Starbreaker

Sometimes, I think about it – us, together – and everything gets so tight and hot and wound up inside me that I can’t breathe anymore.

Let’s go inside before a Sector-hopping horde of hungry flervers smells your fear and zeroes in on us from across the galaxy.” “Don’t make fun of me.” I put my hand over my heart. “I would never.” Tess’s scowl didn’t fool me. The humor in her eyes told the real story. “They’ll eat you first. More muscle.” “If it keeps you alive, I’m happy to sacrifice my biceps.

And you chose Quintessa over the two million units?” Bridgebane asked. “Over the huge bonus you could have had?” “Yeah.” Shade cocked his head. “I guess I made a better choice than you did.

I don’t have a bathing suit,” I hedged. “Jungle swimming is always naked.

Jungle sex,” I panted. “Let’s go swimming,” Shade said at the same time. We stared at each other. He grinned like a loon. I blinked and then grinned also. “I like the way you thing, starshine.

Awesome date, Shade. You took me to murder highway.” He shrugged. “Predators. Prey. It’s just the natural way of things.

Words wouldn’t come, so I used my body to show her. And if she didn’t understand that I loved her, then I’d show her again tomorrow.

I guess it all just boiled up a minute ago, like some messed-up accusation soup spiced with… I don’t know…” She shook her head, “Lust and rage?” “The rage is justified.” I slid her a slow smile. “I can work with lust.

One person’s utopia was another person’s hell. Each wanted their version of peace and happiness to win.

In that case, it was even more terrifying to think what he might do next “for the good of the galaxy.” It seemed impossible to me now that most people across the eighteen Sectors were just going about their daily lives, keeping their heads down, and not worrying about it. Successfully ignoring all the fearful moments, accusations, and announcements that didn’t sit right. That had been me, too