Corsairs: Kaspar (Corsair Brothers 2) - Page 136

"All good, I promise." I eye Sleipnir with fascination. "He's bigger than my Sterre. I don't know why, but I thought they'd be the same size. Brighter, too."

"She's the one you found in the wild?" Sophie asks, curious. At my surprised expression, she looks bashful. "There's little enough going on here that any piece of gossip is welcome. Jade's told us all about you both and your adventures."

"That was the brief version, I'm sure," Kas says, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and resting his chin atop my head. Funny how I fit there perfectly. I rest my hands over his as he speaks. "We've kept all the juicy stories for face-to-face dinners."

She smiles, and when Sleipnir gives another yawn, she eases his heavy head to the floor. "I should probably get started on dinner, then. Jerrok would just send you on your way with dry noodles, but with this many people, we'll have something a little special." She gives Sleipnir another caress, her expression torn. "I hate giving him something to make him sleepy, but with so many people on station invading his territory and the fact that you guys have another carinoux, I wasn't sure how he'd act."

"I understand." I give her an awkward smile. "Sterre's back in my quarters. We stuffed her full of food and locked her in for a nap."

Sophie grimaces. "Is she as much of a bored chewer as this one?"

"Shit, I hope not." I glance up at Kas. "We haven't really had a chance to leave her alone."

"Looks like we'll find out soon enough." Kas shrugs.

Sophie gets to her feet, sweeping off her dress with a flutter of her hand. She's so…pretty. Ladylike. How the heck does she plan on being a corsair? Better yet, how the hell did they leave someone like her with someone like Jerrok, who looks as if he'd cheerfully push us all off a cliff if it meant he'd have peace and quiet? Sophie just smiles at us, moving forward. "You're welcome to stay and enjoy the terrarium while I prepare food. It's probably best to stay out of Jerrok's way for a bit. He gets a little grumbly when too many people are in his space."

They must have become friends while she was here. At least there's that. I smile at her. "It's going to be nice to have another woman on board the Little Sister to even out some of the testosterone from these three." I gesture at Kas.

Sophie bites her lip, smiling. "I forgot to tell you. I asked Jade and Adiron to keep it a secret until I could tell you both in person, but…Sleipnir and I are staying here. With Jerrok."

There's a faint blush staining her cheeks that tells me that they might have gotten cozy while we were gone. And while I don't get it—in the slightest—I'm slightly relieved. It means more space on the ship everyone keeps telling me is cramped. Plus, she looks so happy.

"What does Jerrok have to say about that?" Kas asks, but there's a teasing note in his voice.

Sophie lifts her chin, all pride. "He says he'll throw you out the airlock if you even try to take me with you. He's mine and I'm his, and you're not touching our sweet little Sleipnir either."

Kaspar throws his head back and laughs, his arms shaking against my shoulders. "So you snared him, did you? We figured you'd either throw Jerrok off the asteroid or he'd throw you off. I didn't realize you two would end up in bed together." He laughs again, delighted. "Mathiras will bluster about the credits."

"No, he won't," Sophie says in an arch voice. "Or he can come bitch about it to my face and see how well Jerrok takes it."

I just grin. So much for her being soft. Looks like she found a spine when they left her with Jerrok.

I shouldn't have been surprised that Sophie wants to stay with Jerrok. Over dinner, it becomes obvious that they're totally besotted with one another. A massive pot of noodles flavored with fresh vegetables from Sophie's gardens is the meal, and I eat two bowls while Jade just politely pokes at hers, a wan look on her face. As we eat, I watch Sophie and Jerrok. She blushes every time she looks at him. He sits next to her, hovering over her and making sure she has enough to eat, refilling her glass when she's out of water, and gives her these obsessive, protective looks that remind me of Kaspar.

It's the sweetest. Maybe it's the pregnant, happy-with-her-man part of me that wants to see everyone coupled up, but I'm happy for them. And as the crew of the Jabberwock talk (okay, tease one another), it's obvious that Sophie is as good for Jerrok as he is for her. The asteroid station is cleaner than it's ever been (which is a little alarming, given how messy it still is) and Jerrok is bathing and actually…I wouldn't say “friendly” but not quite surly, so everyone is amazed at this transformation.

Tags: Ruby Dixon Corsair Brothers Fantasy
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