Page 40 of C is for Captive

“Anything still hurt?”

“Yes.”

Concern immediately sharpened her face. “What?”

He looked at her silently. Her cheeks turned pink as soon as she realized what he meant.

“That’s not fair.”

“It’s accurate. And you did ask.”

She tried not to smile, and failed.

“I should point out that it’s entirely your own fault. I’m perfectly willing to, um, ease your suffering.”

His body definitely reacted to that. He tugged gently on the hand he still held, and she moved willingly between his knees. His hands settled on her hips, and he waited. She looked at him, and he didn’t find any uncertainty in her face.

“Yesterday,” she said, “you told me you weren’t ready.”

“Yes.”

“Are you ready now?”

He could have lied. He could have said yes because he wanted her, because every part of his body had been aching for her since she’d first kissed him in that cell. Instead he looked at the point of light on the display beyond her.

Valkesh.

He looked back at her.

“I don’t know what we’ll find tomorrow.”

“I know.”

“I don’t know if my mother was ever there. I don’t know if she’s alive.”

Her expression softened.

“I know,” she repeated softly.

“I have spent most of my life believing I couldn’t have anything else until I knew.”

She didn’t say anything. She was good at silence too, and he knew this one meant she was waiting. He slid his hands slowly around her waist.

“I was wrong.”

Something changed in her face.

“About what?”

“About waiting for my life to start.”

Her lips parted. He pulled her closer until she was tucked between his thighs, and rested his forehead against hers. For a moment he simply held her, while her fingers gently combed his hair.

“I don’t know what will happen on Valkesh,” he said. “But I know what I want now.”

Her fingers stilled.

“Tell me.”