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Unaware of the maelstrom in his heart, she propped herself on her elbows, hair tumbling wild, lips still swollen from his kisses, and gave him a lazy, languorous smile.

Then she reached for him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Pressed a long, deep kiss to his mouth that tasted like fire and honey.

He almost lost it again, his hands gripping her hips for dear life.

‘Come on,’ she murmured, brushing her thumb across his lower lip. ‘Let’s not keep your pack waiting.’

He nodded, silent, forcing the panic down, burying it under layers of command.

They showered together, a quiet ritual without words. She soaped his back, and he rinsed her hair, stopping to linger between kisses.

Despite her embraces and her acceptance of him, he felt naked, vulnerable, and fought off the urge to run.

Still, he managed to mask and appear composed when they stepped into the corridor toward the mess, ready to celebrate with the rest of the Signet crew.

Unbeknownst to her, Xander’s pulse raced because whatever this thing between them was, it was no more straightforward.

He wanted,nada, craved, more.

Part of him craved all of her, forever.

Yet another hidden aspect of his soul was terrified of giving it up, of surrendering all the restraint built over the years.

Hell,he thought. I’mfokked.

SAVVINE

The mess hall of theSombrathrobbed and reverberated.

Music pounded from the overhead sound system, deep bass syncing with the thunderous energy reverberating through the deck.

The ship’s crew packed the space from wall to wall, from lean warriors, engineers with greased hands still stained from battle repairs, to med-techs laughing between bites.

The entire Signet Company was off-duty and letting loose.

The moment Savvine stepped through the doors beside Xander, all clamor seemed to pause, then explode.

The pilots were the first to react, slamming their palms on the long, brushed steel tables.

Plates rattled, cutlery bounced, and hollers rang like a war chant.

The gunners and coders followed, drumming their legs on the floor in unison, thumping fists against walls, and issuing whistles and cheers that swelled into a deafening storm.

‘Bianchi!’ someone called. ‘Bianchi!’

‘Queen and freakin’ ace pilot!’ another shouted.

Savvine froze in the doorway, her cheeks already glowing. Her hand fluttered toward her hip like she wanted to reach for a gun, or maybe just something solid to hold on to.

Xander caught her waist and pulled her to his side. ‘Mi reina, they adore you now,’ he said into her ear, lips brushing her skin. ‘You took down the Lombardi prize ship; for that, you’re a hero.’

She turned to him, flushing. ‘This is too much. I didn’t do it alone.’

‘Nada,’ he murmured, his fingers stroking her back, leaning in to whisper. ‘But you sure as hell made it legendary. Makes me want to hand you the keys to my racer.’

Her eyes lit up. ‘For real?’