Enticed By The Corsair (Corsairs, #3)

by Ruby Dixon

“Promise me,” Tarekh says in a low voice. When I glance over, he continues. “Promise me that if she’s dead, you’ll put an end to me, too. I won’t live knowing that I failed her.” I stare at him. We’ve been through a lot, he and I, and Tarekh’s always been light-hearted and easy-going. This isn’t him. But I’ve never been mated. I don’t understand what it’s like. This sits wrong with me. But I also know what it’s like to want to die. So I nod.

“We should set this entire keffing ship on fire and launch it into the nearest asteroid, that’s what we should do.”

“Execution is too quick for those bastards. They need to hurt and they need it to last for a long keffing time. New plan. We hurt them for a while.” I put my hands together and crack my knuckles.

Truth is, as much as I’d love to torture those szzt and make them suffer, if we want to protect ourselves and our crew, we need to leave. Fast.”

Her eyes aren’t hidden by shadows. They’re gone, nothing but dark, angry scars remaining in their place.

Something deep inside me instinctually recognizes her as mine. I’ve heard other mesakkah talk about it. How when they meet their female, they just know in their gut that she’s the one. That the connection is lightning fast and soul-wrenchingly deep. Always thought that was garbage until now.

Now, I think I’d dismember the next person that tries to lay hands on her.

My heart skips a beat at that smile. For that, I’d do anything. For her, I’d move asteroids and fly through black holes, unafraid. I’m hers in that moment. Completely and utterly hers.

Her name means “flower”? It suits her and is as lovely as she is.

It’s oddly relaxing to picture my rescuer as a masculine-sounding bunny.

Iris infuriates me. I’ve only known her for an afternoon and yet I feel like she’s changed my life…which is why it’s all the more frustrating that she won’t let me in.

I’m starting to hate every time she says “okay” because I suspect she’d love to say something else instead. I imagine myself in her shoes, and I suspect she’s uneasy at the thought of going to my quarters.

She immediately begins to peel off her filthy rags, and I turn away. It seems wrong to watch her get naked, even though I know she wouldn't be able to see that I'm watching her. I'd know, and that makes all the difference in the world.

“Oh, I'm not fixed. I'm as broken as ever. But you get better at hiding it. And you get better at being broken.”

If I have to choose between Iris and my revenge, I choose Iris. It’s a first for me to give up on a chance to fight, but Iris needs me.

I glance over at Sentorr, who's watching me with the corners of his hard mouth turned down slightly. I study him. There's not a hair on his head out of place, his horn coverings immaculately polished. He's even wearing a uniform, which is ironic because the Fool has no uniforms. If we did, though, I imagine they'd look like the stiff, uncomfortable creation he's wearing, with a million buttons on the front and a high collar to choke the life out of a male. And decorative sleeves, I add mentally. Damned Kivian loves a decorated sleeve.

Is he lonely? I didn't realize I was until I saw Iris. “Someday it'll happen for you, too, my friend.” He just snorts.

Her expression still looks suspicious. “Can I touch it?” I swallow hard. Touching a male mesakkah's tail is the equivalent of fondling his cock. She doesn't know that, though. And I don't want to admit it to her if it'll make her uncomfortable. I understand her fear, though, and I hate that I've made her worried to get into bed again. She can't see and I don't want to surprise her. “Of course.”

“What did you expect?” Her smile is shy even as she strokes the fur of my tail, and I nearly come in my pants. “A cotton tail.” “Cotton…tail? I have no idea what that is.” “Kind of like a fuzzy bunny. You're so soft.” She pets my skin. “Like a rabbit. I guess I've been picturing you as this big sort of bunny rabbit with armor. Is that weird?”

“I don't know. I'm not familiar with your planet's lifeforms. Are rabbits fierce? Warlike?” A little giggle escapes her. “Warlike? No.” I am utterly enchanted by that small laugh.

Cat likes Tarekh, and his face could make paint peel, so I hope my appearance doesn't offend Iris.

“Mesakkah cap our horns when we come of age. It's a sign of adulthood. Of civilization. I don't know why we do it, just that if you don't cap them, you're looked at like some sort of wild man who just emerged from the jungle on a very backwards moon.”

“What color is this?” “Black. My skin is blue.” Her lips part in surprise, and then she smiles shyly again. “Really? Blue? What color blue? Pale? Aqua? Dark blue?” “Uh…just blue.” She chuckles again. “I guess I should know better than to ask a guy what shade of blue he is.” Her tone is wistful. “I wish I could see it. I've never seen a blue person before.”

“What do you think?” Iris gives a little sigh. “I'm afraid you're not very bunny-like after all.”

No wonder there's no fight left in her. They broke her and she hasn't had time to mend. I'll always be here for her, I decide. Always.

Space-Siri, as I call her, always stops me before I run into a wall, so I just make sure to use her as a guide until I get familiar with certain areas.

“Hey, Sentorr?” “What?” He's abrupt, but not in a rude way, I don't think. He sounds distracted. Like I'm breaking his concentration. “What's a spur?” It's utterly quiet on the bridge. So quiet, I wonder if I've said something offensive. Then I hear Sentorr take in a deep, deep breath, so loud I can hear him suck in air. “I am not going to answer that,” he says in the stiffest voice I've ever heard.

“Make me forget,” she whispers. “Remind me that I'm in a good place.” “You're with me,” I tell her between presses of my mouth to hers. I am hungry for more, so much more. I love the feel of her slight body pressing against mine as we kiss, and my cock aches, my needs long suppressed. “In my bed. In my arms.” “Take my virginity,” she whispers, rubbing up against my chest. “Make it so no one wants to buy me ever again.”

“It's not to prove a point,” Alvos says. “It's because I love you and you're mine.”

But maybe I should try harder to be the male she needs instead of the male that I am. Maybe I should think beyond my fists. Try to solve this without needing a fight. Do this right.

“Go eat fish,” I say triumphantly. I know it's wrong, but it makes my Iris chuckle in that delightful, husky way of hers, and it's worth looking a bit foolish to the others.