Page 20 of Hunter's Valentine

I joined her back on the bed and turned on the privacy screen. It settled across the entrance to the sleeping nook, shutting us in.

“Oh, I didn’t know that was there.” She reached out to touch it. “It’s solid, but not quite.”

“It is made of energy.” I reached around her to the control panel and brought up my favorite scene. Stars appeared, dotting the ceiling along with Xarc’n twin moons. Blue and purple grass swayed gently in an unfelt breeze around us.

She gasped. “So pretty!”

“This is Xarc. It might be gone, but we can still sleep under its skies.”

“What about the people outside?”

“The infected? My ship is monitoring them. One more came out from the building, but he was very far gone and did not understand that his comrades were trapped. You are safe in here. The storm is still raging outside. We will rest until it ends.”

She yawned, even as she nodded. I tucked her into the hollow of my body, musing at how perfectly she fit there. Then, under the Xarc’n night sky, we slept.

Chapter 13: Sara

“Stay with me.”

I blinked at the words, unsure if I’d heard him right.

“You mean tonight?”He must mean just for tonight.

“You are good with the shuttle’s blaster. Help me with my hunts. We will destroy the scourge together. It is an honorable life. You seem to enjoy my company, as well as my cock and my tongue. Do you not?”

Trust him to be blunt. But I couldn’t deny it. I did enjoy his company. And I most definitely enjoyed his cock and tongue. Then again, I couldn’t just abandon my plan to get to New Franklin, and shack up with Mur’k forever—

Why not?demanded a small voice in my head.

“If my performance was not to your liking, I can assure you it will improve as I learn your body. I can—”

“No! I mean, yes.” Shit. Of all the times to get tripped up on my words. “I mean, there’s no need to improve, even though I’m sure you would. But I can’t stay. I…”

I struggled to find the words to explain that I no longer had a home and needed to get to Franklin so I could make a new one there.

Why can’t you make a home with him in his shuttle? asked the small voice again.

“You are traveling to New Franklin,” he said.

How did he know?

“I am.”

“Did your people send you there to spy on the other survivors? Or are you going to negotiate trade?”

I was at a loss for words. He thought I was either a spy or a diplomat? The ridiculousness of it had me breaking down into laughter.

“What is funny?” Mur’k did not look amused.

“Nothing,” I said between chuckles. “No one sent me to New Franklin to do anything. The rest of the bunker doesn’t even know where I’m going. It was my decision to leave. I didn’t see the point of staying if no one wanted me there anymore and thought I was useless.”

The anger that crossed Mur’k’s face surprised me.

“You are not useless.”

“Thank you. That means a lot. But if I were really capable, you wouldn’t have had to come rescue me again.”

“Capable does not mean invincible. Even hunters require rescues occasionally. I myself have called for backup many times.”

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