A fireplace? Here?
Krystal walked closer, curious, and discovered it was an ingenious holographic display unlike anything she had seen. She laughed in surprise, becoming so drawn into its workings that she barely registered the elevator door opening behind her. She spun at the sound of booted feet on the wooden—was it really wood?—floor.
“T’arq,” she cried and ran toward him, tripping on the long length of her skirt and tumbling toward the floor before being swung into his powerful arms.
“Steady, kitten.” He chuckled, setting her on her feet and smoothing a hand down the silken length of her dress. He was still in his combat armor, the dark gray standing in stark contrast to the muted furnishings in the room. “What’s all this?” He gestured with a hand to the room, his gaze stilling as he took in the bed.
“Um.” She cleared her throat. “It’s a surprise. For you. For us.” She fiddled with her skirt, lifting and dropping the fabric between her fingers.
This had to be the scariest thing she had ever done.
“A surprise,” he repeated, head tilted to one side as he bent to pull his boots off.
“Yes. We hardly see each other and I wanted to…” she trailed off as she watched his hands go to the clasps on his armor and pull it loose to clatter to the floor in a pile.
“You wanted to…?”
Drat him. What was she saying?
“I wanted…”
He slid his arms free of his chest covering and dropped it to the ground, his hands going to the closure on his pants and snapping them open.
“You wanted?” He grinned, obviously enjoying her discomfiture as he slid the fabric down his legs to stand naked in front of her.
She spun away from him, turning her back and began speaking again. “See? You take your clothes off and I can’t even think, let alone say what I want to say.” She went so far as to stamp her foot in frustration, the lightweight shoe making hardly any noise, much to her annoyance.
“Pretend I am clothed then.” His voice came from further away now and she turned to see him climbing onto the bed that filled the center of the room. His bronze skin stood out against the crisp, white sheets and she pressed a hand to her chest.
“But you’re not!” She wailed.
He took pity on her and pulled the sheet up to cover his groin. “There. Better?”
“How can you look more indecent now than when you were naked?” She scowled.
“Come here, little cat. Tell me what’s bothering you.” He sat up against the mass of pillows and propped himself on one arm, patting the bed next to him.
She sighed and settled on the bed next to him. “I wanted to surprise you. For us to go on a little holiday, just the two of us.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “For us to talk.”
The truth was neither of them had said those three little words.
T’arq smiled gently. “According to the esteemed Supreme Commander, I am to spend these two days doing whatever you wish me to do.”
“He said that?” Krystal gaped.
T’arq nodded. “So, what is on your mind, Krystal?”
She sat in silence for long moments, twisting the sheet in her hands before setting it down and taking a shaky breath. “I have never felt this way about anyone before.”
He nodded. “I feel the same way.”
She turned to stare at him, knowing this moment would be important for them both. “T’arq, I love you.”
He winked. “I know.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she blinked again.
“You know?”
