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“This is Sokko, named for Breccan’s father. My son.”
Sokko.
My nephew.
My family.
I hear the door open behind me, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the screen where Aria is holding a cooing Sokko. Hadrian’s arms come around my waist and he rests his head on my shoulder. He fits against me like a missing piece.
“I can’t wait to meet him,” I say, tears coloring my voice.
“You will soon,” Aria says. “And for the record, I won’t ever let you out of my sight again.”
“Same goes, sister.”
My hands go to Hadrian’s over my waist and I grip them as emotion swells in my chest. I couldn’t have done this without him. I’m strong. I proved that when Zoe, Willow, and I saved this place. Strong, but I’d been alone.
From the corner of my eye, I see Theron sidle up beside Willow, who scowls in his direction. I make a mental note to keep an eye on the two of them until they leave. Maybe Hadrian can talk to him about laying off her for a while.
“We’ll see you soon,” I say to Aria.
“Not in a hurry back?” Breccan asks Hadrian with a knowing look in his eye.
Hadrian tightens his arms around me. “I’ve got everything I need here.”
* * *
“Where are we going?” Hadrian asks after he, Theron, and Avrell finish nailing out the details for the trip back.
I give him a coy look over my shoulder as I lead him down the hallway. “To find somewhere to be alone. You gotta problem with that?”
He clears his throat. “No, no, I don’t. It doesn’t involve the zap stick, does it?”
“Only if you’re a bad boy.”
A hand wraps around my waist and pulls me to a stop. “You’re trying to tease me, mate.”
“That’s the point.”
He growls in response and nips at my ear, but releases me to lead him to our destination. The level above the infirmary is the bathing floor. We find it nearly empty because most are still recovering from the virus or isolated in the infirmary. The worry for the rest of our people still lingers, but for now, I just want to focus on Hadrian.
He lifts a brow when I flip on the switch for the bathing floor, but doesn’t say anything when I tug him to an empty shower stall. I twist the shower knobs to an acceptable temperature, then turn to face him. Mine.
I have time to draw a shaking breath, suddenly full of nerves. This man is mine. To do with as I please. To enjoy. To satisfy. The nerves fade and I take a step forward.
Lifting a hand to his shirt, I slide my fingers underneath. “Off,” I command.
He crosses his arms over his front and lifts his shirt off in one swift movement, the muscles under his taut skin flexing and making my mouth go dry. Normally, he wears his minnasuit as he calls it, but it started to get ripe and needed a good washing, forcing him to wear a prison uniform like me. Hadrian makes for a hot convict. His shirt drops to the floor forgotten and his hands fall to his side, those watchful eyes on me as I step forward.
“Boots and socks,” I instruct. He kicks off his shoes and peels off his socks.
“What next, fiery one?” he asks.
“We’ve got to get you clean,” I say simply and reach between us for the snap at his waist.
He lets me work his pants down his hips until he stands naked before me. I reach for him, but he shakes his head. “Your turn,” he says in a low voice.
There is something decadent, sinful, about having Hadrian’s eyes on me as I strip down to skin that feels extra sensitized. I chew on my lip as his eyes rove over me, still a little nervous for him to see me so bare.
Steam begins to fill the shower stall and Hadrian reaches a hand by me to test the temperature of the water. He must find it acceptable because he herds me back under the spray. I can’t even tell what it feels like because my skin is burning up from the inside out.
Everything about the prison was designed to be as efficient as possible, so the shower really only has room for one person. Made of a stainless-steel material that’s supposed to be easy to clean, it’s about the size of a small closet. Barely enough room for the both of us to fit inside, but Hadrian makes it work by pressing me against the wall underneath the spray, positioning us so the water beats down his back. His wide shoulders protect me from getting any in my face.
Here, away from everything that’s happening, there’s only the two of us. I’ve never given any thought to what my life could look like once I found my way back to my sister. For a long time, I wasn’t sure I’d even find her. I was certain I would be alone for the rest of my days, lost.
