“I didn’t expect you to be awake,” Veta said, running her hand over her braids.
He blinked. “I was keeping watch.”
“Oh, I see.” She shrugged. “We’ve both had a long day. I figured you’d get some rest too.” Her stomach growled, killing the vibe she was trying to get going between them. Thanks, stomach. “Or something to eat.”
“Do you need food?” he asked, taking a couple more steps toward her. He still maintained range out of physical contact.
Veta appreciated that. She hoped it was a sign of respect and not disgust. With a Rhimodian, she didn’t know.
She just wasn’t sure what to think of the partially robotic man, who right now, just looked like a huge humanoid, that she’d love to get to know much more intimately. Find out just how much size mattered.
She opened the survival bag. “I have some rations,” she said and started digging around. “Thank you, by the way.”
“For?” he asked.
She pulled out two ration bars and tossed one to him. He caught it without even flinching. She didn’t see his eyes move. Of course, with those white eyes, she wouldn’t see them move, now would she?
“Grabbing the bags from the escape pod. I appreciate you thinking of my needs.”
“Your needs are my mission,” he said.
Veta’s gaze ran over him. Her imagination ran away with that comment, because she wondered what he was willing to do to fulfill that mission.
Little glints of metal, like veins, followed his body lines like he had mercury poured in thin strips here and there, all along his major muscles.
I wonder if it runs across his cock.
Her cheeks warmed at the idea, and she distracted herself by focusing on the rations in her bag. She pulled out two of the less awful ones and held them up. “They don’t taste very good, but they've got protein and sustenance to get us by.”
“I do not want to take from your survival gear.”
“You’re sweet, but believe me, I have plenty in here.” She held open the bag and showed the dozen or so bars in the bottom. “You said it was three days of the eclipse? We should be fine.”
“Thank you.” He nodded and took a few steps around the room she was in, if one could consider a big notch in a cave wall a room. “This cave is fairly secure.”
“How do you figure? It’s a cave.” She didn’t see any doors or locking mechanisms.
“Natural organic barrier.” He patted the walls. “Most scanners cannot penetrate the rock.
“Wow,” she said, blinking hard at his words. “Impressive. Is it the rock?”
He nodded.
The iridescent lines seeming to glow more. Or maybe that was just her imagination.
“Do you mine this?”
“We have, but it is not a primary export,” he said as he opened his ration and took a bite.
He made a face.
Veta laughed. “Welcome to Terran rations.”
“They are quite repulsive.”
“I told you.”
He smiled, it wasn’t a big one or a hearty one, but it was enough that she saw a few of his teeth.
