Page 22 of Human Reclaimed
He set down his glass and reached for my free hand. His palm was warm and unexpectedly gentle as it enveloped mine. “I’m sorry you had to face that alone.”
Something in his touch and in his words—so sincere and so understanding—broke through the careful walls I’d constructed. Before I could think better of it, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his.
The kiss started as a question—hesitant and exploring. For a heartbeat, he went completely still, and I worried I’d made a catastrophic mistake. Then he responded with such intensity it stole my breath.
His lips moved against mine with a perfect balance of restraint and hunger. His hand came up to cradle my face, his thumb brushing my cheekbone with a tenderness that contrasted with the barely contained power in his body. I’d kissed my fair share of men before, but nothing had ever felt like this—like wildfire in my veins, like coming home to a place I’d never been.
When we finally broke apart, I was trembling. His eyes were dark, his pupils dilated as they searched my face.
“Well,” I whispered, my voice unsteady. “That was unexpected.”
TEN
RUNE
When our kiss had ended, my heart hammered against my ribs with an intensity I’d only felt in combat. My body hummed with electricity, every nerve ending alive and firing signals I’d never processed before. I stared into her eyes, those startling blue depths that had challenged me from the moment I stepped foot into her recovery room in the medical bay this morning.
I swallowed hard, shifting my position on the couch to conceal my body’s extremely obvious reaction to her. “Yes. Unexpected but…” I searched for the right words. “Not unwelcome.”
Her eyes darkened at that, and for a brief moment I thought—hoped—she might lean in again. But wisdom prevailed over desire.
“We should get some rest,” I said, the words catching in my throat. “Tomorrow will be another full day. Security assessments, perimeter walkthroughs…”
“Right. Of course.” Was that disappointment in her voice? The thought sent another wave of heat through me.
I stood carefully, making sure my tactical pants didn’t reveal too much of my predicament. “You can take the bed. I’ll sleep out here.”
She rose to her feet, our bodies suddenly close in the limited space between the couch and table. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I insist,” I said firmly, though every fiber of my being screamed otherwise.
I led her to my bedroom—a simple space with a large bed covered in dark linens, a small desk, and shelves lined with tactical manuals and, embarrassingly, several works of classic Earth literature I’d been studying to better understand human emotions.
“Bathroom’s through there,” I pointed to a door on the right. “Extra blankets in the storage unit if you get cold.”
Talia stood in the center of my most private space, looking somehow both out of place and perfectly at home. The sight of her there stirred something deep within me—not just desire but a longing for permanence I’d never acknowledged before.
“Goodnight, Rune,” she said softly.
I hesitated at the door. “Goodnight, Talia.” The words felt inadequate for the storm of feelings they attempted to contain.
Back in the living area, I stretched out on my too-small couch, staring at the ceiling. Sleep was impossible. My lips still burned with the memory of hers. My mind replayed the kiss in an endless loop, analyzing every second and every sensation. I’d kissed others before, but this—this was different. This was a supernova compared to a candle flame.
I pressed the heels of my hands against my eyes. What was happening to me? I’d brought Talia here for her tactical expertise. To help save our colony from pirate raids. Not to upend my entire existence with a single kiss.
Yet I couldn’t deny the truth that had been building since she swam with me in my private oasis this morning. Talia Reed wasn’t just a resource. She was becoming essential to me.
The night crept by in restless fragments. I drifted between half-dreams filled with blonde hair catching sunlight, blue eyes flashing with challenge, and the phantom pressure of lips against mine. The sounds of the jungle outside—the rhythmic calls of nocturnal creatures and the rustle of wind through enormous leaves—usually lulled me to sleep. Tonight, they were just background noise to the chaos in my head.
The harsh buzz of my wrist communicator jolted me fully awake. I glanced at the time—0500 hours—and felt a spike of dread when I saw the source of the call.
Medical bay.
“Shit,” I muttered, sitting up and running my hand through my disheveled hair. I knew exactly what this was about—someone had discovered Talia’s empty recovery room. I’d have to explain my decision to Commander Helix and face Aeon’s knowing look.
I crept to the bedroom door and eased it open. Talia lay sprawled across my bed, one arm flung above her head, and her blonde hair splayed across my pillow. Her face in sleep had lost its guarded expression, revealing a vulnerability she rarely showed while awake.
Something tight and warm expanded in my chest. She looked perfectly right there, as if the space had been waiting for her all along. The sunlight filtering through the small window cast dancing patterns across her sleeping form, highlighting the curves of her body beneath the thin sheet.
