Corsairs - Straik (Corsair Brothers 3) - Page 22

I look around the room, and my gaze is drawn back to the food. It's been sitting on his table overnight, and some of the noodles are probably congealed and gross, but the cake still looks amazing and he only picked at it. There are things that look a bit like rolls with some frothy pinkish cream on top, and my stomach growls all over again. "Since I gave up all my secrets, are you sending me to the brig now?"

At least in the brig, I can convince the a'ani to feed me, I bet.

Straik looks thoughtful as he gazes over at me. He thinks for a moment, and then shakes his head. "No, you stay here, under my nose."

"Because you still don't trust your crew?"

He gives a bitter laugh. "I trust them a lot more than I trust you. I have no doubt that if I let you out of my sight, you'll have the entire ship humming to your tune within the space of a day. At least if you're here, I have a semblance of control."

Well that's a little flattering. It makes me sound like a total badass. Kinda hard to feel badass when you're chained to someone's bed, naked and hungry, but I like that he fears me all the same. "Well, Mr. Control, will you at least share your food? Or are you going to starve me to death too?"

Straik eyeballs me in that displeased way of his, and then he sighs heavily. "It seems I am weak." He moves to the table and picks up a plate of what looks like vegetables. And while my stomach growls, there are better-looking things on that table that I'd rather eat than a bunch of greens.

"Actually," I say, and he turns. I give him my most winning smile. "Can I have some of that cake?"

"So now you're making demands on what kind of food you should get?" He looks incredulous.

"I mean…if you want a kitten ask for a pony?" I shrug. "No harm in asking. And you're not eating it."

Straik makes a sound of disgust. He grabs a piece of the cake and tosses it onto one of the plates, and I don't even mind that it makes a wet plop. I will eat it, sloppy cake and all. He tosses one of the roll things on there, too, and a long strip of something white. One after another, he piles the plate with all kinds of things and then moves over toward the side of the bed, holding it just out of my reach.

I'm salivating with anticipation, and I worry when he pauses, just staring down at me. "What?" I ask, bristling. "What now?"

"Just trying to figure out if there's anything else I need to try and wrangle out of you." He gazes down at me thoughtfully, then holds one of the fluffy roll things out. When I reach for it, he pulls back. "Who's in love again?"

This son of a bitch. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. "Me, all right?" I lie. "I'm in love with Dopekh. I saw him on the Star and it was love at first sight, so I followed him over here. But he's not willing to play ball so it's not going anywhere."

Straik stares down at me so hard it feels as if he's boring holes into my skin with those eyes of his. I keep my expression bland, and finally he grunts and hands me the roll.

I shove it into my mouth and then nearly choke on it. It's not a roll—it's some sort of vegetable that reminds me of a potato, and the pink stuff is some thick, savory concoction with a consistency like mayonnaise. I wonder if it'd be inappropriate to barf food all over him right after he gives it to me. I struggle to swallow, fighting the urge to gag at the strange textures. When I choke a bite down, I wheeze out, "Water. Please."

"I'll do you one better." Straik sets the plate down next to my legs on the bed and then returns to the table. He comes back with the carafe and pours a steaming cup of that coffee-smelling beverage, and…for the first time in several years, I feel joy.

18

STRAIK

All right, then. New tactic. I feed her to get her guard down.

The female's still lying to me, but I'm starting to anticipate that. In a way, it's kind of fun. She's not willing to give, and I enjoy trying to pick her apart. I watch as she takes the night tea in her hands and cradles it, a reverent expression on her face as she inhales the scent.

If I can get her to trust me, even a little, maybe she'll let a few details of their plans slip.

She takes a small sip of the night tea, and disappointment crosses her face. "It's not coffee?"

Tags: Ruby Dixon Corsair Brothers Fantasy
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