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“To do what?” she asked.
“To save your life the only way I knew how. We had to dose you with medi-bots. You’re not in pain because you are almost fully healed already.” He waited a beat before explaining further.
“The doctor consulted with some Vardarian healers to confirm everything was in order. You’re only a few hours away from a full recovery.”
Rin opened and closed her mouth several times as she tried to process what he’d told her. “I have nanotech?”
“You do. I’m sorry I did that without your permission. I…” He trailed off, but she got the sense he wanted to say more.
“You saved me! Don’t you dare apologize for that.” She grabbed a handful of his shirt and pulled him in close. “I’m alive because of what you did. Thank you.”
Then she kissed him. She’d meant it to be a light kiss of gratitude, but the moment their lips touched, it became something more. Heat flooded her veins as Axe growled her name softly and kissed her back.
It all felt too perfect, like a dream she’d wake up from any second. She was safe, whole, and in bed with Axe.
“Yes,” she whispered against his lips.
He tore his mouth from hers with a frustrated sigh. “Actually, no. Not yet.” He pointed toward the floor. “I have a house full of beings at the moment, and most of them have cybernetically enhanced hearing.”
As if on cue, chuckles erupted from below.
“Cyborg hearing sucks,” she muttered.
“It’s not fun for us, either!” someone called back.
“That’s Wreckage. He’s an asshole.” Axe raised his voice. “And it’s about time everyone went home. Thanks for your help. Talk to you all later. Bye now.”
Rin buried her face in the crook of Axe’s neck, too embarrassed to say anything else.
“Rin says thanks, too,” Axe added. “Oh, and can someone let that trumped up twit of a lieutenant know Dr. Rey is awake and expected to make a full recovery?”
“Already done,” the doctor called out with only a hint of laughter in her voice. “I take it we’re not sharing the details of her condition yet?”
“We are not,” Axe confirmed.
“Hell no,” someone else chimed in. “The leadership council needs to meet and come up with a plan before we tell the IAF we’re keeping their scientist.”
“That’s Edge,” Axe told her softly. “He’s on the council, and he’s the one who okayed your medi-bot treatment.”
“Remind me to thank him later.” She raised her head to give him a small smile. “Much later.” She still had a lot to process. Her near-death experience, her new enhanced status, and the fact that the nanotech might mean she couldn’t leave the planet for the foreseeable future. It would take time to come to terms with it all, but for now, she just wanted to celebrate being alive.
And she wanted to do it with the man who’d saved her twice in one day.
12
He’d expected confusion and anger once he told her what he’d done. After all he’d been through, he knew the value of consent and the pain that came when your choices were taken away. And that’s exactly what he’d done to Rin. She had every right to be furious with him, but instead she was nestled in his arms, kissing him with a passion that made it hard to think of anything but how much he wanted her.
Was this why some of the others complained they didn’t understand their women? He suspected it was, but right now, he didn’t care. All that mattered was that Rin wasn’t angry with him. In fact, she was anything but unhappy right now, and he intended to keep it that way.
“You’re supposed to take it easy for the rest of the day. Doctor’s orders.” He kissed her softly and then moved back enough to be able to look her in the eyes. “So, if we’re doing this, you need to promise me you’ll tell me if anything hurts or you need to stop. I don’t want to hurt you, sunshine.”
“You’d never hurt me.”
Re’veth. She meant that. This sweet, incredible woman wasn’t afraid of him at all. “I’d never hurt you intentionally. But you’re tiny and delicate.”
She laughed. “Only you would see me that way. And I’m not delicate! Thanks to you, I have medi-bots. I’m almost immortal!”
Her smile faltered. “Holy fraxx. That’s exactly what I am. Isn’t it? I’m going to live for centuries.”
