“Indeed.” I didn’t move, forcing them to keep their position at the rear. “As you can see, my vessel is not large enough to accommodate your party.” I motioned toward the three males behind him. “It’s a fighter, not a cruiser.”
Mulo laughed, a barreling noise that was half-roar, half-mirth. “I understand, Rhonar. Do not fear.” His blatant stare assessed me from head to foot and back again. “We don’t plan to stay long.” His gaze shifted to Jane, and it took all of my will not to rip his beady-eyes from his skull. “It was mere curiosity that brought us forth.”
I pushed the little captain behind me, and to my infinite gratitude, she did not fight me. “Now that it’s been satisfied, you may return to your vessel.” I opened the airlock door to punctuate my words. “And we may continue on our way.”
“We will, we will.” The capo waved his meaty paw as if my actions were of no consequence. “But first I’d like to offer you top price for your female.” He threw a bag that clinked as it hit the floor. It was the distinctive sound of drauma coins, the prevalent currency in the sector. “Her appearance is quite,” he cocked his head, angling for a glimpse of her, “unique.”
Jane stiffened behind me, her nails digging into my arm. I shared her sentiment, my blood boiling. I growled my answer. “She is not for sale.”
Mulo’s guards moved to either side of him, hands on their blasters. They would never have the chance to use them. “At ease.” The capo waved them off with a snap of his claws. “The Rhonar and I are simply talking.” His eyes narrowed as if daring me to disagree. “Are we not, Commander?”
“That depends on your intentions, Mangox.” I used his species name like the curse that it was.
Another barking-roaring laugh emanated from him. “Your kind is always the same. So serious.” His snout twisted side-to-side as his mouth curled upward. “I respect your property. We are not thieves. We’re merchants.”
That’s a generous assessment.I refrained from saying otherwise, but I did not allow Jane to move from behind me. She kept thankfully quiet during the encounter.
“Come with us to our outpost.” The capo drew close enough to extend his paw to me. “I’ll buy you a drink, and we shall talk more about negotiating a trade.”
“We can talk business, all you like.” I let his hand linger in the air. My power bubbled beneath the surface. Every Rhonar had a unique ability. With mine, I had but to touch an individual to discover their intentions, along with their strengths and weaknesses. Yet, I didn’t need to shake this bastard’s hand to know his purpose. It was written in his face. I’d not allow him to fulfill it. “Butnotfor her.”
He curled his claws into his hand, then his hand to his chest. “As you say, Commander.” Reclaiming the bag of drauma coins, he turned to one of his underlings. “Send the coordinates to their ship. They’ll follow us to the outpost, and there we will continue our discussion.”
The subordinate nodded to his leader, then the crew headed for the airlock.
“But we need to go to Sense VII,” my little captain yelled from behind me. With her hands on my waist, she popped her head out to sneak a peek at the Mangox. “I mean, my master, has been looking forward to the trip.”
The capo stepped back for a moment to address her. “Do not worry, lovely one. You and your master will be on your way soon enough.”
“We will meet you on your outpost,” I said with finality. The more the bastard stared at Jane, the hotter my ire grew.
“Wonderful!” the capo clapped his paws, gave us a quick half bow, and headed back to the airlock. “We shall see you there.”
As the airlock closed and their ship disconnected from ours, the little captain walked out from behind me. She rubbed the back of neck as she looked up at me. “Ah, so, that went well.”
I grabbed her by the hips and pulled her to me. The lace of her outfit tickled my palms. I wanted nothing more than to tear it off her. “Just remember what I said before, ljona.” I kissed her hard, my tongue diving in to explore her depths. When her breaths turned to pants, I paused only to remind her of what my hearts wanted to be true. “You are mine.”
