Page 41 of Tempting Fate

What bridge? There was no bridge in the village.

“You know when a river flows, and the water that’s passed under a bridge won’t return? It means it’s in the past.”

I tried to imagine the picture she painted. “I’ve never seen a river.” Or any body of natural water. There was a small ornamental pond in the estate grounds, and I’d seen that when I was younger. Not since I’d become an adult, confined to the cottage.

“No? Neither had I until I came here. I can take you to one of the lakes when you’re feeling better, if you’d like.”

“I would. Very much.”

Those plush lips spread in a knowing smile. “Anyway. I was a geologist researcher on an asteroid mining colony. We had to find where to mine next, what area to move the base to, whether we’d have to scale things up or down, work out how long the current dig would take.”

It sounded similar to my data analysis work, and I wanted to speak more of it, but had not the energy. Patience. There would be time to talk another day. “Did you ever go back home?”

I immediately regretted asking, her eyes and mouth and brows all telling the truth of her sadness. “The territories were home. Old Earth was destroyed before I was born.”

Destroyed? And I thought it bad half of Orith had been shattered in the Cataclysm War and her moon defaced. “Your people’s planet?”

She nodded in the way shaa’ith did. Her face closed off further before brightening again, a nrixia flower shining in the moonlight. “It’s why I love this moon so much. It reminds me of stories of Old Earth, how green it used to be, before—” She shook her head. “There were so many trees, once upon a time. So many different plants. I love them, in case you can’t tell. That’s why I like the agri job here, I get to be in nature. Fenn and I might be the only humans in real nature in the whole galaxy. And that’s amazing.”

I searched for a truth, needing to find the perfect one to complement her story. “On Orith, the grass is blue.”

She bounced in her seat, hands flapping in the air at her sides, the surprise and delight on her face exactly what I’d hoped for. “Really? Wow, I knew plants would be different colours on other planets. That’s why this moon is a surprise. The chances of it being green? It’s how I knew I was meant to be here.”

I didn’t have the energy to correct her that Vadias was a planet, adding it to my mental list of things to do when this accursed fatigue wore off. “Some things are fated. And I am very happy you were destined to be here.” How could I tell her that of all the people who could help me through kalidi, she was the only one I desired? I bit my lip. No, that was not appropriate, not at all. “I am grateful for all the help I am getting, but today, I am especially grateful for you.”

“Because I’m saving you from Grilahki?”

“No. Because you’re you.”

She gave a small laugh and shook her head, her eyes radiant. “Oh, you’re going to be a handful for someone, you are.”

I thought of her hand around my member—a cock, the other shaa’ith called it—and my ear ridges heated. I had been more than a handful for her. And would be again tonight.

“I’ll see you later.”

The door slid closed after her, and as I stared at the place she’d been standing, a realisation struck me.

Imani wasn’t the flower. No, she was the moonlight. Her presence lit all the shadowy places of me and revealed the beauty in everything.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

All Yours

Imani

I COULDN’T ENJOY the snuggly blanket or the deep cushions of the nest, nor the fresh air drifting in from the open window. No, all I could do was shift in my bed, trying to ignore the heat between my legs.

Thanks, body, for waking me up horny, I guess.

It was all kinds of wrong. Last night had been the same as the afternoon. I’d jerked him off and cleaned him up, the whole thing feeling far more intimate than it should have been. And the less said about how good the hug was or how aroused I’d been afterwards, the better.

Apparently, a good night’s sleep hadn’t fixed it.

I unwrapped the scarf from my curls and crept to the bathroom for a shower. Even turning the water to cold didn’t make a difference.

Well, I had things I needed to do today, and that would take my mind off it.

Once I was dressed, I sat back in my nest. “Fenn, are you awake?”