The Mammoth Book of Futuristic Romance

Racing Hearts Kiersten Fay

Priya stepped onto the solid metal platform of the dismal spaceport. Musty, reused air flooded her lungs, along with the scent of rust and sweat. Gripping her luggage handle in one fist, she thanked the transport ship’s steward before striding forward in search of her next destination.

As she wound through a crowd of roughnecks, she noticed a pattern of stains on the dark green bulkhead to her left, probably from a recent brawl. A good one, by the looks of it.

The domed ceiling provided a murky view of space. She squinted past the thick film of grime to see another ship pulling in where hers had just departed. A few more ships were lined up behind it, waiting to unload passengers.

A masculine voice sounded from behind. “Do you need a guide, sweetie?”

She rolled her eyes and turned around, keeping her right side angled away from him. Usually, that was the side she wore her pulsar gun, but according to the rules of this particular establishment, she was not allowed to keep a weapon on her immediate person. She could, however, stow it in her bag for easy access.

In place of her security work belt she’d tied a stylish strip of fabric over her brown tunic dress, with burgundy stripes that matched her hair.

The man lowered his eyes to her bare legs and black kneehigh boots with obvious interest. His features weren’t terrible, but he wouldn’t win any beauty contests. His nose had clearly been broken more than once. His dark hair was a mess. And when he peered back up at her face, he grinned, revealing a full set of crooked teeth.

Schooling her features, she replied, “I’m looking for a ship—”

“I got a ship,” he interrupted, with innuendo buried in the layers of his voice.

An entourage of onlookers chortled. With their matching stained uniforms and equally unkempt hair, they had the appearance of grunt workers.

“A tiny one, no doubt,” she countered, and then smirked when his mouth fell into a petulant downturn.

His friends guffawed and one slapped him on the back. These weren’t bad men, just products of a hard life and a serious lack of civilized influence. Not that she was any better. She’d practically been raised in places like this.

“The craft I seek is about to be entered in Phase Nine. I’ve been petitioned to join the crew.”

The laughing cut off and a round of brows shot up. Their surprise was natural, but not because she was a woman entering the most dangerous competition in the known universe.

No. Even the most hardened of men would have received incredulous looks. Few who entered Phase Nine would live to see its finish. The race had few rules and spanned vast distances of space. A ship without a good crew wouldn’t be expected to last long at all.

Ah, but she wasn’t joining just any crew. She would be captained by a man who had not only run the race before, but had won it. And she fully intended to be with him when he did it again.

Silently, two of the men pointed toward a corridor while the others continued to gape.

She nodded in thanks and headed in the direction they’d indicated.

After a few steps, the first man called out, “Pray, tell me your name, beautiful lady, so I can cheer for you.”

Not bothering to look back, she replied with a wave of her hand, “You’ll just have to watch the show.”

It was the thing people loved most about Phase Nine. Strategically placed cameras throughout the race would provide entertainment to over thirty planets and countless space cities. Every fifty years, it became a universal obsession. People quit jobs just to watch.

The wide passageway was crowded with people trying to get through, and she had to push her way into the crowd. After getting knocked around by a few careless shoulders, she found herself in a much larger room, where vendors offered supplies to a slew of stationed ships. She counted fifteen. The high ceilings permitted them to be flown to a loading dock at the far end.

The pungent odor of oil seeped into her nostrils. Many of the ships were in a state of disarray as workers rushed to make them ready for the long flight to come.

To her right, people lined up to register for the competition. Anyone was allowed to enter, and nearly every planet encouraged participation. It was one of the few activities that brought both the allied and disjointed sects together.

A lift vehicle rumbled by, honking as people made a path. Over the chaos, she spotted the appreciable, dark brown hair of her soon-to-be captain, Aidan. It had been cut short since she’d last seen him. He stood with a small group of men next to the open hatch of a ship. She assumed the craft would be her new home for the duration of the race.

She could hardly contain her excitement as she crossed the great room. A few months ago, Aidan had surprised her by showing up at Uli Rings, where, until recently, she’d had a nice, cushy job as head of security. The massive space city was a popular tourist destination, made up of three giant rings that spun to simulate gravity. She’d hoped to take him out for a drink and catch up, maybe offer him a job, but he hadn’t had the time.

Then a few weeks ago she’d received a transmission from Aidan to get her ass to the North Star spaceport and prepare for Phase Nine.

She’d sat back in her expensive office chair, stunned to the core. An hour later she’d been shoving clothes into a large duffel bag with the tags still attached.

When Aidan caught sight of her, he rushed forward to clasp her in a bone-crushing hug. His massive arms held her up as though she were as light as a pea. “Priya! Thanks for coming.”

As her feet met the ground again, she couldn’t help but tease, “You know, I received three more offers, besides yours. Pretty good ones, too.”

“Aw, and you chose me above all others? I’m flattered,” he replied with a smirk, and offered to take her heavy bag.

Glad to be rid of its weight, she handed it over. “Don’t be. I was considering not coming at all.” Lie.

Although she wouldn’t have answered any other call but his. Or have traveled so far just to risk her life.

“Tell me,” she said. “Why in the name of the gods are you entering Phase Nine under the banner of the Legura Dragon Clan? Since when does your clan mingle with theirs?” When she’d received the news, she’d been taken aback. Though their respective planets shared a solar system, their cultures were quite different.

“It’s a long story,” he replied, looking frustrated. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

At his back, three men stood observing; one of them was a stranger to Priya. With a smile, she approached Asher and Zeek. Seeing them brought her back to a time when she had been truly happy – when they had all worked together as mercenaries on a POS rust bucket of a ship. Only one other face was missing from the reunion. But she knew if she saw him, her joy would turn sour.

She greeted her old crewmates with big, squeezing hugs. In turn, they messed her hair with a rough, playful palm, effectively ruining her sleek braid.

She slapped their hands away with irritation and undid the tie to run her fingers through her now-

tangled locks. “In some corners of space, people get shot for that,” she chastised.

They only laughed.

“You two haven’t changed at all,” she grumbled.

“Have, too,” Zeek protested. “Check this out.” He lifted his sleeve to reveal dark ink against his otherwise tan skin. The tattoo was outlined in red, as if it was still healing. It was the image of a buxom, black-haired lady looking over her shoulder, hand covering her mouth as her obscenely short skirt rode up to offer a peek of white panties.

“Classy, Zeek.”

He gave her a boyish grin that was accentuated by his short blond hair and stormy blue eyes.

Turning to Asher, she asked, “How about you, Ash? Any tattoos?”

She knew better. Ash’s skin was as tough as metal, with the hint of a metallic sheen. Most needles couldn’t penetrate it. His pewter, chin-length hair was tough as well. As a game, he used to pluck a strand and challenge them all to try and rip it apart with their bare hands. No one had ever succeeded, but they continued to try anyway.

Asher’s hypnotic silver eyes pinned her with a dubious expression. “No tattoos, Priya. How about you?” He wiggled his brows suggestively.

“None that you’re ever going to get to see.”

Typical masculine curiosity covered both their faces. She couldn’t prevent her impish grin. The third man cleared his throat, drawing her attention. She gasped. Legura royalty?

Aidan introduced him. “This is Prince Lear of the Legura Clan. He’ll be joining us.”

Lear bowed respectfully. A black strand of his hair fell over his face as he cooed, “My lady.” Seeing her jaw locked in surprise, he added, “Now doona be intimidated by my rugged good looks.” His accent was thick, and sounded nothing like Aidan’s.

She scoffed and crossed her arms. “Have you ever worked on a ship, kingy?” She recalled learning from Aidan that the Dragons had been one of the first races to enter space. Many of the known languages had branched off of theirs, and they had connections or treaties with nearly every amiable planet.

Lear cocked his head and said confidently, “I am no’ without skill. And I’m no king.”

That was obvious by the way he stood. He held himself more like a warrior than royalty.

She faced Aidan. “Is this the whole crew, then?”

Aidan took on a guilty expression and ducked his head. A deep sense of foreboding dug a pit in her stomach. She’d seen that look before.

Scrubbing a hand over the back of his neck, he stumbled over his words. “Uh . . . well . . . about that—”

From within the ship’s hatch, a deep voice cut in, “The craft is tight, Aidan, but needs some work.”

Recognition hit her like a slap to the face and she sank under a wave of nausea. Her heart twisted painfully, and she unconsciously brought her hand over her chest as if that would save her.

Vin emerged from the hatch, wiping grease from his hands with a dirty cloth. His gray tank top was equally stained, but no matter how ragged his clothing, it could not detract from his awe-inspiring physique. He was built like a machine. And made love like one, too.

She forced the thought out of her mind and struggled to keep it from re-entering.

The moment Vin noticed her, he froze mid-step. His arms dropped to his sides. He seemed to deflate.

She ignored the pang that caused in her chest.

“Oh, hell, no.” Priya snatched her bag from Aidan and stalked away. She didn’t quite know where she meant to go. Anywhere but here would do.

“Wait.” Aidan grabbed her by the arm. “I won’t stop you if you really want to go, but take a day or two to think about it. The entry deadline is in three days. I’d like you both on my team.”

She ripped her arm free and snapped, “You should have told me he was here.” Her hand began to sting from clenching the bag, and she forced herself to ease her hold.

“I wasn’t sure if either of you would show,” he explained. “But if I had mentioned he might be here, would you have come?”

“No,” she said honestly.

Aidan remained silent for a moment. “I’ve rented you a room. Promise me you’ll go and sleep on it.”

She ground her teeth and tightened her fist. How could Aidan ask this of her? This could end up being detrimental to the entire group.

Could she put away her past, the heartbreak, and work with Vin? She could say no, she reasoned.

She could walk away right now and not look back. But, out of respect for Aidan, she would take his advice and chew it over. It was the least she could do.

And the least Aidan could do was provide free room and board for her to do it in.

Without facing him, she slowly nodded. “I’ll think about it.”

From behind came Vin’s low and – damn it – sexy voice. “Priya, can we talk?”

“Screw off, Vin. You’re good at that.” Quick strides led her back the way she came.

“Run away!” he retorted. “You’re good at that!”

With a swift motion, Vin whipped his damp rag at Aidan. It hit his shoulder with a splat before flopping to the floor.

Aidan avoided Vin’s gaze as he darted into the ship.

Vin followed, letting his outrage escape through his voice. “You sent for her!”

Unperturbed, Aidan replied, “I did.” He continued down the hall, coming to stop in the lounge.

“Were you ever going to tell me?”

Taking a seat at the cheap metal table, Aidan replied with a mocking grin. “I just did.”

Vin threw his hands in the air. “No, you didn’t. I just found out.” And he had stood there like an idiot as he had gazed upon the woman he’d once loved. Did she have to be as beautiful as he remembered? He always liked to picture her haggard and broken with regret, like him.

What he saw instead was a sexy-as-hell redhead with the luscious curves he used to know by heart.

He ran his hands through his brown hair, wishing he’d gotten it cut. “You could have given me a heads-

up! She got to look all . . .” He gestured incoherently with his hands. “While I look like a bum.”

“What? You would have put on a suit and tie?”

“I would have put on a clean shirt, you son of a bitch.”

Aidan grew serious. “I wanted a winning team. And that means both of you.”

Zeek and Ash entered, claiming seats as if he and Aidan were putting on a show.

Aidan ignored them. “What was that fight about anyway?”

“Like I can remember,” Vin lied.

Zeek lifted a finger in the air. “You bought her a tool kit for her birthday.”

Through clenched teeth, Vin said, “Thanks for the reminder.”

“As I recall, it was a set you’d had your eye on for a while.”

Lear appeared in the doorway with his arms crossed and an amused expression in place. “I’m guessing she did no’ appreciate the gesture.”

Vin scrubbed a hand down his face, not noticing the oil stains covering his fingers until afterward. “I don’t need a play-byplay,” he replied snidely.

They didn’t know the half of it. Priya had always been an easygoing chick. He could have easily fixed it. If only he’d turned right – into that flowery gift shop.

Instead, his anger had directed him left, straight into a gentlemen’s club.

“Go talk to her,” Aidan suggested.

“Is that wise?” Lear asked warily. “If these two have a history, it could affect their performance.”

Vin spoke directly to Aidan. “Tell your prince to keep his opinion to himself or I’ll shove it down his—”

“Enough,” Aidan admonished. “She’s the best gun hand I’ve ever seen. We need her. You will talk to her. You will convince her to join us. And we will all act professional. Got it?”

Everyone gave reluctant nods.

“And just so we’re all clear, Lear is not my prince.”

Ash retorted, “In my culture, when you offer vows of allegiance to a royal family, you become their subject.”

Amusement danced in Lear’s eyes, and he gestured toward Ash with one hand, as if he’d made a good point.

“I only vowed to run Phase Nine in the Legura name.”

Zeek chimed in. “And to do that you had to join the Legura Clan . . . ergo.”

“Shut up, all of you.” Aidan stood. “I need a drink.”

“Me too,” Vin said. “Let me clean up and I’ll join you.”

Zeek jumped to his feet. “Why don’t we all go? It should add depth to this riveting conversation. Plus Chastity is dancing tonight.” He rubbed his hands together.

“Lear, you stay here and guard the ship,” Aidan ordered.

Lear nodded, uncaring.

In the bar, Vin and the crew claimed a table near a stage full of barely dressed dancers who were keeping step to a poorly choreographed number.

A waitress took their drink orders. When she returned, Vin spotted Priya, and his heart stuttered. She faced away from them, perched on a stool. A quick survey of the drink in her hand told him she was going heavy tonight. Usually she sipped those theme-cup drinks with matching straw and umbrella. He always gave her shit for that, but secretly considered it adorable.

Tonight, she drank something hard on ice. Could it be she’d been just as thrown by their meeting as he had?

Or perhaps she had changed. Maybe she was a different person now, with different tastes and different preferences in men . . . in bed.

Gods, he hoped not.

He missed the noises she made when he nuzzled her just right. Remembering made him stiffen and he had to adjust himself.

She swiveled in her seat, and he quickly turned away. When his gaze met the gyrating ladies on stage, he nervously shifted again, finding himself looking straight at Aidan, who studied him with a keen eye.

Vin stifled a growl of irritation, and scowled.

With the smallest movement, Aidan gestured his chin toward Priya.

How could Aidan expect him to confront her? And here, of all places? The location was different, but still reminiscent of the last time he’d laid eyes on her. Only this time, there wasn’t some drunk, flirtatious working girl running fingers over his shoulders and whispering in his ear.

He cringed.

Aidan’s gaze shot past him and his lids lifted a fraction.

Vin snatched his ale and gulped it down just before he heard her voice.

“Could you guys get any closer?”

Zeek answered. “I don’t think they allow you on the stage.”

“How do you know if you don’t try?”

“Good point.”

When Zeek pushed back his chair, Aidan snapped, “Z, down.”

Zeek plopped back down with a smile and sipped his drink.

“Why don’t you join us, Priya?” Ash offered.

Surprisingly, she pulled up a chair. Vin lifted his bottle to his lips, forgetting that he’d emptied it. He motioned to a nearby waitress for another.

“So I’ve been thinking,” Priya said, propping one arm on the table and resting her chin on her palm.

Using her other hand, she motioned to the entire group. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Aidan replied first. “You haven’t even thought about it for a minute.”

She gestured to her half-filled drink. “I’ve had three of these to think, and I still—”

“Don’t say anything now. Take the night. And if you feel the same in the morning, then Vin is out.”

“Hey,” Vin protested, leaning back in his seat.

Aidan leveled him with a stare. “Talk to me when you can shoot like her.”

Vin shrugged, conceding the point. He might be a great mechanic, but Priya was a badass with a gun.

“So what have you been up to, Priya?” asked Asher.

“I’ve been working security on Uli Rings.”

So that’s where she ran off to, Vin thought.

Ash raised a brow. “Impressive. They let you temporarily leave your position to run Phase Nine?”

She frowned. “Not really.”

“You quit to come here?”

She didn’t respond, but her silence said as much.

“Then you have to join us,” Zeek exclaimed. “You and Vin don’t even have to interact. In fact, I’ll do you one better and staple his mouth shut.”

She rolled her eyes. “I saw the size of your ship. We’ll basically be living on top of each other.”

“Mmm,” Zeek replied playfully. “Thanks for the visual.”

Vin knocked him in the shoulder with his fist.

“Ow.” Zeek rubbed the spot. “Joking.”

Priya observed the exchange with an air of indifference. She brought her glass to her lips and took a long swig. Her expression told Vin she didn’t like the taste. Maybe she hadn’t changed that much after all.

She caught him staring, and her eyes narrowed.

He tried to keep his features passive. “Can I buy you a drink? Maybe one of those fruffy ones?”

Her lids slit further.

Damn, he shouldn’t have added that last part.

“I’ll buy my own drinks. In fact, I’ll buy the next round for the table.”

Despite his glass being full, Zeek ordered another drink.

Vin leaned forward and muttered, “Priya, can we talk in private?”

She pretended to think, tapping her chin and lifting her eyes to the upper right. “Um. No. Why don’t you go talk to her?” She pointed to a skinny blonde at the bar. “I’m sure she’ll be real interested in anything you have to say.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw.

Zeek stepped in. “I’m amazed at how non-uncomfortable this is. Am I right, guys?”

Ash stood and flicked Zeek in the temple.

“Ow! Enough with the abuse. I’ll shut up.”

“How about I buy you a drink at the bar?” Ash said.

“Jeez. Any more free drinks and I’m going to start questioning the cut of this blouse.” He tugged at his T-shirt.

Aidan pushed out of his seat. “I need to get back to the ship and check on Lear. Some weird girls have been coming by asking to join the crew, and I’m afraid he might just let them.”

Priya watched the traitors scurry away, leaving her alone with Vin. Most likely that had been their plan ever since she’d sat down. With just the right amount of alcohol in her, she couldn’t muster up the proper amount of outrage, or the conviction to get up and leave.

She stared blankly at Vin. “Enjoying the entertainment?”

The ladies on stage reached a pivotal point in their dance, moving to the fast beat of the music. To her surprise, he didn’t even glance at them.

“What are you drinking?” he asked.

“Solar orbit on the rocks.”

“That’s a pretty stiff drink.”

“Yeah, a guy turned me on to it a few months ago. It tastes good. He tasted even better.”

His fists clenched around his bottle. She waited for satisfaction to flood her, but it never did. He took a long drink, placing his attention on the stage. She studied the table and sipped from her glass. The harsh bite of liquor hit her throat, warming her body as it made its way down.

When she looked up, Vin’s eyes had creased in amusement and his lips had curled into a sexy, lopsided smile.

“What?” she barked, mentally denying the desire that bloomed in her from that simple look.

“Don’t you think I know you well enough to realize when you’re lying?”

“You haven’t known me for a long, long time,” she countered.

A flicker of doubt ran across his face, but he quickly turned it into disinterest. That bothered her. She wanted to hurt him like he had her. She raked her mind for something cutting to add, but came up empty.

“So . . .” he said, after a moment of silence had passed. “Uli Rings?”

“As if you didn’t know?”

“How would I know that’s where you went?” He took another drink.

“Because I bought my ticket with your credits.”

He sputtered before working the liquid down his throat. His expression danced between stunned confusion and horror, making her realize he hadn’t checked his invoice before paying the bill.

All this time, the fact that he hadn’t come after her had been devastating. She’d used that devastation to fuel her rage, but now she felt it escaping like air from a leaky valve. If he’d taken the time to go over his expenses, would he have come for her? Begged forgiveness?

She snorted out loud. Knowing him, he would have demanded it. However, the idea that he might have come after her made her hope for something she’d long since given up on.

Yet, underneath that hope, resentment still simmered.

“What’s funny?” Vin demanded, still reeling. She’d left him a trail to follow and he’d missed it!

“I just figured you knew. You always keep track of your finances.”

He mentally scolded himself. “I was a little off that day.”

He remembered someone handing him a bill, glancing over it without really seeing, and then signing on the dotted line. It had been just after he had returned to their room, found all her belongings gone, and had started his panicked search for a pissed-off redhead.

Gods, he had thoroughly screwed things up between them.

Had she used his credits in an attempt at one last jab, or as a hint that she’d wanted him to follow her?

His gut clenched, and he clung to the latter idea like a dying man to his last breath. He studied her closer. There was a stubborn shape to her lips, though she leaned back in her chair, appearing completely at ease. Her crystal-blue eyes were audacious. He could get lost in their steely depths for hours. With his gaze, he followed the smooth line of her jaw, wishing he could have his nose buried in the crook of her neck while her nails scraped along his scalp . . . his back.

His need for her doubled. He would have followed her whether she wanted him to or not.

“You don’t really think this will work, do you?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts.

He shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I don’t have a problem with it, but I’ll understand if you do.”

As expected, she bristled. “You don’t think I can remain professional? You’re not the center of everyone’s universe, Vin.”

Priya mentally laughed at the statement. At one point, he had been the center of her universe, but his ego didn’t need that particular piece of news.

He smirked as if reading her thoughts. “Tell me about Mister Solar Orbit.”

“What’s to say?” she hedged. “He’s nice.”

“Just nice? That’s it?”

“Do you really want me to talk about him?”

Him. A fabricated lie in a petty attempt to make Vin jealous –which didn’t seem to be working.

“Does he make you laugh?” His voice turned rough. “Make your blood fire?”

No one did that anymore.

She gulped. “He doesn’t hurt me.”

He flinched and leaned back with his finger crooked around the neck of his bottle. “S’pose that’s something.”

The dance number ended and a new set of girls took the stage. After watching them for a moment, Priya glanced at Vin from the corner of her eye. His lips were pressed in a hard line as he glared at his bottle.

She wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but that was something a girlfriend did, and that was no longer her place. The silence between them made her feel like she was still light-years away.

“I shouldn’t have come,” she blurted.

His head snapped up. “Of course you should have. I bet you were just as excited as I was when you got Aidan’s transmission.”

“Was,” she emphasized.

His expression grew dark. “You hate me that much?”

She shook her head, feeling a shadow of gloom fall over her. “I don’t hate you . . . that much. You have to admit, we’d make a pretty shitty team at the moment.”

“I told you, I don’t have a problem—”

“I have a problem with it,” she snapped.

His continued insistence that he felt nothing grated on her.

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “In the morning, I’m going to get a ticket back to Uli Rings. See if I can get my job back.”

“So you’re just going to run away? Again.”

She shot to her feet and scowled down at him. “Here,” she said, giving him a handful of credit chips.

“Have a lap dance, on me.”

Vin discarded the chips on the table, glowering after Priya as she walked away. He’d lost his taste for lap dances the day she’d left, but her words cut him deep. Just as she’d intended.

His eyes dipped to her ass, swaying in that unconscious way that always drove him nuts. The turmoil inside him turned violent. A voice in the back of his mind screamed that he was about to lose her again.

Can’t lose something I don’t have, he reasoned.

Ash and Zeek returned to the table. Vin wondered how much of the show they had caught. Zeek offered him a fresh ale. He took it and downed half before coming up for air.

“That bad?” Zeek observed.

“Did you expect anything else?”

“Honestly, I expected chairs to be thrown across tables.”

“Then from that perspective, it went pretty well.” Vin sucked down more booze before saying, “She’s leaving tomorrow.”

Ash let out a sigh. “Aidan’s going to be pissed.”

“Who gives a fuck how Aidan feels?”

The two men went quiet for a moment. Then Ash inquired, “How do you feel about it?”

How did he feel? He felt like someone had chewed up his guts and spit them back out. Like his chest was about to collapse into a black hole and take this damn spaceport with it. Every muscle coiled with dread and urgency. But most of all, he felt, if he let her go this time, he would be sucked down the pit of despair that had nearly swallowed him the first time she’d walked out of his life.

Without answering, he stood and bolted toward the ship. Inside, he rushed toward his compartment and rummaged through his things, snatching a small package and stuffing it in his pocket.

On his way out, he passed Aidan.

“How did it go?” Aidan yelled after him.

“Don’t know yet!”

Entering her tiny room, Priya flopped on the thin, lumpy mattress held up by the meager frame and placed her arms behind her head. The lack of color on the metal walls matched her dreary mood.

She closed her eyes and let out a frustrated breath, remembering that terrible day. The day she’d caught Vin with a leggy tramp draped over him, his gaze riveted to her generous bosom. On her friggin’ birthday! She knew he’d seen her standing there in the doorway, and he hadn’t even had the gumption to look guilty.

A knock sounded. After a short debate, she labored to her feet, knowing who it would be.

Vin straightened as she opened the door, his russet eyes wary. “Can we speak?”

She crossed her arms in answer.

Turning defiant, he pushed past her, giving her a whiff of his musky scent. He smelled of hard work and man. She used to worship that scent.

Stifling a sigh, she closed the door and gave him her best stubborn expression. Yet, on the inside, she was stupidly eager. He always did that to her. No matter how angry she was, he could always make her want him.

Bastard.

Silence filled the space, coated by tension.

Finally, he spoke. “I just came to tell you I don’t want you to leave. I want to run Phase Nine with you, and I want us to win.”

“Thank you for your opinion. I’ll take it into consideration.”

His lips thinned.

“Is that it?”

“Yup.” He shrugged and lifted his palms as if at a loss.

She stepped toward the door to let him out, but suddenly found herself being pulled back by the waist.

Eyes wide, she flipped around in his arms. He’d made sure she was off balance and had to grip his shoulders for support.

“No, that’s not it,” he hissed. “Why did you leave without a word?”

“You know why.”

“I know what you think you saw.” His words came out in a rush, as if he’d rehearsed them. “You know I was angry with you that day. I was already pretty drunk when I saw you at the club, and out of spite I let you think I was interested in that woman.” Sorrow entered his eyes. He shook his head. “I never assumed you’d disappear without railing at me.”

Averting her gaze, she swallowed the lump that had built up in her throat. “You told me we were finished.” She cursed the quiver in her voice. “When I saw you with her, I knew it was true.”

“It was never true. Never,” he insisted. “Still isn’t.”

His eyes locked on hers with such intensity it stole her breath. Her heartbeat faltered as she registered that familiar determination she used to love about him.

Still loved about him.

He pressed his mouth to hers, and she did nothing to dissuade him. His lips were soft and warm and molded to hers, just as she remembered. Her body responded, melting under the heat of his desire.

When he crushed her against his chest, she felt something like desperation roll off him. Tilting her head, she deepened the kiss. He took her cue, slipping his tongue past the border of her parted lips.

His taste flooded her and became a drug that fired in her veins, igniting her lust. A needy sound escaped her, and she began to meet him with every sweep of his tongue. Her arms latched around his neck as she pushed her body deeper into his.

Just like that, she was lost.

The kiss became demanding, as though both were starved for each other. He inched her backwards till he had her pressed against the wall, caged by his strong arms. The cold metal rivaled the burning heat that had come over her. She gave a soft moan. He responded with a rumbling, hungry groan. His calloused hand slipped to her backside, while the other gripped the small of her back.

Then his kiss turned sweet as his mouth glided over hers, lazily nipping at her bottom lip. Slowly, he moved to the soft curve of her jaw, stopping just below her ear.

“Forgive me,” he whispered. His breath caressed her skin.

Her mind cried to relent, but she held back. “You can’t just kiss me and expect to be forgiven.”

Against her neck, she felt his lips curve into a smile. “How about a thousand kisses?”

“Try a million.”

Hard yet tender, his fingers gripped her as though he would never let go. His mouth captured hers once more. She placed her palms over his broad shoulders, bringing them down his thick arms, reacquainting herself with each titillating muscle. His smooth skin felt blissful under her touch.

Suddenly, he pulled back. “I have something for you.”

She cocked her head. “What?” When he reached into his pocket, she rolled her eyes. “Don’t be cheeky.”

He laughed. “Where’s your mind at?”

Then he presented her with a rectangular box.

She raised a brow and took it, pulling off the lid. Inside, a thin silver chain with a heart-shaped pendant sparkled.

Anger flared.

She glared at him. “There are no gift shops on this spaceport. Who did you really buy this for?”

He took a step back, hurt. “I’ve had that since the day you left. I bought it for you after I left the club.

Before I knew you’d gone.”

Her mouth fell open to speak, but nothing came out.

“It was going to be a please-don’t-be-mad bribe. I was going to grovel on my knees, like this.” He dropped to the floor, his hands skating up her legs to rest on her thighs as he looked up at her with emotion-filled eyes. “And I was going to say, ‘I’m sorry I’m such an ass and if you don’t like the necklace, I’ll get you something else.’”

She felt her face freeze in shock. She glanced down at the box. The corners were old and worn. When she examined the pendant again, her memory stirred. A few days before her birthday, she had not-so-

subtly pointed it out to him.

Her throat suddenly tightened and her response came out breathy. “I would have said you are an ass, and I love the necklace, and if you ever touch another woman again I will shove it in a place that doctors will take hours to extract it from.”

He gave her a heart-stopping grin and stood to kiss her with renewed hunger. Her arms clasped around his neck and she hitched her legs around his waist. Taking her full weight, he carried her to the bed, following her down onto the mattress. He kissed her in quick succession, finding a new place each time: the corner of her mouth, her cheek, her neck, her shoulder, making his way to her cleavage.

The sensation made her squirm.

She pulled at his shirt. He sat up to shrug out of it, and then went for her dress. As he pushed the hem up her thighs, he made sure to trail his hands along her skin, making her shiver. He discarded the dress to the floor. His belt and pants soon followed.

He returned to the cradle of her thighs, and his delicious muscles covered her. He found her center and entered. They both let out a guttural sound. As he began to move, euphoria took her and ecstasy assailed her. She became intoxicated by pleasure. At first, she matched his speed with her hips, but soon his thrusts became frenzied, and she could only accept him and the bliss he offered.

Powerful jolts shot through her, and her orgasm burst out in the form of a primitive cry. He followed with a rough groan. Finally, he stilled. His weight came to rest on her while they both gathered their breaths. Her fingers trailed over his back.

Then his head snapped up. “I love you, Priya. I never want to lose you again. Marry me.”

She choked on a gasp and searched his expression. He looked sincere and anxious.

“It’s a little soon for proposals, isn’t it?”

“Not for me. I’ve spent far too long without you. I know I only have a tiny sliver of your heart back, but I am going to hold onto it with everything I have. You want a ring? I’ll get you a ring. More necklaces?

I’ll buy them all.” He paused. “Being without you was like being without my best friend. I don’t want to go back to that.”

Her vision blurred. Could this truly be happening? He’d made a mistake that day, a humongous mistake, but so had she. If she hadn’t acted so rashly and jumped the first flight out of there – or perhaps left him a note – she might have saved herself countless nights of misery.

“Would you really have come for me?” she found herself whispering.

“Without a second thought.” His voice held no hint of doubt. “I will never forgive myself for missing your little clue.”

She offered him a tentative smile, when what she really wanted to do was laugh till she cried.

Lifting her hand to the side of his face, she stroked her thumb over his cheek. “Ask me again when we’ve won Phase Nine.”