Page 14 of Tempting Cargo

I shifted restlessly. I hadn’t done anything particularly special. “It’s nothing. And why the hell would I judge you?”

She crossed her arms. “I know a few people think I’m an alien chaser or that I’m fetishising them, which I’m not. Or that I should have expected last night.”

“Fuck that,” I growled.

“And that’s why you’re great. You don’t judge people, you just care. And that’s special.” She patted my cheek. “Shame you’re not my type, really, ’cause you’re a catch. I hope you find your person someday.”

My cheeks heated. “Yeah, with my smooth human skin and my small human dick, I’m a real catch to all the aliens.” Never thought I’d find a context where that would be a thing I’d say.

She spluttered. “That’s not even— It’s not why I—”

“Babe, own it. Enjoy. Have all the big alien dick. Just spare me the details when you comm me. I don’t need to know what the gharian’s got.”

“Dude. He’s my boss. Never gonna happen.”

“Whatever you say, El.” Before I turned away, I added, “Is he more lizard or snake?”

“Why?”

I grinned. “Snakes have two dicks, don’t they?”

Her intrigued gasp faded into the limbo of waiting. I rocked on the balls of my feet, fighting the relentless energy that wanted us to plunge into motion, needing to postpone the moment that goodbye became real. Eventually, Roth ushered us all out of the room.

The walk down the metallic corridors felt as momentous as the first time we’d done it, marched by the Reserve to the detention block. Except this time, the uniform, hollow space was filled with excited chatter, and the thin strip lights along the tops of the walls seemed to line the way towards a brighter future.

I didn’t remember what the dock looked like, but today, I took it all in. One of the giant Reserve ships, possibly even the one we came in on, was visible through the massive window, clinging to the side of the station like a growth. Smaller Reserve shuttles lined up in eerie order against the next line of berths.

The smallest docking area must have been the civilian one. A handful of mismatched ships got closer as we walked, and I wondered whether theDorimisawas the rounded, dumpy one, the sleek-but-boxy one, or the sharp, needle-like craft. We rounded the next corner and they were lost from view as we headed towards the docking tube, both similar to New Earth tech and different.

Station security stopped us at the checkpoint gate. The archon’s assistant was a welcome sight, though I suspected he was there to make sure we’d left, more than to see us off. Regardless, the gharian took care of the formalities for us.

“May your travels bring you to a new life,” he said, and then there was only one thing left.

We hovered our wrists over the scanner, which chirruped at us as if to say,you’re on your own now.

We were through the gate before I could give Ellie another hug.

Captain Shohari and her crew paid us no attention. I watched her brief exchange with the diplomat, presumably arranging payment for our passage, until she clasped his upper arm and headed our way.

“Skykking Reserve checkpoints,” she muttered as she reached us. “This way.”

She strode down the tube with her crew, not bothering to check if we were following. Her chunky boots had some kind of spurs on the heel. Did she have spines there too?

A sliver of skin showed above the boots, and I barely noticed what the docking tube looked like or if I could work out which ship we were boarding as I watched the sway of her curvy arse in her tight leather breeches.

When I caught myself, I dragged my eyes upwards, but the way her broad shoulders filled out her tunic wasn’t any less distracting, nor were the bulging muscles of her arms. She had spines there, small lines of them over her traps and down the tops of her triceps.

I ignored the fact I hadn’t given the equally voluptuous Muzati more than a passing glance. It was only that it had been a while, rather than the cantankerous captain herself catching my attention, even if her body made me think things I hadn’t for a long time.

CHAPTER EIGHT

My diversion is the big human who is always right here

Shohari

IT WAS goodto be back on theDorimisaknowing we were leaving in a few minutes, the sense of unease I’d had since we got to Draim draining away with every step over her familiar walkways. Sure, I could have done without nine small sapients stinking up my ship, but I had to think of the credits.

Had to. Not the interesting human who looked like he wouldn’t break if I sat on him.