Page 74 of Hope Forged
“I am glad you are well,” he said, glancing at her.
Their expressions morphed as they conversed along their private connection.
Illan drew Ziamee into his arms and rested his chin on her head. “Think they will forgive each other?”
“Eventually,” she said into the curve of his neck, her breath fanning his skin. “This’s too important not to.”
“Think your father will forgive me?” He grimaced. “I did not ask his permission first.”
She faced him and cupped his cheek, then rising onto her toes, she caught his mouth with hers in a kiss that tantalized anddidn’t satisfy. “He has no say. Besides”—she smirked—“it’s too late. You’re mine, and I’m keeping you.”
He chuckled, pulling away before he took her somewhere private. “Indeed.”The urge to sterilize the facility was what circled his mind.
Faerar gasped, a sob escaped, and tears flowed, but she ignored them, sifting through the data Amet showed her. “No, no, it can’t be true.” She flung herself into his arms and wept.
Ziamee tightened her grip, almost crushing Illan’s fingers. He tugged her closer. She rested her temple on his shoulder and drew in calming breaths.
“It’s hard to see my mother crying,” she whispered. “Only something this devastating could crack her armor.”
“Or losing you.” He tightened his hold on her, keeping her near. “I could embrace you for an eternity, but…” He pulled back to pinch her chin, shifting her gaze to his. “Action helps, so let us clear this facility for habitation. A place to sleep and eat would be appreciated.”
She scanned the common area, wiping her wet cheeks. “This’ll take some time. Who knows what secrets lie amid their things?”
“We will start on one room. Cleanse it, then move on.”
She drew in a deep breath, and a faint smile toyed with her lips. “Doable.”
Hours later, sweat coated his skin despite the suit’s temperature regulation. He leaned against the wall and studied Ziamee folding garments and stacking them in the crates Ulta had ported down. She glistened, and that only heightened her attractiveness.
The quiet between them made him realize that she didn’t fill the companionable silence with chatter like Macy did.
“I feel…dirty,” she said, scrunching her nose, then she stilled, gesturing to the stacked crates. “These things meant something to them, and we just…killed them.” She patted the air as if to say,‘don’t worry.’ “In self-defense, yes; still, they had hopes, family, a life outside this place.”
“They were here for a while… Abandoned.” Reminded of their attempts to contact Maloid, he frowned and tapped his O.D.I. “Brac, where did their signals go?”
“My thoughts exactly,” the male grumbled. “Comm stations speed communication between battleships and planets. Maloid has their own grid, as do the Yithians.”
Illan had learned that, repeating from memory, “And the merging of the grid, though considered, never came to fruition.” He grunted. “Too many secrets.”
“The first station they sent the signal to is two parsecs away. We could investigate.” Brac’s suggestion sparked interest in Illan.
“Yes, port us.” He drew Ziamee into his arms and pressed a kiss to her temple.
They materialized in the comm room.
“I will inform Amet and Faerar of our plans.” Ulta swiveled, facing the vids. “If you wish to cleanse, the trip will take a few hours.”
Illan grinned. For an Etterian, their combined sweat had to be pungent.
Ziamee grimaced. “I didn’t even think to tell my—”
“All taken care of,” Illan said, leading her to the barracks.
As soon as the door closed behind them, he held out his hand. She didn’t hesitate, sliding her palm over his. The instant they touched, images flashed across his mind. He exhaled a shuddering breath, ignoring his palpitating heart as he led her to the cleansing room. Keeping their hands meshed while stripping off her garments was slow-going. He nudged her chest armor off, his gaze flying to her breasts, her nipples taut. It took a second to stroke her, to swirl a fingertip around a nipple until it puckered.
Her moan shot through him, like a focused beam of energy, vibrating and stimulating each nerve it passed. She mimicked his movements, thumping his chest to release his armor, then dragging it off his shoulders. On her tiptoes, she brushed against him, bringing with her a wealth of pleasure and scents.
He inhaled until his lungs swelled, cherishing her unique smell. A wet heat engulfing his nipple snapped him back to the moment. As did the caress of her fingers at the band of his pants.
