Page 129 of Homebound
“Go to hell,” she croaked when her throat could work again.
“Sick bitch,” OO said. “What a mess. Guard! Bring cleaning supplies.”
The guard stomped off to do as he was told.
“Prison is such a harsh place, Gemma,” Dr. Delano began, contemplating his soiled loafers.
“I know,” she wheezed. “Believe me.”
“You don’t want to stay here.”
“No, I don’t.”
Even moving her eyes hurt, but she shifted them to look at OO as she spoke. He was openly staring at her, and an evil speculative light shone from behind the lens of his glasses.
“Simon knows what it’s like behind bars,” Dr. Delano continued, “and he would hate to see you here. You’ve been a bad girl, of course, causing a ruckus at the docks, but we both know this petty offense is hardly worth a prison sentence. But here you are.”
He paused, gauging Gemma’s reaction to his words. She had none to offer, too busy fighting another attack of nausea.
“If Simon comes for you, he’ll put himself at risk to be shot and killed. You can spare him a reckless death,” Dr. Delano finished meaningfully.
Still, Gemma said nothing, but a cold feeling enveloped her.
Simon would come for her.
The idea of putting him in danger twisted her stomach into knots. She hated herself for her ineptitude, for botching the liquid nitrogen operation, for allowing them to capture her. Her stupid foot. She was nothing but a useless cripple.
In utter misery, she stretched out on her bed and fixed her eyes on the ceiling.
“Tell me where he is, Gemma, and I will make things happen to let you go free. Simon will be safe at my lab. I promise not to kill him.” Dr. Delano’s tone was beguiling.
“You assume, doctor,” It felt perversely nice to utter the words Simon liked to say, “that I’ve seen Simon since he escaped from the prison. He might be half-way to his native planet by now.”
“Lying is a punishable sin, Gemma. We’ve had a sighting. He and you, together. My informants are very reliable.”
Gemma wanted to go to sleep, and stay asleep for a long time.
“Go to hell.”
“Why do you protect him?” He sounded genuinely puzzled. “He’s an alien, a dangerous, murderous freak. Come on, tell me where to find him and end this nightmare. I’ll even treat your head. Deal?”
“Leave Simon alone and go fuck yourself.”
There was a short but deep silence.
“I see,” Dr. Delano said dryly and turned to OO. “She won’t tell. She has feelings for the Rix.”
“Feelings?” OO sounded puzzled. “For an alien?”
“Yes. Aliens do mate, you know,” Dr. Delano enlightened him.
“Are you saying she’s been sleeping with the alien?” Now OO sounded horrified. Gemma would have laughed if her head weren’t hurting so bad.
Dr. Delano looked down at her and cocked his head to one side.
“An interesting question,” he murmured. “Have you tried, dear? I’m afraid Simon left you disappointed. Rix males aren’t exactly built for pleasure.”
She made the mistake of looking at his smirking face. Their eyes connected. She schooled her expression into a mask of contempt but was powerless to stop the blush from spreading across her cheeks. And he noticed.
