Page 58 of Dark Survivor
“Good to know.”He swallowed past the lump in his throat and gripped the med-dev tighter to calm his trembling hands.
Heat radiated off her cheeks, so he scanned there, found nothing amiss, and returned to the task.
“My eyes used to be green,” she said.“I’m told they’re white now.”Sorrow leaked into her voice, and a tear dewed on her eyelashes.“I stopped caring about my appearance a while ago.”She caught a lock of her hair.“This was to match my dance outfit.”
He smiled.“Now I am curious.You have a specific garment for dancing?”
Again, her cheeks warmed.“I…didn’t make enough tokens at my day job, so at night, I danced at a nightclub to earn a little extra.”Her stiff shrug in no way implied indifference.“I was in a cage and high up, so unbothered for most of the time.”
“What color was your hair?”He placed the med-dev on the bed beside her and buried his hands in her locks.Cool, silky strands wrapped around his fingers.
“Brown.To get this color, they had to genetically modify the melanin.It’s permanent for now.”She flashed a smile.“What color’s your hair?”
“All Giniiri are red-haired and red-eyed.”
Her lips parted.“I wish I could see that.Is Giniiri your last name?”
“My tribal name.”He massaged her scalp, checking for bumps he might have missed.
A poor excuse indeed when the med-dev would have listed a ‘hidden’ head wound.But touching her… There was nothing like it.No experience he could compare it to.Drawing on his dwindling control, he scooped up the med-dev and ran it over her eyes again.He had all he needed to know, but he didn’t want this intimate session to end.
A throat clearing snapped his gaze to the door.
Vic grinned.“Am I intruding?”
“Not at all, Vic.”Tiny glanced at Nenn, a small smile teasing her lush lips.A little green shone through the white of her eyes.Perhaps the med-dev had done more than he’d anticipated.
“How are you feeling?”Vic strode deeper into the room.She bore no injuries.But according to Computer, she’d taken care of Leah.
“Good.Nenn has a soft touch.”Tiny’s cheeks pinkened again.He frowned, planning to research the reason why.“You’ve been busy.”
“I have?”Vic cast her gaze at her feet.“Aehort?”she gasped and flicked her focus at the door.
“Vic?Are you all right?”Tiny inched closer to the edge of the bed like she planned to slide off.Nenn filled the space between her thighs, blocking her.“Nenn, scan her, too.”
“I’m fine.”Vic tried to stop him with her hands raised.
He offered her a cloth to wipe the blood off her arm.As Drafe had said, she had his symbiotes and robotic creatures, so only healed skin remained.
“I know I told you to come with me,” Vic said, “but you can stay with Themba.If you want.”
“Nenn invited me to travel with him to his home.”Tiny pursed her lips, drawing his gaze there.“I’m undecided.You?”
Vic exhaled in a whoosh.“I, too, will be going to Ivoy.”
“Oh.”Tiny grinned.“Then, of course, I’ll go.I didn’t want to be a burden nor the only human onboard their ship.”
Nenn admired her bright smile.This… Yes, he loved it when she was like this.
Vic crossed between them to squeeze Tiny’s shoulder.“Tiny, sweetheart, you helped us free the prisoners.You’re not a burden.”She winked at Nenn, though what that meant, he couldn’t say.“Since you’re in Nenn’s capable hands, I’ll return to the bridge.I’m sure there’s much to discuss.When you’re feeling better, please care for Themba.He’s…” She winced.“Not well.”
Tiny threw out her hand, finding Nenn’s chest.“Captain’s sick?Computer, status on Themba’s heart.”
“He is suffering from arrhythmias.”
Tiny shoved Nenn aside and leaped off the bed.“Come, let us pay the ex-captain a visit.”After grabbing a few things from drawers and cupboards, she marched down the passage.
He trailed her, content to watch her ass swing.Aware his temperature spiked and his koq throbbed, he willed his symbiotes to aid him, cooling and calming where needed.Though, he didn’t mind suffering through both.
