Page 12 of Golden Darkness
She looked at him, and he smiled as he carried her through the ship. They settled on the bridge, and a weird throne emerged from the floor as he asked for department statuses and crew counts.
She dozed in and out of consciousness, and to her mortification, she felt his thumb caress her cheek, and she realized she was drooling. Well, at least her body had fluid to spare now. Progress was progress.
Chapter Three
She woke up in warm darkness and looked around.
“Are you up, Yahn-eth-etha?”
Janessa chuckled. “Just call me pet. It sounds like my name hurts you to say.”
He grumbled. “I don’t have the exact sounds in languages I have. It is a strange combination.”
She patted the arm around her midriff. “I have noticed. Uh, I need to use the necessary.”
He shifted.
“I can go by myself, Kethen.”
“Not quite yet, pet.” He pushed up with his wings and carried her to the restroom.
“When did my dress disappear?”
“It is in the cleaning cabinet.” He smiled. “No clothing between us while you are resting. You curl toward me while you sleep now.”
Janessa was used to his assistance now, but he only supervised while she took care of things. When she was finished and everything was cleaned up, she washed her hands and tried to get past the bulk of him in the doorway.
He lazily put a hand out and lifted her up against him. “How are you feeling, pet?”
She looked at him. “Fine. A bit stronger. Why?”
He met her gaze and smiled. “I’m hungry.”
“Oh.” She blinked. “Oooh. You need to... from me...”
“Correct. Now. Would you like me over you or under you?”
“Uh, up to you, but I am guessing that under would be easier for me.”
He chuckled. “I will not make demands on you until you are well, but you can demand satisfaction from me at any time.”
He walked back to the bedroom and the huge expanse of his bed with her.
“Are there lights on in here?”
“No. Soft tissue, like your eyes, is the first thing to adapt. My kind was designed with all environmental characteristics. We pass that along to our mates when the nanites activate.”
“Will I grow wings?”
“No, precious.” He chuckled as he settled her on the bed. “They require a secondary brain that you are not equipped with.”
“Oh, so that is how you could hold me with them.”
He settled on top of her, his fierce expression amused. “Oh, yes. That was a lot of fun. My hunger was blinding, but I hope I did not hurt you.”
“Uh, no. There was a bit of a sting from the bite, but it wasn’t bad, considering.” She reached up and tapped his fang with her fingertip.
He grinned and licked her finger with a long swipe of his tongue. She shivered, and he held her hand, licking her fingers and then down her arm. She inhaled and understood that his feeding was starting now.