Her hand was small in comparison. Golden against his blue. Hers was rough, while his was smooth.
Netto lifted it and it took every ounce of her willpower to not shy away.Is he going to mouth it again?Her eyes widened as she prepared herself for the worst. But he didn’t, and it stopped in front of his eyes.
She exhaled. It wasn’t just her hand that tickled anymore. The rest of her was now affected and she couldn’t help but take in his intense expression, the steadiness of his strong jaw, or that his eyes dulled to a pasty dilated grey as he studied her.
“Does it hurt?” he asked.
“It tingles.” Rylie closed her eyes.Really?“It itches, I mean.”
“Hmm...”
He lifted her hand closer to his face.Oh god, he’s really going to do it again.“Don’t,” she stammered but all he did was sniff it. Her mouth hung open as her heart pounded.
“It’s healing,” Netto said, sniffing it again.
It was too late. An image flashed before her eyes of his mouth wide open, teeth bared as he leaned into her, slowly biting off her fingers, up to her knuckles, until her hand was devoured. His heat crashed over her, it put her on edge, and she couldn’t tell if it was from apprehension or from something else.
Fear?No, she felt safe regardless of her thoughts.Confusion?Maybe.Desire?
Need?
“Your serum is old.”
Rylie took her hand back as if he burned her. “It’s working though.”
“Not well. Remain here,” Netto ordered. He left her, ducking and entering the ship. Rylie didn’t know if she stayed because he had demanded it of her or if it had to do with the flush she was suffocating under. She didn’t know what to do about her attraction to the Cyborg.
Janet had always been forthright and blunt when it came to sharing her experiences with her.
“I wonder what Netto’s teeth do to a girl beneath the sheets.”
Netto was back a minute later with a wet rag and a small aerosol can and took his place back beside her. Rylie gave him her hand without hesitation. He meticulously cleaned off the old serum and replaced it with the spray version. A puff of soothing cold collected over her coarse skin and eased the discomfort. She was trapped as he massaged the serum into her callouses, his fingers velvet and warm over the cold salve. She relaxed back into the seat and rested her eyes.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had been touched in such a way. There was affection in her family but nothing so hot and cold as what this Cyborg gave her. The stress of the last several days seeped out of her and was buried under the noise of the spume against the side of the ship.
“I could get used to this,” she said under her breath. Rylie opened her eyes to his steely ones watching her. “You’re right.”
“About?”
“Our serum being old.” She smiled.
“I’m sorry about this morning,” he said without returning the smile. “It won’t happen again.”
“What,” she said slowly, “did happen this morning?”
“I lost control.” Bitterness laced his voice. She shook her head.
“You cornered me and sucked on my scrape. That’s what happens when you lose control?” She knew she should let the subject drop but her curiosity ruled out. And she was afraid he would stop touching her if the conversation died between them. She didn’t want it to stop.
It made her wonder if Janet had it right all this time. What had she been missing?Getting in bed with a man who had already been with my sister.Rylie reminded herself bitterly.
“I’m...” Netto began.
“Different? Zeph mentioned to us that you were but that’s obvious,” she teased. “Your skin gives you away.” She poked his arm lightly.
And shut her mouth when he still didn’t smile back.
“Yes. Different.”
