Page 68 of Fallen from the Stars

“That does not matter.” Vasil drew himself into the pod and, without looking away from Theo, reached up to grasp the handles on the hatch and pull it closed. His position blocked the window with his back and made the space inside feel suddenly very, very small.

The intensity in his eyes only increased that feeling.

“I guess tight spaces don’t bother you anymore, huh?” she asked.

“I have something to distract me.”

Theo raised her hands and released the jumpsuit’s seal. As the material loosened, she slowly lowered one sleeve to reveal her bare shoulder.

“Think we could squeeze in a quickie?” she teased.

His eyes dipped, gleaming with undisguised want, and his nostrils flared. “Yes. But Dracchus would know.”

“So?”

Vasil grinned. “I have missed you, human.”

He had no idea what those words did to her; no one hadevermissed her. She smiled, the heat spreading from her core to consume her entire body, turning into something deeper, something more intense.

Two of his tentacles swept behind her back, drawing her against his body. He lowered his head and captured her mouth, kissing her fiercely, confidently — a far cry from the first, uncertain kiss he’d given her.

Dropping the diving suit, Theo took his face between her hands and returned the kiss with equal fervor. She nipped his lower lip before pulling back to meet his gaze.

A low, rumbling sound vibrated from his chest. “We have a long journey ahead, Theo. It is best we waste no daylight.”

“Later then,” she said, rubbing her body against his, “so we can take our time.” She felt the hard press of his cock against his slit even through her clothing.

“You make an already difficult task nearly impossible, female.” Releasing his hold on her, Vasil turned away, tension rippling through the muscles of his back.

Theo stepped forward and kissed between his shoulders. “The wait will be worth it. Besides, I’m sure you’re exhausted.”

“Never too tired for you,” he said over his shoulder.

She laughed. “Keep saying things like that and see how I reward you.”

Catching her lower lip in her teeth, she trailed the tip of a finger down his spine. His back arched, and a gentle tremor shook his shoulders. She smiled to herself as she removed her jumpsuit. Once she was naked, she snatched the diving suit off the floor and held it up in both hands.

A blue outline appeared around the suit, and an instant later, Kane highlighted the internal systems, revealing intricate networks of wiring within the material. It all connected to two sets of controls, one at the wrist and one on the chest. A series of model numbers and technical specs scrolled through the corner of her retinal display.

“It’s a Tureon Industries Personal Diving System,” Kane said aloud, “commissioned by the IDC three hundred and seventy-nine years ago. I’m displaying the model and specs, but I know you’re not paying attention. All you need to know is that it will stretch to fit your body.”

Theo’s brows fell. “Let me get this straight, Kane — you can identify an obscure piece of equipment from four hundred years ago by sight, but you don’t haveanyrelevant information on survival in your database?”

“Well, it’s not likeyouhad much relevant information on survival, either,” he replied.

Theo bent down and slipped her legs into the suit. The material stretched easily around her body as she tugged it up. Despite how much the material stretched, its fit was comfortable — she’d expected it to constrict her half to death. “Yeah, but you’re supposed to be my AI. You know, myintelligence.”

Kane grumbled. “You left yourselfsowide open, but…argh, I can’t bethatmean to you!”

“Good,” Vasil said, “because if you are mean to her, I will find a way to take you out of her body so I can throw you into the sea.”

Theo snickered; she enjoyed what she felt in response to Vasil’s protectiveness, and she knew he’d never do anything to Kane. Vasil was aware of how much the AI meant to her — not that there was much chance of Kane’s systems being removed without killing her. The IDC used extremely sophisticated equipment to install and de-pair AIs.

She pushed her arms into the diving suit’s sleeves and brushed her covered fingers over the round device on the chest. The suit immediately sealed, molding to her body like a second skin. “You can turn around now, kraken. Your innocence is safe.”

Vasil turned to face her again, dipping his gaze down her body. She followed it with her own. The suit hugged her every curve, and yet somehow wasn’t overly revealing.

The smooth wrist piece attached to the suit’s arm glowed, and Theo raised her arm.

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