Page 144 of Sohut's Protection

She didn’t realize she’d asked the question until Sohut began answering.

“Because you’re my gnora…” he said.

In the background, she was vaguely aware that Geblit was choking on air at that proclamation and Wawa took that moment to growl at him, halting the choking immediately.

Her entire focus was on Sohut.

He’d used that word again.

“What does that mean?” she asked.

Sohut didn’t miss a beat. “After all this is over, I promise I’ll show you.”

Geblit choked again and, this time, it was Sohut that glared his way.

Clearing his throat, Geblit reached in his desk and took out a flat, clear disk.

“Deposit your fluids here.”

Cleo frowned. “My what?”

“Spit on it.”

Oh.

“Why?”

“The union will need your biosignature as part of the registration process,” Sohut answered.

Oh.

She guessed it was a little like having her fingerprints taken.

Bending her head a little, she aimed for the disk Geblit had outstretched but his hands were shaking so much it was clear that she would surely miss.

“For phek’s sake.” Sohut snatched the disk from the green alien and Geblit rolled his eyes in relief.

“Thank Raxu. I did not want to risk this one’s juices touching me.” He wiped his hands anyway.

Ignoring him, Cleo deposited a drop of saliva on the disk and Sohut slipped it back across the table to Geblit.

A ray of green light passed over the fluid as Geblit resumed typing on his holo-computer. “Sohut U’xol Cal-Pholy…” he muttered as he typed. “Sponsor of human…” He glanced her way. “What name do you go by?”

“Cleo,” she said, glancing at Sohut as she did. “Cleo Barlow.”

Geblit made a sound in his throat then continued typing.

In the next few seconds, he uttered, “Done.”

Before she could even breathe, she was being pressed against Sohut’s chest so tightly all she could inhale was him, and he smelled like home.

His shoulders slumped as he hugged her and she could hear Geblit groan in the background, muttering something about her lack of limbs.

Sohut inhaled deeply, his head in her hair.

“Phekking, Wawa,” he muttered, “I can’t even have the luxury of smelling my female without your scent interfering.”

His female?

---