Starfish

31.2

Nina gripped Ardus's knee. God damn it, why does this keep happening? Though there was no word on whether or not humans had been responsible, the sinking feeling in her chest could not be ignored. She knew Athe and Ardus wouldn't blame her for the actions of her species, but she lived on Dreenai, by Dreen rules, and Dreen were as subject to fear and suspicion as she was, evolved or not. She wondered if the Federation would evacuate her and the other humans, or if the Dreen authorities would come looking for them. Would they question her, or even detain her? Why would they, though? I have nothing to do with this. 

She felt Ardus's hand rest on top of hers and the weight of it brought her back. Nina looked up at him, a little of her worry dissipating when she saw the calm, deep blueness of his eyes and the even glow of blue and green on his skin. "Are you all right?" he asked her, his deep voice softened.

"I..." Nina swallowed at her own lump in her throat. "Yes, I think so."

"You look shaken."

Nina sighed, feeling a weight settle on her shoulders. "Well, I'm not happy, that's for sure. What if it's another attack?"

"That is not known," Ardus reminded her, "you are jumping overboard before you know the ship is sinking. For all we know it was an accident, with no blame for anyone." He reached out and laid his hand alongside her face. His palm was easily the size of her face, and Nina leaned into it. "Whatever happens," he assured her, "it will be all right. Evolution takes time."

"Wish some people would get with the program," Nina frowned before rubbing her cheek against his warm hand. Ardus gave her an amused half-smile and pushed his claws into her hair. "Perhaps if humans lived as long as Dreen, you would not be in such a hurry to see change. You would be able to observe the change as it happens."

"You're saying if I was as old as you are, I wouldn't worry."

Ardus tilted his head to the side. "I would say if you had more experience, though that comes with age I suppose."

Nina grinned. "Any more sage advice, wise old man?"

"Put it out of your mind for now," Ardus's thumb stroked her cheek, "if something does come of it, we will worry about it then." His claws on her scalp felt good, and Nina let him run them over her head for a moment. 

"Thanks, big guy."

Ardus smiled at her. "You are welcome." His hand left her head and rested on her shoulder. "What does your workload look like?"

"I still have a few more hours of footage to look at."

"Bring your tablet here."

"Hmm?" Nina cocked her head, but Ardus merely gestured for her to follow through. Retrieving it, Nina returned to his side and let out a squeak of surprise as Ardus scooped her up and set her on his lap. 

"I have been thinking about this all morning," he explained, "and I thought perhaps you would enjoy it as well." With his stomach and chest behind her, an arm on either side of her, and the massive desk in front of her there was nowhere to go and no way she would slip or slide off. 

Settling in, the feeling of his hard thighs under her hips bringing back the memory of sensations from the previous nights, Nina decided she liked her new perch very much. "Oh yes, this is nice." She tipped her head back, looking up at him, and giggled when she found his nose hardly half an inch from hers. "Can you work like this?"

"As long as you restrain yourself, and do not, er, wiggle too much."

"What's that?" Nina grinned, "I shouldn't wiggle too much?" She squirmed, shifting her hips and rubbing against his thighs.