We’re up and moving before too long—once Lor finally realizes it’s the next day and we have a lot to talk about. Personally, I’m not in any hurry for her to put clothes on, but she seems to think it’s important, so I go along with her ridiculous notions.
For now.
There is one specific thought that won’t stop circling my brain, though. One worry that won’t let go. Ever since she dragged me out to the forest yesterday as soon as I was released and collected more stardust.
“What will you do with the stardust if you’re not going to sell it?” I ask, curiosity and wariness warring in my brain.
Lor freezes with one leg halfway into her pants, and my guard instantly goes up. She glances at me, then finishes dressing. Her movements are unhurried, intentional in their slowness.
She’s hiding something.
Alarm shoots through me and I sit up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. “You’re not going back to him, right?”
Her head whips toward me, a look of outrage twisting her features.
“Never,” she says, vehement.
I blink as my brain tries to figure out what’s going on.
“Okay, then what? Is there someone else you’re going to sell to?”
I secretly hope not, but if that’s her plan I’ll support her and do my best to keep her safe.
Lor grimaces, then her shoulders slump with a sigh as she turns to face me fully. “I traded it.”
My brows shoot up, but she averts her eyes from mine.
“I went to Finn, I didn’t know who else to ask, and he set me up with a hacker…” she trails off, giving me a look of expectation.
A hacker.
She traded stardust to a hacker in exchange for… me. Shock has me jolting my head back from her, but the rest of my body is reacting the opposite in a confusing turn of events. My feet step forward as my arms reach out, wanting to scoop her up and twirl her around.
She’s frozen in front of me, eyes wary as her gaze flits across my face. But really, why shouldn’t I scoop her up? She broke the law for me,again.
I grin, delighted to witness my angry little star-chaser turning into a law-breaking goddess. With that, I stride forward and follow that intrusive thought. The one that says she’s mine, she belongs to me, she should be in my arms at all times.
I sweep her off her feet with a playful growl and throw her over my shoulder.
“Ro!” she shrieks, her voice a mix of bewildered shock and amusement.
Naturally, I slap her ass, then swing her back down into my arms as she lets out another amused huff, which she tries to turn into an angry scoff. Unsuccessfully.
“You’re becoming a right little devil, aren’t you? My cute little criminal,” I say, so pleased I can’t possibly contain it. “Itoldyou we were perfect for each other.”
Lor flicks her gorgeous grey eyes up in a tiny eye roll as one side of her mouth twitches into a crooked smile.
“Admit that I’m right,” I say, narrowing my eyes on her.
When she sticks her nose in the air and pinches her lips firmly shut, I adjust my hold on her, then tense my fingers along her ribs.
Her eyes widen.
I cock one eyebrow, tickle threat activated.
Her body tenses as her lips part, ready to protest, but it’s too late. I tighten my hold, and my fingertips dance along her sides as she shrieks with tortured giggles. She swats at me, her hands flying as she twists in a heroic attempt to get away—unsuccessful again—unfortunately for her. I love her laughter, and I love that she doesn’t tell me to stop. She wants my hands on her just as much as I do.
I pause my tickling, and she pants to catch her breath while I eye her expectantly. She scrunches her face up, and I tighten my fingers against her ribs again, ready for round two if she doesn’t concede. We stare at each other, and I’m about to tackle her back into the bed when she gives in.
