Read Laser for Free Online Page B

just have sex for fun?”
    “After a couple is established, yes. Initial contact is generally a little tense, at least for the female. We are still getting over the maiden-whore culture at home.”
    “If you don’t wish to, we could postpone it.” His expression said that he would find that distasteful.
    “Let me sleep on it. I am a little tired and perhaps I am not thinking as clearly as I would like.” She finished her tea and stood to move the teapot.
    He put out his hand. “I have it. You go and get some rest. You got blown up again today, after all.”
    Lee grinned and walked around the table, pressing a kiss to his lips with one hand resting on his cheek. The kiss went from chaste to carnal in seconds, and when Lee pulled away, she really didn’t want to.
    Her room called, her bed awaited, her cold, boring bed. Sometimes thinking things through was more trouble than it was worth.

Chapter Seven
     
     
    After two hours, she gave up on sleep. Lee got to her feet and crept out of her bedroom and down to the command deck. It was with mixed relief and disappointment that she was alone with the huge display of the open star field.
    “So, do you two spend a lot of time alone?”
    She jerked in surprise when a line of text printed in her mind.
    It is good that you have joined us. Your suit speaks very highly of you.
    She tilted her head. “My suit?”
    It is sentient. Not as advanced as I am, but I am impressed with her resilience.
    “I didn’t have any idea. No one mentioned it.”
    She did not want to distract you with chatter. She was waiting for her chance. I do not think that the doctor was aware of it.
    “Why are you talking inside my head?”
    This is the language you prefer and the input method you are most used to. You see the world around you and process information visually.
    He wasn’t wrong there.
    “Do you talk to Lukar like this?”
    No, he speaks to me as you are doing, but I can only speak to you in detail within my walls. My broadcast range is only a few hundred meters on this frequency.
    “But I still have to speak out loud.”
    Yes. I am only displaying thought; I cannot read your mind, though I can guess at your mood based on body temperature. Your core seems to be the best indicator.
    “Probably because that is where all my original parts are. Nothing else is directly connected to my circulatory system.”
    She heard the light slide of a foot on the deck plates before she heard, “Having a nice chat with Stinger ?”
    She partially turned and looked at him over her shoulder. “It has been interesting.”
    If you want, you can tell him that I can speak directly to you.
    Lukar had removed his uniform and he was wearing a wrap around his hips. His hair was tousled and his eyes were sleepy. Something had woken him.
    “ Stinger , did you wake him up?”
    He has exceptional hearing. It was probably your voice.
    Lukar shook his head. “No, I could hear something different. I have been alone on this ship for a while. Your joining the ship is welcome but it will take getting used to.”
    “Sorry. I will go back to my quarters.”
    “You don’t need to do that. Would you care to see the library?”
    Lee coughed in surprise. “You have a library?”
    “Yes, otherwise it would be a clumsy seduction line. Come this way.” He beckoned her to follow as he walked past the door to his own quarters and he pressed his hand to the wall at waist height.
    She went from being in a spaceship to Aladdin’s cave. Lee stared at the comfortable chair, the walls lined with books and scrolls and the careful arrangement of chests and wardrobes.
    “What is all this?”
    “These are artifacts rescued from worlds during revolutions, uprisings and natural disasters. We take what they want to save to the archive and save it until they are stable enough to have it returned. Half of these are going to the archive and half are being returned. It is our constant mission to keep the circulation going.”
    “Wow.