Thrax

He leaned forward a bit now, taking a swallow of his own wine and fixing her with a charged look.  “I see,” Thrax said.  “And what is it about us that makes us so exceptional, so excellent?”

“You know that yourself,” Agena said.  “You’re trained to be the best you can be, in mind and body.  And you’re chosen to serve because you’re considered to be the best in character.  Nothing average, nothing mediocre.  You Knights are special men and women.”

Thrax nodded, weighing her words, the way she said them, and the way she carried herself.  He sensed no deception or insincerity about her.  She actually meant what she was saying.  “Special,” he said.  “My position and my rank make me special to you.”

“Is that so strange?” Agena asked.  “To a lot of people, my being a Sphereball champion makes me special.”

“So you consider us both champions, in a way.”

“I guess you could put it that way.” 

“I see.  So, for you, this would be a mating of the best with the best.”

“I don’t mean to sound arrogant,” said Agena.  “It’s just that I’ve always looked for the best in myself, or maybe I’ve always reached for the best in myself.  And when it came time to look for someone to have a child with, I did what I’ve always done and looked for the best.”

Thrax frowned slightly, not a frown of anger or offense as much as a frown of consideration.  There was a truth about her words, not so much a truth of facts as a truth of person.  “I’m honored you think so.  I only hope you find I’m everything you expect me to be.”

“I already know you’re a strong, brave man.  I already know you care for your world and you care for others and want to help them.  You must have risked your life for other people and you’d do it again.  I can’t think of a better man to want to have a child with.”

“I’m honored again,” said Thrax.  “Tell me…in your travels from planet to planet in your sport, of course you’ve had lovers.  Have you ever known a man like me in bed before?”

Agena straightened up in her chair and blinked a bit, as if the alcohol had gone to her head and she were trying to keep her wits about her while starting to feel a buzz.

“I’m sorry if the question is abrupt or forward,” Thrax said.  “But you’ll agree, our whole situation is rather abrupt.  I didn’t know how else to ask.”

“I understand,” she replied.  “But it’s a natural question.”

“So…have you had relations with a male of my type before now?”

“Honestly,” said Agena, “yes, I have.  More than one.  A few.”

Thrax nodded.  “Then you know already, at least generally, what you can expect of me.”

She rolled her eyes to one side, remembering once again the Knights of her past and the way they had made her feel.  Then she returned her eyes to Thrax, bringing those memories along and fixing them on him as she had at the platform.  She had every belief that when he topped her in bed, the s*x would be like a meteor hitting a planet.  “I know,” she said.

“You know the way we are in bed,” Thrax said.  “You know that in bed, we are very powerful, very prolific, and very demanding.  In s*x, even more so than with a human, we are consumed, and we put everything that we feel into the act.  The act is prolonged and never just once.  We go many times, and always with the same passion.  It’s no boast when I say that human females in bed with Lacertan males, especially the Knights and the Corps, have been known to faint.  That’s how intense we are.”

Softly but firmly, without intimidation, Agena said, “I never fainted.”

“No,” said Thrax.  “I’m sure you didn’t.” 

They were silent then, sitting face to face with only the table between them, pondering the honesty and frankness of their words—and beginning to imagine how it would be when there was no table or anything else between them.  Not even his armor, not even her body suit.  It felt warmer in the suite, and definitely not just from the champagne.

The silence passed.  Thrax rose from the table and stood there, looking over and down at her.  Agena watched him, wondering what he would do next.  She could practically hear the heart pumping in her chest, feel the blood shooting hotly in her veins.  What would he say now?  What would he do?  Would he again extend his hand to her, to lead her away from the table?  Where would he lead her?  What would come next?  She studied his face, awaiting his words.

“I believe,” said Thrax, “it’s time for my swim.”

Agena exhaled, letting the anticipation flow out of her.  She had forgotten about that, but of course, he had not.  Whatever was to come of the conversation they had just had would have to wait a while.  For the moment, Thrax had other needs that she could not fill.

“Right,” she said.  “Your swim.  You need to go to the lake.”

With a hint of a smile, he said, “You are, of course, welcome to join me.  You will not be allowed to enter the lake, but if you’d like to accompany me…”

“Yes,” said Agena.  “I would.”

Thrax stepped around the table and offered her his hand once again.  It seemed to be becoming a running theme in their relationship.