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“Tiri!” I scream as the sand abraids my skin. All I wanted was a hot shower, the water washing away the sweat and stress of the past few days, not to mention the piss that had made its way onto me when I carried John aboard the ship. But no! Instead of the soothing caress of hot water, I am abraded by sand whipping around my body, scraping skin and grime off. When it finally stops, the sand is gone and my skin looking like something that had played chicken with a road and lost. “Tiri! When I get dressed I am coming up there with a knife and deprogramming you! Permanently!”
“I’m sorry Roberd,” the crisp upper-crust accent grates on me. “There is something wrong with the processing unit. I will make sure it's resolved before your next shower. Is there anything else I can help you with?
“Not unless you have a cure for sand rash.” I grouse, not believing for one instant that there was a programming issue. I don’t care what anyone says, the Artificial Intelligence are smarter than we give them credit for.
“There is an ointment that might help in the medical kit. Would you like me to have one supplied in your room?” Tiri’s voice is all innocent concern.
“No thank you! You demented pile of chips. For all, I know you will give me something that will feel like the fires of Gehenna have descended on me.” Gingerly, I pull my pants on, being careful to not have the material rub too much on the skin. Moving my shoulders causes me to grimace. Akiyra will just have to suffer as she admires my manly perfection, I am not putting a shirt on over this sand burn.
Stepping out into the common area, I grin as Akiyra looks up.
“Roberd! What happened to you?” she runs over and I have to debate if I make a bigger deal of this than it really is. I mean I am a red-blooded male who loves the idea of a woman taking care of me. Plus, her pink lips could kiss all the boo-boos better, and there are some boo-boos in places her ministrations could be well appreciated.
“Roberd!” Fynn looks at me with a look of concern, but also censor. Fine! Spoilsport!
“Just a mishap with the showers. Tiri assures me that he will fix it.” I reply dryly. Tiri knew exactly what he was doing.
“Well let me put some ointment on those. They look painful.” Akiyra pulls me over to where she had been working on Fynn’s shoulder. Where the bullet had torn into his arm, a small bandage covers the wound, another on his neck where he had been injured earlier in the fight on Akiyra’s ship.
“Fynn, looks like you will live,” I smile at him.
He puts a hand over the bandage, looking pained. “I’m not so sure. I think I need some more nursing care.” He looks at Akiyra, his head bowed, eyes looking up through his long lashes. Much like a calupis pup begging for attention.
Akiyra laughs at him, “Any more nursing and I will cause some damage.” a flirty smile plays at her lips as her voice softens, “Unless you have some other injury that I need to care for?”
“Get a room you two!” Jax says as he saunters into the common area, his eyes bugging out as he gets a look at me. “What happened to you, Roberd?”
“Sand cleaner 1, Roberd 0. And I still feel like I have that creep Wild’s pee on me.” I shiver remembering the mess Wild had been. “Speaking of, how the hell are we going to make him smell remotely decent and what will he wear? Those leathers of his need to be spaced.”
I flinch and hiss as Akiyra spreads some ointment on my burns. “Stop being such a baby. You men are all the same. Talk all macho but the slightest injury and you all flinch and cry.” She hands me the tub of ointment. “I trust you can apply this to the rest of your body.”
“I think I might need some help. Some spots I can’t see or reach.” I hold her hand to my chest and give her the saddest eyes I can manage, biting my lip to not grin at her.
Akiyra hits me gently with her free hand, “If you need help, ask one of your brothers to help. I’m only interested in seeing one of your spouters, and it is not yours.”
Fynn sticks his tongue out at me, making me laugh. “Fine, ruin my fun you two.” I plop down on the couch. One thing about space I am not used to is the lack of sunlight to help guide me in what time of day it is. I know that it is just dinner time, but I still feel off.
“So, what is for dinner? And what is the plan for tonight?” Jax asks, jumping up on the kitchen counter.
Akiyra looks at Fynn, “I don’t know what you guys are doing, but Fynn needs some TLC. You’re on your own.”
“Gag!” Jax says, miming sticking his finger down his throat.
“Hey! I’m injured too!” I cry.
“Sorry boys, I am a one-man woman, and neither of you is that man.”