Bad Time for Wanting
Corso occupied much of his time trying to repair Ky's broken datapad which proved to be a lost cause. He'd finally removed the data chip, crushed it beneath his boot heal, and discarded it in the bin marked for incineration. He'd picked up her backup unit before leaving the ship so nothing was lost since whatever was entered on one instantly cloned to the other. He couldn't access any of the information however, even after all this time, she still hadn't shared her pass code with him. It didn't upset him anymore, it's just the way she was.
The remainder of the four days he either lounged in the cot or the chair, only taking breaks to use the refresher, eat and use Largo's sonic. He'd even used some of Largo's depil cream to remove the scruffy beard he'd been sporting the past five days. He didn't know if Ky would want a kiss or not, but he damned sure did.
Dr. Harren entered the recovery room late morning, checked the readouts for the two blaster burn patients that had been admitted two days ago and then walked to Ky's tank.
"Everything looks good. No fever or signs of further infection. Vitals are strong. I think it's time to wake her up."
The doctor summoned two orderlies and injected something into her IV tube, checked his crono and stood back to wait for results.
Corso stayed out of the way, nervously shuffling from foot to foot, and intermittently scrubbing his hand through his hair, his eyes glued to her face.
Ky's lids fluttered open, squeezed tight again when they encountered the light, then blinked open again. They went wide with panic at being submerged until Dr. Harren spoke gently into the intercom, explaining where she was and attempting to calm her down so she could be safely removed. Her eyes locked with Corso's and she nodded the affirmation that she was ready.
Corso had forgotten to breathe until his lungs forced the issue by inhaling deeply, then exhaling in a long, steady stream. He was afraid to blink and break eye contact with her.
The kolto tank drained and Ky hung limply from a harness attached to the top. The med techs released the latches and hydraulic motors hummed lifting the top until she was free of the tank then swung sideways and lowered her to the floor.
Her body shivered from the circulating air and cold floor while the orderlies removed the harness, IV tubes, and breathing mask. She was hauled to her feet by the male tech who supported her while the female toweled much of the excess liquid from her body and hair before easing her onto one of the medical beds. The doctor made a final examination before removing the IV needles and electrodes and changing the dressing on the wound.
Corso side-stepped to keep her in sight. Impatient to touch her, his hands flexed at his sides and his stomach flipped and churned.
"I think somebody is anxious to see you, young lady," the doctor said, placing a thermal blanket over her and motioning Corso to the bed.
"Hi, babe," he murmured taking her hand that she'd extended from under the blanket. "I've been worried about you."
She opened her mouth to speak but emitted only a raspy squeak.
"You'll get your voice back soon," explained the doctor. "Try not to speak for now and you will be weak and disoriented for a few hours. Just rest, sleep if you can. I'll be back in a while to check on you."
Ky nodded her understanding and waited for the doctor and orderlies to leave before taking her other hand from under the blanket and tapping on her mouth.
"You thirsty?" Corso asked.
She shook her head and tapped her mouth again.
He lowered his head until his lips were centimeters above hers. She curled her fingers around one of his coiled locks and pulled his face down to close the distance. The kolto residue tasted bitter as he covered her mouth with his and pressed his tongue against her closed lips. Chaste and subdued it was more a kiss of relief and grace, acknowledging that life is a precious thing.
He'd arced his arm across her chest to hold his weight from her ribs which rose above the flat plane of her stomach. He hadn't realized how thin she was until he felt the ridge of her bones rub against the inside of his arm. He raised his face to stare into her eyes, still clouded by the anesthesia, and kissed her forehead before pulling away.
"Sleep, love. I'll be here when you wake up," he whispered.
She nodded and closed her eyes.
He rolled the chair close to the bed and remained seated at her side, gripping her hand and drawing his lips across the knuckles every few minutes.
The first thing Ky noticed when she awakened was the weight against her left hand and the needling tingle of a limb about to go to sleep. She glanced sideways to a thick shag of hair lying against the side of the mattress, pinning her arm in place. With her free hand, she reached across her chest to run her fingers through the fleecy softness, eliciting a muffled groan from the man who held her immobile hand in a death grip.
"Corso?" her voice croaked like a spiny-collared toad.
The shaggy head stirred and lifted until familiar brown eyes met hers over the edge of the bed. Straight, white teeth gleamed at her as he rose from the chair, exposing the rest of his face. His cheek displayed the indent marks from their entwined fingers and he still hadn't released her hand.
"Hi," he said in simple greeting. "How you feeling?"
"Hi yourself," she replied. "I'm tired but much better. Help me sit up, would ya? And get me something to drink."
He wouldn't mention the fact that she'd almost died or say anything that would rouse guilt for the dumb-ass decision she'd made. He knew it would vex her and be pointless anyway. She didn't like looking back. The past only created stumbling blocks in the path of forward momentum or brought you to a screeching halt. She learned the lessons and moved on.
Corso placed his arm under her back and lifted slowly while she used her hand in his for leverage. Her vision spun with the new vertical attitude, but that passed quickly.
She braced herself on the edge of the bed with her arms while he released her hand to move to a nearby table and fetch a cup of water. Her legs dangled over the side like two dead weights.
Her hand trembled when Corso handed her the cup and he steadied it while she took several large gulps.
"Thanks," she said, licking the moisture from her upper lip. "Did you bring my clothes?"
Corso pointed to the bag he'd brought with him. "Yes, and your spare datapad, the original got busted up in the crash. I tried to fix it, but no go."
She nodded. "Help me down off this bed. We have things to do and not a lot of time to plan."
Corso puffed a sigh through a crooked half smile. His Ky was back.
He bracketed his hands around her waist and was just about to ease her off the bed and to the floor when Dr. Harren entered the room.
"Whoa there, little lady. I need to do one more exam before I release you from my tender care," the doctor admonished, picking up a med scanner from a table as he approached.
She and Corso exchanged glances and Corso backed away to give the doctor space to do his work. The doctor assisted Ky in lying flat again before beginning.
"Any nausea or dizziness?" Harren inquired as he moved the scanner over her prone body.
"Only dizzy when I sat up earlier," she replied.
"That's to be expected." Harren switched off the device, checked her bandage and helped her sit up again. "One more shot of antibiotics and a kolto booster just to be sure and you can be on your way."
After the injection, Harren had one more piece of advice. "It's going to be a while before you are a hundred percent. I suggest you take it easy for a few more days."
"Easy hasn't been part of my life for a long time, doc, and I doubt we'll be reacquainted anytime soon," she replied with a wry smile.
"Why am I not surprised," he chuckled. "Your friend, Largo is in the lobby waiting for you." He took her hand in his and patted the top. "It's been a pleasure, Miss Aragath. You too, Mr. Riggs," he extended his arm for a handshake before leaving them to look after his other patients.
Corso helped her get dressed although she stubbornly tried to do it herself. Her right side was stiff and she winced when bending her arm back to put on her shirt. There was no way in hell she'd have been able to put on her boots.
She gave him a quick peck on the lips before making her way out of the room, down the corridor and into the lobby, Corso in tow, carrying the bag.
She grunted when Largo hugged her. "Can't hold a good woman down, huh Ky?" he grinned at her.
"Only if they take top," she smiled back. "Please tell me you have a shower. I feel like I've been dipped in wax and laid out in the sun to dry. This kolto shit is starting to itch and I swear my skin is going to crack."
"Real water for my lady's pleasure," Largo winked. "And don't worry about the bill, it's all taken care of. You can repay me when you're able."
"You know I will," she looped her arm through his and stepped outside where speeders waited to take them to Largo's home.
"Why does everything have to be an argument?" Corso reached again to unbutton her shirt.
"I can handle this myself, you've done enough," she repeated, pushing his hands away.
"Ky, please. You're still stiff and sore. I'm just trying to help."
She raised her hands in surrender unable to ignore the earnest worry in his eyes.
The walls of the small bedroom closed in as he helped her undress. Life radiated from the body of the woman he'd nearly lost. Close and vibrant, it condensed the strain of the past few days into simple senses of sight and touch.
Though carefully deferential to the wounded areas, his hands lingered too long on the slope of her shoulders, the rise of her ribs, the lean muscles of her calves. He absorbed the heat of her skin through the whorls of his fingertips, ignoring the crackled feel of the dried kolto.
He stared at her retreating back and licked his lips at the sight of the curve of her hips flowing into the smooth line of her thighs and the two tiny dimples over the fullness of her ass.
The front of his trousers tightened and he shifted his weight. His mouth had gone dry and his voice lowered to whiskey husky when he asked, "You going to need help in there?" as she closed the refresher door.
"I think I can manage," her muffled words answered before the running water dropped a curtain of noise between them.
Shame flared in his chest. Shame, for the almost overwhelming hunger at the worst possible time. It burned away his desire in a stream of red hot blood that colored his cheeks. "What the hell were you thinking? Blasted moron," Corso berated himself in a hoarse whisper.
He'd wanted to take her on the bed, on the floor, in the shower. Despite her injuries, he'd wanted to hear her gasp when he...
"Stop it!" he growled at himself. He remained stationary for a few moments to calm his mind, steady his breathing and let the pressure in his pants ease before joining Largo.
Ky exited the shower to an empty room and forced herself to work through the discomfort. Certain movements caused her breath to hitch in her lungs or hiss out through clenched teeth. She felt better after all the contortions of getting dressed as if stretching all the wounded parts, without breaking anything, realigned her body into being useful again.
The aroma of food taunted her nose as soon as she exited the small bedroom and walked toward the living area. She halted in the entrance totally captivated by the sight of Corso bustling about, setting the table and carrying steaming bowls of goodness out of the kitchen.
"All you need is an apron, love," she teased.
"Guess I forgot to pack it, I was in a bit of a hurry," Corso flashed a toothy grin her way, hoping she'd not noticed his physical response to her nakedness earlier.
"You should have asked for help getting dressed," he chided.
"Not sure I needed that kind of attention," she shot back, her eyes twinkling with amusement as Corso's cheeks brightened.
"Come, sit and have a bite," offered Largo as Corso rushed to pull a chair out for her.
"Smells delicious," she commented while Corso scooted her chair closer to the table then took a seat himself.
"It's nothing much," said Largo. "Some stew with a little extra broth added to yours. I figured your stomach might have to get used to solid foot again. You can sop it up with bread to add a little more bulk, but don't overdo it."
Silence settled over the table broken here and there by the clink of spoons against dishes or the gulping sound of throats swallowing ale.
"Bring me my datapad, will you dear?" Ky addressed Corso after the meal was finished.
He retrieved and placed the device in her hand. She entered her code and verified the ID with her thumb print then opened the file to check her account balance.
"That slimy sonofabitch," her mouth clamped into a tight, grim line.
Corso arched a brow questioningly. "More bad news?"
"Yeah, counterfeit credit chip, and a good one too. It shows sixty thousand going into my account and being flagged and removed two days later." She lowered her head into her hand, temple on thumb and fingers scrubbing back and forth across her forehead. "And now I've probably got the kriffing banking clan after me as well."
"So, what now, Ky?" asked Largo taking a large drink and swiping his mouth clean with the back of his hand.
She raised her head and tipped her bottle to him in a polite cantina salute.
"Now, I steal a ship."