Page 2 of On a Barbarian World

Aurina smiled and sashayed up to him. She smacked a kiss to his cheek. “Missed you, too.”

“Aurina—”

“Ry, how many times have I landed the Ariel in here?”

His scowl deepened. “I don’t have the precise number. Thousands.”

“How many times have I come in too fast?”

He heaved out a breath. “Thousands.”

She patted his muscled bicep. “See my point?”

“Yes, but I still don’t like it.” He grabbed her strawberry-blonde braid and tugged it.

That was Ry’s way of saying hi, love you, and you’re forgiven. He wasn’t a man of many words. “Come on.” She looped her arm through his and started out of the hangar. “I need to debrief you guys, then I want a shower.” She sniffed herself. “I smell like I’ve been dancing all night in a sauna.”

“You smell fine.”

Men. “Ha, you would say that.” Her face turned serious. “I do need to head back out shortly, though.”

“You just got back.”

“I didn’t make it as far as I wanted, and I know we need a planet to land on to rest and take on supplies. I haven’t found one yet, but a couple of possibilities did show up on long-range scans. I want to get back there and take a better look.”

“Can’t keep you grounded for long, can we?”

She winked at him. “Too much to see, my brother. Why would I want to be stuck in one place?”

“Maybe because you find ship-board life a little confining. You like rocks and animals and plants. The kinds of things you don’t find on a starship.”

She frowned. Damn, the man was too perceptive sometimes. “I love being a part of the convoy.”

He patted her arm. “I never said you didn’t. Some people are made for life in deep space, for others, it’s just a short-term adventure. Besides, someday, some guy is going to finally get a good grip on you…and I don’t mean those young, pretty boys you occasionally play with at the space stations. Someone you can’t wriggle away from with a wink and that beautiful smile of yours.”

Aurina tossed her braid over her shoulder and shook her head. “That will never happen. I don’t need some man bossing me around, getting me knocked up, then swaggering off to his next conquest.”

They turned into the corridor heading to the bridge.

Ry was quiet for a moment. “You know it isn’t always like that. Look at Justyn and Nissa.”

Yes, those two were completely in love and they…fit. Justyn clearly respected Nissa’s skills as a captain and pilot. They seemed to give each other the support the other needed to flourish. It was the first time she’d seen a relationship like that. Growing up, she’d seen worn-out women like her mother, juggling work, raising children, and taking care of their homes, while the men headed off for drinks at the pub, or who just took off and never came back. Nope, Justyn and Nissa were the exception to the rule.

The uncomfortable sensation in her gut made her voice sharp. “This is all impossibly rich coming from you. You are hardly the person I’d listen to for relationship advice.”

Rynan grunted.

“Maybe some woman will sweep you off your feet and convince you that you want to keep her around for good?”

Another grunt.

Aurina knew that was Ry’s “not going anywhere near that subject” response.

“Or maybe you’ll see what makes you happy is right under your nose.”

Ry blinked, staring down at her with his silver-gray gaze.

The man was crazy smart, but he could be obtuse when it suited him. She shook her head. “Here we are.” The double doors to the bridge slid open with a hiss, and she strode inside.