Page 15 of Maar's Girl

We lay there, spent and breathless, the echoes of our lovemaking still reverberating in the air. Alyssa traces lazy patterns on my chest, her voice a contented purr, "I could get used to this."

I pull her closer, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. The guilt of my deception gnaws at me, but in this moment, I allow myself to bask in the warmth of her affection. "As could I," I admit, the words tasting like both a promise and a lie.

For now, the truth remains a silent specter in the shadows of our passion, a secret that could tear us apart. But as Alyssa's breathing evens out and she falls asleep in my arms, I can't help but wish that this night could last forever.

Soon, Alyssa dozes off.

I carefully extricate myself from Alyssa's embrace, my movements slow and deliberate to avoid waking her. As I rise, I pause for a moment, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest, her face peaceful in slumber. A pang of guilt twists in my gut, but I push it aside.

The cool air of the room prickles my skin as I make my way to the lavatory. After relieving myself, I splash some water on my face, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The man looking back at me is both familiar and a stranger.

Returning to the bedroom, I retrieve my personal compadd from my discarded clothes. The device's soft glow illuminates the darkness as I check for any new communications. Sure enough, there's a message waiting, its presence filling me with a mixture of anticipation and dread. I glance at Alyssa's sleeping form, my finger hovering over the notification. Whatever this message contains, I know it has the potential to shatter the fragile peace of this moment.

I open it.

"Failure to carry out orders. Await extraction and assist in securing target."

Shit.

They're coming.

CHAPTER 12

ALYSSA

Iwake up, feeling sore in all the absolute right places.

I stretch lazily, my body deliciously sore from last night's... activities. The memories flood back, and I can't help but grin. Raaj. My patient. My sparring partner. My lover.

"Oh, girl," I mutter to myself, "you've really done it now."

This is so wrong. So taboo. I'm his rehab coach, for crying out loud. But the way he touched me, the way he looked at me... It felt right. More than right. It felt destined.

I slip out of bed, padding to the window. Raaj's out there, doing his morning routine. His muscles ripple as he moves through a series of push-ups and stretches. My heart skips a beat.

"Get it together, Alyssa," I whisper, but I can't tear my eyes away.

I throw on some clothes and head outside. The Martian air is crisp, carrying the faint metallic scent of the biodomes. Raaj doesn't look up as I approach.

"Morning," I say, wrapping my arms around him from behind. His skin is warm, slightly damp with sweat. I breathe him in, expecting him to relax into my embrace.

But he doesn't. His muscles tense beneath my touch.

"Morning," he replies, his voice flat. He gently extricates himself from my arms, continuing his exercises as if I'm not even there.

I frown, confused. "Raaj? Is everything okay?"

He doesn't meet my eyes. "Fine. Just... focusing on my routine."

"Right," I say slowly. "Look, about last night-"

He remains silent.

I clear my throat, trying to shake off the awkwardness. "So, um, how about some breakfast? I'm starving after last night's... workout."

Raaj barely glances at me. "Maybe later."

"Okay..." I bite my lip, watching him continue his exercises. His movements are fluid, practiced, but there's a tension in his shoulders that wasn't there before. "Well, I'm gonna hop in the shower. Care to join me?"

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