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I soften. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I do. It is the truth. Why would I hide the truth from anyone?”
“To make things easier?”
“Easier for me, you mean, but not easier for you.” He shakes his head. “I will not sacrifice your comfort for mine.”
I smile up at him. “You’re a good man. Are we…are we quartering together on the ship?”
“We must.” His expression is stoic. “I will sleep on the floor, however. There is no need for you to be uncomfortable.”
I bite my lip and smile up at him. “Or you can sleep with me.”
Nassakth gazes down at me, eyes dark. “You want that?”
“I would like it, yes,” I say shyly.
He leans in, his brushed mane tickling against my face as he moves in to whisper in my ear. “You are going to make it difficult for me to walk aboard this ship, aren’t you? My cock is going to knock these fools out of the way if it grows any harder.”
I giggle at that. “Try to keep your warrior under control, please. I’m not fond of others looking at what’s mine.”
His eyes grow warm and I can hear him purring. He strokes my shoulders and then rests his hand on the back of my neck, a possessive gesture I like far too much. “Come, then,” Nassakth murmurs. “We should greet the crew before Bethiah shakes them down for more credits.”
“I’m looking forward to the day we never have to see that woman again,” I murmur to him.
“As am I.”
We head toward the ship, and I fight down any nervousness fluttering in my belly. I trust Nassakth. He’ll keep me safe. There’s no need to be anxious about space flight. It’s just a quick hop over to Rakhar Station, a seedy sort of place orbiting an equally seedy planet a few systems over. No big deal.
The big mesakkah crew member strolls forward as we approach. He seems to be a guarded sort, his expression unreadable. He wears a gray, form-fitting tunic tucked into a weapon belt and his trou are equally tight, showing off a muscular form. His gaze flicks over me briefly, and then settles on Nassakth. “You are our travelers?”
Interesting how he’s included me in that comment. Travelers, not just traveler. Already I feel a little better.
“I am Nassakth,” my mate says proudly. “This is my mate, Kim.”
I don’t speak up, not until I know how I’m going to be treated. Some aliens don’t react kindly to humans talking, after all.
The mesakkah nods. “I am Mathiras and this is my ship, the Little Sister. Welcome aboard.”
58
NASSAKTH
These men are pirates. Corsairs.
It should not surprise me, given that Bethiah has likely chosen a crew she has worked with in the past, one that will not ask questions of a praxiian living on the fringes of the known galaxy. One that is accompanied by a human mate. But it still makes me uneasy. A pirate cannot be trusted. I do not want to put Kim in danger.
These pirates do not seem too unpleasant, though. As we board the ship, I see one studying navigation charts on a screen while another tries to tickle Bethiah, who looks less than thrilled. I am less afraid of a tickling sort of pirate, it seems.
The one called Mathiras leads us through the ship, pointing out necessary locations, like the mess hall, the bridge, and common room, if we wish to get to know the crew during their downtime.
“Our crew is only three at this time,” Mathiras explains. “My brother Kaspar is taking over navigation duties as our sister recently mated and went to live on her mate’s ship.”
“Felicitations,” I say absently. “Where are our quarters?”
Mathiras pauses. “I have prepared a chamber for yourself and your mate, but I did want to ask—will Bethiah be joining you? I know it is praxiian custom to share rooms, but I also know it is not human custom.”
“She’s not joining us,” Kim cuts in quickly. “If you can find another room for her, that’d be ideal.” My mate steps closer to me, pursing her lips, as if she regrets speaking.
A ghost of a smile crosses the pirate’s face. “Cannot say I blame you on that one. I can prepare a second cabin for her. Come this way, then.”
Kim nudges me, and I want to ask what that nudge is for. Is she wanting to comment on Bethiah? On the pirate, who seems to know a fair amount about humans? Or what? Now is not the time to ask, though, and I hold my words until Mathiras shows us our chamber. It is small, with a single narrow bed that will only barely fit my frame, and an adjoining bathroom.
“The journey will be approximately seven standard days,” Mathiras explains coolly. “There are shorter routes, but we prefer to take less-traveled ones to avoid detection. We’ll be making the occasional stop, but nothing you need to disembark for.” He gestures at the comm panel. “If you need anything, ask. One of my brothers or I will see to it.” He nods crisply and then leaves, hitting the door panel on the way out and sealing us into our room.
