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examining the old wounds with a new fascination. She lightly traced one scar down his back.
You were flogged?
Aye. Maymon cheerfully acknowledged the offense. But not since I took over me
own command. Though me first captain didn t take too kindly to repeating hisself. He
tapped the side of his nose. Turned into a right quick learner under his sail, I did.
Stuttering, Dr. Rice stepped away from the bed and pointed at Maymon s curved, lean,
scarred body. That s barbaric, you were only a child.
Humans have a long history of mistreating their young. Talos rested a hand on
Maymon s shoulder, earning him a bright smile from the pirate.
Rice bristled, but remained silent as Maymon proclaimed, What don t kill you, makes
you a stronger man. He shrugged and looked dubiously around him. I lived.
You are a strong man, runt. Talos ran an affectionate hand down Maymon s bare
back, enjoying the satiny feeling of the warm flesh.
74 Laura Baumbach
Startled, Maymon stared at him a moment, a puzzled look on his face, then smiled and
winked at the hunter.
Rice huffed and pointedly ignored the increasingly intimate interaction between the
two. You may be a strong man, but you re not a well one. Smoothing out her lab coat, she
crossed her arms over her chest and donned a serious expression. And that brings us back to
my original point. You re malnourished. Both your teeth and your eyesight have suffered
from it, as well as your bone growth. I adjusted the astigmatism in your eyes while you were
asleep, but I still need to finish repairing the damage to your teeth.
She can do that? Wide-eyed and open mouthed, Maymon turned to Talos, who
merely nodded. Flummoxed, the pirate blinked several times and squinted, trying to focus on
something across the room. He glanced up apologetically at Rice. It s my misfortune to tell
you, m lady, I think you might have made a wee bit of a mistake with me eyes. He repeated
his overly dramatic attempt to focus. Everything s blurry and all wavy like. He suddenly
snapped his head around and narrowed his eyes at Rice. Was there rum in your potion what
laid me out?
Rice struggled to hide a laugh. No, no rum, Aidan. The medicine I gave you earlier
was a sedative. You re still feeling its affects. Your vision will be perfect when it wears off.
Rice turned away to check her equipment. And this next part will only take a moment.
Still smiling, Rice looked at Marius and they exchanged amused, fond glances before
Rice began selecting pieces of equipment to work with.
The rush of hormones in the air sizzled down Talos s spine with every breath he took.
The air was ripe with the smell of his and Maymon s mutual attraction for each other, but
the added stimulus of the other couple was almost too much for the hunter to bear. He
wanted to shut down his sense of smell, but it was one of his best defensive weapons. His
need to protect the pirate was reaching overwhelming levels and his body refused to dampen
any of its instinctive, primal functions.
Nurse Amy returned to the bedside, taking readings from the monitoring equipment
using a small, glittering crystal device then pocketed it. The blinking, shiny gadget drew
Maymon s attention. He frowned in disappointment when she slipped it into her pocket
while she helped Rice prepare tools from the small selection on the bedside tray.
Talos engaged Marius in a quiet conversation, keeping one eye on Maymon. Amazed at
the young man s behavior, he watched as the pirate did what came naturally to him.
Using the sheet to cover his sleight of hand, Maymon casually and expertly picked
Amy s pocket, relieving her of the bright, shiny object. Unfortunately, once he had it, he
suddenly realized he didn t have anywhere to hide it. Startled by Amy as she unexpectedly
moved away, he hurriedly slid the crystal under the sheet, hiding it in the bulge between his
legs.
Amy only got a few feet away before she stopped and tapped her index finger in the
air, obviously remembering something. She reached into her pocket and turned back around,
Details of the Hunt 75
a puzzled frown on her face. She bent down to examine the surrounding floor and looked
under the bed.
Just as Maymon was about to pop the crystal into his mouth and swallow it, Talos
stepped forward and took it away, prying it out of Maymon s unwilling fingers. Talos handed
it back to Amy, who gave Maymon an exasperated frown as she readjusted its settings. Talos
wordlessly smacked Maymon s hand and forcefully shoved it under the sheet just as Rice
turned back to the bed, a new hypo in hand.
Eyeing the array of medical tools yet to be used, Talos said, While you re at it, Doc,
maybe you can tell me why he s the only human that can touch me.
Attracted to the silver instrument, Maymon tried to take the hypo out of Rice s hand.
Attention riveted on Talos, Rice calmly moved the hypo from Maymon s reach as if she was
dealing with a curious, overactive toddler.
He s probably the only one that wants to, Rice snapped.
Listen, sister ... The growl was back in the hunter s voice but this time it was more
aggressive than protective.
Marius immediately stepped forward. Talos, maybe you and I should wait outside.
They re almost done here, right? He looked hopefully at Rice.
That won t be necessary, Marius. She turned to Talos. I d need a tissue sample from
you if you really want to know why he s apparently the only human your skin doesn t burn.
Fine. Take whatever you need.
It ll be a pleasure. She handed the hypo to Amy. Amy, would you finish up with
Aidan for me while I peel some flesh from his keeper?
The nurse flashed Maymon a smile. He flirtatiously returned it, adding a wink and a
lopsided leer. Amy laughed and said, Certainly Dr. Rice. I d be happy to.
Thank you. Rice leaned down and checked Maymon s still heavy-lidded eyes. I ll be
right back. While I m gone, Amy will take good care of you, Aidan.
Maymon leered drunkenly up at the nurse. I ll take that as a promise. He looked
blearily at Rice, a serious expression falling over his now shockingly young-looking face,
concern clouding his eyes. I ll be thanking you to be kind to me keeper, m lady. He s all the
kin I got left now.
Rice frowned and swallowed hard, her eyes misting over slightly at the implied
message from the stolen young man. Aidan --
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