Garden of Serenity by Nina Pierce Read Free Book Online

I wouldn’t be able to do it, but he was slow and careful.” Attika fell back against the seat, her head resting on the high back of the chair. A look of ecstasy relaxing her normally intense features. “It was painful and exhilarating and I climaxed several times before he spilled his essence.”
    Leaning forward on her elbows, Attika leaned in conspiratorially. “I felt sort of bad for the other breeder when I didn’t pick him. He did look disappointed. But really, they know the women choose. It’s not like there’s any emotional attachment. He’ll get over it. Right?” Attika stopped talking and stared at Jahara, her features morphing from elation to confusion. “Jahara, are you all right? You look ill. You’ve hardly touched your meal.”
    “No, I’m fine. What were you saying?” Jahara continued to stare into her cup, her appetite for the food in front of her dissipating with each sentence Attika spoke.
    Attika shrugged. “Just that men understand, or at least I think they do. Who knows what they’re capable of comprehending. It’s not like they’ve been gifted with any amount of intelligence. Zenick and I barely spoke yesterday.” Her voice trailed away.
    Jahara stared at her. She realized her revulsion was as obvious as Attika’s excitement. The woman across from her furrowed her brow. Attika’s eyes were mere slits as she pierced Jahara with a probing stare.
    “I lost track of you yesterday. Did you choose a breeder?”
    “Actually, no.” Jahara wondered how much to tell her. “There were so many men, I couldn’t decide on one.” But that wasn’t the truth. She’d been too frightened to take advantage of the private rooms where many of her breeding sisters had no doubt suffered through their first copulation. Attika made it sound almost bearable. But what did the child know of a woman’s love? Jahara couldn’t stand the thought of a man touching her, let alone being so intimate with her body. “So, no, I didn’t mate yesterday,” she said in quiet embarrassment.
    “But I thought everyone chose yesterday and mated. I just assumed you had mated and were planning on having multiple breeders since they gave you such a large living abode.”
    Jahara watched the blush rise straight up Attika’s neck until the color of her skin matched the short stubble of hair. Attika’s gaze dropped to the plate of food on the table. “How stupid of me. Someone with your status would be given lavish living arrangements regardless of how many breeders you chose. I’m sure you have your pick of the breeding stock. I’ve made a fool of myself again.”
    Reaching across the table, Jahara’s hand was dwarfed as she laid it on Attika’s. “Stop. It wasn’t a foolish assumption. I wondered myself why they gave me such large quarters, especially since I’m the only one here.”
    Attika’s jaw dropped. “What? You mean you have no men? I mean Zenick and I mated all night and again this morning. I just can’t get enough sex. I just assumed the same thing had happened with you and that’s why you weren’t dressed.”
    “Why would you assume that? If someone else were here, they’d be eating with us.”
    “Another woman yes, but not a breeder.” Attika shuddered at her words. “As much as I enjoyed copulating with them, I would not invite a man to my table. They have been taught manners, it’s true. But we all understand animals don’t feast with women.”
    “Attika!” The name exploded out of Jahara’s mouth as she shot to her feet. The wooden chair toppled loudly on the tiled floor, but Jahara didn’t care. “I will not have you talk about breeders like that in my house.” Leaning forward on her hands, Jahara caught Attika in her steely gaze. “They are not animals. They are humans like you and me. Conceived and born just the same as females. They aren’t trained to do tricks at your beckoning. They may not be our equals, but they certainly deserve more respect than you offer them.”