Captive - Cheryl Brooks Page 0,36

money.” Except to use as a bribe. Nedwuts weren’t known for their willingness to barter. They wanted cash, and they didn’t like having to wait for it.

Moe shrugged, somehow managing to look completely unperturbed and, well…adorable.

How strange…

Klara had never considered another being to be adorable. Ever.

An adorable man who actually pays for food. This gets weirder all the time.

“Guess I’m not as good at thievery as you are,” he said. “We’ll see how it goes. Any idea what time the banks open around here?”

Temfilk snorted with derision. “Banks? I’ve never even seen the inside of one. Never needed to know their business hours.”

Klara was beginning to feel a little defensive. Moe had obviously led a much different sort of life than she and her friends had. No telling what he thought of them. A quick check of his expression revealed nothing. Surely he understood how they’d lived. He wouldn’t hold that against them. Would he?

If he didn’t hate her for capturing him—twice—he probably wouldn’t despise her lifestyle. He knew she’d had no choice. Not a realistic one, anyway. He understood why she couldn’t be forced into a sexual relationship—at least, not one she would ever find enjoyable. She could be taken by force like any other woman. Pelarus was Vessonian. He wouldn’t need the scent of her desire to become aroused. For all she knew, her fear or hatred would work every bit as well as her desire. Perhaps even more so. The thought of even being in the same room with Pelarus sickened her. To be intimate with him was abhorrent.

And then there was Moe…

He’d gotten to her so easily, she should have been furious. Why wasn’t she?

Because you’re your mother’s daughter as much as your father’s.

Her mother had gone to a great deal of trouble to be with Trag. She’d resorted to trickery and had concealed Klara’s existence from everyone. Klara had never been sure why. She doubted that anyone would have forced Delaroh to give up her daughter. Family seemed important to Zetithians. They wouldn’t have wanted to take Klara away from the only family she had.

Perhaps she was ashamed. Klara had never gotten that impression, but as secretive as her mother had been…

Oh, hell. I give up.

“Sure, Moe,” she said. “Go ahead and buy breakfast for us. I’m game. I haven’t eaten in a restaurant in so long, I don’t even remember what it feels like. Sticking our necks out like that will probably get us all killed, but what the hell do we care?”

Temfilk shook his head. “I can’t remember ever eating breakfast in a restaurant. I won’t know how to act.” Clearly, in his eyes at least, the prospect of going out for breakfast was worth the risk.

Moe grinned as he got to his feet. “It’s pretty easy. Just tell them what you want and wait for them to bring it to you. Then you sit there and eat it. And pay for it, of course.”

“Sit?” Temfilk gasped. “You mean we won’t have to eat on the run?”

“Nope,” Moe replied. “Although if running is important to your digestion, I suppose we could get carryout or take away or whatever they call it around here.”

Temfilk put up a hand. “No. If we’re gonna do it, I want the complete restaurant experience. Let’s go find a bank.”

“One thing for sure,” Nexbit said. “We’ll be quite safe. No one will ever think to look for us anywhere near a bank or a restaurant.” One craggy brow rose. “Unless they think we’re planning a robbery.”

“Hmm…” said Moe. “I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe I should go to the bank alone.”

“No way!” Klara’s outburst surprised even herself, but her instincts told her the message must’ve come straight from her heart. “I’m not letting you out of my sight. Not now. Not ever.”

Chapter 10

If it hadn’t been for the snard, Moe would’ve been convinced that Klara loved him too much to let him, as she’d put it, out of her sight. But of course, in any relationship with a Zetithian male, the snard effect couldn’t be discounted. Still, it probably didn’t pay to get too serious too soon.

He held out a hand. “Why, Klara,” he said lightly, hoping to add a touch of levity to the situation. “I didn’t think you cared.”

Ignoring his outstretched hand, she rose from the floor, her eyes narrowed with obvious annoyance. “You know what I mean. If you’re our only hope of ever getting off this planet—”

He slapped a hand over his heart in mock