28. Jesse
JESSE
I quickly finished my coffee, marveling at how the replicator already had my preference programmed to just the right strength, the right ratio of coffee to milk, two sugars, and the perfect temperature to start slurping it down without waiting, too.
Genius. No messing about with grounds or pods or having to worry about running out of milk or sugar.
Sure, we had to make sure the replicator system had enough base matter stored for the entire household’s needs, but again, all we had to do was give it an eyeball every now and again, as Rosie and Bob took care of ordering that and changing out the container it came in.
My ass twinged as I turned to sit on the side of the bed rather than on it, and I sighed ruefully, looking at the empty cup.
Still, there'd be a fresh cup waiting for me downstairs, along with some French toast and bacon, and I wasn’t fool enough to turn that down.
I stood up, wincing as my ass twinged again.
The door opened just then.
“Just where do you think you’re going like that?” he asked me.
“I was going to go check out the shower. Figured some heat would help and maybe see if the replicator can make me some cream or something.”
“There’s salve in the medicine chest already.”
“But is it for internal use and sensitive areas like butts?”
He chuckled.
“Yes, my mate, it is. A large jar of it specifically for that. It’ll reduce inflammation and help numb it.”
“Sold!” I joked feebly.
“No shower, though. First, a quick bath with a short soak in some healing salts.”
“But breakfast—”
“Rosie will actually wait until Bob tells her we’re on our way downstairs, which we’ll have him do once we’re both dressed and heading out the door.”
“Okay.”
A warm soak did sound good, and it’s not like we were actually putting the droid out if she ended up waiting a bit longer than half an hour.
“Good. Glad you agree.”
I started to get up, and he frowned.
“Now where are you going?”
“Bath. You said there was stuff to soak in.”
“I was going to run it for you.”
“I’m perfectly capable of running my own bath, Johree.”
“I know, but I love you, and I’m the reason why you’re sore this morning, so let me help.”
Well, when he put it like that, how could I say no?
“Fine,” I said, deciding to make it an easy victory for him. I might be smaller than he was, but I was a grown-ass man who could get his own shit done, and I didn’t want him to slide into thinking he had to do everything for me.
“So stubborn,” he said, looking at me fondly before disappearing into the adjoining bathroom.
I limped over behind him, desperately needing to piss.
“Sorry,” I said as he turned around from the large stone-effect sunken tub. “I gotta pee. I’m absolutely about to bust.”
He nodded as if it were of no consequence, turning on the water to fill the tub.
Well, it’s not like I haven’t taken a leak in front of loads of guys in public bathrooms before, and he is my husband.
I went over to the toilet and made quick work of it before I could change my mind.
Why is this embarrassing when the public toilets weren’t? And I’ve been naked this entire time in front of him too, which wasn’t.
It was one of life’s mysteries.
I flushed the toilet and went over to the sink to wash my hands, watching in the mirror as he reached up to a shelf and took down a ruby-red jar.
He took off the lid and sniffed, then nodded.
Taking it over to the bath, he poured two large handfuls into his hands, one at a time, before sprinkling each one under the water rushing into the tub.
As the steam rose, a sort of lemon-and-herb scent rose with it, reminding me of the marinade Mom used to make whenever she made lemon chicken.
A wave of nostalgia hit me, sending a small pang of sadness that she would never get to meet Johree.
I decided to ask Bob to search the databases and see if he or Xeranos could find a copy of that recipe from her battered 1968 edition of the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook so Rosie could make it for us one evening.
That thought made me smile at how it would bring a small piece of her here to share with him.
After replacing the resealed jar back on the shelf, he showed me the one in the medicine chest hidden behind the mirror over the sink he’d told me about.
“I’ll have the doctor start adding a second label you can read, as you do not yet speak or read Dragonii or Galactic Common.”
“Um, yeah. So, I guess I’ll be having language lessons, huh?”
He pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“You can start with greetings and simple things like that.”
I laughed.
“Tourist-type stuff, huh?”
A grin tugged at his lips.
“Something like that, yes.”
He turned away to check on the water level in the tub. I heard the water shut off.
“It’s ready. Let’s get you in there.”
Without an edge to hold on to while climbing in, having him help me was a very good idea. He scooped me up, then crouched down to settle me in the water.
“You make me feel so small.”
He snorted.
“All humans are small compared to a Dragonii.”
“Fair,” I acknowledged, leaning back against the side of the tub. Whatever was in those salts was wonderful, sending small tingles across my skin, more of them wherever there was a sore or tender bit. “I might just live in this tub.”
“There’s no coffee in here or iced tea or anything to eat.”
“Party pooper.”
I didn’t complain when he tipped my head back and began massaging shampoo into my hair before rinsing it out.
The tub was huge, large enough for two Dragonii, so plenty big enough for the two of us.
I watched as he quickly washed his own hair and then soaped himself up.
Once he was clean and soap-free, he got out.
“Come on, babe. You need food.”
He held his hand out to me, and I took it, letting him pull me up to a standing position. Then, to my surprise, he ran a soapy cloth over me and used the jug to rinse me off before pulling the plug and wrapping a warm, fluffy towel around me.
“I think I’m starting to understand the appeal of spa days and owning a hot tub at your house.”
He snorted.
“That’s a normal Dragonii tub.”
“Man, I bet everyone who serves aboard y’all’s ships really hates those sonic showers then.”
He simply shook his head at me while he busily buffed me dry. My stomach growled as he finished.
“I can put the salve on myself,” I said firmly. “Dry yourself off so we can get dressed. I need to feed the monster in my belly.”
He gave me a quick kiss, laughing softly.
“Alright. Kiprr is waiting for us to join him anyway. I invited him to breakfast.”
“And you made him wait?”
He shrugged, looking very unabashed. Well, I at least had manners enough for the both of us this morning. I’d apologize to him.
“It’s a casual day, right?”
“Yes, my love.”
Sweatpants and a T-shirt it was. First, though, the salve and maybe some underwear.