“No, not at all. They were kind. I swear it.”
“You’re upset though. I can take you somewhere else. I chose this vessel because it’s almost impossible for outsiders to find.”
“So we’re safe here?” She shook her head thoughtfully. “We should stay.”
“Not if it’ll make you forlorn.”
“I’m not. It was just so unexpected, and they were strangers. I wished that—”
“What?”
“It’ll sound ridiculous.”
“What?”
“That you’d been there. It’s been so difficult being away at school. My sister Zawri and I have never been apart for so long. It was a lonely time because I was keeping so many secrets. It made me feel isolated to not even admit my real name or where I was from. At least these past few days, even though we’ve been constantly running, we’ve also been constantly together, and you know who I really am. To be thrust into the custody of strangers for very intimate ministrations…it was just jarring, I guess. When I had medical exams to confirm my innocence in the past, my sister stood right outside the door. She always said I had only to call out and she’d come in immediately. I guess I was spoiled that way. And this went so much farther. I didn’t know if they’d stop if I asked them to. They seemed so uninterested in my wishes. Yours are all that matter here.”
He slid his hand onto her belly. “I could have been there, but I thought you might not want me to watch.”
“I didn’t. Not all of it. There were just a few different moments where I think if you’d been there, it would’ve been reassuring. I could’ve asked you to tell them to stop whenever I wanted.”
“From now on, ask for me and I’ll come. You can plead with me directly.”
“Even at night when I’m supposed to be in the facility’s loving custody?” she said with a derisive little laugh. “They have rules.”
“I don’t care about the rules. Ask for me. I’ll come. I’ll make that preference known and they’ll abide by it.”
She laughed softly again. “They may kick us out.”
“So?”
She smiled and after a beat said, “Linc?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
He kissed her, his mouth warm and reassuring in its steady passion for her.
