Page 22 of On a Rogue Planet
“It’s an ancient Terran artifact.” Xander’s mouth firmed. “Very, very ancient.”
Eos clasped her hands together. “It’s a piece of what’s believed to be the very first computer. It would have been ancient even in Terran times. It was found on a shipwreck, covered in rust.”
Xander gave her a nod. “You’re well informed.”
“I’m an astro-archeologist. I specialize in Terran artifacts.”
Mal was worried by the paleness of Xander’s face. “Look, let’s sit down. I’m still worried about Xander’s injuries.” She also noted he was moving a little stiffly. “He needs to be back in the med?—”
“I’m fine.”
The gods save her from stubborn men. “You have internal bleeding?—”
“I’m fine.” He took two steps and suddenly fell to his knees.
“Dammit.” She dropped down beside him. His face was sheened with sweat. “Stupid, stubborn men.”
“I’m a CenSec.”
His eyes looked a little unfocused. She shook her head and propped him up with a shoulder before he hit the deck. “No matter how many enhancements you have you’re still a testosterone-poisoned man under it all.”
He turned his head, his face just inches away from hers. His gaze was so intense, like a laser cutting straight through her. Something moved in the depths of his eyes, something she couldn’t quite identify.
He slumped forward and Mal barely kept them both from falling onto the floor.
Then Dathan and Nik were there, gripping Xander’s arms.
Dathan heaved a sigh. “I thought CenSecs were tough. Here I am hauling him around for a second time tonight.”
“He got hit by some strange weapon and just about killed himself to keep theFirebirdin the air,” Mal snapped. “I think we can cut him some slack.”
“Whoa, Mal,” Dathan said. “Chill.”
Eos leaned closer. “He needs to be back under the scanner.”
Once they had Xander settled, the scanner humming quietly over his stomach, Mal pulled up a chair close to his bed, refusing to examine the reason why she was so reluctant to be too far from him. He was injured, that was all. He’d saved her life.
A short while later, the others headed for their beds—after Dathan made her promise to call them as soon as Xander was conscious.
She must have slept. She had no idea how long she’d been out, but when she opened her eyes, she saw Xander was still resting comfortably. She took the opportunity to study him more thoroughly.
The man was…built. All those muscles covered by smooth golden-brown skin. His stomach was heavily ridged and nothing like Aston’s paid-for sculpted body. This man earned his muscles through training and hard work.
Stars, here she was, drooling over an unconscious man. No, wait, it was worse than that—an unconscious cyborg who didn’t feel anything.
She dropped her head into her hands. Exhaustion was taking its toll. The reality of the last day happily rushed in to torment her. Centax was under attack. She’d nearly died. Her ship was wrecked. She’d taken a life.
Her throat closed, tears threatening.
“Malin?”
Xander’s voice made her head shoot up. “Hey. Are you feeling better?”
His laser-like gaze bored into her. “I’ve run an internal scan. I’m fine.”
“You should get some more rest?—”
“I don’t need much sleep. And I have an auxiliary power source if my resources run low.”
