Page 29 of Baited

When I was near, he stilled. He clung to me like he never wanted to let go.

How real was any of it? What does my desire for him now mean?

I swiftly pull a clean, dry blanket over my slumbering gladiator and toss the other one down the laundry chute.

The dome medic bustles in without knocking.

“He sleeps?” he asks me. “Has his fever broken yet?”

“Yes.” I’m not going to say what else happened. “He was awake for a little while, talking and coherent.”

“Somewhat unlike Blayn.” The medic chuckles to himself. “Maybe he isn’t well yet.”

He slithers around the unconscious male, plugging the tube back in, lifting eyelids and wings, at least until Blayn moans and shifts, then he puts some distance between himself and the prone gladiator.

“Will he need to stay here much longer?” I ask.

“The dome is paying the madame well, so I presume it will not be an issue if he remains for a few more nova-days,” the medic says. “I’d prefer he was at full strength before taking him back. Rest and good food…” He moves his gaze from Blayn to me, looking me up and down. “And good…care should help the healing process. Gryn are usually fast healers.”

“I’ll speak to Madame, but I don’t expect it’ll be a problem,” I reply.

“I’m sure it won’t.” He fixes me with a sharp gaze before turning back to Blayn. “You can remove the medi-tube when he wakes up again. I’m sure he’ll let you do that for him. I’ll inform the procurator of the current situation and he’ll be collected in due course.”

With a sly smile, he slides out of the cubicle and closes the door.

It’s only when I look down at myself I realize I have a great smear of Blayn’s cum all down the front of my top and pants.

BLAYN

The scent of Izzy mingles with smells of food and my stomach makes a deep growling noise.

I growl back.

“Hello again,” she says.

I’m in a weird position on the bed, and she’s sat next to me. One of my wings is twisted and I feel like I’ve been drooling. I lift my arm to wipe my mouth and something drags on it.

“Let me,” Izzy says, leaning over. “If you don’t mind me touching you.”

Do I mind?

She plucks a tube from my arm and my head begins to clear. The wound in my side aches and itches. I scratch at it.

“Blayn.” There’s a warning tone in her voice which makes me look at her. “Don’t touch,” she says.

My lips twitch into something my face isn’t used to.

“Don’t touch?” I query, the smile spreading as I give the bandage another experimental scratch.

“I’m warning you, don’t touch it.” She puts her hands on her hips and my cocks jerk to life.

“It’s itchy.” I squirm on the bed, attempting to get my wing out from under me, but my limbs and most of my body don’t want to comply.

“That means it’s getting better. Leave it alone,” Izzy says. “How about something to eat?”

I roll over twice and free myself from the tangle of feathers finally, my stomach rasping up a storm. I don’t know when I last ate.

“Stay there,” Izzy tells me. “The medic said you had to rest.” She turns away as she walks over to the seating area where there is food laid out.

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