Free Quick by Viola Grace Page B

their eyes. Introductions were made, but the governor was keeping a hand on her at all times. He had made some kind of claim on her.
    Cam was casually looking around for the ambassador, but he was nowhere to be found. She was going to give him such hell when she saw him again. The Guardians were all looking at her like she was a tasty little snack.
    “Ah, Commander Daymoth, this is the ambassador’s companion. Lady Reynolds, this is the Guardians’ commander, as well as Guardians Linz and Comyo.”
    She nodded to all of the men, and they nodded in turn. “It is an honour to meet you.”
    They grinned in turn. The slow smiles were definitely predatory.
    Cam’s heart started to pound rapidly, and keeping herself outwardly calm was achieved by sheer practice.
    Taliak offered her his hand and led her back to the party. The Guardians surrounded them as the governor chatted comfortably with the men who appeared to be perfect examples of the Namkor physique.
    Dem was still nowhere to be found, and Cam was feeling a little vulnerable. His lack of concern for her wellbeing was starting to grate on her nerves.
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    The household staff member that led her through the mansion remained to help her out of her clothing and into the complicated Namkor eveningwear.
    It felt weird to have someone helping her out of the stiff and heavily embroidered fabrics, and it was even stranger when she was swathed in silks that outlined her body with nearly obscene faithfulness. The skirts clung to her legs and shifted to expose her to the top of her thighs with every step.
    All of her bags were tucked into her rooms, and she looked around. “Where is the adjoining room for the ambassador’s quarters?”
    The woman smiled. “His wing was filled, so we had to place you in here. Don’t worry. The Guardians are nearby if you feel nervous in the night.”
    That wasn’t a soothing thought.
    Cam watched her actions in the mirror and took down six of her braids, loosening the hair and pinning it back into loose, wavy loops.
    “You have lovely hair, lady.”
    “Thank you. It took a lot of study to get used to shaping it this way.” She winked at the other woman in the mirror.
    The other woman grinned and smoothed a hand over Cam’s spine. “Why do you pretend to be the ambassador’s lover?”
    Cam was instantly cautious. “Pretend?”
    “When he was told you would be on the other side of the mansion, he laughed and smirked that you would be upset he was out of your control.”
    Cam turned to look at her with surprise. “Was he drunk?”
    She blushed and shrugged. “It is possible. He did have a goblet in his hand.”
    Cam chuckled. “Right. Well, this dress looks like it is firmly in place, even if it feels that it will float away with a moment’s notice.”
    “It is designed to move constantly, drawing the eye of those around you. You wear it very well.”
    Cam patted the woman’s arm. “Thank you. Now, where am I supposed to go?”
    “The cocktail hour is beginning at the south side of the mansion. I can guide you there, lady.”
    Cam smiled encouragingly as she took in something that the dry trade meetings had not shown her. When left to their own devices, the Namkor were rather frisky.
    Their sexual information was not something they shared in the off-world briefings. The off-duty people were completely different from the all-business beings she had met after landing.
    The woman walked close to her, radiating body heat as they walked through the governor’s mansion and out onto the deck overlooking the wild beauty of the mountains.
    The wind pulled at Cam’s clothing, and she smiled as her skin was alternately revealed and concealed with the soft gusts.
    The servant left her, and Cam turned to see Taliak approaching her with frank lust in his gaze. She had to admit that he was devastatingly handsome in his charcoal and silver tunic and long, wide-legged trousers. Comfort seemed to be the important part of the