Mission: Planet Biter (Veslor Mates #4)(14)

“I’m a doctor,” the woman ground out.

“Apologies,” Roth sighed. “Can you lie flat for her, Vera? I will keep hold of your hand.”

Vera shook her head against his shirt and the firm, warm body under it. She released her fisted grip on the material and slid her hand up to his shoulder, clutching him there. “I just want to hold on to you. You’re my real alien. I’m not food.”

That was important. She just forgot why for a few seconds. Then she remembered the creatures outside the pods. They had started to devour poor Crystal like she’d been a dead carcass, only she’d still been alive. Her screams had helped the search team find her. Roth was an alien, but he didn’t want to eat her.

“No. You are not food. I won’t allow anything to happen to you.” Roth gently stroked her back as his gruff voice tried to assure her.

At least she hoped that was his big hand against her skin. It felt nice. Soothing. It also helped calm some of her fears. He wasn’t a figment of her imagination. First, she could feel him. Second, he wasn’t threatening to kill her like bigfoot had, or insulting her the way her father had. Her alien was trying to make her feel safe. And she did. As long as she could hold on to him.

“Don’t disappear,” she pleaded to him.

“I won’t leave you, Vera. I gave my promise, remember?”

“Goddamn it,” Dr. Kane huffed. “Miss Wade needs medical treatment, Mr. Roth. Not to be babied and cooed at. Step aside. If she gets combative, we’ll strap her down. You’re interfering with the treatment of my patient.”

“Shut up!” Vera shouted, terrified that nasty voice would make Roth disappear. “Roth isn’t my asshole father or bigfoot. He’s my good alien. You can’t take him away from me.” She burrowed even closer and clung to him tighter.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Dr. Kane yelled. “Move, Mr. Roth. It’s obvious she’s delirious. Let us strap her down before she becomes more combative. You’re not helping her. Leave, or I will call security.”

“Don’t go!” Vera started to cry. “I hate you, Dr. Cunt! That should be your name. You want me to lose my alien. He’s mine! You can’t take him from me.”

Someone chuckled.

“Don’t laugh, Nurse Amy,” the female doctor snapped. “That’s not funny.”

Roth growled low. “I’m picking you up, Vera. I’ll put you on my lap. That way you can hold on to me but the doctor can reach you. I’m not leaving.” He snarled that last part.

His hand slid across Vera’s back and wrapped around her. He released her hand and slid his other arm under her legs before lifting her. Then Vera felt him turn, taking a seat. It left her ass planted on two big thighs. There was material between her butt and him.

“You’re on my lap now.” Roth’s voice remained near her ear. “You need to turn your face away from my chest though so the doctor can see what’s happening with your eyes. It’s alarming me, Vera. The dark centers are doing bad things.”

Vera hesitated.

“I’m holding you,” Roth reminded her. “I won’t let go. Trust me. I haven’t lied to you, have I? Try to think rationally. You are drugged. You spoke of how it is doing bad things to your mind. You need help that I can’t give you. Allow the doctor to see your eyes. Please.”

She nodded against his shirt and forced her face away, twisting it to the side. Her eyes were open but she couldn’t see a thing.

“Shit,” Dr. Kane whispered. “The scans didn’t pick this up. It can’t be caused by a brain injury. That would have registered. I’m guessing the drug is the cause. It could be causing swelling to the optical nerves. I’m not an ophthalmologist though. Can you see anything, Miss Wade? Any light? Spots?”

Vera shook her head. “The darkness comes and goes.”

“That’s actually good to hear. That implies it’s probably not permanent damage. I’ll call in Doctor Zoner to consult in the morning if this persists, once some of that drug leaves your system.”

Vera turned her head back into Roth’s chest and closed her eyes. She tried to rock but his strong arms prevented her from doing more than just swaying a little. Her alien adjusted her on his firm thighs and slid his arm out from under her leg, wrapping it around her waist instead. It made movement easier for her.

She nuzzled against his shirt with her cheek. “You’re such a good alien.”

Someone snickered nearby. It was a man who whispered, “Does she think he’s a fucking pet?”

Another man whispered back, both of their voices loud enough for her to hear. “She’s doped up. It’s possible. I bet she wouldn’t be so calm if anyone told her that he’s the leader of the deadliest tactical team we have onboard right now.”

Someone chuckled.

Roth growled loudly. “She isn’t having problems with her hearing, and neither am I. Do you find this female’s distress amusing?”

“No,” two voices quickly stated.

“Clear the room,” Dr. Kane ordered. “Now. I’ll speak to the both of you later.”

Vera heard footsteps hurry away and then a loud sigh.

“This is not how I believed my evening would go when they said we had an emergency coming in. Here’s where we’re at, as I read more of the notes sent up from the surface.” Dr. Kane paused. “Every drug Dr. Hazel tried to counteract this experimental shit is what we’d use. They had a surprisingly well-stocked pharmacy down on that planet. Therefore, I believe the only course of action is to allow this drug to naturally dissipate. I’d guess it might take anywhere from thirty to possibly as many as eighty hours. I’ll get a better estimate by running more blood tests every three hours.”