The moment Han told him, he was off, practically running.
As he rushed away, Zeph eyed Tumoro’s thin frame. He was the same height as most of the male Ugarians, but only half the width.
He looked down at Han. “We should triple the food order.”
Han nodded. “Good idea. I’ll cover the food bill. This is my fault, so feeding Tumoro should be my responsibility. He wouldn’t have approached us if he didn’t know me.” She let go of his hand to dig around in her bag. She pulled out a small information square and started tapping on it.
He did a quick calculation in his head. If the food bill was tripled, he wouldn’t be able to cover the cost of landing at the port on Misorm. It was horrible for him to need to rely on someone else, but this was his new life.
“Are you sure you have the wealth for that?” he asked as she finished tapping on her square and looked up.
She was quick to tuck her information square away and grab his hand in hers. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. I’m not rich or anything, but I’ve got some credits saved up.”
He felt as grateful and indebted to her as Tumoro probably felt toward them. “I swear I’ll take care of you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“I know you won’t,” she agreed. “We need to get back to the ship. It’s not safe for you out here.”
Still holding hands, they headed for the dock.
“Have I told you I plan to breed and raise jinjoos?”
“What’s a jinjoo?” he asked.
She spent the rest of the walk telling him all about jinjoos with so much passion, he couldn’t wait to interact with one. It wasn’tuntil they got to the ramp of the ship that he realized something terrifying.
The ship had no rooms to allow for privacy. By inviting Tumoro to join them, he’d effectively suspended any intimacy between himself and Han.
“I’m an idiot,” he muttered. “And this is going to be the longest trip I’ve ever been on.”
Chapter 8
Zephrum
Zeph was sure he hadn’t heard Han correctly. “You want me to do what?”
“It’ll wear off after a few days,” she said. “I looked it up on the ship's limited UniBase, and it’s safe and effective.”
“I don’t want to be dyed red!” he argued. “I like the color of my plates as they are. Don’t you like how I look?”
Han let out a long breath. “Zeph, you know I like your color, but you’re wanted, remember? The information sheet must have image captures of you. Maybe even a vid or two. If you don’t match the color on the sheet, authorities will be less likely to give you a second look. Unless you want to stay on the ship after we land.”
“No!”
Zeph didn’t mean to shout, but he was desperate to get off the tiny ship. It wasn’t that he felt crowded by Han and Tumoro, but the trip here had been pure torture. He hadn’t slept more thana mark at a time because his mating shaft was constantly half full of blood and threatening to inappropriately burst out of his mating pouch.
It didn’t help that Han used every opportunity available to touch his scent glands. He adored that she loved the smell of his bonding oil, but it was pure torture to be touched so sensually but unable to do anything further.
They were only a few marks from landing, and Han was threatening to leave him behind if he didn’t disguise his color.
He pulled in a deep breath and moderated his tone. “I don’t want to stay on the ship.”
“I could stay with you,” Tumoro offered.
Left behind with the nice but chatty Tumoro while Han went out into possible danger without him? That was exactly what he didn’t want!
He sounded a negative rumble. “No one is staying behind. The only port on Misorm doesn't allow anyone to live on their ships while docked there.”
Han held up the packet of medication. It was meant to treat various common skin conditions for Ugarians, but Han was confident it would act as a dye on him.
