what?” My anger emboldens me, and perhaps my prediction about dying will come true, not because of someone else but because of my big, fat mouth. “If you wanted to kill me, then I’d be dead already. So what are you going to do?”
The side of his mouth tilts up in a half smile, but there isn’t a single ounce of humor in it. His facial expression is full of darkness that’s been hidden until now. Provoking him is stupid, yet I will continue to do it if that’s what it takes to break down this barrier between us. I want answers, and he’s the only one who has them.
I may not live to hear them, but that logic is quickly pushed aside.
“Oh, little human…” He clicks his tongue in admonishment and shakes his head. “If you only knew the ways I could torture you without actually killing you, the endless hours of pain and agony I could inflict without damaging your body…” He pauses to inhale, most likely for emphasis, and I do the same but to keep from passing out. “You would change your tone to one of respect.”
“Fear,” I say, correcting him. “It would be one of fear. Respect is an honorable thing, and what you just threatened is anything but.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
I swallow deep, and it emphasizes his hold on my throat, which has yet to become tight. Babe says he would hurt me in various ways, and that is not something I take lightly, but there’s a thread of rage woven in his words, revealing more than he probably intended. And I would know because I have the same tapestry inside me.
“Someone hurt you,” I say, gentling my tone.
His entire body goes taut, and I swear I hear him grinding his teeth.
“I understand because I’ve gone through the same thing. That’s not to say I know exactly what you’ve been through, but you’re not alone in your past suffering.”
I lightly skim the curve of his tail with my fingers and inwardly marvel at the texture. It’s soft and smooth like a snake but without the scales. When he doesn’t immediately pull away or strangle me, I continue the light touches as though this is the most natural thing in the world.
Babe’s face gives me no indication of his thoughts. His shuttered expression is hard, as though cut from granite, but his eyes are a different story. Within the golden depths churn awe and gratification, but there is also fear.
He’s terrified of my touch, and I highly suspect it isn’t just mine.
“Who hurt you, Babe?”
Like a veil of night has been cast over him, his eyes dim and then grow cold, almost deadened. He rips his tail from around my neck, and I start at the abrupt motion, sucking in a breath. I don’t have any time to recover from the way he looked at me, and before I can get my mind right, he’s settled in the pilot’s seat. The vessel accelerates with great speed, and the force of it has my head slamming into the chair. Once I get my bearings, I secure my seat belt and clench the armrests.
I pushed him too hard.
I purposefully stare out the front window to keep from glancing at Babe, but I’m unsuccessful from time to time. In my peripheral I catch the same glower on his face from before, and it has yet to lessen in severity.
Pain is universal. That is certain.
But the agony in his eyes? Gut-wrenching.
Even now, I want to say something to ease his suffering, which is stupid because he abducted me. Yet I felt a connection with him that I can’t just ignore. I’m beyond sure he was subjected to some form of slavery or imprisonment, and though it’s not uncommon, it doesn’t make it any easier to accept.
He’s so big and strong that it’s hard for me to imagine anyone being able to subdue him, to make him bend to their mercy. Although he hasn’t attacked me, I can sense his quiet wrath as it builds, slowly swelling within. His control over his emotions and actions is impressive because of the anger I’ve seen burning in his gaze.
Just like it is now.
I’m not sure if I know he won’t hurt me because I’m valuable in some way or because of his tight rein on his behavior.
“I shouldn’t have asked,” I whisper. The bright tail of a comet passes us by in the void just outside the ship, and I trail it