The Bond That Heals Us (5 page)

“I have a fast heart rate.”

His grin widened. “One…little…kiss. Hardly a harsh price to fix your head.”

As he brought his lips on hers, Sara’s eyes slipped closed. He didn’t kiss her hard, or was demanding with his advances. Davin took his time, exploring her, tasting her at an infuriatingly slow pace. His mouth was warm and tasted of exotic spices, so different Sara wanted to eat him whole. She slid her tongue into his mouth to caress his and she felt his body stiffen before he let out a groan.

His hand slid down to cup her breast through her uniform, taking time to tease her already painfully erect nipple. Sara moaned and pushed her breast hard against him.

Her hands began to explore his body as well. She ran her hands up his forearms to his biceps, following the raised marks of his tattoos. Davin groaned again into her mouth, pinching her nipple and deepening their kiss.

Desperate for air, Sara pulled back, tipping her head and exposing her neck to him.

Davin quickly took what she offered and licked up the length of her neck to stop at her earlobe.

“I want nothing more than to fuck you right now.” His words were hot against her ear.

Sara’s breath hitched and she tightened her grip on his arms. “Davin…”

They stayed that way, clutching each other, panting for several minutes. Finally he pulled back and ran his hand through his hair.

“I should go.” He stood quickly and took two steps away before turning back to face her. “I didn’t intend that.”

“It’s okay, I—”

“No, it’s not.”

Davin took another step before turning around and coming back. He grabbed Sara by the head and she forgot to breathe when he ravaged her mouth with another forceful kiss. This time, when he pulled away, he seemed to be searching her eyes. Sara couldn’t help but think he was looking for something, some sign of approval or rejection.

“I’m glad your head is better,” he said, releasing her head.

Without another word, he left her alone.

26

Davin paced the main living quarters of his ship, fighting the urge to hit something.

“Fucking humans,” he muttered. “A bane on the galaxy.”

His body was still humming from the kiss he’d shared with Sara hours earlier. Since leaving her, he’d holed up in his ship and had decided he wasn’t coming out until it was repaired. It would be the only way he’d be able to maintain his sanity. Silas had calmed down enough for Davin to talk some sense into him and get him out of the brig as well. It also helped that Rafe was out of surgery and recovering nicely. Davin had been friends with Rafe a long time and had never wanted him to get hurt. Especially since the whole fucking mess was Davin’s fault.

You’d think I’d learn to stop helping people.

When he turned around, he slammed his fist into the center console, his knuckle landing squarely on a rivet. Blood began to trickle down his hand to drip several drops onto the floor. He couldn’t help but watch the drops pool on the floor, splattering into patters. His life was complicated—he couldn’t do that to anyone, let alone someone like Sara.

“Warning, approaching intruder,” the metallic voice of the computer screeched at him.

“Identify,” he said and closed his eyes, placing his hand over his injured fist. It took only a second to repair the damage, but he wasn’t pleased about having to use his healing gift for a third time in one day. Hard to stay under anyone’s notice when you’re flaunting your talents.

“Administrator Kamran,” the computer responded.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

The familiar tingle was quickly gone and Davin went in search of his gloves. It wasn’t until he had them safely in place and he’d taken several deep breaths that he opened the shuttle’s main door and let his cocky smirk slide on his face.

“What a surprise to see you here, Administrator. I trust none of my crew is causing you any problems.”

The tall Briel walked up the temporary stairs the Eurus security guards had placed there for easy entry into the ship. Once again, Davin felt the Briel’s piercing gaze assessing him. Measuring him not just as a captain but as a man. He somehow doubted he’d measure up in the eyes of a man like Kamran.

“Not at all. In fact, other than your copilot in med bay, we’ve barely seen any of you.”

27

Davin offered him a seat, taking the one closest to the cockpit. “We’ve been busy trying to get this bucket back together. Don’t want to trespass on your hospitality for too long.”

Kamran stared at him long enough that Davin almost felt the urge to squirm.

Almost. But when Kamran smiled, he started to get nervous.

“You made quite the impression with Sara. She said you fixed her head.”

“She told you that?”

“No, but she told my wife. What she knows, I know.”

He’d forgotten about the Briel bonding and how close their mates were. Davin didn’t think he could ever be like that with any woman. But if any woman were to tempt him, it would be Sara.

“I fixed her head. It was nothing.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve spent any time with a Raqulian. There aren’t as many of you around helping travelers these days.”

Davin didn’t like where this line of conversation was going. “We’re around. Why did you come here, Administrator? I’d like to get back to fixing my ship.”

“Please, call me Kamran. There is no rush for you or your crew to leave. Your ship has taken a lot of damage and your crew looks tired. We are having a celebration, starting tonight. It’s to be an annual event honoring those who died in the attack on the colony last year. You’re more than welcome to attend.”

Davin looked hard at Kamran, wishing he could get inside the other man’s head to discover his intentions. He didn’t trust him—not that Davin trusted many people.

Realistically, he couldn’t say no and his crew needed the rest. They’d been on the run for months and were all near the point of breaking.

“We appreciate the offer. Thank you,” he said and nodded his head.

“I’ll arrange for quarters for you and your crew. No sense in staying in a ship when you have an entire station at your disposal. There will be an engineering team assigned to assist you with your repairs in the morning.”

Kamran stood and offered his hand. This time, Davin took it without hesitation.

“I’ll let them know.”

“Apparently, Sara is working and, as my wife informs me, doesn’t plan on attending the festivities.”

Davin crossed his arms across his chest.
So this is why Kamran came.
“Oh?”

“She’s had a tough time adjusting to things over the past year. She could stand to get out and have some fun.”

“She mentioned she was on the frontlines. It must have been difficult for her.”

Kamran nodded. “She’s very brave. And the last person I’d want to get in the way of when she has an agenda. But that attack shook her hard. She’d been trying to ignore rather than accept what happened back then.”

28

Davin could tell. He had felt the pull of her emotional scars when he’d healed her head, knew how deep her pain ran. For a moment, he’d been tempted to do something about them. But only for a moment. “Well, I will have to make sure she enjoys herself.”

“I’m very pleased to hear that. Have a good time yourself, Captain.” With a half smile of his own, Kamran turned and left the shuttle.

Davin was still standing there dumbfounded when Silas came up from the engine room.

“It’s pretty much fucked back there.” He slapped his sweat- and dust-covered bandana against his thigh. “It’s going to take a week or more to get everything back online. And that would be with an entire team of engineers.”

“Ask and I shall provide.” Davin turned and smiled.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“We will have a full engineering team at our disposal until the ship is fixed. Starting tomorrow.”

Silas’s moth dropped open. “Who did you bribe to get that?”

“Not a soul. The administrator offered.”

“Well, I’ll be. Probably wants us out of his precious colony.”

Davin shrugged. “Not so sure of that. He offered us rooms and use of the station while we’re here. No rush on the leaving part.”

“Holy shit. And what do you have to do in return?”

“Take the lovely doctor on a date.”

Silas laughed. “Make sure to tell her you’re sorry for cracking her skull.”

“I believe it was your body that knocked her into the wall. Besides, she knows already. I said my apologies this afternoon.” He winked at Silas.

“And she still wants you? Ha!”

“Just remember the things I do—it’s all for you and the crew. Every hardship,”

Davin said, pressing his hand to his chest and batting his eyes.

“The only hard thing on you will be your cock!”

“Make sure everyone enjoys the festivities tonight. I don’t want to see even one of your sorry asses here. You all deserve it after the month we’ve had.”

“Aye, sir.”

On his walk back to his quarters, Davin’s mind drifted back to Sara. The feel of her soft lips, the sound of her moans in his ear made his body buzz, sent his blood rushing through his ears. His cock grew stiff and hard and he knew there was only one way to ease his pain.

No, showing the doctor a good time wouldn’t be a hardship at all.

* * * * *

29

Davin nodded to the group of people he passed in the hall on his way to the med bay. He’d spent the last few hours working with Silas getting the shuttle cleaned up.

There was more damage than either of them had realized at first, including most of the stardrive. It would take them longer than Silas had estimated, even with the help of Kamran’s engineers working around the clock. He’d dismissed his crew with strict orders to get drunk at the festivities tonight. If they were going to be stuck here, they might as well enjoy it.

Now all he was interested in was finding a certain doctor and enjoying the night himself.

When he walked into med bay, he quickly located Sara. She was talking to a man, a miner from the look of his filthy clothing, who was looking more than a little angry. Not willing to risk Sara getting attacked, Davin sauntered close and was about to interrupt when she heard her speak.

“You’re killing yourself, Sean. If you don’t stop taking unnecessary risks like this, you’ll be dead in a year.”

The concern Davin heard in her voice told him this was more than a doctor talking to a casual patient.

Sean stood tall, about Davin’s height. He couldn’t see the other man’s face but could tell by the lean cut of his build he’d spent a while working in the mines.

“Am I cleared to return to work?” Sean’s voice was hard, jaded.

“No!” She threw her hands in the air. “And I’m not approving your return until you have at least forty-eight hours’ rest. You were sucking in dust from the surface for at least five minutes. That’s enough to kill a person.”

“I’m still here, aren’t I?”

“Forty-eight hours. And I want to see you back in here for another physical.”

Sean didn’t respond, turning instead so Davin could see his face. His blond hair was cut short and his blue eyes seemed to pierce through to the back of Davin’s head.

He could feel the pull of emotions, a wounded soul coming from the other man. The feelings beat against Davin’s inner barrier, demanding that he let his gift come out, begging it to help him. Sean took a step forward and put his body in such a position he could easily defend Sara if the need arose.

And despite the fact he was here to show Sara a good time, Davin would have been more than happy to fight this man if he got in his way. Not that he’d be winning any favor with Sara if he punched a friend.

At least he hoped Sean was
only
a friend.

“Hello, Davin.” Sara pushed past Sean and smiled at him, though lacking some enthusiasm. “What brings you here?”

“I wanted to check up on you. Make sure you were feeling better,” he said and looked directly at Sean. “I didn’t realize you were with a patient.”

30

“Oh, Davin, this is Sean Donaldson. Sean, Davin’s ship is the one that crashed landed in the east bay this morning.”

Despite Davin being in the best shape of his life, one look at Sean and he realized he’d put up one hell of a fight if it ever came to that. For whatever reason, the fire that flashed in Sean’s eyes died to be replaced with a dead cold.

“Learn to fly,” he muttered and pushed past Sara and Davin.

Sara sighed and squeezed Davin’s hand. “Sorry. He’s had a death wish ever since the Ecada left. It’s been all I can do to keep him going. Psychologist I’m not.”

“I’ve seen men like him before. It’s hard to bring them back from whatever demon is eating at them.”

He pushed back the memories of his father’s work with the refugees on Cryus Planes. The haunted look in the soldiers’ eyes when they returned from the battlefield had given him nightmares as a child. Worse was being forced to climb inside their heads, trying to heal their pain. Davin gave his head a shake. No, he’d never do that again.

“You okay?” Sara asked, sliding her hand up along the bare skin of his arm.

The snake of desire began to uncoil inside him at her touch. He tried to push back the overwhelming need to strip her bare and slam his cock inside her over and over.

That was the warrior in him wanting to come out and play. His chosen profession after he’d abandoned the calling of his cast.

Davin smiled at her and watched as she bit down on her bottom lip, making it red from the impact.

“I am in need of a party. And I’ve been told there is one
javen
of one going on tonight.”

Sara frowned. “So why are you here? I’m working.”

“To be honest, if I want my ship fixed, I must take you out and show you a good time.”

“What?”

“By orders of the administrator of this Eurus colony.”

Sara’s face grew red and she began to sputter.

“I’m going to kill Kamran. No! Haylie. He wouldn’t even think of it if she hadn’t been nattering in his ear. I’m going to—put me down!”

Davin threw Sara over his shoulder and carried her out of the med bay. She slammed her fists into his back and kicked at his chest. He only laughed and spanked her ass. Instead of the shocked cry of outrage he’d expected, Sara gasped and squirmed against him.

“You like that, do you? I’ll have to keep that in mind.” And he gave her another slap.

“Where the hell are you taking me?”

31

“To my quarters. You can’t expect me to take you out dressed like that?”

“I’m not
going
anywhere. Get it through your thick alien skull! Take me back.”

“You’re lucky the administrator found me a room near med bay. I don’t think you’d want too many people seeing you like this.”

“Bastard.”

He laughed. “This is becoming a habit, me carrying you to a bedroom. It’s only going to end badly for you sooner or later.”

Sara muttered, “I’ll kick your ass, buddy.”

Not wishing to tempt fate or test his restraint, he set Sara down and pushed her inside when he opened the door to his quarters. Davin crossed his arms and grinned.

“Inside on the bed is an outfit for you. I won’t let you out until you put it on.”