Chapter 10

Lauren took a firmer grip on Krestar's tail as they descended the ramp into the vast shadowy dimness of the hangar. He made an odd muffled sound and she gave him a nervous look.

"Is something wrong?"

His eyes closed briefly, then he shook his head.

"No, it is fine. You do not need to be frightened."

Easy for him to say. The huge dark space intimidated her, shadows dancing in and out of her vision in the uncertain light. It didn't help that one of the abandoned ships was perched crookedly on long spindly legs. Combined with what looked like eyes painted on the hull, it resembled a giant spider and she shuddered.

It's just a machine, she told herself, but she edged closer to him anyway.

"Where are we going?"

She kept her voice low but it still echoed slightly, an eerie sound that made her shiver.

"Let us see what resources are still available. There should be a mechanic station close by. We will start there."

He headed across the hangar towards an entrance on the rear wall, his eyes alert. She kept her gaze moving as well, afraid that someone would jump out at them, even though he'd assured her the station was deserted.

The rear door opened into a long passageway that curved out of sight in both directions. The fact that she couldn't see around the bed, combined with the fact that the few working lights were even dimmer here, the bulbs a sickly shade of yellow that flickered on and off, made it even worse. What if they all failed and something came at them out of the darkness?

Krestar didn't seem bothered. He remained watchful but his posture was relaxed rather than tense and she tried to take comfort from that. He hesitated briefly, then guided her to the left. Several unlit hallways led deeper into the station but to her relief he ignored them. The quiet pressed in on her ominously, but the station wasn't completely silent - there was a faint underlying hum of machinery and odd little creaks and groans. In some ways that was even worse, each noise making her jump.

He paused momentarily, his nostrils flaring. She took a deep breath, trying to figure out what had attracted his attention. Beneath the musty smell of smoke and dust there was something else. Something harsh and metallic.

As the odor filled her lungs she coughed, the sound echoing along the passageway.

"What's that smell?"

"I am not sure. We should be close to our destination, but if it gets any stronger, we can look elsewhere."

"All right."

His tail tightened in a brief hug.

"My brave d'jeri."

His praise warmed her, even though she didn't feel especially brave, and she clung to that warmth as they continued. To her relief he stopped a short distance later in front of a set of double doors in the outer wall. The sign next to the doors had what looked like a hammer crossed with what might have been a wrench. Maybe some things were universal after all.

The doors creaked as they slid aside but they moved easily enough. The room beyond lay in darkness but rows of overhead lights came on as soon as they crossed the threshold. Not all of them were working but the ones that were cast a clear white light over the huge room. Despite the size, the jumble of supplies, the workbenches covered with half-finished projects, and the equipment hanging from the walls gave her a sense of familiarity.

"This reminds me of my lab," she said, smiling. "Although I usually manage to keep it a little neater."

"I suspect all workplaces are the same."

He located a rickety looking trolley but it rose a few inches off the ground when he activated the controls, and he began loading it with items from a nearby workbench, moving quickly and efficiently. She did her best to assist although he growled unhappily if she retouched anything even remotely heavy, and she found herself growing more and more cheerful as the cart filled. The space station might not have the exact equipment he needed, but it had plenty of materials. And this was only one room. What other treasures lay hidden in the enormous station?

Any thought of exploration died as they left the cozy familiarity of the workshop and reentered the corridor, unease immediately creeping down her spine. Krestar was using both hands to guide the trolley but she still stayed as close to him as she could. The air became thicker, that strange metallic scent increasing again.

"It wasn't this strong before, was it?" she whispered, trying not to cough.

"No, but we have no choice but to continue in order to return to the ship."

He brought the trolley to stop, then stripped off his shirt. Damn. Even though his tight uniform and even tighter training shirt left little to the imagination, it wasn't the same as being confronted with a completely naked and heavily muscled chest.

"Here," he said, offering her his shirt.

She blinked at him, still distracted by the subtle texture that covered the heavy pectoral and the laddered ridges of his abdomen. Was it everywhere, she wondered suddenly, even on his cock? Her gaze dropped automatically and she saw his shaft flex beneath the tight-fitting pants.

"D'jeri, please," he groaned. "I need to focus on returning you safely to the ship."

He offered her the shirt again and when she gave him a confused look, he wrapped it around the lower part of her face to form a mask. The harsh metallic odor was immediately replaced by his soothing scent.

"Oh, that's much better. Thank you. But what about you?"

"I am fine," he assured her, but despite his assurance he looked paler to her. "But we should not linger."

Embarrassed that she'd delayed their return by ogling his body, she nodded quickly.

"Of course. I'm ready."

He gave her a quick smile and they set off again. He guided the trolley as competently as he had before but she was increasingly sure that he was growing steadily paler. She was just about to insist that he take a turn using the shirt when they reached the entrance to the hangar.

As soon as they entered, he took a deep breath, some of his color returning. She pushed the shirt down and followed suit. There was still a slight hint of the odor but either it wasn't as strong here or it had been dissipated by the size of the space.

"That's better," she sighed. "What do you think that was?"

"It is difficult to know. Some kind of vegetation that has grown unchecked since the station was abandoned, perhaps."

He started towards the ship and she followed him.

"But we didn't see any kind of plant life."

"We did not go very far. But I was thinking of something smaller, a type of spore perhaps. Fortunately it doesn't seem to have any lasting effect."

The rich green pattern had returned to his skin, and she couldn't resist another quick look at his bare upper body, watching appreciatively as his muscles rippled with each movement. I really need to stop staring, she thought, but it was difficult to resist when she'd never been so close to such a perfect, powerful physique.

The rattle of the trolley brought her attention back to her surroundings and she realized they were standing in front of the ship, Krestar frowning thoughtfully at the massive engines on either side.

"I am going to start by removing the exterior casings on the engines. You should rest."

"I'm not as fragile as you seem to think." she muttered.

"I think you are a very strong female, but your body is working hard to support your child. Are you not tired?"

She wanted to deny it but both her back and her feet ached.

"Maybe a little. But I wanted to help."

"I assure you there is plenty to do," he said dryly, and she gave a reluctant nod.

"All right. I'll lie down - just for a little while."

"Thank you, d'jeri."

His tail took her hand and raised it to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss against her palm. Just the feel of his warm mouth against her skin sent a rush of desire through her veins. Of course he noticed, still holding her hand to his mouth as he studied her with black, glittering eyes. Time seemed to stand still, but then he stiffened and released her hand.

"You should go and rest."

"Yes." Her voice came out in a raspy whisper, and she cleared her throat. "I'll see you later."

She hurried away to his cabin, but sleep did not come easily despite the softness cradling her body, her thoughts consumed by Krestar. There was no possibility of a future with him, but that knowledge did nothing to dampen her desire.

Eventually, she did drift off to sleep, but the dreams that came were full of heat and a driving need that refused to fade even after she woke. She felt hot and sticky and achy and decided a quick shower might help, but the hot water did little to quench her arousal. Her breasts throbbed and she pressed her hands to the aching peaks, startled by the resulting jolt of pleasure. Awareness suddenly shivered down her spine and her eyes flew open to see Krestar standing in the outer doorway.