Page 55 of Tempting Fate

“And what if it is?” he said, sounding defensive.

“Then I want in.” I pulled the chair up to the bed, craning my neck to see the display. “We saw some of this on your sister’s ship.”

He shifted over and patted the bed next to him like it was no big deal. “You’ll see better from here.”

I stared at the space he’d made. Of course I was well acquainted with his bed—and the man in it—but this, sitting next to him, was on a different level.

Less intimate? More?

Chill out. This is a normal thing you do with friends. And I really wanted to watch, so with a small jump, I climbed in. “Oh! I haven’t seen this season. Wait? Is that Yoria? Where’s their necklace? They never take it off!”

“They’ve never worn one.”

“But when Vaenallra gave it to them—”

“Then she hasn’t done that yet. Hush and watch, little moonlight.”

I settled next to him, my back against the wall. The holoscreen shimmered into motion, and we sat in quiet, my arm pressed against his.

This close, I caught his smoky rosemary scent, and couldn’t help but breathe it in. Why did he smell so damn good?

His hand covered mine.

Relax, he probably thinks this is like a hug. I meshed my fingers with his, ignoring my racing pulse and the jitters in my stomach.

As the credits rolled at the end of the episode, I shifted, circling my shoulders and flexing my back.

“Are you well?”

“I’m good, just a bit sore from being sat here so long.”

Airida flushed magenta, the colour flooding his ear ridges and spreading over his cheeks. “My sincerest apologies. I of all people should have thought of that.”

“How come?”

“Muscle aches. I have had them all my life. Though I am told it was a medication side-effect, so I hope to be rid of them soon.” He gathered cushions from the side of the bed and placed them around him, reminding me of the shaa nest I slept in. He laid a couple more against his chest and spread his legs. “Here.”

I froze. But his wide-eyed expression was so innocent, I pushed down any fluttery feelings and took the offer at face value, settling between his legs and leaning back against him.

He rested his hands on my thighs. “Is this better?”

I covered them with mine and pressed harder. “No light touches please.” Don’t ask me to explain. Stupid nervous system, jumping into chaos at the slightest thing.

“I will remember.”

Nobody ever did, but I appreciated the sentiment.

Despite the cushions, I was acutely aware of the large, hard man behind me, his arms surrounding me, his touch casually possessive. “Muzati says all the extras on the show are real workers at Lietan Shipyard,” I said, needing to fill the empty space for once while an advert played. “Do you think we can get up to date on all the seasons, see if we can spot my friends?”

“Your friends?”

“Two of them, Roth and Trin, work there now.”

He gave my leg a firm squeeze. “And that makes you sad?”

“Oh.” I hadn’t meant to sound that way. “No. No it doesn’t. They’re happy enough. And they’ve got jobs. Security. It’s all we wanted.” I pushed down the welling emotions. “I just wish we weren’t all split up. Doesn’t feel right.”

“Will you tell me about them?”