Page 55 of Aries

I give her what she’s asking for, my hips snapping against hers with increasing intensity. The sound of skin against skin fills the cottage, mixing with our desperate moans and the whispered endearments that spill from our lips.

“I love you,” I growl against her throat, my pace becoming erratic as pleasure builds to impossible heights. “I love you so much it terrifies me. You’reeverything, Callie.”

“I love you too,” she gasps, her inner walls beginning to flutter around me. “So much. For so long. I’ve been yours since that first night in the cell, even when I didn’t know what it was, and later, when I couldn’t admit it.”

Her confession pushes me over the edge. With a roar that shakes the cottage walls, I bury myself deep inside her as my climax crashes through me. The sensation of my release triggers hers, and she comes apart beneath me with a scream that’s pure ecstasy.

We collapse together, our bodies slick with sweat and trembling with aftershocks. I roll us to our sides, keeping her pressed against me as we struggle to catch our breath.

“That was…” she begins, then trails off with a breathless laugh.

“Everything,” I finish, pressing kisses to her damp forehead. “Everything I dreamed of and so much more.”

She tilts her head to look at me, her eyes soft with satisfaction and love. “No more barriers,” she murmurs.

“No more rules,” I agree, pulling her closer. “Just us. Finally, completely us.”

As we drift toward sleep in our little cottage—the place where we learned to love each other—I’m filled with profound gratitude. In a few days, we’ll return to ourships, to our crew, to the galaxy that awaits. But tonight, we’re exactly where we belong.

In each other’s arms, with no distance between us.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Callie

The transport’s engines hum beneath us as we clear Sanctorii’s upper atmosphere. Through the viewport, I can see theGalaxy Warrior’sfamiliar silhouette growing larger against the backdrop of Sanctorii’s twin moons. My hand rests in Aries’ as we watch our former prison—and our salvation—disappear into the star field.

“Any regrets?” he asks softly, his thumb tracing circles on my palm.

“About leaving?” I shake my head, leaning into his warmth. “That cottage served its purpose. It taught us how to love each other. But it was never meant to be permanent.”

“No,” he agrees, pressing a kiss to my temple. “It was a beginning, not an ending.”

The past week since our redemption has been a whirlwind—debriefings with the Committee, final documentation of our successful trials, and countless preparations for our return to our comrades. But through it all, the freedom to touch him whenever I want, to sleep curled against his warmth without barriers, has felt like a miracle I’m still adjusting to.

“We should be docking with theGalaxy Warriorsoon,” our pilot announces over the comm. “I’m told the other ship, theDevil’s Playgroundwill join you shortly. Prepare for transfer.”

My stomach flutters with anticipation. After months away, we’ll finally see our two crews again—our found family who believed in us when we couldn’t believe in ourselves. And more importantly, we’ll begin the next chapter of our lives together.

“Nervous?” Aries asks, noting my expression.

“Excited,” I correct, squeezing his hand. “We get to go home. Our real home, with our people.”

“And we get to choose which ship becomes our permanent home.” He gives me a meaningful look.

When our group grew large enough to split into two ships, I jumped at the chance to choose theDevil’s Playground. It wasn’t just that it had safer assignments than theGalaxy Warrior—that was reason enough. But the real reason? TheGalaxy Warriorwas Aries’ ship. And I didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

Now, though, theDevil’s Playgroundrepresents a different possibility—a fresh start where we can simply be Aries and Callie, together. Yet, even now, we haven’t made a firm decision.

Spark zooms excitedly around the transport’s small cabin, trailing sparkles of anticipation. Theshimmerlingseems as eager as we are to rejoin the crew who’ve become our family.

“I’ve been thinking about Captain Beast’s offer,” he says quietly. “About joining his crew permanently.”

Aries’ eyes meet mine, warmth and affection in their golden depths. “After everything we’ve been through, the idea of combat missions and constant danger feels…”

“Exhausting,” I finish. “I want time to just be with you. To build something together without looking over our shoulders.”

“TheDevil’s Playground’stransport and trading missions would give us that,” he agrees. “A chance to heal, to grow into who we are together.”

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