“How are you, dear? Let me just check that bleeding. You did a number on yourself out there earlier.”
Alex flushed, her eyes shifting to where Davin stood at the end of her bed. Janice rolled her eyes, but patted Alex’s leg gently.
“Boy, turn around. Give the lady some privacy.”
Davin did as he was asked but didn’t miss the large blood stain on the front of Alex’s gown, as Janice pulled the blanket back. His earlier frustrations came surging back to the surface. He could strangle her himself for her outright recklessness. She had zero regard for her own safety.
“All looks good, as long as you do as we’ve discussed,” Janice said in a mothering tone. “No more walking unless assisted until after the Surgical Healer has had a chance to see you.”
Davin didn’t hear what Alex’s response was, so he assumed she had simply nodded her head. Janice tapped him on his arm. “Your turn, Captain. Come sit in the chair here, let me have a looksee.”
Davin crossed to the chair, unbuckling his swordbelt and leaning the sheath against the wall, before beginning to unbutton his shirt. It didn’t escape his attention that Alex was openly staring at his fingers as they undid each button. He made sure to take his time. Let her enjoy the show. Slowly peeling his shirt off his shoulders, he stood in front of Janice, letting her humming sounds drown out the buzzing of his brain. He could feel her eyes on him. Alex hadn’t made a noise, but he could almost sense the need pulsing off of her.
Janice prodded at the lacerations he had received while fighting the two men responsible for the attack on Alex, along with one he had gotten on his back while pulling survivors from the floating wreckage of the M.M.S. Iris that afternoon.
“I will have to clean these up. They don’t seem too deep, but I fear infection. You were in that filthy water for far too long.” Janice moved to the shelf in the corner, gathering the supplies she needed to bandage his wounds.
Davin risked a quick glance over his shoulder, and sure enough, Alex was openly staring at him. Davin’s mouth lifted in a small smirk.Maybe she isn’t immune to me after all.The thought almost made him laugh.
Janice worked efficiently, quickly cleaning and bandaging the wounds on his arm and shoulder. “I will need you to turn around now, Captain, so that I can address your back wound.”
Davin agreed, grabbing hold of the chair, flipping it around, and straddling it. Resting his arms on the back of it, he met Alex’s gaze. She hurriedly averted her eyes. He liked seeing her flustered, liked knowing that he was the cause of it even more. Warmth spread through his chest, but he remained silent,content to just watch her. A blush heated her cheeks as she picked up her book again, pretending to read it.
“Ok, Captain. All finished. Please be sure to keep those dry. I don’t think you need stitches or anything of that nature. You will heal just fine, but will most likely scar on this one.” Janice said, tapping his shoulder wound. “What you do need is sleep, you hear? Get some food and rest.” With that, Janice moved to the door. “You know where I am if you need me, deary.”
The closing of the door was the only sound, as Davin stood, moving towards the bed. Alex scooted back, trying to keep space between them. He stopped, staring at her. He had seen the hunger in her eyes earlier. There was no mistaking it, but now she looked haunted. Sighing, he bent, snagging his shirt from the floor where it had fallen, shoving his arms roughly into it.
Alex broke the silence. “Where will you sleep?”
“I won’t be. I told McConnell that I would take some of the watches, to make sure that thing doesn’t sneak up on us again.”
Alex huffed, “You heard what Janice just said. Food and sleep.”
“And you should take that advice. You need your strength.”
“So do you, Davin. You’ve done enough already.”
Davin’s eyes snapped to hers, fire burning in them. Alex hurried on, not giving him time to speak. “You know this isn’t your ship, right? You’re not in charge of the safety of every citizen on board.”
Davin ignored the snide comment. “At this moment, the only person’s safety I’m concerned with is yours. Whether that’s because you can’t quit ripping open your wound or because I want to strangle you every time you open your gorgeous mouth.”
Whoa, did that sound dirty?His eyes lit on her mouth. Herlips pressed firmly together. He hadn’t meant for it to sound dirty, but now all he could think about was what he would like to do to that mouth. Her tongue darted out, wetting her bottom lip. Davin wanted to force those lips apart with his own. What he wouldn’t give for another taste. Wait. No. Stop. Gods, what was wrong with him? She’s in love with someone else.
“Or is it only your concern because I am apparently your wife?” Her eyes narrowed into slits, her voice breaking through his chain of thoughts.
“My wife?” he asked, his face showing a panicked expression before the realization of her words hit him.The manifest!“I had to do what was necessary to get you on this ship.”
“You could have given any name, and you chose to make me yourwife?”
“Well, maybe if you had told me your last name, I wouldn't have felt the need to give you mine.”
Why were they arguing again? Gods, they were always arguing. Davin had no energy left to put up any pretense regarding the issue of her name. “You don’t like it, tell them. Give them your name and ask them to change it. I don’t care.”
Alex stared at him, mouth agape.
“And then what, Davin? What am I supposed to say? Sorry, you were misinformed? It isn’t that simple, and you know it.”
Davin let out a breath. “Look, I wasn’t thinking clearly. You were dying, and I did what I thought best to get you the care you needed.” He shrugged. “It worked, didn’t it?”
