Page 16 of Tempting Jupiter (Arena Dogs #2)

Sen pulled a little more. She gasped and would have jerked away hard had Jupiter not been holding her steady.

She spoke through gritted teeth, tears welling in her eyes. “Just get it over with.” She braced. “Make sure all of the cloth is out of there, okay?”

Jupiter pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll take care of you.”

Seneca didn’t give her a chance to respond.

He pulled the cloth the rest of the way off in one continuous pull.

Not so fast as to add to the rips already gouged into her flesh, but fast enough to cause considerable pain until it was done.

Feeona went limp momentarily then clenched her good hand against him.

“Let go, Fee. I’m here.” Jupiter cradled her closer to his body as Sen pushed her hair out of the way and sprayed on the debriding enzyme.

She groaned and her body sagged as she blessedly passed out.

Jupiter sighed in relief. At least she wouldn’t be feeling pain.

He repositioned her on the med-bed and reached for the silver nozzle.

He looked up to Seneca. “See if you can find some grabbers, a suture threader, or maybe that spray-on artificial skin the medics use.”

Sen nodded. A moment later, he handed Jupiter a pair of grabbers and laid out the other items along the edge of the bed.

In silence, they worked to fix her. She would heal well and there would be no scars. Of that, he would make sure. When he was satisfied with his task, he sprayed a graft-bandage over the injuries. It formed a white crust, like an armored skin.

Sen carried away the used instruments, dropping them into a compartment with a bio-hazard symbol. “She’s an unusual human.”

Jupiter understood the unspoken thoughts behind the words.

He’d never aided a human in his life. He hated them, but this small woman was different.

He knew Sen was warning him to be cautious.

Just because the woman had aided him didn’t prove she could be trusted.

Humans were manipulative creatures. Sen had more reason than most to hate them, but he’d never been vocal about it.

Maybe because his own people had not always treated him well either.

Jupiter frowned. “Call me a fool if you wish, but I trust her.”

Sen returned with a fresh set of instruments. He met Jupiter’s gaze steadily. “I don’t judge you or question your actions.”

The simple statement of support should have steadied him, but Jupiter felt wholly unbalanced.

Sen spoke softly. “We should tend to her other injuries while she’s unconscious.”

They’d heard no sign of anyone investigating the ship, so Jupiter went to work on the rest of her.

Blood had soaked through her clothes in several places.

He cut away the material to get at the tiny bits of shrapnel embedded in her flesh.

Small shallow wounds on her arm were easily closed, but his hand shook as he dug into a particularly deep puncture.

“Let me take over for you,” Sen offered. “You’re still weak from your injuries.”

Jupiter growled instinctively and followed it with a sharp bark. “I can do it.” Jupiter started again, this time with steadier hands and a calmer voice. “See if you can find a warming blanket and anything else useful.”

Sen slunk away into the shadows. Jupiter regretted the sharpness of his response. Something that Sen might have interpreted as censure when he hadn’t meant it that way. The Dog was so loyal, so capable, so necessary for Jupiter’s peace of mind.

But he needed to deal with this himself. He slowly set about removing the metal shards, cleaning and spraying over each small wound.

Sen reappeared at his side with the asked-for blanket and some packaged water. He stretched the blanket out across the woman.

Jupiter laid his hand on Sen’s shoulder. “Thank you, my brother. I couldn’t have gotten through this without you.”

A thud that rattled through the small ship and the deck beneath his feet disappeared as the artificial gravity failed.

Jupiter scrambled to pull the now floating Feeona tightly to his chest. Another shock wave rippled through the hull.

The lights flashed then went dark. He lost all sense of direction.

He was in the air, anticipating a hard landing.

He curled his body around Feeona as best he could, unsure where or when the impact would come.

Dim red lights appeared above him. The gravity reengaged and his body became a stone dragging him toward the deck.

He slammed against it, taking the impact with his back.

His head hit the decking hard enough that he expected a pounding headache.

He managed to ensure Fee didn’t land beneath him, but the fall had to have jarred her.

Fortunately, she’d stayed unconscious through it all.

He looked for Sen and found the Dog lying on his side a meter away, propped on an elbow and his smiling face painted red by the odd lights.

Jupiter growled his annoyance. “What are you fucking smiling at?”

Sen’s lips softened. “Sorry. This day just keeps getting stranger.” Sen looked thoughtful. “Actually, it’s turning out to be the best day I’ve had in a while.”

Speechless, Jupiter stared.

Sen shook his head, still smiling. “The woman will heal. And we’re alive.”

“So far.”

Sen’s face turned serious. “We’re free. And we’re together.”

“You and the woman will get along.” Jupiter adjusted her in his arms then got to his feet. “Damn optimists.” He shot Sen a look to see he’d also gotten to his feet. He settled Fee back on the table. “Come on,” Jupiter barked. “Let’s finish this and find out what’s happening.”