{Reipon}

“Pablo!” Lynn screamed through her husband’s hand over her mouth.

He held her leg high by the bend of her knee with her back pressed firmly against a supply shelf. She stood on the tips of her toes to support what he took from her. What she gave. Hell, what she demanded.

And Pablo never said no.

Her husband let her down with a satisfied groan. “I love when you scream for me.” He pressed those full lips Lynn incessantly desired against her throat. Both of them glistened across their brown skin that glowed from their lovemaking.

Lynn kissed the palm of his hand as he removed it, feeling especially thrilled from their hidden engagement. “Mmm… I’d hate to disrupt your patients.”

“No, you don’t.” The smile Pablo gave her reminded Lynn of their earliest encounters. Sneaking around during the apocalypse to find one another alone in the convenient sense. Bashful, but determined.

Their lives were too full and not enough of it with their marriage.

Pablo cupped her chin and brought her gaze back to his. “Where’d you go? I lost you, and that’s not allowed.”

Although she tried, Lynn knew the smile she gave him was too soft and almost sad. “I missed you last quarter-night is all.”

“And all the other nights?” When she nodded, Pablo kissed her before sharing, “Me, too. I discharged Kyle earlier. We have tonight. Assuming I can convince Andrew to wait another full day.”

Lynn busied herself with reseating her shorts and throwing her t-shirt over her bra. “What about Triss?”

Pablo sighed and followed her example. She hid a smile as he got back into his scrubs. Even knowing he tired of them, she enjoyed how they enhanced certain assets of his. Something on a shelf caught his attention, and he reached for a gauze pack. “Triss has a special line to reach me. She’s… she’s not doing so good. If she calls, I’ll come right away.”

Raising a brow, Lynn amused, “Let’s hope she doesn’t abuse this power—”

His face.

Not since Invasion Day had Lynn seen every line of his face drawn so tight. He was distraught. “Pablo, I…”

He shook it off and cleared his throat. “It’s uncomfortable treating a patient you know you’ll lose, even with the amazing technology of nacres. I haven’t really shared that with anyone.”

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Lynn cupped his face and brushed his cheek with her thumb when he leaned into it. “I’m here. You can talk to me.”

Pablo patted her hand and shored up a reassuring smile. “Tonight. Right now, I’ve been away from my patients for an hour, and you’re missing girl time.”

“Do you think they heard us?” Warmth blossomed on Lynn’s cheeks. Not that she was embarrassed. Pablo was her husband, dammit. But maybe she could learn to control her volume for the dying woman in the next room.

Shrugging into his labcoat, Pablo barked out a laugh. “Hah! I plan to get an earful from both patients as soon as I return to my rounds.” He kissed Lynn’s forehead. “I love you, my sexy screamer. Have fun.” His fingers grazed the tattoo of their vows on Lynn’s chest.

She shivered and laughed. “That’s not getting rid of me, but I’ll go. Tonight, we’ll talk.” Blowing him a kiss, she backed out of the infirmary—

And into the sound of two Tritans still going at it in the pool above. It took every ounce of Lynn’s hypocritical energy to restrain herself from shouting at them to get a room. Instead, she mounted the stairs two at a time to the room with the most spacious en suite.

After two knocks, Tameka answered the door with dual dutch braids half-finished. “We’re just getting started. Pick a station.”

Lynn took in Sagan and Korac’s ocean view corner suite. Their kind host and hostess left the windows open, so the wind breezed through their white curtains. Very beachy. It smelled fresh and serene, if a little salty. Korac’s Verse played all around them.

Sagan braided Tameka’s hair, surrounded by an assortment of tools. Ross set up a mani/pedi station. There was a spot for facials and another for makeup, both championed by two Lyriks. The other avian women ran hot water in the tub for feet soaking. Two other Lyriks Lynn passed in the hall went to retrieve snacks from the boys downstairs.

This grooming ritual was a tradition of the three female Progeny soldiers—Tameka, Sagan, and Rayne. They’d dedicated at least one night a week to primping and relaxing back when the war afforded them that kind of free time. Now Rayne was trapped in a box probably on Enki, and the other two girls were lucky to do this every three months. They were also kind enough to invite the other girls around the house, but some were missing.

“Where’s Bethany, Pehton, and Miy?” Picking her way across the product and tool-littered floor, Lynn opted for the facial station. “I figured Miy would be down for this.”

Sagan smiled and answered through the pins in her teeth. “Bethany is with Korac.” Oh, right. The sessions. “And Pehton said she might come down in a bit. She was… uhm… recovering.”

Tameka glanced up at her, and they shared a knowing look.

The yellow-feathered Lyrik steaming Lynn’s pores explained, “Miy mourns. We all do. But hers is a private grief.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Of course. Lynn felt like asshole—

“While your apology is appreciated, it is unnecessary. There is much in this house tonight. It is easy to set things aside. Which is why we’re here.” She gestured to encompass the other Lyriks. “A welcome distraction.”

A silence fell on the room. It was comfortable and focused on their shared experiences in grief and battle. This event was necessary. Even with Korac’s recount of his truly dismal life playing all around them. Because he was proof-positive that this wasn’t the end—

“Has anyone else heard Lam and Tumu getting it on non-stop since we got back?”

“Unfortunately, I saw it with my own eyes.”

“Is anyone gonna limit couple time in the pool, or will they keep doing this until we start Phase II?”

“I heard Tritans could go even longer than Icari…”

Yes.

Necessary.