Page 12 of Sloane

"I'll make sure Alik is there tonight."

"I want you there too, Jovi," Sloane says my name with a sugary voice, but when I look back at her, there's nothing sweet on her face. No, she's pure seduction, tightly wrapped in a plush female body.

I know paying her even more attention right now will only make me lose myself more, but I'll tease and tease myself so long as it means she keeps talking to me like she is right now. Essa's back is to the both of us as she cleans up the food synthesizer, which only has my mind wandering as to how much I could get away with before she turns back around.

Sloane grabs some of the dessert goop onto her finger before bringing it to her mouth. I watch her tongue lick the blue goo, her lips wrapping around it and her cheeks hollowing. My eyes grow wide, wanting to know what else she'd be willing to give the same treatment.

Sloane pops the finger out of her mouth, a smile playing on her lips. "Will you come?"

I close my eyes, giving my brain a moment to process the question in a way that isn't sexual. Essa told us we have to treat Sloane like we would treat her, but that's becoming very difficult when Sloane acts so much different than Essa.

I push down all the quips about coming that are dancing on my tongue. Instead, I give her a noncommital grunt, a head nod, and then turn around before she can make me lose control.

"One more day," I mumble to myself, hoping I can survive one more day of her teasing without completely losing any chance of ever having a pleasure crew member again.

six

Alik

"It's just a movie, Alik," Jovi laughs at me as I check myself in the mirror one more time. "The lights will be off. She won't notice all the preening you've done."

I feel my lip curl as I shoot him a look that I hope conveys that I hate him right now. I haven't been preening. I showered, made sure my hair dried in a way that didn't make me look like I'd just woken from a long night of sleep, and then brushed the entirety of my body to catch any loose hairs and make my pelt softer.

Okay, so maybe I've preened a little bit, but not enough that Jovi needs to be talking about it or giving me a hard time.

He's been out there, speaking with Sloane like they're friends for the last couple of days while I've been in self-imposed isolation in our room. It's my own fault for losing my cool when I saw Sloane shaking Phial's hand, but still, Jovi could be showing some camaraderie with me. Or at least not rubbing it in my face that he's gotten close to Sloane. Not as close as we want to be, but way closer than me.

Getting to see Sloane's breasts through the cameras has almost made all of it worth it because I don't think that would've happened if I was as accessible as Jovi is. Unless he's been seeing her breasts in person. I narrow my eyes in accusation but don't get to call him out on seeing her naked before he's speaking.

"She asked me to invite you," Jovi says as he slaps me on the shoulder.

I eye his chest, noticing how his pelt is set in a specific swirled pattern that can only be done through brushing. He notices the accusation before I can even fully form it in my mind.

"Yes, I preened too. She also told me she wanted me. So, let's go and court her together."

I shrug Jovi's hand off me. "We can't court a female who won't want us when this is over."

"We can try." Jovi shrugs, the smile still on his face because he's never without it. I don't even know what could wipe the look off his face, especially when Sloane's the topic of our conversations.

I wish I could have his enthusiasm about Sloane, but I'm worried I'll like her too much. No, I'm not worried about that because it's already happening. I hear her laugh through the halls sometimes, see her make everyone smile, and watch as she integrates so well with the crew.

I've already decided I like her too much and I don't even know her. Getting to know her and trying to impress her will only end with Jovi and me getting hurt or hurting each other.

"Maybe I'll stay in here tonight." I start to pace the room, not wanting to stay all alone for another night but also not wanting Sloane to see how much she affects me. "I'll make a fool of myself."

"You already have," Jovi laughs, causing me to snarl and snap my teeth at him. "Come on, Alik, she knows you've been hiding in here, and she knows it's not because you don't like her. Just goto the living room with me and show her you care enough about her wants to show up and watch a movie."

I rub at my temples, trying to talk myself out of the tailspin I'm in. I want to go out and watch the movie. I want to be in the same room as Sloane, and I want her to know that I'll do anything she asks. What I don't want is to be seen as some simpering male who would do anything to get laid.

The things I'm feeling, the overwhelming need to provide, have nothing to do with what's between her legs. If they did, at least, then I would know it's just my cock needing attention. No, this is some deep, internalized feeling down to my core. A feeling I've never felt, and it scares me just how badly I seem to want her.

The want also comes with the loss of control that happens to males sometimes when we want a female too much. It's a loss of control that I can't be having around Sloane if I don't want to ruin not only the friendships she has here on our crew but also our standing with the pleasure crew company. I don't lose myself, but even just thinking about Sloane has me falling into my base desires and letting that part of me come to the forefront of my mind.

"Fine," I mumble.

Jovi grabs me by the shoulders and pushes me out the door before I can change my mind. I grumble under my breath about anything and everything until we're standing in front of the living room door.

Jovi looks me up and down, narrows his eyes on some of the hair on my chest, and uses his hand to smooth it down. When he finishes, he looks at me expectantly, and I'm too good of a friend not to help him.

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