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“I wasn’t aware of any specific human preparations you undertake before entering a physical relationship. Although my data stores show a lot of alcohol is often consumed before the first coupling.”
She shrugged. “Alcohol is the brain’s lubrication. It makes things less awkward as you figure out what you both like.”
“I can order in alcohol. Would that help?”
“No! I mean, it probably would, but I don’t want that.” Cleo closed her eyes. “Maybe your idea of an escort service or a visit to a pleasure palace would work. It could douse Hunter’s fire. He’s only mixing up lust for something else.”
“Searching for pleasure palaces with an average rating of five stars,” ELVIS said. “There’s little chance of contracting an infection from the higher rated establishments, so Hunter’s sexual encounter won’t interfere with his work.”
“No, cancel that search. I don’t want that to happen.” A hot spike of jealousy pierced into Cleo’s heart. She couldn’t have him, but didn’t want anyone else to be with him.
She dropped her head onto the desk. How was that fair on Hunter? An alien could only have blue balls for so long before it messed with his head.
“The search is complete. The closest waystation with a five-star rated pleasure palace is a three-day journey from our current location. I can arrange the course change now, but it will mean Daisy, Rexx, Striker, and Wren’s assignments need adjusting. Shall I change the rota?”
“No! Let’s forget I ever thought about that. Although you put the idea of buying sex for Hunter in my head.” Cleo opened her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Besides, I don’t think it will solve anything.”
“Because you want to turn Hunter’s head away from you?”
“Pretty much. I don’t want to let him down, but I also don’t want to let him go. Hunter does a lot for me and this crew. And I don’t tell him enough how grateful I am that he keeps the worst of the garbage High Command throws at me off my back. And I know he doesn’t do it because he loves the admin.”
“Hunter calls the admin idiots work.”
“I know. He hates it. He does it because it gives me a break. Who’d want to let go of someone like that? Hunter does the lousy work so I don’t have to.”
“May I make an observation about this situation?”
A half-smile crossed Cleo’s face. “You usually do.”
“Why don’t you want him looking at you? And why can’t you give him what he needs? You’re healthy, and having checked your medical records, you’re very able to have sex. You don’t have a medical history showing sexually transmitted infections, so you’re also a safe choice of partner. And I see you’re on birth control—”
“Thanks for that, ELVIS! Being around Hunter makes me hyper aware of my fully functioning sexual organs.” Cleo groaned. “We can’t be together, because I know what would go wrong if we were.”
“What would that be? If you have concerns about sexual compatibility, Hunter has a functioning penis. Or at least there are no records of erectile dysfunction. Should I book him in for a full physical with Angel to check for any issues?”
“Stop! No more talk about sexual organs. And we’ve gotten off the point.”
“One moment please. There is an incoming alert,” ELVIS said.
Cleo sat up straight. “What is it?”
“We have detected a new Siblet poison manufacturing site.”
“Who’s closest to the location?”
“We are the nearest ship. It’s a twelve-hour journey from our current position. High Command has requested an immediate review of the data.”
“Send it through to me,” she said. “And send a message to the crew to meet me in the briefing room. We need everyone working on this.”
“Sending the message now,” ELVIS said. “The data is being streamed to your tablet.”
Cleo set Helix on the desk and grabbed her tablet. This was why she couldn’t have Hunter distracting her. She had to focus on the job. If she messed up, people died and lives were put at risk.
This was her role. She wasn’t meant to be in the arms of an Apexian warrior.
