“It is the best-kept secret in our part of the universe.” He glances down the hallway, back toward the exit I took from the club. “Phantom has never let anyone else know where it is… and they’ve stated they never will.”
“That’s probably a good thing.”
“Is it?” The words aren’t an argument, even though it feels like there’s more he would like to say. “Have a nice evening, Jennifer. Please do not hesitate to call on us if something arises that requires our attention.”
“I will.” Probably.
He smiles and says, “Be safe,” as the doors close.
CHAPTER 4
Mooralan opens the door, scooping me up and turning me through the door so quickly, I barely see the kitchen before I’m plopped onto the couch beside Ferrok.
“Hi,” I say breathlessly.
“Hi. Did you have a nice trip?” Ferrok presses his beak against my hand in a way I’ve come to think of as a kiss.
“No, but that’s neither here nor there.”
“I think it’s both hereandthere.” Mooralan says, lifting me up so that I’m on his lap while still between them. “What wasn’t nice?”
“You don’t have to tell us,” Ferrok says quickly. “Family visits aren’t always fun to relive.”
“Thanks.” I lean on him. “I don’t want to talk about my mom. But someone tried to steal my bag when I got back, and that was almost as irritating.”
“What?” They both sit up straighter.
“It’s fine. The station administrator took care of it. I got everything back; it’s fine.”
They share a glance that tells me theydon’tthink it’s fine. “It’s not that big of a deal. Promise.”
“We were going to watch a movie,” Ferrok says, changing the subject. “Have you seen it?”
The cover on the screen is completely unfamiliar. “Nope. Where’s the popcorn?”
There is no popcorn, but that’s okay. I settle in between them as the screen shows a group of friends on an interplanetary journey with plenty of hijinks, and I lose the plot quickly. My eyes get heavier with each passing moment.
I close them and the next moment when I open them, I am snuggled down in the soft sheets of one of their beds, tucked between them. All three of us are buried in blankets, and I let my eyes drift closed again, falling asleep while I wonder how bad it would be to let myself hope this could possibly be a part of my future…
CHAPTER 1
Mooralan groans and one of his hands grabs hold of my ankle, pulling me back into bed.
“Are you trying to sneak out on us?”
“I told you I have to go meet my sister.”
But Mooralan’s mouth on my throat and Ferrok’s fingers between my legs certainly threaten to make me late.
I’ve been sleeping here three nights a week for the last four. Usually it’s one of them who has a hard time escaping the other two of us.
And escaping is so hard.
“You get me tonight,” I remind them, unweaving myself from their arms—all of them. “The longer you try to keep me, the longer I’ll have to be away.”
Pretending to pout, Mooralan drops his head to Ferrok’s shoulder, inching to the side to close the gap I left behind. “I guess we’ll just have to take care of ourselves this morning.”
Hopping to pull up my pants, I manage not to give in to the urge to get back into that big cushy bed for another hour or two.
