His shoulders stiffened. “Ididn’t accuse you of anything.”
“Maybe not with words.”
He raked his hands through hishair. “Seeing you dressed like that, wearing his ring, isupsetting. I’m mad at myself for not protecting you from him.”
“If you were there when heabducted me, he and his men would have killed you. Would you unzip mydress?” She turned around so her back was to him.
He slid down the zipper, thenlightly touched the welts on her back. “How did you get these?”
“Cadmus hit me with a belt.”
“He’ll never touch youagain!” Michio’s voice was raw. He pushed the ruffled strap offher shoulder. The dress slid to the floor, leaving her in nothing buta black thong. “Your side’s bruised as well.”
She lifted a throw off the bedand wrapped herself in it. Feeling less exposed, she turned to facehim. “When Cadmus abducted me, he threw me against the bedsidetable. I fractured four ribs and was bedridden most of the time we’vebeen separated.”
He drew her into his arms andkissed her. “Why weren’t your ribs treated medically so they’dheal more quickly?”
She stepped away from him, afraidshe’d start crying. “I suppose he wanted to teach me a lessonabout the price of defying him.”
“I’m sorry you went throughso much.” His voice was thick with emotion. “How did you escape?”
After she briefly described howshe got away, Michio said, “Cadmus underestimated you.”
“And you.”
“Let me help you with yourhair.” He pulled out her hairpins and started removing the goldenchains woven through her thick tresses. “You’ve lost weight.You’re even thinner than before you got pregnant.”
“I realized my food wasdrugged, so I started eating only raw fruit and vegetables. They werethe only things I could be sure weren’t tampered with.”
“Why did he drug your food?”
“He didn’t. Seetva did.”
“Seetva was there!” hegasped.
Toemeka nodded. “She tried tocontrol me.” A lump formed in her throat. “I’m not ready totalk about what happened. Do you mind giving me some time to myself?I’d like to shower and get dressed.”
Michio took a travel bag out of alocker and set it on the bed. “I’ll be in the cockpit.” Hestarted to leave.
“Michio.”
He stopped and turned to look ather.
“Some things can’t be undone.We just have to live with them.”
“I know.”
She studied his rigid pose. Didhe think she was damaged goods? She couldn’t deal with anothertouchy man right now. In the bathroom, she stared at her reflectionin the mirror. She didn’t look anything like herself with the heavymakeup and gold flecks on her face and hair—no wonder Michio wasacting edgy. She removed the false eyelashes, then stepped into thereclaimer—the most common shower on spacecraft where all water wasprocessed and reused. Water was always limited on spaceships, but shedidn’t care to conserve it. She let it pour over her as shescrubbed her hair and skin, trying to get rid of the smell of smokeand perfume and remove the makeup. She still felt dirty when thewater ran out.
She wrapped herself in a toweland limped over to the travel bag. Everything in it was new—nothingcomforting from home to remind her of who she was before theabduction. Exhausted, she slid on a flowered nightgown and climbedinto the double berth.
***
Michio leaned back in his chair.He was so tired he couldn’t think straight any more. He’d hardlyslept since Toemeka was abducted.
“Go lie down before you fallasleep in your chair,” Erling said. “I can handle things here.”
“Toemeka wants some time toherself.”
“You’re a little dense for asmart guy. You gave her time to herself; now you need to get in thereand hold her and tell her how much you love her.”
“She doesn’t want me to holdher. I tried.” His chest tightened as he remembered her pullingaway from him. “She thinks I’m upset with her.”
“Are you?”
“No, of course not, but itthrew me off to see her like that.”
“Like what?” Erling asked.
“You know… wearing thatdress… and, well, smelling of strong perfume, smoke and tasting ofalcohol.”
“And? You’re leaving out whatbothers you most.”
Michio flashed him an annoyedscowl. “I know he took her against her will. Still, it bothers me…”
“And she picked up on it, eventhough you didn’t say anything.”
He winced. “I suppose she did.”
“Did you expect her to behelpless, huddled in a cell instead of escaping on her own andmeeting us at the spaceport? She’s a capable undercover operative.She knew it was too dangerous for us to break into Cadmus’compound, so she used the party as a chance to escape.”
Michio rubbed his forehead.“You’re right. I’m an ass. I’ve failed her miserably.”
“You didn’t fail Toemeka. Youfound her and rescued her against all odds. Go to her. Tell her howmuch she means to you. She’s been through enough without having todeal with your emotions.”
“Thanks, I needed to hearthat.” Michio went to his cabin and paused outside the door,wondering if he should knock. It was quiet in the room and knockingmight awaken her, if she’d gone to sleep.
He opened the door and saw herlying on the berth. She’d dimmed the lights instead of turning themoff. She looked young and innocent as she opened her eyes and lookedat him. She’d scrubbed her face clean of makeup and her long blackhair was lush and shining.
“You’re not asleep yet,” hesaid closing the door.
“I can’t sleep.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I’msure you’re exhausted. Erling’s taking the first shift. Can Ishare the berth with you?”
“Of course, you’re myhusband.” She moved toward the wall to make room for him.
He stripped down to hisundershorts and climbed in next to her.
“Do you mind keeping the lighton?” she asked.
“I rather like it because I cansee you. Can I hold you?”
She nodded and he drew her intohis arms so they were facing each other. When she snuggled closersomething deep inside him seemed to let go. A lump formed in histhroat. They were together again. Somehow, they’d work through thislatest trauma.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know… I just feelbroken… damaged.”
“You’re
