Read Fade for Free Online Page A

against her skin. His tongue flicked out, and he licked her neck. “I thought you were asleep.”
    “No, just relaxing.” She shivered again. “Well, I was.”
    “Is the shuttle disabled?”
    Amy grinned. “Unless you want to use it as a planter. The power supply is out and hidden so well no one would find it. All backup power is disconnected, and the com units have been gutted.”
    “You were fast.”
    They were halfway up the path now.
    “I enjoy my work. I can even whittle a clock out of bits of wood if I get my hands on some. I was going to draw up some designs, but Teriki informed me that ladies don’t do that sort of thing here.” She enjoyed the feeling of his chest supporting her entire back in a warm wall. It made the ride a lot more pleasant to have him acting as a seat.
    “I am sure that an exception could be made. I am curious to see what you are capable of.”
    Amy laughed softly and sighed as he continued his exploration of her neck. He had swept the tendrils of her hair to one side and was exploring the right side of her neck in detail. In a peculiar conflict, it made the rest of the ride both the longest and shortest moment of her life. All she knew when they reached the summit and he helped keep her on her feet when she dismounted was that her legs didn’t want to hold her due to either fatigue or arousal. She wasn’t too picky at this point.
    To her mortification, he carried her inside where the staff had returned and the maids immediately attended her, preparing a bath and getting fresh clothing ready.
    She was stripped, scrubbed and dumped in her tub before she could blink.
    She sulked for a moment before realising that the heat was doing wonderful things to her butt and thighs. Amy slid down into the water and let it ease her aches and pains.
    Porali brought her a cup of tea. “It is medicated to help you with the pain of your first ride.”
    “Do I look that bad?”
    Porali sat and started to brush out Amy’s hair. “You seem very tired. I am guessing that it is a side effect of all your activity. Lord Akutan is arranging a pickup for the invaders and doing some work in his office. You are ordered to drink your tea and rest. He will see you for dinner.”
    Cool mint and a heady herbal undertone made up the tea. She swallowed it in three gulps, grimacing as she set it aside. No matter what world she was on, medicine tasted like medicine.
    A few minutes later, she started to doze, and Porali and another servant helped her out of the tub, into a light robe and tucked her into her bed. Her mind went blank as the pain faded.
     
    * * * *
     
    Akutan looked at his niece and scowled. “What do you mean I have to do paperwork?”
    She grinned at him. “She was removed from Janial under our custody. For a permanent transfer, you have to fill out the forms, Uncle. You remember how much fun it was to deal with the bureaucracy?”
    He wrinkled his nose. “That is why I retired, niece.”
    “I am sending you the forms, simply sign them and I will forward them on. They will be ratified in a few days. I will send you the confirmation that you can keep her.”
    He took in her expression behind her mask and sudden understanding struck. “You knew.”
    “I did. Charm’s wife is an artist, and she has been matching her people in this area for the purpose of safety and survival. Amethyst is one of them, and there is now a very intimate portrait of you two on Yacaro. It was enough to point me in the right direction.” She grinned.
    “How intimate?”
    “You are both fully dressed, but your posture indicates that you are protective of her as well as having an attachment to her that goes beyond protocol.”
    He narrowed his eyes at his niece. “Send me a copy of it. I need to see this.”
    “It will be sent with the confirmation of custody transfer. Enjoy the day, Uncle.” Blade inclined her head with a smile, and he grinned.
    “Go and save another world, Blade. You need the exercise.” Her