Page 21 of Fire Forged

His nostrils flared as he fought the urge to lower his mouth to hers.She had no idea what she was doing to him.And for now, he’d keep it that way.There had to be time to soften her before she learned the truth.

“This way.”He led her to the comm, then faced a hidden panel opposite the comm’s door.He pressed the side and the bulkhead gaped.Behind it, a light flickered on to illuminate the narrow ladder.“Up there.No one will bother you.”

The gray of her eyes sparkled before she tucked the tablet into the back of her pants and scampered up the ladder.He watched, unable to drag his gaze from her enticing backside.With her out of sight, he shut the bulkhead and faced the comm.

At least he knew where she was.

Chapter Six

Nowthatwasweird.The way Nerx had looked at her.Britt had experienced admiration from men.Yet with Nerx, she didn’t want to punch him in the face.His gaze had brushed across her body, settled on her face, and gone no farther, as if he’d found heaven.She snorted at her silly thoughts.Sure, the same man who hated her?

Nope, he’d simply been polite, keeping his attention off her fine assets and on her face.Respectable and boring of him.She’d like a man to whisk her off her feet, despite her protestations, and show her what it means to be devoured—also known as kissing, naughty whispers, and screaming orgasms.It had been a while since she’d enjoyed any of those.

She studied the tiny room just above the communications room.It had a sort-of bench carved into the back wall and about a meter of space between that and massive screens.Stars sped past, none familiar.Not that she knew them well, but Jupiter or Saturn she could recognize.She stared at the tablet in her hand, her thoughts reeling.Here in the silence with the vastness of space forming a panoramic view, she struggled to grasp how quickly her life had changed.Despite it happening in a day, she should’ve been happy.Instead, sadness tugged at her heart.

Earth was behind her.Gone was her solarcycle, irritating job, useless ex-boss, and…Dad.He wasn’t ‘available’ anymore.She couldn’t visit his memorial plaque to talk to him, to tell him what she’d done or failed to do.How Mom refused to date, to face her life, to find joy in her old hobbies… Not anymore with Aldur in the picture.Britt hadn’t seen her mother this lively in a long time.

Yet, Britt’s future wasn’t looking so rosy.

She sucked in a shuddering breath and swept aside an escaped tear.“Dad, I single-handedly offended an alien species.You always said I was a vortex of disaster waiting to happen.That I’d land myself in a situation I couldn’t escape.Well, you were right.”Her chuckle cracked.“At least Mom may have found happily-ever-after.Her shriveled ovaries can attest to that.”

Britt squeezed the tablet, running her thumb across its smooth casing.Something would come up to brighten her existence.Dad would’ve said, “Peanut, don’t sweat the small stuff when the big stuff will need all your focus.”

She laughed, her shoulders shaking even as the tears flowed.If the small stuff was pissing off an alien man, then she didn’t want to know what the big stuff was.She gazed at space, clutching the tablet to her chest.A shiver summoned goosebumps along her arms, but she was loath to fetch a jacket.Next time…

With a slow exhale, she activated the tablet and started.

Dear Diary,

You won’t believe what happened today.

What time was it?She’d had dinner already, thanks to Sena.Judging by a steady thrum of exhaustion on the edges of her senses, bedtime would be soon.Shaking her head, she typed:

Got myself fired, and it felt good dong it.Next time, broken finger and all, Kev will think twice about touching women inappropriately.Hell, I should release what security footage I backed up.Might as well save all women from his lecherous advances.

My baby died on me, and I had to push her home.I really need to do some exercise, because, damn, she’s heavy.As I sit here in my private ‘star deck,’ my inner thighs twang.Well, she’s my baby no more.

Regret twitched her fingers.She’d abandoned her solarcycle as if she meant nothing to her.Five minutes would have had her baby safe in the garage.No, she hadn’t given her solarcycle a thought until it was too late.

The real shitty part of my day was pepper-spraying a sexy-as-hell alien commander.Well, he was staring at my house like some stalker.

She’d been saying that repeatedly, and yet, it sounded as if she was trying to convince herself that her actions were justified.Nerx was a big guy; taking him on for someone of her size would’ve been impossible.She’d had no other recourse.

He’s tall, broad-shouldered with a brooding intensity and deep blue eyes.I can’t seem to hold my tongue when I’m in his presence.It’s like my inhibitions fly out the window, and I say and do the dumbest things.Did I mention he’s an Etterian?A supreme commander?And he hates me?Well, all of that, no doubt because I tazed him and accused him of kidnapping a little girl.

She winced.That did sound bad, but her diary wouldn’t judge her.

I still don’t know how long traveling to his planet will take.I need to find that out and plan my ‘vacay’ accordingly.Mom’s probably going to stay in our quarters.That leaves the rest of this small ship for me, kind of.There’s Nerx, Lily, Matir, Sena, Aldur, Edon, and the pilot guy.Dunno his name yet.So not really alone-alone.

She smiled at the stars.This was her haven, thanks to Nerx.It showed he could forgive her for her overreactions.That alone gave her hope her next apology would go well.Stifling a yawn, she hurried to finish her journal entry.

I’ll let you know how tomorrow goes.Let’s pray I don’t say something stupid that requires yet another apology.I suck at those.Dad said that true repentance means swallowing one’s pride and changing one’s behavior.Well, I can promise to never pepper spray or taze Nerx again.That’s as sincere as I get.What more could the man ask for?

PS: Need to find something to do while Mom helps Aldur.I’m no nurse.

She shut off the tablet and slid it onto the bench beside her.What this place needed was a stash of snacks, a blanket, and a pillow for impromptu naps.She’d do that tomorrow after she started some sort of exercise regime.Not that she’d brought gym clothes.Argh.Sweating like a stuffed pig hadn’t been on her mind when she’d packed.

Groaning, she left her tablet and scampered down the ladder.Only to be faced with a solid door with no handle.When she stroked, punched, tapped the sides, no panel popped open.

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