Page 41 of Across The Stars
“Oh, shit,” I said. “Sam?”
I swung my feet over the edge of the table, not thinking. As soon as I put weight on my leg, my skin stretched and a wave of sharp pain shot through my thigh. I collapsed, but before I hit the floor, the valerian took hold of my shoulders, helping me find my balance. I looked up into his eyes to see the color around them shift to a faint blue that spread to the peaks of his odd head protrusions. I felt a slight static sensation against my skin and just when I did, the alien sucked in a slow, deep breath as if he’d felt it, too. I blinked, confused… and extremely glad that my jumpsuit wasn’t very fitted because my damn nipples were puckering and sensitive as hell.
“What?” I said.
“You should not walk,” he said, his grip loosening. “I used a low setting on the fuser for your wounds, which means it will scar less, but your body must still heal a bit.”
“I wanted to check on my friend.”
The alien’s eyes traced my face, making my pulse roll a little. I swallowed, my skin suddenly feeling hot despite the obvious blood loss. The alien wasn’t letting go. I was concerned for Sam, but the slight moans coming from her led me to believe she was still just feeling queasy. Maybe I didn’t have to go to her. Maybe I was worse off and needed to think of myself.
The alien slowly released my shoulders, letting me stand on my own, but he didn’t give me much space. I could smell him. He smelled like black tea and something subtly sweet, airy, and fresh. Rain, maybe.
“Thanks,” I said in a near whisper. I had questions. Oh, did I have questions. “So. Do you have a name?”
“Vahko,” he answered, his voice deep and impossibly pleasant.
I knew it. I knew it and I didn’t want to say it because my body had reacted not once, not twice, but three times to him in a strange way and it was a little alarming. I’d say it was like meeting your high school crush in the hall and not knowing what to say to him, but it was ten times more intense. I felt it in my belly. In my chest. Everywhere. Nervousness, fear, and excitement all at once.
“Vahko,” I said, feeling his name on my tongue.
He cocked his head ever so slightly, his eyes settling on my chest for a moment before he met my gaze again.
“You are Innifer,” he said.
“Huh?”
“Your name. Innifer?”
“Well… yeah. How’d you know that?”
He reached down, taking my wrist in his warm fingers and lifting it up in front of my face. On it was my Buddy and I recalled the public profile I’d made. It was the only answer I could think of, so I smiled, about to laugh.
“You guys have access to that?”
Vahko nodded, dropping my hand. Bracing his fists on the edge of my table, he leaned forward. That kicked my pulse up a notch.
What the hell?
My cheeks flushed and I almost rolled off the other side of the table just to get away from him. Not because he scared me. Nope. Because I shouldnotthink an alien was attractive. Clearly, something was very wrong with me.
“Um,” I stammered, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear like it would help my appearance. I was a mess. More than a mess. My clothes were covered in blood and I was stressed out of my mind. “I guess I should thank you. For saving our asses.”
Vahko shrugged a shoulder. I found myself staring at the bizarre, faintly pulsing colors of his complexion. It was subtle but there and enough for me to ogle rudely. His skin was smooth but seemed to harden as it swept back over his scalp in three, odd extensions like a crown that traced the shape of his skull. His hair was black as ink and shined like silk under the orange-hued lights of the med-bay. It was long and braided in multiple, thin strands that all twisted together into one tendril. And those eyes. They were an exotic almond shape and in the middle of his big, blue iris were dots of other colors like an entire nebula was staring back at me.
“What?” Vahko asked.
I blinked rapidly with surprise. “Huh?”
“You are staring.”
“Of course, I am. I’ve never seen one of you up close.” Without thinking, I lifted my hand off the table and slowly reached up, brushing my fingers down the side of his face. He felt warm and soft, the ridges on his cheeks more pliable than I imagined.
When I realized what I was doing, shock that he didn’t pull away hit me. He almost invited my touch and that made my pulse sing. As my fingers brushed across his chin, nearly grazing his lips, his eyes darted downward and then slowly back up to meet my gaze as if curious what I’d do next.
My chest tightened. I lost a breath or two in that instant, squirming in my too-sensitive skin. I felt the same thing when he touched me on the freighter. I gasped softly, my core swelling with…
Nope. Not need. That was ridiculous, especially considering I was sitting in my own blood, Sam was puking on the floor, and Quinn had been abducted. It was not the time to get turned on.
