Page 35 of Sol Survivor

“Is that all you have?”Tapping of keys followed.

For a moment, she closed her eyes to better envision Drafe striding across the Moonstar’s dance floor to reach her.“He’s dark-skinned, wears nanotech armor, has yellow eyes.”

Nikko mouthed ‘yellow.’She ignored him.

A shiver rippled along her skin, sparking an intense heat to settle in her core.If Drafe was still on the station, she might be able to find him and suggest a few hours of pleasure.Dieter would have sufficed, Trent at a push, but who she wanted was Drafe in all his masculine glory.Used to seeing men fit, strong, and virile meant she needed more than that.There was something dark, seductive, and exotic about Drafe.

Something that sent a frisson of excitement along her nerves and raised the hairs at the nape of her neck.Finding him was her last chance to experience intimacy before heading into outer space for who knew how long.

Chapter Thirteen

Year: 2219

Lunar Base

DrafemetAehort’sgaze.The Ivoy knew and saw too much, as expected of a symbiote transfer.In the ambassador lounge, Drafe hovered behind him, studying every person eager to intrude.

“I apologize, Drafe, for not forewarning you.”Aehort bowed his head.

“She was…unexpected.”Drafe didn’t want to discuss Victoria Harper when he had just cooled his ardor.A slither of sadness remained though, as if he had lost an opportunity, missed out on something momentous.

“True connections are rare.”Aehort smiled at a passing server carrying a tray of colorful beverages.“If she were to appear before you now, what would you do?”

Every muscle in Drafe’s body tensed.His symbiotes sparked to life, rippling along his skin and receding his armor, leaving parts of him, for a moment, bare.He laughed.No, she wasn’t a threat, despite having seen her fight on the holo.Foq, such a woman had passion, strength, and self-discipline., Yet softness lingered in her hair, her skin, and the pliancy of her lips.

“I cannot abandon you a second time, Aehort.”Duty called.He scanned the room, watching twitching fingers and the pseudo-happiness offered with false flattery.“How much longer?”

“We have breached the humans’s database where they store their video footage, communication, military strategies, and stockpile locations.”

“Good.”Drafe rubbed his fingers along his thigh, needing to burn through this pent-up energy.The texture of the armor pressed into his bare skin.Sighing, he willed his symbiotes to calm but not to recede.A naked male in an alien station would not go down well.

Tyler strode toward him, his excited expression the most honest in the room.“I found her.Well, it has to be her.A Victoria Barnes signed up today on an ice hauler.”

Drafe beamed.“Excellent, Tyler.”

“Only thing is, they’re departing in a few hours.They’ve logged a delay.The station allows a few hours pro bono, but after three, they will be charged.”

Drafe didn’t care about costs.There was time to find her, to form some sort of communication path with her.Not that he knew if human technology was compatible with Ivoyan.“How do I reach her?”

Tyler grinned and waved a black strip.“Smart band.”He snapped it over Drafe’s wrist.

A buzz ran up Drafe’s arm while he studied the device.

“It’s powered by your body’s energy and connects with the closest available communication port.”Tyler raised his wrist to his lips and spoke into his matching band.“Meorri aac Drafe Arrak.”

Drafe tensed when a bolt shot up his arm.He gripped the band, preparing to rip it off him when Tyler’s voice emanated from it.Pausing, he uncapped his hand and tapped the flashing star.“Drafe.”He felt like an idiot and raised his gaze to meet Tyler’s.

“As simple as that.You mention her name on this, and it will try and find her.”

Excitement sparked a shift in Drafe’s posture, and he faced Aehort.The male inclined his head and strolled to the exit, trailing his Qaldreth warriors.

Drafe paused and pressed his lips to the device.Before he could say her name, a flash of color amid the grays and blacks of the guests caught his focus.Striding across the vast hall was Victoria, her gaze fixed on him, her garment baring more than covering.

Foq.His cooled ardor exploded into life.His symbiotes bounced and reverberated, exposing and armoring him.His hair rose, no longer draped down his back.

“Farg, Drafe, your eyes are glowing.”Tyler searched the room and chuckled.“Right, that’s my cue.”

Drafe spared him a glance.“Thank you for the assistance, Tyler.I am in your debt, and this should not be taken lightly.”