GALLANT (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 3) by Marilyn Campbell

felt an affinity for you."
    "We believe that is so. The captain understood what it is like to be an oddity."
    "An oddity? How so?" Dot said nothing. "Does it have to do with the eye patch he wears?" Again, no answer. Cherry sighed. "I see. So, what happened to the circus owner?"
    "The captain killed him." As Cherry's mouth dropped open, Dot quickly amended, "It was justified. The captain wanted to take Phlylox before the Consociation for judgment but he had other ideas. They fought. The captain was severely injured but Phlylox and his evil circus were both destroyed."
    Cherry felt a slight shiver run through her. It didn't surprise her that Gallant was capable of murder but that he would risk his life to save a group of abused freaks altered her totally negative opinion of him. She was about to admit that to Dot when the he-she blurted out the last thing she expected to hear.
    "You will be the first female to share the captain's bunk for quite some time."

 
     
     
    Chapter 5

     
    Cherry swallowed hard. "I beg your pardon?"
    "He insists he does not have a strong sexual appetite but we believe his desire for privacy has more to do with his avoidance of females than a lack of need. Although, we cannot really be sure. After all, I have offered him the use of my body but he has never been so inclined."
    Cherry's curiosity got the better of her good manners, again. "You mean, you can..."
    Dot chuckled. "Of course. Mar and I each function normally in that way. In fact, we have the unique ability of enjoying the other's pleasure, which works out very well since we cannot always find a male and female who are both attracted to us at the same time." She lowered her eyes for a second. "Mar agreed not to interrupt but he wanted you to know that he would be most happy to accommodate if you wish a demonstration."
    Cherry had thought she'd heard it all before now but the he-she managed to surprise her. "I, uh, thank you, but I don't think so."
    "Good. Then you will share only the captain's bunk. I believe he might prefer that."
    Cherry's smile vanished. "I'll do nothing of the sort."
    Dot looked truly confused. "But it is quite obvious that he wants you."
    "And what the captain wants, he gets, right? Wrong. On all counts. First off, your captain hasn't shown the slightest interest in me, but even if he had, I'm not interested in him. Not only is he a kidnapper and a liar but I got the impression he didn't particularly care for women even before you told me he avoids them. When I choose to bed a man, I prefer him to have a little heat in his blood."
    "Hmmph. The heat in the captain's blood is part of his problem."
    Before Dot could explain what she meant by that, Mar was facing Cherry. "I believe that's enough girl-talk. Let's get back to your navigation lesson."
    Cherry gave Mar most of her attention but a small portion of her continued to mull over all the little hints Dot had given her to the puzzle of the captain. She wouldn't admit it to Dot, but, with each passing hour, she was growing more interested in the captain... and his secrets.
    It was not until much later that day that Cherry and Gallant were alone on the bridge.
    By the time she passed in front of him a second time, Gallant was ready to strap her to the seat. "Don't you ever stop moving?" he asked, clearly exasperated.
    Cherry grinned. "Occasionally, like when I'm sleeping. I always seem to have all this energy just busting to get out." Thoughts of sleeping made her recall Dot's assumption that Gallant would soon have her in his bunk.
    She forced herself to set aside her annoyance with him and let her intuition take a reading. His brow had raised a fraction when she had mentioned sleeping then he'd immediately looked away. Yet, now that she considered the possibility, she thought she might have detected a momentary flash of male interest. But since she wasn't interested, there was really no reason to pursue it.
    Unless it would help her unearth some more of the