Asteroid Read Free

mining vessel, the gel was filtered, cleaned and then re-circulated every few minutes. It made for quite a bit of peace of mind considering that there were over twenty-five species represented in the population and everyone used the hot tub.
    She found a seat and relaxed with the gel tugging gently at her limbs.
    Nilia floated over and smiled. “Tell me about the Avatar. Is he as hot as Merkil says?”
    Sebena gave her friend a sobering look. “Tell me that you haven’t been gossiping with him about the newcomer.”
    “Well, he stopped by and you know he has an eye for beauty.”
    Sebena grimaced. Merkil was a flirt and he wasn’t fussy. One of the rare masculine Selna, he had a sex drive that did not restrict itself to conventional pairings. He would screw anything if it held still long enough. His only criterion was that his sexual partner was attractive. He wouldn’t fuck ugly.
    Sebena had kept herself from falling into his bed, but it had been an effort of will. His pheromones were strong and seductive. Merkil had no problem using them to capture his bed partners of either sex.
    “You shouldn’t listen to Merkil, he thinks with his penis.”
    “Well? You saw the Avatar. What does he look like?”
    Sebena opened her mouth to answer, but she saw a figure approaching from behind Nilia’s head. “Like that.”
    Issul had a towel loosely draped around his hips that left little to the imagination. From the top of his head to his toes, he was gorgeous, elegant and lethally sexy.
    To her shock, that sexy gaze was aimed straight at her.

    Chapter Three
    “Avatar Issul, how nice to see you again.” Sebena kept her voice pleasant, but it was far too high even to her own ears. To her consternation, he dropped his towel and slipped into the hot tub right next to her, smiling and leaning back against the edge of the pool.
    “This feels lovely. No wonder it is a common relaxation spot on the ship.” He closed his eyes and the expression on his face was pure bliss.
    “Yes, it is.”
    She heard her friend clear her throat and quickly made introductions. “Avatar Issul of Zeering, this is Gunner Nilia Vordi.”
    The Avatar lazily opened his golden eyes and smiled at the lush Wyoran. “I am pleased to make the acquaintance of any of your friends, Sebena.”
    He leaned forward and took Nilia’s hand in greeting. The Wyoran smiled brilliantly at Issul and he smiled politely before reclaiming his hand.
    Nilia was in shock. Not one male on the entire ship had dismissed her since her season had struck. “I am pleased to meet you, Avatar.”
    “And you as well, Gunner.”
    He returned to his seated position next to Sebena and suddenly she was no longer relaxed.
    Nilia looked from Sebena to Issul. “So, Issul, how long have you been an Avatar?”
    “Nine hundred and fifty-three years.” He opened his eyes and navy blue was trickling into the gold.
    “Have you enjoyed it? I have heard that the life of an Avatar is a lonely one.” Nilia lifted herself out of the churning gel slightly and the dark peaks of her nipples were exposed.
    His gaze was mildly interested and so the perverse hope that Sebena had been holding onto sank. “I will leave you two alone to discuss whatever you choose.”
    Sebena moved to the edge of the tub and levered herself up and to her towel, the slick gel sheeted off and she wrapped the towel around her, not looking back at the hot tub and its inhabitants.
    She didn’t hear him, but a hand gripped her arm. “Sebena, what is wrong?”
    Sebena turned and looked up into Issul’s face before allowing her gaze to wander lower. His body stirred and his cock slowly rose as she watched.
    Surprised, she brought her gaze back up to his face. “I thought you and Nilia wanted some time together.”
    “I came here to spend time with you. The captain did nothing but sing your praises when I questioned him and so I came here to find out what you are like when you are not on duty.”
    “What about