The Challenge by Susan Kearney

opponent. Now she saw his muscles as pleasing to the eye, his flesh satisfying to her touch, his lips gratifying her desire to be kissed.
    A startling idea popped into her mind, unbidden and definitely unwanted. Suppose the suit wasn’t the only reason she’d wanted sex? What if neither her current life or death situation, nor her mission for Earth could account for her yearnings? Or worse—what if this mountain of a man with all his rules and customs and manipulation really turned her on?
    The thought shook her so badly, she missed part of the conversation. She made herself listen by digging her nails into her palms.
    “This entire room can be programmed to put you right in the middle of the entertainment, and you can take part in the vidstream if you like.”
    Her mind bubbled at the possibilities. “You mean we could create a romantic island with lapping cerulean water and a powder sand beach?”
    “Yes.”
    The room around them seemed to vanish, and now ocean waves lapped at her feet as she stood under a hot red sun amid yellow foliage she didn’t recognize. The air smelled sharp, pungent, and she could have sworn the gravity had altered slightly, too. She bent, scooped some warm water into her hand, then flicked droplets at him. He frowned.
    She rolled her eyes at the strange sun. While she had conflicting feelings about Kahn, she didn’t understand why he hadn’t accepted her invitation to touch her—especially after he’d reacted to her kiss. She’d seen the pulse throbbing in his neck and his pupils dilating, clearly indicating interest. But he’d pulled back.
    Tessa gestured to their surroundings. “Why do I get the feeling that you aren’t setting the stage for a romantic encounter?”
    “I’m not.”
    So then why the hell had he aroused her? Sensing she was on to something important, but not sure exactly what, she demanded answers. “You mean I have to remain a virgin until after the Challenge is completed?”
    He shook his head. “Your virginity no longer matters now that you have been chosen as your people’s candidate. I was talking about the need for you to focus on learning to use your psi to succeed during Challenge.”
    What was she missing? She knew better than to ask direct questions and tried to come at the problem sideways. “Seems to me everything fun is forbidden. Masturbation. This holo technology.”
    “On the contrary. I’m eager for you to put this expensive machinery to work. To employ it, you must develop your psi abilities.”
    She noted how he ignored her comments. “What else does it do?”
    Exercise equipment unfolded from the wall, revealing a running machine, a high-level holographic opponent ready to spar, and a simple weight bench. “The hologram you see can be programmed for different skill levels and styles of fighting.”
    “Now that could be useful. A partner who isn’t afraid of me.”
    He ignored her double entendre. “Unless you learn to use your suit, your fist can’t even touch someone,” he reminded her. “The third bendar wall consists of a complete kitchen facility with cooking, freezing, and preparation machinery. Are you ready to eat?”
    She turned to the one remaining blank wall, curiosity burning away some of her frustration. “What’s that?”
    He changed the shimmering gray bendar to a transparent portal, and she gasped at the spectacular sight of her solar system. She knew Kahn was preparing their food, but she couldn’t take her gaze from the stars. Earth was already so small it appeared a tiny star in the solar system, but she sought out the planet with a hunger, loneliness, and sadness. This might be her final goodbye, and yet some of her grief was lifting. Kahn had shown her gadgets from his Federation that appealed to her sense of adventure. She itched to try out the fighting holo-machine, the exercise equipment, and the vidscreens, but at the same time she longed for a comforting cup of coffee.
    Kahn made a table rise out of the