“Asshole,” I would grumble before taking off the commlink to shove under my pillow. But I’d still peek from time to time and curse myself for doing so.
While Iylene and I charted a path, the survey team remained at the habitat. The flora sat as a vast field surrounding a lake that we wouldn’t risk going toward. However, Iylene noticed the bugs that bombarded us during our first week. They flew over the flora without hindrance. As they did, their legs spread open like budding flowers. Camouflage. The survey team would have a field day with the scan we got.
We landed the shuttle not far into the afternoon, having finished up seeing what we could. Iylene sent the survey team everything we learned through the commlink. We worked out a route believed to be a safe path to the mountain. Much to the survey team’s chagrin, Roys gave a strict order that our team would go first to make sure that route was safe before taking them the following day.
Once we shut down the shuttle, the engineer approached, cursing more than me. Ever since the flora attack, she had been checking every day as if we were at fault for the damage. I only did what had to be done, but she gave me the stink eye every time. Literally because she was a Noveanea, which naturally released a peculiar odor that, apparently, communicated with their species. They didn’t have mouths, so they communicated to the rest of us through sign language. Her favorite sign was telling us to go fuck ourselves.
I got out of her way, heading with Iylene toward the habitat. We returned early. I planned to take a little nap when…
“Ethin.” Roys stood in the yard, breathing heavily from finishing up his daily workout.
My traitorous eyes enjoyed the view. His pants hung low on his brawny waist, where sweat followed every line of muscle. A pair of armguards traveled from his wrists to halfway up his biceps. All I could think about was running my tongue over his exposed skin because my dick didn’t care if we were angry with him or not. He had no right to be so tempting.
He gnawed his bottom lip. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”
I hesitated, feeling a response building in my throat but I clamped my mouth shut and kept walking. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I made Iylene snort. They got through the doors before me. Roys grabbed my wrist. “Please give me a chance.”
“My answer remains the same.”
Roys used his body to shield the entryway. He dropped his hands to my hips, which I hadn’t expected because that’s too personal, too close, and right in the open. The engineer could see us, or anyone could walk out and wonder why the captain was being so handsy with his most annoying officer.
But I didn’t want him to let go. Three days, and my body felt like it hadn’t known him in years.
“Five minutes,” he said, those blue eyes trying to keep me trapped in his orbit.
I shoved his hands off and stepped back, even if every nerve in me screamed, because being near him made my brain fuzzy. “There isn’t anything you need to say to me. I’ve been piloting the shuttle, as ordered, Captain.”
Running a hand through his hair, he muttered, “Four days isn’t enough for you to cool off.”
“What do I need to cool off from? We are perfectly fine.”
“You told me to die.”
“And yet, here you stand.”
Roys opened his mouth. Maddy stepped outside at the perfect moment. Our eyes met. She saw a plan she couldn’t escape. I tugged her to my side without thinking of the potentially deadly consequences.
“My sister and I have important matters to discuss, so go away,” I said.
“What?” She yanked in a futile escape attempt.
“She has a bad memory—”
“Bullshit.”
“So, I have to remind her what we need to talk about. Come along, Maddy.” I walked into the habitat, dragging her while she complained about a smoke break.
Roys could bother me in the communal area, so I went toward the survey team’s living quarters. He could pester me there, too, but it felt like a potentially better option. We made it through the doors into their lounge. Theirs was smaller, simpler, with a few chairs and books scattered on the tables. Someone had music playing from the lab, heavy metal that made my ears hum.
Maddy ripped free. The bridge of her nose wrinkled. “What was that about? You’re interrupting my break.”
“I wanted to get away from the captain.” I observed the doors for the man in question. He never showed up. My heart couldn’t decide whether to rise or fall.
She crossed her arms. “Yeah, well, I’m not some excuse for you. Work your shit out on your own.”
“You just happened to be the one who came out at the time I needed it. I would have used anyone else to escape.”
“Noted.” She went toward the exit.
