Steam hovered on the surface, swirling gently like fine mist over a lake.Steam hovered on the surface, swirling gently like fine mist over a lake. The spa itself appeared to be set into a lush green lawn and was ringed with fragrant jasmine, and rolling fertile hills stretched toward the horizon as far as he could see, some dot- ted with trees in autumn colors. A fresh cool breeze caressed his tired face and washed the scent of the improbably flowering jasmine over his bare skin. "A holosuite, Lady?" "Yes. Expensive, but as I told you, I cheat quite well." She climbed into the water, and made a motion to him to follow. He did so, lowering himself gratefully into the steaming spa. Slowly, he felt the stiffness disappear from his muscles, to be replaced with a weak lassitude. "How long have I been here, Lady?" he asked. "Only a few short hours," she told him. "Six hours. You are due back on duty in six more." Purring with pleasure at the gentle breeze that tugged her hair and his, she told him. "It is a slow time now. I will be finished instructing you by then." His eyes widened. "There is more?" She laughed at his question. "Of course there is more. You didn't think I could teach you everything in one lesson, did you?" She stretched like a contented lioness. "As it is, I must leave tomorrow and hence can teach you only a little of what I would like to." She opened her eyes. "I can arrange to be back at this station in some time, you know." He looked back at her, the warm water lapping at his shoulders and around his chest. "I don't know if . . . " He swallowed. She reached over and patted one shoulder. "The first lesson is most involved, as it is then that I must teach you proper submission and willingness to learn. Subsequent ones become more and more . . . leisurely. There are only a few small things further that I can teach you in the time we have at any rate, and they should leave you considerably less . . . " "Exhausted?" he finished. "Precisely. After all, you will have to go directly on duty from here." He swallowed again, wondering what would be required of him, and settled for remaining quiet and lowering himself into the blood-warm water until only his face was above the waterline. Nearly an hour passed with them like that, silent, simply content in each other's company and enjoying the sensation of the water rippling against their skin. |