Page 15 of Cozy Prisons
She sounded a questioning rumble, her face nestled into his neck. Instead of explaining, he picked her up. She relaxed into his grip; her trust in him was absolute.
It was a little awkward because of the way he held her, but he carried her across the room and sat in her chair, then arranged her in his lap so her back was against his front and her legs dangled on either side of his.
“Perfect,” he announced, picking up her information square and holding it up in front of them. “Now I can help you with your work.”
She sounded a rumble of amusement and plucked the square from his hand. “Very helpful indeed.”
She sent a quick message to Daxus to come see her at his convenience, then opened the report she’d been putting together for the Committee for Pet Welfare. Utharium’s rumbles vibrated against her back, helping her relax and concentrate.
“Maybe one of the new arrivals can act as your second,” Utharium said as she finished the report and put it in the queue to be sent through their interstellar comms array satellite.
Setting the square on the desk, she sounded a rumble of agreement. “They’d need to be knowledgeable about all the intricacies of dealing with empire politics and bureaucracy."
The door chimed. Once again she didn’t check to see who it was before ordering the door open. Utharium grumbled about her working too hard as Daxus walked into the room.
“You wanted to speak to me?” Daxus asked, taking a seat across the desk from her. He didn’t say a thing about her and Utharium cuddling together. Anywhere else in the empire their interaction would be at least surprising, if not cause them to bereported to various authorities. On Arise, they were free to show affection.
“Healer Falkilm informed me about Nataly,” she explained. “He said you’re the one who witnessed her collapse and might have more insight.”
Daxus didn’t make a sound, no words, rumbles, or rattles. Palathum let the silence stretch before speaking again.
“If you’re worried about betraying Nataly’s confidence, then I won’t press you for details,” she said. “But I want you to reprioritize your tasks to make her a main focus.”
He sounded a surprised rattle. “As much as I want to do that, I’m in charge of the new land-based array assembly.”
“You can’t start on that until after the next supply ship arrives, and that will come with more help,” Palathum said. “Until then, do the bare minimum that’s required of you and center your attention on Nataly instead.”
“I might not be able to give you any insight,” he warned.
“That doesn’t matter,” Palathum told him. “It’s more important that you be a friend and companion to her. She’s well-liked among the humans but seems to spend most of her time by herself. She might simply need help adjusting to a new environment, and the other humans are busy with their own adjustments. You were a mediator mavin before coming here, which means you’ve been trained in communication strategies.”
“Yes, that’s true,” he agreed. “But I won’t interrogate Nataly.”
Palathum sounded a rumble of amusement. “I don’t want you to. I mention it because being skilled at speaking and listening to others is still part of your training. It’s more than any of us have, especially Falkilm. Nataly might need more care than the other humans simply because she acts as if she doesn’t. Find reasons to be around her, and the opportunity to help her will present itself, I’m sure. I’m trusting you with Nataly’s health and safety. Tell me what you think is imperative for me to know.”
Daxus sounded a rumble of agreement. “Thank you for this responsibility without requiring me to betray Nataly’s trust.”
Utharium spoke the words even as Palathum thought them. “That’s not the kind of community we’re trying to build here. Officially the humans are owned by us, but in truth, we want them to treat us as their equals. That can’t happen if we treat them as less than us.”
Palathum spoke up to add an important qualifier. “If Nataly rejects your overtures, then honor that. We will figure something else out.”
“I’d never insert myself where I’m not wanted,” Daxus assured them. “But I’m also sure there is reason to be worried about Nataly, so I thank you for the opportunity to help her.”
They talked a little longer about Nataly’s change in behavior in the last ten rotations. She gave Daxus what insights she had on Nataly’s past and her time here before Daxus arrived. He thanked her again for the information, then left.
The door shut behind Daxus. Palathum debated looking over the resupply list or letting Utharium talk her into retiring for the evening.
“I think we—”
She didn’t get the rest of her sentence out because Utharium put his teeth against her neck and bit down. Heat exploded through her body.
She gasped and grabbed the back of his head. She didn’t try to force him away but pressed him down harder. Some of his teeth worked between two of her keratin plates, making pleasure spike through her. Many Talins liked rough sex, and she liked it rougher than most.
The scent glands in her cheeks filled with oil and it started dripping down her face as Utharium worried at her neck like an animal.
“Uthar!” she moaned. “Don’t stop.”
He lifted his head. “I’ll do as I like,” he growled.
