Page 32 of Rogue: Planet Athion
“Let me in.”
“No.”
I turned to Tide. “Are you in charge?”
He stared down at me levelly. “I am.”
“Then let me in, or I swear, when we get to Athion, I’ll testify that you abused me. A trio of desperate men on a ship for days with a human.” I raised my chin. “I’ll make them believe it.”
Xavier sucked in a breath. “Damn, Rogue. You are ruthless.”
I didn’t break eye contact with Tide. “You know it.”
Tide was the first to look away. “He’ll hurt you.”
“I can handle myself.”
“I can attest to that,” Xavier said. “I saw her go berserker in the arena, but Rogue, this is different. If he attacks you—"
“I won’t hesitate to defend myself. Look. He’s not a monster, and right now, he’s in pain and alone. Just let me be there for him.” I looked from Xavier to Tide. “If it were Xavier in there, suffering, wouldn’t you do this for him?”
Tide didn’t respond. Instead, he reached around me and swiped his hand over a panel by the window. The whole thing flickered, and then Vex was looking right at me.
“He can hear and see you now,” Tide said.
Vex blinked and pressed his palm to the glass. “You’re okay?”
I nodded. “But you aren’t.” I looked to Tide. “Open the door.”
He moved to unlock it.
“Don’t,” Vex said.
Tide paused and arched a brow.
Vex tucked in his chin. “I don’t … I don’t know if I can control myself around her.”
Tide looked to me.
This might be the worst idea, but all I knew was that I needed to be in there with him. I pushed away from the glass and walked to the door. “Open it, please.”
“Rogue, no,” Vex said.
But the door was sliding open, and I was in the room with Vex.
He backed away, his chest rising and falling, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled me.
But I wasn’t in heat anymore. My libido was calm even though my heart was thudding ten to the dozen.
His shoulders relaxed, and then I was bridging the gap between us to wrap my arms around his waist. His body rippled with tension, and he froze as I nestled against his sweat-soaked frame, and then slowly, carefully, he wrapped his arms around me.
“You’re fucking crazy, you know that?” The words were a gruff whisper.
“Yeah, and you need a shower.”
He let out a bark of laughter. I held him for a moment longer before pulling back. “I’m staying with you until this is over.”
He sighed. “Rogue, I’m in control right now, but the delirium comes and goes. I don’t want to hurt you.”
