The Kiss: An Anthology About Love and Other Close Encounters(118)

“I get a wage?” Her eyes went wide.

“Yes. It's not huge, but it's enough to live on when you're not on the ship.” Every second that passed made Dylan more comfortable with his decision. Her delight in being free to earn and do as she pleased only some of the time was beyond anything he'd expected. Using up most of his savings wasn't something he'd thought he'd enjoy.

“How soon would it add up to eleven hundred credits?” she asked a minute later. At first he wasn't sure what she meant but he soon realised her intention.

“Many months but you better not save it all up to pay me back. I don't want your wages. You'll be earning them for you.”

“I'd like to pay you back. If I am free you get nothing for the credits. Let me give you some, please.”

“How about a small percentage of what you earn while you're on my ship? If you work hard and get promoted you will pay me back even faster so I know you will be a crew member I can count on.”

She nodded vigorously at his suggestion and gave him the largest smile he'd ever seen. He knew this was one of his best moments since he'd become a captain.





Once a Slave always a Slave


As Auraylia sank into the cafeteria seat she sighed. Her feet hurt from all the running about. So far she'd mostly run messages from one area to another as well as tools and equipment. If it needed taking from one place to another it was for her to move it. In three days she'd learnt the entire contents of every hold, cargo space and engineering room all over the ship so whatever was needed could be fetched.

The work kept her occupied and all the while they travelled in space, somewhere she'd dreamed of going. On top of that, the food was the best she'd ever tasted.

While she munched on the macaroni cheese several of her crew mates sat down next to her. So far most of them had been busy with their own tasks but they were being allowed time to grab food and rest before they would be called to stations again.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Ben said as he scooped the first forkful of his lunch into his mouth. She gave him a small smile. So far he'd been friendlier to her than any of the others, but she wasn't used to having people talk to her like he did. She found him attractive and being unguarded towards men was new to her.

With him came many of the crew who were friends. So far she found most of them hard to talk to and wasn't sure how much effort to make.

Ben pushed the book she had aside so she couldn't read it and put it out of her reach.

“You need to read less. It's anti-social. We want to hear your pretty voice.” As Ben spoke another man sat down opposite her and she had to suppress a shiver. She recognised him from her dormitory and knew he was in charge of the Crime and Punishment division but no more. Beside him sat a bulky woman. Auraylia couldn't remember ever seeing her smile. She shifted in her seat and tried to think of something to say in reply.

“So what do you think of being in space?” Ben continued and gave her a grin.

“It's not what I expected. I thought it would be more... calm.”

“Not in enemy territory it's not, but don't worry, you're safe with me.” He put his arm around her shoulder and leaned in so close she could feel his breath on the side of her face.

“She's a slave. We'll be sending her into combat first,” the nearby woman retorted. Auraylia sucked in her breath. The Captain had told her no one should know she was a former slave and promised no one would find out from him.

“Really? Our Auraylia is a slave? Why didn't you tell us? I've got some things I'd love you to do for me.” Ben's eyes roved over her body. “Maybe when we get some down time we can have some fun.”

“I was a slave. I'm not any more.” She returned her attention to her food, not sure she wanted to go down this route of conversation, especially with what Ben was implying. On her second day someone had caught her looking at him and made a comment about her stare. Not knowing what to say, she'd flushed red. Everyone had taken it as a sign of her interest and the news had travelled straight to Ben. Ever since he'd been flirting with her. Only now he seemed to want more of a slave and master relationship. Being bought by Dylan was meant to save her from that sort of forced usage.

As soon as she'd finished eating she got up to go. Ben grabbed her wrist and pinned it to the table.

“Going so soon, sweetheart? Why don't we go find somewhere private so you and I can get better acquainted. You can show me some of those tricks slaves get taught.”

“I've got work to do,” she mumbled, but he didn't let her go. A second later the canteen door opened to admit the Thorian officer who was acting Captain when Dylan wasn't awake. Immediately, Ben lifted his hand off hers. Not wanting to give any of them a chance to say or do anything else, she hurried off.

It took her several minutes of walking through the ship's corridors for her heart to slow to its normal pace and along the way she almost crashed into the logistics officer, Trell.

“Oh, hello Auraylia, are you enjoying the book?” Trell asked in her usual overly cheerful manner.

She nodded before she remembered she'd left it in the canteen in her haste to get away from Ben and his friends. Both him and the Crime and Punishment overseer had looked at her like she was a toy to be handled.