The Kiss: An Anthology About Love and Other Close Encounters(122)

Before she could get her hatch open Thomas and his girlfriend came in, followed only seconds later by Ben. Both men gravitated towards her, and in her prone position half in and half out of her bed she couldn't do anything to stop Ben grabbing her around the waist. He gave her a yank and she crashed back to the floor, barely landing on her feet.

“Careful there, Auraylia,” he said, making it sound like she'd slipped. He wrapped an arm around her which helped steady her but she didn't like being so close to him. “Still having trouble getting into your bunk? Why don't you use mine? The middle's always the hardest to get into.”

“No thank you. I'm sure I can manage,” she replied and turned to use the cube again. Before she could, he was standing on it and swinging himself up into his own.

“Suit yourself, but you know where to find me if you get bored of trying yours.” He shut his hatch and allowed her to go back to trying hers.

“Sure you don't want to try mine, either?” Thomas asked and reached out to stroke her arm. She pulled away but it meant the cube was even further away from her. He moved to stand in between them as she realised everyone else was in their bunks and the pair were alone.

Thomas came up close to her so he could whisper in her ear and she froze to the spot.

“I bet you're not used to sleeping alone are you? I imagine you slept with your masters, warm in their beds. I know Dylan freed you but you must be missing them. Why don't you join me in my bed? I can be your new master.”

“I think I better obey our Captain's orders and get some sleep. We both ought to,” she said and pulled back from him. He let her go and got into his own bunk, but a familiar feeling crept through the pit of her stomach and she no longer wanted to even pretend to get into her own bed.

Ever since arriving on the ship she'd obeyed every order she'd been given. She knew she owed Dylan a lot and the hope of a new life had been a risk worth taking. It wasn't the Captain's fault the same sort of men were here as on her home planet, but now she had to try and keep herself safe, just like she had to there. It came down to a choice. Disobey the Captain or risk a repeat of an experience she'd rather forget. No part of her could argue for obedience over safety.

After checking the room outside was clear, she made her way out of the dorms and headed for the crew showers and toilets. If she was going to keep her body awake she needed to give it a boost and she could think of nothing better than a shower. It had also been several days since she'd had one. So far there had been no good opportunity to use the facilities while she could be sure no one else would enter. Although the men and women had designated washing times, the other gender could still go to the toilet during that time, and she hated the idea of men walking in on her while that vulnerable.

Despite the heat from the water pouring over her body she stood and shivered the entire time, her arms wrapped around her torso. Thomas had looked at her exactly the way her uncle had. Although, she supposed he hadn't really been her uncle. He'd been friends with her parents and he'd taken her in once they'd died. She'd called him uncle but that wasn't the sort of relationship he'd wanted.

Once dressed again she hurried down a corridor, trying to look for a good place to tuck herself out of the way and maybe get a few hours sleep. Or find someone she could work for who wouldn't question why she was out of bed; someone who might think she was part of the skeleton crew.

She tucked her head around the doorway of the weapon laboratory and couldn't see anyone in there, so wandered inside. Before she heard him the Thorian came out of the engine room behind it and his eyes met hers. She smiled, not sure what to say. He was the second in command and would know she wasn't meant to be up.

“Are you looking for something useful to do?” he asked while she was still frozen in fear. She nodded and came towards the workbench covered in scattered weapons.

“You can help me with these then. They need fixing.” He motioned to the assortment of gun parts, wires and battery cells. A few seconds later he asked her to hold something steady so he could solder it in place.

“So, why are you disobeying a direct order?” he asked. She kept her eyes fixed on the chip she held and tried to appear as calm as possible.

“I'm not tired and I wanted to help. You're up as well.”

“I'm a Thorian. I need a lot less sleep. You, on the other hand, are exhausted.”

“Really, I'm fine.”

“Of course, and that is why your eyes are bloodshot, your hands are unsteady and you've yawned three times in the last two minutes.”

She didn't add the headache she had or the way her limbs seemed clumsy and unresponsive, but let silence fall between them.

“What are you afraid of?”

Still she said nothing. His question alarmed her in how accurate it was. Fear kept her awake and he must have somehow picked up on it, although, it shouldn't have surprised her. Thorians were different. They were designed to be faster, better, and stronger than any human and she realised it was why she felt safe with him. No Thorian would ever shame their breed and sleep with a normal human. Even the risk of producing an inferior offspring would keep him from considering the slightest physical contact with her.

Knowing this, she decided to trust him and tell him what bothered her. It might give her the protection she needed.

“I... You're right. I am afraid. The other men, in the dorm. They scare me.”