Vic’s scent.
And the bruising sting around Tiny’s wrist.
“Your chin is about here.”She touched Vic’s jaw.
“Good.Can you guess the location of my upper arms?”
Tiny thrust out her hands and caught Vic’s arms.
“Great, you’re doing well.Slowly, lift your knee.”
Despite being able to dance for hours, Tiny wobbled when she tried to balance on one foot.
“Tighten your grip on me.Use me as leverage.”Warmth filled Vic’s voice.
Squeezing as Tiny found her balance, she raised her foot and nudged Vic’s inner thigh.
“Good.When someone tries something you don’t like, do that, and knee them in the groin.It hurts just as much for a woman.Leap back, though, because they will double over.”
Tiny went from one foot to on her ass, a gasp escaping her when she hit the mat hard.
“What the farg, Vic?”Dieter kneeled beside Tiny, his presence pressing on her senses.
“She could be bumped while crossing a bar, Deets.”
“Vic’s right.”Tiny threw out her hands and found his.
The roughness of his skin changed when she slid her fingers along his forearms to his neck.Rising onto her knees, she looped her arm across his shoulders and used him to stand.Heat poured off him, and his huff fanned her face.She was close enough to kiss him, if she could find his mouth with hers.This was the nearest she’d been to him since he’d saved her at Celestial.
“Why the farg would she go to a bar?The men there are assholes.”He leaped to his feet.
The loss of stability sent her whirling.Before she could fall again, he scooped her into his arms, sending her sense of balance reeling.
“Stop giving her these ideas, Vic.You’re done.This is…done.”
Tiny clung to him, having not been carried since she was a girl.“Deets—”
“No, this is stupid.You’re safe here.”He lowered her feet to the floor and guided her hand to the counter.The smell alone told her he’d brought her to the med bay.
She folded her arms across her chest and glared in his direction.“I need sex.”
His breath hitched, and a growl slipped out.“No, you don’t.”
“Deets,” she whined.“You’re dooming me to a life of celibacy.”This overprotective brother act was starting to irritate her.She gritted her teeth then changed tactics.“I know Captain said no sex, but do you think Trent would be—”
“Maybe.I can’t speak for the man, but he’s better than a stranger.”
Ice drenched her, curling around her soul with a numbing grip.Dieter’s response said it all.“Thanks,” she managed.“I’ll get around to asking him.”Tears slipped free, forcing her to turn away from him.“I have work to do… If you don’t mind.”
“Oh—” He shuffled, bringing his grease, sweat, and subtle cologne with him.“We could…if you want.”
Fury fired through her veins and stiffened her shoulders.Farg no.She wasn’t so desperate that she’d be his pity fuck.“There’s the door.”
She clung to the counter and waited for him to leave.Only when his footsteps faded did she allow the sobs to escape.Her chest squeezed tight, her throat burned, and so did her tears where they traveled down her cheeks to wet her shirt.
Dieter was her hero no more.
Chapter Twelve
