“The computer.I couldn’t have done this job without it.”She flicked a dismissive wrist as she turned left, then right along a passage.“I was saving tokens to buy my own AI.Do you have any like that on your ship?”
“No, but then I plan to heal your vision.”
She stumbled and caught herself with a thrown-out hand.“I hope so,” she whispered.“Though if you or the Ivoyans can’t, I won’t be angry with you, Nenn.I promise.”
Pain cinched his chest as if Kreta had thrust her claws into him to crush his heart.He didn’t know what to say to Tiny, but her acceptance drove him not to give up.Somewhere, a species had to heal her.If not the Ivoyans, then another world?Would he travel the universe for her?
Certainty poured from every symbiote.
She paused when they reached the bay.“Um, is there a ladder?”In her path was the railing but far lower than where she patted the air.
“Yes.Stay here.Let me deliver your bag.”He gripped the ladder and slid down, sparing no effort to drop her things inside the compartment.Vaen glared at him but didn’t say a word.
Nenn sucked in a breath when he returned to Tiny’s side.“I can guide you.”
She shook her head.“Are you strong?”
He frowned.“Yes, why?”
“Throw me over your shoulder.”She nibbled on her lip, drawing his gaze there.“Is that okay?”
“You will not mind?”His fingers twitched at the opportunity to touch her.
“Nenn,” she said.“Why would I suggest—”
He grasped her by the hips and bent her over his shoulder.She squeaked, her fingers digging into his back as she clung to him.
“Warn me,” she rasped.
He took each rung with care until his boots touched the bay floor.But he didn’t lower her.Instead, he strode to the shuttle, up the ramp, then stopped by a seat.He ran his hand from her plump backside, along the delicate curve of her spine, to between her shoulder blades before flipping her to the front of him.
She filled his arms to perfection.He stared at her flushed face, her parted lips, the way her fingers dug into his upper arms.
“Ready?”Vaen called, shutting the door before Nenn could respond.
Nenn glared at him while ushering Tiny into a seat, buckling her in.
“Who’s that?”she whispered, leaning forward to do so.
“Riermus aac Vaen Arrak.”Nenn lowered his voice, a smile widening his mouth.She was too adorable.“And he can hear you.”
“Oh.Sorry.Is he another medic?”she asked, gripping and releasing her knees when Nenn stepped back.
“Arrak stands for guardian.I am a maed.”
“Ah, the ranks are on the end of your name,” she said, staring a little over his left shoulder.Her heartbeat pulsed at the base of her jaw when Vaen reversed the shuttle out of the bay.
Nenn caught her chin between his forefinger and thumb, then swept a caress to her pulse.She raised her unseeing gaze to him, making him doubt she couldn’t see him.
“You’re not hurt?”she asked, her eyelashes fluttering when he ran his touch to her ear then along her neck to her collarbone.
“I am well.”
Her breath came out in a rush.“Good.Describe your ship… Please.What does it look like?That sort of thing.”
“It is beautiful, looking like a polished volcanic rock in the shape of a horizontal teardrop.”
A smile twitched her top lip up.“That’s beautiful.Quite poetic.”
