Page 36 of Auctioned to the Convicts
“For what?” he said as he focused on drawing the correct dosage.
“For taking care of Sersie and Ky’Li.”
“Sersie’s been my patient for a while, though I didn’t expect this turn in his treatment so soon after entering a unit. I should have, but I didn’t.”
The tightness to Vaughn’s voice made her heart go out to him. This man still went out of his way to heal his patients, regardless of his personal feelings toward them.
“No one could have foreseen yesterday’s events, Vaughn,” Ren said, jaw tight as he slid the pillow from beneath Sersie’s head and tossed it to her. “Take the pillow, Princess. Sersie will just throw up on it if I leave it here and that’s parchi feather in there. I’ll never get the smell of vomit out of it.”
Vaughn watched her closely, probably imagining the worst about her. She wished they could just talk, but this whole incident proved how they were little more than strangers to one another.
“For the record,” Hannah began. If she had to be the first one to show some trust, she’d do it, even if it meant talking about her past. “I never used drugs. It was my sister.”
“Was, past tense,” Vaughn said.
He’d caught that but hadn’t pressed. Just as well. She didn’twantto talk about Amelia. Either way, it didn’t look like Vaughn planned to apologize for his assumption.
“I can stay with Sersie through the night. He shouldn’t be alone,” Hannah said.
“That’s what started this, Princess. You didn’t leave him alone. You didn’t leave any of us alone.” Ren pushed past her into the common area. A second later, the door to the storage room, the smallest of the three bedrooms, slammed shut.
“Does he always run hot and cold?” she asked Vaughn.
“He has a temper issue. This planet changes people. That and being lowered to Level 4 through no fault of your own can change a person. He’ll calm down. Give him time.”
She hugged the pillow to her as she stared at the door.
“How do I get everyone to work together, Vaughn?”
“You’re asking the wrong person,” he said, his voice full of worry that mirrored how she felt. Vaughn returned to measuring out the medicine.
“I don’t think so. You’re organized, you know these guys, and they respect you.”
“Thanks for the offer to stay with Sersie,” Vaughn said, ignoring where she was leading. “But I need to get him through the night and the first round of Lift.” He nodded toward the door. “Go, get some sleep while you can. We all have extra hours tomorrow to cover Sersie’s quota. Part of the pitfalls of being in a unit.”
As Hannah rested her hand on Vaughn’s arm, the corner of his mouth hitched up in question. Hannah pushed up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek, then eased back down. He smelled nice, really nice, and he had a calming effect, which she needed after seeing Sersie and dealing with Ren. She’d had enough Flight-induced drama to contend with in her life. Amelia’s addiction was the reason Hannah had started her downward spiral from a Level 1 to a Level 5 in a matter of months.
“Thank you, Vaughn. I mean it. For everything you’re doing for this unit. I want to repay you somehow, but I don’t have the credits.”
“I usually don’t take credits from my patients, except to cover the cost of supplies and The Company’s fee which is hard to avoid.”
Hard, but not impossible, if she understood Ren correctly. Vaughn was playing loose with The Company rules, and Sersie was using. One problem at a time. First, they had to cover Sersie’s quota over the next few days until he was on his feet again.
“I’m serious. Just let me know what you need.”
Vaughn took a step closer, and suddenly she felt this burning heat from him—desire that she’d seen before. His eyes slowly drifted down her body, only to return to her face, void of all emotion.
Except Vaughn was far from cold or callous. Guarded, but not cold in the least.
He leaned in really close and she backed up until her backside hit the wall. His warm breath cascaded over her neck as his mouth neared her ear.
“Go to sleep, Hannah.” With that deep voice of his, it sounded more like an order than a suggestion.
“I don’t shirk my responsibilities,” she said.
Her heart sped up as he leaned in so close his chest pressed against her breasts. He threaded his fingers through her hair. With the scruff of his beard lightly scraping her jaw as his mouth slowly drew close to her ear, Hannah forgot how to breathe.
“I have every right to take you,” he whispered. His fingers caressed the side of her breast, sending a fire through her. “Here and now, if I want.”
