Page 15 of Truthful Deceptions

“Saved me? Ha!” she exclaimed.

“Yes, saved you,” I repeated. “You'll never have to worry about food, clothing, or health needs again. Anything you require will be provided. Most importantly, you'll never have to labor ever again.”

“Except in your bed,” she snapped.

I sounded a negative rattle. “No! If you go into heat or wish to be intimate again, I would welcome it. But that would never be a requirement between us.” I didn't want to say the next part, but I had to. “Honestly, I shouldn't have allowed it, but your allure was much too strong for me to resist.”

Her jaw dropped. “I’m so confused. You contracted me for sex but didn't want to have sex? And now you've kidnapped me but you don't want me? I don't understand.”

A loud rattle of anger came out of me before I could stop it. “You worked in a brothel? That's so dangerous for a tiny, helpless human!”

“No kidding,” she snarled. “You’re the reason it's dangerous. If you'd followed the rules, we would've had a nice evening, and then I would've gone home to a healthy station account.” She threw up her arms and wailed. “Now I have nothing! I am nothing. I'm a slave!”

“You're not a slave,” I insisted, tempted to go to her.

She glared at me even as water dripped from her eyes. “If I'm not a slave, then what am I? Your girlfriend?”

“My pet,” I answered, then regretted it when she let out an angry scream.

“Pet? Pet!” She looked around the room and ran for the bag she'd brought with her. It was sitting on my bunk, and as she grabbed it, I stood up but didn't approach.

“I'm not a pet,” she said, rifling through the bag. “I might be human, but I'm not dumb. Hell, I'm probably smarter than you.”

She pulled an item out of her bag and held it out between us as if to ward me off. I didn't know what it was but didn't plan to do anything unless she tried to hurt herself.

“Yes, you might be,” I agreed. “I'm beginning to realize you're far smarter than I'd been led to believe.”

“Yes, I am,” she said, waving the item in the air. “I could take a range-finder sensor apart and reassemble it with my eyes closed. I'd like to see you do that!”

“I couldn't,” I agreed. “I acknowledge your skills and intelligence. I’m afraid that doesn't negate the reality that you're now a pet.”

“Turn around and take me back,” she demanded, jabbing the item in her hand in the air between us. “I won't tell anyone what you did, and we can pretend it was all a big mistake.”

“It wasn't a mistake,” I said. No matter how angry Opal was with me, I couldn't bear the thought of living without her. It might have been less than a full rotation, but I knew I wouldn't survive if I couldn't be with her.

“Damn it, Tolly,” she said, water falling from her eyes again. “Don't do this to me. I thought you were so wonderful.”

“I'm not sure if I'm wonderful," I said. “But I'll be a good owner.”

With a screech of anger, she charged at me, arm extended and the item in her hand aimed for my chest.

I let her run into me with the blunt end of the cylinder in her hand. I heard a clicking, but nothing happened. I didn’t know what the thing was supposed to do, but when I didn’t react, Opal dropped it and backed up.

“Please try to be calm,” I begged. “No one on this ship will ever hurt you. We won’t sell you or rent you out. Unlike those heartless Massoc. You're perfectly safe with us. When we visit a Talin station, you’ll be seen by proper healers. We’ll get you better clothes and all the things you need or want.”

As I spoke, Opal shook her head and kept backing up. When she got to the cabin door, she slapped a hand to the display. The moment it opened she fled out into the hall.

Chapter 5

Opal

I should’ve had Maglia insist on using one of the rooms on the station instead of letting me go to a ship. She hadn’t been overly concerned, so I hadn’t been either.

Now I was paying for my over confidence.

Holding my bag to my chest, I sprinted down the hall. I was being stupid, because where was I going to go? Even if they had emergency pods or escape tubes on this ship, they’d be able to pick me back up right after I launched.

Panic made me keep going despite common sense.