Congratulations. Beholders are notoriously flirtatious with other species. Getting one to settle down is a monumental task by any stretch of the imagination.”
“I don’t know how much settling down we are going to do.”
“It is the spirit of the thing. He is excited to have you as a mate, so that is something.”
“Excited is good.”
“Your mood seems to have altered as well.” Nitza’s gaze was knowing.
“I just finished a hot soak in the tank. That always puts me in a good mood, but you are rarely in contact with me to witness it.” Leo smirked at the image.
“I suppose you are right. Do you have the file?”
Leo checked. “I have the file and the dispatch for Beholder. We are on our way.”
“Have fun, Govern. Keep that cheerful glow.”
Leo snorted and closed communication. It was well known amongst the ships that she was the grouchy pilot. The other ships pitied poor Aura for having to put up with her.
“Am I really in a better mood right now, Aura?”
A bright tinkling and Tragathian dancing music spilled through the ship.
Leo aimed the ship for the jump point and hit the throttle while laughing. Sex was an amazing painkiller. Her joints felt better than they had in ages.
“I am going for a meal. Let me know when we reach the point, all right?”
Aura chimed agreement.
“No matter what I am doing. We are on an assignment now and that takes precedence over my love life.”
The dance music kicked in again.
Leo shook her head and left the deck for the pleasures of the kitchen.
She smiled at the precisely arranged meal on the table.
Eykanyo greeted her with a kiss. “I wish that I had flowers or something else to offer you.”
Part of her heart melted at mention of the gesture. “It is the thought that counts.”
“It is indeed. Now, where are we headed to next?”
She arched her brows in surprise.
“How did you know we got a new assignment?”
“Your shoulders straighten when you are on duty. I am very attuned to body language.” He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
“Yes, I suppose you would be. We are heading to Tragathi; your assignment is waiting for your login.”
He nodded. “After we eat. I have been looking forward to your joining me.”
Leo smiled. “Good, I am hungry. My stomach is not making noise yet and that is a good thing.”
They sat in companionable silence while she stuffed her face. When she sat back with a cup of tea, he asked her, “Are you happy out here?”
Leo’s eyes widened. “Serious question.”
“I am looking for a serious answer. Are you happy being a transport specialist?” He put his hand on the table, palm up.
She slid her hand into his. “I am content. Is that close enough?”
“No. It is a step, but it isn’t close.” He pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
“I exist day to day. My pain can knock me flat and my body can betray me. There is nothing else but dreading each time I wake and finding myself curled into a ball of agony.” She smiled to soften her words.
“Does it get that bad?”
“Now and then. I have had days where I crawled around the deck to go through my chores, only to soak in the tank for hours afterward. Those days are usually at the end of my med runs.”
He looked at her with horror. “Is there nothing they can do?”
“Yes, and they are doing it. I have one of the best teams available looking for treatments. I get their prime efforts and they do help, for a time.”
“And you are content to have life in such small increments?”
“It is more than I had before. It would crush me to have it taken away from me.” She tried to smile brightly, but it was a deep confession from her soul.
He nodded. “I can see how it would be. Would you grant me permission to speak with the scientists working on your problem? I have seen many things on many worlds, and I may be able to offer a solution to them.”
“Sure. Avail yourself of my medical records. I have no secrets from you.” She kept her
“I don’t know how much settling down we are going to do.”
“It is the spirit of the thing. He is excited to have you as a mate, so that is something.”
“Excited is good.”
“Your mood seems to have altered as well.” Nitza’s gaze was knowing.
“I just finished a hot soak in the tank. That always puts me in a good mood, but you are rarely in contact with me to witness it.” Leo smirked at the image.
“I suppose you are right. Do you have the file?”
Leo checked. “I have the file and the dispatch for Beholder. We are on our way.”
“Have fun, Govern. Keep that cheerful glow.”
Leo snorted and closed communication. It was well known amongst the ships that she was the grouchy pilot. The other ships pitied poor Aura for having to put up with her.
“Am I really in a better mood right now, Aura?”
A bright tinkling and Tragathian dancing music spilled through the ship.
Leo aimed the ship for the jump point and hit the throttle while laughing. Sex was an amazing painkiller. Her joints felt better than they had in ages.
“I am going for a meal. Let me know when we reach the point, all right?”
Aura chimed agreement.
“No matter what I am doing. We are on an assignment now and that takes precedence over my love life.”
The dance music kicked in again.
Leo shook her head and left the deck for the pleasures of the kitchen.
She smiled at the precisely arranged meal on the table.
Eykanyo greeted her with a kiss. “I wish that I had flowers or something else to offer you.”
Part of her heart melted at mention of the gesture. “It is the thought that counts.”
“It is indeed. Now, where are we headed to next?”
She arched her brows in surprise.
“How did you know we got a new assignment?”
“Your shoulders straighten when you are on duty. I am very attuned to body language.” He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
“Yes, I suppose you would be. We are heading to Tragathi; your assignment is waiting for your login.”
He nodded. “After we eat. I have been looking forward to your joining me.”
Leo smiled. “Good, I am hungry. My stomach is not making noise yet and that is a good thing.”
They sat in companionable silence while she stuffed her face. When she sat back with a cup of tea, he asked her, “Are you happy out here?”
Leo’s eyes widened. “Serious question.”
“I am looking for a serious answer. Are you happy being a transport specialist?” He put his hand on the table, palm up.
She slid her hand into his. “I am content. Is that close enough?”
“No. It is a step, but it isn’t close.” He pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
“I exist day to day. My pain can knock me flat and my body can betray me. There is nothing else but dreading each time I wake and finding myself curled into a ball of agony.” She smiled to soften her words.
“Does it get that bad?”
“Now and then. I have had days where I crawled around the deck to go through my chores, only to soak in the tank for hours afterward. Those days are usually at the end of my med runs.”
He looked at her with horror. “Is there nothing they can do?”
“Yes, and they are doing it. I have one of the best teams available looking for treatments. I get their prime efforts and they do help, for a time.”
“And you are content to have life in such small increments?”
“It is more than I had before. It would crush me to have it taken away from me.” She tried to smile brightly, but it was a deep confession from her soul.
He nodded. “I can see how it would be. Would you grant me permission to speak with the scientists working on your problem? I have seen many things on many worlds, and I may be able to offer a solution to them.”
“Sure. Avail yourself of my medical records. I have no secrets from you.” She kept her
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