Page 42 of Saved By the Servali

“Why do you want your contract back?” Wendy asked, holding up several yards of soft, light material.

“I thought I’d look for a job here. In the Felix Orbus Galaxy, I mean,” Nessa said carefully.

“You should look here,” Wendy urged. “Kamau would be so happy. Wouldn’t he, honey?” She looked at Talos.

The big, gruff Tigerite coughed into his paw. “He is very fond of you, Miss Nessa. I do not doubt that he would make you welcome here. We all would.”

“Yes, I’m surprised he actually left your side today,” Wendy teased. “He’s been attached to you from the second he saw you.”

He was attached, all right. Literally.Nessa’s insides squeezed, and her muscles collapsed, raw and exhausted. Two nights in a row of intense “mating.” There was nothing like it and really no other word for it. This wasn’t just sex. It wasn’t just making love. Last night, when he had taken her from behind, claws in her ass, teeth nipping her neck... It was primal. Feral.

“I want more,” she muttered. “I mean—yeah! More time on theComet Stalker would be amazing! I’d love to find work here, but you already have a tech for your ESM.”

“Well... Kamau has been bending our ears about that.”

Nessa swiveled sharply, wishing she hadn’t.

Kamau, Rupex, and Marcus were standing in the doorway of the nursery, beaming.

“I just pitched my idea about turning the unused bay into a mechaformed and terraformed area. Hydroponic gardens. Animal pens. Even a few small fruit trees could fit. And with a large amount of human-friendly food on board and the advent of hybrid Felid and human cubs... This time next year, Marcus may be helping other couples on board.” Kamau came to stand beside her.

“We’ll certainly know more after my little talk at Bastet Mercy, coming up in a few days,” Marcus sighed, running a tired paw through his mane.

“Marcus has asked if Skyla can become his full-time medical assistant with Dax as her nursing assistant,” Rupex was looking at her now, a small smile playing on his lips. “My brother-in-law would be very cross with me if I took one of his engine techs, especially since we may soon have visiting shuttles flying in every cycle.”

Nessa clutched the drowsing cub to her chest. The warm, snuggly feel of him made her heart do a complicated dance in her chest. Career? Or family? Could she even dare to think it... both?

On Sapien-Three, you rarely got to choose, and having both was nearly unheard of.

“An engine systems tech job?” Nessa whispered.

“It’s very hard to find applicants in the Felid System who know how to work on Sapien shuttles, but Kamau told me he knows of someone,” Rupex’s smile stretched. “Would youpossibly consider the job? I looked at your former salary, and we would have to triple it to be commensurate with the Felid credit exchange rate. In addition, you would be entitled to your own quarters—any free room on A or B Deck.”

“If... If I were to share quarters, could I... Is my family able to travel with me?” Nessa asked, rising on shaky legs. Kamau instantly took the baby from her—and her heart stopped its complex dance and nearly exploded.

That could be my husband. The father of my child. My little boy could be watching Mama work on big engines one day and helping his daddy in the kitchen the next.

“I want this job more than anything. Because of the people, not just the job itself. But my father—”

“If she goes back to the Sapien System, Merton Barry and those thugs could be after her,” Kamau yelped. “Rupex, her father could be in danger!”

“Did I say no?” The Leonid captain snapped. “Your father is, of course, welcome to share your quarters.”

“Or he could have his own if she were to share with someone,” Kamau said, trying and failing to look innocent.

“Oh, I suppose he could.”

“Enough plotting and planning. We arrive at Leonid-One in three days, and we won’t be able to dock unless all of the new human arrivals have had a Queen Fever vaccination. Nessa, I already took care of Abi and Kaylie this morning. Dax and Skyla are in the med bay waiting for you. They might have to finish up with Jade’s injection, but you should go on and head down. That’ll give Rupex and me time to bribe Jaxson and play contract shuffle.”

“Yes! Yes, I’ll go do that—and I’ll call my father. I’ll have him packed, and he can book his shuttle to Leonid-One using my MWIP bonus miles! I save them all year so we can visit oneanother. Oh, gosh. I hope I can convince him!” Nessa began to trot off.

Kamau handed off the cub and trotted after her. “Would it be easier to convince him if he knew he was coming to meet his son-in-law?”

Nessa smirked at him. “Maybe.”

“JADE, I’M ALL READY—OH, Nessa. Hi!”

“Hi, Dax.” Nessa smiled at the blonde young man and rolled up the sleeve of the soft yellow coveralls she wore. “Guess what? This time tomorrow, I might be in a crew uniform.”

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