Total pages in book: 175
Estimated words: 166095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 830(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 830(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Seventy-Two
JAMEF
A bounty is just a job. It’s a task to earn credits, and it doesn’t matter how unsavory it might be or how far it might take me. It’s work, and I remind myself that I’m not connected to whatever vileness the people I’m hunting might have partaken in.
I just hate that we’re exposing Dora to that element of the universe so quickly after rescuing her. She deserves to feel safe and unafraid, and I worry that if we dive in to our jobs, we’re going to be introducing some of those awful elements of the universe onto our ship. There’s a reason we have a prisoner hold.
Bethiah might be relaxed about it but I’m not.
The thought hangs over my head for the rest of the day and into the night. We mate, all three of us, with Dora sandwiched between us. I drive into Dora from behind as she straddles Bethiah upside down and uses her fingers and mouth on her, and Bethiah teases her cunt. By the time we clean up and collapse into bed together, Dora is asleep in Bethiah’s arms. I debate if I should sleep on Dora’s side or Bethiah’s, and then move to Bethiah’s side and press up against her instead.
She wriggles against my larger body, shooting me a look. “You’re taking all my space.”
“Then lean back against me,” I murmur, nipping at her ear. “We need to talk anyhow.”
“Uh oh. Someone’s overthinking.”
“I’m not. I just thought we should come to an agreement before we land on the station tomorrow.”
Bethiah turns her head toward me, her horns bumping mine. “Agreement? What about?”
“That we don’t take the most dangerous bounties. No killers. No escaped convicts. We look for quick and easy and safe jobs.”
“You mean the baby shit,” she whispers derisively. “Kef that. Those don’t pay anything. If you want to replenish your credits quickly, you look for the biggest ticket item and you go for that.”
“And endanger Dora? She’s in enough danger as it is, being an unmarked clone and a human to boot. The last thing we need is to put her at risk. I know you don’t value your own neck, but try to value hers, just a little.”
Bethiah casts me a fierce scowl, and her tail smacks against my leg.
“I can hear everything the two of you are saying,” Dora mumbles sleepily. “You’re terrible whisperers.”
“Go back to sleep, fluffit,” Bethiah tells her. “We’re just discussing bounty hunter business.”
“I’m not an idiot, you know,” Dora continues, her eyes closed. She looks incredibly sleepy but content, nestled against Bethiah’s breasts. Her hand searches behind Bethiah, looking for me, and I brush her skin. She laces her fingers with mine. “I’m going to let you do your jobs, and I’m going to stay out of the way. I know you deal with dangerous elements, but I promise I’m not going to go anywhere near them, all right? So you don’t need to worry.”
As she yawns, I ignore Bethiah’s triumphant look. “It’s not you I’m worried about, sweetheart. Generally whoever we’re taking in doesn’t want to go. They could cause problems.”
“So carry a blaster at all times when someone’s on board and shoot first. Got it. Can we go back to sleep now?” She gives my hand a squeeze. “I knew you both were bounty hunters when I signed up for this. I still want to be with both of you.”
I grunt. “Go to sleep.”
Bethiah’s expression grows thoughtful. I rest my hand—still joined with Dora’s—on Bethiah’s hip. “We’ll be careful.”
“My version of careful?”
“Very funny.”
“I thought I should specify.” I press my mouth to her shoulder, holding her tightly. This is what I’ve always wanted. Bethiah in my bed. Dora, too. The three of us, cozy and peaceful and safe. And yet I didn’t stop to think what it would mean if I went back to bounty hunting. That things might no longer be so safe for Dora, who’s vulnerable and helpless. She can’t read our language. She can’t operate our machines. She’s completely dependent upon us.
All it takes is the wrong person getting onto our ship…
Bethiah covers my hand with hers. “We’ll be careful. I’m sure we can find some reasonable jobs until you’re more comfortable with taking on bigger ones. We’ll let you lead.”
I sit up, staring down at her. “Did…did you just compromise with me?”
“Don’t let it get to your head,” she retorts.
“Will you two both be quiet?” Dora protests. She sits up, too, propping up on one elbow and giving both of us a sleepy glare. “Do we need to establish a new rule? No intense conversations after an orgasm?”
“Just one orgasm?” Bethiah teases, reaching up and cupping Dora’s full breast. “How you must suffer.”
“We truly are neglectful mates,” I agree, getting in on the teasing. I’m fascinated by the sight of Bethiah’s thumb teasing the human’s nipple. “Shall we make it up to you?”