“My queen, I would like to see if I can secure a contract for your ship to help with expenses. My knowledge of this planet indicates that males are highly valued and I may have more success talking to potential customers than the rest of the crew.”
“You know about this planet?”
“I studied many of the inhabited NOAH planets in neighboring galaxies as part of my basic education. Didn’t you?”
They must have covered those topics on the days her mother kept her home from school to help with the babies. “Not that I recall.”
“I will provide you any information you require, my queen.”
“If you think you can have more success without us than fine, go. But I’d rather you go with Blaize or Rhysa.”
“I will do better as an unattached male. They have no way of knowing I’m already mated.”
“You aren’t already mated.”
“I would hate to say you are wrong, Captain.” He lowered his eyelids along with his voice, “But, my status is mated. Although my mate denies me.”
“I’m not denying you. I’m just not your mate.” Because if she was?—
“As you say, my queen.”
“Ugh! Go see if you can find a contract.” She shooed him away.
Dez leaned forward and kissed her lips quickly but pulled back before she could react. Kissing her in front of her crew left her embarrassed and speechless.
“Wow. I don’t know why you’re arguing with him over the mate thing, Captain. I would have already given him the full inspection and launch test.” Rhysa wiggled her eyebrows over her bright pink eyes. “Twice.”
“I’m not concerned with what you would do in my place in regards to Dez. I’m concerned about how we’re getting to Kolben.”
“On it.”
Cyra needed time in the water chamber. Her ship had been vandalized. Her cargo was insisting he was her mate. Her navigator couldn’t open her mouth without a disagreement falling from her lips, and she was stuck on some backwoods bee planet that barely had a landing pad large enough to accommodateThe Treasure. She needed to drown her sorrows in salt water.
Dez took a small shuttle from the spaceport to the business center. He passed through rich farmland that seemed to be growing a huge variety of crops. The crops weren’t huge, but were well on their way to producing. It must be late spring, at least on this side of the planet. As they approached the center of activity, the similarities and distinct differences from his own home planet became obvious. There were tall buildings, but they were packed closely together instead of spread out with tunnels. Instead of just green vegetation growing naturally around the structures, it seemed to be a riot of color. The closer they got, the more colors he could distinguish. There were flowers everywhere in every shade.
The shuttle stopped, and he stepped off, trying not to walk around with his mouth open as he looked at the wild complexes. Flowering vines and bushes planted at every level camouflaged the edges of every structure. Businesses occupied the lowest levels. Above that there were hexagon shaped rooms—apartments, houses—he wasn’t sure what to call them. Every space appeared to have an outdoor balcony. The balconies were filled to overflowing with the pots that supported all the plants. The balconies themselves were of every color, either paint or something organic he couldn’t tell. No two buildings or balconies were alike. The lack of symmetry and open space unsettled him. He took a moment to look his fill and then, determined to help his mate, focused on the surrounding businesses.
A crowded beverage bar offered local squeezed produce. Dez wandered past a clothing boutique, displaying beautiful clothes for females in the window. He would love to buy Cyra one of the gauzy dresses in a rainbow of watercolored dyes. She would rather he support her ship with his credits. But she wouldn’t allow him to do that either. She would be unhappy if he bought her something so completely impractical. She was under too much pressure to appreciate a luxury. He would find a way to ease her stress soon.
He came upon a market that sold a variety of produce most of which he’d never seen nor heard of before—exactly what he’d been seeking. Inside, he asked to speak to the owner. Fortune smiled on him. The female that emerged from the backroom undressed him with her eyes and licked her lips upon first glance. He lifted his chest, tightened his abs, tilted his head ever so slightly as he eyed her up and down and gave a slight smile. Her wings fluttered.
Perfect.
Dez left a long while later with a very profitable contract to deliver goods to Kolben and a deposit on the first shipment. The owner had been trying to break into new markets, and one message exchange with a contact she had in the Kolben Mining Company—the same that had purchased his own contract—secured the deal. Cyra would be pleased. Perhaps he could ask for a reward. He deserved one for flirting so shamelessly when he had no desire for anyone but his queen.
Dez finally found Cyra floating in the water chamber. She was completely submerged, completely relaxed, and completely naked. Her green hair fanned out behind her, light as downy feathers, and glistening like silk. His fingers twitched with the desire to run through the beautiful strands. Her delicate gills at the side of her long, slender neck flitted in and out on an invisible tide. Her toned legs languidly kicked up and down. He could almost imagine them coming around his hips, tugging him to her as she pressed her sweet body to his, owning him. Slowly she rose, rolled and lifted her head from the watery gel. He focused on her eyes, expecting her to be angry that he was there while she was unclothed.
“You’re back.” She inspected him as he’d just done to her with no hint of concern about her state of undress.
He widened his stance. “I secured a contract.”
“What?” She bounded out the tank, nearly dry as the gel reacted to the air. “How did you do that? For what? Tell me.”
Dez smiled. “I’ll give you all the details at last-meal, my queen.”
“Captain.”
“That, too.”
