“He’s a little devil, that one.”
“He certainly is,” he agreed, because Nyle definitely knew how to get what he wanted. “How are things looking?” he asked in a more serious tone. He hadn’t contacted Nan since she’d helped them escape Horizons, a precaution they’d put in place until things settled down a bit more.
“It’s been quiet today, too. They are still searching but they’re spread out,” Nan confirmed, sending him a few excerpts from various media along with an activity log she’d put together.
“Nyle’s been trying to intercept Marcus’ comms, but it looks like they change protocols every few hours… Do you think it’s safe to head out?” Darren asked, skimming through the videos. He paid a bit more attention to the log, noticing that the clusters of search activity had indeed thinned out.
Even so, Marcus was a threat that couldn’t be underestimated. But the Maine couldn’t stay hidden on an asteroid forever either. Sara awaited, ready to hand down the Valrais Legacy to Darren. To reveal its secrets so that he could stand up to the most powerful man in the world.
“It’s hard to say, but as long as you avoid inspection checkpoints, I don’t see why not.”
“What about that other thing?” Darren followed up with, a pang of nervousness washing over him.
“Your friend, Matt, is doing fine. They stopped bothering him a while back, though it took them a while to figure out he didn’t know anything. As for Rick Degrasse… I tracked him down,” she said with a tight smile as her eyes focused on something on her screen. “I’m sending over what I have. He’s been questioned four times, but nothing in the past week. I think the authorities have finally realized he also knows nothing.”
Darren played with the button of his shirt’s cuff. “Good. Do you think you can get him to agree to meet with you?”
Nan let out a chuckle. “Dear, who do you think Nyle takes after? You worry about getting to the hideout to meet that sister of yours in one piece, and let me handle this.”
“Thanks, Nan.” He hesitated. “Is this a good idea? Getting in touch with him?”
She leaned forward, her hair swaying from the motion. “My contact did a thorough check. He and Kesley have a long history,so I believe he’d be willing to hear us out. Besides, he didn’t mention in any of his statements that he knew Kesley had gone to Horizons.”
Which was a lie, Darren knew for a fact. Rick had willingly lied to the authorities, but that didn’t mean Darren should get his hopes up about things going their way. Still, Aiden had looked sad when he’d asked to have Nan check on his best friend, so Darren wanted to give him peace of mind. He planned to arrange for a meeting or a call, which was why he needed Nan to gauge the situation first.
Contacting Rick carried a certain degree of risk, of course, but so would everything they did from now on. And if Darren wanted to bring Marcus down, he was going to need allies, so really, it couldn’t hurt to start with Aiden’s friend. Worst-case scenario, Rick would turn down the meeting and refuse to take a call, but Aiden would still get some closure.
And Darren owed that to him.
Darren disconnected the call, though he chose not to announce the clear to move out at for least another couple of hours, seeing as his crew was currently occupied with certain… activities. He smiled to himself. Nyle, Bea and Kristen had gotten along like a house on fire almost immediately. Aiden was putting in an effort to get to know them too, his progress slow but gradual.
Darren grabbed his hoodie and tossed it on, then headed up to the bridge, where he found Aiden in the pilot’s chair.
“Kesley?” he said, but got no reaction even as he approached.
Aiden’s head was tilted to one side, his copper eyelashes fanned over his ivory cheeks. His lips were slightly pouting. He had his arms defensively wrapped around himself like he’d had them in the shuttle on the day of their prison break, a habit that Darren guessed he’d likely developed after Claudia’sdeath. It made him wonder if perhaps Aiden had been okay with her touching him—in fact he had to have been, considering how much he’d loved her—even if he seemed to dislike physical contact with most people.
And yet he’d fucked you on the night your true identity was revealed, a mocking voice said in his head, but he chose to ignore it before he started obsessing over it yet again.
Darren pulled his hoodie over his head and draped it over Aiden’s chest. Then he just stood there, watching the man’s sleeping form as the urge to reach out and touch him slowly prevailed. As gently as he could, he ghosted his fingertips over Aiden’s cheek, letting warmth seep into him without actual contact until he couldn’t take it anymore.
A wave of want surged through him, prickling and electrifying. He allowed himself to touch then, dragging his digits lightly along the length of Aiden’s sharp jaw like he’d done so many times in his fantasies, then brushing them over Aiden’s soft, full lips he’d been dreaming of kissing almost every night. Not dirty, hatred-filled kisses meant to make the man forget—those had ceased to intrigue Darren after that night in the mess hall when Aiden had saved him from a breakdown—but ones that were more deliberate and aimed to explore the attraction they shared.
But those were the kind of kisses they were never meant to share because Darren was the one who’d ruined Aiden Kesley’s life. Yet, he yearned for them all the same, no matter how hard he tried not to. He realized it was a futile struggle on his end, as the soul-deep craving did not comply to rules and logic, but he still tried to fight it, even if he couldn’t win against it.
Darren pulled his hand back to reel that scorching need in, only to have his fingers grasped by Aiden’s as the man’s gorgeous hazel eyes opened and pinned him with their gold-flecked intensity. Shivers broke out all over Darren’s skin fromboth the physical contact and Aiden’s gaze, though he tried to suppress the outward giveaways of his reaction. To remain calm, to appear collected, even if he was anything but.
“Did you hear from Nan?” Aiden asked, his voice still hoarse from sleep. It was civil too, not laced with venom like before, a gradual change just like Aiden’s less violent reaction to being touched, which had started happening after their talk about Claudia’s death.
“Yes,” Darren said, his voice sounding husky even to his own ears.
Aiden’s eyes darted to where his hand was clasping Darren’s and he let go with a slight frown. It was hard to say if it was directed at Darren or inwardly. “What did she say?”
“We’re clear to go, but we have to be careful with the checkpoints,” Darren recited Nan’s warning. “And… she’ll try to get in touch with your friend.”
“Thanks.” Aiden nodded, his tongue peeking out to wet his lips. Darren’s eyes zeroed in on it and his dick gave a jerk, not caring if it was appropriate or not. “When do we leave?”
Darren’s eyes snapped back to Aiden’s. “As soon as… Bea and the rest are ready.”
A small, knowing smile tugged at Aiden’s lips, though he didn’t let it fully manifest. “Yeah, okay.”
Not wanting to end their conversation there, Darren tucked his hands in his pockets and tossed, “Are you hungry? I was on my way to grab something to eat.”
Seemingly contemplating what to say, Aiden closed his eyes and stayed silent for a few moments. The subtle smile drained from his features, and part of Darren wished he’d stayed quiet so he could enjoy it for a little longer.
“I’m not hungry,” Aiden settled on and stood up, handing the hoodie back to Darren. “I’ll be in my quarters. Let me know when we are ready to leave.”
They stood like that, facing each other and only inches away, gazes locked as the surrounding air seemed to thicken and charge like darkening skies before a summer storm. But the moment was broken all too soon as Aiden stepped to the side and walked away, leaving Darren to stare after his retreating form until it was no longer in sight.
