Page 45 of Cozy Prisons
“Damn, those three are cute,” Nataly said with a little sigh. “I hope Falkilm gives in to Kiran and Kamie soon.”
After experiencing humans’ machinations firsthand, Daxus had no doubt that Kamie and Kiran had already conquered Falkilm. He simply didn’t know it yet.
Chapter 15
Nataly
After everyone left and it was only the two of them in her domicile, Nataly gave in to the urge plaguing her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tight.
“I missed you so much,” she whispered. “I know it’s only been a couple of days, but it felt like months. I don’t think I’ve slept.”
He purred loudly. “I feel the same. It was as if something vital was missing.”
They stood like that, holding each other tightly. The silence around them feeling comfortable instead of loud.
After having too much time with only herself for company, Nataly thought she might be ready to be honest with Daxus. Especially after he’d been so honest in front of not only her, but an entire audience.
“I, um, I might have a small problem,” she said.
She tensed up, half expecting him to fall into his old pattern and immediately insist she go see Falkilm. When he didn’t move, she relaxed a little.
“I’m here to help you in any way I can,” he murmured. “Even if all you request is that I listen.”
Those words were everything she needed to let down the last gate holding her back. “It’s getting worse, and nothing I do is making it better.”
“I’m going to pick you up and move us to the bed,” he said.
She made a mumbled agreement sound and remained snuggled against him. It was awkward, but Daxus managed to carry her to the bed. Soon they were settled with her on his lap. It felt so good to be surrounded by his warmth and scent.
“Talk to me, Nataly,” he urged. “I want to know everything you’re willing to tell me.”
“What if I can’t find the words?" she whispered, her face still pressed firmly against him. His lemon scent was strong. She wished she could roll herself in that smell.
“Then I’ll wait until you can. You are the only place I want to be.”
Nataly pulled a shaky breath. “I think it started after we were evacuated from Tanash Station and then dumped on Dandilow II.”
Thinking about that time made her throat feel tight, but not talking about it wasn’t making anything better. Maybe if she got it all out there, she’d see how to fix herself.
Or it could all stay the same. Either way, Daxus would understand.
“To put it mildly, we were trapped on a hell-pit of a planet. We couldn’t escape on our own, and outside help was unlikely. It was the kind of situation you hear about but never expect to experience. Then it happens to you, and part of you is waiting to wake up to a normal life.”
“Part of you?” Daxus asked. “What about the other part?”
“The other part is waiting to die.”
Daxus
During one of the breaks from practicing the performance to win Nataly's forgiveness, Sima gave Daxus a few suggestions. One was that if Nataly decided to share anything with him, he needed to be encouraging but not judgmental. No insulting comments, and he wasn’t to suggest any solutions until she asked.
The other thing she’d suggested was to try to stay calm as Nataly spoke. Getting upset on her behalf wouldn’t help her process and share.
It was good advice because Nataly’s words made him want to rattle in anger.
“I’d heard stories,” he said, working hard to keep his voice calm and even. “But I never knew the reality.”
“The best way to describe it is a place where there’s danger everywhere,” she said, shifting her face a little so her words were clearer. Her warm breath wafted across the strip of exposed skin where his neck met his shoulders. He didn’t know that it could feel good, but it sent a shiver of awareness down his spine.
