More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Truth be told, I find it a pretty appalling way to make a living, taking other people’s rights away. Just because it’s legal on a lot of worlds doesn’t mean I have to agree with it.
“You’re coming with me.” She looks up, her eyes glassy, and it takes a moment for them to focus on me. I notice her pupils are dilated. She must be in a lot of pain. Her mouth pulls back at the corners and I’m fascinated at the thought of her smiling at me— But then she spits in my face.
All right. I’m going to take her back to the Fool, and then I’m going to come back here and choke the keffing daylights out of this one. “Gotcha.”
Instead, he smiles again. “Did you just try to kill me? Kef, that’s cute.”
“Ah. Fuck is like kef. Handy insult, that. If you really want to fight back at a mesakkah with words, use ‘kef.’ I promise you’ll get a better response.”
And thank you for the compliment. I’ve had no complaints about my cock in the past, but it’s nice to hear it reaffirmed. Face yes, cock no.”
“You keep fighting all the time,” he tells me. “Never let anyone think they own you or you’ll start to think it, too.”
“Actually, no. I didn’t buy you because I need a bed slave. You belong to you.”
I give her a jaunty little salute, because I love that she’s not afraid to demand things. I don’t know what kind of shit life has handed her, but I like that she hasn’t let it destroy her.
"What is this, the alien version of Hoarders?"
So yeah, that’s my job. Chimney sweep of the stars, or something along those lines.
“Fuck anyone that tells you that you’re ugly,” I say to him. “I like your face.” He’s quiet for a long moment, as if he doesn’t know what to say. “Humans do have strange tastes after all.”
“As captain of this vessel, don’t I get a say?” Kivian asks, amused. “No,” says Fran.
“You don’t have a thing to worry about from Tarekh other than possibly being buried in all the trash in his room. That man’s a slob to end all slobs. I meant that I saw the way he looks at you. He adores you already and I’m guessing he’d do anything for you. He won’t ever touch you, of course. That’s not who he is. But that doesn’t mean he can’t love you from afar.”
“Kef me. Are you two playing games with the noodles again?” He groans. “You realize it’s against military procedures to tamper with the food supply?” I make a face, mimicking his words, and he makes a rude gesture at me, which I promptly make back. I’ve learned that these guys can be a little gruff, but they’re also predictable and nice in their own way.
Alyvos is still hung up on his military service. Sentorr’s obsessed with making the ship run like it should. And Kivian—well, Kivian’s the party boy. Tarekh’s the heart of this place, the peacemaker. Fran’s the mom, I guess, if there has to be a mom.
Me? I’m not sure what I am yet. Family dog, maybe. I can live with that. All I know is that I love the Lovesick Fool and its crew and the last two months have been...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
“Why does everyone act like you’re a keffing leper? So your face is a little messed up. That doesn’t mean that you’re not an amazing person. People are such assholes.”
Part of me wonders if she’s telling me every sordid detail because she wants to scare me off. The opposite is happening. I feel more protective of her with every moment that passes, and I vow to myself that even if I have to die—or take everyone in this universe down with me—she’s never going to know that life again. She’s going to live the rest of her days safe and happy.
Me, I feel warm inside. I get it. He smashed everything he could because he couldn’t hurt those that hurt me. I should be upset, but I’m fucked up in the head because it makes me happy. He’s the only one I’ve told what I’ve been through. He’s the only one I ever plan on telling. And his reaction makes me feel less alone, weirdly enough. Like someone else gets it and understands me.
That human female is going to kill me. I grab my cock in my hand while in the water closet and give it a fierce tug.
“Leather daddy?” Fran snorts. “What is that?” I ask. “A man that ties his woman up and gags her for fun.” She shrugs and holds the end of the chain out to me. When I take it, our fingers brush and I can feel her trembling again.
Wow. I feel a lot like Princess Leia in a Star Wars movie, right down to the collar.
I look over at Tarekh and he’s just watching me, his eyes soft with affection. My heart squeezes at the sight, and I smile at him. I adore this man.
Aw, man. Human bubbles are boring. It looks like the world's dullest soap bubble instead of the beautiful works of art that are the other drinks. With a sigh, I pull one toward me and taste it. Bitter, too. I make a face. "Pass."
“Be right back, love,” he murmurs to me and brushes his lips over my brow as he stands.
“No one’s as good a man as you, and that’s why I love you. That’s also why I’m terrified of fucking this up.”
“Oh my. Ribbed for her pleasure.” “What?” “Nothing,” she murmurs. “Just a little something we humans like to say.” Her gaze moves up, just a little. “So that’s a spur.”
“That was impressive,” she murmurs, then pats my chest. “Good job.” I chuckle, because it seems odd to be told that, like I completed a chore to her satisfaction. “Thank you, I think.”
“You have my heart, little Cat. I’m afraid that I might never let you go after that.”
I caress her head, stroking her hair back from her face. “None of that is who you are. Who you are is this person here. The one with me now. The fierce little human who does what she must to survive and spits in the face of danger. I love her. I loved her since I met her.”
“We need to talk, doctor. I have an ache.” He approaches me, eyes narrowed with concern. “What aches? And why are you calling me doctor? And where’s my scanner?” Good lord, this man is bad at playing pretend. “What aches?”
