by Ruby Dixon
Her tension continues for long moments, and I try to even out my breathing so she’ll realize that all I want to do is sleep. After a minute, she turns over and I feel her shifting in the bed. A second later, a pillow jams up against my arm.
It takes everything I have not to burst out laughing. She’s making a pillow barrier in the bed between us, like a child. Like that would solve anything if I had it in my mind to rape her. “You do realize that won’t exactly protect you?” I murmur.
“Yeah, well, it makes me feel safe,” she says, and jams another pillow between us.
“Do whatever you like, if it’ll make you feel better.”
The next pillow goes over my face, and then I can’t help but burst out laughing.
My Fran is a fiery one. I like that.
7
FRAN
I’ve slept for the first time in what feels like weeks. I wake up with a yawn and roll over in bed. It’s so damn comfortable that I don’t want to get up. I’m surrounded by pillows, and the blankets I’m curled up in are the softest I’ve ever felt. I glance up at the ceiling sleepily, eyeing the stars and nebulae that look like they’re spilling across the black sky. I know that’s not a window but a screen, but it’s still pretty. I could stay in bed like this all day, just curled up and…safe.
A low snore touches my ears.
Oh yeah.
With a little frown, I pull back one of the pillows in my “fortress.” Kivian’s on the other side, eyes closed, mouth slightly parted in his sleep. There’s a hint of fang peeping out from under his upper lip, and his expression is completely relaxed. If he’s faking it, he’s doing an amazing job. I watch him for a long moment, and when he starts to gently snore again, I realize he’s definitely asleep.
This gives me a chance to study him without being obvious.
It’s so interesting, because unlike the frog-guys, Kivian could pass for human…ish. His features are very similar to mine. He’s got near-human bone structure, just supersized. His forehead is strangely plated and striated, and his horns jut from his hairline. They’re enormous, curling beasts of horns, and I’m not entirely sure how he manages to sleep. Of course, I notice the pillows seem to be small and he has one strategically placed under his neck to prop it up. Interesting. His lashes flutter with a dream, and his mouth moves ever so slightly.
And then he snores again.
I can’t help but silently chuckle at that. He looks so human in this moment. Blue, yes. Seven foot tall, yes. Horns and tail? Yes. But he sleeps like anyone else, and it’s comforting to see.
He also seems like he’s going to be sleeping for a while, and I have to pee. I silently get up, wrap my blanket tight around my body, and explore his cabin, trying to remember how to operate the “water closet” as he called it. It takes me a little fiddling and button-pushing until I figure it out, and then I give myself a quick splashed bath in one of the sinks in the bathroom, hoping I’m not using the alien version of a bidet. I head toward his closet, because I’m tired of being naked-ish. He can donate another shirt to the cause.
A few moments later, I wonder if I’m looking in the wrong place. There’s a lot of clothing hung up in the nook that I could have sworn was his closet, but I can’t make heads or tails of any of it. Nothing looks like a regular shirt or pants. There are huge swaths of fabric, tiny ties, and fastenings. So many fastenings. I don’t even know what I’m looking at, and I touch one sleeve—at least I think it’s a sleeve—with a frown. It looks nothing like the shirt I’m wearing. Of course, now that I examine the intricate folds of the shirt I’m wearing, it does look like it has a lot of ties. Do I take it apart to try and figure out if it matches the others?
But then what if I’m left with nothing but a big decorative hanky to wear?
Then…it would be the same as what I wore yesterday when he rescued me? Which was close to nothing? Duh, Fran.
“You’re staring very, very hard at my shirts,” a sleepy voice murmurs. “Don’t tell me. You disapprove of my fashion choices.”
I glance over at the bed. Kivian’s sat up in the blankets, a floppy lock of dark hair falling over his brow. He scratches at the shaved sides of his head, looking for all the world like a non-morning-sort of person, and then rubs his chest. It’s plated like his forehead, and I can see plates along his biceps as well. Fascinating. Of course, now I’m staring. I force myself to make eye contact with him so he knows I wasn’t creeping on him. “I’m trying to figure out if you have anything I can borrow.”
“You can borrow any of it, of course,” he says with a yawn. “You’re my guest. You’re entitled to whatever you like.”
“Except a trip back to Earth,” I jab, but then regret it the moment I say it. He’s been upfront with me about things. I can’t hate on him for not wanting to risk his life.
“Except that,” he agrees, sleepy and good-natured. “But my clothes? You can have all of them and I shall go around naked.”
“No thanks,” I tell him, keeping my tone light. “I vote that we both remain completely clothed.”
“If we must.” He yawns again and climbs out of the bed. I skitter toward the closet, alarmed, but I’m relieved to see that he’s still wearing pants, if not the shirt he went to bed in last night. He pads past me with heavy feet, smacking his lips, and heads for the water closet. I watch his tail swish as he disappears inside and he acts completely uninterested in me and more interested in his morning rituals.
Not that that’s a bad thing. It’s just…strange. For the last week I’ve been the object of an untold number of rapey leers, gropes, catcalls, and lewd gestures. I almost feel out of balance when someone treats me normal. Like I’m a roommate.
It feels like a trick.
I wait, watchful, until he emerges from the water closet. His eyes look a little brighter and his hair’s been combed into place. He heads towards me and I clutch the neck of my borrowed shirt-dress and jolt away from him…only to watch as he picks out a piece of fabric and pulls it from its place amongst all the other clothing. “I told you I wouldn’t hurt you,” Kivian says calmly.
“You also said I belonged to you. You told everyone that,” I remind him.
“I did. We’re a covetous lot, we mesakkah.” He shrugs. “I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to get you away from Jth’Hnai.”
“You told your men I was yours, too, you liar.”
“Did I?” He grins over at me and runs a big blue hand down the fabric in his hand. “Perhaps I did. But let me reassure you that I don’t intend on harming you. You’re safe with me.”
I cross my arms over my chest, skeptical. “How do I know you’re not lying?”
“Because I already would have had you under me, screaming with pleasure, if I’d intended on taking you forcefully.” He gives me a sultry look under lidded eyes. “You think there aren’t females out there that are telling me no with their mouth and yes with their eager hands?”
“Ew? I’m telling you no with everything.”
Kivian grins, all boyish charm once more. “Which is why I’m not touching you. You and I, we’re just friends. Nothing more. You have my word on it. Now, shall I show you how to wear one of these shirts properly? They’re very popular in six different systems, but you truly do need a tutorial in how to lace one up.”
I can continue to spit anger at him, or I can take him up on his friendly offer. I hesitate, still clutching my shirt. Truth is, I don’t know if I can trust him. Or trust anyone. But…he’s not wrong in that he could have hurt me already and didn’t. The pillow fortress remained intact all night. Even when we were in Froggy’s room and he could have raped me without a second thought, all he did was flirt…and stall.
“Please don’t betray my trust,” I whisper as I move forward, choosing to take him at his word. “I need someone I can count on.”
“My dear, sweet Fran,” he murmurs, and the look he gives me is intense. “I would sooner die than betray you. Know that for a fact.”
And some
how, I believe him.
KIVIAN
I suppose it’s time I introduce Fran to the crew.
They already know who she is, of course. And she’s aware of them. But I feel a more formal introduction will let all parties get used to the thought of being around each other, since we’ll probably be in the asteroid belt for an unspecified amount of time.
It’s odd, though. I feel startlingly possessive. I don’t want to introduce her to the crew. I want to keep her all to myself, in my bed, wearing my clothing. I knew I’d feel a little possessive about her. I’m a mesakkah, after all. But right now I just want to growl and wrap my tail around her and glare at anyone that even thinks of coming to my door and bothering us.
But it’s a small ship. I guess I can’t do that.
Fran gives me a curious look as I finish knotting the last few cords of her sleeve. “You seem like you’re in a bad mood.”
“I’m not, my sweet,” I reassure her. “I’m merely thinking.”
“Don’t strain yourself.”
I chuckle. “It’s time you meet my crew, since we’ll all be living together for a while.”
She frowns in my direction. “I met them, didn’t I? Three big blue guys. Unless there’s more somewhere?”
“That’s it. We run a small crew. But you should learn names. It’ll give them a chance to get to know you and it’ll make everyone more comfortable.” Plus, it’ll set the tone for the rest of this trip. I don’t want someone treating her like a pet when it’s clear she’s as smart as everyone else.
“Can’t I just stay in here with you?”
I bite back my groan of need. I wish. “This won’t take long. I promise. Then you’re free to roam about.”
She studies me a moment longer, and then shrugs. “Lead the way, then.”
I put a hand to her back and immediately feel a surge of need. Gods, if touching her like this is making me hard, it’s going to be agony keeping myself under control.
She steps forward and her rounded bottom brushes against the front of my trou. Ah, kef. Everything in my body lights up, and my cock grows achingly hard. Fran skitters away from me, her eyes wide. It’s clear she felt that.
Of course she felt it. My cock feels as if it’s ten lengths long, all thanks to her presence. I decide to play the idiot. “Problem?”
Fran blinks at me. I can see the wheels turning in her mind, but after a moment, she narrows her eyes at me and shakes her head. “No, I’m good.”
I gesture at the door, feeling like a fraud. “Shall we?”
She nods and moves ahead, and I notice she’s deliberately keeping more space between us this time so a repeat doesn’t happen. My smart, cautious Fran.
For the next while, I take her around the ship, showing her what’s behind each door, the things she shouldn’t touch for her own safety, and introducing each member of the crew as we come across them. Sentorr’s on the bridge and keeps his replies to Fran very curt. It’s clear he disapproves of her presence and she senses it, though she’s polite to him. Tarekh is, well, he’s Tarekh. He’s laughing and easygoing and despite that, I can tell Fran is intimidated by him. He’s a big male, with a face only a blind mother could love. She’ll get used to him. It’ll just take a bit more time.
Alyvos is the only one left, and I expect them to get along about as well as anyone else does with Alyvos—with gritted teeth and sheer tolerance. The navigator’s in the cargo bay, taking stock of our crystals. He glances up at me when we enter, then nods. He gives Fran a quick nod too, then goes back to work. Alyvos is dependable because it’s never about emotion, just about work. “Captain. Human.”
“She has a name,” I tell him.
“I know she does. I just don’t know it.” He doesn’t even look up from his data pad.
To my surprise, Fran gives a musical little laugh. “I don’t mind ‘human.’ It beats ‘pet’ any day.”
“Mm.” I’m strangely jealous that he got her to laugh when everything I do terrifies her. “How are things looking, Alyvos?”
“Shipment’s shy a few thousand crystals, if I don’t miss my guess. I’m counting everything to log it, but I won’t know for sure until I’m done.” He gives me a quick look. “If you’re looking for numbers, it’s going to be a few.”
“Take your time.”
Fran steps forward. “Can I help?”
My jealousy surges through me when Alyvos looks up with a pleased expression. “No,” I say quickly, stepping between them. “She’s mine.”
“What?” Fran asks.
“Mine to show around,” I amend smoothly. And then I glare at my navigator, as if daring him to contradict me.
He just smirks.
I know I’m acting like a possessive fool. I don’t care. I want to be the only one Fran smiles at. The only one that touches her. If I could chase everyone else away from her right now, I would. It’s not reasonable, of course.
No one ever said I was a reasonable male. All I know is that she’s mine and no one’s getting near her.
8
KIVIAN
It takes about two days for the hunted look to leave Fran’s lovely face. It takes about two days and one hour for Fran to charm my crew. I know they’re going to get along just fine when I go into the mess one morning to find her arguing with Sentorr over the best-tasting meal packs and Tarekh’s laughing at both of them because Fran’s been eating my supplies instead of theirs. It seems that she likes the same salty noodles I do.
“She’s got good taste,” I tell them with pride, even if it does leave me with nothing but the leftovers. I don’t mind. Not for Fran.
It’s been days and she’s already wormed her way into my heart and soul. Hard to believe that I would fall so fast—no, “fall” isn’t the right word. More like “crash.” There was no in-between in Fran storming into my life and my falling in love with her. She’s just suddenly everything. I think of her when I drift off to sleep, and she’s the first thing on my mind when I wake.
Clearly she doesn’t feel the same way about me yet, but she’ll get there. How can she not fall for me? I’m incredibly charming. She’s just stubborn, my Fran. She’ll come around.
“I don’t see how a pirate can spend so much damn time farting around with sleeves,” she says, her hands on her hips as she glares into my closet. It’s become one of her favorite pastimes—criticizing my wardrobe. “Don’t you have pirate-y things to do other than spend hours lacing up your sleeves?”
“Like what?” I lounge on one of my chairs since I’ve learned that lounging in bed makes her skittish.
“I don’t know. Whatever space pirates do?” She casts me a look over her shoulder. “Make someone walk a space plank? Board a ship? Something?”
“First of all, a space plank is just ridiculous,” I tell her as she picks the least complicated of my shirts and pulls it from the closet. “Second of all, why would we board someone else’s ship? We’re in hiding. You were never very good at hide-and-find as a child, were you?”
“Humans call it hide-and-seek, and I was very good at it,” Fran tells me, and takes the shirt into the water closet with her to change. I wait until she returns a moment later, swimming in the fabric, and she comes to my side. “Show me the sleeves again?”
“It’s a raithu knot,” I tell her. “All the rage on Homeworld.” I take several of the cords hanging from the sleeve fabric, and when she holds her arm out, I begin to tie them in place, creating the sleeve out of the puffs of fabric.
“Can I cut the shirt down into a dress for me?”
“Cut it?” I pretend horror at the thought. “Do you know how much this cost?”
“No?” She looks crestfallen. “Was it very expensive?”
“A year’s wages for most workers, I imagine. I don’t run amongst the lower-class circles, so I’m not entirely sure if that’s accurate, but it’s expensive, yes.”
Poor Fran looks aghast at the thought. “All right, show me the knots again.”
I do, and by the time the sleeves are done, she’s twitching with impatience. It’s adorable. I could watch her all day. In fact, I might just do that since there’s nothing else to do…but wait. Once the sleeves are finished, she takes a braided cord and loops it tight around her waist, making a belt. My shirts are big enough that they fit her like dresses, and it’s both erotic and adorable to see her clothed in nothing but my gear. Sentorr offered up a few old shirts, but I growled at him until he promised he wouldn’t bring it up with her.
I like her wearing my things. She can dice them into pieces for all I care as long as they make her happy.
“So what’s the plan today?” she asks, combing her hair as she peers into a mirror and then peeks over at me.
I shrug lazily and spread a hand. “This?”
Fran puts the comb down and frowns at me. “You mean there’s nothing for you to do either?”
There’s plenty, but I don’t feel like it, not when she’s so delightfully entertaining. “Either? Are you bored?”
She tilts her head and gives me a patient look. “You have no idea.”
“Well then, what would you like to do?”
The little human sits in a chair across from me. “I don’t know. There’s not much for a captive to do.”
I can feel myself frowning at her. “You’re not a captive. You’re a guest.”
“Then take me home to Earth.”
“Nice try, but no.”
Fran makes an exasperated sound and then leans back, her arms crossed. I notice that she crosses her legs, too, and I’m fascinated by that elegant movement. “Then what do you do if you’re stuck in a quiet ship all day?”
I shrug. “I catch up on paperwork. It’s dreadfully boring, I know, but even a pirate has communications he has to answer.” I think of my brother, who’s sent another message that I haven’t yet had a chance to respond to. He sent more pictures of tiny Kivita, my ugly, fascinating little namesake, and urged me to come out and visit them. I’ll reply to him soon…when I have an answer. Right now I’m more focused on the female in front of me. “Sometimes I read a book.”
