“There is little I have not seen in my occupation, Ash,” Zade explained, even as his own pulse ticked up. “I am here to care for your health.”
Keeping her gaze locked to his, she slowly lowered the blanket to her hips. Her bare breasts rose plump and flushed. Her chest rose and fell with fast breaths. Button-hard nipples pointed upward like twin pink temptations. He remindedhimself that she was also in the early stages of the bond and was likely grappling with powerful arousal that would feel confusing and strange to her.
Zade’s gaze slid over her smooth, flat belly. That smooth tract of skin begged to be caressed, kissed, touched. It took all of his energy not to look to her delicious breasts, or think about the sweet mound of her sex that lay beneath the thin fabric. He pulled in a fortifying breath, focused on the thin, clear tube extending from her naval and set about removing it.
“Hold still,” he said again, and placing two fingers on either side of her belly button, he smoothly removed her last tether to the wall behind her. She did not jerk or tense, and another drop ofulioil here sealed the tiny wound without a speck of blood. “Very good.” His voice sounded like gravel. “My assistant left clothing for you. Go through that door to bathe—whatever you need.” He motioned to his washroom.
“Thank you,” the female whispered. She wrapped the blanket around herself and swung her legs over the side of the table. Her brow creased with worry as she wiggled the toes of her new foot. “This foot works a little slower than the other. Could you…?”
Zade moved to her side. “It will take time and practice for the nerves to fully mesh and respond quickly to your command.”
She held out one hand and he slid his palm into it. Her fingers wrapped around his, tightening as she prepared to use her legs. He placed his other hand below her armpit for support. He felt her ribs, smooth skin covering them, and the soft swell of breast against his knuckles. She shivered at his touch. Zade sighed at the impossibility of their situation.He should not be treating her—not with his arousal warring with the noxious quantities of hormone suppressant pumping into his system—but the thought of putting her in the hands of another, turned his vision red. He simply could not do it.
She slid off the edge of therejuand onto the floor on one foot. She did not yet trust the one he had built for her.
“You must use it,” he said mildly. “Your leg will get lazy if you do not. It must learn its purpose and obey your commands.”
He caught the swell of her cheek as she smiled. “I’ve never heard anyone describe a body part like that.”
“In my work, I often spend more time with body parts than with whole beings,” he murmured. “I have developed a unique relationship to them.”
He watched her press the sole of her new foot to the floor and test its strength. Her face turned up to his, wearing a bewildered, uncertain expression. “It’s not sure of me, yet.”
He felt her wobble and held her tighter. “It will carry you well for the rest of your life, Ash.”
“You said something about a rejection issue.” She used his support to balance herself, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. “Because it’s not…human. It’s Baylan?”
This was an odd situation. If their bonding progressed and they began to have frequent sex, her body would respond to his semen by making changes. Over time, her DNA would alter, allowing her human body to turn Baylan enough to become fertile to him, andonlyhim. The process would also cause the Baylan tissues to integrate fully into her own. When her body’s changes were complete, she would no longer need to take anti-rejection medicine, and she would also enjoy the benefits of a much longer life and a body that did not break down with age.
He held her tight as she took small, tentative steps toward the washroom. It took them a while to get there. Fortunately, it was a small, efficient space. The center of it featured a tall, clear cylinder wide enough to contain him comfortably or her with plenty of room. Once inside, the occupant could choose which substance they wanted to be cleaned or moisturized with. It wasdesigned for expediency, not indulgence. The necessities were present. Still, she would likely be overwhelmed by choices.
“I can set the bathing station to water, if you like. But there are other settings, which—”
“Water would be great,” she said quickly.
He set the cylindrical bathing station to water, showed her how to set the temperature and how to use the fast-drying system. Yoli had thoughtfully left clothing for her. Zade handed her the small, white bundle.
“I think I’ve got it.” She gave the clear tube a long, wary look. “Thanks.”
He stepped away, hands tingling. “Will you need help dressing?”Stars, he hoped not. Handling her as he did was already too much.
“No. Thank you.” She closed the door and Zade turned to his workstation console. His stomach felt sick—undoubtedly the result of his body trying to reject the hormone suppressant. He sank down at his seat. Thousands of messages crowded his screens. He worked through the messages on his communication link, sifting through questions from colleagues, referral requests, supply transfers—were those not someone else’s responsibility?—but they slid into a blur.
All he could think of was Ash naked in the washroom so close to him. What would she do if he ripped off theeniband, stripped naked and joined her in there? What would those small hands feel like on his skin, gripping his cock and guiding it into her hot, pink slit?
With a growl of frustration, he pinched the bridge of his nose and focused on his screens. One day, he would find out—hopefully before he was driven to madness.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ash
It was difficult to track the passage of days when on a spaceship. Zade’s private medical chambers had no windows and there were no clocks, at least, none that Ash could see or read. Plus, they passed time in things called “cycles,” which had nothing to do with hours or days or minutes. Ash knew this: Time passed quickly when she was with Zade. It dragged by when she was not. Her situation was extremely strange.
He was working with her on improving the functioning of her leg. It was harder work than she thought it should be. Her logical mind saw a normal leg, but her brain wasn’t buying it. Each step started out with a hard, conscious thought, but it was getting easier as the “cycles” went on. True to his word, Zade had set up regular talks with her family, who piled into the family living room in Long Island to talk to her via a video link. Each conversation featured some version of her mother asking too many questions about Zade. She waggled her microbladed eyebrows every time he came in the frame.
“He’s handsome,” her mother observed, talking in a low voice, as if no one could hear her. “And he looks at you inthatway.”
Behind her mother, Ash’s two brothers smirked and snickered.Assholes.
