Free Hostage To The Stars: A Sectors SF Romance by Veronica Scott

“Get over yourself, Bridges. It’s none of your business— his personal life is none of your business— as long as he gets you safely off this rock of a planet.”
    She bathed his arms and torso, then his rock hard abs, trying not to think of anything except cleansing the venom from his skin. The old scars and a tattoo she found as she washed him were distracting but she made herself keep a clinical mind frame. She played nurse today and he was her patient, nothing more. Humming a tune over and over to distract herself from the awkwardness, she made him roll onto his side so she could clean his back.  
    Another trip to the stream to rinse and refresh the wash cloths.
    She got a clean T shirt over his head and tugged it down to keep him somewhat warm and covered. Then she paused. But she couldn’t leave half his body coated in drying venom. “I’ve gone this far, I need to see it through.”
      Swallowing hard she unfastened his pants and dragged them off his body, being careful not to aggravate the bandaged bite wounds. Discovering Johnny preferred going commando and was impressively built in proportion everywhere made her even more embarrassed as she proceeded with the bath, but she could see when she rinsed the rags how much venom was leaving his system. She told herself she had to do this for him and there was nothing lascivious about her touching the intimate parts of his body for this lifesaving reason. Despite the positive self-talk, she was worn out and stressed by the time she finished the chore and could fight to pull a fresh pair of pants over his frame, closing the fastenings with trembling fingers. “I hope he has no memory of this at all,” she said as she took his venom-soaked clothes to the stream to wash them out as best she could. Closing her eyes for a moment, she tried to imagine facing him after this. “It had to be done.” Matter of fact, cool and collected was the tone to take when he eventually reawakened.
    When she returned to the cave and spread the wet garments out on rocks to dry, he gave the appearance of sleeping more naturally and the sweating had subsided. No need for another bath, she thought with relief. After resting a bit and eating half an energy bar, Sara searched the medkit for the antivenom shot. She sat with the inject in her hand, debating whether to give it to him or not. He’d said he didn’t need it. She wanted to be sure he survived, not only because his survival was essential to her escaping this nightmare planet, but also because he was a decent person who’d put himself at risk for her and she didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.
    Deciding to wait and see how he progressed as the night wore on, she slid the inject into its slot, closed the case and fetched more water. A sip at a time, she managed to coax him into drinking much needed fluid.
    Eventually she stopped fighting her exhaustion and dozed off, worn out by marching all day and the events of the early evening.  

CHAPTER FIVE

    She was chained in a filthy cell, lying on her back on a hard surface, with only a thin blanket for covering. Her clothes were torn, disheveled. The door creaked open and the two men she feared most from Umarri’s crew sauntered in. One Eye and Scarface, as she thought of them, came to stand beside the ledge. She scooted into the corner, crossing her arms over her chest protectively. “Leave me alone,” she screamed, the memories of their last visit to her cell still fresh in her mind, along with the bruises.  
    “The Warlord said you are to be a plaything,” One Eye reminded her. “Ours to amuse ourselves with while you wait to be sold to the Shemdylann.” Licking his lips, he ogled her.  
    “Up to a point,” Scarface said, placing his hand on his fellow warrior’s arm. “She’s not worth risking Umarri’s wrath.”
    One Eye shook off the restraint. “I know the limits as well as you. But there’s much pleasure to be had, even without crossing the line the