Page 7

7

Afternoon Delight

*Ren*

“ A re you sure you don’t mind?” Arda’s voice reached my ears before the slam of the shuttle bay doors rang out.

“Of course not,” Karsen answered. “You shouldn’t have to be stuck with a stranger for a week all alone.”

I popped my head out from the hopper’s hood as they passed me. “What’s going on?”

Kar yelped, a hand pressed to her heart. “Holy crap, Ren! I didn’t see you there.”

“Pro-tip: Assume Ren is always hiding somewhere in the shuttle bay, even if you don’t see her.” Arda chuckled as she adjusted the pack on her back. “Especially if you’re trying to sneak in a little afternoon delight.”

“Really wish you’d take your own advice.” I carefully settled my favorite laserspanner back in my tool case. “Might be a delight for you and Lux, but the rest of us… not so much.” I’d lost count of all the times they’d started getting frisky without realizing they had an audience.

Arda had the gall to look insulted. “Hey, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.” She nudged my shoulder playfully. “Why don’t you take some time off this week? I bet Lux won’t mind dropping you at your sister’s place. You two can catch up some more while we’re gone.”

Yeah… No thanks.

We’d flown to the spot on the map where Arda would meet with the guide. Only I hadn’t realized one thing. “ We’re gone?”

Karsen spun sideways, and I finally clocked that she had a bag strapped to her back too. “I volunteered to tag along after we got the go-ahead from your brother-in-law and saw his warning.”

I frowned at Arda. “Warning? What warning?”

Arda bit her lip and lowered her voice. “Look… Don’t tell Lux, but it sounds like the guide we’re heading to meet is a weirdo. Honestly, I’m not too worried about it, but it would freak Lux out if he knew.”

My heart raced. “You’re kidding, right?” Why the hell would my sister send us a nutcase as a guide? “What is it about him that’s so weird?”

Arda shrugged. “Rhelt didn’t explain it fully. He just mentioned that the guy has been living in seclusion, and this would be his first time leaving his home in a few years.”

I leaned against the hopper. “Sorry I saddled you with a week-long trek with some grumpy recluse.”

“Hey, not a problem.” Arda squeezed my shoulder gently. “I’ve dealt with my fair share of grumps.”

Is she talking about me? Suppose that was fair. Then again, Lux could be a bit grumpy from time to time.

Still, I couldn’t ignore the twinge of pain in my chest. Arda would rather bring Kar than me. Suppose that made sense, too. Karsen was personable, and skilled with medicine to boot. If anything went wrong on their hike, she’d be helpful to have around. And me? I’d probably only be a buzzkill, like usual.

I didn’t know why I didn’t accept it and move on like I always did. This wasn’t the first time I’d been left out of something. It wasn’t the first time I’d been picked last. Even forgotten. I’d learned at a young age to make do with the scraps of affection I received.

So, when the next words popped out of my mouth, the person most shocked by them was me. “I’ll tag along too.”

Arda’s eyes widened. “Really?”

No, not really. Take it back. You can spend the entire time with your hands in an engine instead of sweating in the jungle and listening to some alien grumble about being dragged out of his house.

But even though Arda’s incredulous response was the perfect excuse to backtrack, I doubled down. “Yeah. Sounds like fun.”

Okay… the fun bit clearly went too far. Karsen’s gaze narrowed and her lips twisted like she’d eaten something rotten.

“Fuck yes!” Luckily, Arda had no qualms accepting my bald-faced lie. “This is gonna be epic! I’ve been meaning to get us together for a girls’ trip.”

Karsen’s severe expression lifted, and she let out a breathy laugh. “Strangest girls’ trip I’ve ever been on.”

It would actually be my first, but I wasn’t about to showcase how lame my previous life was by bringing up that sad fact.

Arda clapped her hands. “If you’re coming, you better pack quick. Daylight’s wasting.”

Despite the reservations swirling in my head—mostly that this was a terrible, idiotic mistake—my lips curved into a smile. Arda’s obvious excitement had chased away that twinge like it never existed. And that was enough to make me hustle out of the shuttle bay to my room.

As I stuffed some extra clothes and provisions into a pack, I drew in a few deep breaths. Had I just signed myself up for a miserable week hiking through a sweltering jungle ripe with danger? Yep. But on the bright side, at least I wouldn’t need to worry about visiting Cassidy. That in itself was enough reason to follow through.

*Ren*

“Fuck my life,” I whispered under my breath a couple hours later.

“Problem?” Karsen gamboled beside me, a perky grin on her face as she navigated the dense jungle with ease.

I jerked my leg free from the third thorn bush that’d assaulted my skinsuit since I’d stepped outside. “Just trying to keep my clothes from shredding before we get there.” I winced as the fabric tore, leaving the outer half of my ankle exposed to the scorching heat.

“If you didn’t wear your skinsuits so baggy, they wouldn’t catch on everything,” Karsen unhelpfully stated.

“Can’t help it if I don’t want all my nooks and crannies on display like the rest of the universe.” Virtually everyone wore skinsuits these days. The ingenious fabric wicked away sweat and kept body temperatures regulated. And yeah, they worked best if they fit snug against the skin. But I’d rather endure a shoddy fit than deal with the alternative.

Arda wrapped a hand around my shoulders while scanning the map. “It’s fine. I have a sewing kit in my pack. Anyway, we’re almost there.”

I slapped my neck. “Good. I’m getting eaten alive out here.”

The constant buzzing was certainly annoying, but I couldn’t deny the planet was beautiful. Blue-tinged leaves topped most of the trees, and countless fragrant blossoms littered the forest floor. Dewy fruits and berries dotted branches, and bright bird-like creatures with leathery wings flitted around, sampling them.

Soon the dense jungle path opened up, revealing a fenced-in yard bursting with so many strange plants it was hard to see the small cabin on the back of the lot. “This is it.” Arda folded the map and stuffed it into her pocket.

“Guess we should knock on the door,” Karsen said.

I frowned at the chest-high fence. “Where’s the gate?”

Arda grinned. “Oh, I almost forgot.” She tugged her pack off and unzipped it, pulling out another folded piece of paper. “Rhelt gave me the code to get in.” She paced along the fence. “He said the gate was… ah ha. Here.” Arda stopped after she turned the corner, and I hurried to follow. By the time I caught up, she’d already tugged the gate open.

We piled inside the yard, wandering through the neatly planted rows of flowers. Karsen whistled. “Fancy garden.”

“Wonder what all these plants are for?” Arda bent beside an enormous yellow blossom the size of her head and sniffed deeply. Her face scrunched as she rubbed pollen off the tip of her nose. “It’s definitely not perfume.”

Another bug whizzed past my ear, and I snagged her arm. “Doesn’t matter. Let’s see if this guide has some damn insect repellent.”

“All right, hold your horses.” Arda giggled as I led her toward the cabin. “Have you ever ridden a horse before?”

How random. “Um… no.”

Karsen said, “Me either.”

“I have. Well, kinda.” Arda swatted a low-hanging purple blossom away from her face.

I lifted a brow. “How do you kinda ride a horse?” With the majority of land back on Earth developed, it was pretty rare to see big animals like horses.

“There’s this bar I’ve been to that has an antique bucking bronco machine.” She leaned in and stage-whispered, “I think the pervy owner only kept it around to watch girls bouncing.”

I chuckled as we approached the door. “Remind me not to go there.”

Arda slapped my shoulder weakly, flashing a lopsided grin. “Nah! It was fun.” She squinted at me. “You should let loose more often, Ren. Can’t let the pervs keep ya down.”

Oookay…

Karsen lifted her fist and knocked firmly on the cabin door. My pulse kicked up as we stood there waiting. Nothing.

Karsen knocked again. Still nothing.

“I’m gonna head around back,” Karsen announced. “You guys wanna stay here in case he comes to the front?”

I shrugged. “Sure.” As she disappeared around the side of the house, Arda lifted her fist and pounded again.

Where the hell is this guy? An unsettling feeling took up residence in my gut.

As Arda lifted her fist to pound again, the door swung open.

“Hello?” A steamy, fresh-scented man busy wringing long blue hair peered out of the house, aiming a disarming smile at Arda.

I blinked repeatedly, and it took everything in me not to gasp at the towel-wrapped hunk in the doorway. Water droplets clung to his flesh, and the pitter-patter of running water made it clear we’d interrupted his shower. My gaze trailed down miles of bronze muscled skin to the considerable bulge tenting the fabric tied at his waist. Or should I say, bulges .

Holy double dipstick.

Heat flashed, searing me so unexpectedly I wobbled on my feet. An insane urge to run hit me, but my body refused to listen. I just stood there, dumbstruck and more than a little lost.

Wake up, Ren. He’s not the first hottie you’ve seen, and he won’t be the last.

Arda cleared her throat. “Hey, nice to meet you. Rhelt said you’d be expecting us.”

That was the instant the guide noticed me. Our gazes met, and I swear something indescribable poured through me. It was like every synapse in my brain fired at once. Tingles shot through my limbs, flashing through my flesh and burrowing into my core, setting off a wave of yearning that nearly had me panting.

What in the fuck is that ? Is something wrong with me?

I shook off the feeling, but then warm hands landed on my shoulders.

Huge hands.

Emerald-green eyes bored into mine. “Cassidy?” The man shook me, making the gasp trapped in my throat finally escape. “Where is Rhelt?” he asked, panicked. “What happened?”

Thank god Arda was there. She shoved the hulking half-naked stranger back. “Hey! Get off of her. That’s not Cassidy.”

The guy’s brow scrunched up. “Not Cassidy?” His gaze snagged on my short locks before he searched my face. “But…”

“We’re twins.” My voice escaped in a thready timbre I didn’t recognize.

“This is Ren, Cassidy’s sister.” Arda giggled, her laughter seeming at odds with the tense situation. “Jeez, it’s like I’m in a brothel. You wanna put something on?”

“Uh… Certainly. My apologies.” The guy turned as if to walk inside, but flipped back before he’d taken a step. “I’m Jalen.” His gaze slid off Arda and back to me, his smile slipping. “Be right back.”

The door slid closed, and it finally felt like I could breathe normally again.

“You all right?” Arda asked. “I’m sorry he grabbed you. I know you don’t like strangers touching you.”

Gulping, I forced a smile. “It’s fine. Honest mistake.”

But as the words rang out, I couldn’t help worrying. Because if I was being completely honest, at that moment, having Jalen’s hands on me hadn’t felt like a mistake at all.

What the hell is happening to me?