Page 34 of Swipe Right for Stardust

“Yes, Vanessa?” His breath was a warm gust against my skin, making the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention.

“Kiss me,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could second-guess myself. “Please, kiss me again.”

There was a moment of stillness, and then his lips were on mine, hungry and insistent. The kiss was a revelation, a combustion of pent-up longing that left me breathless and yearning for more. His hands explored the contours of my body through the fabric of my suit, igniting a trail of fire wherever he touched.

One hand found its way to my breast, squeezing gently, and I arched into his touch, a soft moan escaping my lips. His other hand trailed lower, settling between my legs, and he began to rub against me with a maddening rhythm that stoked the flames of my desire higher and higher.

The pressure was exquisite, the sensation of his hand against me, even through the layers of fabric, was intoxicating. The heat built within me, a crescendo that threatened to overwhelm my senses.

“Zarnak,” I gasped, breaking our kiss.

“After our evening on the observation deck I studied human anatomy,” he whispered against my ear, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine. “I wanted to understand your body, to know how to please you.”

His words were a potent aphrodisiac, and I ground helplessly against his hand, seeking the release that I knew was just within reach.

He covered my mouth with his once more, swallowing my moans as he increased the pressure between my legs. The world around us seemed to dissolve.

My body tensed, and then I was falling, my orgasm crashing over me like a wave, powerful and relentless. I shook in his arms, my nails digging into the fabric of his suit as I rode out the storm of pleasure.

As the aftershocks subsided, Zarnak’s hand stilled, and he held me close, his breaths coming in short, ragged bursts that matched my own.

“Sleep now, Vanessa,” he whispered, his voice a soothing balm that calmed the racing of my heart. “You’re safe with me.”

I nestled closer to him, the beat of his heart a steady, comforting rhythm beneath my ear. Despite the cold and the strange environment, I felt warmer and more at peace than I had in a long time.

With the dawn we scanned the horizon, spotting our target: a Floating Rock hovering impossibly high above us.

“There,” Zarnak pointed. “That must be the artifact we need to retrieve.”

I frowned, considering our options. “It’s so far up. How are we supposed to reach it?”

“I wonder if we can use the reduced gravity to our advantage,” Zarnak mused. “Perhaps if we time our jumps correctly, we can leap from one floating rock to another.”

“Like an alien version of hopscotch,” I grinned. “I like it. But what if we miss?”

Zarnak’s expression grew serious. “Our equipment might not function properly in this environment. It hasn’t been the most reliable.”

I checked our nav device, relieved to see it working for a change. “At least this is holding up. But you’re right, we should be cautious.”

We started our ascent, using the reduced gravity to make incredible leaps between floating rocks. Each jump thrilled me, the exhilaration of defying gravity mixing with the fear of falling.

“This is amazing!” I called out to Zarnak as I sailed through the air.

He laughed, the sound warming me even in the alien chill. “You’re a natural, Vanessa!”

Emboldened by his praise, I aimed for a higher rock. But as I pushed off, I realized I’d misjudged the distance. My stomach dropped as I started to fall short of my target.

“Zarnak!” I cried out, panic gripping me.

In an instant, he was there, catching me mid-air. We tumbled onto a nearby rock, his arms wrapped tightly around me. As we came to a stop, our eyes locked, faces mere inches apart.

Zarnak’s breath mingled with mine, and the rest of the world fell away.

“Are you alright?” he asked softly, concern evident in his gaze.

Part of me wanted to close the distance between us, remind myself that his lips were as soft as they looked. But another part hesitated, reminding me of the cameras surely capturing our every move.

Zarnak seemed to realize our position at the same moment. He cleared his throat, helping me to my feet but keeping a steadying hand on my waist.

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