He had hurt her, intentionally, lying to push her away. And now that he almost lost her, he regretted the words for ever leaving his mouth.
Before his feet hit the lower deck, Rylie came into view, hunched under a blanket and sitting alone in the interior lounge. The cases of his and Zeph's equipment were scattered everywhere. The kitchenette on the other end was blanketed in debris and the floor below his feet was soaked.
“I wouldn’t go down that hallway if I were you,” Rylie murmured, her voice hoarse. His mind and body flushed with relief.She’s okay. She’s in front of me.
“Why?” he whispered back, feeling he had to match his pitch with hers.
“Zeph’s with Janet, crawled right into her bunk before I had a chance to climb out,” she said. “He’ll be able to warm her better than I could. I think she was actually happy to see him.”
He looked down the pathway that led to the quarters before he turned toward the only thing he cared about, and sat beside Rylie.
He had tried to push her out of his thoughts, pretended she meant nothing to him, that he didn’t actually want her. Netto hoped putting distance between them would break their connection, but it worsened. He couldn’t imagine losing her now.
Images of the morning, the freezing water, the tentacles, and the guns filled his head. Rylie’s slight form was amongst it all. Netto clenched his fists.
He stared at her, knowing he was strained with worry, she gazed at him with little more than tired relief in her eyes. Netto wondered why he didn’t scare her.
“I'm happy to see you,” she said.
“I’m sorry,” Netto rushed out.
Rylie shifted under her blanket and turned her body toward him. He stiffened under her perusal.
“I’m sorry,” he said again. His metal heart lightened and he took a step toward her.
A small smile twitched the side of her lips and it took his breath away.
“I was worried...”
“Don’t.” He hooked a finger beneath her chin, guiding her eyes up to meet his. “I lied.”
She searched his gaze.
Netto continued when she didn’t respond. “I like your smell, your taste. You smell like home...you taste like the ocean.” He ran his tongue over his teeth, trying to find the words he needed to tell her.
“I didn't think I would see you again. I didn't want to leave you behind.” Rylie swallowed, looking away to roam her gaze over the wounds on his chest. They had begun to heal but were still raw and red.
“Why?” he asked, wanting her to elaborate. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and fill her with his heat.
“Because I would miss you. Because if you didn't return, I think that would've made me...I don’t know. I kept thinking of the last things we said to each other. I don't know why because they were horrible, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about them.”
Netto lifted his arm and hooked it around her back, silently, softly nudging her toward him, hoping that he could do for her as Zeph was doing for Janet. He still didn’t trust himself. He couldn’t go further with her, but he could at least mend the hurt he had caused her.
It didn't take much. Rylie was tired and receptive to his intentions. She shuffled into his side and curled up against him; their size difference made it awkward so he lifted her onto his lap.
This was worth everything to him, having her cocooned in his embrace, curled up against him willingly, where he could protect her the best and warm her up the fastest. Rylie melded into his frame.
Netto felt a flare of possessiveness course through him. He would never give her up; he would never let another man hold her like this. His fingers drifted from her head and over her back, petting her.
“This is nice,” she said.
“Yes.”
“I'm really glad you came back,” she whispered softly.
“Me too.”
It wasn't long before she fell asleep; it wasn't long before everything felt right in the world.
