Page 89 of Tempting Cargo

I gave an irritated snort. “Very well.” Garrison’s boot nudged me in the leg, and I nudged him back. “Welcome to theDorimisa, Coerril.”

“My thanks. I promise not to cause you any trouble, though a trip to your medbay and a hot mug of neka tea wouldn’t go amiss.”

Skyk’s sake. This would be why Anandri paid the big creds. “What is the shipment, anyway?”

“Ah. I wondered if you would ask that.” She shrugged her shoulders, wings fluttering, then gave a gleaming smile. “I am, Captain.”

I cast my eyes to the gods. “I take it that means you are imbued?” Yet another sapient on board, and one who could break my ship. Maybe the godswerereal, and I’d pissed them off.

“A little.”

“Sorry, you’ll have to explain for the human in the room.” Garrison wore a little frown, and my fingers itched to smooth it. I chewed my tongue as he said, “Imbued with what?”

“Power,” Coerril said.

“Like an energy source?”

“No. Abilities.” She brushed past me, the door sliding open for her a number of strides ahead just as the strip lights above her went dark.

Over Garrison’s gasp, I said, “You’d better not have broken those.”

She chuckled as she led us into my ship, away from the now fully-lit cargo bay and towards the galley.

Gods. I was going to have to make another supply stop if I was going to feed an ydouir.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

One human, too many aliens

Garrison

THERE WAS agiant, magic demon woman on the ship, and I had no idea how I felt about it.

A magic demon woman who wore next to nothing and surveyed me with a hungry gaze from the other side of the galley. Shohari bristled next to me, though I didn’t know whether it was because my attention was on Coerril, or simply a reaction to her presence.

She should have known I wasn’t looking at the ydouir in that way. I watched Coerril like I’d watch a dangerous predator.

The demon woman arched her back and leaned towards me. “Have you never seen an ydouir before, small one? Do you wish to look at me? Touch me?”

Even though the ydouir’s generous curves were very much on display under her black harness—all she wore—I was more concerned with her claws and tail. Next to me, Shohari growled, and my dick twitched.

“I want to know why you’re here and whether it’s safe,” I said.

Laughter like delicate metallic raindrops filled the mess hall. “Nothing is safe, small one.”

I scowled. “Don’t call me that.”

“My apologies,security guard. Tell me, how would you keep your captain and crew safe from an ydouir?”

“Stop playing with him.” Shohari’s voice was a deep rumble. “That’s my job.”

Her words sent tight heat to my belly. Shedidcare, even if she was trying her damnedest not to.

“Very well,” Coerril said. “I suppose I am a guest on your ship, after all. Where are my quarters?”

Shohari’s laugh bore a fraught edge. “There aren’t any.”

Coerril baulked at that. She cocked her head, eyeing Shohari like the predator she was. “There are no spare beds?”