Corsairs - Straik (Corsair Brothers 3) - Page 56

"Yes?"

"Are you going to go shirtless until we arrive at the new station?"

He touches his chest, his face turning as dark blue as the base of his horns. "There seem to be an infestation of moths aboard the ship. My clothes have not survived their attack."

Oh god. Do I confess? I bite my lip, hard. I decide to save it for another moment, because it seems downright cruel to hit him with that while he's already clearly feeling awkward. "Maybe you can get yourself some more clothes once the computer finishes printing mine?"

Straik straightens, his eyes going wide. "I forgot about your dress. Shall I go get it?" He jumps to his feet. "I can—"

"It's okay," I say quickly, and reach out to touch his hand. "Stay. Let's finish our lunch."

"Of course." He thumps back down across from me, scratching his chest, and I can't help but stare. He really does have a nice body. Sure, it's blue, and it has weird plating in spots, but his muscles are thick and firm, and I'm a sucker for those tattoos that dance across his skin. Really, it's not a chore to look at him while he's shirtless.

Straik's watching me expectantly, as if I alone can carry the conversation. This really is a terrible date, but I can't find it in me to be upset. It's just so…charming that he's trying and clearly has no clue how to go about things. "So what do you do for fun, Straik?"

He touches his chest again, as if unsure I'm speaking to him, and then blinks. "I…exercise?"

That doesn't sound all that fun. "And when you need to unwind?"

He rubs his big hand over his chest once more. "I…exercise?"

I put down my eating sticks, biting back a laugh. "Seriously?" It does explain why he's so jacked, but how sad is that? "Do you like music? Singing? Dancing? Card games? What?"

Straik considers this for a moment. "I don't have fun doing those. You asked what I do for fun."

I arch an eyebrow at him. "Do you have fun with anything?"

When he pauses for a really, really long time, I just feel sorry for him. Does he not know how to have fun at all? Does he do nothing but, I don't know, corsair miserably and work out and rage against his horrible mother? That's a terrible way to live.

"I have fun with you," he says slowly. "When you…challenge me."

Well then.

43

STRAIK

Lunch goes well, I think. Ruth eats all of her food, and it pleases me to feed her different things, because I know she hates noodles. She laughed and talked and smiled at me the entire time, and it felt…good. It felt like she truly wanted to be there with me, and that's a feeling I can't ever quite get used to. My mother never wanted me around, nor my uncle. My crew is paid to be here. Most other people tend to keep their distance.

But sometimes I think…perhaps…that Ruth doesn't hate me. The thought fills me with foolish, foolish warmth, and makes me grin like an idiot.

After lunch, we retrieve her printed dress from the bot, and I set it to print another tunic for me since mine are falling apart. She slips into the lavatory to try on the dress, and when she comes out, she's swimming in the damned thing. It's clearly sized for a different type of alien than Ruth, and the shoulder seams hang halfway down her upper arms, the sleeves enveloping her hands entirely and the skirts dragging on the floor. She looks like a child playing dress-up in her parents' closet, and even the thick material—perfect for uniform tunics, not for dresses—doesn't seem to sit right against her skin. I rub my chin, considering. "We'll pick up some clothing at Prefalon. I'm sure we can get something cut down to your size."

Ruth flaps a sleeve at me. "I was better off in your clothing."

I rather liked her in mine, too. "I'm afraid mine is all falling apart, or I'd happily give you my tunics."

"It's the thought that counts, I guess," she murmurs, rolling up a sleeve. As she does, the neckline gapes and slides down her front, exposing a length of skin that rivets my attention.

I clear my throat. "Yes, well, I need to work in my office. Use the comm if you need anything."

As much as I want to stay at her side, I know I'm getting in far too deep. I need to put some space between us, before I start spouting things that will make both of us uncomfortable.

I spend time in my office going through my finances and the ship's inventory, along with my contact list. Anyone that might have a shred of a connection to my mother is gone, with the exception of my uncle. I'm still holding out hope he'll be able to help me in some shape or form. If not, I'm not sure what I'll do. Re-selling a hundred-plus humans on the slave market is not on the table. Disposing of them is not on the table. Contrary to what my mother might think, humans and clones are people too.

Tags: Ruby Dixon Corsair Brothers Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net
readsnovelonline.net Copyright 2016 - 2024