Page 46 of Rainse
"Kidnapped," I insisted. "If all of that had to happen, I'm glad it led me to you."
His expression did something complicated. "That might be the most romantic thing anyone's ever said to me."
"Really? I thought it was more of a backhanded compliment."
"I'll take what I can get." He pulled me closer, tucking me against his chest. The greenskin along his ribs curled around me like a living blanket, warm and comforting. "For what it's worth, I'm glad it's you too. Even if you do mock my people's cuisine."
"Seaweed pudding is not cuisine. It's a dare."
He laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest into mine. Outside, the storm was beginning to ease, the rain softening from a hammer to a whisper. Dawn wasn't far off—I could feel it in the way the darkness had started to thin at the edges.
"What happens now?" I asked quietly.
"Now we sleep," he said. "And in the morning, we'll figure out the rest."
"That's not very specific."
"You want a plan?"
"I'm a scientist. I always want a plan."
"All right." He pressed a kiss to my hair. "The plan is: we wake up. We go back to the main lodge. You submit a DNA sample to make the bond official in the eyes of the Hot Tatties agency. We tell my brothers. We probably get lectured by Pam. And then we start building a life together."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
I was quiet for a moment, letting the words settle. A life together. It should have terrified me. Instead, it felt like the first deep breath after surfacing from a long dive.
"Okay," I said.
"Okay?"
"Yes." I tilted my head up to kiss him, soft and sure. "Let's do that."
His smile was brighter than his greenskin. "You're sure?"
"I'm sure." I settled back against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "Besides, someone needs to teach you proper scientific method. Consider it my contribution to intergalactic relations."
"Noble of you."
"I'm very noble. You're lucky to have me."
"I know," he said, and there was no humour in it—just quiet, devastating honesty.
We lay there as the storm died away and the first grey light of dawn crept through the gaps in the walls. My eyes were heavy, my body pleasantly exhausted, but I didn't want to sleep yet. Didn't want to miss a single moment of this strange, perfect peace.
"Rainse?"
"Mmm?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For saving me." I pressed my palm flat against his chest, feeling the greenskin pulse beneath my touch. "Not just from the shark. From... everything else. From spending my whole life measuring the ocean instead of swimming in it."
His arms tightened around me. "You saved me too."
