She jumped and spun, hip-checking the broken drawer, and winced when the corner poked her.
"I thought you were taking a nap."
"Funny, I thought you were too," he said.
"Well, I just, um. I needed a blanket."
"So you're not just in here breaking into the medical supplies?"
"Why would I do that?"
He shrugged. "I don't pretend to understand why humanoids do what they do. I only see what they do. And you look like you're breaking into drawers."
"Maybe I am. Really though, I just wanted a blanket."
He crossed the room to a panel on the wall.
Touched it.
The panel popped open. Inside was a pile of linens. "Take what you need," he said.
She glanced at the broken drawer. "Should I be allowed? I mean, I already broke the drawer." She hadn't gotten to that side of the room to check things, although that particular cabinet was hard to see, and she might have overlooked it anyway.
Sounded like a good story, didn't it?
Of course, she could have just asked in the first place. And that said something about her, didn't it?
She walked over and grabbed two blankets, and laid them on the bed.
Jedriek crossed to the broken drawer, his attention away from her. "It can be fixed."
"How can I help you?"
He raised his eyebrow. The way his mouth tipped up in the corner like he knew that she was not going to be much help. Because, well, she wasn't. It's not like she did a lot of mechanical repairs. She was a princess. Most of her life had been about protocol and rules and regulations.
How did he look at her like that without saying anything?
It both infuriated her and made her want to grin.
"I can help," she said, though the protest was mostly just on principle than any actual ability to be helpful.
He turned back to the drawer.
She crossed her arms. This attraction for Jedriek was unlike anything she'd ever had for a male in the past. Oh, sure, she'd crushed on males before, but this wasn't the same. Jedriek was different. And it wasn't the cybernetic parts in him, either. The way he carried himself. He was certainly confident, but also seemed to struggle.
Like he wanted to make sure they were safe, and he'd brought her down to this underground.
But he was obviously attracted to her.
No one kissed like he did without being attracted.
Not that she was complaining. He tasted like ambrosia, and he smelled like her own personal heavenly-made musk. And even through all the long dress layers, she felt every bit of him in flight, and she felt so beautiful when she laid there. Especially when he'd put his hand on the small of her back. It had been to secure or to guide her as they walked. It wasn't too low or too high. It was just enough to feel very cherished and protected.
And now, he knelt before the drawer, tipping it up and down to assess the issue.
"Do you, uh, like to fix things?"
"No."
