Örim tapped his left elbow node. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
I thought you needed to sleep.
He placed a hand on her hair. “You should have said something anyway. Can I help? I’ve read that physical contact can improve feelings of well-being in humans. Lower stress levels are supposed to promote better sleep.”
Physical contact?Cassie was surprised by his offer, given what she’d just heard but also worried her body might betray her. She wasn’t at all sure what to do with the way she was feeling toward Örim. Did teösians even have romantic relationships at all? Some species reproduced asexually. Others only nested once every several standard years. But she needed to know.Physical contact, like what?
“I apologize. Have I made you uncomfortable? It was only my intention to be helpful. Humans don’t do well without sleep, and Eleri emphasized sleep was especially important for your healing process. Is there something you would rather do instead?”
He made it sound so simple. She still didn’t understand why he would be kind to her without wanting something in return. But she wanted it. Whatever he was offering, she wanted to pretend she understood.
I want to try to go back to sleep.
“Should I help?” His voice had dropped in resonance, quiet enough that she could have imagined it. Cassie took his hand and led him back to her pillow nest. She climbed in first, and he stood there bare-chested in his dark leggings with one thumb on his wrist nodes.
Please help.She moved to make space for him beside her, trying her best to move all the cables and equipment out of the way. Örim waited for a long moment before sliding down next to her.
He could probably see her blush in the dark if she was facing him. It was a disadvantage she’d never considered.
“I’m not very warm, I apologize.” He pulled one of her blankets over them both. “I don’t want you to get cold.”
Not cold.Finding she felt the opposite, almost too hot next to him. Örim draped an arm across her shoulders, tucking her body against his. The weight of him around her had a strangelycalming effect. He wasn’t warm, but he was solid, and having him there made sleeping feel safer than it had since she’d left the Aviary.
“Sleep well, Cassie.” His fingers brushed over her hair as he murmured softly against the top of her head. Cassie drifted and found herself dreaming of nothing at all.
CHAPTER 25
Cassie
When she woke the next morning, Örim was still there beside her. Cassie was surprised to see he hadn’t moved. She was also surprised to see he wasn’t wearing his eyestones. His eyes were two dark marbles set deep into his face. Unlike any eyes she’d seen before, just bottomless, blue-black orbs. Impulsively, she reached out to touch his face. Örim went still, but he didn’t move away.
Your eyes?
“I suppose you’ve never seen them, have you? I do have eyes. The eyestones are just meant to filter, so I can see in daylight.”
Can you see me now?
“I can see you. You’re a bit hazy, though. There’s too much light coming in from the windows.” He gestured to the break in the curtains.
You stayed all night?
“I thought it was sensible for me to be here in case you had another nightmare. If you have them frequently, we should reconsider our nighttime habits.”
You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.
“I don’t mind being next to you while you sleep. I can always work on my datapad.”
Cassie blushed, hoping he couldn’t see it properly with the light.
He got out of the pillow nest to check her monitors. “We can get you a nutritional pack, and then I’ll get ready to go teach. Eleri will be here in the afternoon.” He tapped his wrist interface to hers. “That’s your writing practice for the day. Don’t forget you can always send me a message if you need me.”
I don’t want to interrupt when you’re teaching.
“If you need me, I can come back any time. I’ll be back during the afternoon recess to help you with your medical needs, and then straight back here after lessons are finished.” He repeated the schedule as if they hadn’t been following the same one for two weeks now.
“Do you want me to load some holos for you?”
Cassie couldn’t decide if she wanted to smile or cry, but crying would just make her already aching throat hurt more, so she decided to smile instead.
