I hustle through the hallways to my quarters and tear myself out of my race uniform. The swim trunks Abr has provided are impossibly thin. I’m never going to be able to hide how much she turns me on in these.

I check myself in the bathroom mirror and groan at the disc on my back. Reaching back, I pry it off. Ban me for all I care. I want to be with Jovie the way things were meant to be.

The shoes Abr has placed with the suit are flimsy and soft under my feet and slap loudly with every step. Very strange.

I walk around the complex, past the maze to the pool area. Several couples are already enjoying the steaming water.

“Prince Aurelius,” an attendant says, opening the gate for me.

“There are only a handful of rules. Shower before you get in.” She points to a nearby grid of shower stalls.

“No ejaculation or food in the pool. Drinks in tumblers from your room are acceptable. All other areas in the pool’s vicinity are fair game for food, intimacy, and otherwise. ”

“Understood. And it’s just Aura.”

“My apologies. No towel?”

“I flash dry.”

“Ah.” She dips her head and waves for me to continue. “Please enjoy.”

A couple goes at it on a long bench covered in stretchy bands. I chuckle and head for the showers.

Moans leave the stall beside mine as I rinse off.

As I’m about to leave, my curtain opens. A platinum blond female grins at me. “You here alone?”

I slip past her and back out with my hands up. “Jovie has my Storm by the bolt. Sorry.”

She frowns and closes the curtain behind her.

I get another interested female eyeing me from the pool and realize I probably shouldn’t get in until I have Jovie with me, or this could get complicated fast.

I find an empty chair by a table and take a seat.

“By yourself?” Another woman asks as she sashays by. Her Abr bikini has yellow ties.

“Just waiting on my mate.”

She keeps walking, to my relief.

I drum my fingers on the armrests while I scan the sky for trouble to keep my eyes away from anyone else who might want a conversation.

Allele? What’s our status?

Catalyst Five’s Port Security has yet to give me clearance. They are more concerned with the enemy ships near Mars than coordinating pickups. Until there is an immediate threat, I will follow their instructions.

Do you think there will be one?

Based on available evidence, no. Not now. The defense fleet is greater in number and capability. She pauses. Currently.

I glimpse Jovie leaving the Abr complex. She starts along the path toward the pool area.

Keep watching it, Allele. I have to go.

Aura?

What?

They’ve seen you in the race.

I get to my feet and aim for the gate, a mixture of hope and dread clashing in my stomach. And?

I will explain later. Focus on Jovie.

When Allele gets cryptic, I know the news is bad. At least give me the general idea.

You can’t do anything about it.

Her voice in my mind quiets, and I lean on the black metal fence to watch Jovie walk up, feeling turned around.

She speaks with a few women headed back to the complex and shares a laugh with them. As she approaches and the attendant lets her in, I can’t help but stare at her beautiful flesh wrapped in the skimpy Abr bikini tied with purple strings.

“Guess they were right,” she says, coming up to me. “This is a hot bod hot tub. Except I’m only looking at yours .”

Jovie trails a finger down my chest and over my abs. “You workout? Or is this natural?”

Prides swells in my chest. “Bit of both.”

She hums a grunt and winks at me. “Of all the women here, I am definitely the luckiest.”

Her compliment is unexpected, and it makes me suddenly self-conscious, mostly about the thinness of my swim shorts.

Jovie bites a lip and presses herself against me. “Aura, I didn’t know you carried such a big gun.”

I’m grateful for her shield. As much as I want to wreck her in front of everyone, I know it’s not something my people would appreciate. We aren’t animals. We’re supposed to be more sophisticated than every other species.

I tamp my need down. But it’s getting harder by the minute.

I take her towel and encourage her into the pool.

“Aren’t you joining?”

“In a second,” I chuckle. “Just need to calm my heart and figure out how to get in with this rager . I would’ve preferred armor to this paper .”

Jovie blushes a beautiful color and walks to the edge of the large hot tub as I turn to set her towel on the table where my flimsy shoes sit.

Jovie yelps. I look back to see her gorgeous body flail into the pool.

Cora shrugs. “Oopsies. My bad.”

Jovie?

She doesn’t surface.

“She’s not a good swimmer, you brat!” I shout at Cora.

I charge to the edge, find Jovie, and dive in. I swim deep into the water toward her blurry form. The faint movement of scales circling her suddenly explains why she hasn’t surfaced.

There are too many other racers in the water for me to handle the situation the way I usually do.

Hang on, Babe.

Swimming toward him, I get myself in line with his approaching tail. The male from the river moves perfectly into my grasp. I grit my teeth and prepare for my attack.

I just need a second to give someone a new asshole.