He looked me over and nodded. “Yes. These migraines sound similar.”
I tore my eyes away from his bulging muscles and focused on his face. Fortunately, it was a very handsome face. “You have to stoop over, flinch sometimes, like you’re in pain.”
“Why?” he said. “I’m getting stronger.”
“Because we want your crew to think you’re weak. If they think you’re weak, they’ll Challenge you. When you fight, you can beat them and remain as captain.”
Nighteko snorted and smiled in surprise. “Good idea.”
What? Did he think I was stupid or something?
I cleared my throat. “What were those black things they put into your food? It looked like it was some kind of creature.”
“It is a creature. It’s called a—” He spoke but the translation strip took a moment to translate the word into English. “Black Pudding.”
I chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” he said.
“The translator,” I said. “It translated the name of the creature to something we already have a word for in English. It… doesn’t quite sound right. What’s its original name?”
He spoke to the device. “Translator. Allow original pronunciation and replace it in your system files. It’s called an Absor.”
“Absor,” I said, trying the word out. “That’s much better.”
“Your pronunciation is very good,” Nighteko said. “Are you a cunning linguist?”
Cunning linguist. Why could I not stop thinking he’d just said cunnilingus?
“Uh, I’m not sure,” I said, scratching my head. “You’d have to ask, uh, someone else.”
He frowned in confusion. Thankfully, he shrugged and continued with his description of the Absor.
“They enter your digestive system before breaking down,” he said. “They infiltrate your blood via osmosis to gain access to your entire body. They attack your brain, forcing you to have nightmares about things you’d rather forget.”
His expression shifted as if he was reliving such a nightmare right now. I could imagine what it entailed…
Mom… Mom… Please… Don’t leave me…
A terrible event had happened to him in the past involving his mother. But what? It didn’t feel like the right time to ask, so I dropped it.
He picked up his bedshirt and put it back on. I wished he wouldn’t. I enjoyed looking at his body.
“Why do you transport slaves?” I said. “There must be lots of other things you could do.”
“Not if I want real freedom,” he said.
“So you get your freedom by taking it away from others,” I said.
“Why not?” he said. “It was taken from me and I earned it back.”
I blinked at that. He picked up on my surprise and regretted telling me that about himself.
“I was trained to fight in the pits at Tordal, my homeworld,” he said. “I turned out to be very good at it. Good enough to please the crowds and win the prize money. I used it to buy my freedom.”
I waved a finger at him. “So, you admit it! Freedom was always your goal—after it’d been taken from you.”
His eyes moved to the side in thought. Then he looked me over. “Your species is not nearly as stupid as we’re told.”
I laughed out loud.
“Did I say something funny?” he said, confusion ruling his emotions once again.
“That’s probably the most backhanded compliment I’ve ever received,” I said. “But coming from you, I guess it might mean something.”
I grinned at him. He smiled back. It was a handsome thing that made my throat dry and my heart thumped harder.
We shared a look.
It kept going.
And going.
And now it became uncomfortable.
“Ahhm…” I said, turning away.
“Human females are also more beautiful than I realized,” he said, stepping closer to me. “Far more beautiful.”
Oh my God. What’s going on? Why was he turning on the charm? And why was I responding to it?
And why did I want him to get closer?
I didn’t know where to look, what to do.
A knock came at the door.
“Come in!” I said, my voice two octaves higher than usual.
Stryder entered hesitantly. He’d heard the voice before realizing it hadn’t come from his captain. He looked between us, at how close we were standing. If I were to start away now, it would add credence to what he was already thinking. I wanted to deny it, but anything I said would sound like lies.
So, I decided to fold my arms. I read once it conveyed ‘control’ in a body language article. It failed to mention if it was universal across all alien species. I might accidentally be gesturing a completely different meaning.
“What is it?” Nighteko said.
Stryder cleared his throat. “Captain, we received a distress beacon. Do you wish to answer it?”
Nighteko gave it a moment’s thought before nodding. “I’ll get dressed and join you on the deck.”
The Stryder cast one more look at me before shutting the door behind himself.
“I’ll get dressed?” I thought. “I’ll get dressed?” What on Earth—sorry, off Earth—had made him think that was a good thing to say? His whole crew would be thinking we slept together! They’d think I was an easy target. And then they’d all come for a piece!
Nighteko opened his wardrobe and selected a uniform.
I gritted my teeth. “I’ll, uh, let you see to my duties.”
“Your duties?” he said. “Your duties are here.”
I was confused about what he was referring to. Then I spied the tray and empty bowl. I snapped my fingers. “Right. Good call.”
I scooped it up and made for the door.
“Not the tray,” Nighteko said. “Here.”
And he extended the uniform to me. What did he expect me to do with it? Wear it? Inspect it? Utilize my legendary origami skills and turn it into a floating yacht?
“Help dress me,” he said.
I snorted. “Yeah, right.”
He just glared at me. “You’re supposed to be a maid. This is one of your duties.”
“A pretend maid,” I said. “There’s no one in here to pretend to.”
He raised the uniform.
“I think you’re big enough to dress yourself, don’t you?” I said.
He didn’t move a muscle.
I dumped the tray on his desk and stomped over to him. “Ugh. Fine.
