Page 38 of Indentured Companion
“Then it’s because I’m a woman?”
“NO!”
“Then why do you think it’s okay to talk to me like that?” I tongue at my cheek and fold my arms. In my peripheral I can see Justina smirking and the Sacron Councillor is grinning like he’s highly amused. All the female guests at the table are starting to scowl at this dude.
“Really? Because you called me meals inheels,specifically. Traditionally women wear heels. What? Do you think women should be on a leash and do as they’re told? You invite sexist people to have dinner with you?” I direct to the table, and behind me Vrajan chuckles in his throat.
“It’s nothing to do with you being a woman!” He bangs his hands on the table with anger. “It’s because you’re a Korvis’s-”
“Oh!” I cut him off loudly. “So you were insulting to me, because I’m friends with a non-human? So you’renotsexist, you’re just a Xenophobe.” I dramatically nod at him, and then look over at Ninthor like I’mnotimpressed with him. “You invite Xenophobes to have dinner with you then?”
“I do not.” He lowered his red glasses down his nose and two large red eyes made up of fly like segmented eyes light up and glare at the man. “You need to leave, Donald. Now.”
“I am not a Xenophobe!”
“So if I were the guest of another human, would you have called me meals on heels?” I am not letting this worm wriggle himself out of this.
“N-no, but-”
“Then quite frankly?” I lift both hands up to give him the middle finger on both. “You heard our host. Fuck off, you speciest piece of shit, before I come over there and shove my foot so far up your a-” Vrajan covers my mouth with his hand and leans around my shoulder to give me a look. Ah, yeah. I got a little carried away there.
“I think you’ve made your point.” He chuckles and releases my mouth. “And we are both grateful and heartened to see such view points as the Delegate Donald Ferros harbours isnotwelcome at your table, Councillor.” Vrajan bows over my shoulder towards Ninthor, who has returned his red glasses to cover his eyes once more. Security guards drag ‘Donald’ off like he’s a criminal in a fine suit, and Getrata is scowling on both faces. If looks could kill, me and Vrajan would both be dead right now. “I also apologise for getting a tad cross myself and hissing. I hope I didn’t startle anyone. It’s instinctive to make that noise when…upset.” Even Justina raised a brow at him. “Like Miss Stone said, she is very precious to me, and it upset me when she was spoken to in such a way.”
“And that’s very sweet hun, but I take part in my own bar fights, thank you.” I wink at him over my shoulder, and I can tell he’s blushing at the pet name from the way his eyes widen and he averts his gaze.
“Brilliant!” The big blue Sacron claps with his upper hands and has a tear in his eyes for how hard he’s laughing. “I like her.”
“I think Miss Stone can certainly handle herself.” Justina chuckled, and the Sacron lady beside her cooed at us like something really cute was happening.
“Yes, well played.” Ninthor toasts me with a glass. “I hope you are through with your less than stellar language and threats of violence, Miss Stone?” Ninthor raises a brow at me, and there’s a hint of a smile to his pale lips. “This is a civilised gathering, after all.”
“Sure. If people are civil to me, I’m civil back.”
Thankfully the mood seems to be light, having just entertained these posh twits, and other than Getrata’s constant glaring, the attention turns away from us.
“Are you alright?” Vrajan whispers to my ear, and I turn to face him. “Your heart is still racing.” I gulp and nod at him.
“I’ll be fine. It’s the adrenaline.” I chuckle with a shrug. “Are you okay?” I whisper back to him. We both know the real reason Donald made that slight. He was a Xenophobe alright, but specifically against Korvis. I brashly, and rather luckily, turned the tables on him, but it could have gone terribly wrong.
“Thanks to you, I am fine.”
“So I came to your rescue?”
“Well, I suppose it would be more accurate to say you came toDonald’s rescue.” Oh boy. I was right. He reallywasabout to pounce on that guy. Vrajan patted a hand on my lap and sighed. “I…was very cross. Thank you.”
“Any time.” I smile and lean a bit closer. “Oh, and sorry I cursed like a merchant again.” I comically wince at him, and he chuckles. “When I get pissy, I get cussy.”
“I noticed.” He nods with a chortle. “When I get ‘pissy’ I get ‘hissy’?” He tries to follow my logic, and it’s adorable. I snort with laughter trying to contain it, but fail. I teeter with laughter, and forget we have company. When I catch my breath he’s looking at me in such a way, time seems to stop. It feels like he’s telling me something profound, without speaking a single word. His hands aren’t moving, but they feel warm on the small of my back and on my lap. I feel so safe here with him, and in his eyes I see an invitation to never leave his arms. He has said nothing, but I feel full of feeling. My feelings, and his. I lean down, lips parted, eyes half shut, and about to kiss him through his veil-
“AHEM!” I sit bolt upright, blushing with embarrassment, as Ninthor calls across the table to break the moment. “Perhaps you would be so kind as to return to your seat now, Miss Stone?”
“Erm, yeah. Right.” Oh my giddy aunt. I nearly kissed Vrajan in front of a table full of the most influential people in the galaxy.AndI got caught. Like a teacher just walked in on a pair of horny teens at the prom trying to get a leg up in an empty classroom. Shit. The Sacron councillor and Justina are laughing, and the couples present start giving each other ‘the eye’ like they’ve caught onto my brainwave.
“Miss Stone?” I sweep my eyes over to Vrajan, and watch as he reaches over to grab the arm of my chair. He effortlessly slides me over, in the chair, to sit beside him at the end of the table. He then matter-of-factly takes one of my hands and cups it in both of his on his lap. “Much better.” I grin and slide over in my chair so my arm bumps with his. My shoulder comes to his upper bicep, and he leans down so we can continue whispering to each other. “You are magnificent.”
“You’remine, and this bitch marks her territory.” I smirk, expecting him to chuckle, but instead his pupils blow wide and he inhales sharply.
“I…am very glad to be yours, Miss Stone. Are you therefore, mine as well?” Woah. He just took the wheel and turned us from light banter street into serious talk lane. I can tell from the way his beautiful lilac eyes hold me in a trance, that he’sveryserious. My answer, should be serious as well. I lean up to put my chin on his shoulder.
