And America’s Ass has nothing on his backside, wowzers!
She didn’t expect to see not just the front too, but a full show. She knew she should have turned away as soon as she realized she was seeing what he was doing, but she couldn’t really look away.
It was like his whole body was into it. Even his skin seemed to flux a bit—that might have been the lighting or the shower thingy that didn’t use water that he had, but still, it seemed like his skin even briefly shifted as he finished.
Two things were going to be etched in her mind for a long time.
How big he was.
And how beautiful he looked.
Gah, she was in trouble. She was in so much trouble with him!
Jana sat up.
“Why am I doing that?” she asked herself.
“Doing what?”
She glanced at him. He had put on some pants and worked on slipping on a shirt.
“Overthinking my brain.”
“How do you over-think your brain?”
She sighed. “It’s a problem I have. I tend to dive into my thoughts until I find myself in a dark place emotionally. Wrap myself up in reasons that I don’t believe I’m good enough or worthy enough or deserving enough for whatever I find myself in, so I self-sabotage.”
He raised his eyebrow. “Do you do this often?”
“Sometimes. Me and my therapist were working on it. Well, we were.”
“Until you came here.”
“Until she went on maternity leave. My last assignment was to find a new therapist to talk to while she was gone.”
“Did you?”
“No. I fell through an arch and traveled across the stars before I got the process finished.”
“If you require specialized care, we can certainly find someone who can—”
She shook her head. “I think I’m going to be fine. I recognize the issues, so hopefully, I’ll be able to stop myself from getting too deep into it. Besides, my situation has dramatically changed.” And she really did think so. Her therapist had talked to her many times about changing things, and starting fresh somewhere, without any attachments.
Well, across the galaxy was pretty much as disconnected as one could get.
Phares came back to the bed and sat down next to her. “I do not wish to see you ill. As your mate, it is my responsibility to take care of you.”
She put her hand on his arm. “Really, I’m going to be okay, I think. And if I need help, I will ask for it.”
“Do not be afraid to.” He leaned a little closer when he said that.
She leaned into him. “I won’t be.”
Jana put her arm around him, and he pulled her close.
It was a warm hug. An embrace that felt solid and safe.
And cared for.
