Page 14 of Errik

How strange that she didn’t want to run away from him.

“Thank you again,” she whispered. She wasn’t just thanking him for the nanobots. She was also thanking him for his understanding. For not disapproving of her reasons for signing up for the VAMOB program.

“You are quite welcome, my darling mate.”

My darling mate.

There it was again.

That sweet endearment.

It made her head and the back of her neck prickle with a delicious, addictive sensation. Endorphins, she realized.

And that pulsing heat between her thighs could only be arousal.

She exhaled a shaky breath and couldn’t help but glance at Errik’s lips. What would it be like to kiss him? Did Vaxxlians kiss one another? She wasn’t sure. But she couldn’t stop thinking about what it would feel like if she pressed her lips to his. She just might swoon. She might even fall in love. She almost snorted at the ridiculous thought. Surely it was too soon to think about that. She’d never been in love before. Would she even recognize it when it happened? Or, because of her inexperience with long-lasting relationships and her tendency to run, would she mistake simple infatuation for something deeper?

Errik glanced at the blanket that was wrapped around her, and his eyes once again flickered with concern. “I will fetch some clothing for you from your silver abode,” he said. “Please stay here and await my return. I won’t be gone long.”

Before she could reply, he released her and quickly departed the room. She stared at the doorway he’d just rushed through, marveling at the feelings he’d invoked within her. Desire. Warmth. Peace.

That last one startled her more than her fierce attraction to him... more than the aching in her core that erupted whenever their eyes met. There was something about him that made her feel calm. Settled. Maybe even as though she belonged somewhere—really belonged somewhere for the first time.

When a boom sounded in the distance, she glanced out the viewport. She gasped at the sight of a burning building on the edge of Meyersdale. It looked like an old, abandoned factory made of brick, not the sort of structure that easily burned, but smoke and flames were pouring out of the windows. Part of the roof was missing, too.

Her heart went out to the people of this small town.

She hoped Dr. Rowan and her staff would be okay.

A siren started blaring, and Holly surmised another order to shelter in place had just taken effect.

The war was closing in. But she would be leaving soon. Probably within a matter of minutes. She only hoped that she would be able to gather her suitcases from her RV before they departed. She chided herself for not asking Errik to get them while he searched for some clothes for her to wear. Then she felt a rush of guilt because more than anything, she wanted him to return in one piece. She hoped he made it back to his ship quickly.

A few seconds later, she heard the whooshing sound of the door opening automatically, and she turned away from the viewport just as her future mate strode into the medical bay.

Relief spread through her when she saw that he was unharmed, and she softened further toward him when she saw what he was carrying. Not only did he have an armful of clothes she’d left behind in her closet, but he also held both of her suitcases. He set the luggage down. Then he approached her with the clothing he’d retrieved from her closet.

“I grabbed as much as I could carry, but if I left anything behind that is important to you, I would be happy to return to your silver abode and get it for you.”

“I only needed those two suitcases, though I appreciate that you also grabbed extra clothes from my closet. Thank you, Errik. But that’s all I need. I don’t want you going back outside,” she said with a gesture at the viewport. “It looks like the fighting has finally reached this town.”

She didn’t want him risking his life just to grab a few more things from her RV, though she was touched by his offer.

He gave a deep nod and placed the clothing at the very end of the padded exam table. Then he took a quick step back and glanced around the room.

Holly blinked.

His cheeks had turned pink.

He was blushing.

She found his reaction rather charming, especially considering that he’d already seen her naked. Yet he now seemed almost shy as he stood before her, as though he couldn’t quite decide whether he should leave or stay.

The sight made her smile, but she quickly pressed her lips together and tried to adopt a blank expression, as she didn’t want him to think she was mocking him for his discomfort.

“Um, I guess I’ll get dressed now,” she said, reaching for a flowing white maxi dress and a cardigan.

He didn’t reply. He didn’t even blink. But the shyness he’d displayed only moments ago started to fade. He stood taller, his nostrils flared, and a decidedly hungry look appeared in his eyes.