Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

KHORAHN

My female continued to make sad sounds against me, and I brushed my fingers over her softly rounded leg in response.

She probably didn't realize the progress she'd made, but I did. There'd been less fear in her scent during the second scent-marking, even when working my secretions into the skin around her breeding sheath.

Her reaction to me just now had been more promising than I'd expected. It no longer concerned me that her eyes had watered—according to the data pic, humans did that often for various reasons. Typically fear and joy. I knew my female's response hadn't all been fear-based since, instead of cringing away, she'd sought comfort in my nearness.

And that was only with two scent-markings.

I ran my fingers over her skin. A few more prexels and the recent secretions would be fully absorbed and help calm her further. Until then, I would do my best to distract her from her tears.

The grow bay lights were dimmed when we entered, and she didn't lift her head from my chest until I stood in the center of the space. She listlessly looked around for a halo-flash then set her head against my shoulder. Joy hadn't chased away the melancholy in her scent as she took in the sight of the modest number of plants I'd obtained over the last solar run or the planting beds that waited for terra.

"It isn't much now, but soon this will remind you of the planet you left behind. I will purchase the softest resting mat for this space so you can lie under the lamps and watch your skin sparkle with my marking."

My ambal stirred at the memory of how delighted she'd been when she'd noticed the effect in the med bay. The shimmer tended to fade quickly, and I wasn't opposed to scent-marking her as often as necessary to keep her skin coated.

She lifted her head and looked up at me with her red-watering eyes, and I knew I'd stood there for too long.

"Don't worry, my female. I will take this fear from you. You will know peace soon. I swear it."

She settled against me with a hitching sigh, and I stroked my fingers over her leg, wishing I was once again exploring the soft, warm flesh between them. She'd been so hesitant to open herself to me. I needed to show her she had nothing to fear. I would never take what she wasn't willing to give.

Preoccupied with my thoughts, I left the grow bay and moved through the ship's halls. The door to the workroom opened with a hiss, and she rubbed her face against my skin before turning her head to look up at the lengths of chains spread out on the table. I wondered if she could see the potential there or only a mass of wasted chit.

I set her on the surface and picked up a length of chain, holding it to her shoulder. She sniffled and looked down at it then at the flat disks beside them. That the stimulation disks interested her made me smile.

"Don't worry, my pretty female. I will acquire more if that is not enough. First, though, I need to figure out how you like to be touched. If I design your garb correctly, every caress of the chain and discs will remind you of me."

Her focus shifted from the table to me, her multi-colored eyes sweeping over my face.

"Do you want me to fix your necklaces?" she asked hesitantly.

I wasn't sure what necklaces were, but the fact she thought I meant for her to work troubled me. She still didn't trust that I wasn't like the Wsoau.

Setting the chains aside, I slipped my hand around to her back and picked her up. She settled against me without fear. Progress. Every touch helped, I told myself, trying not to feel frustrated.

The sooner we reached Divos One, the sooner we could leave again and acquire a translation implant for her. Then she would understand everything. Good and bad. However, that would take five flares minimum. A long time for her to spend wondering about her fate.

That only made me more determined to gain her trust sooner. It wouldn't be easy. But was anything worthwhile ever easy?

With a plan in mind, I headed for the galley and looked down at my female. Her eyes had stopped watering, and her breathing had almost returned to normal. I hated the idea of upsetting her again, but if it helped end her fear sooner, it would be worth the anguish we would both momentarily suffer.

She perked up when I carried her into the galley.

"I really hope we're here to feed me," she said.

I stroked my fingers over her leg and went to the food processor to start her paste. While that worked, I entered her requirements into the hydration processor. She reached for the cup, but I turned her just enough in my hold so it was out of her reach.

"Trust me to care for you," I said, petting her flank to take the sting out of my actions. "I swear it will not be misplaced."

"Please. I'm thirsty," she said, looking up at me.

I sat her on the narrow ledge of the processor counter. She placed her hands on the surface for balance, as I'd hoped. I smiled at her, patted her shoulder, which she seemed to like, and then dropped my hand to nudge her knees.

A spike of fear tainted her scent.

"Come now. I didn't harm you last time, did I? You can show me this small amount of trust, can you not?"

I nudged more firmly, and her face flushed scarlet as she finally conceded and opened her legs a few inches. Wedging a leg between them, I stepped closer and held the cup to her lips for her.

Her confused and wary gaze held mine as she drank. When she drained the cup, I praised her with my hands, running them up and down her arms. Some of the fear faded from her scent. Only then did I retreat from between her legs to refill the cup.

She watched me closely when I returned and tapped her knee. This time, she didn't hesitate as long before complying. Again, I wedged a leg between them and moved closer to help her drink. I purposely dribbled a little over the side and wiped it off her chest mound with my palm. I didn't linger or fondle. I simply wiped away the spill with a light touch.

Her reaction was perfection. She didn't jerk away, and no fear entered her scent. However, she did narrow her eyes at me. I fought not to grin.

"You are doing so well, my female. You are starting to understand. But don't mistake my actions for a game. I would never cruelly play with you. All you need is trust in me. Once you have that, I know you will thrive, even after you learn the truth of your situation."

She tipped her head a little, letting me know she was done drinking, and I removed the cup.

I petted her arms again, and she exhaled heavily, then leaned forward.

Giving her what she needed, I picked her up and held her close, thankful the secretions were already helping her.

"Are you ready for more, my sweet one? Let's see how much trust you are willing to give me in exchange for your nutritional paste."

I carried her to the table and left her on the single chair that remained in the galley. When I returned with a spoon and bowl of paste, she bounced slightly in her seat. Systems, those chest mounds were enticing when she jostled them like that. What I wouldn't do to see chains caressing her soft skin.

"Are you ready?"

I set the spoon and bowl beyond her reach and lifted her off the chair. She didn't fight me as I settled her across my lap, facing away from the bowl. I handed her the spoon and waited. She looked at the spoon, then me, then twisted to look at the bowl.

"Why does this feel like a test?" she asked.