cooking and it makes you crave food, correct?”

Mira couldn’t turn to look at him but instead she glanced up at Flint seeing his angry look. He turned his head to glare at Iron.

“That is enough, Iron. Do not say another word or I’ll make sure you get the least appealing female on that shuttle.”

Something beeped and Doc looked relieved as he nodded. He put down the handheld device he’d used to start the branding. “It’s done. She can move.”

The wrap was snug and it didn’t seem to want to loosen at first as Doc carefully tugged it gently from her skin with Flint’s help. When they opened the wrap, the smell that had been teasing her grew stronger and horror hit her. Her mouth opened as she stared down at her shoulder. Her skin was marked with black ink and she saw a faint redness around the surrounding skin from the tiny needles. She sniffed.

“I think I’m going to be sick. It was me that I smelled, wasn’t it? Did it burn the black marks into me?”

Flint moved fast to grip her face by wrapping his hand under her chin, jerking it up, to almost go nose to nose with her. “Look at me. Take shallow breaths through your mouth to lessen the smell. Do not get sick. Just look into my eyes, Mira. What you smell is the small amount of fatty tissue that was exchanged with the ink. The wrap disposes of it by burning it up after it is removed from your body but your skin wasn’t harmed at all.”

She locked gazes with him and took shallow breaths through her mouth. That helped a lot since her stomach stopped heaving. She blinked back tears that rose at the idea of her fat being disposed of and the horror of getting hungry at the smell. Flint’s grip on her chin didn’t release. She heard someone close to them laugh and knew it was Iron. She suddenly had another name for him. Asshole fit him really well.

“You are fine. I would never allow you to be hurt. By the time the pain meds wear off, it will just be slightly uncomfortable. I will have Doc give me a cream to put on your skin to relieve even that. In two days you won’t even feel it. I told you that I don’t want to hurt you, Mira, so trust me.”

“Okay. I’m not going to throw up. I just… God, it smelled good, like barbeque. How sick is that?”

“I personally like the way you taste and smell,” Flint said softly. “Do not feel sickened by your scent making you feel hunger. I hunger for your body right now, even before you smelled like food. I just don’t want to eat you with a fork and knife.” He winked before releasing her.

Mira blushed at his words, knowing Doc had heard every one. He tugged the shirt back over her head, careful of her new branding as he smoothed it down. Flint turned, nodding at Doc.

“Thank you. I am in your debt.”

“A bottle of some hard liquor would be great.” Doc chuckled.

Flint nodded. “Done. I have a case on Garden so I will give two bottles if you’ll measure her for clothing. She needs clothing that will show her markings. It will dissuade anyone from thinking about trying to take her.”

Doc looked at the men standing in the large cargo room. “No shit, Flint. They are almost panting.” He gave Mira another shot with an injector.

Flint’s mouth tightened. “She is branded now so there is no question of ownership.” He turned to glare at the room. His voice rose, deepened, as he addressed his crew. “I do not share my personal possessions and she is completely mine.”

Iron uttered a foul curse. “I guess that means you won’t trade something for her body for an hour then.”

Flint’s jaw clenched. “No.”

Doc walked over to Mira. “I gave you a shot to counteract the paralyzing agent so you should be able to move now. Come with me, young lady. I have to take your measurements. You can keep the shirt on. I just have to wrap a measurer around you in some awkward places.”

Flint moved away to face off with Iron. The two men glared at each other. Mira was relieved as sensation rushed back and she was able to climb off the bed easily when she could move again. Doc led Mira to a corner by a desk where he opened a drawer and