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"And then I changed the code again because I thought, should I kill the children? And then I thought, there's more microplastics in their lungs than actual tissue so maybe I'm doing them a favor."

He blinked. "Yes, yes. I suppose...that's reasonable in a way."

She laid her head on his chest, as they watched the sky.

Anith sighed.

"So you have electricity on Iohiri right?"

He raised his brow. "We have all the technology from Earth and more. Rest assured. I'll even have one of the squints hook you into earth's beam."

She yawned. "What's that?"

"Earths beam? Everything on a planet runs at the same level of frequency, and it's unique. So we can tune you into-"

"No, squint."

"Ah, those are the people who are intellectually strong. They squint at screens all day. I call them squints. They're very smart, you'd like them." He paused. "You are one. But you're far more attractive than any squint I've seen."

She shifted in his lap, looking at the monitor. He bounced her on his lap idly.

She played with his large hands. He let her, finding her smaller hand very adorable. As long as she was occupied she was actually very easy to handle.

Very easy to entertain. His mother always told him, in order to please women, you had to provide for them. Make them happy. And entertain them.

Keep them interested.

She batted his hand around, as he lifted it, making her grab it.

"Hey, I was playing with that." She grabbed it.

He watched her with a smile. It was easy though. So far. Roxanne bit his finger making him look down.

"No biting," he chided her. "You are very..."

She cocked her head waiting.

"Cute," he finished simply.

She smiled, looking up at him. "You're hot," she smiled.

He touched his face. "Am I? I thought I was at a normal temperature? Is there a-"

He watched her face. "...I've mistranslated."

"You've mistranslated. It means...like...sexy. You know what sexy is?"

"Sexual intercourse? That?"

She rolled her eyes. "Sort of. I guess sexy means someone is attractive in a way you want to have sex with them. Like they have sex appeal."

He pondered it. Sex appeal. Was that like when she did that thing, with her...her whole body. Or when she held his hand and squeezed it.

Or when she danced, with her hips like that. Or when she said things really softly, like she whispered things anything...

Or-

"Anith did you get it?"

"Yes. Sexy. Sex appeal. Hot. I have understood the translation. Thank you for the compliment."

She kissed his cheek.

Or her soft lips. They were so soft and full. She was soft and full. Her whole body. She was soft and nice to hold, nice to grip. He loved her body in his hands.

"Anith," she snapped in front of him. "God you keep spacing off."

"We are in space," he said.

She rolled her eyes, standing. "Yikes, Anith, you really don't have that good a grasp on idioms."

Anith shrugged. "It's not my fault. Not my language. Not even my planet," he grabbed her hand, pulling her back into his arms.

He closed his arms around her.

She looked up at him. "I feel your heart."

He glanced back at her, his dark eyes. "Yes. It's larger than yours."

She put her hand on his chest. He looked down at it.

Roxanne swallowed roughly. "Anith...you know women have needs."

He nodded. "Yes. Women have needs. At least adequate shelter, good, nutritious food, space, and emotional support. Also, hobbies are important. Access to healthcare-"

"I meant...sexual needs."

He raised his brows. "Yes. Of course. All beings have sexual needs."

He blinked. "Oh...oh! You require sexual gratification now?"

She sighed. "How do you make everything sound so impossible awkward and nerdy?"

He shrugged. "I'm far better in my own language."

Roxanne chuckled, raising her hands to his face. "I bet," she leaned up and kissed him.

Anith shifted her in his lap. Her lips were sweet. He smiled. Roxanne felt him, under her, making her shiver.

"Anith...I want you."

He thought he would break her. He wasn't completely upset at the thought. He'd seen her crazy. Happy. Excited. Sad.

What did she look like if he made her come undone? What sort of expression would be on her beautiful face then?

He wanted to find out.

She took off her shirt, and he examined every inch of flesh she'd exposed to him. He'd killed hundreds of people.

War was his strong suit, killing was his job. Power was his landmark. There was nothing he couldn't do, couldn't accomplish with his own two hands.

But she chose to share her skin with him, and he felt...no power he'd ever had before had come close.

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