Page 33 of My Alien Pirate

I caught myself, but Nova's eyes flashed with sudden understanding.

"Is that what this is about?" she hissed. You're jealous?"

I whirled away, my tentacles lashing in agitation. "Don't be absurd."

"Look at me!" Nova demanded, her voice cracking like a whip. Reluctantly, I turned to face her blazing eyes. "You have no right, Zharrox. No right!"

"I have every right!" I roared, advancing on her. "I'm the captain of this ship. I'm the one who saved you! You're mine!"

Nova stood her ground, chin lifted in defiance. "Yours? Your property?"

Her words hit me like a physical blow. I recoiled as I remembered that this was exactly how I had thought of her when I'd first brought her aboard. And the fact that they crew all thought we were going to sell her once we reached Novum.

I struggled to maintain a steady voice as I spoke through my teeth. "You don't understand the position you've put me in," I growled, looming over her. "The crew is ready to mutiny because of you."

"Then maybe you should worry more about your crew and less about who I spend time with," Nova spat.

We stood there, nearly touching, both breathing heavily. The air crackled between us, charged with fury and something else – a heat that threatened to consume us both.

"Get out," Nova whispered, her voice dangerously low. "Get out before I say something I'll regret."

I leaned in closer, my voice a menacing rumble. "This isn't over, little zixxit. Not by a long shot."

As I turned to leave, Nova's voice lashed out once more. "You want to settle this? Fine. My quarters. One hour."

I paused at the door, looking back at her flushed face and clenched fists. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something beyond anger in her eyes. But then it was gone, replaced by cold fury.

Without another word, I stormed out, the chaos of my feelings swarming in my mind. Pushing past a stunned-looking Jorixx in the hallway, I stomped to my quarters, the colors of my skin gone almost black with the unexplained emotions that swirled within in. One hour. I had one hour to get my shit together and figure out what to say to Nova. The thought sent a shiver of both dread and anticipation down my spine.

23

Exploration

The door to my quarters slid shut with a soft hiss, leaving me completely unsatisfied. Slamming a door would have felt really good right now. Alone with my thoughts and my heart still pounding from the confrontation, I clenched my fists, trying to steady myself, but the anger and confusion coursing through me wouldn't abate. Zharrox's outburst had been unexpected, and the intensity of his jealousy had taken me by surprise. What was he trying to prove? Did he really think I was some sort of possession?

I paced the small space, the dim lighting casting long shadows on the walls. My mind raced, replaying the scene in the med bay. The raw fury in his eyes, the way his tentacles had latched onto my waist and held me against him, the possessiveness in his voice—all of it left me unsettled. Yet, beneath the anger, there had been something else. Something that made my heart skip a beat and my skin tingle.

Even if it was buried under layers of resentment and confusion at the moment, I couldn't deny the attraction I felt toward Zharrox. He was a complex being, a mix of strength and vulnerability, and despite everything, I found myself drawn to him. But his behavior today was unacceptable. He needed to understand that I was not a thing for him to control. He might be used to giving orders and being obeyed, but I was not a member of his crew.

Lying on my cocoon bed, I stewed thinking about what I was going to say to him when the hour was up. Was he truly jealous, or was I completely misreading the situation? Did he want to keep others from touching me because he shared the feelings I was reluctantly beginning to acknowledge in myself? Or was this simply about not wanting anyone else playing with what he saw as his toys? I couldn't decide which possibility infuriated me more.

When the door chimed, I jerked upright. I couldn't believe an hour had already passed. My pulse quickened as I sat up, straightening my tunic and taking a deep breath. "Enter," I called, my voice steadier than I felt.

The door slid open, revealing Zharrox. He stepped into the room, his scales slightly less dark but his ridges still pulsing a bright red. The door closed behind him, sealing us in together. We stood there for a moment, staring at each other, the tension between us palpable. The space suddenly becoming much smaller with his bulk.

"You wanted to talk," I said, folding my arms across my chest. "So, talk."

Zharrox's unusual eyes flickered from gold to blue to green and back again with a mix of emotions as he struggled to find the right words. Finally, he spoke, his voice a low growl. "You don't understand what you've done, Nova. The crew—"

"This isn't about the crew," I interrupted, my voice sharp. "This is about you and me. About whatever this is between us."

The broad muscles of his chest twitched, and he took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "You think you know me, little scientist? You think you understand what it means to be in command of a ship like this?"

"I know enough to see that you're afraid," I shot back, my anger flaring again. "Afraid of what you feel. Afraid of losing control."

Zharrox's ridges darkened, and he clenched his fists at his sides. "I am not afraid. You don't know what you're saying."

"Then prove it," I challenged, stepping closer. "Stop hiding behind your anger and jealousy. Tell me what you really want."

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