While this was not the first time they’d been intimate, it was certainly the first time in a long while. It cemented his belief that they belonged together. No matter what.
Before they dozed off in satisfied slumber, Madelaine had murmured that perhaps honeymooning had been, if not a mistake, a calculated risk.
“That was definitely not a mistake,” Jack said firmly. “And if it was a calculated risk then it’s not the first time we’ve experienced one of those either.”
She murmured, “Touché,” and fell asleep. Her cheek rested on his shoulder. Her soothing breath rhythmically waftedacross his chest. Her arm was wrapped securely around his middle. Jack was in heaven.
He fell asleep thinking about a calculatedly risky trip they’d taken during high school the summer before their senior year, not far down the road from the Alienn Bauxite Mining Company.
It had involved trespassing on a thickly wooded area on the outskirts of town and an abandoned mine they’d discovered and explored, ignoring an ancient, dilapidated, handmade wooden sign that warned them not to enter.
The crude drawing of a skull and crossbones in faded red paint included in the warning had made them both laugh as they promptly ignored the sign and went exploring inside the dark cave.
They’d been young, in love and foolishly fearless.
Luckily, nothing terrible happened on that reckless exploration. They’d never gone back, but every so often, Jack thought about revisiting that forbidden spot to remember the wonderful adventure he’d shared in that cave with Madelaine.
In the here and now on thePaladin Seeker, Jack listened to Madelaine breathing softly next to him, curled on her side, pressed against him. He loved having her connected to him physically.
He didn’t want to do anything to wake her. Once she was awake, this amazing interlude, or rather the calculated risk of a honeymoon, would be over. He wasn’t ready for it to end. Not yet.
Jack glanced at the wall where an electronic life-support panel showed the time. Only four hours had passed. Two more hours until they were back where they’d discovered their fuel had been stolen.
Jack turned carefully on his side to keep from waking Madelaine. He dropped one arm around her waist, pulling herclose before closing his eyes, wishing she could remain in his life forever.
He’d take what he could get.
And if the time came when she would have to go back to Alpha-Prime, maybe he’d go with her.
It wasn’t the worst idea he’d ever entertained.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jack ambled along beside Madelaine as they made their way from the ship to the grand marketplace on Keirios. Time was always an issue, but it seemed like she was setting the pace for today at more leisurely than racing. He appreciated it, as he still had a few sore spots from their Crooked Halo Station adventure.
Before leaving the ship, they locked it up tight to keep any wily intruders at bay and ensure they’d have all their fuel reserves when they returned.
Jack had upgraded the ship’s computer defenses and added an additional high-level security code to the hatch mechanism, linking it to the remote opener he carried. No one was getting inside their ship without Jack knowing.
Plus, if anyone tried to break in, they’d get a shock-filled surprise. Not a lethal one, of course, but they’d definitely feel the buzz for a few hours.
While Madelaine had been to this planet, she hadn’t been to this area, so they were being extra careful. Her head was on a swivel, just as his was, taking in the interesting planet of Keirios.
Jack thought he saw the dirt on the path ahead move, but decided he must be imagining it.
“Not that I don’t appreciate the cardio exercise, but I wish one of these planets we land on would let you use the cool four-wheeler in the storage compartment.”
Madelaine laughed. “I agree. I love that four-wheeler.”
The ground was so alien-looking compared to Earth and Alpha-Prime. Jack nudged a bit of dirt with the toe of his boot. It nudged back.
He jerked his foot away. “Hey! Did the ground just—move?”
Madelaine didn’t even look down. Her focus was on the marketplace entrance, which was still a good distance away. “Not to worry. Micro-organic surface layer. Completely harmless.”
“Good,” he said. “Love that for us.”
They reached the edge of the lively marketplace entrance. The market itself was walled in by what looked like twelve-foot-tall, corrugated metal fencing in a circular sort of shape.
