The Exchange Part 1 by N. Isabelle Blanco Page A

back.
    I ignore the way my insides tighten at the distance. I ignore every throb my dick
     gives, although it feels like the effort of doing so robs me further of my strength.
     What's left of it anyway.
    Gage's next question slaps me with enough guilt to smother all three-billion people
     in this country. Eyebrows tight, expression concerned, he asks me, "Are you okay?"
    No. I'm so far from it that I'm sure I'll look back on this moment and laugh at it
     one day. A long, long time from now.
    But right now, I'm hard as hell and he's going to notice if he looks down. The last
     thing I should be thinking about is sex.
    Remember that moment before he left to rent the room? When I remembered who we are
     to each other?
    If his attraction for her is anywhere as strong as mine is, this can't be easy for
     him. I'm fucking up my A-game, and messing with his own.
    It gets worse. Guilt is present. I won’t deny it. I’m not usually the type to cockblock
     my comrades. But it also kills me that he might want her as much as I do and it makes
     me want to pull her back into my arms. Dry-hump the breath out of her in front of
     him, if necessary, to show him who she belongs to.
    Jesus. She’s not mine. Why the fuck doesn’t my mind get that?
    “His blood pressure is really low.”
    Holy shit. Sneaky little thing. Had she been scanning me while hugging me?
    Sapphire’s comment distracts Gage before he can happen to look down and see my current
     predicament. He takes her word for it and nods at a door about ten feet from us. “This
     one was available. Farthest one from the street.” He rushes to open the door.
    I push off the wall before either of them can think of carrying me again.
    Gage looks like he’s about to offer me his help anyway.
    I shake my head, hold it up high, and find my own way into the room.
    You know what they say about pride, right? Yep—as soon as I step into the room it
     all abandons me, along with my equilibrium. The walls of the room spin gleefully around
     me and I’m almost knocked off my feet.
    “Gotcha.”
    You guessed it. It’s Gage, saving my arrogant ass from a rough meeting with the floor.
    “Get him on the bed,” Sapphire says.
    She sounds worried again. I want to reach out to her, but my brain is engaged in survival.
     My BCI is as well. I lose control over my processors, and the emergency protocol becomes
     engaged. Now it isn’t just the spins I’m stuck with; it’s the flashing red image that
     overcomes my vision, and the bold white words that won’t go away.
    Biological systems at critical. Emergency medical attention needed immediately. BP
     at 60/40.
    In other words: I’m about to pass the fuck out.
    Gage sets me down on the bed. Sapphire urges me to lay back. The hood she’s wearing
     can’t contain her hair. Waves of it fall down over her chest and frame her face. Her
     expression is tight. Definitely worried.
    “It’s okay,” I say, hearing how pathetic and weak my voice is. Fitting, since that’s
     what I am right now.
    Sapphire shakes her head. The worry is replaced by a whole lot of pissed-off. “No,
     it’s not okay, so stop pretending you are. Shut the hell up and let me fix you.” She
     climbs onto the bed next to me with a small huff.
    Oookay then.
    Damn, she’s hot when she’s bossy. Can’t even be annoyed at her for ordering me around
     like that. I’m torn between wanting to salute her and reaching out for her.
    I raise my hand to do just that when Gage clears his throat. He remains by the door,
     eyes on Sapphire. “I’m heading out to try to find the others. Are you sure you’ll
     be able to fix him on your own?”
    Despite how blurry my vision is becoming, I recognize what the look on his face means.
     He doesn’t want to stick around and witness whatever Sapphire is going to do to me.
    Sapphire nods at him.
    I tilt my head, but don’t try to sit up. That shit won’t work and I’ve been embarrassed
     enough already. “Clark. Try to find him