http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2474
For years, Mora has studied the ancient art of sex in the literature and history of her planet, Vesta. Now she's been assigned to visit Earth to discover, hands-on, how sex is performed so she can re-teach the pleasures of the flesh to her people. Unfortunately, she's been paired with an aristocratic prig who prides himself on tight control of his emotions and denial of any sensual pleasure. Thank the Universe he's a handsome devil, or the job would be impossible.
Laer has spent his life in pursuit of the intellectual over the carnal. Unfortunately, he scores high on Mora's so-called tests of sensuality. Now he's been assigned to a mission to Earth to study how to give and receive sexual pleasure. Watching a pair of Earthers make love opens up a new reality for him, but what follows between him and Mora in the bedroom steals not only his dignity but his heart.
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And now for an excerpt:
Chapter One
An exquisitely sensitive and crucial
mission, and Mora’s home planet had assigned her a stiff-backed, high-born,
coldly intellectual, self-satisfied prig of a partner to complete it. At least,
he looked good, which would be a benefit. Her job, after all, was to teach the
man how to enjoy sex.
Laer Mi-Artes Yar DoCardi, Scion of
the First House stared around him at all the Earthers and their colorful
costumes in obvious disapproval. He’d deny was doing it, of course. Contempt
was an emotion, after all, and he held those in… well… contempt. She’d have to
help him get over his aversion because sex was something Earthers understood,
and whether he liked it or not, Earthers would be their teachers.
The gathering called EarthCon
attracted an odd bunch of the planet’s inhabitants -- people who liked to dress
up in costumes and impersonate characters from their popular fiction. Luckily,
those characters were largely beings Earthers referred to as “aliens,” as if
coming from this small, insignificant planet qualified one as normal and
everyone else in the Universe as other. Still, the premise of the conference
suited Vesta’s needs as Vestans could pass easily among the attendees despite
the Vestans’ sixth finger on each hand and the color of their skin, which an
Earther would describe as “aquamarine.”
Mora watched Laer as they walked among
the crowd in the main exhibition hall. Haughty to the extreme -- a trait
considered a virtue among Vesta’s ruling class -- Laer could ruin the mission
by rejecting any kind of involvement with the participants at the conference. She’d
have to remind him again and again, if need be, about the importance of the
task before them and how his cooperation was mandatory.
“This entire endeavor is ridiculous,”
he muttered. “I don’t know why I have to mingle with this great horde of the
unwashed.”
“It seems to me they’re very well
washed, indeed. There’s a shower in every hotel room.” The idea of bathing in
water had taken some adjustment, but after a few tries, slicking oneself with
soap and splashing it off had become quite pleasurable. Especially in the huge
sunken tub in their luxury room. Another sensual experience to introduce to
their home planet. Along with the obvious they’d come here to explore -- copulation.
She’d have to overcome a great deal of resistance in that regard with Laer.
“What’s the one over there supposed to
be?” Laer said, pointing a long finger in the direction of an Earther dressed
in little more than strategically placed feathers.
Mora grabbed his hand. “It isn’t
polite to point.”
He lifted an aristocratic brow. “It’s
a simple enough question.”
Mora regarded the Earther. They’d both
studied the various personalities of the local mythology, but this one had her
stumped. “I don’t know. Some kind of bird-creature perhaps.”
The bird-creature in question had
spotted them, and instead of taking offense at Laer’s pointing at her, appeared
to view it as an invitation to approach. She sauntered over and gazed up at Laer
from under feathered eyelashes. “Hey, you’re kind of cute.”
Mora held her breath waiting for his
reaction. Luckily, he responded out of his training, not his natural
inclination to bluntly order the woman out of his sight. He did nothing. He
might have straightened a bit. At his considerable height, it was hard to tell.
“That’s a neat costume.” The Earther
took his hand and studied his fingers. “Do all of these work?”
In answer, he clenched his hand into a
fist around the Earther’s. Clenched his jaw, too. He probably wouldn’t tolerate
too much more contact.
“Ooooh,” the Earther said. “Must be
fun in bed.”
Mora reached over and gently removed
Laer’s hand from the Earther’s. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Yours, too, I’m sure.” The Earther
looked Laer over from top to bottom. “He has big hands and feet. Nice.”
The implication came through -- he’d
be well-endowed sexually. A quaint superstition among these people. Laer
obviously took its meaning because he glared at Mora, asking without words how
much of this familiarity he was required to
tolerate.
“My friends and I are having a special
kind of party in my suite,” the bird-creature said. “Adult fun, if you know
what I mean.”
“That sounds intriguing,” Mora said.
“You could come, too.” The
bird-creature batted her eyelashes at Laer again. “Suite 650. Seven pm.”
Laer managed to maintain his
composure, but Mora knew him well enough now to detect some cracks in his calm
façade.
“We’re tired, having travelled light
years to get here,” Mora said.
“Yeah, sure.” The Earther waved a
dismissive hand and then leaned into Laer, splaying her fingers over his chest.
“Suite 650.”
Before the cracks in his control
turned into fissures, Mora stepped between him and the Earther. “I’m afraid
he’s mine. And beware, my bite is venomous.”
“Kinky,” the Earther said. “Whatever
floats your boat. Suite 650 at seven.”
Finally, the bird creature moved away
but not without glancing over her shoulder to give Laer a smoldering look.
“Must I…” He hesitated for a moment. “Copulate
with this Earther?”
