Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 105936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Do it,” I said, ignoring the Galafruxian. “And hurry—I want us through the next worm hole quickly.”
Cass nodded and fed his route to the nav computer.
“Ready for the worm hole,” he reported.
“Good. But before we jump, I need to see you in my Ready Room,” I said to him.
I could feel the other Crew members watching us as we stepped into my private area, but it couldn’t be helped. I had to give Cass the medicine in case there was a time dilation. I didn’t want him being sick in my bed that night!
Honestly though, I didn’t want him being sick at all. He’d looked on death’s door the last time—I didn’t like the idea of him being in that much discomfort again.
Why did I care so much about his wellbeing? I shouldn’t feel like this, I argued with myself. And yet, when he came into the Ready Room behind me, I couldn’t seem to stop the deep protectiveness that rushed over me when I saw his face—which was too lovely for a male by half.
“Captain? You wanted to see me?” He started to shut the door, but I shook my head.
“No, leave it open. Let them see what we’re doing,” I murmured, pitching my voice low for his ears only.
“Er…what are we doing?” he asked.
“This.” I pulled the bottle of medicine out of my desk drawer and waved it at him.
“Oh…right. Sorry.” His light brown cheeks went dark with a blush and I realized he’d thought I wanted him for something else—maybe even for something sexual.
“I don’t care what the rest of the Crew seems to think, you and I know you’re not a Catamite, Cass,” I said, loudly enough for the Bridge Crew to hear me. “And I’m not going to treat you like one. Now come here and take your meds—I can’t have you being sick all over my room later if there’s a time dilation in the worm hole.”
“Right. Thank you, Captain.”
He came forward and opened his mouth obediently. I tried not to notice what soft, kissable-looking lips he had as I carefully squeezed out two drops under his tongue.
He swallowed and nodded gratefully.
“Thank you, Captain,” he said again.
“That’s all. You’re dismissed to your post,” I told him.
But of course by the time we got out of my Ready Room, Gurflug was back in the nav chair. It didn’t matter—Yorrin would tell me if he had changed the route. So I said nothing and nodded for Cass to stand beside my seat as we prepared to make the jump.
I took him by the arm again to steady him and then the ship dived into the worm hole.
24
JESSINA
This time the dilation was a kind of fast-forward. Everything seemed to speed up for a moment—including my heart which was suddenly pounding in my chest. I gasped and stumbled as I clutched at my chest. I would have fallen if Turk hadn’t been holding my arm.
He gave me a swift, worried glance.
“You okay?” His voice sounded higher and faster, like someone was speeding it up.
“Yeah—just surprised, that’s all,” I managed to reply. My own voice sounded perfectly ridiculous—it was a mouse’s squeak so high and fast I could barely understand it myself.
But Turk only nodded.
“Okay, as long as you’re sure.”
“I’m sure,” I squeaked. “Er, you can let go of me now.”
“Not until we’re through the hole.”
This whole exchange seemed to take micro-seconds and his grip on my arm remained firm until we passed through the worm hole and everything abruptly went back to normal.
“Whew!” I shook my head and took a deep breath as my heart began to slow down at last. “That was crazy!”
“Just a standard fast-time dilation,” Turk said casually, finally releasing his grip on my arm.
“Captain, we are through the worm hole and officially ahead of schedule,” Yorrin reported in his slow, careful way. “The new jump along with the fast-time dilation has us only hours from the next worm hole. We’ll be able to make double distance today—maybe even more.”
“That’s excellent work, navvie,” I said, nodding at Cass. “And I think it calls for a celebration. Snuffy?”
“Yes, Captain?” The cabin boy was suddenly at my side, his long nose twitching.
“Spread the word to the Crew that we’re ahead of schedule. There will be a small glass of punchin for everyone tonight at dinner to celebrate,” I told him.
What I didn’t say—but I knew Snuffy understood—was that I wanted Cass credited with the course correction and the fact that we were ahead of schedule. The less time a ship spends in Deep Space, the better for everyone. And the punchin—which was a weak but tasty alcohol that I saved for special occasions—was always good for boosting morale.
If the men knew they had Cass to thank for their extra treat, it should go a long way towards dispelling some of the anger they felt for him. I hoped, anyway.