Page 33 of Golden Darkness

She snuggled back against him. “Plans?”

“Oh, yes. I have watched your nocturnal learning, and I think you need to try out a few of the more physical ones.”

She grinned. “Sex with other species for fun and profit?”

“No, but that opens up things for another night.”

She laughed, and he kissed her neck while keeping a huge hand over her belly. She was getting used to falling asleep this way. It beat the back of her rig.

“Okay, so this is new.” She ran her hands down the fitted leggings that fell short of her navel. She bent to touch her toes, and there was no butt crack. Wow, they really were advanced.

The lace-up tank top gave her boobs support and left her waist exposed.

Today’s boots were particularly grippy. “So, what is on the agenda, Kethen, and why are we matching again?”

He was wearing boots and a type of cargo pants that were tucked into the boots. They were both in black and gold.

“I like matching with you. It is comforting to me when you are wearing my colours. It makes me feel like you are thinking of me.”

She did a runner’s stretch. “After last night, I am thinking of nothing else.”

She dropped into a squat and felt the slight tug of her thighs. Her body was developing a tolerance for screwing around for hours. That was an interesting skill.

Janessa straightened and smiled. “Breakfast?”

“First, we see if you can put any of those physical skills to use. Come on.” He held his hand out to her.

She took his hand, and they walked from his quarters, down the hall, into the lift, and down to another level. They walked toward a room with large doors that were propped open. Shouts and thuds came out of the doors. Janessa smiled and got an idea of what he wanted her to do.

“Oh, sothatcourse. Got it.”

He wrapped his arm around her and caressed her waist. They walked into the gym, and the Kethic who were working out slowly stopped. Neebath came toward them. “Overlord, lady, good morning. Are you here for some light exercise?”

Kethen chuckled. “I got that last night, but Pet needs to exercise. She needs a practical application of her new skills, and I am not a fair fight.”

The captain looked around and found a young woman, beckoning her forward.

Janessa cleared her throat. “No offense, but if I am attacked, it is unlikely to be by someone of the same size.”

Neebath nodded. “Good point, my lady.”

She walked toward the mat, and one of the well-muscled males looked nervous as he stepped toward her.

She smiled. “I am sorry about this, but I need to practice hitting people.”

“Yes, my lady.”

She cocked her head. “Neebath, will you call out for stop and start?”

The captain nodded, and Janessa faced off against her opponent. There was a shout, and she was charged. She jumped, twisted, and was over him. He staggered to the edge of the mat, and she caught him on the next attack, kicking at his knee and twisting him down. There was a thud, and he rolled away from her before rising to his feet with blood in his eye.

The collisions got progressively more violent, and everyone gasped when Janessa got a hard hit to the face that caused her to spray blood.

She grinned and unlocked the teachings as she sprang at him, grabbed him by the neck, and dropped to the ground. She knelt on his chest and strangled him for nearly a minute before an arm around her waist pulled her off.

“Well done, Pet.” Kethen stroked her hair and licked at the blood on her face.

He looked past her. “Well done, Lieutenant Vreeka.”