Page 47 of Savage Union

“I have our course through the next worm hole charted, Captain.”

“Great,” I said blandly. “Now get up and let Cass check it.”

“What?” His purple eyes bulged with offended rage. “You’re going to let that young pup second guess my route?”

“I’m going to have him check it,” I said, keeping my voice even. “No point in having two navigators if I don’t have them check each other’s work,” I added.

Still looking extremely offended, Gurflug finally exited his chair as he tossed the nav band carelessly aside.

“Stop fucking around with my equipment!” I warned him.

“I beg your pardon, Captain?” He looked at me, widening his eyes even more.

“The nav band,” I said, nodding at it. “It’s an expensive piece of equipment and we’re fucked without it. If you break it, the replacement is coming out of your salary.”

“What? ButIam not responsible for buying the ship’s equipment!” he protested.

“You are if you break it,” I snapped. “Be more careful in the future.”

“Yes, Captain,” Gurflug said with elaborate politeness. “I’ll certainly do as you say. Though I don’t believe I was being rough with the equipment before, I shall treat it withutmost delicacyhereafter.”

“Good, that’s all I ask,” I said mildly. I wasn’t buying his wounded martyr act. “Cass—check the route,” I added, speaking to the boy.

Cass slid into the nav chair and fitted the nav band around his temples. Thanks to the shower Gurflug had taken, he didn’t have to wipe it off first this time. Then he closed his eyes in apparent concentration.

After a moment, he opened his eyes and turned to me.

“It’s not a dangerous route, but it’s a long one,” he said to me. “I can get us closer to the next worm hole after this one by using a different jump.”

“What? What lies are you telling, you young pup?” Gurflug demanded. “My route is the best! The only?—”

“Do it,” I said, ignoring the Galafruxian. “And hurry—I want us through the next worm hole quickly.”

Cass nodded and fed his route to the nav computer.

“Ready for the worm hole,” he reported.

“Good. But before we jump, I need to see you in my Ready Room,” I said to him.

I could feel the other Crew members watching us as we stepped into my private area, but it couldn’t be helped. I had to give Cass the medicine in case there was a time dilation. I didn’t want him being sick in my bed that night!

Honestly though, I didn’t want him being sick at all. He’d looked on death’s door the last time—I didn’t like the idea of him being in that much discomfort again.

Why did I care so much about his wellbeing? I shouldn’t feel like this, I argued with myself. And yet, when he came into the Ready Room behind me, I couldn’t seem to stop the deep protectiveness that rushed over me when I saw his face—which was too lovely for a male by half.

“Captain? You wanted to see me?” He started to shut the door, but I shook my head.

“No, leave it open. Let them see what we’re doing,” I murmured, pitching my voice low for his ears only.

“Er…whatarewe doing?” he asked.

“This.” I pulled the bottle of medicine out of my desk drawer and waved it at him.

“Oh…right. Sorry.” His light brown cheeks went dark with a blush and I realized he’d thought I wanted him for something else—maybe even for something sexual.

“I don’t care what the rest of the Crew seems to think, you and I know you’renota Catamite, Cass,” I said, loudly enough for the Bridge Crew to hear me. “And I’m not going to treat you like one. Now come here and take your meds—I can’t have you being sick all over my room later if there’s a time dilation in the worm hole.”

“Right. Thank you, Captain.”

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