Free Dominated By Desire by Barbara Donlon Bradley Page B

you have anything different it could cause trouble.”
    “Of course.”
    “Now, what did I need to know about the dinner tonight?” Heather asked herself out loud. She snapped her fingers and headed to the other rooms with his sister in tow. “You haven’t said a whole lot since we started.”
    “I need your undivided attention for our protocol.” She smiled.
    “You’ve got it.” Heather spoke to the young woman she had talked to earlier for a moment or two then signaled for her sister-in-law to follow her.
    “We can talk on our way to the hall.”
    “Good. Perhaps we could go out into the gardens afterwards? I’m sure they will be used this evening as well.”
    “Trying to piss him off are you? Sure. It shouldn’t take him too long to reach us.” The doors to the main hall opened so she got to see how everything was being set up. She did make a few changes but overall was happy with the way things were going.
    “Now why would I want to anger my brother?” asked Storm’s sister.
    “Still mad because he broke protocol.” She walked out into the gardens to watch as lights were being strung to help illuminate it for later that evening. A few more directions to a few servants standing by and she faced her sister in law. “So how much do you want to bet he’ll be down here in less than a minute?”
    “You know him well in a short period of time.”
    Heather gestured to her body. “Favorite new toy.” She laughed. “We can cover this one thing while we wait. You know about our marriage ritual. What did Storm tell you about our people?”
    “That you don’t have the same view of modesty we do.”
    “True. You will find people on our planet in any state of dress. For this meeting they will dress to accommodate your race, but we have these servants labeled as pleasurers. They are there to give pleasure anywhere and anytime.”
    “You mean sexual pleasure?” Heather blanched at her nod. “But my people won’t understand that.”
    “They have been told to be very discrete and will only stick to our guests. Humans are off limits.”
    “Thank you for that.” Heather felt better. “It would be very hard to explain. Don’t get me wrong we like to consider ourselves very open but that is just pushing the limits a bit.”
    “You need to be aware.”
    “Me?” She pointed to a place where the flowers didn’t match the rest of the decor.
    “You are now considered Vespian and you will be approached.”
    “But I don’t want that.” Heather had enough to deal with and Storm would probably kill the first man who looked at her sideways.
    “Which is why I need to show you how to turn them down.”
    “Protocol.”
    “That’s my job.”
    “Can’t I just take them down?” she made a little slash in the air. “Might help me get some of my frustrations out.”
    “Thought that was my brother’s job.”
    “Different type of frustration.” Heather looked at the door. Storm should be showing up any moment now.
    “A simple gesture will do the trick.” She made a simple slash with her hand.“That’s it?” Heather repeated it.
    “Yes. Right hand, palm down, index and middle finger extended.”
    “I sure hope I don’t need to use this.” She did the gesture once more.
    “Hopefully not but you’re ready just in case.”
    Storm came through the doors with a frown on his face.
    “How about that, and I have a second to spare.” Heather winked at her mate’s sister as she stood to greet him.
    ****
    Heather stood next to Storm in her formal dress uniform, realizing this would be the last time she wore it. The commander in chief looked pleased to see it on her.
    “Lieutenant, I half expected you to be wearing Vespian garb.”
    “That will be this evening, sir. At dinner.” She gave him a formal salute.
    He nodded, returning the salute.
    They spoke for a few minutes about the treaty and what was expected of her before she was released to change clothes.
    Storm took him to the side and started