Page 8 of Essa

Alik rubs his temples as Jovi bites back a smile. This must be part of their relationships onboard, something I'm not privy to. But I don't want them to be upset with one another for long, so I intervene.

"It's no one's business who we have relations with." I lick my lips, hoping my face isn't too red. "And why were you looking at my crotch?"

Phial waves his hand in the air as though my question is stupid. "Sometimes the mother wants us to look at strangers' cocks to see if they are hard for our friends. One doesn't question the mother."

"Let's be real," Jovi adds, standing from his seat to move closer to me. His bottom hands are on his hips, and his upper ones arecrossed over his chest. "We all wanted to know if either of you had a thing for her because we're trying to get our friend laid."

I make a choking sound and then cough because I'm so caught off guard. "Excuse me?"

"Our plan before we brought you two on board was to get Essa a pleasure crew. She works hard, is a great friend, and she deserves something nice. But then we had to bring you both on board, and those plans changed."

"I don't understand what that has to do with—"

"Because if either of you was interested in her, then we could solve both problems." Jovi cuts me off. "What we didn't expect was that you two were already sleeping with each other, which, fair enough. I get it."

"You do not get it." Alik seethes through clenched teeth, a possessiveness in his gaze.

I don't think they're together in the same way Adam and I are, but I could be wrong. Maybe he's just possessive over the male he shares a mate with. That wouldn't be surprising.

Jovi rolls his eyes. "But if you're not, then we're back to square one and need to get her a pleasure crew."

Jovi shrugs and gives me a 'what can you do' look. I don't like that look or that he just said he wants to bring someone else onto this ship. I'd like to think that my biggest issue with it is that a stranger would be here when Adam and I are trying to be safe and get away.

But I can't fool myself.

I don't want Essa to have a pleasure crew because I don't want anyone else in her bed. I'm not possessive and territorial like Adam, or at least I never have been.

I love Adam. I love our life. But when I saw Essa, I wanted her. I wanted her in ways I've only thought about Adam in. Maybe that's fucked up of me, maybe it makes me a bad partner, but I can't help my feelings.

Jovi steps around me, and my hand reaches out to stop him. He snorts as he looks down at me, a knowing look on his face.

"Don't hire anyone yet," I mumble, keeping his gaze only because I know he wants me to look away.

"Not yet." Jovi nods, the words coming out slowly. "You have seven days to convince Adam. We're supposed to keep you safe, and a pleasure crew won't put you in danger."

"It'll put whoever you hire in danger," I warn, keeping my voice low.

Adam might hate Essa, but he felt lust, too. He felt the calling. I felt it for a few seconds before he caught me looking at her, and then it was overshadowed with hate.

I can't be sure he'll be fine with anyone wanting to touch Essa. No, he might not ever admit he would've been open to this if he had been the one to suggest it. That doesn't mean he won't kill anyone who tries to touch someone he wants. It's a lose-lose situation that only ends poorly if they invite someone else onto this ship.

"Seven. Days."

Jovi pokes my nose with each word, and I startle. I'm not used to anyone touching me like that. He throws his head back in a laugh before moving back to the pizza and grabbing another slice.

I plop down on a stool beside him and put my face in my hands. Things are already way more complicated than they should be, and we haven't even been on the ship for a full day.

four

Essa

My room is situated between the medical alcove and the pleasure crew room. It's a smaller room because I rarely spend time in it, especially since Sloane joined the crew.

If we're together, it's in the entertainment room or kitchen or anywhere but my small room. It's not that I don't like my room, because I do. It's the perfect size to keep protected as a single Haventh. There is a stark difference between it and the grand opulence I used to live in, too. Maybe that's why I like my tiny room, even when the rest of the crew tells me I should take one of the bigger ones.

I pull out my stash of colorful markers that I use to write things on my whiteboard. It takes up the most space in my room besides my bed, but it's the best gift I've ever received. I like writing out problems, lists, things to do, and desires I have.

I once commented to Jovi about wanting one when we first started out on a ship—long before we started our crew. Still, he remembered that I wanted one, and when he saved up enoughcredits, he bought it for me. It's my most loved and most used present.

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