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When she jerked backward, I regretted my outburst.
I softened my voice. “Come here.” I opened my arms. “Rest with me. You look unwell.”
The swelling in the joints of her hands had visibly worsened. Too tired to argue, she tucked herself into my side. A floating sensation rolled down my spine, filling me with satisfaction. Her easy agreement confirmed she’d slept here while caring for me. Nebula’s head rested against my thigh, and Ginger’s cheek nuzzled my chest. Though my insides felt like they’d been through a sausage grinder, contentment filled me.
When I woke next, Hill stood near Ginger’s sewing machine. How did these males keep entering my space without me knowing? I’d never been so unaware before. He read through messages on his wristport while Ginger adjusted the length of his pants.
Dressed in a soft-looking emerald shirt with purple and gold sunbeam circles, Ginger’s fresh change of clothes likely meant I’d slept through another night. Stiffer than usual, her hands operated scissors, trimming Hill’s plain brown pants. Untreated, they were the mantu’s natural color, rough and unpolished. Not as nice as mine. She rose from her crouched position and stepped back, her eyes traveling over Hill’s body.
My low growl filled the room, and two heads spun to face me.
“What do I have to do to keep you awake?” Ginger’s eyes glowed like banked embers in the amber light as she laughed and walked to where I sat. She sighed when I slung my heavy arm around her waist and pulled her close. The jostling sent Nebula scampering away, camouflaging herself with the cavern’s interior.
“Hill, will you please tell Sisip JayJay’s awake again?” Ginger spoke to Hill, but her gaze remained fixed on me. “When I passed D’unter and Saluda in the kitchen earlier, they wanted to visit. They could bring him some proper food?”
“I’ll give you two some time first.” Hill departed with his old pants folded over one arm. “Thanks, Ginger. These are great.”
Ginger waved him off, but her gaze never left mine. My fingers crawled up the soft fabric covering her back and threaded into the silky hair on her nape. The brown stripe on top was thicker. Did that mean her health had gotten even worse?
“How are you?” My unused voice rattled in my throat.
“Much better now that you’ve joined us again.” Her cool palm smoothed over my forehead ridge and around the curve of my head in soft circles, igniting a deep rumble in my chest. With both hands, I snatched Ginger by the waist and placed her over my lap so she straddled me. My coil sprang to attention. The need to remedy her sour scent combined with my desire overpowered my protesting stomach muscles and sore ribs.
“You need another treatment,” I growled.
Her eyelashes fluttered as my little touches worked her over, but they flew open again at my words. She lifted herself, pressing both small palms on my shoulders, and clambered off me. “Not till you’re better, King Kong.”
My forehead ridge dipped and rose, teasing her. “You could do the work. Climb back on.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Well, I guess that answers that question.”
“And what question is that?”
She hesitated a moment. “Whether you’re enjoying the sex—” She cleared her throat. “I m-mean the treatments.”
The uncertainty in her eyes had my blood burning, and my body ached to touch her. How could she not know my true feelings for her? Once again, I’d failed at letting her know her value.
“You should never doubt my desire for you.” Words were not my strength, but concealing my attraction proved impossible as she nursed me. Even if humans didn’t work the same way, I was hardwired to believe that caring for a potential mate signaled interest from a female.
“JayJay…” Her gaze swallowed my attention, and the hope shining there lifted the lurking veil of sadness. “Do the terms of your banishment allow you to travel off-planet?”
That wasn’t the response I’d expected, though anticipation looked much better on her than despair. She wanted me to travel off-planet with her? I sat up straighter, fortified by the knowledge she would choose to have me with her. But the conditions of my exile were absolute, and I soon deflated, reluctant to disappoint her again. “I cannot leave Tern.”
The heavy sadness returned to her eyes with a vengeance. Despite the longing on her face, she forced her lips to smile. “Ah, well. I probably wouldn’t have done well in the competition, anyway. I haven’t prepared nearly enough.”
I clasped her wrist, tugging her in close, and smoothed my palm over the dip in her spine, sending a shudder through her body. “What are you talking about? Why are you so sad?”
“Visitor shuttles have been canceled until the hellsna are under control—” Her voice broke. “But I thought maybe Bonic could take me back in time for the competition.” She jammed her hands deep into the pockets of her stretchy pants. “Then Dr. Ten told me the tablets they’re working on won’t be ready, so Ithought if you came with me….” A tear trickled over her flushed cheek, and she shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. It’s all hypothetical, anyway. I’m going to decline the invitation.” Then she finally looked at me. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”
My heart was breaking for her. “I’d give you the world if I could, but I have no control in this matter.”
“It’s not that big of a deal.”
I stroked her soft hair until she calmed, all the while convincing myself another Rock Dweller could travel with her and keep her in good health. Tino had a crush on her, and Sannit made her laugh. With him, she wouldn’t cry.
“I can’t meet your needs.” A hard lump formed in my throat. “You must choose another male to service you.”
She leaned away from me, her face scrunched into an adorable expression. “Are you kidding me right now?”
