Sophia

SOPHIA

When Makar finally left, I caught myself wondering when he'd be back next.

I hated that I already anticipated his return and the way butterflies in my stomach fluttered. Was I already falling that far down into that trench? Even the thought of getting the chance to roll around in the sheets with that man excited me.

Of course, the sex with Makar was incredible.

I'd never felt that turned on and taken care of in my entire life.

Somehow, Makar did for me what so many men hadn't, and that was something that kind of freaked me out.

Would he grow tired of me? Toss me out like trash once he was bored of me?

How long would it take for him to no longer feel that fondness that he clearly had and tossed me out onto the streets like everyone else?

I was a human, lowly and at the bottom of the food chain compared to every other sentient being on the station.

Being weak was one of the many reasons so many humans were forced into indentured service. We didn't have super strength like Vinduthi, war knowledge like Mondians, or the network of the Nazoks.

How else could we make a living and survive?

Makar wasn't the type of alien to put up with things that he deemed unworthy of his attention—at least, that's the impression I had so far.

While he was a bit of a dichotomy when it came to his professional life and hobbies, I assumed that he was a self-sufficient being who wouldn't bother entertaining me for longer than he wanted to.

Even though his sweet words of wanting me to stay there so he could come back to me left me swooning, I needed to remind myself that it all was a temporary gig.

Makar and I weren't going to last, and the longer I stayed there, the more painful it would be when he inevitably dumped me out onto the streets.

Did I stay for that to happen? Or was it better to make a run for it like I did last time?

If I ran, that would mean I lied to him.

And I really, really hated that idea.

But did I really dare stay here?

I thought about the other Vinduthi I met by the lift, the look in his eyes when he realized I came in with Makar, but had been left alone.

Was it pity?

Was that all that anyone would have for me here?

I couldn't do it. I couldn't stay.

But I promised.

Thoughts whirling, I leaned my forehead against the door.

What should I do?

Suddenly, the door moved, and Makar stood right there.

He stared at me for a long moment before narrowing his eyes.

"Going somewhere?"

Fuck…

"No."

It was true.

But I couldn't say I hadn't thought about it.

Crowding into my space, he backed me further into the room, letting the door slide shut behind him. I wasn't quick enough to dodge his grip.

Effortlessly, he lifted me up with one arm wrapped around my hips, while with the other hand, he pulled off my shoes, flinging them away from me.

"Do I need to keep you barefoot and undressed before you listen to me? Or would you still run through the station naked?"

I struggled against his strength, but to no avail.

"Let me go," I pleaded. "Trade me for someone else. You don't need me, any human woman will do."

He flinched as if I'd hit him, then a lip curled up in a snarl.

"Why would I want to do that? I've got you, I'll keep you."

Ha, easy for him to say, I wanted to snap at him. Of course, he would think that the solution was that simple, that I would roll over like a damn submissive to his whims and do whatever it was he told me to do.

"What did I tell you before I left?" he asked while cocking his head.

Not to run. I almost said the words aloud. Fuck that, actually. If I wanted to leave here, I should damn well be able to. Fuck the contract he has over me. He's lucky I don't kick him right between the legs and take off running.

Actually… that's not a half-bad idea.

He must have sensed my leg muscles tense, for without warning, he set me down again, swinging me around in a tight circle until I lost my balance.

But instead of clinging to him, I stumbled away, scrambling back, trying to get steady enough to fight, even as I knew it was pointless.

I made it halfway over to the bathroom before a hand latched onto my arm and pulled me back.

"Where do you think you're going?"

My heart pounded inside of my chest, loud enough for me to barely hear Makar speaking over it. He said something I couldn't really understand while moving me back over to the door, his tone angry.

This is the ‘being scared of him' part I was talking about.

I spun and punched him square in the shoulder, my knuckles zinging with pain the second they collided with the hard muscles.

"Fuck!" I spat out.

"Really?" he chuckled, not sounding amused at all. "You think that's enough for me to let you go?"

He pulled me around to face him and used his hips to bully me until my back was against the wall. He crowded into my space again, barely giving me any room to breathe while he stared down at me.

"Fuck off," I growled.

"Tell me why you think it was wise to leave. I can't imagine you had a good reason for it. Remember? We went over all of those before I left."

I didn't answer him and instead, lashed out by swiping my hand across his face. My nails caught his skin, dragging all the way from the left cheek, over his nose and forehead, and then ending as I got to the right side of his face.

I was shocked when he had no marks on his face. He barely flinched from the damage. Though, maybe I was so weak compared to him that my swatting merely felt like a breeze blowing by him.

"Feel better?" he asked, expression infuriatingly blank.

What a fucking asshole. I gritted my teeth.

My hand whipped up to scratch at him again, only to be caught in his firm grip right before I made the connection. His breathing made his chest rise and fall rapidly, but other than that, it was the only thing about him that was off. I probably looked like a damn caged animal trying to get out.

"Let go of me!" I tried to pull my hand back, but his grip would not budge at all.

"Tell me why you were trying to leave, Sophia, and I might consider it."

"Fuck off!"

"No." His face grew closer. "Tell. Me. You know how dangerous it is out there. What makes this worse?"

For some reason, my eyes started to sting with tears.

What was wrong with me?

Why did I care if he wanted to discard me once he finally got bored? It wasn't like I wasn't used to that from beings like him or male species in general. They were all the same in my opinion, always using whatever they could to get off and then once they got their fix, they moved on to the next new shiny toy.

So, why did I think this… whatever arrangement we had between us, would be any different?

It was fucking stupid to even get my hopes up over it just because he gave me a few fantastic, mind-blowing orgasms.

Why did I care?

"Sophia?" I watched as his eyes softened slightly. "What is going on with you? Why are you so worked up?"

He just has to be observant, doesn't he…

"I'm not."

"You are. Talk to me. Tell me why you wanted to leave."

I hated that conversation. I didn't care to tell him why. I really didn't.

But was that actually the truth?

Maybe I thought he was different, that the care he showed me after our sex adventures made him not like the others who used me for their own gratification. He took the time to make sure I came before he got off on his own. What other being did something like that? None that I knew.

"I don't want to be here," I finally settled on.

His brows pulled together, confusion was evident on his face. "Why?"

"Because," I choked out. "I don't know what you want from me. I don't know the rules of this place."

And then the hardest truth worked its way past the lump in my throat. "If you're going to replace me with a new purchase in a few weeks, months, whatever, then just do it. What's the point of keeping me around, waiting for me to get attached to you? You think I want to just wait around until you bring the next woman by?"

He looked taken aback. "What?"

"Spare me the surprise, Makar," I spat at him. "You'll grow unhappy eventually. Just get on with tossing me out onto the street so I can move on with my life."

"You…" He shook his head slowly. "Sophia?—"

I shoved my body onto his chest, trying to get him off of me.

"Let me go!"

Suddenly, his hand was around my neck, forcing my head back until it pressed against the wall behind me.

"No."