The thought should have terrified me, but as I felt Sasha’s breath warm against my skin, I knew I wouldn’t trade these moments for anything. After years in Inferno Force, risking my life in increasingly dangerous missions, I couldn't imagine being with someone who valued me for more than just my combat skills and willingness to charge into hopeless situations.
Sasha saw past the cocky warrior facade. She understood there was more beneath the tough exterior. She didn’t need me to be anything other than exactly who I was.
I was about to ask what she thought would happen when this was all over when the door to our suite slid open without warning.
“Rise and shine, lovebirds!” Serge’s voice rang through the room. “Time to get up and get to serious wedding planning! The cameras are?—”
He stopped mid-sentence as he took in the scene before him. Sasha and I were entwined in the rumpled bed, sheets strategically positioned but leaving little doubt about what had transpired. His purple hair blazed pink at the roots, as his eyes became shocked orbs.
Sasha had gone rigid against me, and I felt her breath catch in what might have been mortification or laughter.
“Oh my,” Serge said, his voice slightly strangled. Then he clapped his hands together with a forced cheer that suggested he was trying very hard to pretend he hadn’t just walked in on us in bed. “Well, the TV crew has arrived, and you’re very lucky I didn’t bring the cameras with me for the wake-up call!”
He spun on his platform heels, presenting us with his back as he continued his rapid-fire commentary. “Your friends from the Academy are also arriving at this very moment, so there’s absolutely no time to waste. Today’s schedule is packed for both of you because we have the wedding of the century to plan!”
“Serge,” I started, but he was already heading for the door.
“Reina and I will wait outside!” he announced without turning around. “Five minutes to make yourselves presentable, and then it’s showtime!”
The door slid shut behind him, leaving us alone in sudden, ringing silence.
For a moment, neither of us moved. Then Sasha’s shoulders shook, and I realized she was laughing, genuine, helpless giggles that made her whole body tremble against mine.
“Holy hell,” she gasped between laughs. “His hair turned pink!”
The absurdity of it hit me then, and I laughed too. If someone had told me a week ago that this would be my life, I would have recommended they see a medic.
“Well,” I said when I could speak again, “at least now he has absolutely no doubt that we’re a genuine couple.”
“Silver lining,” Sasha agreed, pushing herself up on her elbow to look down at me. Her dark hair fell around her face like a curtain, and her gaze flashed heat.
She leaned down to kiss me —soft and sweet and entirely too brief—before pulling away with obvious reluctance. “We should probably get up. As much as I’d like to stay here all day, we probably shouldn’t anger the wedding planner. Or keep the TV crew waiting.”
I watched as she slipped from the bed and strode toward the bathroom completely nude and absolutely breathtaking.
How many more moments like this would we have? Once the circus of wedding planning began in earnest, would there be any space left for the quiet intimacy we’d found?
I stood and grabbed the towel from where I’d dropped it, wrapping it around my waist as the sound of running water came from the bathroom. Through the open door, I could see Sasha moving around in the shower, and the temptation to join her was almost overwhelming.
But Serge was right. We were on a schedule now, and there were too many moving pieces to our plan to risk any delays, although I knew this story wouldn’t have the happy ending Serge envisioned.
Chapter
Thirty-One
Sasha
The inclinator whispered through the station’s interior, carrying Reina and me toward the Promenade level where we were supposed to select wedding flowers. I couldn’t stop thinking about Deklyn. My mind whirled with thoughts of how he’d held me through my nightmare, the reverent touch of his hands, the vulnerability in his eyes when he’d asked if I was certain, the way his eyes had gone dark when I’d fisted his cock.
How was I supposed to pretend to be engaged to him now, when part of me desperately wanted it to be true? The lie felt worse knowing that he wasn’t just some convenient ally whose heart I could toss aside when this was over. I’d never intended to fall for a cocky Drexian warrior, but the game had gotten away from me.
“The guest list is coming together just like we discussed,” Reina said, her voice bright with enthusiasm. “Earth dignitaries, military officers, media personalities. Everyone who’s anyone will be here. Serge is beside himself.”
I made appropriate sounds of agreement while my mind wandered back to the way Deklyn had looked at me when we were lying in bed, like I might disappear if he blinked too hard.
“You know,” Reina continued, studying my face with those large, knowing eyes, “there’s something different about you today. You have a glow.”
The observation sent heat flooding my cheeks. Was it that obvious?
