Nissa and Justyn looked up.
Rynan’s cuttership, thePathfinder, hovered above them like a giant bird of prey. Its flame cannon was firing at the plants.
A team of five people, all encased in dark-gray body armor, were rappelling down from the ship, aiming flame-throwers at the vines.
The fight was over so fast, Nissa felt dizzy. She was grateful Justyn’s arms were still around her, holding her upright, as she wasn’t sure her own legs could hold her.
She watched the last of the uncharred vines slither back into the vegetation. Many lay, black and shriveled, on the rocks.
One of the armored figures stepped in front of them, and the opaque visor on the helmet retracted. Rynan arched a brow. “Kissing is a novel way to fight off killer plants.”
Justyn grinned. His hair was plastered to his head, and sweat and grime coated his face, but Nissa had never seen a more handsome man.
“We were going out with a bang.”
Rynan snorted. “Right. Well, cavalry’s here. If you two can let go of each other long enough, we can all get aboard the ship.”
She reluctantly released Justyn. He grabbed her hand and winked at her.
“Where’s theMercury?” Rynan asked.
Sadness flickered over Justyn’s face. “She’s toast. Not enough left to salvage.”
“Damn. Sorry, bro. I know you loved that ship.”
Justyn shrugged, his fingers tightening on her hand. “We’re alive. That’s all that matters.”
Within minutes, they were attached to ziplines and pulled aboard. All Nissa wanted was a shower. Desperately.
“Go clean up,” Rynan said. “Grab a snack and be back here in—” he glanced at his timepiece “—fifteen minutes.”
“Forty,” Justyn countered. “We did just survive a crash on a killer jungle planet.”
“Twenty.”
“Thirty.”
His brother heaved a sigh. “Fine. But I want to know what the hell happened ASAP.”
“Roger that. Oh, and keep an eye out for three Firebrand fighters. They’re the bastards who shot us down.”
Rynan stilled. “As we started back to find you, we ran into them.”
“They engage?”
“Yes. Much to their regret, I’m sure.” Ry’s tone was dark with satisfaction.
“Good. See you in thirty.” Justyn tugged Nissa off the bridge and down a corridor with sleek, black walls. The layout of Rynan’s ship wasn’t all that different to theFreedom. As soon as they turned the corner into the corridor that led to the cabins, Justyn spun and slammed her into a wall.
His mouth was on hers, taking, demanding. She sank her hands into his hair and yanked him closer.
When they broke apart, they were both panting.
“This is your cabin.” He nodded toward the door beside them. “Mine’s next door.” He cupped her face, thumb stroking her skin. “I’d like to join you?—”
She smiled and rubbed her hips against the heavy bulge of his erection. “But?”
He groaned. “If I come in, there’s no way we’d be back for Rynan’s briefing in thirty minutes.” He rubbed his nose against hers. “And what I have planned will take much,muchlonger.”
