Gamble by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

perky.
    “Now is fine. I will open the hatch for you.” Her hair was up in a bun with a ponytail cascading down her spine and her suit was on. Naked breakfast was over.
    “Excellent. I am on my way.”
    On her way down, Kora had Fairy do a security check on Jeeni. She was only allowed to see the main deck and part of the cockpit. None of the private areas were available for her, which suited Kora just fine.
    Privacy was important when you had been butterflied on a surgeon’s table. After that much exposure, you wanted some me time and a place to call your own.
    Well, if Jeeni was coming, then she wasn’t the fried Guardian. It had to be one of the gentlemen that she had met the night before. Ah well, it was none of her business.
    She smirked as she came down and noted the smell of cleanser in the first deck. The ship liked to make a good show whenever dignitaries came to play. The bots must have been busy last night.
    The small hatch opened, and Kora snickered. That indicated that the ship was not impressed with their incoming visitor. If the Star Fairy thought well of someone, the doors would be open and defense systems would be on standby. Today, the Fairy was going to be polite, but if Jeeni got out of line, she would defend herself and her pilot. The Guardian was stepping onto foreign soil when she entered the transport. Kora grinned; she would bet three hundred bucks that the Guardian had no clue.
    Jeeni was wearing her uniform this morning. She looked Kora up and down. “My, my. I must have the name of your tailor.”
    “Guardian Transport Dispatch supply. Now, welcome to the Star Fairy .” She smiled brightly and gestured for the Guardian to come on board.
    Jeeni stepped over the threshold, and Kora felt like laughing. The pushy cow was in her territory now.
    “Oh, is this the hold?”
    “And storage for any personnel that I don’t want to talk to. The cryo tubes are fully fuelled and I can transport up to twelve felons in stasis.”
    “Felons?” Jeeni swayed toward her as Kora turned on one of the units.
    “Of course, it is my main purpose to remove hostile talents or repeat offenders from the planets that they plague. While the Guardians can capture these folk, few planets are equipped to confine them.”
    Kora felt a touch on her shoulder. She turned, and Jeeni was extremely close.
    “Please do not touch me without warning. My people consider it especially rude.” Kora kept her voice firm, and she stifled her amusement at Jeeni’s shock.
    “You do not feel attraction for me?” Jeeni scowled. “That is impossible.”
    The Star Fairy sent her the commander’s file. Contact seduction. Kora snorted. The impulses of her skin were filtered via the implants. She just didn’t work the way that solid biological creatures did.
    “I am afraid not. I have a mate, and to him alone I am attracted. Why would you wish my interest?”
    They walked deeper into the ship.
    “I have never been with a cyborg before. I am curious about you.”
    “So curious you tried to poison me?” It was an exaggeration, but a quick search of cyborg requirements would have flagged the alcohol as unsuitable.
    “What?”
    “You knew what I was, and yet, you tried to refuse me water at dinner. On my world, that would be considered an exceptionally rude move. Hospitality and making one’s guests comfortable comes before protocol.”
    Jeeni was silent.
    Kora looked back at her and caught the change in the colour of her skin.
    “I did not think to do that research.”
    “Then, it is no wonder you and yours are not invited to exchange with other species. You have to have an interest in them, and since you do not, there is no way you could be a good Guardian to people that you care nothing for.”
    Jeeni moved suddenly, pinning Kora against a cryo unit and kissing her.
    Kora counted to five and then pushed Jeeni away. “Unacceptable contact, Jeeni. If you persist, I will kick you off this ship.”
    “How can you resist