Torch by KD Jones

morning practice. She needed to go home to shower and change but she would meet him in the banquet room for breakfast. He begrudgingly let her go.
    She rushed through her shower and threw on her training clothes. She looked in the mirror at her image. Did she look different now? Her eyes seemed to sparkle and her skin glowed. Her face seemed to shout, a woman fully satisfied .
    She blushed. Remaining a virgin all this time had not been a matter of choice but of necessity. She couldn’t afford to get involved with someone, and most alien species steered clear of Isians. She also feared her abilities would cause too much difficulty in the intimacy department. Obviously it did not prove difficult with Torch. She smiled a goofy smile as she headed out of her suite.
    *****
    Torch walked into the banquet room slowing his pace so it did not look like he was too anxious. He entered the room and casually scanned the area, looking for Isis. She wasn’t there yet. He hid his disappointment. He never should have let her leave his bed. They could have ordered room service and he could have fed her by hand.
    He shook his head. Where were these thoughts coming from? He never acted like this over a female before. But something about Isis was different, making him behave differently. He wasn’t sure he liked that, but he wasn’t willing to give her up.
    He grabbed his breakfast from the breakfast bar and found an empty table. It would do him some good to have practice. Think about someone other than his beautiful female. Aw hell, he was already claiming her in his mind. He was a goner. Like all those other suckers who took a mate. Fuck me.
    The moment she entered the room his temperature spiked. They locked eyes and she blushed. Fuck if that wasn’t hot . Normally he liked females who were experienced and didn’t try to take things so seriously. But with her, all his control was gone. All his plans went right out the door. All he could think about was Isis, and making her his permanently.
    Isis looked over at Torch and gave him a small smile. He looked so serious. She loaded her plate with food and grabbed ice water. Then she stood there for a moment unsure what to do. Did he want her to sit with him? Well, he had already made their relationship public when he announced his intentions in the middle of a GCFA event. So she squared her shoulders and headed for the table he was sitting at.
    “Good morning,” she said, sitting down and nervously stabbing her fork in some cut fruit.
    He reached over to grab her unused hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss on the knuckles. “Good morning, beautiful.”
    She released the breath she was holding without knowing it. He wasn’t sorry about last night. “So, what do you have planned after morning practice?”
    He released her hand and picked up his cup of hot coffee. He raised his eyebrow at her. “I don’t know. Did you have something in mind?”
    She felt the heat rise to her face again. “Maybe. I was thinking of ordering room service for lunch in my suite. Do...you want to come over?”
    He should say no, maybe get some distance between them. At least until he figured out what he wanted. But he saw her biting her lip and found it endearing. “I would love to come over for lunch.”
    She looked relieved. “Okay.” They ate their breakfast in silence and then walked side by side to the training facility. That’s when they parted ways.
    *****
    “So you and Torch did the deed, huh?” Alana asked while they were doing their practice match.
    Isis nodded. She wasn’t sure she wanted to talk about it. What if it didn’t work out between them? It could get awkward.
    “You’re not going to dish out the details?” Alana looked hurt. Sersan walked up at that moment.
    “Detailsss about what?”
    “Isis and Torch had sex and she doesn’t seem to want to talk about it.” Alana pouted prettily.
    “Aw come on, tell usss.” Sersan joined in with Alana trying to coax Isis to