Page 5 of His Little Garnet

I love how tenacious she is. I won’t point out again that she isn’t going to need an ambulance. Not yet anyway.

“Well, Olivia/Livy Martens, since I’ve come all the way down here, I might as well take a look and see for myself. Would you let me examine you?” I reach out a hand again.

She winces as she lowers the ice and stretches out her arm in front of me.

I very carefully hold her elbow. Her long sleeves are in the way, but they are tight against her skin, so I can clearly see the deformation, which indicates she is correct.

I carefully push her sleeve up a few inches. “Looks like it’s a clean break, probably not requiring surgery. It’s going to need to be realigned though.”

“Yep.” She sounds smug. “Like I said.”

I chuckle. It’s hard not to. I love her spunk. “You have options, Little one.”

She narrows her gaze. “Not unless you happen to have an X-ray machine on you and the makings for a plaster cast.”

Damn, she’s cute. Snarky. She has no idea there will come a day when that sassy mouth of hers will land her over my knee. Wouldn’t be remotely appropriate today, of course, but my palm is nevertheless itching to pull her across my lap, ease her dress over her bottom, tug her panties down to her knees, and swat her sweet butt until it turns hot pink.

The fantasy will never come to fruition, because by the time I first spank her, she won’t be wearing a dress or panties. Both articles of clothing will be a distant memory.

“As it turns out, my sassy Little girl, I can have the doctor on the starship bring me a portable X-ray machine with a simple call. I’d have that bone assessed and realigned and safely immobilized before you could ever get to a human doctor.” I lift a brow.

She sucks in a breath, blinking at me. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh. So, you have two options here.” I examine her fingers while I speak, making sure she has full mobility, and they aren’t discolored.

She narrows her gaze. “Even if you do have an X-ray machine, you surely don’t have an anesthesiologist onboard that starship of yours.”

I shake my head. “Don’t need one.”

She shudders, trying to draw her arm out of my grasp. “There’s no way I would let anyone realign my arm without anesthesia.”

“Look at me, Olivia,” I order gently.

She lifts her gaze.

I’m still holding her elbow, and I stroke her fingers carefully, not wanting to cause her more pain. I refuse to let go of her. I can’t. “Eleadian males make their own anesthesia. It’s in my saliva.”

She frowns. “How would that help unless you bit me?”

I smile. She’s sharp.

She flinches again and shakes her head. “You’re not going to bite me. What are you? Some sort of vampire? I’ve never heard that rumor.”

“I’m not a vampire. I wouldn’t bite you with my teeth.”

She holds my gaze. Her pulse is picking up. She’s not scared so much as nervous. Finally, she licks her lips. Her voice is soft when she speaks again. “Look, uh, you’re a good-looking man, and I can tell you’re an attentive physician, but it would probably be best if I have my friend take me to the emergency room to get this arm attended to.”

I shift slightly closer. “That is one option.” I can feel her heart beating from both places I’m touching her. It had gradually relaxed its pace in the time I’ve been holding her elbow and fingers, but now it has picked back up. And it’s not from pain.

I want to keep her engaged. I’m not ready to face the possibility she might flee. “What was your friend talking about when she said ‘my offer still stands’?”

Olivia’s cheeks pinken, and she licks her pretty lips adorably. This is the first moment she’s shown a hint of vulnerability. Perhaps embarrassment. Interesting. “It’s silly.”

“I can handle silly.” I smile at my girl.

Olivia sighs. “She conned me into coming here with her tonight by saying if anyone hit on me, she would take my place.” She draws in a deep breath. “Are you hitting on me, Chadka?”

I love the sound of my name coming from her lips. It’s not as sweet as what I’d rather she call me, but we’re making headway. “I don’t have to, Baby girl,” I tell her gently.

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