Sweet Starfire

Desma stayed very still, watching the other two from under her lashes. Severance just stared at Cidra, his gaze brooding and malevolent.
    “You don’t need a contract and you know it,” he finally said.
    “How do I know it? You’re taking off for QED as soon as you get back from this little jaunt up the river. After QED , who knows where you’ll go and what you’ll do? I may never see you again.” She smiled grimly. “I have to protect my share of the profits.”
    Severance continued to glare at her for another moment, and then he turned on Desma. “Did you put this idea in her head?”
    Hastily Desma put up a hand. “Not me. I had nothing to do with it.”
    “I,” said Cidra calmly, “thought of it all on my own.”
    “This is ridiculous.” Severance’s voice was tight. He took another large swallow of ale.
    “A woman alone can’t be too careful.”
    “This is a form of retaliation, isn’t it? You’re madder than hell because I’m sending you back to Clementia.”
    Cidra waved her fingers in a graceful, airy gesture. “I’m merely putting into practice all the things I’ve been learning recently.”
    “Yeah?” He leaned closer. “And what else that you’ve teamed recently are you planning to put into practice?”
    Cidra smiled gamely even though she was fully aware of the newly erratic nature of her pulse. She had to struggle to control her breathing. Severance could be very intimidating when he chose. “You needn’t concern yourself with anything except the details of splitting the credit.”
    “Why, you little…” He made an obvious effort at regaining control of his own temper. Then he slammed the half empty mug down on the table and got to his feet. “You want a recorded contract? All right, you’ll get one. We’ll take care of the details right now.”
    “But I haven’t finished my dinner.”
    “We do it now or not at all.” He turned to Desma. “You,” he informed her, “can act as a witness.”
    Desma struggled to hide her amusement. “I’ll be happy to do so.” Quickly she paid for the meal and stood. “Ready when you are.”
    The deed was done in almost total silence. By the time her signature had been recorded and her voiceprint used to verify it, Cidra was almost shaking. Severance was furious. He scrawled his name beside hers, barked into the voiceprint recorder, and escorted her out of the contracts office in a chilled silence. He didn’t speak until he had deposited the women at Desma’s door. Severance stood in front of Cidra, feet braced slightly apart, one thumb hooked in his utility belt. He was the very picture of a man scorned.
    “I’ll see you when I get back.” His words sounded more like a threat man a promise.
    “Fine.” Cidra hung on to her poise with sheer willpower, wrapping it around herself like an early evening gown. “I trust you will have a swift, safe trip.”
    “Thank you for the kind wishes.” The heavy irony in Severance’s tone was enough to dampen any further gestures of reconciliation. “Just one more thing.”
    “Yes, Severance?”
    “You are now officially a very rich young woman. As long as my name was the only one on the credit account, no one would have bothered you. But as of tonight you’ve become a prize.”
    “A prize?”
    “Any reeting renegade who thinks he can talk you into bed and out of your credit will probably try.”
    “I’m not that naive, Severance.”
    “You’d better exercise some common sense while I’m gone. If I get back and find out you’ve done something foolish, I’ll—”
    “You’ll what?” she challenged.
    “I’ll feed whoever succeeded in seducing you to the river. And when I’m finished with him, I’ll tear several long and painful strips off your soft hide.”
    Uneasily Cidra tried to outglare him. “You have no rights over me.”
    “Don’t bet on it. Officially you’re still a member of my crew. And I’m still the pilot in command.” He stepped closer and seized her by the shoulders, pulling her against his hard body. “Good-bye, Cidra. Behave yourself while I’m gone or there’ll be hell to pay when I get back. I promise you.” His mouth came down on hers, quick and hard. Then he turned on his booted heel and started down the street.
    “Severance!”
    He halted and glanced back, his face set in forbidding lines. “What?”
    “Don’t you dare give away those sensors. You make sure you get paid for delivering them, do you hear me?”
    “I can hear you