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Dallin lined up a row of test tubes in front of him. “We could get some rest while we wait.”

“No, we’re not resting.” Sloane’s gaze ran over his broad shoulders. “You messed up. You took me out of the equation when there was no need for me to leave.”

Dallin sighed. “I thought it was the right thing to do. You’re sick and you were in danger—”

“No, no, no.” Sloane waggled a finger at him. “You did a bad thing. I’m your partner, and I deserve compensation.”

“Compensation?”

“Yes. After all, there’s no guarantee this antidote will work.”

He turned to face her, the desperate look in his eyes almost making her cave in and forgive him. “It will!”

“Just in case it doesn’t work, I still want my final big adventure, so I can go out with a bang.”

“A bang?”

“Yes. And you’re going to help me.”

“How will I do that?” Uncertainty flickered in his eyes.

She grinned, her heart stuttering at the thought of what she was about to ask. “I want my final wish fulfilled.”

His expression tightened. “And what’s that wish?”

“I’ve got us a private room on the waystation. And I want you to take me there and fuck me.”

Dallin took a step back, shaking his head as he put distance between them. Even though he acted like he didn’t want to be near her, longing filled his eyes.

“Hear me out. And you can call it your punishment, if the idea of getting me naked repulses you,” Sloane said.

“You could never repulse me. It’s not that.”

She held up a hand. “You drugged me, then you put me on another ship, and got rid of me. You don’t do that to a partner. It hurt my feelings.”

His mouth opened, but no words came out.

Sloane repressed another smile. “It’s only fair I get payback. And remember, I’m a sick, feeble human. I might not survive this Siblet poison. So while I’m still able to, I want you to make me happy one final time.”

“By having sex with you?”

Dallin wasn’t making this easy on her. Most guys would have jumped the second she suggested a no strings screw, but he was standing there looking like she’d just told him the world was about to end.

“I know, it’ll be a trial for you. After all, you’re not that attracted to me.” She tilted her head. “What if you close your eyes and think about someone you would like to sleep with? Do you have a tentacle fetish? Or maybe you could think about a scaled beauty from Etruvia while we screw.”

“Sloane, I want to sleep with you.” The words stuttered out of him.

“Well, that’s good to know.” She licked her lips. “That makes this easier. You won’t even need to close your eyes.”

Dallin studied the analyzer like it was the most important thing in the universe. “What about the poison? I can’t leave the ship.”

“No, you’re not using that as an excuse. You told me how long the analysis would take, so there’s nothing else to do.”

Dallin shook his head again. But she wasn’t giving up.

“No more letting me down. This is the only way you can make it up to me.” Sloane pulled out a small bottle of fragranced oil she’d bought after watching the burlesque routine. “And if you won’t come with me, we can do it right here.”

Dallin’s gaze went to the oil, and his forehead furrowed. “What’s that?”