Page 28 of Breaking Ties

“Contract is signed. Figure it out.”

She shrugged and reached out, bringing a serving plate to her chest. She continued her meal with a bit of huffing and reaching.

Her guards were amused, but they had seen her do worse in pursuit of a meal. Whenever she had a new dish, Vress pulled her against him and sighed happily.

She asked him, “So do you prefer a consort who whines and begs you or one that is independent. I can be either, but I have to practice.”

Vress paused. “Be yourself. You are easy to read that way. What skills have you learned on the station?”

“In the last week? Languages, contracts, etiquette, dance, types of food.” She kept eating. “How not to scream when they put the wrong setting on the medical scanners.”

Vress asked, “Why not scream?”

“Screaming causes panic. I politely told them to change the fucking settings, and it was done.”

She turned and offered him some of the food. He opened his mouth, and she put in some shredded meat. He sucked on her fingers, and she blinked as lust curled through her. He paused. “So simple?”

“I am easy to read, remember.” She got a different dish and offered him some. It was vegetable-based, and he didn’t look particularly enthused. She chuckled and got him something else before he sucked on her fingers again.

He gave her a serious look. “You are wrecking my fun.”

“Apologies.” She put the next bite into his mouth and waited until he had his fun with her fingertips.

He smiled and sucked on her fingertips, and she enjoyed the reaction that the wet tugging caused. When he released her, she blinked at him sleepily. “Hmm?”

He grinned. “Keep feeding yourself. I have tested our compatibility and am content with it.”

“By sucking my fingers?”

“The scent of your heat spiralled out and around us in those moments. I am very content with the fact that you simply react to me with limited contact.”

She blinked and leaned over to get her favourite. She lifted her plate and kept eating. She mumbled, “Interesting test.”

He nuzzled her neck. “You smell like somewhere I want to stay.”

She was full and set the plate back on the low table.

“Fingers.”

She sighed and held her fingers up before she could use her wet napkin.

He licked her fingers clean and smiled, pressing his forehead to hers. She moved her head slightly to kiss him, but he whispered, “Once I start, I am not stopping.”

She whispered in response, “Oh.”

“Have you seen this moment?”

“I have seen you from this angle. I did wonder how you got here.”

She stroked his shoulder under the long vest he was wearing. The snug leather top he wore next to his skin was smooth and smelled like him.

During their survival, smell had not been her friend. Body odour was everywhere; clothing stank and was covered with grime. Now, she was clean again, and her normal tendency to sniff out fear sweat, panic sweat, and just nice and secure body scents. Hmrain smelled great. They smelled like spice, leather, and usually some kind of plant. Even the females. They smelled trustworthy—if that was a scent—and they had probably been designed that way.

She cuddled up with him as the food was removed, and he said, “Your personal effects are on my ship; the bond is registered. Would you like to go?”

“I would like to go to one of the education areas to say farewell to some of those who have become friends.”

“Would you like to bring any of them with us?”