Whatever else she did, Ria would not let Cam be hurt by this adventure—even if she had to endure a lifetime with Dirt Bag FitzOsbern as punishment.
“How do you want to spend what might possibly be your last night here on Earth?” Cam asked.
Ria stared deeply into his eyes. “You know exactly what I want.”
“Do I?”
“Yes.” She stared at his mouth, lifting her eyes slowly to his desire-filled gaze.
Inhaling deeply, he said softly, “I want that, too.”
“What are you saying?” Ria tilted her head to one side.
“I’m saying that my wild, roguish nature just punched my honorable intent in the face and it went down without a whimper.”
“Go, wild, roguish side.” Ria leaned forward and kissed him hard on the mouth.
Cam held her, tightened his arms around her and kissed her back like…well, like a wild rogue finally let loose to do what he wanted.
Ria broke the luscious kiss. “Wait. I have an idea.”
Cam took a deep breath. “Idea?” he asked, sounding like he didn’t quite understand the word.
“Please, could we go to your property?”
“Tonight?”
“Yes. Please. Then when we wake up tomorrow, the view will be so lovely and perfect.” She grinned, feeling the heat come into her cheeks. They hadn’t slept together since karaoke night. She wanted one chance to wake up, with him, to the beautiful lake view. One last, flawless memory, just in case things didn’t go the way she planned when she informed her mother she wouldn’t marry Dirt Bag.
“For the record, from my perspective the view is always lovely when I wake up next to you. But if you truly want to sleep at the cabin tonight—”
“I really do.” Ria kissed his face over and over.
“—then your wish is my command.”
Cam quickly packed a bag. Ria picked up her faithful travel knapsack, the one she’d smuggled off the ship before sneaking away from the truck stop’s basement facility. It held the precious intelligence she’d obtained about the bus stop on the highway near the way station, the Earther dollars needed to ride it and the information that there was a karaoke bar in nearby Old Coot. She’d never have gotten away without it. The original plan had been to catch a bus right after the bar closed and be back in Alienn by two in the morning. Instead, she’d gone home with Cam.
Best decision ever.
Cam slung his bag over his shoulder. Ria slipped both arms into the knapsack straps and lifted it onto her back.
“Want to take the motorcycle?” Cam asked.
“Of course.”
Cam was her best decision ever.
The steady roar of an outboard motor crossing the lake woke Cam from likely the best sleep he’d had in his life. He felt the warm body snuggled against his side. He opened his eyes and saw a thick strand of blue-streaked hair. He inhaled deeply and a familiar perfume filled his lungs. Ria, soft and warm, was wrapped around him like his favorite blanket. Her long dark hair—with the streaks of blue—splayed over his chest and her arm cocooned them.
If he could stay right here forever, just like this, he’d consider himself a lucky man.
Morning sunlight poured in from the window and lit the cabin wall. Ria had insisted they leave the curtains wide open before they fell asleep. She wanted to see the lake first thing when she woke up. Cam wanted to seeherfirst thing when he woke up.
Mission accomplished.
Unfortunately, with the morning also came the cold, hard reality that he and Ria only had a few hours left together. He glanced at the battery-operated clock on the nightstand, noting the alarm he’d set would go off in half an hour.
