Page 112 of Stealing Mercury
Samantha wasn’t sure how long she slept, but she woke feeling warm and safe and at peace. Knock had gotten them all safely back to theGwendella. And they’d spent an uncomfortable forty-eight hours in the captain’s closet before theGwendellahad been searched and cleared to leave the port. Carn and Hera had been there too. Despite the long stint in darkness and silence, they’d come out as exhausted as ever. Hopeful but exhausted.
She’d fallen into bed and to sleep the moment they’d arrived in Mercury and Lo’s room. Lo’s heat curled along her back and her cheek pressed against Mercury’s broad chest. The steady rise and fall created a sense of intimacy she’d never expected to have. It spoke not of sex, but of the day-in, day-out constancy of love.
Mercury loved her.
He’d been willing to risk his life, Lo’s life, to protect her. She’d known he had no lack of courage, but she hadn’t understood the truth—that his willingness to risk came not from courage but from love. He’d loved his brothers then and now he loved her, too. She should have seen it earlier, but the miracle of it hadn’t been able to penetrate the barrier she kept around her heart. Not until she’d met his eyes through that fence.
She traced her fingers over the ridges of his abdominal muscles, circled his belly button, delighted in the ripples of reaction.
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head as his hand stroked over her shoulder. “Welcome back,courra.”
“Did I go somewhere?”
His hand tightened, then traced down to circle her wrist and bring it to his lips. “Don’t ever leave me, Samantha.” Worry and fear deepened his voice.
She reached up to frame his face. “I won’t.”
“Lo is here. You’re in our cabin.”
“I know. It’s fine. I should never have tried to hide how I feel about you from the crew.” Her voice shook. “How I feel about you both.”
“Tell me how you feel,courra. Let me hear it.”
“I love you.”
He smiled, all dangerous teeth, and it filled her heart with happiness. He pressed his lips to hers and they took their time enjoying the simple pleasure of kisses.
When the kisses tapered away, Samantha traced his lips with her finger. “I’ll love you even more if you tell me there’s a shower system somewhere close.”
His grin widened. “Built into the wall.”
“Hallelujah,” She whispered, trying not to wake Lo.
Mercury stretched beneath her and she realized he slept completely bare. She was nude too for that matter. She almost forgot how desperately she wanted to bathe. Almost.
“How did I get so lucky?” With a start she remembered the others. She looked around the room. “Carn and Hera?”
In a whisper of flowing movement, Mercury rose from the bunk and pulled her along with him. Lo sleepily edged into the warmth of the spot they’d vacated.
“The Captain gave them the quarters next to ours. They’re fine.” Mercury pressed a panel on the wall to reveal the shower. He urged her inside. “And I’m the fortunate one—to have a mate who will know how to properly adjust this temperature in this overly complex chamber.”
“Don’t tell me you were taking cold showers all the way from Haverlee to Roma.”
His silence spoke for him.
“You should have said something.”
“The cold showers proved... useful... at the time.”
A laugh bubbled up and spilled over in frothy giggles. “Well, it isn’t one of the great mysteries of life. You only have to say the temperature you want.”
“I tried that, but it still gave only freezing cold spray.”
“Probably that growly voice of yours.”
Mercury silenced her with tiny kisses scattered over her face. His lips honed in on hers, licking, nipping, clinging.
Breathless, she stated the temperature they needed and a warm steamy spray soaked them. Mercury stroked the sudsy mixture over her curves. He left no centimeter of skin unattended. She returned the favor, endlessly fascinated by the strength and warmth of his body.
