She followed him to the common, then along a passage to what she assumed was the bridge.The door was shut, but Cylo faced the opposite side.He pressed a wall-mounted square to the right, and a narrow panel opened onto a ladder.
“Up there is an observation deck.Use it for as long as you need to.”
She cupped his cheek, ran her thumb over his bottom lip, then climbed before she succumbed to the desperate need for a hug.A glance confirmed he watched her.The thought of her ass filling his field of view flooded her with delicious warmth.Yet the moment she stepped onto the deck and the hatch sealed, all emotions not her own faded.She crossed to the thick glass to press her temple to it.Before her…or rather, the scimitar, was the vastness of space with bright stars and constellations in the distance.This… Somehow, he’d known this was exactly what she needed.How could a man be that intuitive?Considerate?It couldn’t be just to get into her pants, right?
Her thoughts drifted to what awaited her at Demeter Station, which brought Pierce and her family to mind.Shit.She shimmied down the ladder and winced when a wall of emotions hit her, like she waded through quicksand.She swallowed, wrestled with her inner self, and managed, just, to tamp down the cacophony.Enough to think.With a trembling hand, she tapped on the door to the comm.
It swished open to a petite blonde sitting on an Etterian’s lap.They had to be Brenda and Fyca.Violet was the oldest woman among them with her lovely silver-gray hair.
“Um,” Wren said, her nostrils filling her with primal urges she wasn’t in the mood to deal with.“I need to contact my parents or someone on a station orbiting Pluto.”
“Not an issue, milady,” Fyca said, brushing aside Brenda’s hair.“Do you require privacy?”
Since only lust saturated the bridge, she could speak to Pierce without issue.“No, not really.”
Fyca pressed a button on the multi-lit console.“Cylo to the comm.”
Damnit.That wasn’t what she meant.There had to be a way to call Pierce without bothering Cylo.She pursed her lips and swiveled on her heel, planning on meeting him in the passage.
His strong thighs carried him toward her, his braid swinging behind his forceful strides.“What is it, ensa?”His concern preceded him like a force field.
“Can I speak to my family?I need to let them know I’m alive.”She wrung her hands.How could she have forgotten about them?She grimaced.Because the moment she made contact, she’d get arrested and imprisoned indefinitely.Her parents had dealt with so much when she’d first gotten arrested.
“Of course.”His hand at the base of her spine sent a shiver of heat through her.He escorted her through a door into large quarters.“Address the display vid with the full name of the person you wish to speak to, and it will connect you using their closest communication device.”
She faced the screen and tried to regulate her breathing.
“Do you require privacy?”
She shook her head.“Anthony Pierce, Demeter Station.”She held her breath as an image flickered and formed.
“Pierce here.”His handsome face was as clear as day.
“So much for Turner duty,” she said past the lump in her throat.
He whipped his gaze up and gaped at her.
In all the years she’d known him, she’d never seen him speechless.Her ordeal was almost worth it.Not.
“Wren?Where the hell have you been?”He glowered.“Your folks, your brothers, everyone thinks you’re dead or worse.You’ve got the entire station wondering where you went with your empty suit still tethered to the tower crane.”
She shrugged while pretending tears didn’t threaten to fall.“I got kidnapped,” she rasped.
“Leaving your suit behind?And why’s your skin purple?You better get your ass back here, missy.I’m done babysitting you, too.Do you have any idea how much shit you dumped on me?E.A.F.interrogated me as if I’d smuggled you away.Parole violation means imprisonment, y’know.For what?Some sort of joyride?”
“She does not lie,” Cylo growled, coming to stand behind her, coating her back with warmth.His fury made her square her shoulders, despite the swell of gratitude swelling her heart.
Pierce fell silent, nor did he blink.“Well…” He cleared his throat.“Who took you?”
“Yithians and Maloidians…for experimentation.”She waved her hand.“Hence the purple.Cylo rescued me and other women.I’m heading to the Etterian royal city in the hopes they can heal me.”
“I did say your jumps might get you killed.”Pierce rubbed his face.“I’ll inform your family.”
“Thanks.”Facing her parents would turn her into a blubbering mess.“If I survive this—”
“You will,” Cylo said, determination rolling off him.
She rested the back of her head against his chest.“I’ll deal with the fallout then.”
