Page 47 of Shadows of Stardust

“What do you think you’re—”

“Make. Room.” The order comes through gritted teeth this time, and when I catch sight of three hovers abandoning whatever antics they’d just been capturing and heading our way, I obey.

Just as they’re closing in, Roslyn sinks down into the space between my thighs. She sits with her back against my chest, her legs drawn up in front of her, and my mouth falls open either to protest or urge her closer. I’m not sure which.

“Act like you like me,” she hisses. “God knows we’ve been doing a shit job at it so far today.”

We’re not the only couple canoodling on the loungers, and after a quick glance at some of those much-less-hostile pairs, I wrap my arms around Roslyn’s waist and draw her back into my embrace. I sincerely hope we don’t look as awkward as her board-stiff posture suggests, but for good measure, I lean in and brush my lips over the side of her neck.

As I do, I take a deep inhale of her and nearly lose the plot of whatever it is we’re supposed to be accomplishing right now.

More of her morning dew and blossoms, a hint of sweat from the heat of the day, salt lingering on her skin.

Delicious.

Fates know I can barely stand this human, but nor can I deny that one simple truth.

She’s… appealing.

Not that it matters, and not that I should be thinking it, but it’s true.

“What now?” I murmur against the side of her throat, and feel a shiver of revulsion run through her. Or, at least what I assume is revulsion, because the alternative would be just as outlandish as believing she only took Marva’s deal for a handsome payout.

She turns her head slightly, and it brings her lips unfortunately close to mine.

Close enough to feel their warmth.

Close enough to remember the taste of her, the heat of her, the delicious little sounds she made when we—

“Now we shut the fuck up and just sit here. At least until they get tired of us.”

She nods subtly toward the nearest hover and I can’t suppress a chuckle.

“A human courtship custom? Sitting in silence and acting like you can’t stand your partner?”

A small, indignant noise slips past her lips. She moves like she’s going to turn around and scold me, but I tighten my hold on her.

“Careful. You wouldn’t want producers to think there’s already trouble brewing between us.”

A huff of breath, this time. Subtler, but no less indignant. “Yeah. Because I’m sure they have no reason to believe something isn’t off here.”

Try. I have to try.

I have to make at least one more attempt to keep this plan alive.

I lean back on the lounger, making myself relax. It shifts Roslyn deeper into my embrace, sprawls her out against me, and I run a soothing hand up and down her bicep when she stiffens. Reluctantly, she relaxes, too, and I’m struck again by the softness of her, the strength, the unexpected contradiction this human species presents.

“Well,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “If this is what human courtship amounts to, perhaps we could try the Revexoran route.”

She doesn’t humor me with a reply, but the cameras are still watching and at least she’s not offering more snark or hostility, so perhaps we’re moving into safer territory.

“I was very young when I left Revexor, but from what I remember, courtship included a healthy measure of physical combat.”

Another huff, but I could almost convince myself there’s some humor in it this time. “Really? That’s what passes for romance amongst Revexorans?”

I wouldn’t know.

The last time I ran into another Revexoran was more than a decade ago. There are a few amongst the ranks of the Aux, but none in my immediate sphere of influence. Over ninety-five percent of the population was lost in the final, cataclysmic war that saw Revexor reduced to ruin, and those who made it out alive are spread far and wide across the sector.

---