Page 4 of Loaned to the Leonid Knight

“HE’S HERE AND GOINGthrough medical screenings and forms right now.”

Sasha looked up from her millet porridge with fresh citrine syrup and an edible pale yellow blossom perched on the edge of the bowl. Kaylee, the young woman with long, jet-black hair done up in two elaborate buns and wearing the insignia of a member of the medical crew, rushed into her quarters as soon as Sasha gave the command to admit her.

Kaylee’s morning visit wasn’t unexpected. Someone checked on her each morning out of necessity, and then several other crew members checked on her during the day out of sheer kindness. She was regularly invited to sit in the nursery with Wendy, Abi, and Layla. Even Talos, the enormous Tigerite who scowled at everyone but his wife and daughter, sought her out in the lounge once and brought her a Tigerite delicacy of crunchy rice and heavenly-tasting fish.

The news wasn't unexpected, either, but Sasha’s heart started to pound, and her palms began to sweat. “But I... I haven’t shaved my legs today.”

“What? Oh! For goodness sake, I don’t think he’s going to expect to jump on you the second he arrives. And Canids and Felids are covered in fur. Some of them are freaked out by how smooth we are. Stubble might make him feel more at ease,” Kaylee laughed, but patted her shoulder in a comforting fashion.

“I haven’t had the shots. I’m not in the right place in my cycle. I need to wait a couple of days.”

“Again, I don’t think Farhet is going to demand physical activity.” Kaylee frowned. “You know, you don’t have to be intimate with someone you don’t like. This isn’t a Pleasure Park.”

“No, no, I know. I read Farhet’s profile and everything. I liked him—on the screen, anyway. We were supposed to have a few times to communicate over comms, but we never lined up our schedules. He’s like... some wealthy governor of a city on Leonid-One?”

Kaylee nodded. “A very refined district on Leonid-One. Leonid-One is considered the jewel of the Felix Orbus Galaxy—especially if you ask the people who live there. He seems very polite—and pompous. But that’s probably just nerves. I bet after you two spend a couple of days together, have a few meals, a little wine... It’ll be great.”

Sasha nodded, lips pressed together. What if it wasn’t great? She didn’t want to turn him away. She knew he was desperate for a child, and she was desperate to fulfill her contract and get the full payment, plus a bonus on delivery, and fully twice the credits if she had twins.

This would be so much simpler if there were test tubes and injections involved, so much simpler if she didn’t have to play nice, physically or emotionally.

Come on, Sasha. Don’t fall into that trap, into old ways of thinking. This is a good thing, with good people, and a new start. Bodies are just bodies, and the whole thing will probably be over quickly each time.

Well, hopefully nottooquick. Her mouth dried out when she thought about the size of Rupex, the Captain of theComet Stalker,and his petite blonde wife, Layla. Her tongue practically disintegrated when she thought of how big Talos was next toWendy. Dr. Marcus mentioned the size difference, but he didn’t seem concerned about it. He simply said that humans and Felids were compatible with a little patience.

“Does he seem like the friendly, patient type?” Sasha drained her glass and pushed her bowl away. Her empty stomach was still hungry, but her nerves were now calling the shots.

Kaylee’s voice was noncommittal. “Well... Well, he seems very eager.”

Sasha swallowed down a question. She probably was coming off as nervous, and nervous females were probably not the right candidates for surrogacy that might rebuild a race, heck, that might rebuild a galaxy!

Eager? Eager to meet me? Or screw me into the mattress? Or to get this over with?

Or was “eager” simply code for “impatient”?

“I’ll get a shower and get ready to meet him.”

“He’ll have his own quarters, right next to yours. There are six sets of what we’re calling the surrogate suites. When you’re ready, just send him a message through the ship’s communication system. He’ll be listed like you: position, then name. He’ll beGuest: Farhet.”

“Got it. Where should I meet him? The dining area? My quarters?”

Kaylee shrugged. “It’s up to you. Wherever the mood takes you.”

What if my mood is so nervous, I can’t think straight?

“One of us will sit in with you while you get to know each other, and when you two mutually decide you want privacy, you can just let us know.” Kaylee leaned in and whispered, “Believe me, this is like a floating love boat.”

“But I’m not going to be in love! Love complicates things, and this is a business contract.”

“Well, I know, but... You know, the slang that people use. Physical expressions that often go along with love. When you want to have a good time. Physically.”

Kaylee blushed and stopped speaking, and Sasha took pity on the woman, nodding as if she agreed.

Kaylee continued. “Everyone here is on board with the fun side effects of surrogacy. Abi and Layla were both surrogates to start. Not that it lasted long before Rupex and Marcus were proposing!” Kaylee chuckled. “I know you and Farhet might not end up the same way—”

“We will not end up the same way,” Sasha said firmly.

“But you might as well enjoy yourselves?”