"Ann Maxwell - Fire Dancer 1 - Fire Dancer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maxwell Ann)

“You haven’t asked me about Trader Jal,” she said.

Kirtn made a noncommittal sound. His slanted eyes picked up every shade of gold as he searched
the streets and byways for trouble.

“I won.”

He glanced down at her without slowing his stride. His lips parted in a small smile, revealing the
serrated edges of his teeth. “How did you manage that, little dancer?”

“I cheated. But I didn’t have time to collect my winnings.”

He chuckled. “Too bad. We could use the credits.”

“The credits are registered to our OVA, if the locals don’t block the account. But it was Jal I
didn’t collect. He’s mine for three weeks,” She smiled proudly up at her Bre’n.

He stopped and looked down at her, his face expressionless. “You’re old enough to take a
pleasure mate,” he said evenly. “I’d hoped to have some say in the selection, but I suppose that
custom died with Deva,” He shrugged. “If Jal is what you want, I’ll go back and get him for
you.”

Rheba’s mouth opened and closed several times before she found her voice. “Pleasure mate!” she
screeched, “I wouldn’t use that cherf to wipe my feet! By the light of the Inmost Fire, are you in
rez?”

Kirtn’s expression remained bland, wholly unreadable. “The casino guard spent a lot of time
explaining to me how virile Jal was,” he said, turning away and walking toward the spaceport
with long strides, “and how much chased—and caught—by local women.”

She stared after him. “That guard has his head wedged so far up he can’t see!” she shouted after
the receding Bre’n. “Have a little faith in your akhenet’s basic good taste!”
“My akhenet cheats,” called Kirtn as he turned a corner and disappeared. The sound of his
laughter floated back to her. “Hurry up, little cheater.”

She cursed and hurried after him. When her foot slipped on a piece of rotten fruit, her weakened
left ankle took the brunt of her fall. She smothered a sound of pain and exasperation as she pulled
herself back to her feet. She rounded the corner at a fast hobble. Hands reached out of the
darkness, grabbing her. In the instant before she screamed, she felt the familiar texture and
strength of her Bre’n.

“I turn my back on you for a minute and you’re in trouble again,” he muttered against her hair.
“And you say that you’re old enough to have a pleasure mate. Gahhh!”

Rheba chose action over further argument. She ran her fingernails around the rim of Kirtn’s
sensitive ears, tickling him as she had done since she was four years old and had discovered how
to get the better of her huge teacher.

“Rheba, if you don’t stop that I’ll—”