CHAPTER SIXTEEN

 

 

- Atticus

Sorting through the patient inquiries, I watch my mate as best I can. There are so many already! It seems that every male on board has put in a request to have their mate scanned and progress tracked regularly.

I understand their concern and interest. I’ve just finished reviewing Ashlyn’s file, and the details boggle my mind with how basic the problem is. One protein-making gene malfunctions and that’s all it takes. Instead of working properly in conjunction with the others, her DNA has repeated the faulty protein more than one hundred times, causing the gene creating the protein to shut down. According to the human information I’m provided, they normally see this repeated less than forty times.

If every female now on board has something this simple…

A wail cuts off my thoughts, and I look up startled to see Vekel sitting up and grasping Ashlyn’s arm. She’s looking over her shoulder with her back to me, but all my protective instincts burst into overdrive.

I’m not fast enough though! Even though I’m around the cabinetry and at her side almost instantly, she’s fallen into the side of the bed, pulling Vekel—who hasn’t released Ashlyn’s arm—with her into the frame as it crashes over. Grasping her back, I lift her away from him, summoning the closest crew on my short range neural implant. Glancing over at Vekel, I see he’s immobile and stop to take a moment to watch him as I slide down the wall, where Ashlyn crumbles into my lap.

How could this have happened? With how he’s been over the last five rotations or so, I’d never have guessed he could grab her—let alone would. Two males run through the door, heading for the crashed over bed where Vekel’s still unconscious, crumpled against the frame. Ashlyn shudders and stiffens in my lap as I yell, “He appears to be unconscious again, just straighten up the beds and throw him in it.”

The amount of fear I sense through our bond is almost a bitter taste in my mouth as I gather her up tightly in my arms, yelling over my shoulder, “One of you stay with him. I’m going to examine Ashlyn.” Knowing she won’t want anyone around, I carry her into our private living quarters and sink onto the couch.

She’s shaking or rocking, or maybe it’s a combination of the two. I take deep breaths, trying to slow my racing heart. It would have been so easy to kill him. I considered it. If he hadn’t already been unconscious, I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to control myself. What does that say about me as a doctor?

“Ashlyn. Ashlyn.” Beginning to rock with her, I chant her name, creating a sing song tone that seems to calm us both. It’s a long time before she wiggles slightly, letting me know she’s ready to be released.

Sitting back, she collapses against me, tilting her head back. “He scared me.”

Blowing out a breath of frustration, I try to calm myself. “Of course you were scared. He grabbed you and looked like a crazy male. He wasn’t thinking clearly. His hair follicles were everywhere.”

Wrapping her arms around my neck, she leans in and presses her lips lightly against mine. It’s our second brief kiss, and her mouth’s plush surface meeting mine makes everything else disappear around us. It’s just us, relaxing together. When she pulls back, I can’t help but leaning forward to pull her to me again. Placing a hand at the back of her head, I urge her lips to me for another kiss.

This time, when our lips meet, they mash together, and she makes a tiny, surprised sound but doesn’t pull away. Instead, we both freeze before her lips begin working against mine, rubbing and caressing. Paying attention, I let her lead.

Mimicking her light motions, I kiss her back. When I feel her tongue flick against my mouth, I do the same and taste her sweet flavor in a burst of sensation that almost overwhelms me. Our tongues meet again, brushing against one another tentatively as I restrain myself. There’s nothing I can compare this to. Kissing with our tongues mating makes my head spin and cock harden instantly.

Her mouth is warm and smooth, and her tongue feels like silk. She rubs it round and round, darting into my mouth over and over, moaning as her arms tighten around my neck, and she melts into my embrace. My cock is throbbing under her, and I absently wonder if she can feel it as well as I can.

Ashlyn doesn’t stop though. She keeps kissing me, her lips and tongue frolicking against mine with dainty, teasing grazes. I’m tempted to take over, to take this further, but I know this is a temporary distraction and I’ll need to go relieve the male waiting with Vekel in the medical center. But I’m astounded by how much I’m feeling at the moment. Right now, I just want to focus on this—on her.

She breaks away with a start, staring at me with wide eyes when I can focus enough to open my own. “Wow.” Her breath floats across my lips that she’s staring at intently.

Squeezing her to me, I chuckle lightly, wondering if I even have to go back to work. But then I think about Vekel and the reality of the situation comes crashing down on me. “Are you sure you’re alright? I feel awful about what happened, and now we’re kissing, and I haven’t even checked you over yet—”

Her hand settles across my face, fingers pressing on my lips and halting my self-flagging. “I started it, and it helped. I needed to forget about… him and what he was saying…”

Surprised by her words, I shift back, looking down at her seriously. “He was talking?” As she nods, I add, “What was he saying?”

Shrugging, her eyes flicker around the space before dropping to her hands that she’s pulled from around my neck and begins wringing in front of her. “I couldn’t understand.”

Ashlyn’s eyes widen as she looks up at me seriously. “It was your language, not mine. Something like ‘Ver-ka da-din pass-ha-ma ka-loo?’ But I don’t know if that’s perfectly what he said, but generally?”

Sinking into the back of the couch behind me, I think about what she’s saying. I do know what that means—and I must report it in. “Is that all he said?”

Ashlyn’s lightly fingering her slightly swollen lips as she looks at me. “Yes… Over and over again. He was even saying it as he grabbed me. What does that mean?”

Taking a deep breath, I think about the repercussions of scaring her, but honestly, I’m not going to keep anything from her. She’s my partner—my mate. “I’ll have to report it to Bren. We’ve been toying with the idea that he’s a spy, but those words seem to confirm that hypothesis. Roughly, it means, ‘I must report in immediately’… what would be nice to know is who and how he’s reporting in, but that’s the least of my concerns right now. I only want to make sure you’re alright. Did you hit your head or anything?”

Pulling away, Ashyln gingerly stands in front of me, peering down at herself carefully. Lifting the side of her shirt, I’m stunned to see a bruise forming on her side. “Just a little bump here. I’m glad he didn’t land on me.”

My blood starts to boil with anger and frustration—at myself. Her first day under my care, and she’s already hurt! I lean forward, grasping her hips, to tug her toward me and place a gentle kiss on the spot.

When I look up, her eyes are wide as she looks down at me. “It’s okay. I’ve had way worse. I don’t always pay attention well enough to where I’m going.”

Shaking my head, I stand up next to her. “This is my fault. I’ll be discussing this further with Brock when he gets back. We’ll need to make some sort of provisions and move him into a private room. We haven’t up until this point because we wanted to keep an eye on him. We thought maybe he’d say something or do something that would give us more information. Apparently, that worked, but I’m sorry you were hurt in the process.”

Moving into the food prep area, I get us both some water. When I turn around, she’s right behind me waiting. “I need to go back out and relieve Pulsar who stayed with him, but you’re welcome to lay down and relax.”

“No!” Her tone is adamant as she shakes her head. “I’m fine. It was just a little tumble, and I’m fine. I… I want to be with you… I want to learn.”

Sensing her sincerity and determination, I nod tightly. I’ll just have to keep a better eye on her. Keep her closer to me. That won’t be a hardship.