Trade Secret (eARC) by Steve Miller, Sharon Lee Page B

knew he was not alone, and looked up.
    He also knew then exactly what color drai'vaina was, and when he remembered to breathe, was never happier to see red.
    *
    Jethri had to twist his head slightly, to look up into Gaenor's face as she moved toward him from somewhat behind and to the left, catching her wide smile getting wider as she looked at him standing there, and then their eyes met and the smile was there too, without reservation.
    Her voice went all husky and musical on him: "Ah, Jethri, my friend, I am so pleased to find you here, and party-clad. I hope I find you with as much appetite as I have."
    She'd caught him leaning and was taking him in with evident delight, as he was her.
    He stood up to execute a proper bow of welcome, but her bow came before his as she moved forward. Her red top blazed for a moment in the light, and for another moment nearly disappeared, her breasts tantalizing and then shimmering into an opulent translucence . . .
    He managed to complete his bow then, and in rising from it saw his own leg and thigh as if nude and then only slightly more hidden as he finished--
    Gaenor's laugh was magical with delight, and she reached out to gently touch his wrist and then moved close to smile again, releasing his hand and raising hers to encompass himself as well as the room, the fabric of her top playing magical games with his eyes in the dimness.
    "It is so good to see you this way, after all this time, my friend. Also, I should have warned you of the lighting. It is a wonderful effect, is it not?"
    He was at once trying not to stare and to see her as he'd never seen her before. She wore some hair cosmetics which glittered gently in the overhead light, her lips glistened and she laughed again . . .
    He wasn't sure what to say but she raised her fingers to her lips in the sign for silence, and bowed, quite close to him, a bow requesting forgiveness of a comrade.
    "Jethri," she said very quietly, "this evening will be excellent. We shall enjoy ourselves immensely, and we shall both learn. I am informed that you have need of someone to be your I'gaina Prenada . This must be clear before we begin, and also that as Prenada , I will set limits and you will follow."
    Jethri began to bow, but Gaenor continued, raising her hands yet again, drawing his eyes, and he understood then this was one of the Liaden set pieces, the things that must be said . . .
    "In this place then, we are, you and I, without immediate call by the ship if we wish; only an emergency will penetrate the comm system without our will. I have taken the liberty of making sure that is so; our calls and mail do not follow us here. Assure me that this pleases you."
    He nodded, and turned it into as elegant a bow as he could manage, with honor to the teacher flowing into an acceptance of joint necessity and that flowing into a declaration of absolute dedication to the project at hand. Indeed he could think of nothing that pleased him more, for his eyes were filled with Gaenor who was every bit as beautiful at this moment as any women he'd ever seen.
    Her face showed smile lines at the corners of her mouth and the corners of her eyes; and her eyes were intent on his, while his searched her face and allowed his vision to see the unexpected glint of finely netted and sparkling jewelry which encircled her ears and depended from them, leaving the folds of the ears and the enticing lobes bare, available, and the sweep of the gossamer collar making him sigh.
    "I am pleased to be without interruption from the ordinary, and honored to accept your guidance this night. In all things, it shall be as you say."
    Her eyes brightened as did her smile, and the graceful bow of acknowledgment she performed added interest to his view.
    *
    " Fa'vya ?" Gaenor offered the glass to him, not to drink but to sniff in emulation of her motions. "This is true fa 'vya, properly vinted and stored, I promise you, not the powder stirred into a random year in the hopes for a