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“We’re friends with your sister, and by the way, you have the same lovely eyes,” he couldn’t help share.

“You really do know my sister.” The female’s chin trembled, and moisture began falling from her eyes.

He panicked at the forlorn sight.

“Yes, and she is well. Please don’t do that, ivory beauty. It pains me. We will explain everything while I fix your little nose,” he reassured her.

“Uh, Ash. Is he okay?” he overheard Abby ask, as he headed for the cockpit.

“He won’t hurt her, he likes females…all sorts of females,” Ashtoret replied to his female.

I suppose that’s true,he nearly snorted out loud at the comment.

“Ash!” Abby declared. “You know what I promised earlier? You’re about to lose your privileges. That bony gladiator better not get handsy with my sister.”

This sounds interesting.He perked up and listened closer to the couple following him.

“That’s terribly disappointing. I guess I’ll have to settle for this tongue-lashing instead,” Ashtoret chuckled.

Aculus’ brows rose.

“I heard that. What the hell have you two been doing?” The ivory beauty’s mouth gaped incredulously as he placed her in one of the cockpit seats.

“Yes, explain slowly and in detail,” he chimed in with a deep laugh while grabbing medical supplies.

The ivory beauty snorted and his brow furrowed in concern. For a moment he thought the injury to her nose was affecting her breathing, before realizing the unfeminine grunt was a sound of amusement. He instantly wanted to hear it again, until she frowned in pain.

“Ow.” She covered her nose.

“It was funny.” He smiled at her. “But not enough to hurt yourself. Let me see.”

He lifted her hand and gently blotted the cut, then applied some salve to hasten healing. Her skin was unbelievably soft and smooth. He made sure to get the other scratches on her pink cheeks and forehead.

“Mind your own business, Hope,” Abby countered, rolling her eyes, a display of exasperation the humans were prone to.

“Am I wrong? They just met,” the ivory beauty mumbled under her breath.

The annoyed expression she wore was priceless. He had a feeling the two siblings had a good time antagonizing each other. Add the third sister, Providence, and the trio undoubtedly put on quite a show.

“Should I be wearing this thing?” The ivory beauty looked nervously from the viewscreen of orbit to her harness.

“It’s really only necessary if you expect obstacles. But if it makes you feel better, here.” He pulled the straps over her head and began adjusting the fit where they crossed between her breasts.

“Um, I think I can figure it out.”

As she brushed his hands away, he inadvertently grazed the swell of one pert mound. Her brow cocked imperiously at him.

He held up his hands. “In fairness that was your fault.” Not that he wasn’t interested in exploring the pair of mounds, he just hadn’t touched them intentionally.

“Uh huh. I heard the earlier comment about you and females,” she replied dubiously.

He liked her much better this way, spunky, instead of afraid.

“You wound me. I’m an honorable male.” He feigned being hurt.

Her eyes narrowed slightly then her suspicious expression shifted to uncertainty. “I appreciate your help, but what is going on?” She glanced back at Abby.

He realized she didn’t know him well enough to realize he was joking. And as much as he studied her, he didn’t know her either.