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“Er…thank you.” Molly risked a look up at him again and found he was looking at her steadily. She felt herself blushing again under his gaze and her stomach fluttered nervously as she remembered being held in his arms.
Trying to distract herself from her ridiculous feelings—because honestly, that was what they were, she told herself—she jumped up from the couch.
“Let’s do it, then!” she said and grabbed for the handles of the duffle bag. But when she tried to lift it, she found that she couldn’t budge it even an inch. She tried again using two hands but got the same result. “Oof! This thing is heavy!”
“I’ll get it for you.” Commander Torus rose to his full height and reached down to grab the handles of the duffle in one hand. He lifted it easily, as though it weighed no more than a feather pillow.
“Wow…” Molly watched him in awe. He really was strong. Which she guessed made sense, considering how big he was. But still, she’d never quite realized it before. Maybe because the office work they did in their department didn’t include lifting any kind of heavy equipment.
“Come with me,” Commander Torus told her. “I’m afraid we’ll have to take one of the service shafts down to the engine room—the tram lines won’t take us there.”
Molly followed him out of her suite. She couldn’t help noticing that he was definitely walking slower and trying to accommodate her much shorter stride. It was very considerate of him, she thought.
Her ex, Zach, had been considerably bigger than her too—though not nearly as big as Commander Torus. It was one thing that had made altercations with her ex so scary. But he would never lessen his pace for her—Molly was always trotting to keep up or just plain getting left in the dust whenever they went anywhere that required walking. It was nice to be with a guy who gave a thought to their size difference and acted accordingly, she thought.
After a few twists and turns they came to a tall, narrow elevator shaft tucked into a corner between hallways. The silver door was curved, making it look kind of like a tube.
“Wow, I didn’t even know this was here,” Molly remarked.
“I wouldn’t have either if I hadn’t studied a schematic of the Mother Ship when I first moved here,” Commander Torus rumbled as he reached down to press the button. “They’re hidden all over the ship, though they’re mostly for maintenance purposes. I’m afraid it might be a tight fit though,” he added as the curving silver elevator door slid open with a whoosh. “Are you claustrophobic?” he asked as they peered into the narrow, round space.
“I don’t think so,” Molly said cautiously.
“Let me get in first and then you can decide if you want to come in as well,” he offered. “I’m not claustrophobic—a good thing since all the spaces here are tight for me.”
He climbed into the narrow silver elevator tube, bringing the duffel bag with him. Molly watched as he stood the bag upright beside him so that it took up less space. Then he ducked his head down to look at her.
“Would you like to come in?”
“Sure.” Molly squeezed in beside him, feeling a little awkward since she was pressed against his long legs. The top of her head barely came up to his elbow, which he moved considerately so she wasn’t so crowded. “Thanks,” she said, looking up at him.
“You’re welcome,” he rumbled.
The ride down to the engine room of the vast Mother Ship took a little time and it occurred to Molly that this was the first time—besides yesterday when she’d been so upset—that she’d spent any time alone with her boss. Being in an enclosed space with him made her realize something—he smelled really good. Like cedar wood and dark, masculine spice. She wondered what kind of cologne he was wearing.
She was afraid she wasn’t going to know what to say at first, but then he asked her a work-related question and she answered and before she knew it, they were chatting like old friends.
Of course, talking when they were on two different levels was difficult, but Commander Torus did his best to bend down in the cramped space and Molly found herself standing on her tiptoes looking up at him to try to get more on his level. Maybe she ought to invest in a pair of stripper heels like Karen Geners always wore, she thought.
Then she pushed the ridiculous idea away—they weren’t dating. Commander Torus was her boss and he was doing her a favor—a really big favor, actually. She still couldn’t believe he’d gone down to Earth and found Zach and beaten him up! Not to mention gathering all his computer equipment so she could be sure he would never send another compromising video of her again!
“Why did you do all this for me?” The words just slipped out as the tube they were traveling in slid sideways and then continued on a downward track.
“Do what for you?” he asked, looking down at her, his eyebrows raised.
“I mean, you went all the way to Earth and you beat up my ex and forced him to give up his gear,” Molly said. “That’s a lot for a boss to do for an employee. Not that I’m trying to say you’re, uh, interested in me or anything!” she added quickly, realizing how what she was saying must sound. “I mean, uh…” Damn it—her cheeks were getting red, she was sure of it! Why had she asked him that stupid question in the first place?
“Don’t be embarrassed, Molly.” His deep voice was a soft rumble and he reached down and brushed her hot cheek lightly with the back of one long finger.
Molly looked up at him, her face burning.
“Sorry. It was a dumb thing to ask.”
“No, it wasn’t. I did what I did because I felt your pain,” he said simply. “And because no female should be treated as you were. Females are to be protected and treasured, not hurt and humiliated,” he added and there was a fierce glint in his silver-gray eyes. “I don’t know why the males of your species can’t seem to understand that.”
“I don’t either,” Molly murmured, looking up at him. “I wish human guys were more like the Kindred.”
At that point the elevator-tube finally came to a stop and the door slid open. Outside there was a huge, dark space filled with the deep hum of heavy equipment working. Molly stepped out and Torus was right behind her, carrying the duffle.
