Page 16 of Human Reclaimed
“I can take you back,” he said suddenly, his voice rough with emotion. “To Earth. If that’s truly what you want.”
The offer hung between us—sincere and unexpected. I searched his face, finding no deception, only conflict. He meant it, even though it would compromise everything he was working to build here.
What did I want? The question echoed in my mind as I stared into his eyes. The lonely condo in Buffalo? The veterans’ facility? The constant looking over my shoulder for CyberEvolution operatives? Or this—a new purpose, a cause worth fighting for, and the inexplicable pull toward the complicated man before me?
“Ask me tomorrow,” I whispered. “For now, I just want to forget everything else.”
I splashed him again and darted away, my heart racing with something that felt dangerously like joy. Thirty minutes passed quickly as Rune and I chased each other around the pool in his private oasis.
He stilled abruptly. “I think we should head back,” Rune said, his reluctance evident in the way his eyes lingered on the sapphire-tinged water.
I sighed. “Already? I was just getting used to paradise.”
“The colony will notice our absence soon. And Sage will want to give you the security briefing as soon as possible.”
I splashed to the edge of the pool, pulling myself up onto the smooth stone. Water cascaded down my body as I stood, and I caught Rune’s appreciative gaze before he politely averted his eyes.
“Like what you see, Commander?” I teased, reaching for my discarded clothes.
A flush crept up his neck. “I’m not blind, Captain.”
We dressed in comfortable silence, the wet fabric of my undergarments making my clothes cling uncomfortably to my skin. I shook out my blonde hair, finger-combing the tangles as Rune reattached his wrist communicator. I bent to retrieve my datapad from beside my boots, brushing off a few luminescent leaves that had settled on the screen.
“Ready?” Rune asked, his voice deeper than usual.
I nodded, surprised by the pang of disappointment that shot through me. This hidden oasis had become a sanctuary from reality—a place where I wasn’t a kidnapped military strategist, and he wasn’t my captor. We were just two people enjoying a perfect afternoon.
“Will we come back here?” I asked, unable to hide the hope in my voice.
Rune paused at the threshold of vines, his broad shoulders framed by the gleaming foliage. “If you’d like to.”
“I would.” The words escaped before I could analyze them.
As we trekked back through the dense jungle, I found myself studying Rune’s back—the way his muscles shifted beneath his fitted black T-shirt and how confidently he navigated the unmarked path. Sixteen hours ago, I’d seen him as the enemy. Now? I wasn’t sure what to label the strange warmth that bloomed in my chest whenever he glanced back to make sure I was keeping up.
“You should feel special that you were the first person I’ve shown that place to,” he said suddenly, holding a large frond aside for me to pass.
“Why me?” I asked, genuinely curious.
He considered this, his brow furrowing slightly. “I’m not entirely sure. It felt… right.”
That simple admission touched something deep within me. For a man who clearly calculated every move, admitting uncertainty revealed more vulnerability than any emotional declaration could have.
“Well, I’m honored,” I said softly. “And for what it’s worth, I needed that more than I realized.”
His eyes met mine, intense and searching. “I’m guessing the past three years have been difficult for you.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“And I made it worse by bringing you here against your will.”
I shrugged, surprising myself with my next words. “Your strategy worked. Didn’t it? I’m here, and I’m starting to understand why.”
A slight smile tugged at his lips. “Are you calling me a master strategist, Captain Reed?”
“Don’t let it go to your head, Commander.”
We emerged from the jungle’s edge into the settlement. The contrast was jarring—from primal wilderness to the organized bustle of the colony. Colonists moved purposefully along stone pathways that wound between structures of metal and composite materials. Some nodded respectfully to Rune as we passed, curiosity evident in their glances toward me.
