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The Rolon jabbed Tegor in the chest. “Make sure you do. Don’t let that incompetent moron near my ship. He doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing.” He glared at Elias before stomping off.
Elias’s hands clenched into fists. Punching someone would improve his mood. Only Tegor’s restraining hand on his shoulder stopped him from chasing after the Rolon.
“He’s not worth it. Anyone with that big an attitude has serious issues. I’m shooting for impotency or maybe a tiny dick he has to hunt for with a magnifier. A tiny, limp dick. That would make anyone pissed off.”
Elias snorted an angry laugh. “You could be right.”
“And look at that ridiculous coating he’s covered his ship in.” The Rolon’s ship had a shimmering gold coating on the outside.
Elias nodded. “He is making up for something seriously lacking elsewhere.”
Tegor chuckled. “You know, actually, I like it. Maybe I’ll get my own shuttle kitted out to look just like that.”
“I’m not flying in it if you do.” Elias shook his head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be an idiot.”
“No apologies. I’ll deal with tiny dick’s ship. Let’s take five minutes before I do. We can look at the repairs needed for the next couple of ships, and you can tell me what your problem is and why it’s making you lose your cool.”
“I have no problems.”
“That’s the fourth person you’ve snapped at this morning.” Tegor led him to the food replicator and ordered two coffees. “You keep on like this, and you’ll lose your job.”
Elias grimaced as he accepted the coffee. He couldn’t help but feel defective. He’d seen the disappointment and disgust in Hayley’s eyes when he’d revealed what had happened with Princess Isolt. As hard as Hayley had tried, she hadn’t been able to conceal her true feelings. He’d kept going over their conversation, getting angrier every time he did. Why had he said anything? If he’d kept his mouth shut, Hayley would never have known, and they’d have had an opportunity to be together and get to that enticing third base she’d mentioned.
Tegor tapped the side of Elias’s head. “Go on. Spit it out before you explode.”
Elias rubbed his forehead, a dull ache sitting behind his eyes from lack of sleep. “I screwed up big-time. I told Hayley about my past, and she wasn’t impressed.”
“It can’t be your playboy past. You don’t have one.”
“If only it was as simple as that.” Elias rolled his shoulders. He trusted Tegor. He might as well know the full disgusting truth about his horror inducing sexual encounter. If his friend rejected him, maybe he’d fly back to see Princess Isolt and let her finish what she started. It was no less than he deserved. “You know about Retar mating behavior.”
Tegor sipped his coffee and nodded slowly. “You’re talking about the old ways? The females getting all bitey with their partners?”
“That’s right. It’s our tradition.” The words tasted bitter in his mouth. “Not all traditions are right.”
“Don’t tell me you asked some poor little human to eat you after you’d done the deed?”
“That’s the last thing I want. It’s just that...” He didn’t know how to go on. What if Tegor turned against him? Elias didn’t make friends easily. He kept to himself. If he confided in Tegor, and it went as badly as it did with Hayley, he’d lose every bond he had on Prodigy.
Tegor sat his coffee down. “Listen, we all fuck up. I’ve made so many mistakes, and most of them involved women. How about I tell you one of my secrets first? That way, we break the ice and can be disgusting and loathsome together. When you’re ready, you tell me what terrible deed plagues your thoughts and has you almost punching guys with tiny dicks and stupidly painted ships.”
Elias shrugged. “You can try, but I guarantee you won’t beat me.”
Tegor’s expression grew serious. “I’ve had three sexually transmitted infections.”
Elias glanced down at Tegor’s groin. “That’s disgusting. How is your dick still attached? It should have rotted off. Have you never heard of safe sex?”
“Yes, and I practise it. It’s just, now and again, I forget. Sometimes, the girls are so alluring and sweet, and they look clean and adorable. I don’t imagine they’re carrying some rank virus that will cover my dick in pustulated sores.”
“That is nasty. Thank the stars for modern medicine,” Elias said.
“Exactly, but I’m clean and have a fully functioning dick. As soon as I realize something’s going on down there, I get to the doctor, and he writes me up something, and it’s all good.”
“I’ve never had a sexually transmitted infection.”
Tegor smirked. “Lucky you. There’s plenty of time for you to get dick pustules.”
“Here’s hoping that’s something I never experience.”
