Nokx (The Sraibur Crew #3) - Layla Nash Page 0,123

turned amused rather than predatory. “We wanted to thank you for your company and taking good care of our dear EJ.”

“Many thanks, many thanks,” Thula said.

“There’s no need for that,” Nokx said rather gruffly, but EJ could sense he was pleased. Or at least less frosty. “She is my mate. That is what mates do.”

And he gave her another pointed look. EJ rolled her eyes. Ridiculous males. They were the same everywhere.

Bula shoved the package at him, blinking first one eye and then the other at him. “We had a small business on Caihiri. Rather small business but very special. Oh yes, very special.”

“What kind of business?” EJ peered at the package as Nokx turned it over in his hands. It looked soft, perhaps like fabric. Some kind of clothing? Why would the space chickens make clothing? They hardly needed to wear anything at all. She’d heard something of the confrontation on Caihiri with one of Violet’s former crewmates and another of the Earthers on the Lovelace who avoided Nokx. That was what drove Heidi, Pyix, and the space chickens onto the Lovelace in the first place.

“Costumes,” Bula chortled. Her beak clacked together as she added something in their language to her sisters. All three murmured and rustled and stepped in place. Her eyes gleamed as she studied EJ closely. “Many special costumes.”

EJ’s heart sped up.

Nokx tensed and a kaleidoscope of blues and purples spun through his scales. His voice sounded deeper than normal. “What kind of costumes?”

More chortling and preening. Bula fluttered her arms at the parcel. “Open it and see. Open it. We were saving it for our dear Cici but we will make her another. Her protector enjoys them very much.”

EJ suspected that it wasn’t Cici’s mate who wore the costumes, but Cici herself. She wanted to snatch the package away before Nokx saw whatever was in it, because chances were she’d never get to finish the argument if he did. “Maybe we can wait...”

Too late, though. The opaque field wrapping around the parcel turned into a bag after he ran his hands over it, and the bag revealed a mass of deep blue slippery fabric. It ran through Nokx’s fingers as he held up a piece, frowning at it. EJ’s face heated as she spied a very small pair of panties — really a glorified string — and sheer pants to go over them. Nokx pulled a bra out and frowned more.

“What is it meant to...” He stopped, rotated the fabric, and realization dawned across his expression.

The space chickens clapped their feathery hands and lifted off the floor with the force of their excitement. “Oh yes, he sees. He sees.”

Indeed he did. EJ’s thighs clenched as heat settled low in her stomach. Well, damn. She’d meant to be mad at him, but if she put on those soft little bits of fabric and he got one look at her... They’d have to order dinner to their room. Again. Maybe breakfast, too.

“That is very fine... craftsmanship,” Nokx said after clearing his throat. He stared at the sheer fabric and sparkles as if he’d never seen anything like it.

“He is pleased,” Bula murmured, one foot scratching at the floor.

Mirti cackled. “If he is not now, he will soon be.”

EJ gaped at the sisters as they all laughed. They were really out of control. “Thank you, this is lovely, but I really can’t take someone else’s gift. I can wait until...”

“Thought this was my gift,” Nokx said. His silver eyes burned as he stared at her, like he could already see her in the slinky fabric.

“Then have fun wearing it on your own,” EJ said, arching her eyebrows in challenge.

Thula giggled in a high tweeting. “Oh my oh my. We would need... more fabric for that. But if my dear EJ would like to see her protector in something fancy...”

“That’s unnecessary,” Nokx said. He caught EJ and dragged her against his side. “We both thank you for the lovely gift.”

The space chickens fluttered and chortled to each other, then paraded out the doors without another word but a couple of backward looks. EJ schooled her expression into seriousness as she wormed out of Nokx’s half-embrace. “We’re not done talking about...”

“I won’t tell you to do anything except put this on,” he said. He held up the sparkly fabric and revealed a few feathers along the bra. “And take it back off again.”

EJ struggled not to smile. So that was how to get him to cooperate and see reason. She’d