Raife: An Aquadomina Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A

was standing very close against her back, and she had
the sudden urge to lean back into him, which she fought.
    “Since you don’t mind, I will call you Raife.” She looked to where he had
her hand pressed and felt the warmth of his skin against hers. Suddenly there
was a flash of light and a small pinching feeing in her fingers, and then the
computer began talking.
    “Programming settings. Voice recognition protocol initialized,
repeat:   Testing.”
    She looked over her shoulder at Raife and he nodded his head for her to
proceed. Sophie sighed and called out, “Testing.”
    The computer requested again, “Repeat:   Aquavi.”
    “Aquavi.” Sophie intoned.
    The computer flashed, “Repeat:   I
am The Chosen.”
    Sophie felt her irritation building, “I am The Chosen, and my name is
Sophie.”
    She was sure that the computer would beep at her that she had done it
wrong. To her delight it just intoned, “Confirmed. Please state preference male
or female modulation.”
    Sophie paused. She might like this after all. “I prefer male.” She called
out.
    “State preference for color.” The computer asked again. This time the
voice that came out of the system was distinctly masculine.
    “Fire engine red.” Sophie laughed and looked around Raife, wondering when
the seating was going to change color. She was a little disappointed that it
stayed the same light grey color inside the Aquavis. Not that she would have
kept it red. She just wanted to see if it would change color.
    “PAC has taken DNA and retinal scan. Please state destination.”
    “Take us to Castrum.” Raife called out.
    “All passengers are not secure. Request denied.” The male voice sounded
smug in being able to deny Raife’s request.
    Sophie laughed a little at the voice of the computer. The other guards
had all moved to sit and secure themselves as she was talking to the computer.
That meant it was Raife and herself that were holding up the boat from leaving.
She reluctantly moved her hand off the console and walked to an open seat.
Raife followed her and showed her how to apply the restraints.
    “This button here on the side of your seat will turn it.” Raife had bent
over to point out the controls. She leaned over the side of her chair to look
and was almost brushing her cheek against his chest in order to see. The heat
radiated from his body to hers and she could swear she smelled her favorite
scent. Spruce! It reminded her of the Christmas tree her parents would put up
every Thanksgiving weekend. Even if it was a fake one, her mother made sure to have
spruce sticks to put in the branches. Their home had smelled of spruce from
November to January.
      “The other buttons when pressed
will apply heat, massage, lumbar support and elevation to your feet.” Raife
continued and Sophie was mesmerized by the faint shadow of hair on his face.
The way his mouth was moving. Wait, his mouth wasn’t moving and when her
startled gaze moved to his eyes, he was looking at her. Sophie had never felt
this kind of attraction for someone so fast. One minute she was watching him
talk, the next she was leaning forward in what promised to be a seat scorching
kiss if the heat she felt was any indicator. Seeing the spark in Raife’s eyes
as he looked at her mouth made her insides melt. Just as she was close enough
to feel his breath on her lips, she heard the computer.
    “Is The Chosen comfortable?” The computer broke into the moment.
    “What?” She jerked back, her face flaming. “Oh. Yes. Thank you, I’m
fine.” She hurried to turn back in her seat to face forward, just as Raife
moved to take his seat. “I just wish I could see outside.” She added softly.
    “Adjusting window tint to thirty-five percent.” The computer spoke and
she could see outside. “The Chosen can see out, but nobody can see in.”
    Raife had adjusted his restraints, his questioning gaze on her face.
Stating firmly he said, “Computer take us to Castrum.”
    “Request not