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“Skin on skin contact.” Booby sounded tense, her voice higher in pitch.

“I’m already doing that. It’s not enough to help him.”

“Maximize contact.”

Sinead furrowed her brow. “You’re suggesting I get naked with Talyn?”

“It’s imperative you do. It will help you both. I’ve noted your physical changes around Talyn. Your heartbeat lowers as does your blood pressure.”

“Will skin on skin contact lower his temperature?”

Talyn jerked again and sweat bloomed on his forehead.

“It will. You must hurry. His heart is speeding up. If he gets too hot, he’ll suffer permanent damage.”

“Are you sure this will work?” Sinead was doubtful about getting undressed and laying with someone she didn’t know.

“Sinead, please. He’s my friend.” Booby sounded almost tearful. “The amount of physical contact you have will speed up Talyn’s recovery. You don’t have much time.”

Sinead blew out a breath. “Well, you’re a smart ship, so I guess you’re not joking.”

“I tell jokes when it’s appropriate. This is not one of those occasions.”

Sinead slid off the bed. “Avert your eyes, Booby. I’m taking off Talyn’s jumpsuit.”

“I have no eyes, but the cameras aren’t active in this room. You have privacy.”

Sinead quickly removed Talyn’s boots. She slid down the zipper of his jumpsuit and pulled out his arms. He wasn’t hugely muscular but had a lean power to his limbs.

She stroked her hands over his bare chest, and he slumped back on the bed.

“Good. It’s having an effect. Keep going,” Booby urged.

“I thought you weren’t looking?”

“I’m monitoring his vitals. Please, hurry.”

Sinead wrapped an arm around Talyn’s shoulders and eased him up, so she could pull the jumpsuit down his back. She eased the jumpsuit over his hips and stopped. Talyn didn’t wear underwear.

Sinead chewed on her bottom lip. She’d seen naked guys before. This wasn’t sexual. She was helping him. If she thought about this as a medical procedure, it was no big deal. She wouldn’t leer. This was about making Talyn well.

“Is something wrong?” Booby asked.

Sinead blushed and looked away.

“I detect no movement. Keep contact with him at all times.”

Sinead averted her gaze as she yanked the jumpsuit all the way to Talyn’s feet and pulled it off.

She turned her back, feeling bashful as she removed her own jumpsuit and stripped to her underwear. She removed her hand from Talyn’s chest for a brief second to pull it out of her jumpsuit. Talyn instantly gasped and started shaking.

Sinead slapped a hand back on his chest and let out a sigh when he stilled. This was so weird, but it was for the good of Talyn’s health, so she’d do it.

She shuffled onto the bed and laid alongside him. “Oh, my stars!” The wave of calm that hit her was so intense she forgot to breathe. As her skin made contact with Talyn’s, her worries and fears vanished.

A smile slid across her face as she nestled against him, sliding one arm under his bare shoulders and resting the other across his chest. She pressed herself along his side and carefully moved her leg so it rested over his.

Talyn stopped twitching and blew out a contented sigh. He felt it too. This was helping him, just as Booby said it would.