Page 44 of Tempting Fate

As they did frequently now, my thoughts turned to Imani. She’d sat here in my arms less than an hour ago. These hugs might even be a better thing than the climaxes I could now experience—though they were indeed a blissful revelation. And, I was told, they might feel even better without the pain.

Surely that much pleasure wasn’t possible?

The feel of Imani’s hot, tiny hand on me… I truly was a wicked male. Her presence seemed to heighten the enjoyable sensations, and not just in my cock.

I’d not paid much attention to whoever helped me before, but Imani was different. I couldn’t help stealing glances at her. And sometimes, she’d been looking at me too, though she averted her gaze when our eyes met. If only I knew the nuances of human facial expressions; for a handful of moments I’d thought she enjoyed it too.

I swung my head. It was a most indelicate business, and she could think what she liked as long as she didn’t feel uncomfortable.

As I pulled on a loose pair of breeches, I prepared myself to expect Orukem later—but found myself hoping beyond hope it would be Imani.

I settled into the comfy armchair with my datapad. I was acutely aware my staying here was not dependent on goodwill alone; I would have to contribute to Zyamzh somehow, and trading was what I was good at, what I knew.

The unfamiliar system was easy enough to decipher, and before long I was processing data the way I always had, observing the patterns, the movements, the trends.

There. Something useful for Shohari.

Airida - Literary dataslabs from Rinta III to AnimaCorp, if you’re anywhere near.

A voice comm notification flashed around the perimeter of my device, and I activated it.

“Hello little brother. To what do I owe a trading tip? I’m still on the Dorimisa, you know.”

Her easy tone calmed my trepidation, and I sent a reply: “I need to start earning credits.”

“Have you spent all of yours already? Don’t tell me you’ve discovered the akji halls? Do I have to come back there and kick your arse?”

I smiled, a soft thing that kicked me in the gut and warmed me from heart to clawtips. If my big sister was berating me, our relationship was salvageable. “I do not know what akji is. And I have not spent anything, on account of them being your credits, not mine.”

“For an intelligent sapient, you really can be an ulthbrain at times. I already told you, I saved them for you. They are yours. Or have you forgotten?”

Blessed gods, I’d missed our banter. I’d missed her.

I checked the old messages she’d sent to my comm, then followed the instructions for accessing my credits account.

My jaw fell open. No, that number couldn’t be right. These weren’t Orithian credits, either. She’d collected Galactic credits for the purpose of me being out here. That meant…

“Ohri, this is too much,” I murmured to the empty room. Years of trading had impressed upon me the value of all manner of currencies, and this? This could buy half a starship.

I couldn’t keep it. I did not want to live on her charity, but I couldn’t say that to her. “I have more than enough credits. Thank you, Ohri. Look into those dataslabs.”

By the time I realised I’d missed morning rites, it was approaching lunchtime and too late to sing them. “Sorry,” I told Kri’s idol, but the chiyi was curled up at their feet again, cooing happily.

“I can’t just call you ‘the chiyi,’” I said. “If you’re living here, you need a name.” I’d never named anything in my life, and the weight of responsibility weighed heavy on me, more than choosing the right shade of paint or selecting the perfect location for a new plant.

The lizard stood, stretching her six stubby legs one by one and flaring her wings.

“Fearless. Adaptable. Lived on two planets. And you’re always flying around me.”

As if in agreement, the flower lizard gave a trilling coo and launched into the air, soaring around the room.

“I’m not a planet, you silly thing,” I said after she made a second lap around my head. “I shall call you Orbit. How do you like that?”

The lizard made another circuit and landed in my headspines.

I gave her a gentle stroke, appreciating the slight but comforting weight of her. “Shouldn’t you be out visiting flowers?”

Orbit wriggled and nestled deeper into her perch.