Page 25 of Hyperspeed
Zylo put his hands in the air and shouted, “Revvy!” I followed his eyeline to see a stranger standing at Nebula’s entrance.
Except, it wasn’t a stranger.
Rev shifted from foot to foot, arms wrapped around his waist, sharp teeth nibbling his bottom lip. He looked out of his depth, but hearing Zylo’s voice, he replaced his trepidation with a mask of indifference. His arms dropped to his sides, and he strutted through the bar, oblivious to the eyes on him as he moved. If I didn’t know him, I’d have said he was a vision.
The top of his dark hair was tied into its usual messy bun, while the rest hung loose down his back. The strands shifted between deep shades of blues, purples, and greens under the recessed ceiling lights, and his pale pearlescent skin glittered like the surface of a moon.
A thin silver chain dipped between his pecs, while matching chains hung between the piercings lining his ears. His sheer midnight-blue shirt stopped just above his waist, showcasing the smooth but toned skin of his stomach. The topthree buttons were undone, revealing protruding collarbones and the way the delicate lines around his face extended down his body before dipping into the waistband of his trousers.
I wondered how far down they went.
His leather trousers moulded to his long, slim legs like a second skin. They were tight enough that a semi would be obvious to passersby, so fitted they were almost indecent. And curled around his thigh, gripping the limb, was a . . . fucking stars, it was a tail.
Polished, heeled boots added a few inches to his height, their steady clip echoing as he arrived at the table. Up close, I noticed a dusting of periwinkle eyeshadow framed his dark eyes, and the subtle shimmer made the galaxies in them seem infinite. A tiny star-shaped silver stud glinted in his nose, while a thin ring pierced his septum.
His plump lips glistened with a clear gloss, and I wondered whether they’d feel soft or sticky to the touch.
“Can I help you with something?”
“Huh?” I grunted. My eyes snapped up from Rev’s lips, meeting his glare.
“You were staring,” Rev said, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
My cheeks burned with my embarrassment at being caught. “Not staring.” I lifted my chin. “Just surprised to see that you clean up so well.”
The ghost of his smirk fell away, replaced with his usual scowl. Returning to our normal back and forth made me feel steadier. More balanced.
“It’s nice to see you again, Rev,” Saelix cut in. He rested a slender hand on the rookie’s bicep. “You look lovely.”
Rev dropped his eyes to the table and shrugged, but his skin pulsed with an amber-gold glow, the flickering obvious under his sheer shirt. He was like a walking light show. It was mesmerising. “Attendance was mandatory,” he muttered, almost shyly. “So here I am.”
“We’re glad you’re here!” Zylo added, dropping his thick arm around Saelix’s thinner shoulders.
When Rev looked up, there was a tiny smile on his lips, and he softened while looking at the pair. Seemed a few pleasant words could make the icicle thaw.
“Do you want a drink, Rev?” Jax had finished his cocktail and was preparing to get another.
“You didn’t offer to get me a drink,” I grumbled.
“You’re big enough and ugly enough to get your own.”
To my right, a snicker made me turn my head, and I caught Rev trying to cover the sound. Caught, he cleared his throat and dropped his hand. He replaced his arrogant mask before turning to Jax. “I’d love one, thank you.”
“Anything in particular?”
Rev shrugged. “Surprise me.”
“Careful, Revvy.” Zylo twirled a glass of sparkling liquor in his thick fingers. “They look pretty, but they’re strong as fuck. Kind of like a certain Ymirithian I know.” Saelix giggled when Zylo nipped at his jaw.
I pretended to gag. “You two are sickening.”
“Don’t worry, Kai.” Saelix trailed a hand down Zylo’s broad chest. “You’ll find your partner in crime soon enough.”
I scoffed, waving him off. “No way. I’m a lone wolf. Bachelor for life, and all that.”
“More like too infuriating for a single person to put up with,” Rev mumbled.
I turned to him, narrowing my eyes. “Bold words from someone who looks like he’d rather be launched into deep space than have a meaningful conversation.”
