Page 85 of The Last Hope

My brows furrow. “Sleeping together… what does it mean on Earth?”

Stork nears the bed. “It means sex.”

Zimmer and I exchange a confused look, and Stork sighs into a tight laugh. “Right.” He nods. “I meanbedding—”

“What?!” I shout.

Zimmer busts out in full-bellied laughs, falling onto his back. The bed bounces.

I narrow a glare onto Stork. “Why in the hells would people call beddingsleeping together? Do humans like being downright confused all the time?”

Stork smiles. “Context is queen, dove.” He eyes us. “So you haven’t bedded each other then?”

Zimmer controls his laughter and shakes his head. “No, we’re better as non-bedding friends.”

I wholeheartedly agree, but when I look to Stork, he’s staring more intently at me. It unnerves me. Sweltering again all over, and I look away.

I ache below, imagining Stork caressing my body and stroking my skin in a deep kiss that’d push my build up against his. I picture his strong hands trying to tame my frenzied movements.

I’d devour him whole if I could. But…

I don’t want to.I don’t. I don’t.

I don’t.

I sense Mykal; he grunts gruffly, his frustrations mounting on top of mine.

“You look distressed,” Stork tells me, his knee on the edge of the bed.

“I’m not,” I snap back. Too hot, my tunic sticks to my chest, and with the layer of sweat, there’s no hope freeing my breasts from my bra tonight.

He rounds the bed. Walkingawayfrom me, he nears Zimmer’s side, and then kicks the pillows into a line. “I’m taking the floor tonight.”

I relax.

Zimmer sees and gawks at me like I’ve transformed into a skittish winter hare. “We’d keep to ourselves.”

“I didn’t think you wouldn’t.” I’m afraid I’d want more—I don’t.

I don’t.

And who even says he’d be welcoming of themoreI’d want?

Rolling the heavy blue covers down, I slip under the sheet and lie with my back to Zimmer.

“Franny—”

“I’m trying to sleep,” I say, more sad than fiery. Trying to understand why this emotion has suddenly descended is too hard. All I know is that I’d rather feel nothing at all.

Late in the night, I’m wide-awake.

Court and Mykal can’t sleep. Tension pulls taut as they force space between their bodies. Hot breath and aching and yearning, and yet they sayno.

I cover my face with my hand. Trembling with desire. Wishing they wouldn’t sheltertheirneeds, and I hope and pray to the gods it’s not because of me. They did say they wanted to resist their affections so no one onboard would discover our link.

They’re resisting almosttoowell.

The thought forces me out of the bed. Quietly, I stand in the dark and tiptoe toward the liquor cabinet and bookshelf.