She nodded toward the hall behind him, and he turned sideways so she could lead the way.
She could feel the wall of heat that he radiated at her back and part of her relaxed. He had already seen the damage, and she hadn’t yet run into the man who would take on the twisted-up mess than she lived in. She was a curiosity, which wasn’t flattering, but it made for a solid base when dealing with folks naked.
She made it to the hot tub area, walked to a chair, and slipped off her robe, walking to the tub and slowly climbing down the steps before looking at the captain. He shed his own robe and stepped into the tub, settling down next to her before smiling and leaning back.
“So, why don’t you put your scars on your virtual presence?”
She had been relaxing in the warm water, and she froze, turning to meet his bright and amused gaze. She swallowed and thought about answering him when his eyes flared red.
Oh, shit.
Chapter Three
“What do you mean?” Ignorance seemed the best way to go.
He explained. “When you were wearing the gown, there was no trace of scarring, and you moved easily. Why don’t you wear yourself in the scenarios?”
She trembled and tried to keep calm. “I take the form of my best day. I don’t wear the scars because I have a whole limb to compare. I move easily because three days from now, when the bruising subsides, I will have a few days without pain, and I remember how that feels because it feels good. That is who I want to be in the scenarios, so that is who I am.”
He moved closer to her. “Why did you wear the dress for him?”
Styra watched his eyes flicker in colour. “Um, in the scenarios, drakes have to be confronted by maidens or princesses. The computer has clothing on file for me for each scenario.”
“And for my portion of the scenario? No additional clothing was required?”
She smiled. “The bodysuit was close enough to armor for the computer. For you, the kiss was the most important part.”
He had moved so close that if she shifted her arm, he would be touching her. She slumped down in the water so that the churning of the surface hid her.
“Was it?”
He leaned down to kiss her, and his lips were millimeters away when he raised his head, and a frightening expression came over his features, his eyes crimson.
She sat up and looked in the direction he was focused on. Oh, it was his men.
She elbowed him under the water. He blinked and straightened. “What was that for?”
“You looked like you were going to start breathing fire.”
They finished talking, and his men joined them. Well, they almost joined them. The captain glared at them and jerked his head, so his men chose a separate hot tub, far down the chamber.
Styra frowned at him. “You didn’t have to do that. I can leave.”
“The heat is an important part of your therapy, yes?”
She drew the answer out. “Yeessss?”
“Then, you shall remain here until you have what you need, and I will keep you company.”
Her laugh rang out. “You don’t exactly inspire relaxation.”
His expression was hurt. “Why not?”
“You are just...” She waved a wet hand at him. “You. Intimidating as hell.”
“It is useful in most situations.” He frowned.
“I am sure. It is just not very relaxing.”
He scowled at her and then seemed to come to a decision. He picked her up and seated her across his lap before kissing her.
What the fuck?
She held her breath as his tongue teased at hers, and when she opened her lips slightly, he slid in. He tasted just like he did in the scenario. She shivered, and he wrapped an arm around her waist, and the other cupped her jaw. His grip was delicate, but she knew that if she tried to get away, she would be in for a bit of an issue.
The conversation from the other tub had ceased, but she focused on the taste of the captain in real life and the feel of the heat from his skin to hers.
She pressed her hand to his chest and felt the very slow and heavy thud of his heart.
He continued the slow kiss for what could have been minutes or could have been hours, all she knew was that her lips were humming and tingling when he raised his head. He smiled slowly. “Still intimidated?”
“Um... that isn’t the word for it.”
He turned her so that her back was pressed against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her under the water.
“What do you normally do around the station?” He whispered it in her ear.
She swallowed. Normally, she would spend the day after a massage in bed, but she wasn’t going to say that. “I go and watch a vid, go to the gym—but I did that this morning—or go to dinner.”
“Hmm. Will you go to dinner with me?”
He waited.
“Uh, yes?”
He chuckled. “You don’t sound confident.”
“I am not. Unless I am in the scenarios, confidence is not my strong suit.”
She looked in the water at the contrast between his dark purple skin and her pearl white. Mr. Blue had told her that she was human but damaged. She didn’t quite believe him because all of the humans that she knew didn’t glow softly in the dark. Mr. Blue had also told her that she wasn’t compatible with any of the races that visited the station, including humans. It was a bit of a contradiction that didn’t really matter. Her body was too jacked-up for more than a quick glance anyway. Wait, so why is he...
She shifted slightly, and his erection was definitely against her back. From his vantage point, he could see the worst of the damage. Apparently, for him, it was not a turn-off.
Her body was in shock at the possibility that his attraction presented. Her body was going to ache like hell tomorrow, so she had one day to do something. Maybe.
“How long is your ship going to be here?”
“Three or four days. Why?” His whisper was hot in her ear.
She couldn’t say it. “It doesn’t matter.”
“I think it does, but I will not press you.”
She held up her hands. “I had better get out. I am getting all pruney.”
His arms didn’t release her. “I don’t want you to go.”
She chuckled. “I am just going back to the sauna now that it is quiet.”
He touched her chin with a wet hand and turned her head toward him. “One more kiss.”
He leaned over her, and his lips met hers in a kiss that sent waves of heat tearing through her. She clutched the hand cupping her jaw and met his tongue with her own but with less twisting dexterity. She was gasping and moaning, her body was throbbing, and he had only had contact with her mouth. When he raised his head, his eyes were red, and his smile was smug.
“Now, you can go.”
She didn’t want to say that she wasn’t sure her legs would carry her, but she turned her head away from him and made her way to the steps by a force of will. She got out of the water, toweled off as if she didn’t have an audience, and then, she slipped on her robe again and walked down the hall to the sauna room.