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example of the vast differences between his culture and her upbringing. “I know nothing of medical technology, not even what little is used here on Lorus.”
    “You can learn.” He returned the pocket assistant to his coat and held out his hand, palm to one side. “Will you accept?”
    She looked at his hand, then up at his handsome face. His expression was closed. Unreadable.
    The full meaning of his words sank in.
    She could remain with him.
    Not as his sex slave.
    Nor his lover.
    Just an employee. A servant of sorts, but a paid one.
    Could she stay with him, work with him, and not spend every moment of every hour longing for him? Forced to control her desire and pretend she had never known his touch?
    If it was the only way to stay by his side…
    Taimi took a deep, shaky breath and placed her hand in his. “Yes. I will.”

Chapter Three
    “Everyone’s waiting for us.” Jaren watched Taimi struggle with the ungainly skirt as she followed him into the port, but it wasn’t just the excess of cloth making her awkward. It had been a long time since he’d been with a virgin, but he knew she had to be sore. The memory of how tight she had been, tight and slick around his cock, sent a fresh surge of lust through his body, only partially tempered by his lingering guilt.
    His trousers were uncomfortably tight. He imagined carrying her inside, straight to his quarters and—
    No. She was off-limits. She was working for him. A part of his crew. He forced his thoughts away from the heated images. “We might as well get all the introductions done at once.”
    She nodded, looking distinctly nervous. He wanted to draw her into his arms, to comfort her on this first step into a new life, but held back.
    If he touched her, he couldn’t guarantee his control would remain intact.
    If he touched her, he might give in to temptation.
    He led her around to the rear of the Marama . The loading hatch was open, with most of the crew scrambling to secure the last of their cargo before takeoff.
    Dev met them at the bottom of the ramp, looking at Taimi with definite appreciation, even as he snapped off a quick salute in Jaren’s direction. “Welcome back, Captain. Took you longer than we expected.”
    “I wasn’t as familiar with the Lorus laws as I should have been.”
    Dev raised a brow. “That sounds interesting.”
    “I won’t be sharing the details, old friend.” He resisted the urge to draw Taimi close to him, to claim her as his. If Dev persisted in staring at her like this, Jaren might just have to hurt him. He was extremely glad he’d insisted on changing her out of that transparent slip of nothing the auction house had dressed her in. “This is Taimi. She’ll be joining us as a medic. Taimi, this is my first mate, Lieutenant Dev Geithin.”
    His first mate shot him another sideways grin and reached for Taimi’s hand. “Welcome to the Marama , Taimi.” He gave the young woman another appreciative once-over. His grin widened, and he offered her his arm. “Would you like me to escort you aboard?”
    The man was deliberately trying to provoke him. “There’s no need, Dev. You know the rules.”
    Taimi drew her hand out of the first mate’s grasp. “Rules?”
    “I’ll explain later.” The gold of her slave collar glinted under the harsh lighting. “Let’s get you introduced to the rest of the crew. Then we need to take off that collar.”
    Dev followed them up the ramp, his heavy footsteps making the sturdy metal shudder. “Where were you planning to have her bunk down? Every spare space is filled with cargo, since this is our final trip to this system.”
    Jaren swore.
    “Too bad you didn’t tell us earlier. But I don’t mind; she can stay in my room.”
    “Only if you’re planning on spending every night on the bridge, sleeping in your chair.”
    Dev laughed and clapped a beefy hand on Taimi’s slender shoulder. She staggered and gave the man a look bordering on fear, mixed with a spasm of pain, but