Page 24

24

Finn’s hand remained firm on Rose’s lower back as they entered the Io’s crew canteen. His fingertips registered each unsteady step through her thin shirt.

The vast space echoed with their footsteps, empty metal benches gleaming under harsh fluorescent lights. A hint of past meals hung in the air, but all he could focus on was the faint floral scent of her hair.

His heart stuttered when she swayed again and he tightened his grip, hyper-aware of how fragile she felt against him.

“This isn’t the Environmental Control Hub.”

“I know.” He studied her pale face, the shadows under her eyes. “We have something to take care of first.” He held her gaze, letting his concern show. “Like you.”

“Oh.”

“Sit.” He guided her onto the nearest bench. His hands stayed on her shoulders, unwilling to break contact. “Don’t move.”

Rose tilted her head up at him, a frown creasing her forehead. “I’m fine,” she said. “You can let go of me. ”

“I know.” His thumbs moved in slow circles on her shoulders, a touch he couldn’t seem to stop. “Maybe I don’t want to.”

Her lips parted with a tiny gasp. The sound punched low in his gut, made him want things he had no business wanting. Not here. Not now. But for the first time since the mission had begun, he imagined a future beyond the next few hours.

“I’m going to make you something to eat.” He forced himself to step back, though every instinct screamed to stay close to her.

The industrial kitchen was all gleaming stainless steel and scrubbed wooden workbenches. His footsteps echoed as he strode to the walk-in freezer, yanking open the heavy door. A blast of freezing air hit his face as he surveyed the shelves. A decent cook could work miracles with basic ingredients, but this was something else.

The freezer was rammed with pre-packaged meals and institutional basics. Finn grabbed a loaf of frozen bread, frowning at its perfect, manufactured shape. The refrigerator offered even less—wilted lettuce, suspicious-looking ham, and a tube of processed cheese. At home, he’d have home-made sourdough, a hunk of mature cheddar, creamy butter. Here, under thousands of tons of water and rock, he had processed cheese in a squeeze tube.

His jaw clenched. Not exactly what he’d planned for their first meal together. He froze, hands still gripping the cabinet door. First meal together . Since when had he started thinking about ‘firsts’ with Rose?

He huffed out a breath and closed the door, glancing over the counter to check on her. She was exactly where he’d left her, and something warm unfurled in his chest at her compliance. But her shoulders curved forward with exhaustion.

A fresh surge of protectiveness hit him.

They had little time, and she needed food—even if it wasn’t up to his usual standards.

Finn pried open the vacuum-sealed bread, the plastic crinkling under his fingers. Orange goo oozed from the tube, leaving shiny trails on the pale slices. Fuck. Reduced to squeeze cheese. At least no one was filming this culinary travesty.

He slid the sandwiches into the industrial toaster, its heating elements glowing orange. While they cooked, he spooned hot chocolate powder into two mugs, the rich scent a small redemption for the processed cheese crime he’d just committed.

He set the plate and mugs on the table in front of Rose along with a cotton cloth he’d soaked in warm water, then sat down beside her.

“Come here.” He steadied her face with two fingers under her chin and carefully wiped her face clear of gore with the warm cloth. “Much better.”

She opened her eyes.

The eye contact sent a bolt of heat through his body, settling low in his gut. From this vantage point, fresh details caught his attention. The soft, downy fuzz at her temple, the steady rhythm of her pulse at the base of her throat, the river-green of her eyes accentuated by the dark fan of her lashes.

“Let me.” She took the cloth from him and returned the gesture, her fingertips soft against his cheek. He forced himself to take slow breaths so she wouldn’t see how his heart thundered against his ribs.

“All done.” She patted his cheek and smiled.

He took the cloth from her, trying not to imagine what those cool fingers would feel like on his body. “Eat.”

He crossed back to the other side of the table and she watched as he dumped two heaping spoonfuls of sugar into her hot chocolate. “That’s a lot of?—”

“Sugar is good for shock.” He pushed it toward her. “Drink.”

Rose’s smile softened her tired features. “Thank you.” She wrapped her hands around the mug, her expression suddenly shy. “You don’t need to take care of me like this.”

“I know,” he said, his voice low. Their gaze met across the table. “Humor me. It makes me happy.” The admission settled in his chest, warm and unexpected.

“So when you’re working on the surface, who takes care of you?”

“Um, no one. I mean, me.”

“Independent.” A smile ticked at the edge of her mouth.

“Everyone needs looking after sometimes.” His voice came out gruffer than he intended.

She took a bite of the toast, crumbs dusting the plate. Her eyebrows rose. “Squeeze cheese?”

“Um yes.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Not exactly my signature dish.”

“It’s…” She swallowed. “Different.”

God, he’d never live this down.

A giggle escaped her, the sound making his heart flip. “Squeeze cheese has to be the weirdest food ever invented.” She reached across and took hold of his fingers, her touch sending warmth up his arm. “Thank you.” She took another bite, exaggerating her enjoyment. “Mmm. Surprisingly delicious.”

“I’ll add it to my repertoire.” He grinned, the simple act of feeding her bringing more satisfaction than any gourmet meal he’d ever created.

“Won’t Luca and the others be worrying about us?”

“Luca won’t blow a gasket just yet.” Finn leaned back, keeping his voice light despite the tension bunching in his shoulders. “He can wait five minutes.”

He watched her take another bite. “You’re more important.”

She looked at him then and man if all the blood in his body didn’t go straight to his cock. Finally, she looked away, her cheeks flushing a delicate shade of pink.

She feels it too.

She sipped her hot chocolate, giving herself a frothy mustache. Her tongue darted out to lick it away, and heat crawled up his neck. He forced his gaze away, his mouth suddenly dry. But his eyes kept drifting back to her lips.

“The darkness,” she said, her voice small. She stared into her mug. “It wasn’t just the scorpion-thing. It was the darkness. I can handle deep water, but absolute darkness...” She inhaled, her breath ragged, torn at the edges, her eyes squeezing shut as if to block out memories as much as the dark. “It freaks me out.”

Finn waited in tight-jawed silence, sure there was more.

“My dad took us caving when we were teens. Thea, she...” Her fingers whitened on her mug. “She persuaded me to explore a narrow passage. Said it would be an adventure.”

Muscles popped in his cheek. He knew where the story was heading.

“We got separated from our parents. It was hours before they found us.” The raw fear in her eyes made his chest lock.

“When they eventually found us, the batteries in our flashlight had died. We were just…lost in the dark. ”

A bubble of anger surged in him, molten hot. “The more I know about her, the less I like this sister of yours.”

She gave a dismissive shake of her head. “We were just kids.” But her lips twitched in what might have been a smile under different circumstances.

“That’s what we want more of. Less doom and gloom, more of that.”

Her smile widened.

“Are you ready to deal with Luca now?” She nodded, dabbing at a few remaining crumbs on her plate.

Finn drained his hot chocolate. Dealing with Luca often required something stronger, but it would have to do.

Rose pushed to her feet beside him. Color had returned to her cheeks, and her eyes were brighter, more focused.

His shoulders dropped as he exhaled—a slow, deliberate breath—and unclenched his jaw for the first time in what felt like hours. “Better?”

“Yes. Much.” Her gaze hit his mouth, then before he could process what was happening, she stepped forward and pressed her lips to his cheek. “Thank you.”

She stilled, her body flush against his, her breath ghosting his jawline. Her simple touch powered an electrical storm down his spine.

Damn.

He breathed her in, her scent of flowers and sunshine as his hands found her hips, steadying them both as he pressed his lips to her forehead. He savored the kiss, her skin silk-soft against his mouth.

A soft whimper escaped her. Her fingers gripped his tactical vest, drawing him closer.

Heat flooded his system. He could lift her onto the table right now, taste every inch of her skin, lose himself in her. The thought alone made him harden his grasp on her hips .

But this was different.

For the first time that he could remember, his body’s demands took second place to something deeper. He wanted a connection with this woman, not just a satisfying fuck for them both. He wanted to know who she was, what mattered to her. To be the one she turned to, the one who could give her everything she needed.

He wanted all of her. Not just her body, but her trust, her thoughts, her heart .

Comms buzzed.

“Finn, this is Luca. Did you get lost between here and the Environmental Control Hub? I can send out a search party. Maybe draw you a map. In crayon?—”

“On our way, Luca.” He kept his voice steady despite Rose’s warmth still pressed against him. “There was important business to attend to.”

“What could possibly be more important than?—”

Finn silenced Luca mid-rant. He could stew for a few more minutes.

He took Rose’s hands, still fisted in his tactical vest and pressed his lips to her knuckles, loving the sharp intake of breath his touch triggered.Then bumped his forehead to hers, sharing the same air.

Their time alone was ending, but he let the moment sink into his bones. Her warmth, her trust, the way she fit against him. He wanted more of this. And he’d do whatever it took to keep her safe, to have the chance for more moments, just like this one.

“Come on.” He brushed his thumb across her knuckles one last time. “Let’s go see what fresh fuckery Luca has cooked up for us.”