Chapter Five #2
She took the tablet and read through the standard statement that his need for sex was paramount.
That was standard in a Hmrain contract. Without sex, they didn’t consume energy, and without that, they were unable to remain powered up.
With regular feeding, they got stronger and smarter.
That was one of the main reasons for needing other species.
Aubrey went to town. She demanded a fruit market, open coms with anyone who needed to speak with her.
A temple or some kind of office so she could meet with others who needed the oracle.
Wardrobe, regular meals. A recreational budget and some vacations every five years or so. Visits to nearby Terran consorts.
She nodded and handed the tablet back.
“That’s it?” Vress stared at the items she added.
“Yup. My world was dead. I am starting from nothing. I need a wardrobe. I need shoes. I need food, and I need a budget so I can buy craft supplies.”
“The temple?”
“I need a building where folk can gather that doesn’t interfere with your home.”
Vress looked at her. “Are you wanting to carry on other relationships?”
“Nope. Just don’t want you to have to deal with people hugging and crying on me. You are free to cover the interior and exterior with surveillance devices. I only want to provide people with the illusion of privacy when they speak to me.”
Vress blinked, and food began to arrive. He said, “You trust me with that information?”
“People want to find love, foresee death, and seek money. Those things are universal. If they come to me seeking war, I will show them their own death, either in a vision or physically.”
That surprised him. “You are violent?”
“The white eyes came with some defensive skills. I am pretty sure I could turn them offensive if I were in danger.”
Her guards chuckled.
Aubrey bit her nail. “Can you eat something? Etiquette is not my favourite thing.”
One of her guards laughed.
Vress looked at him. “What happens if I don’t?”
“Uh, one of the other Hmrain refused to eat, so she threw a vegetable stick at them, said the food had touched their lips, and started eating. No one knew what to do.”
Vress’s shoulders were shaking. “I see. So she is food motivated.”
Aubrey looked at him. “Yes, she is. So start eating or pick a food you don’t mind wearing.”
He blinked, reached, and got a fried meat stick. He put it in his mouth, and she burst into action. Her guards snickered, but she didn’t care. She didn’t need to eat every ninety minutes anymore, but it was dinner time, and she was hungry.
She used the long chopsticks to pick up food and made sure she ate neatly.
Vress was looking at her like he was watching Shark Week.
She ate enough to ease the hunger and looked at him. “You ordered most of this. Aren’t you going to eat more?”
He grinned. “Now I really want you in my arms for traditional seating.”
“Oh, the lap thing? Ra does that to Harwin all the time. It’s really off-putting when she’s breastfeeding.”
He smiled. “I have heard that my eldest brother has a consort.”
“Ah, he has made her Queen of Aten and turned her gold with her name carved all over Aten.”
“So do you crave a title?”
“Nope. I am the oracle. That’s enough. If I am remembered, I want it to be for that.”
Vress smiled. “I think that you will be remembered. I might need therapy, but you will be remembered.”
She snorted, laughed, and ended up coughing on a mouthful. “Thank you, I needed that laugh.”
“I am serious.”
“I know. That’s what’s so funny. I am an oracle. Barring me being crushed by my own temple, you would be stuck with me in perpetuity.”
He blinked. “Really?”
“Really. I am one sturdy bitch.” Aubrey kept eating. “But the incidental funds I asked for are going to go toward snacks.”
He laughed. “A woman of excellent appetites is another addition to your attractions.”
“Great. So the contract is good?”
“Yes. I need only to settle on your bond.”
“Oh. I didn’t think I needed that. Ra has paid my station bond.”
“I still want to make an offering to indicate what I believe your worth is.”
She smiled hopefully. “A cupcake?”
He shook his head and wrote on the tablet. He signed and marked the tablet. “When you finish your frenzy, I will hand this over to you for your signature.”
She laughed and said, “I hope you can wait.”
He snorted. His wing moved to block her from the table. “Now, Aubrey.”
She looked at him. “Fine. Hand it over, Lord Vress.”
He inclined his head and handed the tablet over, moving his wing back.
She took the tablet, read over it, blinked at the bond, and shrugged. “Right. That will take me a while to work off.”
Fifty million standard credits was quite a lot.
She signed, did an ocular scan, and pricked her finger to the side of the tablet. The tablet flared, and the contract locked. She handed the tablet back, and he gave it to one of his guards, who left immediately.
Vress said, “Finally.”
He reached out, grabbed her, and settled her on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck, inhaling deeply. She paused. “What are you doing?”
“Contract is signed. Figure it out.”
She shrugged and reached out, bringing a serving plate to her chest. She continued her meal with a bit of huffing and reaching.
Her guards were amused, but they had seen her do worse in pursuit of a meal. Whenever she had a new dish, Vress pulled her against him and sighed happily.
She asked him, “So do you prefer a consort who whines and begs you or one that is independent. I can be either, but I have to practice.”
Vress paused. “Be yourself. You are easy to read that way. What skills have you learned on the station?”
“In the last week? Languages, contracts, etiquette, dance, types of food.” She kept eating. “How not to scream when they put the wrong setting on the medical scanners.”
Vress asked, “Why not scream?”
“Screaming causes panic. I politely told them to change the fucking settings, and it was done.”
She turned and offered him some of the food. He opened his mouth, and she put in some shredded meat. He sucked on her fingers, and she blinked as lust curled through her. He paused. “So simple?”
“I am easy to read, remember.” She got a different dish and offered him some. It was vegetable-based, and he didn’t look particularly enthused. She chuckled and got him something else before he sucked on her fingers again.
He gave her a serious look. “You are wrecking my fun.”
“Apologies.” She put the next bite into his mouth and waited until he had his fun with her fingertips.
He smiled and sucked on her fingertips, and she enjoyed the reaction that the wet tugging caused. When he released her, she blinked at him sleepily. “Hmm?”
He grinned. “Keep feeding yourself. I have tested our compatibility and am content with it.”
“By sucking my fingers?”
“The scent of your heat spiralled out and around us in those moments. I am very content with the fact that you simply react to me with limited contact.”
She blinked and leaned over to get her favourite. She lifted her plate and kept eating. She mumbled, “Interesting test.”
He nuzzled her neck. “You smell like somewhere I want to stay.”
She was full and set the plate back on the low table.
“Fingers.”
She sighed and held her fingers up before she could use her wet napkin.
He licked her fingers clean and smiled, pressing his forehead to hers. She moved her head slightly to kiss him, but he whispered, “Once I start, I am not stopping.”
She whispered in response, “Oh.”
“Have you seen this moment?”
“I have seen you from this angle. I did wonder how you got here.”
She stroked his shoulder under the long vest he was wearing. The snug leather top he wore next to his skin was smooth and smelled like him.
During their survival, smell had not been her friend.
Body odour was everywhere; clothing stank and was covered with grime.
Now, she was clean again, and her normal tendency to sniff out fear sweat, panic sweat, and just nice and secure body scents.
Hmrain smelled great. They smelled like spice, leather, and usually some kind of plant.
Even the females. They smelled trustworthy—if that was a scent—and they had probably been designed that way.
She cuddled up with him as the food was removed, and he said, “Your personal effects are on my ship; the bond is registered. Would you like to go?”
“I would like to go to one of the education areas to say farewell to some of those who have become friends.”
“Would you like to bring any of them with us?”
She paused. “Can you show me images of the crew on the warship and the average appearance of your people?”
He blinked. “I can. Do you have a tablet?”
She pulled her tablet out of the small case that hung from the belt around her pretty dress. She handed it to him.
He brought up a crew roster and showed her.
She smiled and tapped one. “We can bring Alyssa. He’s hers.”
He chuckled. “That is what you wanted?”
“I know what the ladies with Hmrain or descendants look like. There are more who are not in that grouping.”
Understanding came over his features. He took the tablet back and brought out an average display of his people. She looked. “Nope. Not in this batch.”
He blinked. “So, one?”
“If she will come with us. I will speak with her. Do you have fabricators?”
“I do.”
“Excellent. Let’s go.”
She moved to swing her legs off him, but he said, “Oh no. I am going to hold you for a while. You are taller than previous companions, and I am setting my senses to your configuration.”
She blushed and said, “Do you know where the education centre is?”
“Yes.”