Read Online Steel Beneath the Skin by Niall Teasdale - Free Book Online Page B

for fun, but there were still a few issues that reduced that kind of activity. Now it seems to be “fuck anyone you think looks hot.”’ She reached back and dropped her towel on the table. Her leg stayed where it was, resting on the bedframe next to Patton’s hip.
    ‘Yeah, speaking of which,’ Patton said. ‘I can start up the air cycle in one of the spare rooms, or you can stay here if you want… but make a choice because I either need you or my vibrator about now.’
    Aneka smiled. ‘Thanks for giving me the option. Get the vibe, it’ll spice things up for both of us.’
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    Aneka walked with Ella to the hibernation chambers. On the flight deck, Drake and Patton were busy setting the flight plan to their ultimate destination, Bashford was setting things up for Aneka’s courses, and the remaining crew were already in their capsules. Cold-sleep was not exactly suspended animation, from what Aneka had been told. The body was drugged and fed with chemicals which prevented the formation of ice crystals, and then chilled down to sub-zero temperatures to slow body processes. It sounded distinctly unpleasant to Aneka, but she was not doing it.
    ‘We’ll all be waking up about five days before arrival,’ Ella said. ‘To do prep work and stuff.’
    ‘Uh-huh,’ Aneka said.
    ‘I could, um, get up earlier to help you with your exams, if you’d like?’
    ‘Sure, why wouldn’t I?’
    ‘Well, maybe because I was an inconsiderate slut last night? I was so thrilled with the idea that I could get you and Paul at the same time I didn’t think about how you might feel about it?’
    ‘Huh. Yes, you were rather inconsiderate, but I wouldn’t call you a slut. You get so enthusiastic about things that you don’t think anyone else will dislike the idea. I’m not used to this society yet, Ella. I’m not used to people assuming I’ll want to sleep with them, and I don’t really like threesomes that much.’
    ‘Oh.’ There was a pause. ‘I heard you managed to console yourself with Shannon.’
    ‘We bonded over our partners banging their exes. And she didn’t just assume, she gave me the option.’ For some reason Aneka felt like being a little cruel. ‘She’s really adept with a vibrator too. I came like a train.’ Sure enough, when Aneka glanced at Ella, she looked like a kicked puppy.
    ‘Oh,’ Ella said. The girl was so easy to read she might as well have had her emotions printed on her forehead.
    ‘Look, Ella, I don’t mind if you get up early, and I’ll be sleeping in the same room so if you do get up, I’ll be there. Just so long as you’ve got over your guilt. There’s no point. You had a good time, I had a good time, what’s the problem?’
    ‘Yeah, I guess.’ They turned into the hibernation room and Ella walked over to one of the white tubes lying in two rows down the room. She tapped in a series of instructions on the panel on the side and the clear plastic panel on the top opened up. ‘I’m getting up early,’ she said as she climbed in. She lay down and grinned up at Aneka. ‘I’ve got a couple of vibrators too.’
    Aneka laughed as the door closed over and Ella closed her eyes. There was a soft hiss as anaesthetic gas entered the chamber, and Ella’s body relaxed. Arms moved out from the top of the chamber, settling over Ella’s neck. Aneka turned back to the door rather than watch who knew what being pumped into the girl’s bloodstream. Patton was walking in.
    ‘Bash says to meet him in the cargo hold,’ she said as she headed for one of the empty sleep units. ‘Drake’s on his way down so you’ll be alone in ten minutes.’ She looked up from programming the unit. ‘Thanks for last night. The change was nice. Has Ella got over it?’
    ‘She will.’ Aneka started out and then stopped. ‘Doesn’t Drake have a first name?’
    ‘Mallory. He hates it. Everyone calls him Drake.’
    ‘Huh. See you in the morning.’
    ‘Yeah, morning for me anyway. Good