Page 41 of Sol Survivor

“Know what?”Tiny didn’t look up, choosing instead to keep her gaze downcast.

Vic smiled.The poor girl pined.“That you like him?”

Tiny gasped and sliced a glance at the door.“No,” she whispered.

“Why not?”

Tiny dropped her chin to her chest as she straightened the tools in a metal tray.

Women were fools.Then again, Vic had done everything she could to survive.Avoided relationships with everyone but Ande, fought for her innocence, her freedom, and her life.“You’re beautiful as you are, Tiny.He would be a fool not to see that.”

She snorted, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.“Right, and now that you’re here—”

“Tell him I have someone.”Drafe’s obsidian chest, his pale-yellow eyes, his roar when he orgasmed, followed by his promise to find her… Yes, she had someone.

“You do?”Tiny’s white eyes widened with pure joy.

Vic smirked.“In a way.”

“Is that the man I smell on you?”

Vic laughed.“What does he smell like?”

“Sunlight, hot rocks, sheer masculinity?”

“Yes,” Vic rasped, wishing she’d had the time to bury her nose in the curve of his neck.

“I’ll send you the results of your bloodwork.”Tiny tapped a vial.

Their session was ending.Sadness dampened the lingering lust in Vic’s heart.She cast a glance at the door, as if beyond it lay a life of loneliness.Perhaps, if she took the first brave step toward friendship, a warmer world awaited her.“Mind if I visit you?”

“Sure.”Pink splashed Tiny’s cheeks.

“You’re the only one without a hidden agenda.”Vic drew in a deep breath, finding that step had been easier than she’d anticipated.“Here I can be myself.”

“You’re welcome anytime, Vic.I’m alone for the most part.”

Clasping Tiny’s hand for a quick squeeze, Vic hit the button on the door, opening it.“See you later?”

“Sure.”Tiny waved at Dieter hovering in the doorway.“Bye, Deets.”

As Vic and Dieter strolled to the airlock, Vic exaggerated a sigh.

Dieter’s gait faltered.“What’s the matter?”

“If I wasn’t already in love, I’d tap that.”She hitched a thumb at Tiny.His reaction would reveal much.

He jerked to a halt.“What?In love?”

Vic gritted her teeth.That’s all he took from what she said?“My heart belongs to another.”Well, it wasn’t a complete lie.“Is Tiny dating anyone?”

He frowned.“Not that I know of.”

Farg did she have her work cut out for her.In the airlock, he helped her climb into a spacesuit.As soon as she was in, he closed her up, touched a blue button on her shoulder, and similar to vacuum sealing, the suit hugged her like a second skin.

“Makes it easier to move, especially when you’re hauling ass away from vengeful itaya.”

Right.Survive the Ring, all its combatants, to be ravaged by space parasites?Oh.She couldn’t wait.Helping Dieter into a suit, she earned a nose full of groin, chest, and armpit before she too zipped him shut and hit the button.These suits were older than those Carne supplied, though the functionality remained the same.But she didn’t have the heart to tell Dieter she’d done this before.Just not on theoutsideof ship.

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