Page 40 of Swipe Right for Stardust

“Are you uninjured?” I asked, brushing debris from Vanessa’s hair.

She nodded, coughing slightly. “I think so. You?”

“I’m fine,” I assured her, scanning our surroundings. “We need to move carefully. Follow my lead.”

Finally, we emerged into a small chamber, relatively untouched by the cave-in.

“We made it,” Vanessa breathed, leaning against me.

I allowed myself a moment to savor her closeness before focusing on our new situation. The chamber was roughly circular, with smooth walls that offered no obvious exits. I ran my hands along the cool stone, searching for any weakness or hidden passage.

“It seems we’re cut off from the main cavern,” I explained. “But there must be another way out. Cave systems like this often have multiple interconnected passages.”

Vanessa nodded, her trust in me evident. The weight of her faith both touched and terrified me. What if I couldn’t find a way out?

I pushed down the rising tide of claustrophobia, forcing myself to approach the problem methodically. As I examined every inch of our prison, Vanessa attempted to contact the surface.

“It’s no use,” she sighed, lowering her communicator. “We’re completely cut off.”

I turned to her, seeing the fear she was trying so hard to hide. Without thinking, I reached out and took her hand.

“We’ll find a way,” I promised. “Together.”

We sat side by side, conserving energy and sharing warmth in the cool cavern air. The scent of her hair, flowery shampoo and the earthy cave air, filled my nostrils. Her shoulder pressed against mine, sending little sparks of electricity through my body.

“So,” Vanessa said softly, breaking the silence. “Since we might be stuck here for a while... tell me something about yourself. Something not in your official bio.”

I chuckled, surprised by the request. “Well, I... I once tried to create a universal translator for animal languages. It was a complete disaster.”

Vanessa laughed, the sound echoing off the cavern walls. “Really? What happened?”

“Let’s just say I accidentally started a war between two rival micro-ratebuak clans and leave it at that.”

She nudged me playfully. “Oh no, you can’t leave it there! I need details.”

As we traded stories, the conversation gradually turned more personal. I found myself revealing thoughts and feelings I’d never shared with anyone before.

“I’ve always felt... different,” I admitted. “Even among my own people. Like I didn’t quite fit in.”

Vanessa’s hand found mine in the darkness. “I understand that feeling. But you know what? I think you’re pretty amazing just the way you are.”

In the corner of the chamber, Taffy chirped softly, as if sensing the shift in mood. The little creature scuttled away, giving us privacy.

I turned to face Vanessa. Even in the dim light of our suits, she was breathtakingly beautiful. My hand reached out to cup her cheek.

“Vanessa, I...” I began, my voice husky with emotion.

She leaned into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed. “Yes?”

In that moment, all logical thought was suspended. I pulled her close, my lips finding hers in a deep, passionate kiss. She responded eagerly, her arms wrapping around my neck as she pressed herself against me.

The softness of her skin mesmerized me as my hands roamed her back, tangling in her hair as our kisses grew more heated.

In the background, Taffy curled up in a comfortable spot, its tentacles glowing softly as it drifted off to sleep.

VANESSA

Zarnak’s lips crashed against mine, his thick tongue plunging into my mouth. My world narrowed to the sensation of his massive hands roaming over my body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I melted into him, all the built-up tension from our race finally spilling over.

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