Bane came back toward her and Dharma studied each step he took. The mechanics in the brackets whirled and hummed. He exuded confidence and there was no off balance leaning. He prowled when he moved, reminding her he’d had his hands on her body. They’d kissed.
She rubbed her lips. Her first willing kiss. Years from now she’d remember and cherish this moment. If she let herself.
Dharma pulled out her data pad and jotted a quick notation. “We should remove the brackets. Unless there was a reason Reika wanted you to continue to wear them?”
Bane shook his head. “I’ve been up and about for a couple of days now. She was being cautious but said we could remove them today if I felt up to it.”
If the way he moved was any indication, he clearly felt up to it.
“Alright. I can assist with the removal.” She’d done it several times with and without a medic present.
As if he couldn’t wait to get back to his room, his strides were hurried now. Dharma kept pace, only losing her composure when he stopped at the automated shaft. It made sense he wouldn’t attempt the stairs yet. He was still familiarizing himself with walking again.
She contemplated making an excuse and sending him ahead while she raced through the stairs to meet him.
The door slid open, taking the decision from her. Bane nudged her forward before she could protest and selected the eighth floor. The door shut behind them on a soft sigh. She tensed and rubbed her hands up and down her arms.
“Dharma?” Bane glanced in her direction.
They were standing at opposite ends of the enclosed space. So tight. Shadowy.
Her throat clogged as remembered pain and fear crowded her mind. Dharma rubbed her arms harder.
“Dharma, I’m sorry, I forgot.” Warmth at her lower back.
She jerked her head up and realized her teeth were chattering. Bane had moved into her side and placed his hand on her.
“Almost there.”
The reassurance did nothing. The display flashed to four.
Hurry, hurry, hurry.
Five, six.
Her heart pounded out a fierce beat against her chest and her pulse leaped wildly. Pain. Such pain tearing into her. Her hands flew to her head and she cried out in remembrance.
“I’m here.” Bane moved even closer, his arms going around her as he pressed Dharma’s face into his chest. One hand smoothed over her hair before cupping the back of her head, the other applied the slightest pressure at her waist, nestling her into the sheltering curve of his body. “A little longer. Almost, Dharma.”
She couldn’t see the numbers anymore, her breath stuttered. She was about to shove away from him on a scream when the door opened. Bane lifted her in a half-hug and walked out.
The fog cleared slightly. “Your legs. You shouldn’t be lifting me.”
He continued to carry her, not stopping until he reached his room. At the door, he slowly lowered her to her feet. He opened his door and guided her in.
Embarrassed at the unseemly breakdown, Dharma avoided his gaze. “I should be the one apologizing.”
“I should have remembered the reason you took the stairs. I won’t forget again.”
Hoping to divert his attention, she dusted her hands together. “We should get the brackets off. It’s best if you start walking without them to avoid any dependency.”
***
Bane masked his rage at the fear he’d unknowingly caused Dharma. Her face was still ashen. It was obvious the brief ride in the automated shaft had truly shaken her.
Despite security efforts, the identity of her attacker hadn’t been discovered. Someone had tampered with the identi-badge system and no one could decode who accessed the stairway after Dharma entered.
His fingers flexed at his side. If he ever found out who it was...He let the threat die off. There would be no retribution on her behalf because Bane was leaving.
As soon as he contacted Torkel with the final update, arrangements would be made for his return. Once he had a release from Medic Tao, he and Dharma would part ways. He gritted his teeth, not wanting to think on that.
“Are you ready?” She waited at the side of his bed.
He grimaced and sat in the chair reserved for visitors. Since Hunter repaired the damage to his cybernetics, he avoided his bed as much as possible.
Dharma tipped her head in inquiry but didn’t question his move. Something he admired about her. Unlike the other medic assistant, Caris, she didn’t probe, allowing him a measure of privacy in an environment where staff had access to everything relating to his physical state. It was frustrating no matter how much he understood it was standard practice.
Dharma walked over to his side and dropped to one knee between his parted legs. “This is a fairly easy process.”
Her choice of position stoked his arousal. He thought he’d tamped it down entirely after their kiss. Bane stared at the top of her head. As always, she wore the deep brown waves pulled back and bundled in a round little ball at her nape. A few strands teased the back of her neck. If he bent over, he could lick a trail up her tender nape and make his way to nibble the slight curve of her ear.
“Just do it,” he said.
She reached around his hips, leaning forward at the same time. The material of her uniform tightened across her butt, the line of her thighs visible as she stretched. He moved his gaze away from those danger zones only to confront another issue. Her current position placed her face practically in his lap. Bane muffled a groan and leaned back as far as possible in the chair.
Dharma didn’t notice. Her hands were brisk and practical as his shorts were unceremoniously shoved up to reveal the walking aids he’d worn for several weeks. Her fingers brushed over the bare skin of his sensitive inner right thigh.
The hair on his leg rose from the light contact. Bane clenched his teeth to control the rasp of pleasure. She ran her hand over the mechanism, muttering under her breath. A latch clicked, followed by a pneumatic hiss. The rounded end of the bracket pushed away from the metal length that ran along his leg.
Hold on,” Dharma murmured.
She was so close every breath sent a wisp of sensation over his crotch. It was nothing short of torture. Her hands slid down and eased away the bracket with care then set the attachment to the side of her bent knees. Bane alternately wished and prayed for her hands to slip directly to the apex of his thighs, where he burned and ached for the smallest touch.
She switched her attention to his left leg, hands sliding up his thigh as she sought the locking mechanism on the second bracket. Bane held his breath at the snick, hiss and ejection of the knob. It wasn’t until Dharma unlatched it and sat back on her haunches that he released it on an expulsion of air.
Every nerve in his body was alive. His breathing sped up and he wanted to push the back of her head forward and direct her mouth to his body. Any part would work.
“You seem to be walking fine unaided, but be sure to rest in between sessions,” she said into the silence.
Without looking up at Bane, she briskly massaged his left leg with firm, even strokes. She started at mid-thigh and worked her way down toward the muscles in his calves and lower leg. Sparks flickered to life from her touch and Bane couldn’t have imagined anything so pleasurable being this painful.
Many nights he’d longed to have her hands on his body, stroking, caressing. If she had given the slightest sign she wanted his attention, he would have pursued his interest in her. Her touch now was his dream or nightmare come true since she seemed utterly unaware of the effect she had on him.