Cylo swallowed a growl at receiving the news from an…outsider.“Why was I not informed?”
“Qaff chose not to, citing your obvious distraction.”Hiossu offered a kind smile Cylo didn’t need or appreciate.“A male on board would have had to act as ambassador.Since you rescued her, it is logical you assumed the responsibility.”
“Indeed.”Cylo almost snorted at that untruth.
“I shall await her awakening.Why do you not seek your rest?”Hiossu’s suggestion made Cylo step back to meet the male’s gaze.
“I am expecting a comm from Adviser Kanzo.”Cylo folded his arms across his sweat-drenched chest and hid a grimace.“Perhaps a quick cleanse?”
Hiossu bowed his head and headed toward the rehydrator.Cylo fled, determined not to take too much time.As he endured the air dryer minutes later, he wondered if Kanzo knew whether women had an issue with sleep pants?Since he was an Eth, his Dar Eth would have mentioned a…distaste for such attire.
Cylo ordered a fresh pair of gray sleep pants, wanting to test Wren’s reaction.If need be, he’d ask her.When he strode into the common, Hiossu nursed a glass of Jucot wine.
“Odd choice of garments,” he said between licking his lips.
Cylo chose not to respond.Instead, he settled on the flip-down bed and activated his tablet.A message from Kanzo confirmed what Hiossu had said.Three lima kuu were on board the scimitarNahatyr.Still, what plagued him was why Kanzo planned to comm in two hours, especially after he’d transmitted the changed plan.That Etterians were going above and beyond to save his Wren… No, not his.Not yet.He gazed at her, her features at rest and serene.Her white-gold hair floated around her face.Her long tunic hid her until mid-thigh.
“Does she look less purple to you, Hiossu?”Cylo glanced at the table only to realize the common was empty.How had he not heard the male leave?
Scowling, he leapt off the bed and returned to the comm since he’d sent Fyca to bed.Seated in front of the console, he closed his eyes.For an operative, two hours of shallow sleep was more than enough.
Toomanyimagesslammedinto Wren’s mind the moment she surfaced.Shards of agony lanced through her skull.She winced and squirmed, trying to sink to the bed.When all she did was roll over midair and bare her cotton-covered ass, she cursed.Not again.
“Need assistance?”Cylo smirked, standing there in his low-riding yoga pants.
The man had an Adonis belt that rivaled any she’d ever seen.Damn.She couldn’t help but stare.And drool, a little.She snorted.A lot.And her throat had dried up.Anything she attempted to say now would come out way too husky.Sure, she’d love nothing more than to do the horizontal with Mr.Stunner, when he just stood there, looking like he’d materialized out of a men’s digi-mag.But he couldn’t.
Her cheeks warmed.Her nethers tingled.Argh.
“Please,” she managed.
He circled the bed and tapped the console.Down she floated, landing face first on the bed.Shit.If the med-E.D.was going to become her haven, she’d better master the descent.
“How do you feel?”he asked.
She peeked at him through the veil of her hair, then narrowed her eyes, trying to sense what he was feeling.Nothing reached her.If she didn’t have a splitting headache from everyone else’s thoughts and dreams, she’d have hoped those horrible chemicals had finally worked out of her system.Did he no longer fantasize about her?The disappointment hit her like an ice-cold shower.She shivered, sadness dropping her gaze.Slithering off the bed, she cast him a wan smile, with the full intention of heading to her room.
“There has been a change in plans,” he said, striding after her.
“Oh?”she asked over her shoulder without glancing at him.
“The lima kuu will not wait for us to reach Issneen.”
She froze and faced him.He halted mid-stride but not fast enough.Her temple bounced off his chest.He looped an arm around her and spun them.No doubt she’d caught him by surprise when she’d stopped like that.But she couldn’t bring herself to be remorseful when his cologne teased her nose and the sheer warmth of him made her want to rest her cheek on his bare pec.
In that second, time stood still.She was but a woman in her lover’s arms.His presence surrounded her in safety, in the surety that she was desired.
She shook her head, trying to focus.“Were the latest results that bad?”
He shrugged.“You are stabilizing.”
She smiled.“That’s good, right?”
“On your appearance only.”
“Shit,” she muttered.“I’m purple forever?”
“Those markers haven’t settled yet, but the activity around them has slowed.”
