"It sounds lovely," she admits. "I would love to go." The human bites her lip and hesitates, looking at me. "Isn't this costing you a lot of money, though?"
"Yes. But it'll be worth it."
"To get me out of your system," she repeats, echoing my words. "Is it because I danced in the window?"
It's because you watched me, I want to say, but it feels too vulnerable. I don't answer her, simply stare in her direction, letting her know I don't like to be questioned. When she nods and looks away, uncomfortable, I speak again. "Do you agree to my terms?"
"My body in exchange for freedom?" She laughs, the sound small and bitter. "You realize you could have me either way? You've bought me."
"I have no wish for a screaming, crying female under me," I say coldly. "Try to look somewhat enthusiastic when I touch you. Fake it if you must." Though I don't know if I'd want her to fake enthusiasm if she didn't feel it. Silence would probably be better. I think. I'm not entirely sure. I've never had sex before. I've always relied on my hand, assuming no one would want someone—something—like me in their bed.
The human female considers this. "So you bought me to sleep with me, and then when you're tired of me, you'll send me someplace nice? Where I'll be free? Can I pay you back?"
I shrug. "The money is of no concern to me." Getting her out of my head is. I haven't been able to focus ever since I looked out the entrance of my shop and she wasn't in the window. Getting my focus back would be worth the credits if nothing else.
Her eyes fill with tears. "You're so nice…"
"I am not nice," I immediately cut her off. I am not kind. I'm buying her to use her. "I am simply laying my plans out so you know what to expect. Do you agree to this?"
She nods quickly, eagerly. "I would love to go to a farm planet. Whatever you want me to do, I'm in." A little smile curves her mouth. "Thank you so much."
Why is she thanking me? I just told her that I intend to use her. I am going to take her to my bed and slake my needs on her. Me, an ugly, half-metal monstrosity. I don't understand why this pleases her, but so be it. "Quit thanking me. Like I said, I am not a kind male. I am just doing this to ensure my needs are met." Because I need her. I need her, and then I'm going to get her out of my system and get my head back to normal.
"No apologizing," she says quickly, and there's a hint of a smile on her lips, like she's amused at my surly demands.
I scowl at her, and it wipes the smile off her face. The moment it disappears, I feel like a keffing ass, and that just irritates me even more. Why is it that the longer I'm around her, the less I feel like I'm in control? I bought her so I could have control. I bought her because the thought of her being sold on the auction block to a stranger did gnawing things to my gut. That I couldn't bear for another male to touch her, or for her to look at him the way she looked at me through that window. I want her to look at me like that again, but she just keeps giving me wary glances. "Any questions?" I ask gruffly.
She thinks for a long moment, playing with the hem of the tunic—my tunic—that she's wearing. The collar on her throat bobs as she swallows, and I realize I've forgotten she's wearing it. I hate the sight of it. I move closer to her and reach out to take it off. She goes utterly still, and I realize she's waiting to be groped—or worse. It just makes me even more irritated. I snap the collar and toss it aside, and then lean back on the couch, waiting for her to speak.
She's going to refuse, I realize. Being in my bed is worse to her than captivity. Or she's going to try and wheedle some sort of deal where she won't have to touch me but still get what she wants. If that's the case…
It'll just be credits lost if that's the case, because I'm not going to force a female to take my cock. I'll toss her onto the next shuttle heading toward the Risda system and try not to think about what a fool I am.
Her fingers continue to play with the hem as the silence stretches between us. After a long, long moment, she looks up at me. "Do you…have a name? What do I call you?"