Chapter 14
The Next Morning
MarIK growled with frustration. “My comm link still has static interfering.”
“If not for me, you would have been on that shuttle and headed to safety with the others.”
He looked at her, frowning. “I would never leave you.”
“What are our options?”
“We have a little time before these caves are discovered. I could backtrack to where the rebel ships are hidden and steal another ship.”
“Then let’s do that.”
Hesitating, he knew she was going to argue with him over this next part. “I think you should remain here.”
“What?”
“I can move faster without having to slow my steps for you, and, if my warriors return here, at least you will be here to tell them where I went.”
Just the thought of him not being here when his men come back had her feeling angry and frustrated, but mostly scared. He was being smart about this and it was something she couldn’t argue with. “Damn it! I don’t like it but it makes sense. Fine, I’ll stay here.”
MarIK thought she was adorable when she was irritated. Moving to take her in his arms, he kissed her soft lips, loving how she felt in his arms. “Thank you for not arguing with me about this.”
“If you had said it was simply to keep me safe, I would have. But, you used logical reasons and I can’t argue with that. Promise me, you’ll return to me.”
“There isn’t anything in this universe that would keep me from you. I have deep feelings for you. I know this isn’t the right time to say it, but I’m beginning to feel love for you.”
Sharon smiled up at him, “There’s never a bad time or a perfect time to tell someone that you love them. I am falling for you, too.”
“When I return with the shuttle and get us off this luna, we can discuss where we want to take this — that’s if the Katierans don’t lock me up and prosecute me first.”
“Never. That’s never going to happen. I won’t let it and neither will StrykER and Melody.”
“You met them?”
“Yes, and they will defend you because they owe you their lives.”
He didn’t want to let her go. “I don’t like leaving you.”
“Honestly, I wish I had a weapon.”
“I could leave you my phase ray. Do you know how to use it?”
“I do, but no, don’t leave it. You’ll need it in case you run into OrIN or the Morins.”
“What if I leave the comm link here and you can keep trying to get through the static?”
“Yeah, that will give me something to concentrate on while you’re gone.”
MarIK removed his comm link and placed it in Sharon’s small ear. Even her ears were cute. “The comm link will adjust to the size of your ear. I have already set it on the secure channel I was using with my team.”
They looked into each other’s eyes for a moment more before MarIK turned to leave the cave. As he got closer to the opening, the available oxygen in the air thinned, so he pulled on his helmet and secured it. Everything male in him demanded he stay with Sharon and protect her, but if they were ever going to make it off the luna, he had to leave now.
*****
Sharon paced the cavern once more. She had put on her body suit and went to the opening of the cave something like fifty times since MarIK had left, until she started to worry about how much oxygen her suit had left. She had tried the comm link just as many times.
