erratic, I won’t hesitate,” he warned her. “I intend to get all six of us out of here with or without your cooperation. Once we are safely home, everyone will receive the treatment they need to live long and healthy lives. Understood?”
“Understood,” she grumbled. Knowing he was right didn’t make the situation any easier. She felt responsible for Haley and Selina, while his first concern was restoring Velmar to health. That was going to be challenging enough without the irrational behavior of her friends. She helped Jaron arrange Haley on the bed beside Selina then covered them both with a blanket. “Don’t you need to load them into pods or something?” she asked as she followed him from the cabin.
He smiled then activated a control panel beside the door and entered several quick commands. “You’ve seen too many science fiction files. Every cabin on Sarronti ships is equipped with a stasis cycle. It’s sometimes necessary for long-range travel. There are only so many sentinels to go around.”
“How long would it take to get to Earth without your cousin?”
“You can’t get to Earth without a sentinel or a ship that can manipulate subspace and those aren’t easy to come by. It’s not a matter of distance. Earth is in a different dimension from Sarronti Prime.”
“All these concepts are new to me.” She sighed. “I hope you and your cousin are on good terms.”
“So do I.” He motioned her toward the front of the ship.
She paused, unsure if this was the appropriate time to bring this up. “I’d like you to scan me. If what is happening to my friends is going to happen to me, we both need to know about it.”
“I agree.”
With one last glance at the cabin where her friends lay, Nikki headed for the cockpit. Jaron stopped by the crew cabin before joining her in the front of the ship.
“How are Velmar and Ayran?” Not sure she could deal with any more bad news, she was almost afraid to ask.
“They’re sleeping. Knowing Ayran, he transferred more energy than he could spare.”
“And knowing Velmar he greedily took it?” She softened the criticism with a smile, but her dislike bled through.
“I’m not sure why he has been so hostile toward you. Cretzian captivity seems to bring out the worst in our friends.”
“Point taken.” Haley and Selina were nothing like their behavior since the escape. It wasn’t fair to hold Velmar to that standard. She didn’t know the details, but she had the impression that he was at the Cretzians’ mercy even longer than she had been.
Jaron moved closer, his expression intense. “Ready?”
Was anyone ever ready to find out the horrors they had suffered while unconscious? “Should I sit down?”
He shook his head. “It’s easier if you’re standing.”
She acknowledged the directive with a nod and reminded herself to breathe.
“Relax. I’m not going to hurt you.”
No, the harm had already been done. He was just going to discover the extent of the damage.
Holding his hands a few inches from her body, Jaron circled her while sweeping from her shoulders to her knees over and over. He never touched her, but a subtle tingling erupted wherever his hands were positioned. She tried to remain still, to ignore the restlessness his almost-touch was creating.
He paused facing her, his gaze locked with hers. “Is it all right if I touch you?”
She nodded, but her body’s response was completely inappropriate. Her nipples peaked and her face flushed. Her core ached so badly she fought back a groan. She wanted him to touch her, to kiss her and fill her. She wanted him more in that moment than she’d ever wanted anyone before. Afraid he’d read the desire in her expression, she quickly closed her eyes.
He brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “You look like you’re bracing for an assault.”
“It’s not you,” she assured him without opening her eyes. “I’m just not sure I want to know what you’re about to see.”
Pushing his fingers into her hair, he stroked her jaw with his thumb. “I haven’t found anything significant yet. I don’t have to do this.”
“Ignoring what they did doesn’t change anything. I’d rather know for sure.”
“My abilities are rudimentary,” he reminded, “but I’ll tell you as much as I can.”
The tingling arced across her skull then sank into her brain. She moaned, head dropping back as the sensation pulsed deeper and deeper. She clutched his upper arms, legs wobbling beneath her. It wasn’t actually painful, just overwhelming.