Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 135784 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135784 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
"It was," I manage, voice thick.
"It's okay." Her hands stroke my arm and she leans her head on my chest, still petting me. Her voice is rich and silky, so pleasant I want to wallow in it. I know she's being deliberately sweet to calm me, but I like it far too much to point it out. I don't want her to stop. "I'm just glad you're back and I managed to wake you up without getting a punch in the face."
That's why she's touching me. She's calming me. I feel bad for using her, knowing she probably hates this, but I can't seem to let go of her. Part of me feels like if I do, the torturer's going to return with his pliers, and I'll have to live through that moment all over again. "I wouldn't hurt you."
"I wasn't saying you'd do it on purpose." Sophie keeps petting my chest. "You're not yourself when you dream."
She's right. I'm not. It's why I don't like to sleep much. The dreams always come. I'd rather just work myself until I pass out from exhaustion.
Her hands move over my arm in tiny circles, and I realize she's massaging the fake ligaments and musculature of my arm, like the thoughtful creature she is. "I'm sorry you can't sleep," she continues. "I've always looked forward to sleeping. It was my way to get away from where I was, you know? My last master used to complain that I slept too much. That I was always dropping off during parties or when he wanted to show me off. He didn't realize it was the only place I could go to get away from him." Her fingers glide down my arm. "I'm sorry you don't have that comfort."
I grip her sleeping tunic tightly, half-afraid she's going to pull away from me again. I don't want to let her go.
Ever.
The thought is a stupid one, and I immediately push it out of my head. I'm not that needy. I can get along just fine without a female to cling to as I whimper about my keffing dreams. "Don't think about the past. It's done. You never have to go back."
Sophie says nothing. She doesn't get up, though. She just keeps stroking my arm, her head resting on my chest, and as the silent moments tick past, I wonder if anyone has ever comforted her? Has she been completely abandoned by the universe after it's chewed up and spit her out? Something tells me yes, she has. She's as broken as I am, just in different ways.
Hesitantly, I lift my hand to stroke her hair. I want to tell her that I won't let slavers touch her again. I want to tell her that she'll always have her freedom with me on my asteroid. It's not the best of places, nor is it glamorous. And I'm not the best company. But she'll always be free there, and no one will hurt her. She can stay with me as long as she likes, even if the va Sithai never come back. Even if she keeps that keffing beast that shits everywhere and eats too much. I'd just sell more scrap to make it work.
I touch her hair and it's as soft as anything I've ever felt before. Like silk. Of course it's soft. Sophie is the softest, most beautiful of creatures. That's why she lives in such fear. She knows that anyone that sees her for what she is—an attractive human—will try and steal her. She's worth a fortune in credits—and I've been entrusted to keep her safe.
She's vulnerable out here in ways I've never been. Even as Lankham, I'm left alone. She's been so brave today, though. I open my mouth to tell her so—
The door to the hotel room jiggles.
Sophie jerks up, her eyes wide with fear, just as I hear the beep of the lock being overridden.
24
JERROK
I leap from the bed as my parts groan with protest. My arm creaks as I touch the weapons panel I had installed and a blade shoots out, just over my wrist. I touch Sophie's arm and I can feel her trembling as the second lock on the door beeps, and then goes quiet.
"Get behind me," I tell her. "I'll protect you."
Sophie does so immediately, her hands on my back as she shrinks down. I mentally go through my modifications on my prosthetics. I have a shock-blade in my leg, but it'll take longer to get out. I can use my cybernetic arm as a shield, since the pain there would be phantom instead of real.
I can protect Sophie. I'm good with knives. This is likely just some station alley thief that has a deal with the hotel and robs guests, sharing the take with whoever hands out keys at the front desk.