Ever So Madly Read online

  “I think I proved my point to everyone else here. Why do you doubt me, brother?”

  “Because you never miss these things, and this is the first I’m hearing of it. You don’t pre-read all the presentations like you used to for the fair...” I could see it dawn on him, and I looked away. “It was that scab?”

  “What was?”

  “He put this in your head. You are taking a big fucking risk listening to an untested.”

  I held up my hand to silence him. “I don’t want to hear it. I looked into it myself. If it backfires it is because the tech is not as good as claimed, not because he planted ideas.”

  Jacob looked around the room, and he looked off balance, flustered almost. “And if he works for a fringe group and is filling your head with these ideas to help someone else?”

  “It wasn’t like that.” I knew it wasn’t. He’d said it to impress the people in the room, and he didn’t know about the other tech, I was certain.

  “You have to keep them at a distance, Jocelynn.”

  I sighed, knowing he was right.

  The next morning I was up before the sun, researching my points and making notes in my comm. My head was spinning when I was through, and I was only more convinced this would work. It could be the end to our supply chain loss and a crushing blow to the fringe groups all in one go. I pushed my fingers through my hair, looking out the window. The suns had risen, and I realized I’d been working longer than I’d thought. I needed to get myself put together and hurry to the fair.

  I took my seat on the Baron’s right-hand side, with time to spare, not even breathing hard from the run over here, which was quite unladylike, but I doubt anyone took notice. I crossed my ankles and folded my hands in my lap, waiting for the start. We sat in his private booth surrounded by the ministers of science, each of them with a tablet ready to inscribe the notes or to read them close at hand as they were put out by the presenters.

  I looked around the room. It was barely half filled and only filled as much as it was, I assumed, because the Baron was here. An official visit was a big deal. His tour of the fair was usually set months in advance when the most important new tech was submitted for consideration.

  They started on time, and it was a tsunami of information. If I hadn’t done the research this morning I would have been lost. I could see a stupor take over most of the group, and only those who I knew to be genuine geniuses seemed to follow.

  I leaned closer to the Baron to explain the more difficult parts.

  He nodded, glancing over at me. “I knew I made the right choice.”

  I sat back, and Jacob murmured, “Fucking know-it-all.”

  I flashed him a smile. “Put in a little effort and you’d get the praise.” Easier too I imagined because expectations for him were so low.

  “Not worth the wasted energy, and I still don’t believe you had anything to do with this.” He narrowed his eyes. “I’ll figure you out.”

  I scanned the crowd, feeling a little smug even if I wasn’t solely responsible for it. I wondered if there was a way I could give Madden the credit. I would figure it out. There was nothing like an accommodation from the Baron to raise a scab’s worth. My gaze landed on him, in the front row, directly across from me.

  His professor, Hornsbee, sat with him, and they chatted back and forth. He might have thought he was pretending, but I could see the ease in which he made friends and was becoming a part of things here. It would be best to make my escape. If he saw me with the Baron, he would put the pieces together.

  But I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to assimilate myself into his world and live there. I already felt too much. I had to lock down my feelings. He couldn’t know. It would make this too hard. I could only imagine things were easier without the pressure I had on me. He laughed, and I could almost hear it from here. It couldn’t be wrong to enjoy him for a little while. I knew it lasting wasn’t possible, but I could pretend.

  I almost hoped he would look up. Then he’d know and I wouldn’t have to hide it anymore. If wishing made it so. It would save me from imagining what was possible. I wanted to be saved from my own mind tonight.

  “Let’s have a look shall we?” The Baron broke my concentration.

  “Go down, sir?”

  He nodded, getting to his feet. His entourage followed, and I had no choice but to bring myself closer to the fire. We descended to the floor of the large auditorium, and the Baron stood in his circle until the presentation ended and his advisers could take over the question session. I knew he had already made up his mind. After years of being on his advisory council, I could read him well. He would have left by now if he thought it was a waste of time. Politeness had never been one of his attributes.

  I backed away, making a rash choice to slip back into the crowd when Madden looked up. Our eyes met, and his lips curled into a smile. He turned back to Hornsbee, and I could tell he excused himself. I had to put more distance between myself and the Baron. I weaved through the crowd, getting closer to him. I realized as I did I could have escaped, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to see him again.

  “Hey there.” He wore a smirk.

  “Good morning, I see you’ve made quite the impression on your professor.”

  He half shrugged and stuck his hands into his pocket. “I did at the expense of scaring you away.”

  “You didn’t scare me away.”

  “You missed my big moment.” He was faux offended.

  “I saw enough.”

  “How do I know?” His lips twitched, and I knew he was hiding a smile.

  “I’m here, aren’t I?” I didn’t back down.

  “I guess I’ll concede as much.” He chuckled.

  “I win!”

  “I didn’t say that.” A smile spread over his lips. “Why did you leave? I was hoping for…” He trailed off.

  “I had something to take care of. You were hoping for?” I cocked my head to the side, wondering if he was shy or smooth. Either way he had me curious.

  “To have you to myself.” He stepped closer.

  “And if you had me to yourself what would you do with me?”

  His lips twisted into a smirk, and there was a wicked gleam in his eyes. “I don’t think you really want to know.”

  “Try me,” I whispered.

  He didn’t speak for a few moments, and my heart picked up speed waiting for his reply.

  “Come spend the day with me,” he said at last.

  “You didn’t answer my question.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

  “I know. Maybe you need to get it out of me.”

  I growled under my breath, and he smiled roguishly.

  He held out his hand. “Are you coming?”

  Chapter Nine

  Madden

  My heart raced, and my stomach dropped when she didn’t take my hand right way. I wasn’t this smug. Maybe she could see through my act.

  “Where are we going?” She set her smaller hand in mine, and I closed my fingers around it.

  “You’ll see.” I chuckled, turning to leave when a hand touched my shoulder from behind. I turned to find Hornsbee, my professor, standing there.

  “Leaving so soon?”

  “I didn’t have any questions,” I lied. I had many, but as this tech and project had nothing to do with me, it would do no more than show my intelligence to Hornsbee, and spending the day with Jocelynn sounded more appealing.

  “That shocks me.” Hornsbee turned his gaze to J, looking her up and down. “Interesting companion you have here.” He reached out for her hand. “Jocelynn, isn’t it?”

  She smiled, taking his hand, and something unreadable passed between them. “It is. Nice to see you again, Sir Hornsbee.”

  They didn’t shake. He took just her fingers, gently, in his and inclined his head in respect. “It’s a pleasure to see you again. I thought I saw you in my class briefly yesterday. You should have stayed and added to the fun this one provided.” He gestured at me as he released h
er hand.

  He looked at her like a piece of meat, ripe for the taking, and she drank in all the flattery but stayed poised. If I hadn’t figured out she was noble before, this was confirmation.

  “I had another engagement, forgive me.”

  Hornsbee narrowed his eyes as he dropped her hand. “This genius a friend of yours?”

  “Newly yes, he’s quite a surprise, isn’t he?” she replied, displaying nothing on her face.

  “Indeed. He has high potential, makes me want to learn more about him.”

  Their entire exchange set my nerves on edge.

  “As do I. Beg your pardon, but we do have a previous commitment.” She gave us the perfect opening for an exit.

  “Carry on then. Tell your brother it was good to see him.” He pressed a finger to his lip, looking between us. “Madden, if you will, I have some friends I’d like to introduce you to after lecture tomorrow. Small gathering, if you’re not already engaged.”

  I looked over at her, then back to him. “Sure, see you then.”

  The exchange left my head spinning. I could write off Hornsbee knowing her easily as she’d been in training here for years, but the way he treated her, and his shock at our acquaintance, but more than anything else the way he spoke of her brother left an uneasy feeling in my gut. I hated feeling like I was missing something, and here, without the previous knowledge of social construct, I was left feeling as such more than I liked. I tried to push it out of my mind as we walked down the narrow stone street.

  Architecture on Trenton was nothing like Harden. Buildings here were made to be beautiful and prestigious, whereas they were built to withstand the intense heat and sandstorms on my home world. What a difference money made.

  When we entered the Grand Square, Jocelynn stiffened. Turning to look at her I knew something was wrong.

  “J?”

  “Where are we headed?” Her line of sight tracked a crowd on the other side of the square.

  “To the grand library.”

  She pursed her lips and nodded. “Let’s go then.” She dropped my hand and strolled forward.

  I jogged a few steps to catch up. “You’re so hard to read sometimes.”

  She shrugged one shoulder, and I stepped in front of her to hold open the large door.

  “You like a challenge. I’m sure of it.” She sauntered into the heart of the library and looked up at the domed ceiling.

  I growled playfully. “You shouldn’t be able to read me so well.” I nudged her toward the place I’d found the other night, and she followed.

  “You’re easy to read.”

  I ran my fingers over the books before we stopped in a secluded seating area. I’d spent a few nights here and had never been disturbed, so I figured we’d be safe.

  “I am not easy to read.” The book I’d been reading the night before was still on the table. She sat on the loveseat, and I decided to go for a bold gesture sitting right beside her.

  She turned to look at me but didn’t complain. “As easy as that book.” She took a glance around and then stood to shed her cloak before sitting back. “Let me see if I can show you how easy you are to read,” she smirked.

  “Go ahead.”

  She held my gaze. “You brought me here to show me something and because no one comes to this part of the library. It’s where all the research the Baron funds is stored, and even the graduate students don’t bother with most of it as they can pull it on the nets.”

  “Well I’ve always preferred a book I can hold in my hand. Something about it.” I laughed and nodded. “But that too was easy for you to devise, all obvious details.”

  “I’m not done.” She looked me up and down.

  The room grew warm, and I shifted under her intense gaze.

  “Because this place is rarely visited I’m sure you intend to use it to get to know me better.”

  I swallowed hard. I hadn’t realized how transparent I’d been. “I didn’t mean to…” I sighed. I’d blown it already.

  “If I had an objection I wouldn’t have come.” She turned into me so our thighs pressed together. “Now, what did you plan on showing me?”

  My gut stirred with arousal, and I wanted to push her against one of the stacks and have my way. I restrained my desire, turning up my charm.

  “This.” I picked up the thick tome and laid it over our legs. I flipped through the pages until about halfway, where I’d stopped.

  “Here is all the practical data they’d need to implement it, and I think it would even work on Time4, which I suspect the Emperor’s trade ships use.”

  She picked up the book and scanned the page. “Yes, I used this.”

  “Used it?”

  She chewed on her lip and sat silent.

  “What is it?” I pressed.

  “I used what you said, and…” She took a breath. “Took it … had someone take it to the Baron. You could have all the credit for figuring it out. It’s your research and your mind. It’s only fair, plus it will put you in his favor.”

  Bile rose in my throat, and my chest constricted. I shook my head slowly. “I wasn’t looking for credit for anything, and I am not privileged to information I’m sure you are. It was just an issue Hornsbee brought up, and I knew I could impress you with it.”

  A wave of emotions washed over her face. And I couldn’t read any of them until disappointment settled there. “It would help with the politics and standing out in your program.”

  I shook my head again, and she trailed off.

  “I’m sure Hornsbee will take care of it. This is a minor thing.” I didn’t want to be in the Baron’s world. I didn’t want the pressure and politics. I was here to get the schooling I needed to get off Harden and into a new life.

  A tiny crease formed in her brow, making her even cuter than she already was, sitting there with the huge book in her hands.

  She checked her comm, and I knew she’d say our time was up. I stood when she did, and she pressed her teeth into her lip.

  “I get it; you have to go.”

  She nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  I leaned down to brush my lips over hers. “Can I see you tomorrow?”

  She parted her lips over my upper lip as I sucked her lower into my mouth. I would never get enough of her taste. I grabbed at her waist when she pulled back.

  She laughed. “I really have to go, Madden.”

  “Tomorrow then?” I pressed. “I’ll give you my scan.”

  She shook her head without breaking contact with me. “I have a full day ahead and presentations to attend for the next several mornings.”

  “Is that so?” I grinned. At least I knew whereabouts to find her.

  She narrowed her eyes. “Shall I call you my stalker?”

  “Maybe, but I wouldn’t have to take such measures if you’d give me your scan.”

  She detangled our bodies, and I reached for my bag. She gave me one last look. “I can’t.” And she was gone.

  Chapter Ten

  Jocelynn

  The next morning’s presentations were uneventful, and Jacob kept falling asleep with his head on my shoulder. How very noble of him. When the last one of the morning ended, I shoved him off playfully. He startled awake and nearly lost his seat. I lifted a hand to my mouth to cover my laugh.

  He glared back at me and whispered, “Arse.”

  I smiled sweetly. “Methinks you should stay awake next time.”

  He rolled his eyes and stood. “Lunch, yeah?”

  “I’m down. What are we getting?” I followed him out of the stuffy hall, suppressing a yawn.

  “No idea.” He scanned the rows of buildings across the street from the large auditorium through the large glass windows.

  “Nothing heavy, or I’ll be asleep in the next.” I lifted my arms to stretch my back after sitting in the uncomfortable seat for hours.

  “Wouldn’t that be a sight. Miss Perfect asleep in a meeting.” He laughed. “Dockeian?”

  I groaned but followed
as he started off toward the place. Rain fell lightly as we stepped outside, and I pulled my cloak tighter around me. “I think you’d eat there every day if you could.”

  “I can and don’t!” He jogged to catch up, slugging me in the shoulder as he passed, his boots stomping through the rain.

  “Only because I don’t let you!” I picked up my pace, hitching my negative-space bag higher on my shoulder as I ran.

  Jacob glanced back at me and rolled his eyes, body stiffening. “He’s following us.”

  I fought the urge to look back. “Who?”

  “That scab. How did he even know where you were?” Jacob muttered under his breath.

  I couldn’t help the smile spreading over my face.

  “Seven bolts of Docle. You love the attention, don’t you?”

  We slowed as we approached the entrance, ducking into the dim place. The attendant snapped to and walked us to a table, letting us bypass the clear line before us. I hated the attention. I’d tried to argue and wait, but it only resulted in a scene. I’d grown accustomed to giving in. Jacob enjoyed the perks of his position, but I hated the looks we got. As we took our seats, the door opened letting in a cool draft. I glanced at the door seeing Madden slip inside. It took effort to keep my expression stoic as Jacob rambled on about a new fling he had.

  Gradually the tables around us were filled, and I scanned them as the guests took their seats. At last, my eyes landed on Mad at a table behind Jacob. I pushed my food around my plate sneaking glances at him. He smiled at me, eyes unwavering, even when he placed an order. I wasn’t close enough to hear him speak to the server, which made me wonder what he had ordered. I laughed out of turn imagining him trying Dockeian blindly. The cuisine was an acquired taste for most who had not been raised on Trenton or of course Docke.

  I watched him, half listening to my brother as he rambled on. He was as intent on keeping his eyes on me for as long as possible as well. Servers came and went from his table, and he, while polite, never looked them in the eyes. He dug into his food, bringing the first bite to his mouth. I sat up straighter, excitement building. He’d ordered an over spiced dish that would water the eyes of the most hardened Dockeian fan. For a moment there was no reaction, but then his body shook in a violent shudder, and tears brimmed at the corners of his eyes. His nostrils flared, but then the sweetness of the nut oil and the infused rich flavors of the cooked pasta took over and he calmed.