“I was unaware that you were waiting also, Darmack. Greetings to you all.”
Leena spun around. She caught the time display out of the corner of her eye and was shocked to see how long she’d been staring out the window.
“How are they?” she asked, rushing up to Han.
“If what I’ve been told about the accident is accurate, they’re extremely fortunate.
Neither of them has any broken bones or damage to internal organs.”
“The crash was terrible; the ship was consumed by flames so fast.” Leena shuddered at the memory.
“Have they given any information regarding what happened to them?” Darmack asked.
“No, we’re doing our best to try and keep them from talking. They need further lung and throat treatments as well as external burn healing. When I explained the process of being in isolation for a day, maybe two, they both adamantly refused to do so before making the acquaintance of a certain cargo ship captain.”
“She’s going nowhere near the Earthlings until Caris and I ascertain if they pose any danger,” Darmack stated firmly.
“I set the rules where my patients are concerned,” Han replied with equal force. “Of course, I understand that you want to protect your sister, but there isn’t going to be a lengthy interrogation session. The three of you have ten minutes; less if the sedative I’ve administered finally takes effect.” He turned and led the way.
When they reached their destination, Leena was a bundle of nerves and suffering from a sudden and acute case of shyness. She took a step to the side in the doorway and allowed Darmack and Caris to precede her into the room. Her mouth went dry and her body heated at the sight of Adam and Craig lying semi-propped up in their beds, covered only to the waist by the bed sheets. Leena greatly appreciated a well-built man, and their various bandages did nothing to hide their muscular physiques.
As Darmack introduced himself and Caris, Leena watched Adam and Craig study him as she assumed her brother was doing to them.
“What caused you to suffer such extensive damage to your vessel?”
Leena cringed at Dar’s complete disregard for any sort of pleasantries.
“A Camlutian battle cruiser and a trip through a meteor field,” Adam answered in a deep, raspy voice.
“Why were you out of Gal-Fed territory?”
“We delivered supplies to the freedom fighters on Royas.”
“Quite a risky endeavor, especially in a ship not outfitted for battle,” Dar noted with skepticism.
“Yep, we’re pretty clear on that now,” Craig replied quietly and with obvious difficulty.
His brow was creased and he struggled to clear his throat.
“There, mystery solved.” Leena exhaled a sigh of relief. Aiding the Royans was an admirable endeavor. “Please move out of the way, I’m the one they want to speak with.” Dar and Caris did as she asked, and Leena walked slowly to stand in the narrow space between their beds.
“I am Leena, daughter of Daylon and Sirak of the house of H’oug.”
“The angel who saved our sorry asses. We owe you one,” Adam said with a weak smile.
He reached out and took her left hand gently in his, and Craig did the same with her right hand.
For a fleeting second, the room seemed to tilt. Leena laced her fingers in theirs and held on. It felt as if tiny jolts of electricity raced up her arms. By the way both men stared wide-eyed at her, Leena had a sneaking suspicion that Adam and Craig were experiencing unusual reactions of their own. She prayed that their audience was unaware of what was happening between them.
“Our life support was failing. We had less than thirty minutes worth of oxygen when we crashed.” Craig gave her hand a little squeeze.
“I shouldn’t have been anywhere near your location,” she whispered.
“But you were. That’s all that matters, angel.” Adam’s last words came out slightly slurred.
“This visit is officially over,” Han announced.
“Rest, allow them to heal you. I’ll be right here when you’re released from isolation.”
Leena reluctantly let go of their hands but didn’t move until both of them closed their eyes.
“You’ll make certain I can keep my promise, right Han?” she asked as soon as they were back in the hallway.
“Absolutely, go home for a while. I’ll contact you in plenty of time to return and be waiting for them in their room,” he agreed with an eager nod.
Caris draped his arm across her shoulder. “The Gods work in mysterious ways.”
“Shut up, Caris,” she said vehemently. His expression made it very clear he knew something had transpired between her and the Earthmen.
“What in the stars is going on?” Dar asked.
“If my guess is correct, things that you and I have no business being in the middle of.”
Caris kissed her lightly on the cheek then stepped away. “Come on Dar, time for us to leave.”
“Why are you talking in riddles? I don’t understand—”
“Yeah, I probably wouldn’t either if she were my sister,” Caris interrupted. “We’ll discuss it in the car.”
Leena mouthed “thank you” to Caris as they walked down the hall.
Craig Foustman heard his name being called from far away, but he did his best to ignore it. A goddess of a woman was worshipping his cock with her soft lips and skillful tongue as Adam kissed and nipped a path from his earlobe down the side of his neck. He was so close to coming his balls ached for release.
When he reached forward, wanting desperately to tangle his fingers in the goddess’ wavy golden hair and hold her still while he pumped his hips upward, she shimmered and disappeared.
As he came to full consciousness, the first thing he realized was that his head wasn’t pounding anymore. Craig decided to push the envelope and swallow. When that didn’t hurt, he drew a deep breath and was thrilled that the action didn’t cause a coughing fit. He slowly opened his eyes.
“Hi.”
Craig blinked a couple of times, trying to clear his blurry vision and fuzzy brain. He thought he’d made up the sexy-as-sin woman who’d been rocking his dream world, but now she stood over him; and she seemed very familiar. He rubbed his eyes and attempted to figure out what the hell was going on. Bits and pieces of information floated through his mind, but he wasn’t certain what was real.
“You’ve been in isolation under deep sedation for almost two days. Don’t worry; the effects will wear off quickly.”
“Where’s Adam?” he asked.
“In the bed next to you. He’s started to stir but hasn’t awakened yet.”
“I thought I heard someone calling my name.”
“Han, your physician, was here a little while ago. He attempted to wake both of you. I should let him know you’ve regained consciousness.” She took a step away from the bed.
Craig reached out and grasped her wrist. “No, please, don’t leave,” he asked, gazing into her gorgeous emerald green eyes. His dick twitched beneath the sheets.
Leena
. Remembering her name triggered a flood of other memories, including how close he and Adam had come to death. He raked his fingers through his hair and noticed that the burns on his forearms were completely healed. Craig carefully touched the left side of his forehead where it had been cut when he was propelled face first into the communication console during their landing. There were no stitches, no scab; no nothing.
“Saved by a beautiful woman, and on a planet which obviously has freaky powers of healing; damn we must have done something right to deserve this.”
“You’re on Mesta, in the Aaron system. This is my home world.”
“Yeah, somebody told us where we were when we were brought in.” His head was
clearing by the second, and he wanted to be in a more upright position. As soon as he began to scooch up, Leena leaned over him to help reposition his pillows. Her delicate, flowery scent had him breathing deeply and fighting the urge to discover if she tasted as succulently as she smelled.
Fuck, I was really out of it
, he thought, taking his first cognizant look at her. Her skin was porcelain smooth, in a shade that reminded him of sweet caramel. Tiny multi-colored hoops decorated the edges of her ears from the slightly pointed tips down to the lobes. Her lips were full, pink and appeared to be as soft as they had felt in his dream. She no longer wore the gray, non-descript flight suit, but instead had on a bright yellow sleeveless dress with a deep, plunging neckline. He made a production of fluffing his covers and shifting in the bed in order to hide his blooming erection and cop a peek at the rest of her. Her shapely legs were only covered to mid-thigh.
“Your bodyguards aren’t with you today,” he said, scanning the room and hoping that’s all they were to her.
“Darmack is my brother and Caris is his mate. I’m sorry Dar was so abrupt, but he meant well. It’s kind of the way of things here. All males protect females…family members take it to the extreme.” She shrugged her shoulders casually, but her frown, accompanied with the slight roll of her eyes, told him a great deal.
“Don’t like him getting all up in your cupcake, huh?”
Leena’s confused expression alerted him to that fact that, once again, his manner of speech didn’t always translate well.
He rephrased the question. “You’d prefer if he allowed you more personal space sometimes?”
Leena beamed. “Precisely.”
“Mmm, don’t stop, feels so good, angel.”
Craig and Leena both looked over to Adam.
“Adam, snap out of it, we’ve got company,” Craig said quickly, noticing both his smile and the slight movement in his hips.
“No, not yet,” Adam grumbled, but his eyelids fluttered open.
Craig could tell immediately that Adam was suffering the same disorientation he’d experienced when waking up. “Give it a few. It wears off as rapidly as Tharin ale.”
“Been having the best dreams, love it when you suck—”
“Seriously, dude, try and focus. We are so not alone.”
Leena quietly cleared her throat while glancing demurely down at the ground. “I really need to go get Han. I’ll wait outside until he’s finished.” She hurried from the room.
Adam awkwardly propped up on one elbow and watched her leave. “She’s real,” he said with wonder. “And was waiting, just like she said she’d be.”
“Nice job chasing her away,” Craig commented, not really mad. He was one hundred percent confident she’d keep her word and return when the doctor was through with them. He had no idea why he was so sure, but he was.
“What the hell?” Adam exclaimed, staring down at his chest.
Craig checked it out, too, relived that there was no sign of the horrific burns he’d suffered.
“How long were we out?”
“Leena said almost two days.”
“How is it possible that we healed so fast?”
“Who cares as long as it’s happened?”
Adam nodded before flopping back on the pillows and laying his arm over his forehead.
“We are so goddamned lucky,” Adam said with a sigh. He stayed silent for a few minutes before continuing. “Did you see what she was wearing?”
“You betcha, plus I got to smell her, too,” Craig said with a smug grin.
“Excuse me?”
“She kindly plumped up my pillows.”
“She expertly plumped something else up for me. I’ve never had such vivid dreams in my life.”
“Me, either,” Craig agreed, but couldn’t elaborate due to Han coming into the room.
“So how are you two feeling?” Han asked.
“Shockingly well,” Adam replied.
“We’re extremely proud of our advances in the medical sciences.” He waved a small device over each of them then performed a hands-on perusal of the areas where their injuries had been. “Your wounds are completely healed however you can expect to not regain your full strength for a couple of days.”
Another man came in, placing two pairs of boots and other items on the table by the door.
“Your clothes were ruined beyond repair. I had these replicated for you. This is Asha.”
Han nodded in his direction and Asha bowed slightly. “He’ll show you how to operate the bathing room and be available to offer assistance if needed.”
As soon as Han mentioned the facilities, Craig had to pee like a racehorse. He sat up and gingerly draped his legs off the side of the bed. “Mind if I go first?” he asked Adam.
“There are facilities for two,” Asha said, walking forward.
“I’ll check on you once more before you leave.” Han brusquely exited the room.
Leave? To where? Do we even have a ship anymore
, Craig wondered while accepting Asha’s outstretched arm for leverage as he stood. His legs felt weak and wobbly.
“Please do not try to get up on your own,” Asha said over his shoulder to Adam. “I’ll get him situated then help you.”
Once Asha decided they were able to move around safely, he announced he’d be waiting outside the room, well within earshot if they needed him.
After a long, hot shower, Craig felt considerably better. He was dressed and lacing up perfectly fitting boots when Adam emerged from the bathroom, magnificent in his nakedness. He went to him, pulling Adam into a tight embrace and claiming his mouth. As their tongues sparred, relief and love pounded through Craig.
“Guess what?” he asked after ending their passionate kiss in order to catch his breath.
Craig guided Adams hands over his hips, down to his ass cheeks. “Underwear wasn’t provided.”
Adam smirked and gave an authoritative rub. “I’m good with that. Damn, what are these pants made of? They’re so soft.”
“So is the vest,” Craig added, touching the ultra, lightweight material.
Adam held his gaze as he caressed up his back. “God, I want to fuck you so badly.” He moved his hips seductively. “When we hit the ground, shit, I seriously thought we might not survive it.”
“I know, and then the fire started so fast. I’ve never been so terrified.” He hugged Adam again, needing to feel his warmth and strength.
A knock sounded and the door cracked open. “Everything all right?” Asha inquired.
“Yeah, hold on just a second.” Adam quickly put on his pants. “Come on in.”
It was Leena who entered first with Asha following. Craig watched her irises darken as she checked them out. “Wow, um, I’m glad to see you both looking so, um, well.”