“It’s not up for discussion.”
She arched an eyebrow at that. She enjoyed the way he took command when they were doing things that were intimate, but she wasn’t so sure about him being so dominant in all areas of their life. He must have seen the unease on her face because he hastily apologized and explained, “There’s a threat to the ship, Brook. I need to be close to you.”
"I want you to be close to me, but I don’t want to be told things aren’t up for discussion. I’m not a child, and you’re not my father.”
Duly chastised, Cipher nodded. “You’re right. You’re not a child, and I’m not your father.”
She grasped his wrist and drew his gaze. “I know you’re under a lot of stress. I can tell you’re worried about keeping me safe.”
“I am,” he admitted, his shoulders relaxing. “That’s not an excuse, though.”
“No, but it’s an explanation.”
Hesitantly, he asked, “Can I stay?”
“Yes.” She wanted him with her, especially now that she knew there was a possibility something terrible might happen. She would need Cipher’s help to navigate the massive ship if they had to evacuate. More than that, she wanted him next to her in bed. She wanted to feel safe and secure. She wanted to get used to sharing a bed with this man who was now, for all intents and purposes, her husband.
“I’m going to shower.” He got off the bed and walked to the counter to pick up his duffel bag. “I won’t be long.”
“Take as much time as you need.”
While he was in the bathroom taking care of his nightly routine, she decided to make the bed as comfortable as possible for him. She adjusted the bed using the buttons Chance had demonstrated during his second visit to her room. She carried the bag of gifts to the counter and placed it next to his gear. She thumbed through the guidebook for new mates and opened the pamphlets explaining all the services and resources available to brides and families. Interested in trying out some of the educational options, she tucked the pamphlets into the book for later.
She was arranging the three remaining oranges on top of the book when Terror’s voice shattered the quiet peace of the infirmary. His angry shouting ricocheted around the hospital unit, escalating as he snarled at the unfortunate person who had dared to bother him. The bathroom door opened suddenly and Cipher emerged, dripping suds and water and hastily securing a towel around his waist. “Get away from the window, Brook.”
She reacted immediately, moving closer to the bed. “It’s just Terror.”
“I know.” Cipher approached the door with a predatory grace that fascinated her. His gaze darted to the counter where his gear was waiting if he needed it. He turned the lock on the door, securing them inside and tapped the window to activate the frosted glass. “He’s the most dangerous man you’ll ever meet, and if he’s not in the right state of mind, he could kill everyone on this floor before SRU could get a team together.”
“I don’t doubt that, but I don’t think he wants to kill anyone.”
“With a man like Terror, it’s not about wanting to kill. It’s instinct. It’s as easy as breathing.”
Cipher remained tense until a door slammed and Terror’s voice faded to nothing. Standing there, naked except for a towel, he held her full attention. His body was incredible. She hadn’t realized there were so many muscles in the human body. She could see every sinew, his body rippling with raw power when he moved. His right shoulder and upper arm were tattooed with lines of numbers and letters and strange symbols.
“It’s the story of my time as a soldier in the alpha-numerical language we use to program our technology.” He had caught her staring. “We mark the right sides of our bodies with our military exploits, our successes and victories. The left side is for you.”
“For me?” she asked, taken aback.
“For us, our family,” he explained. “You’ll go here.” He touched the area above his heart. “Our children will branch out from you. I’ll carry you on my body until I die.”
She swallowed hard at the depth of emotion in his voice. He had wholly committed himself to her the moment he had taken her from the forest. He was ready to permanently fix her name to him and to honor her in the same way he had his victories as a soldier. It was a heady moment, realizing