Cifer dropped his hand, and she regretted her attack immediately. Her past with Varik wasn’t Cifer’s fault. Nor was the current situation. She opened her mouth to apologize, suddenly at a loss for words.
“Blaize?” Cyra’s voice yanked Blaize away. “Can we get a speed burst? Bump us into the Cassan sensor range and away from Varik so we can land first?”
“Yes, Captain.” There were multiple ways to get a quick thrust. Since she didn’t have to worry about burning fuel because they could reload their EMF rods on Cassan, her options were nearly limitless. She logged into the engineering systems.
Cifer moved closer to Bodi.
Blaize couldn’t help the flare of jealousy that pumped through her veins.
“We need to string him along,” Cifer said. “Ask what he wants as proof that the image of the bomber is current.”
Bodi laughed. “He’s not going to go for that.”
Cifer tilted his head. “Never know. Oh, and tell him the person on your ship says Varik owes him.”
Cyra snorted. “Now he definitely won’t reply.”
Blaize let her fingers fly over the keys, sending commands to the engine system. “Strap in.”
Veda, Cyra, and Dez dropped into their usual chairs. Bodi and Rhysa grabbed their harnesses and clicked them in place. Cifer’s head swiveled and finally settled on an empty station to Blaize’s right.
“Hurry,” she said.
He leaped and cleared the space in one go, dropping perfectly into the chair. Blaize gawped at him. She’d known he was flexible, but the jumping thing was new. Again, she didn’t know this male well enough to be as attracted to him as she was. She closed her eyes and gripped the arms of her chair. The micro-burst of speed was over almost as quickly as it had begun. She softened in her chair, letting her body return to normal.
“Gross,” Cyra said. “That was nearly as awful as a bridge crossing.”
Dez rose and went to the captain.
“Sorry about that,” Blaize replied.
“We’re in live communication range of Cassan,” Bodi announced.
“Good. Let them know we have an unknown ship following us and ask for early docking. I’m going to my tank.” Cyra left the bridge without a second glance. Dez followed closely behind.
Fingertips grazed Blaize’s cheek, sweeping her hair back. “Are you okay?”
She turned to face Cifer, wishing his touch didn’t feel so comforting after the assault to her system.
“Fuck. That was awesome. I had no idea this ship was capable of that kind of speed.” Rhysa grinned. “Better than sex. Almost.”
Veda laughed.
“We could test that theory.” The statement licked at Blaize’s ear and dissipated to nothing. She blinked. Had she heard Cifer correctly? He’d already moved back to Bodi.
“Any response?” Veda asked what all of them were likely wondering.
Bodi tapped on the keys in front of her. “Nothing.”
That didn’t mean Varik was done harassing them. Blaize freed herself from the harness. That asshole didn’t give up so easily.
Cifer followed her from the bridge. “What now, Beauty?”
“I have to check on the engines. The burst was not without risk to the systems.”
“Where you go, I go.” He matched her pace down the corridor.
His words wrapped around her heart like they were the truth. Her brain rattled with possible future scenarios of Cifer and her. She couldn’t turn it off until she had something else to focus on, like her engines. No matter how fast she moved, he remained right with her.
