Page 24 of Zinnia and the Zombie
He ignored her half-hearted protest, already moving toward the stairwell. “Conservation of energy is logical. You’re injured.”
Her warmth pressed against him sent energy coursing through his system, and the post-stasis weakness that had clung to him evaporated like morning mist.
When they reached the ground floor, he strode purposefully back towards the previous night’s shelter, then gently set her down.
“The flyer contains a medical kit,” he explained. “Wait here.”
“The ship’s not stable?—”
“I won’t be long.”
Despite his concern, he approached the wreckage cautiously. Smoke still curled from sections of the hull, and the metal groaned occasionally as it cooled and settled. The cargocompartment remained partially intact, and he knew exactly where the emergency supplies would be stored. He should have retrieved them when he examined the ship but at the time he’d simply been checking to see if it would be possible to repair it.
The hatch to the small cargo compartment was jammed, but he wrenched it open, metal screaming in protest. Inside, acrid smoke stung his eyes, but he quickly retrieved the sealed medkit. Mission accomplished, he withdrew from the damaged craft just as a section of the ceiling collapsed behind him.
She gave a relieved sigh when he rejoined her. “Are you all right? I heard something fall.”
“I’m fine.”
“You shouldn’t have done something so dangerous.”
“It was a calculated risk.” He knelt beside her, opening the medkit. Inside were the standard emergency supplies: antiseptics, various types of wound sealants, pain suppressors, and diagnostic tools.
He carefully unwrapped the makeshift bandage he’d applied. The cut was clean but deep, blood still seeping steadily from the wound. Without the proper medical facilities, there would be scarring, but infection was the greater concern.
“This will sting,” he warned, selecting an antiseptic spray.
She nodded, bracing herself. When he applied it, she hissed through her teeth but didn’t pull away. Her resilience impressed him.
“You’ve treated wounds before,” she observed as he worked.
“Combat training included field medicine.” He gently held her arm, his fingers wrapped around her wrist to stabilize it. “It’s not my area of expertise but I have a good basic knowledge.”
Where his fingers touched her bare skin, his own golden flesh brightened, energy flowing between them in a circuit he could feel but not fully comprehend. The sensation was… pleasurable. Distractingly so.
He selected a clear sealant gel that would bond with her skin cells, creating a protective barrier while accelerating healing, then applied it carefully along the length of the cut.
A subtle scent reached him—pheromones shifting in her system. Desire. Her pupils had dilated slightly, her pulse quickening beneath his fingertips, just as it had the previous night. His own body responded instantly to her arousal, and he longed to pull her closer, but he remembered the way she had retreated. He remembered her fear and uncertainty. He would not push boundaries she had established, regardless of what his instincts demanded.
He cleared his throat and reluctantly released her arm, breaking the connection. “The sealant needs fifteen minutes to fully bond. Then it will protect the wound while accelerating your natural healing process.”
He busied himself repacking the medical supplies, deliberately putting distance between them. When he looked up again, she was watching him with an expression he couldn’t decipher.
“Thank you,” she said, examining her arm. The sealant had already stopped the bleeding, forming a transparent second skin over the wound.
“We should establish our camp in the other building before nightfall,” he said, changing the subject. “You will be more protected there.”
“As long as I stay away from the crystal plants.” She grinned at him. “But I agree that it’s a good idea.”
“I may even be able to tap into some of the power the dome uses.”
Standing, he offered her his hand. She didn’t hesitate to take it, but even that momentary contact sent energy surging through his system. He released her quickly, not trusting himself to maintain his distance if the connection continued.
“We should gather what we can from the crash site first,” she suggested. “See if there is anything useful before the whole thing collapses.”
“Agreed. But you will remain here while I?—”
“Not a chance.” She folded her arms, wincing slightly when the movement pulled at her injured skin. “I’m not an invalid, and we’ll work faster together.”
