Page 36 of Instinct for Disaster

Cassandra sighed and came around to him slowly stroking her sweaty back. Yasku asked, “How do you feel?”

“Tingly and full.”

He nodded. “Good. I could have warned you about the sensitization, but I didn’t.”

Cassandra leaned her forehead against him and breathed them in. “That wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be on my part.”

He laughed and stroked her back softly. “I believe we both did well. The bite is healing. How does your belly feel?”

“No longer full. What’s going on?”

“Are you familiar with nanites?”

“Vaguely. We covered a class on it at the station.”

“Well, my body manufactures them. So, when I spill into you, they enter your system, and the bite inserts the controllers. When they rebuild you to ideal physiology, they will break down and dissipate.”

“Who determines what is ideal physiology?”

“The nanites.”

“Oh. Strange.” She smiled and felt the distinct warmth under his hand.

“Shall we take a bath?”

She paused. “I am a little too tired to move but also sweaty. I am conflicted.”

He held her against him and used his wings to push them to his feet. It was pretty smooth.

He walked to the bathing chamber—because it was way too fancy to be a bathroom—and the water was churning up two-thirds of the sides. It suddenly went quiet as the warm, scented water stilled. Yasku walked down a set of steps, and then, he walked to the deep end and settled in the water.

“How did the tub fill?”

“I set a timer.” He nuzzled her neck.

She sighed and relaxed in his arms. “This is not how I planned to spend my retirement.”

He stroked her back. “I am very glad you were trying to sweat out your khimerion.”

“Yeah, it hasn’t been creeping out much lately.”

“That is good. You are at seventy-five percent saturation of the most volatile and useful mineral in this sector.”

“Yeah, well. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I paid my bond and got enough to get the others clear.”

“Most of them were near the end of their bond anyway.”

She sighed; her voice was a sleepy mumble. “I know. I didn’t realize that I couldn’t communicate or pay them off from the mine. I will get them nice presents when they find partners. Oh, can we go shopping in the city before this evening?”

He stroked her back. “We have signed the contract, so it is imperative that we do some shopping for you.”

She yawned. “This is stupid; I just slept.”

“The nanites put you under to do their work. You will be up again in a few hours.”

“Will you wash my back?”

He chuckled. “Yes, Cassandra, I will.”

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