Page 34 of Tanin's Treasure
He was starting to see where she was going.
And he hated how tempting it already was.
“You could use some help. I myself have a lot of experience working for a delivery company. That’s what I did on Earth. Drove a van, dropped of packages, etc. You know. I certainly don’t need to explain the logistics of a delivery service to you. And even between that, I often cleaned apartments and houses to set them up for new renters. I did some bartending on the side. Painting. Lawn work. Really, anything. I’m a girl of many talents. Consider me a multi-tool, always ready and available on your belt! I take direction well, and I don’t give a lot of guff.”
“You appear to be a devoted worker,” he agreed.
“Right! And that’s what got me thinking. You know, humans are allowed off Earth without a mate if we have a sponsor. Someone that can help us out. Can guide us in the wider universe since we don’t really know it that well. In a way, you’re already doing it now! It’s not official, of course, but the sponsorship is not really different from being our boss.”
“It’s a little different,” he said, matching her tone.
She grinned, like she’d just scored a victory. “You looked it up, did you?”
“I glanced at it.”
He read it from top to bottom. The responsibilities of being a human sponsor were simple in theory but could be difficult in execution. For the first ten tendays, the human was basically a youngling of their sponsor. In other words, if they committed a crime, their sponsor could be just as culpable. Their sponsor was required to provide room and board at no charge. They also needed to teach the human how to live and survive wherever they resided – in his case, it would require teaching them the various laws and rules regarding trade and transportation. The goal was that, at the end of the tenth tenday, the human would be able to take care of themselves alone.
After ten tendays, the sponsor was no longer bound by such rigid requirements, and in fact the human could sever their ties altogether if they wished. Their sponsor’s responsibility ended there. Though, if the human was inadequately prepared for life on their own, the sponsorship could be forcibly extended or even transferred to another person.
Garnet was right in saying that it wouldn’t require much more than he was doing now, but she was also wrong, because he would require ofhimselfmuch more than he was doing now. They’d need clothes, supplies, proper medical scans, their food preferences and needs added to the synthesizer. He’d have to get emergency suits made for them, in case of hull breeches or life support system failures. They certainly couldn’t fit into any of the ones they currently had on hand. He’d need to have them registered as crew, he’d have to add them to the payroll – because he wouldn’t allow himself to take their labor for free, even if he was their sponsor.
There was a lot that needed to be done. And he already started by looking it up. Like he expected her to ask this question. Telling himself it was just curiosity. He was only looking over the information Alred found for him.
It was a lie, but it was a comforting one.
Until he was confronted with the lie itself. And now he had to harden his heart around the sensible decision he had to make. No matter what his cock wanted. No matter how prettily she smiled. No matter how his ship shined under her care.
The others wouldn’t care. They’d accept it as his decision. Their loyalty was unwavering, and while they might ask questions, they wouldn’t really argue. Judging by the way they reacted to Garnet already, they’d probably even like it. That certainly wasn’t a hindrance.
It was just him. His own sense of what was right.
Honestly, not a sense anyone should be depending on.
“Goldie and I don’t eat much. We’re hard workers. And if you think I’m good, you should see her! She’s shy, so she’s not coming out of the room, but once she gets comfortable, she can do anything. She’s so smart. Like, seriously. We won’t make trouble or anything.”
“No.”
“If you agree to… What did you say?” Her smile dropped as she faltered. And itvektinghurt to deny her when she gave him that sad look with those big, bright eyes. He was afraid she could pout, and he’d give in without even thinking.
But he didn't. Instead, he repeated, “I cannot be your sponsor.”
“Why not?” She reached for him but stopped just short of touching his arms. “We won’t be a burden, I promise. You can see how hard I work!”
“You do work hard. And it’s good work,” he agreed calmly. “But this is a very dangerous job. It’s not a place for soft females.”
“I’m not soft!” She declared, affronted. “I’m strong. I can protect my-eep!”
He grabbed her wrists, shoving her back against the wall. Indulging his own desires by pressing his chest against hers. His leg between her thighs forced her up onto her toes. One move effectively disabled all four of her limbs. But unlike when he’d done so against the chest he found her in, she couldn’t lean away from him now. The soft flesh of her breasts gave so sweetly against his muscles, tempting him to feel them against his bare skin instead.
And unlike last time, she didn't fight back. Her eyes went wide, like she was surprised to suddenly find herself trapped, but she didn't wiggle or squirm or yell. Her eyes weren’t full of rage and confusion, but surprise and a flash of heat that made his cock throb dangerously.
“You think you can protect yourself?” He asked, voice unintentionally low and rough. Turned on just by this alone. He didn't need to prove his point this way, but he needed to feel her against him. He had to show her that she might be feisty and scrappy, but she wasn’t strong. Maybe she had been on Earth, but she was here now, and she was a weakness.
Tanin could not have any weaknesses. He couldn’t have any soft spots. His life was hard, and therefore anything in it had to be as tough as he was in order to survive.
“I…” She panted, pulling against his grip on her wrists. They didn't move. Trapped in his fists, completely at his mercy.
But instead of fear or defeat or even understanding, her gaze went foggy with lust. Her lips parted; the cute, pink flesh plump and begging for a kiss. Her little tongue darted out, wetting them nervously, but she didn't look like she wanted him to back down.
