Page 133 of Wrapped in Their Arms

“Noelle?”she said kindly.“Ihear you’ve got a bit of a headache.”

“Ugh…you could say that.”Noellewinced again, eyes squeezing shut.

“I’ve got just the thing,” the nurse said warmly.Shecame toNoelle’sbedside and swabbed her upper arm with something that smelled clean and sharp—like antiseptic and crushed mint.Thenshe gave her a gentle injection, barely more than a prick.

Almost instantly, the pain ebbed.

Noelle felt instant relief as the pressure inside her skull dissipated like fog burned off by morning sun.Shelet out a long sigh and opened her eyes again.

“There.Howdo you feel now?”Brightasked, coming to sit beside her once more.

“Better.”Noellesat up cautiously, testing her body.Herlimbs still felt a little shaky, but her head was clear.“Dios,Kindredmedical technology isamazing.”

“Yes, it is.”

Bright gave her a faint smile, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes.

“How did we get here?Imean, back to theMotherShip?”she asked, frowning slightly.“Andwhere’sBurn?”

At that,Bright’sexpression shuttered completely.

His shoulders slumped and the light in his eyes dimmed.

“He won’t talk to me,” he said quietly.

“He won’t?”Noelleblinked.“Butyou two are best friends!Youhave been foryears.”

“We used to be.Now, apparently, he never wants to see me again.”

There was no disguising the ache inBright’svoice.Itwas raw with sorrow and his whole body seemed to sag, as though the weight of grief and regret was too much to carry upright.

“What?Butwhy not?”Noelledemanded, heart squeezing in sympathy.

Bright looked away, jaw clenched tight.Hishazel-green eyes shimmered—just a little—and he blinked rapidly as though trying to chase away tears.

“Because while you were gone upstairs looking for the cleaner bot,Thunemade us… do things together,” he said at last, voice strained.“Iknow you saw some of it.Itdidn’t bother me too much—Imean,IloveBurnandIalways have.Sowhat ifIhad to suck his shaft and swallow his seed?”

“Oh, er…”Noellecleared her throat delicately, trying not to let her surprise show.“Isthatallhe made you do?”she asked carefully.

“Not quite.”Brightsighed.“Andthat’s not the worst part—not fromBurn’spoint of view.Ithink he could forgive me for sucking him… but that bastard of aTrolloxmade him suck metoo.”

His voice broke a little on the last word, and he looked away again.

“He did that?”Noelleasked gently, trying to process the information.“But, well…Iwould have thought thatBurnwould rather take a shock from the collar rather than do… well, anything he didn’t want to do.”

“I didn’t want to let him do it either.Butthat fucking pink drink—it got into both of us and, well…”Brightran a hand through his hair.“Iwantedto let him.Andin that moment,Ithink hewantedto do it too.Ofcourse, the minute the aphrodisiac started wearing off, he wasn’t too happy about it.”

Noelle exhaled a slow breath and shook her head.

“Well, he needs to get over it,” she said firmly.“Thetwo of you are supposed to form aTwin-Bond, remember?Whatabout going to see thatSeeronTherimFive?”

“We’re not going.”

Bright’s voice was flat, defeated.

“But youshould—I’llstill go with you,” she promised quickly.

“No, you don’t understand.IcalledTherimFive—Iwas hoping theSeermight give me words of wisdom to know how to deal withBurn,”Brightsaid.“But, well… she passed.”