“Richie!” Michael yelled. “You got to try this stuff.”
Richard tried to detach himself from Michael’s grasp, but Michael hung on. “Hey, can’t you see I’m occupied,” Richard said. He was trying to kiss two women at the same time.
“Richie, you got to try this stuff,” Michael repeated. He held out the jar.
“What the hell is it?” Richard said. He pushed himself up on one elbow.
“It’s hand cream,” Michael said.
“You’re interrupting me to try some hand cream?” Richard couldn’t believe it. “What’s the matter with you?”
“Try it,” Michael said. “It’s like no hand cream you’ve ever tried. It’s better than coke. I tell you it’s dynamite!”
Sighing, Richard reached out and took a small amount of the cream and rubbed it on his hands. He looked up at Michael. “So, now what’s supposed to happen?”
“Press your palm against one of the girl’s,” Michael said.
Richard beckoned one of the two he’d just been kissing, but she motioned for him to wait. She took a bit of the cream for herself, rubbed it into her palm, and then pressed hers against Richard’s. The result was the same as it had been for Michael. It took Richard a full minute to pull out of the blissful delirium that enveloped him.
“Oh, my god” Richard cried. “That was like an orgasm. Gimme some more!”
Michael snatched the jar away from his groping hand.
“Find your own,” he said.
Richard made another lunge for the jar, but Michael batted his hand away.
Perry was in the middle of explaining to Luna what it meant to be the president of Benthic Marine when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. It was Suzanne. She looked concerned.
“Richard and Michael are starting to quarrel,” Suzanne said. “I’m worried. Arak is seeing to it that their glasses are never empty, and they’re already very drunk.”
“Uh-oh!” Perry said. “That could spell trouble.” He glanced in the divers’ direction and saw them pushing and shoving each other.
“I think we’d better walk out there and try to control them,” Suzanne said.
“I guess you’re right,” Perry said. He hated to leave Luna.
“Let them have their fun,” a voice said behind Suzanne. “Everyone is enjoying them. They’re quite lively.” She turned to find the same man who’d asked her if she lived with a mate.
“We’re afraid their behavior could become disruptive,” Suzanne said. “We don’t want to take advantage of your hospitality.”
“Let Arak worry about their behavior,” the man said. “As you can see, he is encouraging their drinking.”
“I noticed that,” Suzanne said. “It’s not a good idea.”
“Leave it up to Arak,” the man said. “It’s his job to take care of them, not yours. Besides, I’d like to talk with you in private for a moment.”
“You would?” Suzanne responded. She was nonplused by the request. She glanced back at the divers and was relieved to see they’d stopped their squabbling and had settled back down into their bevy of reclining women. Suzanne looked at Perry, wondering if he’d heard the man’s request. He had. Perry smiled mischievously and gave Suzanne an encouraging nudge.
“Why not?” Perry whispered leaning toward her. “We’re supposed to be enjoying ourselves, and the diver emergency has passed for the time being.”
“It will be just for a moment,” the man said.
“What do you mean, ‘in private’?” Suzanne asked. She took in the stranger’s chiseled features and liquid eyes and felt her heart skip a beat. She’d never seen a man quite so classically handsome, much less spoken with one.
“Well, not really in private,” the man said with a disarming smile. “I thought we could just withdraw a few steps or perhaps climb the stairs to the balcony. I only wish to be able to speak to you alone for a moment.”
“Well, I suppose,” Suzanne said. She looked back at Perry.
“I’ll be right here,” Perry said, “with Luna.”
Suzanne let herself be led up the stairs.
“My name is Garona,” the man said as they climbed.
“Mine is Suzanne Newell,” Suzanne responded.
“That I know,” Garona said. “Dr. Suzanne Newell, to be precise.”
They reached the top of the stairs and leaned against the balustrade. Below, it was apparent the gala was a great success: laughter and lively conversation drifted up from the throng. Most people were milling around the central pool area where the divers and their harem were the focus of attention. The crowd was orderly, gracious, and respectful. Those closest to the dancing were constantly giving way so that those on the periphery could move up to get a close-up view.
“Thank you for giving me this moment,” Garona said. “It’s unfair for me to monopolize your time.”
“It’s quite all right,” Suzanne said. “It’s a relief of sorts to step back and get this overview.”
“I had to talk with you to tell you I find you irresistible,” Garona said.
Suzanne peered into Garona’s handsome face. She expected to see at least a faint vestige of a sly smile. Instead he was regarding her with a warm, smiling intensity that suggested utter sincerity.
“Run that by me again,” Suzanne said.
“I find you absolutely irresistible,” Garona repeated.
“You do?” Suzanne asked. She chuckled nervously.
“Truly,” Garona said.
Suzanne’s eyes wandered back to the crowd to give her a chance to process this unexpected encounter. She hesitated before turning back to him. “You’re very flattering, Garona,” she said. “At least I think you are. So I’m sorry if I seem skeptical, but with all these absolutely gorgeous and flawless females, I find it a bit hard to believe you’d be interested in me. I mean, I know my limitations. In the irresistible arena, I’m no competition for any of these women here.”
Garona’s smile never faltered. “Perhaps it is hard for you to believe,” he said. “But nonetheless it is true.”
“Well, than I am sincerely flattered,” Suzanne said. “But perhaps you could tell me why you find me so irresistible.”
“It’s hard to put into words,” Garona said.
“At least give it a try,” Suzanne said.
“I suppose I’d have to say it involves your freshness or your innocence. Or perhaps it’s your alluring primitiveness.”
“Primitiveness?” Suzanne echoed. “That’s how Arak characterized Richard.”
“Well, he definitely has it, too,” Garona said.
“And that’s supposed to be a compliment?” Suzanne asked.
“Here in Interterra it is,” Garona said.
“What exactly is Interterra?” Suzanne asked. “And how long has it been in existence?”
Garona smiled patronizingly and shook his head. “I’ve been warned against answering any questions other than purely personal ones about myself.”
Suzanne rolled her eyes. “Sorry,” she said with a touch of sarcasm. “I guess it just slipped out.”
“It’s quite all right.”
“So, I have to think up some personal questions?”
“If you’d like,” Garona said.
“Well…” Suzanne said as she tried to think of one. “Have you always lived down here?”
Garona roared with laughter, loudly enough to attract the attention of two men on the floor below. They looked up, waved when they recognized Garona, and began making their way toward the stairs.
“I’m sorry I laughed,” he said, “but your question underlines how wonderfully innocent you are. It’s so refreshing. I’d love to get better acquainted. When you have had enough of the festivities and you want to leave, let me know. I’d love to take you to your room. We can spend some intimate time together pressing palms, just you and I. What do you say?”
Suzanne’s mouth slowly dropped open as the true meaning of Garona’s proposal dawned on her. She laughed mockingly. “Garona, I don’t believe this,” she said. “Only a short time ago I thought I was going to die. Now I’m in a fantasyland with a great-looking guy making a pass at me and wanting to come to my room. How am I supposed to respond?”