Page 80 of Tempting Fate

“Yes. In about the same time, we leave for Orith, a full-scale rescue mission, so the timings will work well. How have you got on with finding accommodation in town?”

Everywhere Fenn and I had looked was full, and we were on a number of waiting lists. “Not great, but we should have something by then.” Hopefully.

A month might be enough for me to see the rest of Airida, and I’d realise, under his innocent sweetness and his eagerness to please me, he was like everyone else. He’d get moody. Demanding. I wouldn’t be good enough for him, and he’d want to change me. I could enjoy this for a month, and that would be the end of it.

“Then it is settled.” Daiytak clapped a hand on my shoulder so hard I staggered, and she gripped my upper arm. “Sorry. That was meant to be gentle.”

If she hadn’t been gentle, I’d have hit the ground; even Garrison had stumbled under the weight of a kri’ith ‘friendly’ slap. “It’s okay. Maybe hanging around for another month will get me used to shaa’ith manhandling.”

A vast, amused rumble shook Daiytak’s chest. “Very well. Perhaps it will.”

I was so engrossed in sketching, I didn’t notice Airida arrive until he sat beside me on the moss.

He stretched his legs and leaned against the ruined wall. “I thought you’d be here. I needed a break.”

“A break? You’re supposed to be resting.” I slipped a hand over my sketchbook.

“I can’t rest when my sister is in danger. I’ve been working, but my brain is done for the day.” His fingers inched towards mine. “Would you like to watch Lovers with me?”

I glanced at my sketchbook. Beneath my hand lay a Vadias primrose. Then a Vadias primrose with dick-shaped petals. A linsfai tree with dick graffiti on the thick, veiny trunk. Ornamental grasses, their leaves dripping with… rain. Thick, gloopy rain. I snapped it closed and shoved it into my bag. “Sure.”

Back at his hut, Airida made us both tea and we settled on the bed, where the holoscreen pulsed along with the Lovers of Lietan intro theme. Vaenallra and Yoria hadn’t been in much of the last few episodes, so as soon as they came on screen, we locked in.

A conversation. An argument. Vaenallra running off down a quiet space station corridor.

Yoria running after her.

Catching her.

Pinning her against the wall. “You can tell me you don’t want me, but your body gives it away,” Yoria murmured.

Where were their hands? Were they—

The scene faded to black.

Airida adjusted the cushion behind me. “I want to see what they did.”

“Oh, I bet you would, kitten.” I pressed my thighs together, imagining Yoria sliding a hand into Vaenallra’s pants, whispering filthy things into her ear until they made her come. “You won’t see any of that on this show.”

We sat through two more scenes with other characters, and when our favourites returned, a flushed Vaenallra paced down the corridor, straightening her clothes.

Called it.

“Tell me you don’t feel better now,” Yoria purred.

Well, I certainly didn’t feel better. Nor did Airida, judging by the way his hands shifted over my stomach and legs. Every touch lit that flame inside me, each firm stroke and squeeze of his fingers a heady delight, marking me with need.

On screen, Vaenallra shrugged and walked faster.

“You don’t have to be scared with me, Vaena.”

“Who says I’m scared?”

Airida pulled me against the hard planes of his chest. He leaned closer, his breath hot over my ear. “Did you touch yourself after you left earlier?”

Yeah, and I may as well not have bothered for all the good it did. “None of your business.”

“Isn’t it?” He let out a slow, deep chuckle, pitching his voice to match Yoria’s. “You don’t have to be scared with me, Marni.”