They were two dark, flat disks.
“You’re a man, right?”
Roth’s hold on her tightened, and she lifted her chin, staring into his eyes. He looked worried.
“Yes. I am a male. I will get a medic for you.” He leaned in, putting their faces closer together. “Your eye centers aren’t doing bad things. They appear normal.”
“I can see fine.” She raised her hands and curled her fingers around his lower arms. They were so wide that she couldn’t touch her fingers with her thumb. His skin was a little damp but warm. “Sorry. I’m having some random brain glitches.” She rubbed the velvety texture of his skin. “Does this grow longer?”
“I don’t understand your question.”
She released his arms and put her hands on his chest, rubbing the fine fur there. “This. Does it grow longer? Do you have to shave it down?”
His golden eyes narrowed as he watched her. “No. This is my skin. I’ve noticed humans have body hair, too. Males more than females. Some of the members of the tactical team have coarse hair patches on their chests and bellies.”
“I like your peach-fuzz fur. I just needed you to tell me that it doesn’t grow all shaggy.” She stared into his eyes.
“It doesn’t grow longer. Vera, you are not making much sense. I will get a medic.”
She slid her hands up and down his chest lightly. “Please don’t. I’m okay. I promise. I just had a moment since you weren’t here with me. My mind wandered to a weird place. I’m better now.”
He seemed to study her.
“I mean it. I had too much time on my hands while you showered, and I kind of…well, it doesn’t matter. I feel better when you’re with me. You have to be the nicest man ever born to put up with my crazy.”
“You were drugged against your will. None of this is your fault.”
“I know, but you must think I’m the biggest pain in the ass.”
“You are not an annoyance, Vera. I am grateful that you are doing better and that you trust me. Most humans fear Veslors.”
“Most humans aren’t too smart, from my experience.”
He smiled. “There are a lot of good ones.”
“I guess you’re right. I just haven’t known too many. I tend to be a jerk magnet, especially with men.”
He stepped closer. “What does that mean?”
“Which part didn’t you understand? Jerks are people who will treat you badly and try to use you. Magnet? Well…jerks are drawn to me for some reason. It’s why I no longer date and just avoid relationships. For instance, I make great money working for New Worlds, and my last boyfriend figured out a way to steal from me when I let him stay at my place, while I was away on a job. He bought things and charged them to my account. I was gone for five months, so it was a good thing I had a limit cap on my monthly spending, or he’d have sucked my account dry. He also moved another woman in with him. So not only was he a thief, but a cheater.
“The one before that used me for my connections. He kept saying how great it would be if we could work together, rather than being separated when I was on a job. He even asked me to marry him. I got him hired on at New Worlds, then he dumped me as soon as he signed a contract with the company.”
“The male lied about making you his mate to gain a job?” Roth appeared surprised.
“New Worlds pays really well, but it’s tough to get hired by them if you don’t have the specialized skills they need. I’m not only a drone operator, I can also repair and reprogram them for just about any task. That means I can do the jobs of three people, and my skills are in high demand for survey companies. My ex didn’t have that going for him. I begged a few favors from friends at New Worlds and got him into security. Basically, he just had to be physically fit.”
“I am sorry those males were bad to you.”
She shrugged. “I learned my lesson and stopped dating. Like I said…I’m a jerk magnet.”
“Was it one of those males who you were yelling at when you were seeing things? You said something about him not getting money if you died.”
“No. That was my biological father. Unfortunately, I was seeing and hearing him a lot while drugged. He always finds women to support him because he’s too