Her mouth parted on a gasp.
“Good.Now you know.And when the time is right, I expect you to be as vulnerable with me.”He snatched a kiss, then another, sprawling her onto her back to dust her cheeks and eyelids with the barest of caresses.She giggled and squirmed, her fingers digging into his shoulders.
“My apologies, Cylo, theNahatyris two hours away.”Fyca’s whisper through the O.D.I.must have been audible to Wren; his intrusion weakened her smile.
“How is that possible?”Cylo asked while brushing hair off her face.
“Durok increased our propulsion, and since theNahatyrwas already at max speed, it closed the distance between us sooner.”Fyca cleared his throat and added, “The lima kuu will be within porting distance in an hour.”
“My thanks,” Cylo said, sadness crushing his chest in a vise grip.
“What is it?”she asked.
He touched his temple to hers.“We have run out of time, thamani.”
“No.”She shoved at him until he leaned back.Her face was pale, her eyes wide.“They’re here?”
“Almost.”He sank onto his backside and stared at their uneaten picnic.“I can no longer be selfish.”He offered her a tentative smile but couldn’t manage to keep it in place.The light glinted off her gift.He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm.“Thank you.”
She leaped to her feet.“If you abandon me, Cylo, I promise you, I will be such a pain in your ass—”
He chuckled.“I look forward to the experience.”
She blinked at him then huffed.“Where I go, you go.”
“Truly?”He smirked and ran his gaze over the ‘V’ of her garment, accentuated by her ragged breathing.“Cleanse with me, sleep beside me, dine with me?”
She stomped her foot.“If you get off this ship, I’m coming with you.”
“Fair enough, minus cesu.”He rose to his full height and gathered her against him.
She rested her chin on his chest while looping her arms around his waist.“Thank you.”She sighed and pulled away.“Let’s clean this up and head to bed.”She glanced at him and grinned.“Separate beds.”
“For now.”He dropped a kiss on the crown of her head and started to gather the discarded food items.The black sliver of her undergarment caught his attention.He tucked it into a pocket, hoping she didn’t notice.
“And maybe you need to…” Her cheeks glowed.“…Cover all that.”She gestured to his undone pants.
He threw back his head and laughed.
Chapter Twenty
“Can’tsleep?”WrenaskedQaff as she headed for the rehydrator in the common.
Cylo had said something about changing into his armor.He’d cast a glance at her wrinkled dress.His gaze had lingered on her cleavage, his desire bathing her in renewed joy.The man had game.Damn, if her body didn’t tingle in anticipation.Especially with his memories hitting her.A dreamier version of her sprawled beneath him had indeed been beautiful.She blushed at how he saw her.
“Not with the lima kuu about to port.”Qaff’s voice snatched her from her thoughts.“They will have many questions before I leave.”
“Where are you going?”She sank onto the bench in front of him.
“I will travel with theNahatyrto Yithia.Olin, myself, and Hiossu will aid where we can.”
She coughed, choking on a sip of coffee.“Hiossu, too?”
“His suggestion.”Qaff stared at her cup.“What is that?It smells interesting.”
“Coffee.Let me get you a cup.”She ordered for him and slid it onto the table.“I chose it sweet and creamy for you, but how you prefer it is for you to discover on your own.”Again, she sat opposite him.“Tell me, Qaff, why isn’t Cylo my Eth?”
He hummed between slurps, the cup’s rim almost resting on his lip.“As I told Cylo, the Ethera triggers when the Eth sees all of the Dar Eth, but you are purple.”
