Page 30 of Rebel
Xavier chuckled and poured water into metal mugs and then sprinkled some grains into them. He stirred and then put white grains in.
“Careful you use the cukier and not the senku,” Lore said quickly.
“What?” I frowned.
“Sugar, not the sedatives,” Lore explained.
“Why are the sedatives in the kitchen?” Vex asked.
“I assume the previous occupants may have had trouble sleeping. The planet’s days and nights differ from Athion, and it can mess with your biorhythm.”
“Don’t worry,” Xavier said. “I know my cukier from my senku.” He passed mugs round, and the smell … wait … Oh, God. It smelled like coffee.
Their tea was my coffee.
“Eclipse is happening now,” Lore said. “It’ll be dark but not freezing as it’s technically still daytime.”
I took a sip, and the taste was familiar, like coming home. It brought tears to my eyes.
“Are you all right?” Lore asked, concern etched on his face.
I nodded. “U-hmmm.”
The concoction was hot, and there was no milk, but still … coffee.
Xavier sat at the head of the table, his attention on my face. “Does it taste like your tea?”
“No, even better, it tastes like coffee.”
He smiled, and his face lit up. “You like coffee.”
“I love it.”
His attention dropped to my smiling mouth, and his eyes darkened. He tore his gaze away but not before heat climbed up my neck as the memory of what we’d done a few hours ago filled my mind and softened my body.
Vex’s hand slipped onto my thigh and then moved up toward my crotch, and I was hot again—heat-cycle hot. Could he feel it? Could he sense my arousal? Could I have them both, together? One after the other. Images swirled in my mind. No, I couldn’t let the heat control me. I was in charge of my body.
“Rogue?” Lore’s voice sounded strangled, and when I looked up, his face was flushed.
Tide was breathing faster, shallower. His pupils dark and large against silver irises.
“Rogue …” Vex squeezed my thigh.
Oh, my God. They could feel it, smell it, sense it. Whatever. They knew I was horny, and it was affecting them.
“You’re like a beacon.” Xavier’s voice was thick and husky.
“Fuck,” Tide growled.
“I feel like I need to be alone with my hand,” Lore muttered.
His comment defused the tension and laughter filled the room, breathy and awkward, but still.
And then the lights went out.
* * *
There was silence, and no one moved, then chairs scraped and bodies collided.
