on slave farms, like myself. Sometimes those who are enslaved later in life learn, but not always."
"You were raised on a slave farm?" she asked. "What is that?"
"You have a lot of questions tonight," he said. "I'll tell you about the slave farm some other time. I think we should try to enjoy ourselves now. I have work to do later."
"What are you doing later?" she asked, her mind reeling. It was hard keeping things straight when you drank wine, she thought.
He burst out laughing. "You don't listen very well, do you?"
"No," she said pertly. She grinned at him, and he leaned over to kiss her on the mouth. The touch sent a tingle of sensation coursing through her and she leaned against him. He held her close and they stood there, frozen in time for a moment, before someone in the crowed jostled them.
"This is such an amazing place," she said suddenly. "I didn't realize that so many people could be all together like this at once. I can hardly believe it's real."
"It's real all right," he said. "And very interesting, but I think I'd like to go back to the hostel now."
"Oh really?" she asked archly, rubbing against him. She could feel his arousal rising, and reveled in it.
"Did you have any specific activity in mind for when we get there?"
"Many things," he said, kissing her softly.
The touch of his lips against hers made her shiver, and she sighed. How wonderful it felt to be with him here, on this night, in this place. Who would have thought such a thing was possible?