Page 4 of Sloane

Essa notices the male and waves him away with a flick of her wrist. He pauses for just a moment and then heads back inside. I'm sure he'll tell everyone else on the ship that Essa is back with their new crew member.

"You have this job. They are little weaklings for the females sent to pleasure them," Essa says as she looks over at the ship. "I say this because you're not one of their kind, so you may be surprised by how they act. They're good males. They won't send you away, and they'll be so happy to have you on this ship, even if they try very hard to hide that fact."

Essa looks over at the ship again. This time, I do, too, and notice that a whole handful of people are now outside, all watching us with observing eyes. "You're the only female?"

"Not anymore." Essa nudges me with her elbow, and we're back to walking toward the crew. She leans close to my ear and whispers, "The Varons are the two you'll be servicing." She watches my face and then amends her statement when she realizes I don't know what a Varon looks like. "The two purple ones."

The two purple ones, as in the two enormous four-armed behemoth-looking males with three eyes and what looks to be about a dozen blades strapped all over their bodies. Both of them have bright white hair, one of them keeping it cropped short and the other letting it grow out so it hangs over his forehead and around his ears.

Of course, there's not a single shirt between the two. I can see the ridges of all their muscles, not missing how they flex when my eyes land on them. They already know I'm part of thepleasure crew, or they want to show off for fun. Either way, I don't hate the preening.

"Our newest member!" Essa shouts as we approach the ship.

Everyone's silent, waiting for her to introduce me, and I know she's savoring every single moment of making them wait. I shoot her a look, and she slides her eyes to mine before giving me a wink.

"Watch them," she whispers before making her voice much louder. "May I introduce Sloane Parker, human and pleasure crew."

I don't miss how the two purple males tense and then look at one another. They shuffle on their feet, drawing my attention lower until I realize why they both now seem so uncomfortable. I catch sight of one rock-hard, massive erection the shaggy one is sporting before the lower pair of hands from both of them snap down to cover their growing interest in me. The top pair of arms cross over their chests where their pale lavender skin has colored a deeper shade of purple.

"Jovi and Alik, to the entertainment room," Essa says as everyone takes a moment to size me up.

No one approaches me, not like Essa did. They all eye me warily like they aren't sure what to do with me. According to the handbook, I don't have to interact with anyone except for the males I'm hired to be with, but that doesn't mean I want them to all ignore me. This trip will be a real downer if they don't want to hang out, and I'm not the best at keeping myself entertained without other people. Instead of focusing on that, I let Essa lead me into the spaceship.

From the outside, the ship looks a little run down, which fits, considering Via told me they act as smugglers for their missions. The inside, though, is so clean but still decorated like this is their home.

On the walls of the ship, there are a few pictures of the five crew members. A couple have only the Varons and Essa in them, all three of them looking more youthful. The reptilian-looking crew mate and then the human-looking male are added in photographs, showing the progression of how their crew grew to what it is now. I stare at them for a minute, wanting to ask so many questions. There'll be time for that later.

Essa tugs on my ankle with her tail, leading me deeper inside. I expected lots of chrome and white paneling, maybe a few blinking lights in an assortment of colors. And sure, that's there, but it's homey still.

I'm led down a hallway through an automatic door that opens into a large room filled with two dark sofas, a couple of recliners, and a black, plush loveseat. They're all pointing toward one wall, and I notice it's a giant comm screen, perfect for watching movies on.

My eyes must show my pleasure because Essa releases my ankle and lets me explore. Fuzzy, brightly colored rugs cover the metal flooring. Soft, colorful blankets lie on the backs of almost every piece of furniture. And I don't miss the giant bean bag in one corner begging to be jumped in.

"Can I?" I ask, looking at how over-stuffed and fluffed the beanbag is and wanting to ruin it.

"Yes, of course."

It isn't Essa's voice that answers me, and that has me turning a deep shade of scarlet at my childishness when I turn to face one of the two males I'm here to work with.

The male with the more shaggy hair watches me intently, his hands in the same spots, one pair to cover his groin, the other covering the flush on his chest. He tilts his head to the side, almost in question, as his eyes shift to the bean bag I haven't jumped on yet.

"Sorry," I say.

I rub my elbow and walk back over to where Essa has made herself comfortable on a couch. I'll act childish and fun as soon as I know they're not about to kick me off the ship for being a human. Essa and Via can tell me all they want that the males will want me as pleasure crew, but I need to hear it from them.

The other male, who was watching from the doorway, remains silent but joins us. He grabs the other couch and picks it up like it's not heavy at all. He carries it in front of the one Essa and I are sitting on and sets it down so it's facing us before taking a seat across from me. Both pairs of arms now cross over his body as he stares at me.

"Such a strong male," Essa laughs as she says the words, the purple behind the male's arms deepening even more.

I want to ask Essa if it's their embarrassment that's causing the color change or if it's something else. If they're so concerned about it showing, why don't they just wear shirts? I don't ask because I feel like it's not very appropriate to ask with them right here, watching me with all six almost black eyes.

"Give her the pendant," the first male says, coming to sit down next to the other. His eyes stay on me the entire time. "We aren't allowed to acknowledge her until she has it."

"Where was the rule-following thirty seconds ago when you spoke to her, Jovi?" Essa asks.

"She wasn't facing me. I thought she might be wearing it," Jovi answers like he's prepared for the question. The other male, who must be Alik, cuts him a glare that tells him he doesn't believe the excuse even a little bit. "Now, give it to her, explain the color system, and then we can begin the mission."

Essa holds out a pendant on a small chain. "This is how you let us all know what amount of contact you're okay with. Green means you're open to pleasure, yellow means you're pleasuring but are fine with more joining, orange means you're pleasuringand don't want anyone joining, and red means to leave you alone."

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