Stones tumble from a short ledge. But when I make my way there, I lose track of her scent. I turn around, a twinge of panic buzzing through my nerves. I circle and back track, sniffing for a wisp of her on the breeze.
I snake through the edge of the river bed, unable to track her, when a stone taps me in the back. Whipping around, I find Tessi casually leaning against a boulder I just passed.
“Caught you.” She winks at me.
I rise into my upright form. “How did I not find you?”
“Just had to get downwind of you.” She smirks, and I love the way the confidence toys with her plump lips. “We have wolves and coyotes on Earth that wouldn’t hesitate to tear apart Radar and me in winter.”
She hugs herself. “I just considered myself a glorified metal detector operator for a long time, until shit got real. We had a small dilapidated house at the end of town for a short time. Until Falgus found us and we had to run so I didn’t become his plaything. But living in the wild is really just long term camping with a higher likelihood of encountering bigger threats. Bears were the scariest. Bullets don’t always work on them.”
Tessi pops off the rock and walks up to me. Her eyelashes look impossibly soft when she gazes into my eyes. “Zorin, I know you aren’t used to asking for things. But if we’re going to be together someday, I need you to know you can open up to me.Whatever burdens you’re struggling with inside, let me carry them with you.”
She slides her hands over the sides of my face. I look away. Tessi wouldn’t like me if she knew all of the missions I’ve been on, how many lives I’ve taken, even though they were all enemies of the federation. I still fear karma will come for her someday because of the life my brother and I live. And that is difficult to explain. It’s something I can’t let go of as a soldier who is supposed to be practical and rational.
Tessi draws me gently toward her as she rises on her toes. Her warm breath falls over my lips.
I would do anything for her, for more of her love. Anything.
“I guess I’ll just have to distract you so you don’t go there…” She taps my forehead with a fingertip. “Anymore.”
Her lips are soft and warm, and she tastes of fresh,vulnerablelife.
I almost didn’t get to her in time.Geist was so close. My frantic hunt through the tunnels for her flashes through my mind.
“Stop that.” Tessi nips painfully at my lip. “I can see it when I touch you.”
I draw her hands from my face. “Then stop.”
“I’d rather you show me.”
“I don’t want you to see that side of me. You deserve better. The last thing you need is someone violent like me.”
“Oh, is that what this is about?” she asks. “Why you actually came out here to bathe in private?”
I rub my head, trying to push back the throb from replaying the moment Geist took her.
Tessi guides my mouth to hers again with one hand this time. After another long kiss that starts to pull me out of my regrets, she asks, “Howdidyou find me?”
“It’s just a feeling. I know what’s beneath me, always. I could feel the vibrations in the tunnels. And your scent right now is…extra strong.”
“Thank youagain.” She takes my hand and leads me back toward the maze.
But I don’t want to go back. I want to leave. I have her.We should let the Lunas deal with the war themselves.
“Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask if you think your brother is watching the race on the holofeed.” Tessi playfully kicks a small rock with her boot. “Do you think he knows about any of this? The Myndrous, Geist, the hunt for anomalies like me?”
I’d like to think he is. “I don’t know. Probably not. He wouldn’t even talk to me. It’s been months.”
The hum of a cameradrone buzzes behind the maze. I try to pull away, but Tessi hangs on tightly. “Oh no. You’re not getting away from me again.”
“Teasing me is a pretty good way to get into trouble,” I whisper. “I almost lost it in the cave. You’re in heat. I can taste it in your scent.” I inhale the deep musky notes on her breath. “I…”
She is gorgeous under the sunlight, the way it shines in her hair and her moonlit eyes. There is no one else for me.
Why are we fighting this?
Screw it…
