“Easy,” Seth soothed, holding his hands out, then sliding one up and down her arm.
“I’m fine,” she said, her voice firm but soft. Everything about her was soft, small. Gentle. She looked…breakable.
How the hell was I not going to snap a bone or jar her teeth as I fucked her? I wasn’t small, nor was I gentle. Carefully, I reached out and lifted her up, settled her somewhat awkwardly over my thighs since I was on my knees. I didn’t want her on the hard floor. I wanted her wrapped in comfort. She deserved it.
Why? Because she was my mate. No other reason was needed.
“Yes, you’re very much fine, but take a minute,” I said. “You’ve come a long way.”
She stilled then, her head turned to look at Seth.
While I didn’t hear the transport room door open, I heard hasty footsteps before I saw the doctor’s legs just before she squatted down beside us.
“You look well,” she commented to our mate.
I’d met the doctor before. Atlan. Proficient. Efficient.
Our mate shifted out of my hold, used my arm to push herself up to standing. One hand grabbed the back of her odd gown to cover the gap in the material. Seth stood hastily and went around to stand behind her.
Good. Her bare skin wouldn’t be seen by the transport techs. Not going to happen. If Seth hadn’t blocked her modesty, I would have. Instead, I knelt before her, making the differences in our sizes so much more obvious. W
hile Seth was human, he still hovered over her by a good foot. I knew I’d add another six inches to that and I didn’t want her scared.
Not of me. Never of me.
“I’m fine,” our mate repeated. “Just a little headache.”
“Hmm,” the doctor replied, studying her from head to toe with a capable and professional eye. “Let’s start with the basics. What’s your name?”
“Chloe Phan.”
Chloe.
“Where are you from?”
“Earth. Texas.” Chloe sighed. “Look, I just need a ReGen wand for the headache and I’ll be fine. I always get one after I transport.”
The doctor tilted her head to the side, but didn’t comment. Seth did.
“You always get one after you transport? How many times have you done it?” He gripped the back of her gown and scrunched it up in his fist as he shifted to look her in the eye.
She shimmied her shoulders to work out of his hold, but reached back, took over keeping her sad garment closed. I wanted her in something that didn’t look like a droopy sack. Hell, I wanted her in nothing at all—but only once we were back in Seth’s quarters. New mated quarters.
Chloe looked thoughtful for a moment. “Too many to count.”
The doctor was fiddling with the tablet in her hand, watching the display. “Spell Phan, please.”
Chloe did.
The doctor froze.
“Is she sick?” I asked, noticing when the doctor stilled as she stared at her screen. My heart stilled, so did my breathing as I waited for the answer.
Instead of replying, she unhooked the ReGen wand from her belt and handed it over to our mate.
Chloe didn’t fiddle with it as if it were a new thing for her. Instead, she flipped it on immediately, the blue light glowing as she waved it back and forth close to her head. She closed her eyes, let the wand do its work.
“Wait. What the hell is going on?” Seth asked, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’ve been to space before?”