She turned back to him, and saw that he had her duvet bundled in his arms. He offered it to her, but didn’t come after her.
Samulin approached warily. When she was within arm’s reach, she accepted the bundle from him and hugged it to her chest. “Thank you,” she said softly.
“Thank you,” he copied the English syllables slowly and carefully, and Samulin had to remind herself to stay strong in her resolve. That he tried to reach out to her by learning even a word in her language, was going to be her undoing.
She retreated again, and this time one last glance showed her that he wasn’t coming after her.
It’s what I want, isn’t it?
Bralix had stored a crate of his belongings down here in the cargo hold, but it’d been so long since he’d needed anything from it, and Phyrax had recently shifted several of the crates around to make room for his mate when he’d first taken her, that Bralix had no idea wherehiscrates were.
Well, it’s not like I don’t have time to search for it,he thought wryly.At least going through the crates will give me something to do.
He remembered it was a black storage crate, so he could ignore the grey, unfinished shipping crates, but several of the black crates were at the bottom, whereas the grey shipping crates had sometimes been stacked on top.
Bralix finally found his crate, dragged it into the walkway and opened the lid.
Inside the crate, some of his spare clothes that he seldom still wore unless he was on the planet Vauphus were stacked neatly inside a smaller box, while some of the treasures fromhis adolescence were still packed in another. He selected an old hand-held vid viewer and a reader device, but before he replaced the lid of the crate, he paused. Grabbing a tunic-like garment, he shook it out, inspected it for obvious stains or damage, then draped it over his shoulder before shutting the crate again.
Minutes later he paused beside Samulin’s crate.
She’d moved the side panel of the empty shipping crate to partially cover the opening, yet let in enough light to not leave her in complete darkness.
He debated the wisdom of pushing when she so obviously wanted to be left alone. If she were any of the other domesticated humans he’d reared in his life, he’d have pushed her boundaries until they suited him and she got used to his handling, but he sensed that her trust would not be won by something as simple as repetition and desensitisation. And he was starting to realize that earning her trust would be something fine indeed.
He also wouldn’t earn her trust by leaving her to her own devices indefinitely; that taught her nothing but avoidance.
He crouched beside her crate and moved the side panel of the crate aside far enough so that he could see her inside. “Samulin,”he said gently.
She scrambled to sit up, her efforts accompanied by loud thumps of knees and elbows on the inside of the crate. She retreated until she was curled up with her back in the corner of the crate, her swollen and red-rimmed eyes staring daggers at him.
He sighed.Treat her like a mate, Phyrax had said. Bralix held the tunic up by the shoulders for her to see what it was, then laid it on the floor of the crate.
Samulin eyed the tunic warily, but didn’t move to take it.
Giving her one last glance, Bralix rose and returned to the bed in the centre of the cargo hold. He adjusted the top end ofthe bed to fold up like a back-rest instead, then made himself comfortable with the reader device.
The stories on this device were some of his childhood favourites. He’d long since replaced this device with a string of newer models, but anything was better than staring at endless stacked crates or being alone with his thoughts.
A soft scuff from the direction of the crates drew his attention. He held his breath when he noticed Samulin approaching slowly, wearing the tunic and holding the bed covering bundled in her arms. The sleeves were too long and she’d rolled them up to her forearms, and the bottom hem of the tunic reached her knees.
Not wanting to scare her away, he didn’t move, just watched her approach. He saw doubt playing across her face, glancing at the corner where he’d previously made her sleep, then looking at him.
When it looked like she was about to turn away from him, he spoke softly. “Samulin.” She turned back to him, and Bralix held out a hand, palm up. “Such a good girl, Samulin. Come here.”
She breathed out, then surprized him by leaving the bed covering behind on the floor and climbing into his lap. She curled up into a tight ball, but she leaned against his chest and clutched a handful of fabric from his shirt as if scared he’d try to push her away.
Bralix wrapped his arms around her and held her, careful not to hold too tight. He laid his cheek on top of her head and breathed in her scent. The flowery smell she’d had when he’d first taken her from her dwelling had faded, leaving behind what he presumed must be her natural scent. “You’re a good girl, Samulin.”He murmured, gently stroking her arm.“Such a good girl.”
His praise had the desired effect. She sighed and relaxed into his embrace, and for the first time since she’d run from him thatmorning, he felt himself relax. She’d come to him and sought out his comfort, and he felt like he’d been awarded something precious.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Samulin relaxed into the one embrace she shouldn’t want, her chaotic emotions making her feel like she might fly apart.
After an intense session like she’d had with Bralix on that milking machine, it was understandable that she’d have sub drop. She’d had sub drop before, and it was definitely a contributing factor, but after the last few days she’d had, anyone in her position would need a hug, and the only available arms belonged to her abductor.
That he’d offered her something to wear, allowing her to feel at least a little less vulnerable… Perhaps she didn’t have to hide in her crate, alone with her loneliness and fear.
