Persephone

I can tell from the way his brows crease and the way his deliciously full lips firm that Captain Zohail is not pleased with my demand.

“What?” he asks flatly.

“I want you to take me to Lost Earth.” My insides are back to quivering but I make sure my voice stays calm and sure.

“I cannot do that.” His response is equally sure and there is a note of finality in it that makes my stomach bottom out. I’m not giving up though. Straightening my spine, I attempt a level of bravado I definitely don’t feel.

“I don’t think you understand, Captain, I’m not asking. All it takes is a single word from me and you become not just a wanted criminal but an actively hunted one. You’ve been smuggling melvitae to New Earth for the past three years as well as a host of other planets, moons, stations, and outposts. Right now the GC merely finds you annoying but if the high council finds out you’ve been smuggling Class A contraband they’ll put a bounty on you so high that even the scummiest, laziest fucks in the universe will be crawling out of their holes to hunt you down. There won’t be a single port in the universe safe for you to show your face. Do you know what the penalty is for what you’re doing?”

The captain’s face is tired and solemn as he looks down at me. “Of course, I do. Death for me and life in prison for my crew.”

“That’s right. Which is why I’m not asking you to take me to Earth, I’m telling you that’s what you’re going to do.” It takes everything I have not to tack on a single, desperate little “please.” I have the upper hand here and I can’t show him any weakness, can’t let him suspect for even a moment that I won’t do what I’m threatening…even if I’m starting to suspect I wouldn’t have the guts to follow through.

“My apologies, my lady, but what you ask is impossible. That entire galaxy is only accessible through GC controlled jumpsites. We would need half a dozen codes and completely falsified genetic clearance markers just to dial in. Even trying to get close to it flying the old fashioned way would take months and we would be arrested far before we got close to your Earth.” He once again spreads his hands in a gesture of regret. “If you were demanding money or help smuggling highly illegal goods to a dangerous world in the far reaches of lawless space, those things I could give you. But I am only a smuggler. I cannot go up against the Galactic Collaboration and win.”

The nerves in my belly crawl their way up my throat and I can hear the desperation in each word. “You would really rather risk death and capture than take me to Earth?”

“It would be death and capture either way, cerinthi. At least from here we have a chance to run. The universe is a big place, there is space enough to disappear.” His response is so gentle, so kind even, that it takes a moment for the devastation of his words to sink in. When they do though it’s like having a black hole open up behind my ribcage, the internal quivering stops and I suddenly feel empty and hopeless. He continues,“Even if I could get you there it would not be the Earth of your grandmother’s childhood. It would not even be the poisoned place she left fifty years ago. It belongs to the Galactic Collaboration’s scientists and there is no telling what they have done to it since humanity left.”

I know he’s right. I know my grandmother’s earth is gone and I knew it even before he said it but it doesn’t change the deep, insistent call inside me demanding I see it with my own eyes. There has to be a way.

“Then take me close.” I turn and face him, my hands going to my hips and my feet spread apart. “We’ll jump as far as possible and then fly into the nearest galaxy we can and I’ll find another way. The Milky Way isn’t within the central domain of the GC, surely the galaxies close to it aren’t as tightly patrolled. For all the security around Earth, I imagine it’s more bureaucracy than because anyone’s actually trying to get there. Why would they, it’s a dead planet right? And the only species that might be interested—mine—is poor, primitive, and grounded to the boonies.”

Captain Zohail is unconvinced. “It is too dangerous.”

“Taking me to the next closest galaxy isn’t even illegal,” I say indignantly.

“I meant for you.”

The words aren’t the least bit disdainful or condescending. Instead he actually sounds concerned for my well-being and my heart gives a little hiccup. I tell my heart to hold its breath and stop that nonsense immediately. This is a robbery, not a romance. Giving the captain a saccharine smile, I reach up and pat his cheek.

“That’s sweet but may I remind you that I am forcing one of the most dangerous species in the universe to do my bidding? If I can handle someone like you, I think I can handle anything.”

Somewhere in the back of my mind a sly voice points out that it would love the opportunity to actually handle the captain and I’m grateful the conservatory is dim enough to hide the blushing in my cheeks. Unfortunately for the captain, it’s not loud enough to cover up the low-level hum that’s started up again. My blush deepens but my heart hiccups again and I’m suddenly aware of how close we’re standing and just how very alone we are. Maybe, just maybe, that small, seductive little voice points out, this could be a robbery...with benefits.

Zohail

I need to get away from this human. Clearly it has been too long since I took myself in hand and released the tension that keeps stiffening my cock. Or perhaps it is just this woman, this mixture of strength and bite and determination all wrapped up in a delicate package. She thinks she can handle me and I long to see her try. My mind is filled with images of her hands moving all over me, soft and agile despite the callouses I felt when she patted my cheek. My voice, like other parts of me, comes out stiff.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“My apologies again, Persephone. My body seems to have a mind of its own tonight.”

She waves away my apology but there is a strange expression on her face as she looks at me and I can see her eyes drop to my mouth and then lower. I feel her gaze move over my bare arms and shoulders and down my torso. Like most of my crew I am dressed simply, wearing a dark, close-fitting and innocuously armored top, which matches similarly constructed trews tucked loosely into my tall boots. Despite the armor, I am acutely aware of every bit of my body that her eyes skim over. The buzzing gets louder and I see her lips quirk.

“You know, Captain, there could be other advantages to us spending months together as we make our way to the other side of the universe.” This time when she walks her fingers slowly, torturously up my chest she does not pull away once she reaches my two hearts but lets her hand rest there. I wonder if she can feel how hard they’re beating. “Take me where I want to go, Captain Zohail, and I’ll let you take me where it’s clear your body wants to go as well.”

The buzzing stops. So it seems, do my hearts.

I reach up and carefully remove her hand from my chest, her fingers feel warm and capable and small enough that I’m afraid of breaking them. My thief is a confusing combination of contrasts. I don’t drop her hand but rather grasp it between both of mine and look down at her, serious and intent.

“Never offer yourself to me like that again,” the words cut between us, harsher than I had intended.

She inhales sharply and I can feel the way her hand suddenly tenses between mine but I continue, careful to soften my voice, “Sex is not and should never be a bargaining chip, cerinthi. It is too holy, too divine.” My voice gets low and husky, because even though my body has gone quiet, the wanting has not. “Make no mistake, since the moment you appeared I’ve wanted you on your knees but only so I can be there, worshiping beneath you. I would lose myself in pleasure with you, Persephone, but only if you were willing, desperate even, to be lost as well.”

Her eyes are wide and I can see the shiver that raises small, delicate bumps on her skin. I release her hand and step back, serious once more. “Only when you come to me like that, willing, and wanting, and desperate will we be able to ‘go’ anywhere together.”

Before she can try any more threats or seductions, I continue, “I will take you as close to your Milky Way as I can.” It will be months of travel but that means plenty of time to try and convince her not to attempt this fool’s errand. It also means safety for my crew. While I’m confident we could out-run the GC for as long as necessary, it is easier if we don’t have to.

“Are you serious?” she asks in disbelief. “Just like that?”

“Well you are still blackmailing me, don’t think I have forgotten but yes, just like that.”

“And no sex?” There is a strange note in her voice and my foolish, ridiculous hearts swear it’s disappointment. My artificial voice box crackles as I clear my throat. I am not sure how to answer her. Do I want her? Absolutely. Do I want sex in that weird human way where it is nothing more than a product to be exchanged? Absolutely not.

I settle for saying, “Sex is not a part of the deal.” Then I gesture towards the other side of the conservatory. “Come, I’ll show you where you can sleep.”

She is quiet as we pass by more plants and the long, low table where we eat our meals. I can feel the weight of her watching me as she follows behind and I think I would trade every unit I possess to know what she’s thinking. When we reach the four doors marking the individual sleeping quarters, I go to the one beside mine and hit the door panel revealing a small, bare room. Inside is a bed mounted atop a set of drawers, curved empty shelves built into the corner, and a tiny cleansing nook but not much else.

Persephone peers inside and then looks at the three other doors. “You only have four living spaces?” she asks and for the first time her voice is hesitant.

I smile down at her, “Given your apparent knowledge of my ship, I find it hard to believe you did not know that already. It is standard on a StarCruiser 37.”

“Well yeah, but I also didn’t think there were more than three people on the Alvarium!” She mutters something but all I manage to catch are the words “fucker” and “ruin.” Then she shakes her head and scowls at me. “I don’t need to take someone’s bed. I can sleep in the engine room.”

My smile turns into a grin. Zekef but this woman is cute. She’s willing to steal a spaceship but taking someone else’s sleeping quarters is apparently a step too far.

“You are not taking anyone’s bed. This room is empty. Riaz is at the far end and Alim and Mazai are drones.”

Her brows crease and her scowl becomes confused. “What the fuck does being drones have to do with anything? Being a drone doesn’t mean one of them deserves to be unceremoniously booted out of their own room. I may be a thief and a blackmailer but that doesn’t mean I’m a dick.”

I raise my hand in the sign for calm. “Peace, Persephone. I merely meant that they share a space. Drones are cell bonded. They prefer to be together.”

“Cell bonded? Like they live together? Or they’re in love or something?” She does the cute head tilt thing again and I have to actively stop myself from mirroring her with my own curious look. How can she know so little about Hunerae? Despite living on the outskirts of civilization she must have learned about other races in school. At the very least, she would have learned about the ones that sit at the head of the Galactic Collaboration.

“No, they are not in love. Or at least not as far as I know.” My lips twitch as I contemplate which of the drones would hit me harder for inquiring about such a thing. My units are on Alim who is calmer but lacks Mazai’s humor. “They are merely bonded. When male and female drones are born they are placed with another inside the hive.”

“So they grew up together? They’re brothers?”

I shrug. “They grew up together but they are not necessarily brothers.” She throws up her hands in exasperation.

“None of that made any sense! If they’re not brothers then why were they paired up? Why do drones come in twos at all? And come to think of it, why do they have four arms but you only have two?”

“You have many questions. Did you not learn any of these things in school?”

She looks down, her fists propped on her hips and mutters, “I was homeschooled until I was twelve. My parents worked in the badlands.”

She doesn’t elaborate and it is clear she is uncomfortable. She stifles a yawn and upon closer inspection I can see that she’s exhausted. Dark circles make hollows beneath her eyes and a surge of protectiveness overwhelms me.

“Go, sleep. I will happily answer any questions you have another time.”

She yawns again and gives me a suspicious look through slitted eyes. “You know, for a guy I’m blackmailing, you’re being really sweet.”

It is my turn to be uncomfortable. I look away from her, letting my head drop back to look at the stars that called to her so strongly.

“You are not the only one who has ever felt the desperate need to run, cerinthi. Perhaps it was more than just your body that resonated with mine.”

“Right,” her voice is clearly skeptical. “Well I’m still going to hack the door scanner so that none of you can come in here while I’m sleeping.”

And with that she backs into the room, gives me one more challenging look, and then slaps her hand on the panel so the door swishes closed.

Zek but she’s cute.