Total pages in book: 175
Estimated words: 166095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 830(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 830(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
I raise a finger to indicate that I need a moment, accessing yet another batch of footage. This time, I skim the visual, seeing myself react to what the females are saying on the other side of the door, and me turning around and heading back to the bridge. I slow down and rewind, then add the audio files so I can listen in to their conversation and prove that I’m right, that they’ve never wanted me nearly as much as they’ve wanted each other.
Dora’s voice. “I appreciate you saying this, Bethiah, but Jamef —”
“Isn’t in this conversation, remember? This is about me and you. I love him. Adore him. He’s keffing perfect. But he deserves better than just being our referee. You’re emotional, and I’m as dense as a black hole, so we’re going to clash from time to time. We need to figure ourselves out.”
Wait, I’m perfect?
I roll the footage back further, convinced I’ve missed something.
Bethiah’s voice as she speaks to Dora. “We need to talk about you and me.”
“Okay…but if we’re talking relationship stuff, shouldn’t we bring in Jamef? He’s just as much a part of this.”
“I don’t have any hang-ups about being with Jamef. You and I both know he’s a fantastic mate.”
I frown to myself as Dora elbows Bethiah again. I play all the footage all over again, listening in silence as the two women talk about how they can communicate better…and no one says a negative thing about me. In fact, they talk about how amazing I am.
“You…” I rub my jaw, humbled, and turn the footage off. I save it for later, just because seeing and hearing them talk about me makes my heart ache in all kinds of ways. “You sure you both want me around?”
“Oh kef me,” Bethiah exclaims, throwing her hands up. “Are you fishing for compliments or what? Yes, we love you, you bucket of bolts. Your cock is amazing. You’re patient and kind. You’re smart and I like talking to you. How much more do you want to hear?”
Dora glances at her with amusement and then gives me a knowing look. “We’re a mess without you. Bethiah’s been impossible. I’ve missed having someone that actually listens to me —”
“Hey! I listen!” Bethiah frowns.
Dora continues. “And I’m sorry if you felt like we took you for granted. Maybe we did, too caught up in our own drama and with Rhonda showing up.” She steps forward and puts her hand on my chest, gazing up at me. “What I’m saying is that your mates have been very, very naughty, and we clearly need to show you just how important you are to us.”
And she licks her lips enticingly as she gazes up at me.
Bethiah slings her arm around Dora’s shoulders even as her tail swats me again. “I haven’t been naughty. That’s what you get for not talking to us. Serves you right.”
Dora gestures at Bethiah as she looks at me. “You see what I’ve had to put up with while you’ve been out?”
It still hasn’t quite hit me that they truly want me. That there’s never been any doubt. That all this flirtiness is for me as much as them.
That I really do have a family after all this time. People that love me. I press my fist over my heart, overcome.
Both Bethiah and Dora immediately get panicked expressions. Dora races toward me, sliding under my arm as if she can somehow prop my much larger form up.
“I’ll get Zakoar,” Bethiah calls, racing away.
“Wait,” I tell them. “I’m fine. I just—I was feeling a lot.”
“You’re fine?” Bethiah echoes, and then her expression grows furious. “You’re fine and you scared the kef out of us like that? I really am going to murder you!”
And she bursts into tears again.
One Hundred Twenty-Nine
JAMEF
Bethiah and Dora both fuss over me, as if they’re unconvinced that Zakoar has done his job. I’m immediately dragged to med-bay and Bethiah argues with Jerrok, crying. Dora holds my hand, her expression tight-lipped as Zakoar runs yet another scan over me.
When he pronounces me fine, I expect Bethiah to yell at me again. But she just sags with relief, leaning against the nearest counter for support. Jerrok awkwardly pats her back, as if he’s not entirely sure what to do with his newly emotional cousin.
“It’s a good connection,” Zakoar says. “No error messages. No system issues. No slowdowns. Like I said, we’ll continue to monitor him for another day, but I’m confident in my work.”
Dora simply rubs my arm, gazing up at me. “How do you feel now?”
“Like I felt earlier. Fine.” At their clearly skeptical expressions, I elaborate. “I promise I’m not in any sort of pain. If I was, I’d speak up, especially with Zakoar here. I’m stubborn, but I’m not an idiot.”
“You let your mates be the judge of that.” Dora nudges me affectionately. “You do realize we’re going to worry about you for the next while? And we have every right to?”