Page 19 of Galaxy Games Four-Book Box Set (Galaxy Games)

19

A Male’s Equipment Can be Sensitive

B laze

The tech guys are either high tonight, or they’re busy jacking their cocks in the bathroom, because the red lights come back on before Jahzara introduces us. Titan and I are sitting on the edge of the bed, holding hands and waiting for the network’s edict.

I feel like a teenager again. Well, maybe I feel like a teenager for the first time, because I never had a normal holding-a-boy’s-hand experience back on Earth. I was too busy running away from older, stronger foster siblings or hiding from the truancy officer.

It’s kind of sweet. He’s so huge, the bed dips toward him, so I’m smashed up against his hip, his arm around my waist.

I’m half expecting my slave collar to light up and kill me on planet-wide TV. That would certainly bring up the ratings. The other half of me keeps glancing expectantly at the cave doorway, looking for a couple of drones laden with weapons.

I lean up to whisper to him and he dips down to hear me as if we’ve been together for years and work wordlessly together.

“If I wind up getting you killed, I want to apologize in advance,” I whisper into his ear.

“Apology accepted,” he rumbles. Then we both laugh. I really love his laugh. It’s not big or loud or exaggerated. It’s just comfortable and intimate, like we’re sharing a secret. For the millionth time today, I wish things were different.

“Females and males,” Jahzara’s insincere voice bombards us through the speakers. “Welcome back after that long break. We had to give our sexy couple a little time to recuperate. They have to recover and regroup before round two, don’t they?”

Cue the applause.

“While we’re waiting for something to… pop up…” She gives the camera a saucy look, then continues, “let’s give the lovely couple a chance to use some of those credits you’ve so generously been pledging to them. Now don’t forget, they’ll need other supplies. There are, after all…” She consults her notes. “Eighteen other contestants still alive. By the way, they’ve bedded down for the night. The network has generously given them the opportunity to watch the same program you’re watching right now.”

She smiles slyly, as if she’s letting Titan and me in on a little secret. How wonderful to know that the flotsam and jetsam of the galaxy who will be trying to kill us tomorrow will be watching us have sex tonight. Good times.

“So, Slayer, what is the one item you’d like to buy with your credits?” She tilts her head innocently as if she didn’t know what’s on the top of my shopping list. And as if she doesn’t know that one item isn’t going to cut it.

“I see I have over 40,000 credits. I’d like two items. A laser rifle and a backpack full of battery packs.” I smile sweetly, reminding myself of a puppy my foster family had when I was eight. It cocked its head at a delightfully endearing angle just like I’m doing now.

“Sorry,” she sings. “Just one. We wouldn’t want to be greedy, would we?” She has the stones to wag her finger at me. Wag her finger!

“A rifle without battery charge would make a good doorstop,” I say with a smile.

“And you, Titan?” Jahzara looks at him like he’s a foreign dignitary at a state dinner and she’s hanging on every word of the powerful potentate. “What is your heart’s desire?”

Oh shit. I know what he’s thinking. He’s thinking he should tell the galaxy that his heart’s desire is to abolish slavery, as if he’s the Abraham Lincoln of planet Marentine. I squeeze his hand—hard. With each additional psi of pressure, I increase the amount of happy teeth I expose with my smile.

“Don’t say it,” I warn like a ventriloquist, trying not to move my lips.

“I’d like a backpack of battery packs for a laser rifle.”

Heat flashes through my body in one hot wave as tears prick the backs of my eyes. I didn’t expect that.

At first, I figured he’d get a laser pistol, but that would be stupid. He wouldn’t be able to use it any more than I could use my rifle. Then I assumed he’d buy something good, like a better sword, or a shield—something he could protect himself with.

But he got battery power. For me.

Then I shake my head. Dream on Blaze. He’s not being altruistic. He’s arming us as a team so we can get to the flag alive. Then he’s going to perform the sudden but inevitable act of betrayal by using brute force to wrest the weapon away from you. It’s the way of things because, in the end, it all comes down to one.

“Lovely. You two are quite the team. Why don’t you get busy on the bed while your purchases wing their way here?”

“A male’s equipment can be sensitive,” Titan pipes up, having no shame in his game. “I’m certain I couldn’t perform while waiting for our prizes. I’m just too excited and preoccupied. As soon as they arrive, the viewers will get the show they’ve been waiting for.”