Free All or Nothing by Belladonna Bordeaux Page A

and pulled up the occupancy report on the console. “Lots of Earthlings celebrating Valentine’s Day seems to be the majority of guests.” She flashed a smile. “They’ll probably have dinner, and then go to their room for a nightcap and you know.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Not a lot of risk with this group.”
    “That’s good news.” Jadon peeked at the clock again. Gritting his teeth, he forced the tension from his frame. “I’m leaving the loft docked to the mother ship so if there is any problem…”
    “Nah, enjoy your bonus. Drift out into space and make it one hell of a night for you and Ta’Sha.” She heaved a dramatic sigh. “Sheesh, men,” she muttered under her breath. “Don’t know when to romance a woman and when not to.”
    Jadon chuckled at his coworker. Tonight he was determined to romance Ta’Sha until she screamed his name. “Thanks, Karen—I owe you one.” He’d owe her even more if she switched off the cameras in the space loft.
    T-minus ten minutes and counting.
    * * * * *
     
    Ta’Sha Valor had it all planned out in her head. The buzz of an incoming call interrupted her thoughts before she could get revved up. Punching the button to connect the com-link, she didn’t have to wait more than a few tics for the call to come through. “Good Evening, New Eden Hotel and Spa, how may I direct your call?”
    “Ta’Sha, this is your maternal unit. When are you going to mate?” A long, harassed sigh stroked through the earbug Ta’Sha wore. “The Council on Reproduction called today. Do I have to remind you how you are not getting any younger? They want to know when you will make an appointment with Counselor Macko. If you can’t face the truth that you are of mating age, then I am sure he will make it clear to you that it is your civic duty to reproduce.”
    “Soon, maternal unit.” Regretting the harsh edge to her statement, Ta’Sha willed another call to ring in. When none did, she played the only trick she had in her arsenal—she lied, something no Trollian would do to their parental unit. “Maternal unit, I am needed to take a confidential call from the Vacation Counsel. I will contact you later in the week to discuss my appointment.” Not that I have any leave coming up, so it’s a non-issue anyway.
    “You cannot put them off any longer, daughter unit.”
    “I am aware,” she whispered. Clearing her throat, taking in the rest of the call center, she licked her dry lips. Glad she was alone in the tiny area off the main reception hall, she considered coming up with another lame excuse as to why she was very late complying with the order to have her basic nature analyzed, and then be matched with an appropriate mate. “Please give them my deep respect and humble apologies.” What am I going to say? So sorry but I fell in love with an Earthling? I’ll be laughed right out of Central City. “If you would, maternal unit?”
    She opened her mouth to say more but was cut off.
    “I will. Good-bye, Ta’Sha.”
    Deflated, she closed her eyes and said a quick prayer to the Great Goddess for personal fortitude and another for serene patience with her maternal unit. Her lips moved silently as she begged the supreme deity for Jadon’s understanding when he brought up what he called “taking their relationship to the next level.”
    In truth, what could she say? She loved him but couldn’t ever have a life-relationship with him unless she entered self-imposed exile?
    Was she willing to go to that extreme?
    It would depend on tonight, she supposed.
    “Deepest regrets for my near tardiness, Trollian female Ta’Sha Valor,” The cyborg who manned the console during the late-night shift stated as she strode into the call center.
    No further explanation came from the cyborg. “No worries, Cyborg 2331.” Ta’Sha rose from her chair, and once the artificial intelligence unit placed her earbug around her ear, she nodded. “Have a gentle eve.” The device she wore for ten