Page 83 of Tempting Fate

She tipped her eyes to the gods, chuckling. “That’s a conversation for another time. You said you were tired. Sleep.”

But I couldn’t. Too many thoughts ran riot through my mind. I owed my sister an apology. And more than that, there was the matter of the credits she’d given me, and that they were worth half a ship…

An idea had been taking shape for days. A way to help both of us. But while I knew much about trading, I knew less about business partnerships—and Shohari was mercurial at the best of times. How she’d react now she was under pressure, the gods alone knew.

Before anxious thoughts could take hold, I opened a live comm on the new secure channel.

Shohari’s image appeared, flushed and grinning. “Little brother. It is good to see your face.”

“And yours.” My mouth dropped open, gaping like a kholfish as someone walked behind her. Someone naked. “And your mate’s arse, apparently.”

Garrison’s hearty chuckle echoed through the comm line. “You’re welcome. It’s a damn fine arse.”

I couldn’t help an amused smile. I’d gotten used to their bizarre behaviour during the travel over here. “Not as fine as—” Imani’s.

Shohari smirked as her mate pushed into the frame. Were those bite marks on his neck?

Garrison’s usually jovial expression went flat, his voice as stern as I’d ever heard it. “Not as fine as whose arse, Airida?”

I kept my face as neutral as I could. “If I said Daiytak, would you believe me?”

“Not a chance in hell, dude. Are you fucking my friend? Are you treating her right?”

Was I not supposed to be mating with Imani? Was this a rule I didn’t know? “I am not having liaisons with her.” It was a truth. What had Orukem said? Kalidi is kalidi.

But, gods, I wanted to.

“Little brother, your headspines twitch when you’re hiding something.” Shohari turned to Garrison, hissing, “I do not wish to know about my brother’s sexual exploits.”

“And I do not wish to speak of them. Not that I am having any! Imani is my friend.” My friend. My friend who had stroked my cock with a hand slick with her saliva, who had told me how good I would feel inside her body.

My cock. Inside her cunt.

Garrison’s eyes had narrowed, and I wrenched my thoughts back to the reason for my comm. “Sister. I am grateful for your generosity, but I cannot keep your credits. You earned them. At great personal cost, trying to keep it secret from our parents.”

“They were always for you, Airi, never mine.” She gave a warning growl. “I mean it. Don’t make me come back there and kick your arse, because we’re half way to Bzhalti Prime, and that would be a waste of fuel.”

“I thought you might say that. Then when this business is over, I wish to buy a ship with you.” My heart raced. Think about it, Ohri, don’t dismiss me.

“What?”

“You know full well I can.”

“Depending on what I buy, that will clear you out.”

“And if I own a half-share in a trading ship, I will replenish my credits in no time.” I was staying on Vadias. Space travel held no appeal. No, I wanted this place with a garden, with a planet gilding the sky, and a community who claimed me.

And her.

But I needed that link with home and to my sister. “I want to be in business with you, and you know I would be a good partner. Why else would you want me to analyse for you?” Why else had our parents kept me around? Because, along with my sister, I had made them a great deal of credits.

Shohari glared at me, her lip curling in a snarl. Then she gave an exasperated sigh. “You always were impossible to argue with, Airi.”

I fought the urge to grin. She hadn’t said no—which, from her, was almost as good as a yes. “I know. And I’m sorry. For how I was on the Dorimisa.”

She waved it away. “You were not yourself.” A hesitant expression crossed her face. “How is Kri doing in your care?”

I lifted Orbit from my headspines and presented her to the viewing lens. “This young lady has adopted Them as her nest.”