“Oh, well…I mean, with your phobia about touching—”
“It’s not a phobia. It’s a fact of life—at least for me.” His silver eyes flashed. “Do you think I like not being able to touch anyone? Do you think I enjoy never being touched? Seeing a beautiful female in front of me and knowing I can never lay a hand on her, much less do anything else?”
“I…don’t know,” Nina said. “I just met you. Well…except for the dreams.”
“Yes. The dreams.” He laughed harshly. “The nightmares, I believe you called them.”
“Well, what else could I call them?” Nina demanded, getting upset. “All I could see was this big, scary man without a face. And I could feel pain…so much pain and need and suffering. But I could never tell what was hurting you.”
“Yeah, well…” He looked away.
She put down the bottle and placed her hand tentatively on his knee. “What’s hurting you, Reddix? What is it that you need from me?”
“I can’t tell you that.” He moved his leg away from her hand even though his black flight trousers kept her from touching his skin.
“Can’t or won’t?” Nina asked softly.
“Pick one.” His voice was a deep, menacing growl.
“Why won’t you just tell me?” Nina stared at him in frustration. She knew she hadn’t known him long—hell, she didn’t really know him now. Except…she felt like she did. Because of the dreams. It was as though they were continuing a conversation that had started weeks ago—months ago. She felt she had a right to know what she was asking, a right to have some answers.
But Reddix clearly wasn’t willing to give her anything.
“Forget it.” He jerked his chin at the bottle. “Just give me a drink. Please.”
“Sure.” She tilted the bottle for him, and he took several long swallows.
“Thank you,” he said shortly when he was finished.
“You’re welcome.” Nina felt miserable—more upset with herself than she was with Reddix. He’s your kidnapper, damn it! You shouldn’t give a rat’s ass what he thinks. You shouldn’t care if he’s angry. But the healer in her couldn’t help sensing the pain under his anger. And despite herself, she wanted to help him…wanted to heal him.
If only he would let her.
They finished the rest of the meal in silence, both eating just their own food, and Nina was careful not to drink too much more of the alcoholic fruit juice. Still, she felt mildly buzzed as they finished the bottle, though Reddix drank more than her and didn’t seem to show any effects of the alcohol at all.
Or not the effects she would have been expecting, anyway. Shortly after they finished and she was cleaning up—a very easy matter of putting all the paper dishes and utensils into the recycling chute—she noticed him starting to squirm.
First, he crossed his legs one way, then another. Then he shifted and rattled his cuffs and made an uncomfortable sound in the back of his throat. Nina had promised herself she would leave him alone and not let herself be affected by him anymore, but still, she couldn’t help noticing. Finally, the third or fourth time he shifted positions, she knelt in front of him.
“What is it?” she asked. “Are your shoulders aching again? You need another massage?”
“No. Nothing like that.” He looked both angry and uncomfortable.
“Well then…” She shook her head. “I can’t help you if you won’t tell me.”
“I need to use the fresher, damn it,” he finally blurted.
“The fresher?” Realizations suddenly hit. “Oh, you mean the bathroom.” It must have been all the juice he’d had. Actually, she was beginning to feel the effects herself.
“Whatever you call it,” he growled. “You’re going to have to uncuff me—now.”
“I’m sorry.” Nina took a step back from him, her hand going reflexively to the locking mechanism still hidden in her front scrub pocket. “But I don’t trust you—not enough to let you go.”
“I swear I won’t hurt you,” he said through gritted teeth.
Nina put a hand on her hip. “And will you promise to fix the ship and take me straight back to Earth if I let you go?”
Reluctantly, he shook his head. “I can’t promise that, no.”
“Will you at least trigger the emergency beacon if I let you up?”
Reddix frowned. “I don’t want interference. If I can fix the ship myself, things will be much…easier.”
Nina felt cold all over. “Easier for you to take me off to wherever it is you were taking me before we landed,” she snapped. “Easier for you to do…whatever it is you want to do to me.” God, she’d been such a complete idiot, letting herself care about him.