“Scream all you want, bitch. There’s nobody to hear you.” He yanked up her robe. She felt cold air against her naked buttocks.
She screamed and thrashed, trying to throw him off. A hard blow to her temple rocked her head on her neck.He’s going to kill me.
She felt him fumbling. He was unzipping his pants.
No. No.She bucked.Oh god, oh god.Tears sprang to her eyes.
Crack!
Her ears rang with the sound of a gunshot, and wetness splattered over her. Red rain. Blood. Her assailant collapsed.
The weight lifted, and the assailant’s body sailed across the room and slammed into the wall. Collecting her robe around her, Laurel rolled over.
Grav stood there.
Chapter Twelve
“Grav?” Laurel blinked and burst into tears. Great heaving sobs shook her body. She wrapped her arms around herself and rocked. “H-h-h— Y-y-y—”
He couldn’t understand what she was trying to say.
He felt sick. Had he gotten to her in time? Had she been hurt? He felt so helpless. He didn’t know how to provide the comfort she needed. His people did not comfort one another, and certainly not the foe. But he didn’t think of her as the enemy.
Moving slowly to avoid scaring her, he knelt on the floor. “You’re safe. I promise you’re safe.”
To his shock, she flung herself against his chest and hugged his neck. Awkwardly, he closed his arms around her. Her body shook; tears dampened his throat. He’d never seen anyone cry with their whole body shuddering and shaking.
Adults never wept. Only small children did, and they quickly learned not to.
He rubbed her back in what he hoped was a soothing gesture. Her robe was wet and sticky with her attacker’s life fluid and brain matter, and the man’s sickening stench clung to her, but right now that didn’t matter. He had to take care of her.
Thank Zok she’d had other weapons stashed. He’d appropriated one, figuring he might need it. He hadn’t realized how messy firearms were. They didn’t give you a clean kill like a vaporizer. On the other hand, he couldn’t have used a vaporizer if he’d had one. Because of the physical contact between her and the attacker, she would have been killed, too.
“I’m o-kkk-ay. It’s ju-just a reaction,” she sobbed.
She didn’t sound okay, and the way she continued to cling to him belied her words.
Scooping her up, he got to his feet and carried her to the couch. He sat and settled her on his lap, the better to hold her, keep her safe. He set the gun on the cushion beside him. He didn’t think he’d need it again, but he hadn’t figured he’d need it so soon in the first place. He’d taken it mostly for insurance.
Gently, he caressed her back and arm, murmuring nonsense in his language. Progg-Res had no vocabulary to express tenderness or concern.
Gradually her tears slowed and then ceased.
She lifted her head. Spikey wet lashes framed swollen eyelids. She expelled her breath in a sigh. “How did you get free?”
His mouth twisted. “A ladder under the bed had a loose rung with a sharp edge.” The rung had only fallen to the floor, and he’d been able to retrieve it. Then he’d sawed feverishly at the restraints. Once his arms were free, he’d hobbled out and searched the cave. He found knives and firearms.
“I never looked under the bed. I’m surprised you didn’t just go.”
He’d intended to but surrendered to an overpowering urge to see her one last time.Thank Zok.What if he’d left? His life fluid ran cold. “I had to say goodbye—and thank you for your hospitality.” His mouth twisted in a wry grin.
The tiny answering grin made the emotion bloom in his chest. Then she said, “I was coming to release you.” Her gaze shifted to the body, and she shuddered. “How did you find me?”
“The ground was wet and mushy after the rain. You left footprints a blind man could follow.” He’d tracked her to the house where he watched from outside for a while. He’d feared if he barged in and startled her, she might shoot him.
Then he heard her scream.
“I need to take a shower. Wash him off me.” She slid off his lap. He missed the contact immediately, but a shower was a good idea. She reeked. The man smelled as bad as his intentions.
