A faint monotone voice responded.
‘“What the frack?Those were synths?”
“It shouldn’t surprise us.After all, they’re the product.”Naomi snuggled her backside deeper into her chair and leaned back.“The Zetas are impressive as an introduction to their deluxe range.”
“I couldn’t tell they weren’t human,” Gibs grumbled.“State of the art and certainly not anything they currently sell.”
“How would you know?”She popped an eye open while her ruby lips curled in a sensual smirk.
“Research, rookie, especially considering Thomas Walker’s infatuation.And before you assume the worst, I didn’t fuck any of them.”
She arched a knowing brow.“Just checking, partner.”
Silence filled the chaser, and he pinched his lips.His mother’s nasal voice reprimanded him, and he found himself blurting out an apology.Without alcohol having passed his lips, too.
“Sorry for the blow-job remark.Just not used to…partners.”
“Women.”She kept her eyes closed as if the day had tested her, too.
“Huh?”He allowed his gaze to travel along the arch of her throat, the stubborn tilt to her jaw, and the ruby softness of her lips.
“You’re not used to women.”’
Tiny chuckled.“Yup, you summed that up quite nicely, girl.”
The spray of water drowned out the odd voice.
With his heart pounding against the cavity of his ribs, Nenn slumped against the wall beside her door.She was fine.He nodded at Juunn striding toward the bridge but didn’t say anything.What to feed her settled on Nenn’s mind.She couldn’t exist on tulsig cakes, and he wasn’t sure she’d take to any of their strange foods or whether it was safe for her.
Swiveling on a heel, he headed to Gusin’s quarters and tapped the panel, alerting the male that Nenn waited outside.The door opened.
“What is it?”Gusin asked, rubbing his face.
“As our taed, would it be possible to add human foods to the replicate?”Nenn splayed his fingers on the bulkhead near the top of the door.
“No.Without a sample, the replicate cannot dissolve, analyze, and reform the item.”Gusin arched both brows when Nenn hesitated.“Will that be all?”
“Thanks,” Nenn said and returned to Tiny’s door.
Unless she’d hidden something edible in her bag, there was nothing he could do but let her try what the tribes ate.He shuddered at the idea of ordering slimy malugu from Awayar, and he doubted her teeth could penetrate the carapace of os-ayys.
He let her know he was outside while he sifted through the options available.Perhaps he should introduce foods by tribe?She’d started with Meorri, liking the tulsig cakes.It was the oily, gooey, saltiness of them that made his tongue sing.
“Morning, Nenn,” she said, a bright smile in place.Wearing odd-flowered leggings and a baggy sleepshirt in blinding yellow, her hair still damp, she glowed with life and beauty.
“Ready to journey through each tribe’s preferred meals?”He caught her hand and ushered her toward him.Because he couldn’t resist, he gave her mouth a peck.The taste of her alone tempted him to deepen the kiss to French.A sharp flavor that wasn’t unappealing coated her breath.
“All at once?”she asked, splaying her fingers across his chest.
He laughed.“One at each meal.”
“Phew.”She slid her hand across his forearm to loop her arm through his.
“What has you so happy?”he asked, not wanting to reveal she’d woken him this morning with her antics.
“Grunt left me a tablet.”She sighed.“I love him.I do.Such a sweet gesture.”
Nenn kept a smile in place by sheer will.“Love him for that?”
