Page 82 of Bound By Stars
“Did you know they call Mars’s moon Phobos the ‘doomed moon?’” I can’t see the little misshapen rock. It’s too small, too far away, but it’s out there.
“Yes,” he says through a breath, still panting from the run.
“It’s crashing into Mars.”
He slowly shakes his head. “Fifty million years from now.”
“It might be slow, but it’s still crashing.” I wipe my hands over my wet cheeks.
He steps closer and the ache builds inside me. “I know what you’re getting at, Weslie, but we’re not doomed.”
“Of course we are.” I meet his stare. “Even if you weren’t engaged.”
“I’m not engaged. It’s not settled. It’s a business arrangement made by our parents. But deals change all the time.” He reaches for my hand.
I pull away, pushing off the icy window and moving farther down the hall. “Go back to your people. You shouldn’t have followed me.”
“I don’t want this. Skye doesn’t want it. We had a plan. It doesn’t have to happen.”
“But neither of you warned me. You just let me…” I walk faster. I knew by their faces that they both knew what was coming before it happened. Somehow the confirmation makes it worse.
“It’s my fault. I asked her not to say anything. I thought I could stop it before it was announced.”
I whip back around. “So you lied, and you asked her to lie, too. Do you think that makes it better?” First my mother, then my bot, and now him. Can I not trust anyone in the universe aside from myself?
He steps close, reaching for me again. “I didn’t want to mess this up.”
I shake my head, backing away. “We both know this ends the moment we step off this ship.” I turn to leave again.
“No.” He grabs my hand, his grip delicate like he’s asking me to stop.
I exhale and meet his eyes again, pleading with him to let me go. “I can’t pretend this is real anymore, Jupiter.”
“This”—he points between us—“is more real than anything in my life has ever been. You and me. I can’t walk away. I don’t want this to end when we get off the ship.” He steps closer, so I can feel his warmth against the thin fabric of my dress.
“I’m still an Earther. You’re still an heir. We’re literally from different planets.”
“The only thing that separates them is space.” His gaze is unbroken. Eyes pleading and soft. He squeezes my hand.
“It’s a lot of space.” Another treasonous tear rolls down my face.
“And we’re already crossing it.” Jupiter brushes his thumb over my wet cheek, his fingers grazing my jaw. “Tell me to leave you alone and I will.”
I press my cheek into his palm and close my eyes.
He rests his forehead against mine, the way he did on the dance floor, sending electricity running down my neck through my body.
I lean my weight into him, pressing my lips to his.
He grips my waist, following my steps backward until my shoulders hit the cold window, and I gasp into his mouth.
He kisses me deeper, pinning my body between his and the glass. Two extremes. Hot and cold. All my senses fire off. I can’t think. I can’t breathe. But I don’t care.
His grip tightens on my hips, and I lace my fingers into the back of his hair.
Chest heaving, he draws back. His voice is breathy. “Weslie.”
I kiss him again, not ready to let go of this perfect moment outside of reality.
