to visit her friend. Not that she would survive long enough to reach planet Kall…
She shifted on the bed and winced at the pain. When she closed her eyes, she could hear the swish of the strap cutting through the air, then the crack of the leather hitting her back.
It’s over. For now.
Footsteps in the corridor made her tense.
She looked up just as General Zamek returned to her cell.
He was still shirtless, and numerous scars crossed his red, muscular chest, evidence of the many battles he’d fought and won. She quickly averted her gaze.
A second later, she noticed the items in his hands and her eyes widened. He was holding a thick blanket, a pillow, and what appeared to be a dermal regenerator.
Were these items really for her use?
Hope flared inside her. If he intended to make her more comfortable, even going so far as to heal her welts, he must feel remorse over his actions. She dared a look into his dark gaze. She glimpsed no traces of anger, and the hope brimming in her chest swelled further.
He placed the pillow next to her head and she gratefully accepted it.
“Th-thank you, General.”
Not removing his shirt from her body, he unfurled the blanket and placed it over her, even going so far as to tuck it around her. So stunned was she by his actions, that for several long moments she forgot to breathe. She desperately wished to ask about his intentions, but she was too nervous to speak.
He sat on the edge of the bed and his nearness caused her tummy to flutter. She was still afraid of him, very much so, but she didn’t think he would hurt her right now. She swallowed hard and dared another look into his otherworldly eyes.
Regret. His gaze shone with unmistakable regret.
She almost gasped in surprise. Hope continued to burgeon within her. Apparently, the general had a conscience. He hadn’t apologized to her, and she doubted he would—Kall males were extremely stubborn and proud—but the warm blanket and the soft pillow felt like an apology of sorts. When he lifted the dermal regenerator for her inspection, that felt like an apology too.
“With your permission, Layla, I would like to run this over your back. It will heal the marks and take away your pain almost instantly.”
She inhaled a shuddering breath. “Wh-why?” she asked. “Why would you help me?”
He opened his mouth to reply but then quickly pressed his lips together. A look of uncertainty fell over him, his eyes clouding with confusion as he briefly glanced around her cell. Finally, his gaze drifted back to her.
“Just…” His voice trailed off and he sighed. “Please let me help you, Layla.”
His tone was gentler than she’d ever heard before, and the way he said her name made flutters rise in her stomach all over again. More fuckedupness. She quickly reminded herself that she couldn’t forget what he’d done.
He’d forced her to strip and had taken a strap to her. He’d hurt her and frightened her.
She needed to be smart. Trusting him and getting her hopes up that he would never treat her with cruelty again would be foolish. She also needed to keep her guard up.
He held the dermal regenerator higher, and she eventually rolled onto her stomach and loosened the blanket around her shoulders.
With gentle movements, he drew the blanket and his shirt down to her waist. Her breath hitched when he trailed his fingers softly over her back. A shiver rushed through her and when he reached for her hair, smoothing it completely to the side, her scalp prickled with sensation. Her heart raced. She didn’t understand her visceral reaction to his nearness. After what he’d done to her, his touch—his mere presence—ought to disgust her.
Why were her insides still fluttering? Why were endorphins still rushing her head, making her feel dizzy? And breathing… her breaths became quick but shallow and she couldn’t seem to get enough oxygen all of a sudden.
“Please hold still, human.” This time, ‘human’ came out sounding almost like an endearment. Tears burned in her eyes and she blinked rapidly, not wishing to break down into sobs while he was healing her. The last thing she wanted was for him to ask why she was crying—and the truth was that she wasn’t entirely certain. Only that his sudden kindness made her feel like weeping for a year.
Her emotions were all jumbled up and confused.
The next words he spoke stunned her further.
“I thought your pain would please me. I