but the decision slipped out of his control as Violet arrived at the entrance to the loading bay, her dark eyebrow arched with curiosity.
EJ smiled in a perfectly angelic way, just as sweet as that dessert she’d coveted. “Well hello again, Violet. We need some help.”
The captain’s mate didn’t even look at Nokx. “Oh? I’m happy to be of assistance.”
Nokx was certain she was. He growled and eyed them both. “I am required on the bridge for a brief discussion. EJ requires supervision while I am not present, and—”
“And you won’t leave her with another male,” Violet said smoothly. “Of course. I should have expected as much. Go on, Nokx. We’ll be perfectly fine here for however briefly you’re gone.”
He didn’t like it. He really didn’t like it. He growled again when faced with two females looking as innocent as plump baby marmoxes rolling about their burrow. He retreated to the door and nearly tripped over Gemma as the energetic bounty hunter popped up.
By the suns of Xarav, they were in so much trouble.
He pointed at each of them in turn. “Do not do anything dangerous or...”
“Or what?” EJ asked, batting her eyelashes at him. “We would never—”
“Careful,” he said, giving her a warning look. “No fun and games, Earther. Do not give the captain a reason to leave you somewhere worse than the ship you came from. Finish moving those crates and eat your midday meal here. I should return before then, but do not leave the loading bay unless I am here.”
He didn’t pause or give her time to object before turning to the other two females. “I am serious. Your mates are serious. Do not go scampering around the ship making trouble or trying to hide the stowaway.”
Violet gave him a cool look. “I do not scamper, thank you very much. We will remain in the loading bay unless...”
“Unless nothing,” Nokx growled.
“What if we’re being boarded by Tyboli?” Gemma piped up, though she mostly hid behind Violet and peeked at him when she started feeling brave. “We can’t stay here if the ship is under attack.”
“Or mechanical failure,” Violet added, tapping her chin. “Clearly an engineering disaster would require...”
He cursed in Low Xarav as all of his patience evaporated and he grabbed EJ by the scruff of her neck. “Fine. I will lock you in my quarters until—”
“Oh, calm down,” Violet said. She held up her hands. “We were teasing you. We understand the orders Faros gave you. We’ll keep EJ safe here. Go.”
Nokx scowled but didn’t release his female. “This is not a joking matter.”
“Acknowledged,” the lawyer said, her eyes narrowing. “Now the faster you go to the bridge, the faster you will be back here to oversee your stowaway.”
He still didn’t like it. Now that he’d gotten the chance to touch EJ again, he didn’t want to let her go. She smelled like him, after the night in his arms, but mostly like herself after the morning’s work with the cargo. He wanted to bury his nose in her hair and inhale until his lungs nearly burst.
And the way Violet eyed him made him think the Earther suspected the drift of his thoughts.
Nokx grumbled more but released EJ and stalked out without another word, before he changed his mind and put EJ in his quarters anyway. He didn’t break into a run on his way to the bridge, but he moved faster than he had in a very long time.
Chapter 19
EJ
She should have thought of it sooner, but it wasn’t until Nokx made clear he wouldn’t let a male near her that she remembered there were two other females on the ship. And it was a relief to have some uninterrupted time to talk with Violet and Gemma without nosy Xaravians paying attention. Which Nokx undoubtedly knew and was why he didn’t want to leave her alone with her fellow Earthers.
The moment the sound of his heavy boots faded, Violet folded her arms over her chest. “We don’t have much time.”
EJ exhaled in relief but kept moving crates so Nokx couldn’t fault her for slacking off on work. “Right. Are they always that clingy?”
“Only some of them,” Gemma muttered. She traded a look with Violet but neither of them started explaining, so EJ let it go. They didn’t have time to delve deeply into the moody barbarians.
She adjusted the exo lifter and moved the hover dolly into position, but kept her attention on Violet. “Is the captain really going to hand me over to the