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Very pastoral and very alien from every place I've ever lived. I'm used to crowded stations and recycled air and metal surrounding you on every side. But I guess I can see the appeal of this place if I'm Erzah.
For one, when I look down the street, there are human females everywhere. They stroll along the sidewalk. One pilots an air-sled around another couple of females that stand nearby, holding bags of goods and talking. We passed the general store a short time ago and it was full of females shopping and purchasing all kinds of things. Jerzec said he went to the cantina here and the only male to be seen was behind the counter.
To an a'ani still discovering the joy of his cock working again after years of suppressants? This is a wonderland. To me...I don't like it unless Ruthie does. "It's all right, I guess. Do you like it?"
"I should, shouldn't I?" But she continues to gaze around her with a look that might be confusion, might be frustration. "It seems like a nice quiet place."
Seems like a nice place isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. I'm a little surprised she doesn't like it more. Is it because it's quiet? Or because it's new and different and she's unsure of what to think about it? I know Ruth has some memories of Earth, but for the most part, Ruthie's memories are piecemeal and she doesn't have the same bits that Ruth does. Maybe this is unfamiliar to her. Maybe she doesn't know what to make of a place with so many human females after being on the Scarlet Gaze with us for so long.
We continue to stroll down the walkway in relative silence. Ruthie's quiet, at least, and I'm just watching Ruthie. There are other women around, and I compare my Ruthie to them to see how she'd fit in if we decided to base our operations here. She doesn't quite match up with these other women, I realize. There's a hard shell to my Ruthie, a brittle sort of shield she carries around her that she's constantly trying to reinforce. She keeps her shoulders back, her head up and defiant, whereas a lot of the women here are avoiding eye contact or hurrying away from us. Ruthie all but glares at her surroundings.
"Down there," she says, crossing the street and jogging toward the buildings there.
I stay at her side, my focus still entirely on her. I know Ruthie is soft and sweet and gentle, but she's determined not to let the rest of the universe realize that. She?—
I crash into something soft.
A woman cries out. "Oh!"
Horrified, I put my arms out to grab the female I've run into before she can fall to the ground. I manage to catch her, but a half-dozen packages spill to our feet. The stranger clings to me, blinking her pale blue eyes in my direction.
"My goodness, look at you." The human female studies my face and then breaks into a large smile. "My hero."
I grin at her flirty tone, relieved that she's not hurt, nor is she screaming in terror. I help the stranger back to her feet, dusting off her shoulders. "My fault. I wasn't watching where I was going."
"No, my fault," she says. "I was trying to save time by making only one trip with my packages. I had too much in my arms, and they can't carry nearly as much as your big strong ones can." And she gives me a blatant smile. "I'm Gia."
"Gia, I'm Kazex." I give her a little bow of acknowledgement, amused by the way she's devouring me with her eyes. Gia is very forward—no brittle shell here. "And I'd be happy to help you carry things back to your sled." I turn to Ruthie, who stands by in silence. "Give me just a moment."
Ruthie waves a hand at me, her expression bland. "Take your time. I'm not going anywhere."
I scoop up Gia's packages and stack them in my arms. "Show me the way and I'll get you taken care of."
"My Prince Charming," she all but purrs and then points at a distant air-sled. "I'm over there."
CHAPTER
NINE
RUTHIE
I keep my expression benign as I lean against one of the shops on Port's main street, but internally? Internally I'm plotting Gia's death. Every flirty smile the woman tosses Kazex's way, I mentally picture punching her face. She's got gorgeous, thick curling hair and a winsome smile that she flashes like a weapon.
And she's flirting with Kazex.
And he's mine, goddamn it.
My anger and frustration turn to worry as the minutes tick past and Gia and Kazex continue to talk at her sled. The packages are in the trunk, and yet he's not returning to my side. Gia keeps talking, reaching out and touching his arm and tossing her hair, and Kazex is smiling back at her. He's enjoying this.
