Page 44 of Swipe Right for Stardust

“We’ll go together,” I explained. “I’ll lead, you follow close behind. If you need to surface, tap my leg twice, and I’ll find an air pocket.”

“Got it,” she said. Then, with a mischievous grin, “Try not to enjoy my hands on you too much, okay?”

I laughed, thankful for her ability to lighten the mood. “I’ll do my best to restrain myself.”

As we prepared to dive, Taffy’s container began to glow softly, illuminating the water around us.

“Looks like Taffy’s got our backs too,” Vanessa said, wonder in her voice.

I nodded, impressed by our little companion’s unexpected ability. “Indeed. Shall we?”

The glow from Taffy’s container provided just enough light to navigate. My nerves stretched taut, not from exertion, but from concern for Vanessa’s safety. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I saw a glimmer of light above us.

We burst through the surface, gasping for air. Vanessa clung to me, her chest heaving against mine. I treaded water, supporting us both as we caught our breath.

“We made it,” Vanessa panted, her face inches from mine.

“Yes, we did,” I replied, unable to look away from her lips.

We found ourselves in a vast underground chamber, the ceiling so high it disappeared into darkness. Bioluminescent fungi dotted the walls, casting an ethereal blue glow across the cavern.

I helped Vanessa swim to a nearby rocky outcropping. As I lifted her out of the water, my hands lingered on her waist. The touch sent electricity through my body, memories of our passionate encounter flooding back.

I busied myself with checking on Taffy, who seemed no worse for wear after our underwater journey. As I tended to our little companion, my mind wandered.

The word ‘mate’ kept echoing in my thoughts, taking on a new significance. Could Vanessa and I...? No, I couldn’t let myself get distracted. We had a mission to complete.

“Hey, look at this,” Vanessa called out, crouching near the edge of our rocky perch.

I joined her, following her gaze to a set of footprints in the soft mud below. “Only one set,” I observed.

“Rachel and Tarnox?” Vanessa asked.

I nodded. “Most likely. It seems we’re in second place.”

A competitive fire ignited in Vanessa’s eyes. “Well, we’ll just have to change that, won’t we?”

Her determination was infectious, but a nagging concern lingered. “We should proceed with caution. We don’t know what challenges lie ahead.”

“Agreed,” Vanessa said, standing up. “But let’s not waste any time. How do you want to play this?”

I considered our options. “Rachel and Tarnox are formidable opponents. We’ll need to use our unique strengths to our advantage.”

“Like what?” Vanessa asked, a playful tone in her voice. “Your impressive muscles and my quick wit?”

I chuckled, appreciating her ability to lighten the mood. “Among other things. Your creativity and adaptability have been invaluable. And perhaps...” I hesitated, unsure how to express my thoughts.

“Perhaps what?” Vanessa prompted, stepping closer.

“Perhaps our... connection... will give us an edge in teamwork,” I finished, my heart racing at her proximity.

Vanessa’s cheeks flushed, but she didn’t back away. “Our connection, huh? Is that what we’re calling it now?”

I swallowed hard, torn between the desire to pull her close and the need to stay focused on our goal. “Vanessa, I-”

“Shh,” she interrupted, placing a finger on my lips. “I know. We’ll talk about it later. Right now, we have a race to win.”

I nodded, grateful for her understanding. We gathered our gear and set off, following the trail left by Rachel and Tarnox.

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