Page 22 of Fire Forged

She pounded on the bulkhead and waited.Nothing.More pounding left her sobbing, her throat hoarse from screaming, and her fists bruised.She rested her temple on the door, unable to slide down to the grated floor.There was space to stand and nothing more.

Here she’d thought it was sweet of Nerx to show her this spot.When he’d meant to trap her all along.

She climbed up the ladder and settled on the bench.Again a shiver swept through her, forcing her to rub her biceps to generate some heat.She’d have to spend the night here if no one searched for her.Would Mom worry when she didn’t return?

Satisfied that it wouldn’t be long before Aldur found her, she lay on the floor, tucking herself under the bench.She only had to be patient.

The next time she saw Nerx, she’d punch him in his smug face.

Nerxscowledatthebulkhead.It had been hours since he’d shown Britta the ladder.What could the woman be doing for so long?He’d tucked Lily into bed with a short bedtime story about dinosaurs—fascinating creatures.Yet sleep had eluded him.Restless, he’d cleansed and returned to the comm.While he waited for Britta, he’d commanded Ziot to retire.

A quick scan of the console confirmed all was in order.The sol and sludge storage was as expected.No approaching ships, hazardous asteroid belts, or comets were near the scimitar.Abandoning the comm, he opened the bulkhead and climbed up the ladder.A peek showed the viewing deck empty except for a tablet on the bench.A faint clatter caught his ears, and he pulled himself onto the deck.

Curled in a shivering ball was Britta.Her teeth chattering must’ve been what he’d heard.He kneeled beside her to stroke her arm, finding her chilled.

“Female,” he growled.“How foolish must you be not to leave?”

She didn’t answer, deeply asleep.He couldn’t carry her down the ladder without banging her head.Opening the hidden panel, he adjusted the temperature of the space to suit her human biology.That would help her later, but for now, she needed warmth.

He should wake her…

Instead, he scooped her into his arms and sat with her on his lap.She moaned, pressing her body to his, her face tucked into the curve of his neck.

Maker.

He shuddered, drawing her closer.To hold her was…sublime.Despite wanting to rip off her clothes and taste every inch of her, a serenity engulfed his soul.He could embrace her for an eternity, just to experience this sense of peace she brought to him.Time slowed as he watched the star-filled display vids.It had been a while since he’d admired the beauty of space.

He ran his hand up and down her back, the pads of his fingers picking up her delicate muscles and bones.Humans were so fragile.It felt as if he could snap her in two.He gathered her against him, wanting her contours to meld to his.Even as he vowed that nothing would ever harm her.

Her breath huffed.She shifted in his arms then stiffened.As she scrambled off him, she touched parts of his body, summoning a sweet thrill of pleasure.

“You…bastard,” she hissed.“You lured me here with promises of privacy, then locked me in.”She pointed her finger at him, her cheeks a bright peach, while tears shimmered in her eyes.“I thought…like an idiot, that you were being nice, that we could start over.”She wiped her cheek, grabbed her tablet, and tried to hurry past him.

He caught her wrist and tugged, using her momentum to drive her onto his lap.She squeaked when she sprawled across him, her face in his chest, her knees between his thighs.He wrapped his arms around her, trapping her there.

“I did not lock you in,” he said.

“Right, with no door handle or panel-thingy to let me out?”She leaned back only as far as he’d let her.“I screamed…” She glanced away, hiding her eyes from him.

He pinched her chin between forefinger and thumb and forced her to meet his gaze.“Push on the center of the bulkhead, and it will open.”

“I punched—” She snapped her mouth shut.“Just push?”

He nodded.“The fault does lie with me.I did not ensure you knew how to open it.”

Her shrug was weak.“To you, it’s common sense how your doors work so it wouldn’t have occurred to explain it.”

He tried not to smile.Had she just defended him?Justified his error?

“Um, would you mind releasing me…please?”She jerked her gaze everywhere but at him.

“What if I do mind?”He freed a grin.“You are cold.”

She glanced down but whipped her gaze up.He did the same, then stilled at the sight of her nipples peaking her thin tunic.

“I would like a hot shower and a warm bed.Maybe even a cup of cocoa.Let’s just forget this silly incident.”She pulled away, and he let her.

Down the ladder she went with him close behind her.In the tight space, his chest pressing her back, he waited.His arm twitched with the urge to wrap around her waist and pin her against him.He forced himself not to move.

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