Free Alien Indiscretions by Tracy St. John

room. Back on Earth, Cissy would have called it a living room. It was small and plain, with an oval table in the middle and seating cushions surrounding it. Its only decoration was a vid monitor hanging on the wall and a basket full of blue-plumed fronds.
    Jessica looked askance at their surroundings and snorted. “Blessed Buddha, there’s barely enough room for the four of us in here. Are you sure you don’t want to stay in the Royal House? We’ve got scads of room. Plus you’ll be close to me.”
    “Ew, not you,” Cissy cried out with mock horror. Then she spoke seriously. “We’re close to you here, sweetie. It took all of what, five minutes to get here?”
    She appreciated the coziness after the huge guest suite they’d spent the night in. The way that place had echoed ... she shuddered at the thought of spending her days and nights there.
    Tasha must have felt the same way because she said, “Seriously Jess, we appreciate the offer but you know we’re not into all that pomp. Besides, you saw the amenities here. It’s like living life on vacation.”
    Cissy nodded. “I can’t believe I’m saying this given how the Tratsods look, but I can’t wait to get one of those massages. I want to look that blissed out.”
    Tasha was not on the same page on that account. “Eek. Those squishy aliens aren’t laying a tentacle on me. I know they’re okay but I don’t want something that looks so squid-y crawling across my back.”
    Lindsey and Jessica laughed. The elder sister said, “Close your eyes and think happy thoughts. I’ve had the Tratsod massage, and it is heavenly. You won’t want to move a muscle for an hour afterward.”
    Cissy grinned. “I’m going to have a go at it. Besides, the apartment may as just as well be small, because I plan to spend as little time as possible in it. I already have a date.”
    Tasha knew about the meetings Cissy had lined up. The other two women squealed. Jessica yanked on her arm in excitement. “You brat! Who did you pick? I want to have Bevau check them out.”
    Cissy chuckled. “Clan Mocnoz. They’re a little young and not the most compatible according to my questionnaire results, but they seem like they’d be fun.”
    Lindsey pretended shock. “How young, you rowdy girl?”
    “Only ten years older than me. The oldest isn’t even 45 yet. They barely qualified for the lottery as Dramok Mocnoz just opened his own law practice.”
    Lindsey giggled. “Scandalous!”
    Lindsey’s clanmates were young to have clanned a Matara. Cissy had heard some Kalquorians, particularly those with status, had called the match between the Empress’ sister and Clan Bacoj outrageous. When they’d met Lindsey, Bacoj, Japohn, and Vax had acquired no rank at all. Only in their thirties, the three men had been hard pressed to prove to Kalquorian society that they deserved Lindsey. Fortunately, the four had loved each other with such devotion that they refused to let anything tear them apart.
    Jessica threw her hands up as if giving up all hope. “All right, live here and be wild and free. But know I’m going to want every naughty detail.”
    Tasha fixed her with a shrewd look. “I know you don’t regret joining the first available clan you found, Jess.”
    The Empress grinned. “Not for one second. What I envy is your appalling lack of duty to the Empire and the ability to play like a Plasian. What I wouldn’t give to have no responsibilities!”
    Lindsey rolled her eyes. “Oh, go put on a pretty dress that would cost me my entire year’s worth of earnings and get over it, your Highness.”
    The four women laughed again. Jessica said, “Do I have to talk to your clanmates about giving you a raise? Handling the accounts of successful businesses like your clan’s does mean a lot of work. You should be handsomely rewarded.”
    “Trust me. I get my rewards.” Lindsey arched a brow to make sure they all got her meaning. The red faces of Besat and Garlel, who stood in the