Chapter Thirty-Four Corrina
I slowly come to consciousness, pausing when I realize that there is a warm body pressed against mine.
My eyes pop open when I realize that there is more than one warm body pressed against me.
It takes me a moment to remember where I am.
I had come to the haleens’ chamber last night to watch a movie as I often do.
A part of me knew I shouldn’t have, but I relented and joined them in the nest and must have fallen asleep.
I sit up slowly, feeling a slight tug from where Krish’s claws are still threaded through my hair as the memories come back.
They were fascinated by my hair when I took it down for a moment.
I had every intention of putting it back into a ponytail, but then they all wanted to touch it and run their fingers through it.
And it felt so good and so relaxing to let them comb their claws through my hair as the movie played.
Then I give myself a quick shake and carefully extricate myself from the nest, unwrapping Zann’s tail from where it is coiled around my calf.
Rationally, I know that I haven’t done anything wrong.
But that doesn’t stop me from entering my code into the console and checking the hallway cameras to make sure no one is outside before slipping out of the door.
I’m yawning as I round the corner nearest my chambers and then come to a sudden stop at the sight of Curran standing in front of my door.
His hand is raised to trigger the door alert, and for a moment I consider backing out of sight.
But then his head whips towards me and his dark brown eyes widen in surprise.
“Corrina Hammish-Sun,” he whispers. “Did you not sleep in your own quarters last night?” he asks.
“I fell asleep watching a movie with the haleens,” I say casually as I step up to the door and let us both inside.
“Watching a movie?” Curran asks skeptically, as his eyes fix on the hair that hangs loose past my shoulders.
“Krish was curious about how my hair felt,” I respond as nonchalantly as possible. “And then they all wanted to touch it.”
“Uh huh. Was there any other touching you want to tell me about?” he asks with a grin.
“You know they have no sexual interest in humans,” I say, starting to strip. “I’m going to shower. Unless you want an eyeful, you might want to go,” I tell him.
Curran turns in his chair away from me, but he makes no move to leave.
“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen you naked,” he replies. He is silent for a moment, then he raises his voice to be heard over the running water. “You said that they have no sexual interest in humans,” he observes.
“Yeah,” I reply, dipping my head under the spray and scrubbing my hair quickly. “They’ve made that pretty clear several times.”
“To you?” he asks with surprise.
“Not specifically, no,” I tell him, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around myself. “Just in general. We’re just friends, Curran.”
“The way you and I are just friends?” he asks.
I shrug. “Sure.”
“People thought we were sleeping together,” Curran reminds me.
“I’m not sleeping with them.” Curran gives me a look. “I’m not in a sexual relationship with them. Any of them,” I stress. “I just fell asleep. It’s no big deal.”
“It’s a big deal if other people besides me know that you’re spending the night with them. Even if it’s not sexual.”
I sigh as I pull on clothes. “They’ll be moving off base soon anyway,” I mutter.
“You planning to spend every spare moment with them when that happens like you do now?”
“I don’t spend every spare moment with them,” I protest.
“Corrina,” Curran says, giving me a look.
“Okay, fine,” I huff. “Maybe I spend a lot of time with them. But it’s nice to actually have someone to spend time with who doesn’t have any expectations of me.
Someone I can just, you know, be myself with.
” I sit and start to pull on my boots, then glance up when I realize Curran hasn’t said anything. “What?” I ask.
“You care about them,” Curran says softly.
“Sure I do. We’re friends.”
“Corrina. How long have we known each other?” Curran says with a sigh. He stares at me for an uncomfortably long time without saying anything else.
“Fine. Yes,” I say with a dejected sigh.
“I care about them. More than I should. But that’s my problem to deal with.
They’ve been very clear about their feelings about sex with humans, not to mention that they have no frame of reference for romantic love.
Plus, I care about them all equally and trying to have a relationship that is more with one of them would be impossible. So yes, we’re friends.”
“Okay, then.” He hesitates for a moment. “For what it’s worth, it’s a damn shame.”
“Yeah,” I agree sadly. “But the affection is nice, even if we’re just friends.
” Truthfully, the way the three of them show affection, not just to me but to each other, is amazing.
What I’m not about to admit to Curran is that I’ve quickly become addicted to their touch.
Even though it’s not sexual, I’ve gotten used to the feeling of them touching me, their bodies pressed against mine.
It’s become as natural as breathing to lace my fingers through theirs or lean against their muscular bodies, or have a tail or three curled around some part of me.
I’ve never known anyone who sought out physical contact the way they do, even in relationships that were far more intimate.
The irony isn’t lost on me - that the males who I most enjoy physical closeness with aren’t interested in a sexual relationship.
But then, romantic relationships have never been a strength of mine.