Page 24 of Fire Forged

She shook her head, trying to clear the image of childbirth.What she needed was a hot shower.She stripped, tossing off her T-shirt, boots, socks, camo pants, and underwear before she reached the bathroom.

No taps had her stroking the walls for a panel.Damn aliens with their superior technology— She squealed when the water came on by itself.Grumbles followed as she stood there, letting it warm every inch of her.No soap, no shampoo, but at least the toilet looked familiar.

She stepped out of the spray and watched it, wondering if she’d have to call someone to switch it off.When it did it by itself, she grinned.Nice.Okay, one task done.Now to dry.Solid white walls held no towel rails.But there were two buttons.She stroked the top button in blue, twitched her fingers as she hesitated, then pressed it.

Hot air blasted her.She spun, trying to assess from where the air came from.Looking up forced her to squeeze her eyes shut.And she couldn’t shut it off.Fine.Blow away.She hit the gray button and laughed when a panel slid open, showing folded towels.Flicking one out revealed a robe.She slid into it then squeaked when it adjusted around her body like the chair had.

“Gives a new meaning to one size fits all.”Waltzing out of the bathroom, she made a beeline to the rehydrator to order a hot cocoa then two blankets from the replicator.A glance at Aldur’s bed showed it devoid of comfort.She touched and patted the right side of the front door, found the panel, then let it scan her palm.Temperature sorted.Maybe the star deck had the same?

She snorted.Freezing for no reason.Serves her right for being slow to grasp their tech.

“Harder,” Nerx had said in a gruff voice.The sound alone had bolted through like a love drug on steroids.Wow.She’d just stood there and let it wash over her, let the heat of his chest pour into her back, let him stroke her neck.

She shivered, left the cup on the counter, and slid onto Aldur’s bed.As she drew the blanket over her, she muttered, “Don’t let that sexy man get to you, Britt-baby.He’s gonna break your heart.”

Her nod was slow, deliberate.“They all do,” she said, her voice carrying gravitas in her new quarters.The silence, warm blanket, and a belly full of hot liquid lulled her to sleep.

BrittstumbledoutofAldur’s quarters to find Edon seated at the table.She relaxed her stiff shoulders, having half-expected to find a full-on audience because she’d slept so late.

“Morning,” she said, hurrying past him to the rehydrator.

A bowl of fruit salad with yoghurt and a coffee were next on her agenda.So much for starting with exercise.When she stared at the blue sparring mat, she didn’t know what she’d do anyway.Maybe Aldur could advise, as the ship’s medic.And he was buff for someone his age which meant he had to be maintaining that physique somehow.One narrow wall held weapons that could cut you just by looking at them.There had to be other things or activities to do to remain fit while in space.

When she sat opposite Edon, his nostrils flared.He grabbed his plate, and with a tiny bow, abandoned her.Had he sniffed her?There hadn’t been soap or shampoo in the shower?Maybe she stank?She raised her arms to draw in deep whiffs of her pits.Nope, no stench there, just pure Britta.

Nerx strode past her to the rehydrator.He didn’t greet her, and after their last interaction, she was hesitant to say anything.But desperation made her stupid things.

“Um, Nerx?”

“Yes?”he said, but not glancing at her.She could imagine his eyes narrowing, just hearing her voice.

She grinned.“Two things.Soap.Does the replicator have that on its menu?”She could’ve checked this morning but asking him seemed to irritate him.

A steaming mug of something appeared on the rehydrator’s surface.He wrapped those long fingers of his around it.“Why?”While sipping what smelled like hot cocoa, he faced her.

“To wash my body, hair, face.”The existence of bathrooms proved Etterians cared about cleanliness so having to explain her need for soap seemed stupid.Her tone might have implied that.She shrugged.What he perceived in her tone was on him.

“Such is provided in the water.”His focus shifted to his cocoa.So, not meeting her gaze, and Edon reacting a little over the top?

“Okay, then do I stink?”

He tried to leave then halted.“Is there a point to this conversation?”

“Edon almost ran from the common like a herd of sweating and huffing wildebeest sat beside him.Why would your man avoid me?”She folded her arms, waiting for Nerx’s response.If he so much as took a step to leave, she’d be on his ass.

“Male for Etterian.Man for human.”

She rolled her eyes.“Thanks for the lesson, Professor Smarty Pants.”

He growled.“I am done discussing this.”

“Wait.”She leaped to her feet, looping around him to block his way.“I need reading material.Books or something.”

“Any display vid will have archives of every species known to Etteria.”With his cup, he gestured to the wall-mounted black screen.“Your Earthian data is there too.”

“It is?”She squealed and crossed to the screen.A few taps had her finding the folder filled with books, movies, music, and documentaries.

“I do not lie.To imply so is rude.”

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