Chapter Eight
S age sat and prepared a tea set while Zell watched. Overseer, would you like some tea?
He walked toward her and sat down. Yes, Sage. I would.
She nodded and began the dance of heating the water and preparing the utensils.
Do you enjoy making tea?
She didn t look at him. Others enjoy watching it, so to give pleasure to others, it is worth it.
Zell paused and asked, Do you do that often? Give pleasure to others?
She flicked him a glance. As a companion?
Yes.
Apparently not. You were my first assignment, and I failed. She resumed her slow dance of preparing tea.
What do you mean?
Well, if you had gotten pleasure, you would have returned it.
No, I mean, what do you mean it was your first assignment? You took me to the base.
Her lips twisted in amusement. I was told I was Hmrain-compatible, and I thought that my first time with one should be as pleasant for both of us as I could manage, so I went into training. It amused the matron to no end, but it was a qualification she could list if needed.
Oh.
She whisked the tea and poured the cup, picking it up in the fingertips of both hands and offering it to him with her head down. She waited, and when he picked the cup out of her hands, she sighed. She poured herself a cup and sat staring into the foamy blue.
Sage, look at me.
She obediently stared at him.
Why did you leave?
Sage blinked. The contract was over. There was no indicator that the time with you was anything other, so I left. If you didn t want a consort, Matron assured me that she could find me someone.
Zell s fingers tightened on the cup. I wanted you.
You touched me to make me orgasm. There were no indications of affection.
What would you have taken as an indication? Zell sipped his tea, raised his brows, and smiled.
For my species, it is simple. Contact, embraces, remaining with me after you get what you needed, and letting me seek comfort in your body.
He blinked, and his lids fluttered. I suppose there was nothing in it on your behalf.
I tried. In the beginning days, I tried.
I greeted you with smiles, soft words, ran my hands across your chest. You picked me up, aroused me so you would fit, and then preceded to make me cum so you could leave.
After week two, I was done. By week three, I was depressed, and week four, I was counting the days.
He slumped his shoulders. It was not my intent. There was much to be done.
So, you fucked me, literally, dropped me on the bed, and left. She sighed. There were also two encounters where you didn t arouse me sufficiently, and it hurt.
His eyes went wide. I didn t know.
Sage sighed softly. I know, and that is the point. I was an energy output with a warm hole.
He grimaced. Symo mentioned that I was cold.
Your people are cold. That s fine. Bailey told me to write what I need and show it to you if you wanted to know.
Sage looked at him and saw his calculating look.
But you didn t ask, so it doesn t matter.
I will ask Matron to find me a frequency-compatible Hmrain with tactile needs.
I think that would be nice. I like to be touched. She sighed. It comforts me.
Zell nodded. That is what Symo said. You are a tactile species.
I understand that your people are not.
He blinked. No. You are right. They are not. They are appearance-driven, and the more perfect the body, the higher the attraction.
Sage looked down. Right. She looked like a balloon animal in comparison with his previous consort. So, my body is a turnoff.
No!
Sage jumped at his emphatic statement. Okay. Well, I thought that s what it was. It was an easy guess.
Zell muttered, This is awkward. Would you please come over here and lean against me while we talk?
I don t know if I am allowed to do that. She said it honestly.
What?
I am an unassigned companion right now. I don t know if I am allowed contact with a non-client.
Zell looked at her and said in surprise, You are serious.
This is the only home I have had in years. Yes, I am serious about it. She looked at the table and tried not to say the fact out loud. If the Temple kicked her out, she had nowhere to go. It would be back to the bond auction, and she hated the bond auction.
Zell opened his com and said, Matron, does Sage have permission to contact with me?
Of course, Overseer Zell. She may do whatever she is comfortable with.
Thank you, Matron.
Sage blinked.
He looked at her, widened the positioning of his left arm and extended his left wing. It was part demand, part invitation, and more interest than he had shown in her to date.
She got up, and her silks slid as she moved, sat down next to him, and let herself be pulled against him.
Sage sighed as his arm came around her. She blinked at the comfort that the feeling gave her. She blurted out, So, do you have any empty worlds that I could use for planting?
What?
Planting. Farming. Gardening. That kind of thing. That is what I like to do, and I am good at it.
So, are you agreeing to be my consort?
Bailey says I need to read the contract first. I have a lot of stipulations.
His hand slowly slid up and down her arm. And what are they?
Mostly this kind of thing. I need touch. I need it more than I imagined. You don t seem to have that built into you, so I think we are a bad match.
He sighed. Did I tell you about my first consort?
No. There is a statue of her in the square. That s all I know.
Lematha was an energy match, barely. I needed a consort to boost me for the development of one of the satellite worlds.
Our contract was sparse. She got financing for her family, and I received the power that I needed when I needed it.
It was cold and efficient. I never drank blood from her.
We were together for two hundred years before she decided to let herself fade.
She lived a hundred years with her family after that.
Ah.
I got out of the habit of contact, took what I needed, and usually, before her clothing was straightened, she was making an appointment to go see friends for tea the next day.
I am out of practice. Zell squeezed her slightly.
But I am in favour of creating new habits.
I have a tactile nature myself, and being able to exert it is something I am rather looking forward to, and your body makes me hungry.
You were in such a rush.
Coupling was in the contract, but cuddling was not. I didn t want to breach the terms. To say that I was startled when you left was an understatement. He laughed softly. I think the entire world heard my roar.
She smirked. That must have been startling. No wonder you slept so long. You are irritable when you wake. On Earth, we referred to that as not a morning person.
I believe I could be if I am able to do it again and wake with you next to me or in my arms.
That s quite the change.
It will be in the contract with a penalty if I do not hold up my end of delivering what you need.
That is what the consort relationship is supposed to be.
Reciprocal. I give, you take, and you give so I can take.
Your lifespan will increase to keep pace with mine, and you will be at my side as long as you wish to be.
Plus farming.
He laughed. We will hash it all out, but I believe we can find somewhere you can have your garden.
Farm. Bailey has been collecting seeds from our world from-uh-lost shipments.
Oh, so you wish to reclaim some of what was lost.
I wish to start a new version. I will need the right soil, pollinators and, of course, the plants that Bailey is growing. She has a knack for getting things to sprout. She chuckled, and fatigue began to sweep over her. She s also an excellent baker. She makes things that taste like home again.
I will ask Symo to visit with deliveries of plants and baked goods. Zell caressed her head and kissed her hair.
I thought you were going to jump me.
He smiled. Later, when we are on the warship and headed home. I intend to be on you, in you, or next to you the whole trip.
We need to make the contract.
I will wake you when it s ready, Zell murmured.
She smiled and fell asleep against him.
Sage, wake up; it is time to sign the contract.
Sage felt hot, slick, and aching. She fought for consciousness and stared at him. There was no indication that he had been doing anything until he licked his fingers. Seriously?
I was doodling, nothing more. I have the right just to get up and walk off with you, but I am writing this very extensive contract, and you were making soft noises in your sleep, so I just-
Doodled. Wait. Where did you learn that term?
He chuckled. Symo has Terrans, and he has a psychic adaptation. He learned a lot from them, including what happens when a beloved mate dies.
Oh. So, Bailey s story.
She needed time, and he could give it to her, so he gave her a year in total. She used it in interesting ways, and that is how she was on my station when you came through. How did you recognize each other?
Oh, I cursed, and she heard me. I cursed in my original language.
Then she warned me of an attack, and we ran for her shuttle.
She called Matron and got clearance. We spent the travel time eating and drinking.
She baked Terran-style treats, and we ate, drank, and talked until we fell asleep.
When I woke up, I saw her for the first time.
What do you mean?
She pushed herself upright, rubbing her forehead, and saw the contract tablet in front of her. She started reading as she spoke. She was out of her suit. All scarred up from knife and claw wounds.
You have beasts on your world?
We did, but these were human marks. Our own did that to her when they killed her husband and murdered her child.
He got very still. Did that happen a lot?
Religious nuts twisted their texts to say that it was the end of the world. No child should be born into it. Of course, some bastards just wanted to kill people without restraint. It was fun when nothing was fun.