just barely resisting the urge to throw his arms around her to kiss her soundly despite the melee of milling medical personnel.
"What went wrong?” She took the other end of a stretcher, lifting it with ease, her tall athletic body moving fluidly.
As they took the unconscious soldier toward the open bay of the ship, Ian told her, “Everything. They didn't exactly welcome us with open arms but hit the transport and we crashed. Then they began a full assault. Luckily, both Kartel and I expected trouble.” He shrugged. “The craft behind us was full of the soldiers in your command, Kia. They are very well-trained men. My compliments, for they got us out quickly and efficiently."
She nodded, shouldering her way through the door. “They work well together. What of Septinium?"
"I would guess they now understand that when S-species send a request for peace negotiations, they should behave like civilized creatures. That last explosion was fall out from our retaliation."
"Where's Kartel?"
Ian had expected her to ask, for the tall ambassador was hard to miss. “On one of these stretchers somewhere, hopefully with a very competent physician in attendance. He's lost a lot of blood, I'm afraid."
"Jerra won't handle that well."
He lifted his brows. “You care how she feels?"
Kia scowled. “I didn't say I cared. I merely know how your beautiful little human feels about him."
"I told you if you gave it a chance, you might actually like her."
"I wish you'd never touched her, but you're right, she can stand up for herself, despite the fact she's a captive. I can perhaps understand why Kartel is so obsessed with her.” Liale grimaced as they carefully deposited the stretcher on a nearby bench in the medical area. “Besides the obvious reasons, of course."
"She is beautiful.” He couldn't resist making the comment for he loved Kia's combative possessiveness. It matched his own fierce desires.
"She says you haven't touched her in a long time.” His lover immediately bristled and put her hands on her hips. “Was she lying to me?"
"No. In my experience, Jerra does not lie. It isn't her nature to be dishonest."
"Stop complimenting her."
"Is that an order? Let's not forget I am your superior officer, Captain."
She was predictably unfazed by the reminder. “I am your female. That means I am the only one you want in your bed. Forget your pretty little human, Ian. Besides, as far as I can tell, she belongs to Kartel."
Ian felt all urge to tease her melt away. “I only want you, Kia, you know that. As for Jerra and Ran, well, let's hope he lives so we can see what happens next."
* * * *
Everything was a haze. The pain, the sound, the coppery smell of blood, none of it made sense.
Except one thing.
A hand. One small hand, dwarfed by his much larger one, clasping his fingers.
Ran turned his head a fraction and his nostrils flared as he drank in her scent over the combination of other impressions assaulting his senses. He knew that fragrance better than anything in his universe.
Jerra.
He tried to whisper her name, but it came out instead as a low croak, and immediately someone slipped an ice chip into his mouth. She bent closer for he could feel the silky brush of her hair on his cheek.
"Hush, Ran. Stay quiet. The doctor took enough metal out of you to build a second ship."
It certainly felt like it, so maybe she was right.
Cool fingers touched his cheek. “Sleep and heal. That's another advantage of being S-species they tell me. You'll recover twice as fast as an ordinary human."
Recovery was an abstract concept. The only solid thing was the brush of her fingertips on his burning skin and the musical sound of her voice.
"Stay,” he managed to mumble.
"As if I would ever leave,” she said in tremulous whisper.
Contented, he drifted off.
Chapter 7
She really could not believe it, but the man had an erection.
Jerra said forcefully, “No."
"You're a very cruel nurse.” Ran smiled at her from the bed, all
"What went wrong?” She took the other end of a stretcher, lifting it with ease, her tall athletic body moving fluidly.
As they took the unconscious soldier toward the open bay of the ship, Ian told her, “Everything. They didn't exactly welcome us with open arms but hit the transport and we crashed. Then they began a full assault. Luckily, both Kartel and I expected trouble.” He shrugged. “The craft behind us was full of the soldiers in your command, Kia. They are very well-trained men. My compliments, for they got us out quickly and efficiently."
She nodded, shouldering her way through the door. “They work well together. What of Septinium?"
"I would guess they now understand that when S-species send a request for peace negotiations, they should behave like civilized creatures. That last explosion was fall out from our retaliation."
"Where's Kartel?"
Ian had expected her to ask, for the tall ambassador was hard to miss. “On one of these stretchers somewhere, hopefully with a very competent physician in attendance. He's lost a lot of blood, I'm afraid."
"Jerra won't handle that well."
He lifted his brows. “You care how she feels?"
Kia scowled. “I didn't say I cared. I merely know how your beautiful little human feels about him."
"I told you if you gave it a chance, you might actually like her."
"I wish you'd never touched her, but you're right, she can stand up for herself, despite the fact she's a captive. I can perhaps understand why Kartel is so obsessed with her.” Liale grimaced as they carefully deposited the stretcher on a nearby bench in the medical area. “Besides the obvious reasons, of course."
"She is beautiful.” He couldn't resist making the comment for he loved Kia's combative possessiveness. It matched his own fierce desires.
"She says you haven't touched her in a long time.” His lover immediately bristled and put her hands on her hips. “Was she lying to me?"
"No. In my experience, Jerra does not lie. It isn't her nature to be dishonest."
"Stop complimenting her."
"Is that an order? Let's not forget I am your superior officer, Captain."
She was predictably unfazed by the reminder. “I am your female. That means I am the only one you want in your bed. Forget your pretty little human, Ian. Besides, as far as I can tell, she belongs to Kartel."
Ian felt all urge to tease her melt away. “I only want you, Kia, you know that. As for Jerra and Ran, well, let's hope he lives so we can see what happens next."
* * * *
Everything was a haze. The pain, the sound, the coppery smell of blood, none of it made sense.
Except one thing.
A hand. One small hand, dwarfed by his much larger one, clasping his fingers.
Ran turned his head a fraction and his nostrils flared as he drank in her scent over the combination of other impressions assaulting his senses. He knew that fragrance better than anything in his universe.
Jerra.
He tried to whisper her name, but it came out instead as a low croak, and immediately someone slipped an ice chip into his mouth. She bent closer for he could feel the silky brush of her hair on his cheek.
"Hush, Ran. Stay quiet. The doctor took enough metal out of you to build a second ship."
It certainly felt like it, so maybe she was right.
Cool fingers touched his cheek. “Sleep and heal. That's another advantage of being S-species they tell me. You'll recover twice as fast as an ordinary human."
Recovery was an abstract concept. The only solid thing was the brush of her fingertips on his burning skin and the musical sound of her voice.
"Stay,” he managed to mumble.
"As if I would ever leave,” she said in tremulous whisper.
Contented, he drifted off.
Chapter 7
She really could not believe it, but the man had an erection.
Jerra said forcefully, “No."
"You're a very cruel nurse.” Ran smiled at her from the bed, all
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