Page 21

Chapter Twenty

RYLIE

I was just about to doze off when I heard SAGE’s normal bing. “ Greetings , Mistress Rylie , you all have been gone for ages! Forgive me for stealing your used garments and emptying your closet. I figured after such a long trip you would be ready for some new designs. Alana and CIP have been working on some very risqué, but flattering ideas I think would look amazing with your coloring.”

“ Thank you, SAGE . I have missed talking to you and I appreciate the new clothes, since my others were getting quite ragged. If this jumper is one of their new patterns, I simply love it. I will say it was odd walking into the closet only to find three garments in there, though. I felt like a stranger in my own house … I mean dwelling. Because I had full intentions of seducing LeX , I didn’t even take the time to throw on panties or even a bra, but his mind is off somewhere else as usual. The fact that I have coaxed him into reading to me in the evenings is a miracle.

Speaking of LeX , while he isn’t in here, do you think you could do something with this room? It’s as sterile as the med bay. I was going to ask you before we departed, but things got busy quickly, and we ended up leaving in a hurry right after the Destroyer was cleared for the mission. I would love to have some color in here, and maybe some new furniture. A large chaise lounge where we could snuggle after a hard day would be amazing.”

“ Rylie , I will get right on the remodel; do you want me to run my ideas by you before I implement them?”

“ Lord , no SAGE … We all know you’re the best at what you do.”

“ I believe your lunch is on its way and I will have your closet restocked by the time dinner is served. While you are enjoying your reunion with all the others, I will work on this space; I already have some ideas in my head. We will talk again later.” She curtseys, then blinks out as usual. Then the door to our rooms open, and a bot comes rolling in with lunch.

“ Crap , I was going to ask her how Ember was doing,” I whisper out to an empty room.

Picking up the holo pad lying on LeX’s side of the bed, I try to open it several times, but it isn’t responding to my touch. I’m literally shaking it when he walks out of the bathroom, and I stop dead as I watch him button up the shirt he’s put on.

“ It must not be my day because it seems like everything electronic I touch isn’t working. You know you are just as handsome today as you were the first time I saw you. I could just lick every inch of all that yumminess.”

He just rolls his eyes playfully before giving me that unique smile that makes his sharp cheekbones rise, highlighting the multiple scales along his hairline. His tall, lean shape slowly disappears as he finishes closing the shirt before tucking it into a pair of dark pants I don’t remember seeing on him before.

“ Don’t tell me SAGE took all your stuff, too? Are those new? I don’t remember seeing those …turn around so I can see your butt.”

Awkwardly , he turns slightly, shaking his butt at me.

Confused and suddenly worried, I scoot off the bed and walk over to him. Grabbing him by the arm, I push myself up against his chest, taking his hands and placing them on the top of my hips. “ Hey , is everything all right between us? You just seem stiff and uncomfortable with me all of a sudden, and I don’t know what I’ve done.”

He moves his hands off my hips to grasp my face as he looks down lovingly at me. “ I am sorry Rylie , please forgive me if I have made you feel that way. I am just having a hard time winding down. We have been working at such a fast pace my mind has not caught up yet. You have done nothing … you are perfect in my eyes.”

Lifting up on my toes, I pull him closer only to falter when I catch him regarding me so intently. “ What ? Do I have a booger on my face or something? Why are you looking at me like you’ve never seen me before?”

“ I have never seen you this way before … it’s a new rising. I have not seen that sparkle in those glorious blue eyes of yours or felt the heat of your skin against my hands or got to kiss you for the first time all over again. Things change so fast; I don’t want to take you for granted. You must know that my entire existence is and would be nothing without you.”

“ So , what you’re saying is, you kinda like me?”

“ Yes , just a little bit. Why don’t you lay down and take a quick nap? I will go check on ViN and Ember , then come back to get you before dinner with everyone else.”

“ A nap sounds amazing actually, you don’t mind going by yourself?”

“ Not at all.”

“ Ok , you talked me into it, but you’re not leaving until I get a kiss, mister.”

“ My pleasure.”

LeX’s hands become firmer on my face as he leans down. His fingers trace over my jaw line as I pull myself tighter against his chest. My lips part as his thumb brushes over them. Reaching up, I comb my fingers into the thick hair at the nape of his neck. Tingles wash down my back as he closes the gap between our mouths, first with the utmost gentleness, then with the hunger of a starved man. I lose track of time as I try to push myself even closer … my only rational thought is more .

He doesn’t even release my lips as he effortlessly lifts me up into his arms. Walking us over to the bed, my heart races as he kneels down, slowly lowering me to the sleeping platform. Releasing my lips, LeX gently unlocks my arms from around his neck before kissing me on the forehead. “ Take a nap, I’ll be back in a little bit.”

Reaching out for him, he backs away, but not before I can clearly see the effect the kiss also had on his body. “ No fair, tease.”

“ I simply did what I was told … you only asked for a kiss.”

“ Remind me to put it in writing next time.” Once again, my stomach is full of butterflies, because his kisses seem to always do that to me.

LeX pulls a light cover up over me before tucking one of my wild curls behind my ear. “ You are so beautiful.”

“ Don’t try to butter me up now, if all you’re going to do is tease a girl and then run off.”

“ But you know I will always come back.”

His comm unit goes off on his arm and he hits the button, not even looking at the message as he sits staring down at me like he has never seen me before. “ Do you need anything before I go? I will not be gone long.”

“ Nahh , I’m good, but promise to wake me up if you need me.”

“ I will.”

He reaches over, turning the light down over the bed before getting up. For a tic, I think he might change his mind, but he just turns away and I watch as he practically flees the room. Slightly concerned, I decide to try and find a way to talk to him later. Something is wrong, I can just feel it.