But now that feeling inside was choking him and he couldn’t even speak.
He’d almost lost her.
As they neared theDrake, he saw that it was no longer on the ground, but hovering in the air. A large cargo door on the side of the hull retracted.
Nera and the female agent went in first. He watched the woman slow the pack’s engine, then both women touched down, running a few steps to come to a stop. An electronic capture field shimmered blue beyond them, a precaution for a bad landing.
The other two agents went in next.
“Our turn,” Galen said.
They flew through the door, and seconds later, Nik’s feet touched metal. He let out a breath. Safe.
Avril was waiting for them. “Nik, I am so pleased to see you’re okay. I’ve brought the medics so you can get your injections straight away.”
He nodded. Now the adrenaline of Nera’s fall was wearing off, he felt the fatigue and nausea of the radiation poisoning. He bared just enough skin for the medic to jab him. He winced, then redid his trousers. He watched a female medic doing the same for Nera.
Avril gestured. “We really need to debrief?—”
He brushed past Avril, grabbed Nera’s arm, and strode toward the exit.
“Nik?” Avril called out.
He didn’t bother answering her.
“I believe Phoenix and Darc need some time to…clean up, rest…recuperate,” Galen said dryly.
Nik charged down the corridor toward his cabin.
Nera cleared her throat. “Niklas?—”
“Don’t talk.” His voice was low, harsh.
“We’re both alive?—”
“Be quiet.” He reached his quarters, opened the door with a bang of his palm on the lock, and dragged her inside.
Once the door locked behind them, he spun her and slammed her against the wall. He moved in, his hands pressed to the wall on either side of her head. His chest was heaving, and he wasn’t sure what he wanted to say. God, he wasn’t sure the black, ugly pressure inside would even let him talk.
All he knew was that it needed her, he needed Nera. He needed to know she was alive, okay, and his.
“You’re upset,” she said.
Upset. Upset didn’t begin to describe what he was feeling. He kissed her.
Heat. It was like being swallowed by molten flames. He deepened the kiss, thrust his tongue into her mouth, and she tangled her tongue with his. God, she tasted so good.
“I thought you were dead.” He tugged her silver-blonde hair back. “I thought—” His voice broke.
“I’m alive.” Her mouth slid away from his lips, nipping at his jaw, then down the side of his neck.
Nik suddenly realized he was pawing at her, after they’d both spent a rough night stuck in a zombie-infested ruin.
He stumbled back. “God. Sorry, Nera. You probably want to rest, clean up.” He raked his hands through his hair. “I’m tearing at you like a jacked-up schoolboy.” He opened his door. “Go. Rest.”
He led her to her door, felt her watching him, her gaze intent. He opened her cabin door and gently pushed her inside. His hands flexed, he wanted to drag her back to him.
They stared at each other as the door closed between them.
