“Then you need me!” Her eyes brighten and a bit of that intense, slightly wild light returns to her eyes. “For protection. And to help with the humans. But mostly for protection, because if they hurt you, I’m going to hurt them worse.”
“Helen,” I say. “It’s not even a question. I would love it if you came with us.”
It’s true. I didn’t like leaving her behind earlier, even though I knew it wasn’t safe for her in the Belly. Not just because she’s capable of handling herself, but because I can’t focus, wondering if she’s all right or if she’s innocently wandered away. There’s a terrifying mixture of innocence with her killer instinct, and that’s partially what terrifies me. Helen wouldn’t think twice before snapping someone’s neck or breaking an arm—but if someone showed up at the ship and said I was in danger, she’d follow them without question. Adiron isn’t exactly reliable in this sort of situation either.
In short, I don’t trust anyone to watch over Helen but me, and she doesn’t trust anyone to watch over me but her. It’s yet one of many reasons why we need to stay together.
Helen beams a happy smile at me. “Should I bring my rolling pin?”
“It might look a little obvious,” I admit, grinning at the thought. “Maybe we stick to knives and blasters.”
She nods. “Knives. Blasters. I can do that. And if someone gets too close, I’ll just break things instead. And there’s a lot of humans, you said?”
“Far too many,” I admit grimly. “And they’re all in really bad shape. They’ve been abused and they’re scared, and they don’t know to trust us yet. I couldn’t leave these two behind, and they didn’t trust us not to return, which is why Zebah is with them.”
“Do you think she’s safe?”
I grunt at the thought. “I would imagine. She’s well known around several of these stations and no one wants to kill a mesakkah. We’re a race that gets noticed when we go missing. I’m also confident she can talk her way out of almost any situation. She can stand to hang around with them for a few hours.”
Helen bites her lip. “Okay.”
The med-bay machine chimes, and a plas-film bandage slithers up my arm, covering the wound. It tightens in place and then the machine releases me. I flex my hand and then cup Helen’s jaw. “Good as new.”
“Not quite.” That dark look returns to her gaze. “I don’t like that you got hurt.”
“It will happen. But like I said, I can take care of myself.” I lean in and kiss her upturned mouth. “And nothing would stop me from returning to you.”
Her eyes grow hazy. “Does this mean we won’t have alone time so you can make me come?”
I groan, remembering what she said earlier. “Have you been thinking about that?”
“Of course.” Her hand slides to the front of my trou and she rubs my cock until it starts to respond. “Can we go to the showers? I want to touch you.”
“Bethiah is in the showers with the humans, remember?” I press a few kisses along her jaw, moving toward her ear. “But I should give Adiron a chance to take a nap if he’s going to be piloting our getaway later tonight. Want to join me on the bridge?”
“If by joining you on the bridge you mean that I’m going to sit in your lap and you’re going to touch me until I come, then yes, I want to do that.” She angles her ear, giving me a chance to graze that sweet spot hidden behind it. “I want that very, very much.”
I want it, too.
CHAPTER 64
HELEN
It doesn’t take much convincing to get Adiron to go catch a few hours of sleep. He smirks at me and Mathiras, promising to return “soon but not too soon.” I think he knows what we’re up to but I find I don’t care very much. All I care about is being with Mathiras. He needs comforting, I decide. There’s a haunted look on his face that I know has to do with the human slaves. He’s such a good male—too soft-hearted to leave the humans behind to their fate, even if it means it costs us a small fortune in fuel and supplies. It’s just another reason why I love him so much.
The moment he sits down in the captain’s chair, I straddle him and fling my arms around his neck. Instead of acting surprised, he only pulls me closer, hugging me tight against him and running his hands down my back. “You feel good in my arms,” he tells me. “Like you belong here.”
“Of course I belong here. Why wouldn’t I?” As if I belong anywhere else.
He strokes a hand down my back again. “I just don’t want you getting upset tonight when we go. I need you to keep your cool.”