Read Online Frisk by Viola Grace - Free Book Online

gasped and quickly looked at the final image.
    Naked in his arms, they were in the air over the night sky of Jennila. The four moons gave the location, and the burning focus in his gaze was all for the woman he held.
    Lera sat heavily on the floor. “That one is intense.”
    Rhoda squatted next to her. “Isn’t it though? I swear, I lost my breath for a moment when I saw it. I wish I could exhibit it, but there is a little too much of you on display for you to be comfortable with it.”
    “Yeah, you are right about that. So, where do we hide these?”
    Rhoda laughed. “We don’t. The last five are all his commissions. They belong to him. You can hide the first one, but that is it.”
    “Damn. This is going to make for an awkward dinner.”
    “Think fast. They are approaching.” Rhoda chuckled and got back to her feet, wandering over to the dining table and taking a seat.
    “How do you know that?”
    “I share more than a bed with Charm.” She held up her arm, exposing a silvery scar. “The mating scar is where a knife bound us together. His nanites are in my body. I can sometimes hear him think and definitely tell when he is on the way. They are landing right now.”
    Lera got to her feet and joined Rhoda at the table. “Fine. I will deal with it. I will be embarrassed, but I will get through it.”
    “Why should you be embarrassed? Your body is beautiful. Lithe with muscle, you can obviously handle yourself in most situations. It all shows when there is nothing to distract you. That is what these sissy clothes are for by the way, a distraction so that most of the governing bodies won’t see the intelligence behind the demands. You will be a soft, pretty female of an exotic race and that is all that they will see.”
    “So, it is a disguise.”
    “If you like.”
    They didn’t have a chance to discuss anything else. The Guardians stomped in and immediately headed for the showers. Soot and smoke marked them all with the exception of Charm. He walked over to his wife, and his faceplate and body armour disappeared, leaving him wearing a stylish shirt and trousers tucked into high boots. He kissed her, and when he raised his head, Rhoda made the introductions.
    “Lera, this is Charm. Charm, this is Lera, another of my people.”
    Charm was a silvery grey from head to toe. He walked over to her and took her hand to his lips for a kiss. “I am always pleased to meet a kinswoman of my wife’s.”
    Behind him, Rhoda shrugged. “Close counts when you are talking stellar space. We are kin.”
    He released her hand and returned to his wife’s side. The bots were setting up for dinner, and Charm relaxed easily as they scampered around him.
    “So, what do you think of Rhoda’s work?”
    Lera thought about how to answer. “She is excellent at capturing the emotion of a moment.”
    Rhoda snorted. “That is the most polite description I have heard to date. Thank you.”
    They continued to chat as the other Guardians gradually trickled in and the bots set out a meal for them.
    It was time for dinner, and the family was all together.

Chapter Ten
    Shatter’s shock at the content of the portraits was unmistakable but not for the basic assumption. He had far more interest in her naked body than was appropriate for a co-worker.
    When he reached out to trace the curve of her spine in the portrait where she straddled Lance, her lover took matters into his own hands.
    He snarled and tackled Shatter to the floor, thudding hard against the tile.
    Charm got to his feet and surrounded the men in a writhing chain of energy as they fought. He lifted them and pushed them out the door into the courtyard. Once they were outside, he closed the door and returned to the collection of ladies. “Shall we commence with dessert?”
    The thuds occurring outside were audible from within.
    “Um, shouldn’t we stop them?” Lera wasn’t quite sure what was going on.
    Charm looked at her with a smile. “You are the pivot point of that