“Ah, then the other reason.”
“Oh, this is your planet, and you say so?”
“That is the one.”
She nodded.“Got it.”
He finished his order and sighed.“I suppose I should let you go.”
“Well, I do need to eat.”Trin turned toward the unit, and Birun kept his hand on her, settling it on her hip.“So, is this like, as long as you don’t break contact, it is still the initial touch?”
“You are very smart, do you know that?”
She showed the scanner her wrist and made her choices from the breakfast menu.She tried three different morning hot drinks.She hadn’t had them before and was rather curious.The rest of her meal was high-protein bars and something made with fruit that looked like granola.
He collected his tray with his free hand.
“You can let go.I am not going anywhere.”
“But then I will have to wait for an occasion for your touch again.”
She looked at him.“You may have one random contact over my clothing at a time.”
He paused.“Really?”
“You are working your way up to it anyway, and you stopped me from a nightmare.”
“You don’t need to pay me for that.”
“No, but I can trust you.You eased the fear away and left me alone.”
He paused and nodded.“I accept your authorization.”His fingers flexed on her hip.
Her tray emerged, and he released her to take it to a table.She blinked and followed him.“I can carry my own tray.”
“Not today.Today we are going to go on a tour.”
“Okay.Is there a workshop in this tour?”
He grinned.“Yes, but you are to keep to a regular meal schedule, or I will come and bring you a meal.”
“Why so fussy about the meals?”
“You are thin.Very thin.I have checked species averages, and you never regained the weight after the station picked you up.Why is that?”
“Oh.I was tethered to my grandfather’s account, and he didn’t eat much, so my rations were the same.I tried to ask for more, but until Zoey helped, I didn’t have an account of my own.”
“Ah.That is unfortunate, but it will not be the case here.The world and all that is on it are at your disposal.”
“Oh.Wow.So definitely a workshop.”
He grinned.“And a tablet with open coms.”
She started sipping the morning brews.“Aw, you spoil me.”
“I wish to.It is my fondest desire to see you smiling for your whole day and to have no worries about your safety or supplies.”
“That sounds lovely.”
