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"I don't want you to stay for a week," she weeps.
My heart freezes in my chest. That's it, then. She doesn't want me around. She's crying for some other reason--
"I want you to stay forever," Tessa wails, and then breaks into a fresh round of tears. She drags my hand to her breasts, clinging to it, and rubs her wet face against my arm. "I know this agreement between us was supposed to be temporary and I'm so sorry. I know you don't want a slave—"
"Tessa." It feels as if my heart is starting again. Warmth rushes through me. Her tears are for me. For us. In this moment, I could conquer galaxies. "Love—"
"You hate slavery," she continues, miserable. "And I don't want to be a slave, but I don't want you to leave, either. I know we're supposed to just go our separate ways but—"
"Tessa—"
"I liked being at your office with you. I liked being around you all day. I love assisting you, or even just waking up with you there at my side. I don't even mind Three Nebulas Station because I get to be around you. I'm happiest when I'm with you, and I know that isn't what you want. I've tried so hard to be strong, and I'm sure I'll adjust to being here. It's just that—"
"Tessa," I try again, and when she shakes her head, I say louder, "Female."
She lifts her head, indignant. "You know my name, you ass."
"I do. Now will you listen to me instead of crying all over my circuits?"
The look she gives me is less tearful, at least. "I'm trying to tell you how miserable I am and that I love you!"
"You're miserable because you love me?"
"No! That's not what I said!" She looks flustered, swiping at her wet face even as she releases my hand. "I'm miserable." She pauses for dramatic effect. "I love you. I know you don't want that, and—"
I take her by the arms and nudge her to her feet. She stands, a confused look on her face. I immediately lift her up, just as I imagined, and sling her over my shoulder.
"Zakoar!" She sputters, her hand tapping at my back. "What are you doing?"
"Taking you to bed," I answer, feeling light as air. "So I can show you how much I love you."
She trembles, and I feel every bit of it. "You love me?"
"That's what I was trying to tell you, female, but you wouldn't let me get a word in. So now I'm going to have to show you." I step into the bedroom and glare at the small, rickety bed. "I think we're going to break this thing."
Tessa taps on my shoulder again. "Go back a bit. Tell me again that you love me? Do you really?"
I bend over and set her gently on the bed. "I love you," I admit, looking her in the eye. "I'm sure this is the part where I tell you that you can do much better than me, but we both know that already. I'm certainly not going to bring it up now, because I don't want you to decide that you don't need me nearly as much as I need you. Not now." I look her over, memorizing her soft skin, her curves, the way she looks up at me as if I'm the best thing she's ever seen. "I love you. The only reason that you're here on this planet is because I realized I was being selfish in keeping you and I wanted you to be happy. I had no idea you didn't want to come here."
"I did at first." She watches me as I straighten and undress, pulling off trou and tunic, unbuckling my belt. There's an obscene amount of lust in her eyes, and it's humbling to realize that it's all for me and me alone. "I thought this place sounded too good to be true," she confesses. "But then I got to know you, and I realized I didn't have to go to some remote planet to be happy. I'm happy with you. You make me smile. You make me happy to wake up and greet the universe every day."
"I thought you wanted greenery and fresh air?" I drop the last of my clothing on the floor and step out of it.
“When did I say that?”
“I overheard you once. And I want to give you that greenery.”
She props up on her elbows. "Then buy me a keffing house plant, you stubborn man!"
It's the first time I've heard her cuss in my language, and I laugh at the sound of it, and the disgruntled expression on her face. "You could have told me that a week ago," I tell her as I lean over her and undo the auto-fastener at the high collar of her dress.
