Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Did I wake you?” I ask. “Sorry. I was trying to be quiet.”
“I was waiting for you.” Her smile is shy. “Will you sleep in the bed with me again? I sleep better when you’re next to me.”
How can I refuse? My aching heart won’t let me. I nod and undress quickly, getting ready for bed.
When I climb in next to her, I notice she’s wearing a heavier tunic than the one she normally picks, and a shoulder strap peeks out from the loose collar. “Is the piercing bothering you?”
“It’s really sensitive,” she whispers, settling into bed next to me. She carefully puts her back to my front and then pulls my arm to her waist. “I’m going to be sleeping in my bra for the next while, I think.”
“Bra?” I don’t know what that is.
She reaches up to her shoulder and nudges the slender strap there. “They’re kind of like breast harnesses? Popular back on Earth. I don’t wear them much here but Ruth-Ann likes them and she had me one created on the clothing printer. I shoved some padding in there to cradle my piercing.”
“Do you need some numbing ointment? I can go back to med-bay—”
“No, I’m fine. I just want to go to sleep.” She buries her face under the blankets. “And possibly never look Sakkar in the eye again.”
The moment is definitely gone. I bite back the urge to growl, pat her hip, and settle down for another long night.
It’s early when Ruthie awakens me with a whimper. I immediately jerk awake, alert. “Lights on.” A quick glance shows that Ruthie is on her back, cradling her pierced breast with her hand. Her brows are drawn together in pain.
“Okay, it hurts a little right now,” she admits, wincing. “I think I rolled on it in my sleep. Sorry I woke you—go back to sleep. It’s not even dawn yet.”
“I don’t mind that you woke me.” I touch her shoulder, unsure where to touch her where it won’t cause her pain or be awkward. I end up patting her twice and then pulling away. “Let me grab some numbing ointment from med-bay.”
She makes a face. “Is Sakkar going to give you grief?”
“Not if he knows what’s good for him.” I impulsively lean down and brush a kiss over her forehead. “Wait here. I’ll take care of you.”
A surprised look crosses her face but she nods, relaxing back in bed. I slept in my trou, so there’s no need to get dressed. Padding down the hall as quietly as possible, I think about Ruthie. Ruthie and the look of startled pleasure on her face when I gave her that forehead kiss. Why didn’t I think of giving her forehead kisses before? I’ve seen Ruth and Lord Straik holding hands and giving each other quick mouth-on-skin kisses. They’re not the same as the intense mouth-to-mouth ones, but are far more frequent in public. Perhaps Ruthie needs that from me?
Perhaps I’ll offer more forehead kisses after I put ointment on her breast for her.
Luckily Sakkar isn’t camped out in med-bay, growling over the use of the machine last night. I snatch the tube of quick-healing salve and race back down the hall, imagining the noises Ruthie will make as I rub it onto her nipple for her. My cock is hard and aching by the time I return to our quarters.
No sooner do I make it through the door and hold up the tube triumphantly than the comm chirps.
I glance over at the time display on the comm station. Five in the morning. “I have to get that,” I explain to Ruthie. “It might be an emergency from Lord Straik.”
“Of course,” she says, and takes the tube from my hand. “You get that and I’ll tend to myself in the bathroom.”
I try to hide my crushing disappointment. So much for my visions of gliding my fingers over her breast, soothing her with my touch. Of the sweet moans she’d make, telling me that I’m taking such good care of her. “Of course.”
Keffing comm. Keffing timing.
When Ruthie disappears into the lavatory and the comm chirps a second time, I move to the panel and slap my hand down on it to activate it. Erzah’s face fills my screen and I feel like snarling. “What?”
“Good morning, sunshine,” he says cheerfully. “I’m going into town bright and early this morning to meet with the custodians about buying that vacant building. I figured I’d ask you to come along since you’re the head of security and I’m going to be haggling. I need someone that looks like they’ll take no shit from anyone.”
I run a hand down my face. Normally I’d say yes right away, but Ruthie… “What about Salvotor? Or Dopekh?”
He seems surprised that I don’t immediately volunteer. Normally I would. But normally Ruthie doesn’t let me touch her breasts, either. “Oh. Uh, I guess I could comm them and ask. But you’re better with bargaining than they are and I’d feel better with someone business savvy at my back.”