“They don’t know I’m gone.”
“No. From what I know of their performance through the training program, they will not be far behind you in graduating.”
I stared at him for a second, wide-eyed. “You mean… you mean their playing partners are real… never mind.” I set my hand on his chest before he could reply. “I know it’s all real. Will they come here? I never thought I’d have to go across the galaxy to meet them in person.”
His lips turned up, his amusement obvious. “I am pleased your friends will be joining you in the Starfighter program. There are six operating Starfighter bases. I do not know where their skills will be needed.”
I couldn’t help but sigh and want to fist pump the air in happiness. Mia and Lily would soon find out their guys were real. That the game was real. And they’d be here, or at least close enough that I could see them now and then.
I grinned, hooking my hand behind Alex’s neck. “That’s good. Now… back to where your mouth was…”
There was that little growl again. Then he kissed me. His arm banded around my back, and he lifted me off my feet. We were moving, but I was too lost in the kiss to know where we were headed or why. When I was lowered onto my back on the soft bed, Alex following me down, I laughed.
He placed a hand beside my head so he loomed over me. I looked up into his dark eyes. I took in the sharp brow, the square jaw, the full lips. He was gorgeous and he was mine. My bondmate. My other half.
“You are amused?” he murmured.
I shook my head a little, my hair sliding over the blanket. “I’m… happy.” My eyes widened. “I’m sorry. We just came from battle and I shouldn’t be feeling that way but—”
His finger went over my lips.
“I’m happy, too. I can also be angry about the attack. The war is long. It is… unpleasant. Death could come at any time, which you learned. We take pleasure when we can.”
I thought of that. Our ship had been damaged by the enemy. We could have died. We still could, at any time. That had me realizing that while I’d only awakened on Velerion earlier, so much had happened. Everything was different now. Everything.
“Time is relative here. Emotions are different. Everything is more…” My voice faded. More intense. Brighter. More vivid. It was like I’d been living in a black-and-white world and woke up to color. And emotion. Fear. Hope. Desire.
He frowned. “I do not understand. There is no time shift on Velerion.”
I blinked, licked my lips. “I mean, I’m not going to die without having you inside me first.”
His eyes widened slightly, then narrowed. His body went taut. It was possible he stopped breathing.
“Jamie…”
“I want you, Alex. I’ve always wanted you.” My core pulsed as I said the final words, and I reached for him. “I want you. Now.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. It seemed ever since he’d knocked on my apartment door, he’d been holding back. Remained calm. Under control. Civilized. I’d seen hints of his possessiveness and attentiveness in the control room, but now I realized he’d been restrained.
Now… holy crap, now he was wild. His lips were on mine, consuming me. Stealing my breath. His hands roamed, lifted my shirt, tugged. His body lowered to mine, pressing me into the bed. He was everywhere.
His touch was ravenous, as if he’d been in a drought and I was the rain. “Jamie,” he breathed as he kissed down my neck.
Reaching for the bottom of his shirt, I gripped the edges and tugged upward. He pushed back, knelt over me, and took his uniform shirt off.
“Now you.” His knuckles brushed my belly as my matching uniform top was raised. I had to sit up, and he helped me work it over my head.
My bra was next, and then I was half-bare before him.
“So beautiful.” His gaze raked over me, heating me in its wake. I was far from cold, knowing he’d keep me warm. And if I was this overheated with him looking at me, I would go up in flames when he got inside me.
“I never expected…”
His words dropped off when I ran my fingertips over his skin.
“What?” I whispered. His shoulders were broad, his waist narrow, making his torso a sharp V. He was thickly muscled. A smattering of dark hair on his chest narrowed and tapered down to a line and disappeared into his pants. His skin was warm to the touch, and the way he’d stilled and couldn’t talk, all because I was touching him, made me feel powerful.
I smiled.