Page 34 of Stealing Mercury
“N-no f-fire?” Her chattering teeth made it hard to speak.
“Not tonight.” Mercury pulled her closer, tucking her face against his chest. “We’ll keep you warm.” Mercury nuzzled into her hair as he answered. “Rest.”
She was surprised when he didn’t lie down, but she was too exhausted to question. Another blanket settled around them and she heard the rustle of the synthetic fabric as the others lowered beside them. Somehow, it seemed easier to let them get close in the dark. Still, she jumped when one of them tugged on one of her boots.
Mercury made soothing noises as the heavy weight slid off. She jumped again when strong hands tucked her cold feet against a warm torso.
“Be calm,” Mercury whispered. “Lo only wants to keep you warm.”
Lo. The man who’d seemed so dangerous was warming her feet on those washboard abs of his. And in the morning, she expected to see the white rabbit her father had often warned her wandered around alien landscapes leading young girls into trouble.
She took a deep breath and relaxed, resting her head on Mercury’s chest. None of them had hurt her. Lo hadn’t even snarled at her since they left the clearing. She smiled in the dark. Maybe getting out of the cage had improved his disposition. She wouldn’t count on it lasting.
“Sleep.” Mercury’s voice rumbled softly near her ear. “We’ll keep you safe.”
It would be the first time she’d slept planet-side since her father’s death. Samantha allowed herself a moment to think about theDove, orbiting somewhere above them. This job had gone all wrong. It was supposed to put her back in control of her future. Instead, it had taken away any hope of the dream she’d been working toward her whole life.
There’d be time enough to worry over that after they were found. Snuggling into Mercury’s warmth, she let his heat relax her muscles and let her worries slip away. For now, she would live in the moment.
This wasn’t the time to worry about the white rabbit. Not when she’d already gone down the rabbit hole.
Chapter Ten
ArenaDogsCampsite,PlanetG-45987
Earth Alliance Beta Sector - Gollerra Border
2210.158
“I can’t wait to actually wash with real water.” Stepping around a small crate of supplies, Samantha chuckled, happy with the thought.
With the added speed of carrying her, they’d made it to the cargo-drop only a few hours after sunrise. The creek that trailed alongside their path had led to a river, ensuring they’d have water nearby. In under an hour, they’d hauled the most critical supplies up a small rise where they’d set up a makeshift camp. A convenient arrangement of boulders shielded their campsite from anyone looking up from below, but they had a clear view of the river and the cargo-drop landing site.
Carn straightened from where he’d been searching through the stores for more thermal blankets. “The river is wider and better for bathing a short distance upstream.”
The muscles of Mercury’s chest and arms flexed as he tugged on the waterproof tarp she was helping him lash over the shelter frame he’d built. “I’ll take you there later.”
“Sounds great.” She tied off a knot on her side, then traced her fingers restlessly over the rough seam at the edge of the tarp.
His gaze drifted from her face to her hand. The heat in his eyes made her want to snatch her hand out of sight. Ridiculous, as she wasn’t doing anything to provoke that look.
Mercury growled, and the sound was oddly suggestive. “Yes,courra. I want your hands on me, and I can think of little else now that there are no bars between us.”
Startled by his boldness, she stepped back and looked for the others.
Carn had been watching them, but he looked away as their gazes met. Before he did, she caught a trace of sadness in his eyes and remembered Resler saying something about Carn grieving for his mate. Carn’s mate, not their mate. She hated that his grief—his and his alone—reassured her. The way Mercury talked to her, touched her, she couldn’t deny she wanted to believe he felt something for her. Something more than gratitude or kindness. Something he wouldn’t be feeling if the mate Carn was grieving was also his.
Despite her feelings, she wanted somehow to soothe his pain. Going on instinct, she went to him. She reached out and laid her hand on his chest. “Carn, I—”
He stepped back as if her touch burned him. His attention locked on Mercury, ignoring her standing right in front of him. “I’ll double back to check on the whip-master.”
Mercury joined them and clamped a hand on his shoulder. “Observe only and return quickly, my brother.”
One quick dip of his chin and Carn was gone, running back toward the Roma campsite.
Samantha squeezed her hand tight, cringing at the guilt that squeezed her heart. “I didn’t mean to upset him.”
Mercury pulled her hands to his face, rubbing them against his cheek. “You’re not the source of his pain.”
