Page 48 of Ava Greasemonkey

Ava felt a flash of anger replacing her fear from earlier as she’d barreled down the halls. “I thought I asked you to not probe me?”

“I quested out when I felt something nearby coming; I did not know it was you until connecting. I am aware of your distaste of our methods.” He almost snarled the last bit.

Ava sat forward on her knees. “Vox, I don’t mean it as a negative. Not as a slight to you. There’s just a lot to get used to.” She scooted up to him until they almost touched and puther hand on his knee. He made a low hum in his throat and covered her hand with his. She wanted to have contact with him again, not only to become a part of their plans but also because she craved being close to him. The attraction made her feel lightheaded and giddy. She didn’t know how to place it.

She felt silly asking, but did anyway. “Vox? Can I go to your planet someday? Could that be a place I could stay?”

He chuckled, a low sound that reverberated in her gut down to her nether region. “With the way you smell and look, our men would fight to make you stay.”

Ava flushed at his words. He took his hand and rubbed it on her cheek, then let it linger down her arm, caressing the length of her hair that fell to her breasts. Ava felt marked where his hand touched and empty where it didn’t. She never wanted it to stop, almost leaning into his hand.

Vox’s eyes took on a hungry, hooded appearance. “You are so soft and delicate, Ava. Your mind is pure and honest, despite confusing me. Had I not this mission to rescue Orla I would claim you myself right now.”

“Orla?” Ava wracked her brain. She knew he was rescuing females, but this was a specific female? Her hurt reaction was stupid, because who was Vox to her? She looked away, crestfallen.He’s already taken.

He didn’t remove his hand but explained, “She is why I am here. We are rescuing the females, and they chose the males for this mission that have a personal stake. She and I have a contract together on our home world for procreation. It is done like that a lot now to keep bloodlines pure with so few females being available.”

Ava’s heart sank.Stupid, stupid.She moved to take away her hand but Vox held fast.

“I do not care about the contract, Ava. Not anymore. It was the means for me coming here, and led to me meeting you, and forthat I am grateful. I will rescue Orla and fulfill my obligation, but I will also find you again.”

“Find me . . . ?”

“I will.”

Ava’s heart fluttered, still holding his hand. She didn’t know how to respond but felt a flush down in her core. She broke the tension by looking around the engine room at all the familiar sights. That feeling was at odds with the unfamiliar man now holding her hand and rubbing it gently.

He was still staring at her when she looked back, and she quickly looked down. He put a hand under her throat and gently lifted her head to his face to look in her eyes. His were all gold amber, but looking closer she could see a darker shade in the very center fixated on her. At their center, his eyes flashed different colors, mesmerizing her.

Ava looked away and put her hands on top of his. She gently tugged his hand away from her face and examined it. He allowed the contact, his firm hand pliable in her smaller ones. The contrast, stark from his blue skin to hers, was startling, especially in the fluorescent lights here in the engine hall. His skin everywhere felt hardened compared to hers, almost like a callus that covered the palms, except for the pads of his fingers, which were softer.

“More similar than different,” Vox said as she compared.

He let her push on his fingertips and explore the texture without moving. She spread her hands out on top of his. Compatible. Looking at the hands side by side, they were so different, but yes—they fit together as he curled his fingers around hers, five to a hand and shaped the same.

Vox let out a low hum and Ava felt herself relaxing. It would be easy to give in and let him take care of her. Too easy. The paper with Joy still sat in her shirt, reminding her guiltily to not get too comfortable.I know. I know.

Vox spoke as she sat there examining his hand. “What does the Phor named Ebel mean to you?”

“Mean as in how?”

“He is your captor, yet I have felt such strong emotion coming from you regarding his well-being. Why is this so? Should you not disdain him?”

Ava took both of Vox’s hands and put them together with her hands on the outside. Immediately, he moved them and cradled hers instead, giving off a searing heat.

Clearing her throat she answered, “He was good to me.”

“He was adequate to you,” Vox shot back in a low voice.

Ava rolled that around a minute, not enjoying Vox putting his own spin on her life. “I don’t know if you understand how bad it could have been. Here he joked with me, cared for me. When I had to go through the vents when you first came on board, he helped me come up with that Vali disguise to try to keep me safe. I love him, Vox. He is family. That’s what Human families used to do when they loved each other—help and keep each other safe.”

Vox squeezed her hands briefly, sending a tingle up her arms, before responding softly, “We understand family bonds, Ava. Erox is actually my brother. My mother is missing both of us on Xai.”

“Your brother?” Ava thought back and began to see the similarities between Vox and Erox, particularly in their faces.

Vox nodded. “There seems to be a genetic link when it comes to how easily the offensive telepathic powers came to both of us. For us, it was easy to learn, and our father was one of the first to break through and go to war. He is no longer living. My mother is worried about us, but proud. She awaits us, going out every day to the bayva fields with our other brethren and wishing us safe passage and to come home soon.” Vox gripped Ava’s handsgently again and added, “We know the power of thoughts. And love.”

Ava’s mouth suddenly felt thick and cottony. She didn’t know what to say other than, “We know how to love too.”

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