“I'm sorry. I'll take care of it. You should leave.” Netto didn't wait to hear her ascend the steps but turned back toward the quarters he had vacated.
The bedding that he’d been thrusting against minutes before was torn up, destroyed, just like she said. No, he could never trust himself with her.
Netto clenched his hands and tore the sheets away, picking up the pieces of the pillow, furious with himself. It was almost time for him to descend into the water, which was a relief because a communications blackout never sounded so good to him before.
A night of vigorous exercise would do him good. Getting away from the family and escaping into his own element might be the cure he needed.
“Netto.” He stopped and turned to see Rylie once again standing in the doorway. She chewed on her lower lip and his eyes snapped to the movement as he imagined sinking his teeth into that lip and doing it himself. She shifted from side to side but didn't say anything more.
She's going to tell me to leave. She's going to tell me she doesn't want me, that it wouldn't work out.He waited for her to speak.
“I...” Rylie began but stopped. His nostrils flared and he couldn't believe what he was smelling. “I... Damn this is hard to say.” She looked away and placed a hand over her stomach.
Netto continued to sniff the air, certain he could smell desire. A delicious nectar that made his body tense with need. His eyes dilated. He held his ground so he wouldn't force himself on her.
“What's hard to say?” he asked, unable to recognize his own voice, deep with need, as a frenzy built within him.
“I want you too,” she said at last in a rush. Netto wasn't sure if he heard her correctly and replayed the sentence over and over in his head. Rylie looked everywhere but at him, her eyes catching the shreds of cloth on the bed and the destroyed pillow between his fists.
“Can I kiss you?” she asked, her eyes finally meeting his. She trembled under his gaze. Her thrumming heart filled his ears.
Kiss me?He shook his head. “I don't think that's a good idea.”
Rylie visibly paled and let out an embarrassing sound of distress, but she didn’t run away.
“Is it because of your teeth?”
“Because I don't think I'll be able to stop with just a kiss.”
They stood in silence, each measuring the other's words. Netto couldn't believe it. He couldn't quite fathom this was even happening.
The smell of his seed was strong within the small quarters. It dampened the interior of his suit and, based on the twitch of her nose, he knew she could smell it, too. Like sea salt and cream.
“Maybe we don't have to stop at a kiss?” She took a step toward him, entering the room. “I’ve never been kissed before.”
His eyes narrowed. “Good,” he rasped out before he could stop himself. “But we should stop before the kiss.”
Rylie didn't move closer to him. She looked confused at his words, and the realization flashed over her face soon after. Her eyes closed in mortification.
The energy between them crashed like waves during a storm, but with each new wave, there was a moment of burning anticipation and brittle calm. Netto had chosen to calm the waters. Her face hardened and he saw her close herself off from him, not even a blush painted her cheeks.
The walls re-erected themselves.
“You're right.” She took a step back with a nod. “You're right,” she said again and turned to leave.
He grabbed her arm before she had the chance. His eyes snapped to her lips as they pressed into a desperate line.
They remained like that, neither one willing to make a move, unsure about which steps to take next.
He took in her face, her eyes, the puzzlement in them as her gaze searched his. Rylie looked at his mouth. Her breaths came out in short pants. The air was tight and heavy between them as he lowered his face to hers, stopping a hairsbreadth away.
The position was awkward, the angle uncomfortable, but he wouldn't change it for the world. The ship dipped under them, but he held her up and braced against the waves.
“Netto, what are you doing?” she whispered and the words kissed the short space between their lips. Netto briefly closed his eyes and savored the feel of them. The tension in her body melted away and she became pliant in his hold, the muscles of her arm relaxing within his grip.
“This can’t happen.”
“Why not?” Her hands came up to settle on his forearms, the touch light and unassuming.
