Page 21 of Prospecting

“Stay in me,” she said. He gave her time to settle, let her heartrate slow. He pulled out despite her complaining and carried her to the bathroom. Stripping his shirt off her, he stepped into the shower with her.

He washed her body, washed his body, making a point to be gentle with her. In the previous week, he kept her busy and hadn’t let her sleep. When he had duties, he always realized how unfair it was to her. He wanted her to rest. “Will you sleep,” he asked.

“Hmmm,” she said leaning on him. “Sleep?”

“I’ll tuck you in so you stay nice and warm,” he said.

“You’re flying,” she murmured.

“Yeah,” he said. Carrying her, he lay her on the bed, pulled the blankets up around her. He kissed her forehead, looked at the time. He had a few minutes, so he rubbed her back, held her hand knowing it would help her fall asleep. “Rest, my lovely,” he murmured.

***

“Cade,” Sheridan said. She sat up in bed but he didn’t answer. “Cade.”

“I’ll be right there,” he called from below.

She went to the bathroom and returned. He still hadn’t returned to their bed. They were stopped. She assumed, they docked. Why hadn’t he woken her? Grumpy, she pulled clothes from her cupboard. She dressed and still he didn’t return. With a huff, she went to the kitchen and found the cooker already cooking food.

“Hi,” Cade said with a smile. “That isn’t as good as the stuff you cook but I figured I’d make lunch for us.”

“What is it,” she asked.

“Vegetarian lasagna,” he said. “It will be done shortly. Let’s switch the bed around.”

“Why didn’t you wake me,” she asked. “I want to go …”

“Not here,” Cade said firmly.

“We need supplies,” she said. “I can get them while you wait on your shipments.”

“No,” Cade said. “This is a rough place. You’ll be staying onboard.”

“You can’t boss me around,” Sheridan said.

“No, but I’m telling you it’s dangerous,” Cade said. He leaned in to kiss her. She was grumpy. He knew this mood and knew the best way around it was to be soothing.

“I want to see what’s here,” she said.

He pressed the mechanism to switch from bed to table. “Once my shipments are here,” he said. “I’ll take you out.”

“Cade, I can look out for myself,” she said.

“I know you can,” Cade said. “There are warnings from the company on this station.”

“But you can go out alone,” Sheridan said.

“I wasn’t planning to,” he said. He had been but she didn’t need to know that.

She took a breath to argue but the timer went off. “Let’s have some lunch,” Cade said. “Then we’ll see.”

Sheridan hated his placating tone. She let him serve. He brought her food. She ate the lasagna and bread. Cade took deliveries twice while they ate.

“I’m sorry,” he said after the second delivery.

“It’s your job,” Sheridan said. “What can I do to help?”

“I’m good,” Cade said. “You hang out here. Use the comp or whatever you feel like doing.”

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