Chapter 7
Seven
Breakfast was eaten in silence.
The canteen was bustling with activity. Humans and Dragans alike were eating, laughing, gossiping. Kai sat next to Astra, while cradling his little baby boy in his arms. Harper and Tyr sat next to them, chatting.
Meanwhile, Jax and Elara both ate their meals in complete silence, while constantly glancing at one another.
“So, what’s the plan for today?” Elara asked, breaking the silence. “Are we taking the Hyena’s out for a spin?”
“Fat chance,” Jax snorted. “We’ll be repairing the jet you damaged, human.”
“You mean the one you crashed? Got it.”
Jax snarled. This brat was going to make him explode…
“I’m going to get another cup of kuv ,” he said as he stood up.
“Can you get me one as well, please?”
“Sure.”
Jax walked away, and Elara breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, a moment without her boss’s strong, powerful musk surrounding her.
“And?!”
Kylie sat down next to Elara, slamming her tray down on the table. The sudden sound made Elara jump.
“Tell me everything!”
“What?” Elara stammered. “What are you talking about?”
“Are they as blue down there as they are everywhere else? How big is he, really? Tell me to stop. This big? No, bigger? No, even bigger? Wait, are you serious???”
Kylie held her hands more than a foot apart, her eyes wide, her mouth hanging open in shock.
“How can you still walk?!”
Elara shook her head. Her best friend had mind in the gutter. That’s what was happening.
“Shut up, Kylie,” she said, hitting her best friend on the shoulder. “We didn’t fuck , okay?!”
“You didn’t?” Kylie screwed her face up. “Why not?”
“Are you kidding me? Because he’s a total asshole, remember?!”
“Yeah, but, still. Why not? Lord knows we’ve been on this ship for ever . A booty call doesn’t mean anything.”
Elara pinched the bridge of her nose. “Perhaps it doesn’t to you, but you know how these Dragans are. Look at them, look at Kai, Tyr, Yvar, the lot of them! They mate for life. For. Life ! Give them so much as a whiff of your pussy, and you’ve got a seven foot tall alien warrior following you around like a lovesick puppy for the rest of your life. Is that what you want?”
Kylie looked over her shoulder at the table packed to the gills with Dragan-human couples. “I mean, yes?” Kylie said. “They look awfully happy. If I can get a man to look at me like the general looks at Astra, then sign me up.”
“Yeah, well, Jax isn’t exactly like Kai, is he?”
“Good point. So you didn’t do anything last night? Not even hand stuff?”
“Not even hand stuff.”
“Did you at least see him naked?”
Elara sighed. Why was this conversation still going on?”
“Maybe a little,” she admitted.
Kylie’s eyes grew big and a smile spread across her face.
“He was getting ready to take a shower, nothing more! Now hush. I don’t want the entire ship to hear your wild theories. We’re just roommates, nothing more.”
“If you say so,” Kylie said, suggestively wiggling her eyebrows. “My lips are sealed. Yours, on the other hand…”
Elara hit her friend on the shoulder again. “Shut it!”
At that moment, Jax returned carrying two cups of steaming hot kuv . He nodded at Kylie. She was on her crew, but unlike Elara, this one knew how to stay out of trouble.
“Morning, captain,” she said.
“Morning, Peters.”
“Did you sleep well, captain?”
Jax sipped on his black brew. “Excellent, Peters. Why do you ask?”
“Just interested in your sleeping arrangements, sir.”
“Hm. And how interested are you in latrine duties, Peters?”
“Uhm, point taken,” Kylie said. “I’ll leave you two be!”
She stood up, and her vacant seat was filled a moment later by a tall alien warrior named Xander. His black hair was cut short, his blue body covered in scars and tattoos. The warrior was grinning widely.
“Good morning,” he said as he slapped Jax on the back. “I heard the general got you good, Jax. Having to tolerate a soft-skin in your bed. Imagine!”
“Move along, Xander,” Jax growled. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“Oh, I’m fine right here,” Xander said as he leaned forward, looking directly into Elara’s eyes. He looked her up and down as if she was a piece of meat. “Tell me, little one. Have you been helping Jax unsheathe his sword?”
Jax stood up so quickly that his chair fell over backwards. His muscles bulged as he grabbed the big warrior by the neck and yanked him to his feet.
“Watch your mouth,” Jax growled, his voice a low rumble.
Xander pressed his forehead against Jax’s, a wide grin on his face. “Or what? You’re going to pound me like you’ve done this little one?”
Jax struck without warning.
His fist connected with Xander’s cheek and the warrior staggered backwards, blood dripping down his face. He licked it up with a smirk. “That was a cheap shot, Jax.”
“You deserved it, Xander.”
The entire cafeteria fell silent as the two alien warriors squared up. This is exactly what Elara did not want to happen — to become the center of attention. She half expected Kai or Tyr to step in, but they did not.
The aliens were free to set their own picking order.
Elara stepped between the two of them and placed her hands on Jax’s hard, blue chest.
“Enough!” She said. “Both of you! Enough!”
Jax breathed hard through his nose and took a step back. Xander laughed. “Yes, listen to your pet, captain.”
Xander grabbed his food and left.
“Show’s over,” Elara said to the crowd. People returned to their conversations as she grabbed Jax’s arm and dragged him outside. The alien captain followed begrudgingly.
“What the hell was that about?!” She asked when they were alone.
“He insulted your honor,” Jax said. “You shouldn’t have intervened, human.”
“Screw that. I don’t need you to defend me, Jax. I can take care of myself. I’m an adult, you know. Not some damsel in distress.”
Jax shook his head. The little human truly knew nothing of Dragan and their ways, not even after all this time on-board their ship.
“Prove it,” he replied.
“What?”
“Prove you can defend yourself. Let’s go to the ring right now. Strike me even a single time, and I’ll concede that you can defend yourself. Until that time comes, you’ll need me.”
Elara sighed. Why was it always about fighting with these aliens? Of course she knew that Jax was much stronger than her. And much quicker. And just a better fighter in every possible way.
But… he was giving her a chance to land a blow on that smug, handsome, blue face of his. A single blow — that’s all she needed.
She couldn’t let that opportunity go to waste.
“Fine,” she said. “You know what? Fine. You’re on. Let’s go, big guy. You and me. Right now.”
Jax grinned. “Follow me, human.”