Page 80 of Worshiping Faith

We race through the corridors, my pulse still erratic, my legs still weak. The ship feels different now, tighter, like it knows what we just did. Like it’s holding onto the heat of Zachs’ hands, his mouth, the way he… Shit. Focus.

We round the last corner, and Wilkes is there.

He doesn’t say a word.

Just stands in the hall, arms crossed, gaze flicking between me and Zachs like he already knows.

And maybe he does.

Zachs, the smug bastard, just laughs, grabbing my chin between his fingers and tilting my face up to his. “You’re perfect, you know that?” he murmurs, brushing the faintest kiss at the corner of my mouth.

It’s so gentle, so tender that it steals the breath right out of my lungs.

Before I can even process it, he flashes me that wicked smirk, winks at Wilkes, and hauls ass down the hall.

Wilkes is watching me.

Not moving. Not speaking. Just watching.

And shit, he sees it.

The wreckage.

Not just the disheveled clothes, or the heat still clinging to my skin, but the fact that I let Zachs touch me like that. That I wanted it. That I still feel it.

My stomach knots. “I’m sorry you have to babysit me.”

His expression doesn’t change. “It’ll get easier now that your pass card won’t unlock doors.”

I glance at Jinx’s door. “Has he woken up?”

“Nah,” Wilkes replies.

Silence. Heavy. Pressing.

I hate it.

Dax always put me with Wilkes. He’s always been there. Not just watching, not like Trip or Zachs, but in position. Dax trusts him. I trust him.

But now? Now there’s this thing between us.

I can still feel Zachs’ hands on me. His mouth, his voice whispering wicked things. And Dax, God, Dax. The one who is everything to me. The one I know I can’t live without.

But Wilkes. And Trip.

Could I ever feel the same?

My gut twists.

Zachs said it.

He fucking said it. I love you.

Dax hasn’t. Dax wouldn’t. I’m his. He’s mine. But love? That’s not a word he’s ever needed to say.

Wilkes is still watching. He can see the thoughts running through my head like he’s reading a book. “You look wrecked,” he finally says.

No shit. I exhale sharply, shaking my head. “It’s been a hell of a few days.”