Captives of New Pompeii Read Free Page B

from the treatment table. Shika had gone to
awaken the next six patients, so he needed to move. They had found
the inhabitants responded better when they were awakened in small
groups. Adults would suppress their own fears and focus on
children, and men would protect women. The standard social dynamic
made it easier for them to insinuate the new information and
explain what to expect. So far the Pompeiians had adjusted
remarkably well.
    The only exception was the clerics. Each
time they came across a person dressed in robes, they were awakened
individually. They’d identified three priests and six priestesses.
Though each had been more inquisitive than the average refugee,
only Felicia remained argumentative once he claimed to be empowered
by the gods.
    “Where are we going?”
    He paused in the doorway and checked the
corridor. “To my quarters. You can have a quick shower and change
into something less conspicuous.”
    Suspicion filled her gaze and she twisted
out of his grasp. “What is a shower?”
    “Like a bath only you stand up and water
runs over you like rain.”
    “Do you intend to join me in this
shower?”
    Rather than take offense and add to her
uneasiness, he smiled. “Would you like me to?”
    “Venus requires that her priestesses remain
pure. I am not allowed to consider such things.”
    She lowered her gaze, but not before he saw
the desire in her eyes. She did more than consider such things. She
ached for them, dreamed of them, longed for them. Was she really a
virgin, or had she given up “such things” when she dedicated her
life to the goddess of love?
    “It seems wrong that the goddess of love
would forbid you to indulge in passion.”
    “It is a sacrifice I am willing to make so
others may know her goodness.”
    He had no response for that, so he led her
into the empty corridor and hustled her toward his room. “After
we’ve transformed you into one of the crew, I’ll take you to the
officers’ mess. Lunch is over, but dinner is still a couple of
hours away. We should have the place to ourselves.”
    His quarters were small and orderly, like
every cabin on the ship. At least his was private. Most of the crew
cabins had four to twelve berths to a room. She looked around, arms
folded over her chest. Thankfully the computer was hibernating and
the lights only earned a startled glance from her.
    He was trying to take it slow, but their
worlds were so incredibly different. He’d covered every display in
the infirmary before he’d begun the orientations, relying on a
handheld scanner. Holo-imaging would seem like magic to a person
who had never seen a photograph.
    “Let me show you how the shower works. You
can then take your time while I scrounge together something for you
to wear.”
    The utility room was tiny and she was forced
up against him as she leaned into the shower stall to view the
controls. He instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist,
enjoying the warm press of her breasts for as long as she allowed
it.
    “Does Venus not require purity of you?” She
straightened without moving out of his embrace.
    “The rules are more realistic on my world.”
He moved his hands to her hips. They weren’t in the infirmary now.
Did that mean she was no longer his patient? “She encourages us to
focus entirely on our duties but understands when our needs are
especially strong.”
    Her gaze lingered on his mouth, luring,
beckoning. She parted her lips as he lowered his head. Then she
twisted away. “Apparently what I need is a shower.” She pushed him
toward the door. “Find me something to wear.”
    His cock jerked in protest as he stepped
through the threshold, but there was no help for it. He had way too
much to do to indulge in a messy affair. In eighteen days they’d
arrive at Fedoros and he would wash his hands of this entire
situation.
    The buzzer sounded and he looked at the
door. “Who’s there?”
    “Your brother, asshole. Open the door.”
    “Come in.” The door