Page 165 of Tempting Fate

“But he could be hurt!”

“He could have been dead.”

“Kri’ith don’t bruise like we do,” Kira said. “Our guys are badass. Trust him.”

Our guys. I tore my eyes from the airlock. Kira stood at ease, Reskavi’s arm draped around her, casual and natural.

Hope turned to belief, a deep knowing that I was worthy of the same kind of love, with the man out in space who would be in my arms any minute—as long as he landed safely.

Airida angled himself towards the airlock, arrowing his body in a line, headfirst.

“Best you don’t come straight in. Aim for the hull and walk round,” Reskavi said.

“Aye, Captain.” A smile lit my mate’s voice, thin and reedy through the comm, but in the confines of his helmet, I knew his words burst with life.

“Activate mags by your ankle,” Reskavi said.

“Got it.”

Airida soared overhead, and I held my breath until a clang confirmed he’d caught hold.

Footsteps rang out above us as he paced over the hull in slow, magnetic stomps. With each one, I expected to see him in the open hatchway, and my breath came heavier with each moment he didn’t appear. How many steps did it take?

His gloved hand appeared first, gripping the frame as he walked in on the ceiling. He reached up, catching the handle there, and flipped over to land on his feet.

It had to be Airida; who else could it be? But the huge spec-suit was unfamiliar, and the mirrored visor revealed nothing. Until I knew for certain, I couldn’t feel relief. I had to see him.

The outer doors slid closed behind him, steady and unhurried.

Rude. Don’t they know I need him? I jabbed at the controls. Let me in. So close. He was right there.

More agonising seconds passed before our side unlocked, but as soon as it did, the door whooshed open, and I dashed into his arms.

Finally.

He held me close in a way only Airida could, even through the bulky suit, and I pressed my cheek to his cold metal chest. His voice crackled through the comm. “Let me take this off, I can’t touch you properly.”

He pulled off the helmet, and I sucked in a breath. Blood had dried around his nose, and there was a split on his lip, but his eyes were bright, and he’d never looked so beautiful.

I flung my arms around his neck, wrapping my legs around him as he lifted me, peppering the unhurt side of his face with hard, reverent kisses.

My Airida. Here. Safe.

Gripping me tight, he paced forwards, pushed me up against the wall, and captured my mouth in a kiss.

My head spun with blissful white noise. Everything. Everything I needed was right here. His soft lips, his strong arms, his scent, just… him. I drowned in his kisses, only breaking away to catch my breath. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

“You can’t get rid of me that easily. I can fly, you know.”

I choked a laugh. “I thought I’d killed you.”

“What do you mean?”

The magnitude of what I’d done hit me. I didn’t want to voice it aloud, but I forced myself to speak, trusting he’d understand. “I gave the order to fire the last shot. Reskavi left it up to me.”

He nuzzled me, catching my lip with his tusks. “Of course you did. It was the logical thing to do.”

“But the ship exploded!”