Page 91 of Phoenix's Last Heist
But I don’t slow down until he gasps, “Lyra—fuck—you’re gonna—I’m gonna come!”
I hum around him, and he breaks, pumping his release down my throat. His pleasure unlocks my own, crashing through me with devastating intensity, and I almost don’t hear him gasping my name like a vow.
When he finally collapses beneath me, breathless and spent, I wriggle around and curl against his chest. The stars blur againthrough the viewport, like even the cosmos can’t decide what shape they’re supposed to take.
He brushes my hair back from my face.
“I won’t pretend I don’t want you to be mine, Lyra, but regardless of your decision, I’ll always be yours.”
I rest my hand on his chest, above his heart beating slow and steady. As constant as he is.
“…Orion?”
“Yeah?”
“…Ask.”
He stills.
I lift my gaze to his, heart pounding.
“Ask me to be yours.”
He cups my cheek, eyes burning. “Lyra Phoenix…will you be mine?”
I smile. “Already am.”
By the timewe’re nearing Xylothia, Orion’s excitement is bubbling over at the thought of returning home. He’s equally excited that we’ll be returning the Solar Mother idol to the Celestial Temple, and the whole rest of the trip back he’s made it his mission to let me knowhowgrateful he is that I said we should do it. Even with the tender skin on my sex, nipples, neck, and lips—the small bruises from his teeth and fingers, as it turns out, Ireallyenjoy his gratitude.
As Ada pilots us down to the blue-green swirling mass of Xylothia, I stare out the window and try to see the planet through Orion’s eyes. He comes to stand behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on top of myhead. The synesfores on his arms pulse a deep green that I’ve come to recognize as contentment.
“I’m not sure what kind of state my campsite and my swamp buggy are in after the Void Stalkers trashed it, but I was thinking maybe when we’re done here, we could fly into the city. There’s a really great restaurant near my apartment that I think you’ll like,” he says.
“Ranger Asterth, are you asking me out on a date?” I tease, my grin stretching wide and absolutely shit-eating.
His chuckle vibrates through my back and he brushes his cheek against my hair.
“I am. And I don’t want toassumeanything, but I happen to have a very large bathtub at my place. You’ve mentioned one or two or a thousand times how much you’ve longed for a relaxing bath.”
“A very large bathtub, huh?”
“Yep. I’m pretty sure we’d both fit,” he says softly, nipping at my ear and sending lust chasing through my veins.
“Is this date just a pretext so you can get me naked?” I laugh, turning to drape my arms around his neck.
“Stars, yes. Will it work?” he says, low and lush.
“Only one way to find out,” I reply, letting my hands wander over his broad, muscular chest and firm abs, circling around to squeeze his tight ass.
Now entering Xylothian atmosphere. Being seated and belted in is advisable for atmospheric reentry.
“Thanks a lot, Ada,” Orion mutters dourly.
You’re welcome. I’m happy to do the work of navigating and piloting a ship I wasn’t designed for while you two engage in extracurricular activities. Ada's as sarcastic as ever, but there’s no real venom in it.
The landing is a lot rougher this time than the last time I was here, but likely due to the fact that this borrowed cruiser is muchsmaller than theAldrin-136and we’ve apparently arrived at the beginning of monsoon season. Thick clouds hang low over the jungle canopy, coating everything in warm mist that promises rain soon.
As soon as the cruiser stills, Orion squeezes my hand and opens up the doors. The air on Xylothia hits like the breath of the Solar Mother herself—hot, damp, and heavy with green things growing. I blink against the sharp brilliance of twin suns slicing across the atmosphere as we step into the clearing that surrounds the Celestial Temple. It looks like some ancient beast half-buried in the jungle, ribs of obsidian stone jutting through a blanket of moss and vine.
