The sound was small. Hers.
She was likely trying to get as big a breath as she could to start talking in an endless stream. He couldn’t blame her. Not a bit.
Madelaine lifted her arms from her lap and said, “Oh, my Gosh. That was so hard!”
Her voice came out softer than usual, rough around the edges, like it had to remember how to exist after the fear she’d be struck down for making a noise. She inhaled deeply once more and let out a long breath that turned into a quiet, incredulous laugh. “I really, really hated that place.”
Jack huffed out a short breath—half laugh, half release.
“Yeah,” he said. “That makes two of us.”
Madelaine leaned back in her seat, tipping her head toward the ceiling, eyes closing for a second.
“I kept thinking—just one word. Just one slip.” She opened her eyes to glance at him. “One of us, or more likely both of us, would be dead because of their foolish philosophy.”
“I agree. And if weneverhave to go there again, it will be too soon.” He punched a few buttons on the console and set the autopilot. They didn’t have a destination yet, but it wouldn’t do to just hover out in space near Malvoraxis Veil as if they were dead in the water.
Best to keep moving even if they might have to backtrack later.
He climbed out of his seat as Madelaine lifted herself from the co-pilot’s chair to stand up and move, as if sitting wouldn’tlet her express all the pent-up language she needed to expel. He understood completely.
She walked a circle around the small table and two chairs mounted to the floor in the center of her craft for strategic planning as well as meals.
Jack watched, amused at her sudden zest for movement. He felt his expression soften just looking at her practically dance around the table. He couldn’t have been prouder of her for what she’d just accomplished.
“You did amazingly well. You didn’t slip. I’m in awe. I likely wouldn’t have made it off the platform,” he joked.
She shrugged lightly and grinned. “I came close more than once,” she admitted.
“Even so.” His voice was quiet, steady. “You didn’t get us killed.” A beat went by and he added, “And neither did I, which was what I was more worried about during that whole crazy journey.”
Madelaine’s lips curved, just a little. “You also did very well. You were calm, forceful and very effective in your role as authoritative husband, speaking for the little woman who couldn’t.”
“I channeled my inner brother Cam, and pretended they represented a security threat that I had to quash by being forceful, calm and effective.”
She laughed. “Cam? Your super-serious brother?”
“Yep. That’s the one. I work for him.”
“Really? I thought you worked for Axel.”
Jack shook his head. “Nope. Axel is only filling in temporarily because Cam and his wife just had a baby boy.”
“Cam? Mr. Serious is a dad? That’s…unexpected.”
Jack grinned. “When they met, his wife, Ria, the former Alexandria Latham Bourne, was engaged to a Technician’s son against her wishes for an arranged marriage. Apparently, Camand Ria fell in love with each other at first sight, at least according to her. She ditched the rich jerk for Cam, who is incredibly lucky to have her. They truly are perfect for each other.”
He paused and looked at Madelaine, thinking,We are perfect for each other, too.
They stared at each other for a long moment.
Jack moved at the same time she did and before either of them could think it through, they were hugging each other close, staring into each other’s eyes as if the world around them had fallen away in favor of this blissful moment.
He lowered his head and kissed her gently, joy radiating in his chest when she responded in kind, tightening her arms around his neck.
Madelaine abruptly stopped the kiss, even though her lips were buzzing with delight. When he’d said that Cam and his brother’s wife were perfect for each other, she’d thought how she and Jack were perfect for each other.
