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Nell looked at Maklr. “What do you say? Should we go for the best two out of three?”

“Let’s go,” Maklr said.

“I got you a little gift,” Nell said.

“You didn’t have to get me anything.”

Nell tilted her head. “I know. It just felt like the right thing to do. I wanted to commemorate our time here on Ashuk.” Nell handed him a palm-sized black box tied with a white ribbon. She placed it in his hands. “Go on, open it,” she encouraged. “I hopeyou like it. It’s a little thank you for helping me create the best memories I’ve had in years, all because of you.”

“Nell, you gave it to me. How could I not love it?” Maklr plucked at the bow on the top. The ribbon slid off. He opened the lid. A silver-colored watch contrasted with the black foam padding inside the box. “A timepiece!”

“I thought it was appropriate. I’ve seen you in action at the center. You get lost in your activities and sometimes forget where you’re supposed to be. It has multiple settings and alarms you can set for different schedules.”

“I can use it for my rounds, or, more importantly, for dates with a certain person,” he said.

Nell flushed. “Charlie?”

“Maybe. I was thinking of a certain somebody else.”

“Really?”

Maklr tilted Nell’s chin up for a kiss. “Thank you.”

“Wear it in good health.”

Maklr looked at her, a confused expression on his face. Nell shook her head and laughed. “That’s one human saying I don’t know how to explain.”

Chapter 16

Nell

“Howwasyourretreat?”Zand asked two days later after Nell, Maklr and Philtan climbed onto his shuttle and settled into their seats.

“I had a great time,” Phil said, his voice boisterous. “I met a lot of wonderful females.”

“I bet you did,” Zand said.

“I think every time we saw you, you had a different woman with you,” Maklr said.

“At least one,” Phil teased. “Sometimes there were two or three.”

“Good for you,” Nell said under her breath.

Philtan held out his hands. “Who am I to deny a woman their pleasure? Especially if they want it? Sudabians are a passionate bunch. Most are excited to spend the night with me. They usually want to know if I’m large everywhere. The only right thing to do is oblige, right?” He waggled his eyebrows.

Nell chuckled, used to his antics.

“For the record, I am.”

“You are what? Annoying?” Maklr teased. “We knew that.”

“Large all over,” Phil bragged.

“Whoever gets you is going to have their hands full,” Nell said. “Good luck to her.”

“In more ways than one.” Phil waggled his eyebrows.

Maklr and Zand groaned at the same time. Nell rolled her eyes.