Mace leaned down to whisper in her other ear. “It’s also full of temptations. Like you, Tix the tempting.”
Stars above and below, how was she supposed to resist this? The answer came to her like a comet strike. She didn’t have to. She had no owner. No one to answer to. She was free to do what she wanted. And what she wanted… was them.
“You’re tempting, too. Both of you. So when it comes time to decide on dessert, I know what I want.”
“So do we,” Xaber said. He moved so quickly she only saw a blur as he maneuvered in front of her. His hand touched her cheek, his green and gold-flecked eyes gleaming with desire.
She didn’t wait for him to make the next move. She surged into his arms, her lips finding his in a kiss she hoped made it clear that she was not waiting anymore.
He kissed her back, reclaiming control with a low sound of need that made her blood sizzle in her veins.
“Tix,” he whispered her name, the sound caught in the depths of her mouth. Only that wasn’t who she was. Even now, with her mind half-melted, she wished he’d spoken her real name.
That tiny spark of regret created a contrast that made the moment even sweeter. It reminded her that nothing was certain, and tonight might be all they had.
Mace moved behind her, a pillar of strength she could lean into as Xaber took their kiss deeper. The heat of the air was nothing compared to the fire blazing inside her now. She ached with needs she couldn’t name, and her fingers trembled as she stroked Xaber’s cheek.
When the kiss ended, Xaber smiled down at her with a look of profound satisfaction. “I was right. Youaresomething special.”
“Yes, she is,” Mace rumbled in agreement.
Tish was in no condition to try and form a coherent sentence. Instead, she kissed the tips of both sets of fingers and then placed them on Xaber and Mace’s lips.
They stayed like that for a long, wonderful moment that her heart recognized as a memory in the making. Whatever happened, she’d carry it with her for the rest of her life.
When they set out again, things were slightly different. They walked closer together, every touch and glance rekindling the flames of desire. It was as if they were in a world of their own, as isolated from the rest of the station as the bio-dome they walked through.
The hot, dry area wasn’t as large as the woodsy section they’d just been in, and before long, they stepped through another pair of doors and into a new section.
According to the signs, it was a rainforest biome. She’d already guessed as much, given the oppressive humidity that made each breath feel like she was inhaling steam instead of air.
They were surrounded by green and blue foliage that seemed to press against the barriers. Trees rose up to form a canopy overhead, with only occasional glimpses of the simulated sky. The sound of birdsong blended with the whispers created as a breeze blew through the leaves and branches, filling the space with a surprising amount of noise.
As she read the description of this area, an alert flashed at the top of the sign. “Precipitation cycle will begin in three minutes. Seek shelter or exit this exhibit if you do not wish to participate.”
She frowned at the flashing words. “What’s a precipitation event?”
“You’ll see in about three minutes,” Mace said cheerfully.
Xaber groaned. “Seriously? That’s your surprise?”
“It is.”
“But what is it?” she demanded.
The system assumed she had spoken to it. “All biomes contain plants that require water. For both aesthetic and practical reasons, this is done by simulating weather systems. Precipitation can be either rain or snow. In this area, all precipitation is delivered as rain.”
A distant rumbling sound rolled across the zone. “Did someone just fire up a jump engine?” she asked. “What is that?”
Xaber laughed. “I get it now. This is something else you’ve never experienced. Nice work, Mace.” He grinned at his batch-brother and then looked down at her. “That’s thunder. I think we’re about to experience a simulated storm.”
“Oh. Oh, wow! That would be amazing.” She took a step forward.
Mace followed, but Xaber stayed put.
“Come on. It’s only water,” she teased the reluctant male. “Or will you rust if you get wet?”
He growled at her, but he smiled as he did it. “Your sass has been duly noted and will be addressed later, mechanic.”
