“So,” she said, capping her water container and setting it aside. “What are our options?”
I forced myself to focus on strategy instead of the elegant curve of her neck. “We could attempt to reach Henic’s position. If we can navigate the terrain and avoid whatever hostile forces cut off our communication, we’d have better resources with the combined group.”
“We’d have to reestablish contact and get their location,” she said, which was what my next statement was going to be. “And risk our…interlopers learning their location as well.”
“They may already know their location,” I said. “But true. They clearly know ours, since I gave Henic our coordinates when I explained what we’d learned about this tower and its purpose. But the other problem with that is the unpredictable weather conditions on the surface. With limited supplies and potential hostiles tracking us?” I shook my head. “Survival would be unlikely.”
“I agree.” Zara pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. “When we looked out from the communications room, what did you see?”
“Nothing,” I admitted. “Barren landscape for as far as the eye could see. No landmarks, no shelter, no indication of the vegetative areas Henic described.”
“So we could walk for days and never find them. Or walk directly into whatever dangers made the original inhabitants abandon this place.”
“That’s my assessment.”
She was quiet for a long moment, staring at the floor. “And staying here isn’t really an option either. Our food will run out in a few days, and we still don’t know how to shut down the weather control system.”
“We’re trapped,” I said bluntly. “At least temporarily.”
“Trapped with unknown aliens whomaybe hunting us, limited resources, and no way to contact rescue.” She looked up at me, and there was something in her expression that made my pulse quicken. “Could be worse, I suppose.”
“How?”
“I could be trapped here alone. Or with someone I don’t like.” Her lips curved in a small smile. “Instead, I’m stuck with my mate.”
The word sent a shot of heat through me.My mate. Mine to protect, mine to care for, mine to—
I clamped down on that line of thinking before it went somewhere that would make this conversation impossible to continue. My cock was making it hard to think as it was.
“Rivers…” I started, then stopped. What was I supposed to say? That every time she moved, I noticed? That the scent of her hair was driving me to distraction? That I was having trouble concentrating on survival planning because all I could think about was what she would feel like in my arms?
“Yes?” She tilted her head, watching me with those intelligent brown eyes.
“Nothing. Just…” I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated with my own inability to form coherent thoughts around her. “This is more complicated than I expected.”
“The mating bond?”
“All of it. The bond, the situation, the way I feel about you.” I met her gaze, seeing my own uncertainty reflected there. “I’ve never experienced anything like this.”
“Neither have I.” She shifted on the blankets, moving closer. “Is it making it hard to focus?”
Hard to focus.That was an understatement. “Yes.”
“Good,” she said, and there was something in her voice that made my skin flush with heat. “I was wondering if it was just me.”
“It’s not just you.”
We looked at each other across the small space between us, and the air felt charged with possibility. I could see the pulse beating at the base of her throat, could smell the faintscent of her skin mixed with the metallic tang of the recycled air.
“Torven,” she said quietly.
“Yeah?”
“Would you like to make out with me?”
I stared at her, wondering if I’d heard correctly. “Make out what?”
“Just…make out.” She grinned. “Oh! You don’t know what that is. Making out is kissing, caressing, exploring our physical compatibility. It can, and often does, include the removal of some clothing for more imitate touching.” Her cheeks were flushed, but her voice was steady. “I’m not ready for…everythingyet. But I’d like to know what it feels like to be close to you.”
