Right then and there, I knew I wanted Rektar as my husband.
Is that a low bar to set? It absolutely is. It's just that after years of being treated like either a pair of tits or garbage (or both), it's refreshing to meet someone that looks at me as if I'm worth something. And out here on Risda III, a husband means security. It means all the creeps that fly into port won't bother you. It means your farm is safe from poachers who'd just as soon bury you in the backyard as rape you.
I could do a lot worse than Officer Rektar. Custodian Rektar. Whatever.
The male's as clueless as he is sweet, though. I've been coming by here several times a week for the last three weeks, and every time I bring in baked goods. Rektar's enormous. He's not lean and cut like his co-worker Khex. Rektar's built more like a thick wrestler. If Khex is a quarterback, Rektar's the linebacker. He's sheer size and brutality, and his wide features and big nose (and even bigger hands) only add to that look. I'm fine with that, though. He can crush me under all that weight any day of the week.
Any. Fucking. Day.
I might also be a little horny after months and months of celibacy, I think to myself as I play with my neckline. I thought after being freed I'd never want to have sex again, but it turns out my libido has other ideas. It died for a long, long time until Rektar showed up, and then it blazed back to life. So I've been dropping all kinds of hints, and Rektar has not been getting it at all.
At allllll.
I tell myself he's just shy. He might be completely uninterested, but I'm hoping that it's shyness instead. I can work with shyness.
Besides…it's not like I've got a lot else going on. So I beam at Rektar and pull the plas-film off of the container I've brought with me, letting the smell of the muffins waft through the air. "I baked you a little something sweet. I hope you like it."
Rektar's ears are flushed, obvious thanks to his cropped military haircut. He fusses with his data pad for a moment before looking over at the food I've brought. "It is not necessary for you to feed us, Lucy. Our provisions are quite sufficient."
"I know." I keep smiling even as I use metal tongs to pull one of the crumbly muffins out and set it on a tiny ceramic plate I brought with me. I've been researching mesakkah tastes and they seem to like strong flavors and scent is important, so I made these muffins with the most potent local fruit I could find. They taste like a tart slap in the face to me, but they're not for me. "Humans believe in gifting one another with baked goods as a sign of friendship. And since neither of you have wives, I thought that task would fall to us local women to make sure you guys feel welcome here in Port." I put a muffin on a second plate and bring it over to Khex, who's smirking at me.
He absolutely knows what I'm up to.
And why shouldn't he? I'm being obvious as fuck. After losing my homeworld and being taken as a slave, though, I don't care if I'm obvious or not. If there's a scintilla of happiness waiting for me out there, I'm going to leap for it.
It's just that…poor Rektar is woefully oblivious. I return to my seat and toy with my neckline again, giving the object of my affections an encouraging smile as he holds the muffin plate in front of him.
Rektar takes a bite as I watch, and his face creases in surprise. "This is quite good."
"Why thank you." I wiggle with pleasure in my seat, loving the compliment. Baking is something I definitely enjoy, as evidenced by my figure, but I rarely had anyone to bake for prior to the two mesakkah officers' arrival. Our book club meets once a month, and I bake up a storm for that, but the rest of the time, my friendships are remote. Add in the fact that most of my farm is pretty self-sufficient and it makes for a long, boring day. Rektar polishes off the muffin in two big bites, and I reach for another with the tongs. "Please, have more."
"You shouldn't go to all the trouble," he tells me with a stern look, even as he reaches for another muffin.
"Nonsense." I set it on his plate with a flourish and lean in, hoping he notices that my neckline dips low. "I'm happy to put all kinds of things in front of your mouth for you to taste."
Behind us, Khex chokes on his muffin, wheezing.
Was that too obvious? It might have been. I fight back a sigh of frustration as Rektar jumps to his feet and moves to Khex's side, whacking the other male on the back.