She shrugged out of my hold. “We’re on Trion. We need to find Bertok.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Gara, I’m exhausted. I’m not sure how you’re still standing. You’ve barely slept since you came from Earth and have transported three times. An Atlan beast would be struggling to stay conscious. Leave your titan stick by the door, and we’ll sleep.”
“I have motivation,” she replied, her jaw clenched, her pale eyes fierce as she looked up at me.
“Remember we talked about the way time is different on Trion? The planet is so distant in the sector that it’s been—” I paused and did some loose math in my head. “—about two hours here on Trion since Bertok returned from The Dome.”
Her mouth fell open. “Two hours?”
It had been three days since we’d been beneath The Dome, so it was hard to even fathom the bend in time. It was even harder to fathom how my life had changed since then.
“Bertok is not expecting us, and I’m sure he’s sleeping off his own transport. While it would be a good time to attack, we don’t know all the details. Yet. There’s nothing for us to do now but rest and wait for Zenos and Ivy to investigate. Remember, while we sleep, days will pass for them.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Daylight savings time is one thing, but this? I don’t think I’ll ever understand this… time change.” She rubbed her eyes. “Rest sounds good. A shower sounds better.”
Nodding, I led her into my bed chamber and through to the bathing room. Everything was as pristine as when I’d left it. The deep stone tub, the windows that surrounded it to make the user feel decadent soaking in a pool of water surrounded by the barrenness of the desert landscape. While we were close to the city, wealth afforded untarnished views. I didn’t remember the room to be so large although anything was expansive after the tiniest of bathing rooms on my ship.
It was this… this excess that I’d abandoned. But now I was back.
With a human. No, with a Trion bride.
Even though I’d seen every inch of Zara, I retreated, allowing her some privacy.
“Um, I have no idea how to use that.” She pointed at the shower tube when I turned back to face her. “And the tub is like a swimming pool. I’m so tired I might drown.”
She was small and fierce, but I continued to forget she had yet to settle anywhere in space. She’d moved from Trion to The Dome to Transport Station Zenith and then back to Trion. The entire time, she’d been in danger. She still was, u
ntil we heard otherwise from Zenos.
I took my time and showed her how the bathing tube worked, steam immediately beginning to fill the room. I pointed out the other features she might need then left. It was my job to see to her needs were met, even the most basic ones.
I used a second bathing room—fark, I had enough of them—to wash the travels from my own body. I thought of Zara naked and wet, using my scented soap over her pale skin. My cock stirred to life, it seemed a constant thing whenever I thought of the female. She’d responded so beautifully, albeit prickly, to my commands on the ship. I’d begun to master her body. Her mind was another challenge entirely. One I ultimately planned to win. She just didn’t know it yet.
By the time I returned to my chamber, naked and beyond exhausted, Zara was in my bed, asleep. I climbed in behind her and tugged her close. Pulling the fresh sheets up and over us, I called out. “Blinds close.”
Yes, someone had been maintaining the property, for the house responded by immediately completing my simple command. The room quickly darkened, and I slept, knowing this peace was short lived. Bertok had to be dealt with—Cerberus was Zenos’ problem—and then there were my parents. I could handle ion fire and even rogue asteroids, but I wasn’t sure I could survive seeing the pain in my mother’s eyes.
I awoke to Zara’s face looming over me. Sleeping deeply, I hadn’t felt her shift in my arms or rise up to her elbow. I blinked, took in her refreshed face, the curious gaze, even in the dim lighting. I had no idea what time it was or how long we’d slept, but I felt better. Perhaps it was the naked body pressed against mine. My cock certainly rose because of that.
“Blinds open,” I called.
Zara looked about as the room brightened, the strong Trion sun cutting through the room’s windows.
“Being rich has its perks,” she murmured.
“You are fixated upon wealth,” I replied drily.
“Says the guy who’s got voice activated curtains.” She pushed her hair back.
It had been wet when she’d fallen asleep, and now it was a wild tangle. I itched to touch the wild strands, so I did.
“I told you I grew up poor. My entire apartment could fit in that bathtub of yours.”
“This house is part of my family’s wealth. Not mine. I haven’t earned it.”
“You were born into it. What’s wrong with that? It’s not like you stole it from people.”
I frowned then shook my head. “No, my family is not bad.”