Page 18 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

I became acutely aware of how perfectly she fit in my arms, how right it felt to hold her. The urge to protect her, to keep her safe, overwhelmed me. It was more than just duty or obligation. This was something... deeper.

I looked down at Samira as the world around us faded away, leaving only her. Time slowed to a crawl as our eyes met. The urge I’d been fighting since we met became all consuming.

I leaned down, closing the distance between us. My lips met hers, soft and warm. Samira stiffened before she melted into the kiss.

My hand moved to cup her face, thumb stroking her cheek. The kiss deepened, passionate and hungry. I lost myself in the sensation, in the taste of her, in her body pressed against mine. Nothing else mattered - not the mission, not the dangers surrounding us. Only this moment, only Samira.

A loud hiss erupted from a nearby steam vent, startling us both. We broke apart, breathing heavily. Reality came crashing back, but I simply couldn’t let go of her completely. My arm remained around her waist, holding her close.

“Arkon, I...” Samira’s voice trailed off, her eyes wide.

“We should focus on the samples,” I said roughly.

Samira nodded, stepping back. I immediately missed her warmth. “Right. Of course.”

SAMIRA

The hot spring’s steam curled around us, easing the chill that ran down my spine. I turned away, busying myself with securing the sample containers.

“We should get moving,” I said, my voice unnaturally high. “It’ll be dark soon.”

Arkon grunted in agreement, but still didn’t move. His presence loomed behind me, a solid wall of warmth that made my belly coil with awareness. I shouldered my pack, trying to ignore how my body yearned to lean back into him.

“Which way?” he asked.

I pointed northeast. “There’s a ridge about ten kilometers from here. We can make camp there for the night.”

We set off in silence, the lush Kervant-9 jungle closing in around us. Ferns brushed against my legs, leaving damp trails on my pants. The rich, earthy scent of decaying vegetation filled my nostrils.

I cleared my throat, searching for something to say that wouldn’t betray the chaos of emotions swirling inside me.

“So... nice weather we’re having,” I muttered, immediately cringing at my own banality.

Arkon’s red eyes flicked towards me, a hint of amusement in their depths. “If you enjoy suffocating humidity and the constant threat of carnivorous plants, sure.”

I let out a strangled laugh. “Right. Stupid thing to say.”

Thoughts tumbled over each other in a frantic scramble. What did that kiss mean? Was it just the heat of the moment? Did he regret it?

No. The mission. That’s what mattered. Not the way Arkon’s lips had felt against mine, or how his strong arms had held me close.

We pushed on through the dense foliage. The weight of my decision pressed down on me with each step. If I was wrong about the outpost, if we couldn’t create the counteragent... I didn’t want to think about the consequences.

As the light began to fade, I noticed an eerie glow. I held up a hand, signaling Arkon to stop.

“Look,” I whispered, pointing to a clearing ahead.

A field of glowing plants stretched before us, their delicate fronds swaying in a nonexistent breeze. The ethereal blue-green light pulsed rhythmically, almost hypnotically.

“Beautiful,” Arkon murmured.

“And deadly,” I added. “Those are Lumina Vorax. Carnivorous. One touch and they’ll inject you with a paralytic toxin.”

Arkon’s hand moved to his weapon. “How do we get past them?”

I studied the field, noting the patterns in the plants’ movements. “We’ll have to time it carefully. See how they pulse? There’s a brief moment when they’re less reactive. If we move quickly and precisely, we can make it through.”

I demonstrated the timing, stepping forward just as the glow dimmed, then freezing in place as it brightened. Arkon nodded, understanding.

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