Page 28

Is this a date?

The thoughts around me buzzed like a cloud of insects.

I was searching for certain images in the minds of those who wandered by, as I didn’t speak all of the languages.

Most people thought in a mix of emotion, word, and image, which helped.

I paid attention for any chance of humans being sold on this station.

If there was, I would find and rescue them.

The Cohort had ordered every Drakcon ship to be on the lookout for humans and to bring them to Tamkolvanloknol if found, at any cost. The Coalition had issued a warning about the trafficking of humans; it was highly illegal.

Different species within the Coalition would be keeping an eye out, but illegal sellers would always slip through the nets in place, hence the idea to give bounties for every human returned.

Kalvoxrencol had already repurposed one of the moons around Tamkolvanloknol to be changed into a safe haven for the humans who wanted to stay.

None of the wandering thoughts of the shoppers in the market were as loud as Vince.

He was attempting so hard not to distract me, and I loved his hand on my thigh.

It was grounding. My mentor had warned me about taking in too much.

Other people’s thoughts, trauma, and personalities could become my own if I wasn’t careful.

He’d taught me well about guarding my sanity, but Vince’s touch acted as a failsafe, reminding me of who I was.

Vince rested his head against my arm, releasing a long breath, and I struggled to keep my thoughts on the crowd. Waves of happiness and peace rolled off him as he nuzzled me. I caught an errant thought that made me pause and tore my focus to shreds.

If he stayed . Vince wanted a job if he stayed.

The “if” was still there, but the mere contemplation of him thinking about staying made my soul pound. I wanted that. I wanted him to stay here. With me. Where he belonged.

Vince had crawled into my affections with ease, and I feared the marks he’d left on my soul would never fade.

But it was his decision to remain or not, and I wasn’t going to try and force his hand or influence his choice. Even if Vince wanted to stay in the end, it didn’t mean he would choose or even desire to be with me in a romantic sense.

Knowing my focus was shattered and was something I couldn’t recover, I turned toward Vince. “What do you want to do?”

He lifted and lowered his shoulders, face against my arm. I was grateful, for once, that my uniform had sleeves, unlike my casual clothes. The feel of his warm breath and cool skin on my scales would be too much for me to withstand.

“Do you want to explore the station more, or we can go back to the ship to nap?” I asked.

Vince’s thoughts were slow and almost blank, though the numbness and void that often plagued him were absent.

It felt as if he was going to fall asleep against me at any moment.

We could return to his quarters or mine and nap.

He’d never stayed in my quarters for more than a passing moment, and I liked the idea of him sleeping in my bed, leaving his scent on my sheets.

Vince perked up slightly at the thought of a nap as the image of us tangled on his bed raced through his thoughts. I suppressed a groan. I wanted that—we hadn’t slept next to each other yet—but I would let Vince decide.

A gray cat raced across his thoughts, followed by a shot of longing and the image of us curled up together with one.

My head cocked. He wanted a cat. Seth and Kalvoxrencol both enjoyed having Lucy, and Serlotminden and Bartholomew both enjoyed Pookie.

Perhaps humans required a pet on some level.

They did worship cats—their small house gods.

If Vince desired something, then he should have it. I wouldn’t allow him to want for anything.

“I can buy you one,” I said. Clothes. He needed clothes.

Or jewelry. I didn’t wear any, but Vince would look lovely with jewelry.

The image of him with long gold earrings and fine necklaces on his delicate throat sent a shiver of lust down my spine.

Whatever he wanted or needed was his, and I was more than happy to provide it.

Finances weren’t an issue. I received a good pay from my position as a captain in the navy, and I got an allowance from the crown—not to mention my estate on Tamkolvanloknol was profitable. My Vince could have whatever he wished.

“What?” he asked, chin on my arm, eyes heavy.

“A cat.”

He chuckled, pushing his forehead into my arm. “You are sweet, but no.”

“Why? You want one.”

“I do,” Vince said, “but they are a lifelong commitment that I can’t make right now. It wouldn’t be fair.”

Reality crashed back onto me with a sharp blade to my soul. Vince was leaving. I was allowing my emotions to get the better of me, but it was hard to contain myself where he was concerned.

“Seth would keep the cat,” I reasoned, “or Monqilcolnen, or me if—when you leave.”

“Hmm,” he replied, eyes closing.

I studied the gentle curve of his cheek and the slope of his nose and the shape of his eyes.

He was lovely. But Vince was more than his beautiful face and entrancing form.

His strength to survive, his humor, his strong soul, his burning confidence, and his acceptance of my gift were all intoxicating.

His words from some days ago returned to my thoughts: “I don’t want your gift. I want you, Don.”

Pleasure washed through me as I stared at him. How was I going to survive him leaving? I didn’t think I was.

I buried the thought with aggressive efficiency. That thought would lead to more dangerous ones with an end result I couldn’t handle.

Unable to stop myself, I nuzzled his forehead with my own, scent marking him.

I wanted others to smell me on him and the opposite.

I pulled back, feeling guilty. Vince had asked me not to touch him in public, but I was having a harder and harder time keeping away from him.

Every cell in my body demanded that I press close to Vince and never leave his side.

Vince grinned at me, not upset in the slightest about my attentions. “I want to walk around with you, then nap.”

“Anything you desire.”

His eyes opened. “What do you want? This is not about me. It’s about us.”

Us . I liked that far more than I should. I leaned closer to him, my hair falling around his face, giving us an illusion of privacy on the busy station. “I want to make you happy, buy you things, lots of things, and then take a nap with you.”

He swallowed, cheeks turning red. “Alright.”

I smiled, pushing my head against his. “Can I buy you anything I want?”

“Within reason.”

I took that as a yes. “Come on.”

Anyone who said they didn’t like to be spoiled was lying.

Don seemed determined to spoil me. If it was anyone else, I would’ve thought he wanted something in exchange, but he didn’t.

Don honestly seemed to enjoy buying me things, and I had no idea why.

Yeah, he was nice, but it still seemed odd that he took such enjoyment from finding things to buy for me.

Clothes were first. I had plenty of clothes, but apparently clothes or anything made by a dispenser weren’t as durable or as comfortable.

Don bought me shirts, pants, skirts, and dresses in several styles and colors.

He had yet to see me in any color besides black, and from his choices, it appeared that he wanted to see me in jewel colors.

Then he bought me jewelry. I wasn’t opposed, but he seemed to like the thin golden necklaces more than I did.

Both necklaces hugged my neck and had small diamonds that looked like flashing stars.

He’d wanted to buy me earrings, but I didn’t have my ears pierced.

I also refused to allow him to buy me a ring.

“What else do you need?” he muttered.

I laughed, going up on my toes in front of him. We were weighed down with bags. “I don’t need anything else.”

He frowned. “What do you want?”

You , I thought, surprised by the intensity of the feeling. I’d never had someone be so nice without expecting anything in return. I was feeling possessive. Shocker. I was a bit unhealthy when it came to people and romance.

“You have me,” Don said without stumbling as he stared at the shops, clearly looking for something else to buy me.

“Do I?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” I took that as tacit permission to be as possessive as I wanted. “I want to go back and nap. With you.” My pulse elevated at the thought of us in the same bed, but I needed him stretched out next to me as I fell asleep.

Don smiled and rubbed his forehead against mine. “I want to, but I want to get you a pet first. Something to snuggle with besides me.”

“No. It’s not fair to them. You will have to do for now.”

“Fine.”

Feeling brave, I grabbed his hand and intertwined our fingers. “Let’s go.”

He led us through the crowd, holding tight to my hand and coiling his tail around my ankle. I felt completely safe, even with the numerous aliens around us. Don would protect me. No one would dare to steal me when he was right beside me.

When we got to his ship, we went straight to my room.

I dropped everything on the couch and lifted my hands above my head to stretch.

I was tired from the amount of walking I’d done.

It had been several weeks since I’d been allowed to do more than move from my cell to a customer room.

Even since arriving on Don’s ship, I hadn’t done much either.

Don slowly came up behind me, his steps loud enough for me to hear. I caught sight of his hands reaching toward me. I leaned back. His hands rested on my sides before sliding around me. I groaned, hooking my arms around his neck as best as I could from this position.

“We don’t have to, or I could stay on the floor.” Don held me securely in his arms while his tail tickled my leg.