She fell silent.“The biggest betrayal of my life.Yeah, it sounds overdramatic, but I trusted when I shouldn’t have.”
Not knowing what to say, he waited.
“I’ve always understood technology, how it worked, how to manipulate it.When E.A.F.asked me to help bring down a corrupt organization, well, the challenge was too tempting.”Her laughter lacked warmth.“Foolish me.I was arrested, tried, found guilty, then banned from doing anything computer-related.Pierce got me a welding job on Demeter Station as a favor to my brother.I was halfway through my time served when E.A.F.announced that my sentence was extended for unknown reasons.”She sniffed, sending a crushing weight through Cylo’s chest.Is she…crying?“Then I got kidnapped.Which made things a thousand times worse,” she blubbered.“E.A.F.thinks I ran away, which will add decades to my punishment when they catch me.”
He bolted, entering her room without bothering to chime.She was curled on her side, facing the bulkhead between them, her fingers splayed across its Maloidian steel like she longed to touch him.He climbed onto the bed behind her and gathered her against him, letting her cry.
“Ensa, you have me now,” he whispered.“We will fight your justice system on your behalf.”He pressed his lips to her temple.“And if that fails, I will kidnap you permanently.”
She sniffled then giggled.“Thanks, I think.”She rolled over and snuggled into his embrace, then jerked back.“Cylo… Please tell me you’re not naked?”
Her caress across his collarbone made him shiver.“I am.Does my nudity bother you?”
“No,” she rasped.When she pressed her lips where her fingers had been, he stiffened his arms, bringing her closer.
“Ensa.”He squeezed his eyes shut.“We cannot.”
“Why not?”
“Qaff believes my DNA might worsen your—”
“I don’t sleep with a man without protection,” she mumbled, feathering her lips across his skin again.
Anger rushed to cloud his vision.“Why would you need protection when sleeping?Do your males harm you when you are most vulnerable?”
Her lips relaxed into a smile when he was far from joyful.Any male who’d hurt her would feel the wrath of an Etterian operative with his virak of poisons at his disposal.
“No, protection means a condom, a way to prevent pregnancy.”
Condom?Images flooded his mind, explaining its purpose.He froze, his thoughts reeling even as darkness consumed him.“You stop the creation of damu?”Appalled, he wanted to shove her away from him but couldn’t bring himself to do so.“How can your species do this?Damuare precious, to be cherished.”
“Because I don’t want to be giving birth every nine months.We haven’t colonized enough planets to handle that big of a population.”
He sat up, bringing her with him.“Explain.Every nine months?How is that possible when our females are only fertile once a year?”
She gasped.“Cylo, sweetheart, we’re fertile every month.”
“Ah.”He cupped her cheek to run his thumb across her bottom lip.“I see.”His fingers trembled when he activated his O.D.I..“Qaff, what about human condoms?”
The male groaned.“Cannot thwart the strength of Etterian sperm, so no.Just kisses.”The comm ended with a mumbled, “Maker, save me from—”
Cylo laughed at his grumpy battle-bond, but his humor faded when he gazed at her face.“A pity.”
“Tell me about it,” she said and slumped, resting her temple against his chest.“Just hold me.”
“Anytime.”Pulling her down with him, he tucked her head under his chin while running his hand up and down her tunic-covered back.Desperation drove him to slide under her garment to touch her skin, but he dared not.
Time dragged by.His thoughts drifted to what she’d been through and how best to save her.
Her breathing deepened, and yet, sleep eluded him.In the darkness of her room, her outline was clear to him.When her head fell back, he took the opportunity to study every delicate feature from her pointy chin, narrow jawline, tipped nose, and pale blonde eyebrows.Why weren’t they different colors like her hair?He ran a thumb over one, finding its silkiness fascinating.
Her lips parted on a gasp, then her hair changed, the colors fading until the shade from his vision appeared.He froze.How… How had she done that?
Without waking her, he shifted until he could reach his O.D.I.“Qaff?”he whispered.
“Enough,” the male hissed.
“To Wren’s quarters now.”
