Page 48 of Tech Prince Troubles
Most of it went over my head, even after Adri’s detailed explanation, as long as it meant we could open the café again tomorrow.
“Disconnecting the bypass from the ballroom outlet is themost important step right now. That should stop the energy buildup in the wall.”
“Sounds simple enough.”
He didn’t sound as though he believed what he’d said. Adri nodded. “At least human bodies aren’t as sensitive to glitches, but you’d better wear an anti-static protective suit, just in case, and make sure you drive the disconnected leads into the ground to?—”
Rick cut him off. “No stories about rodents and loose leads, please.” He shuddered and made a face. “Especially when I’m about to head into the foundation level.”
“Understood. Keep your line open, please, so I?—”
Riley coughed.
Adri sighed but relented. “SoRileycan monitor you.”
He wasn’t happy about being sidelined, and I got it. He knew the grounding systems better than anyone. But he needed to rest. “I’ll take him to his room now. How many hours before the wall stabilizes?”
“Anything from six to forty-eight,” Adri said with the same patience as when he’d explained it the first time. “When the fluctuation meter shows only one spike an hour under surge level, we can start regular repairs.”
Six sounded good to me, though the kids would love having me home for the next two days… before they left. Shit, I’d miss them. My afternoons would be way too silent. I wouldn’t even have Tammy for company since she was leaving for Redding, California, to spend time with her boyfriend. Those were tomorrow-me problems. Right now, I needed to get Adri to his room.
I let go of him and pushed to my feet, offering him my hand, which he took without hesitation. With my arm around his waist, I steered him out of the office.
“Good luck, everyone.”
“Thanks, Sam. Make sure he rests.”
Oh, I would. Even if that meant watching over him. I’d already briefed the home front, so they weren’t expecting me for dinner.
As we got into the elevator, I leaned against the wall, leaving my hand on his waist. Adri leaned into me, his head resting on mine. Our gazes met in the shiny doors.
“Can we talk after?”
The vulnerability in his voice shook me. I’d done that. There was a glint in his eyes, though, that reminded me of how he’d kissed me in the office—after I’d fantasized about it. Had that only been this morning? “Of course. We’ll talk when you’re ready.”
He nodded. “Are you staying?”
“I am.”
There were no phone parts scattered across the floor this time, but his bed still looked untouched.
“Floor or bed?”
“Bed.”
“D’you want to get into something more comfortable?” I almost asked if he wanted to take his shoes off, but, of course, he didn’t wear any.
“I don’t own sleep clothes.” He hiked his tunic up. “Can you undo my skirt? I’ll change into a clean tunic later.”
I barely dared to breathe when he dropped his skirt without hesitation after I unzipped it, and I caught a glimpse of his bare ass. It felt profoundly intimate that he let me see him. His tunic covered the upper half of his legs—thick, twisted tendrils that tapered near the bottom. Even after reading about Niren physiology, I wasn’t prepared to see him hovering about an inch above the floor.
He gazed at me, his head tilted, as if gauging myreaction.
“Talk later. Remember?” I reminded him as I helped him to bed and tucked him in.
When he struggled to find a comfortable position to reach the socket, I grabbed the extension cord from the floor and plugged it in. He threw me a smile as he wrapped his fingers around it.
“Thank you.”
