Page 42 of Into Orbit
I swallowed. ‘I fucked up, Ash,’ I whispered. ‘I fucked up. Really, really badly.’
Maeve’s scent was all over me, the deep, heady musk causing my hearts to pound and my skin to tighten. I wanted her here, wanted her back on my lap, in my arms, wanted my hands – mymouth– on her smooth skin. I wanted it so badly I could barely think straight.
‘What did you fuck up, Will?’
I took a shuddering breath. ‘Everything,’ I said flatly. ‘I fucked up everything, Ash. For both of us.’
There was a pause. ‘Stay where you are,’ he said. ‘I’m coming.’
‘You’re on duty –’ I managed, before the comm cut off.
I paced my clinic, raking my hands through my hair. Without realising, I’d slung the blanket around my shoulders; I grabbed a handful of theiriiswool and breathed in, deeply. Maeve had been on it –half-naked– and it held her scent better than my skin did.
The clinic door hissed open. ‘Willow?’ Ashton said softly, his brow creased. I waved my hand over the controls, locking the door behind him.
He stared at me warily. ‘Will? What’s going on?’
‘Who is with the Hamadryad?’
He looked away. ‘I had to leave her with Adair.’
‘But youneverleave her alone with him!’
His mouth twisted. ‘I had to make a choice. Poppy is on her way to the Forest. She’ll get there before Adair has any chance to open his mouth and … well, beAdair. And if he does, it might finally be the excuse I need to send him back to his father’s blighted ship. But you’re deflecting, Willow.’
‘Maeve was here,’ I said.
‘I know that, Will. I can smell it.’ His hazel eyes burned as he took a step forward. ‘And I can smell what you were doing, too.’
I searched his face, but there was no trace of hurt there – some jealousy, perhaps, and a spark of arousal as he breathed in, but no hurt. He reached up and stroked my cheek.
‘It was glorious, Ash,’ I said softly.
‘Then what happened, love?’ he murmured.
I let him draw me into his arms, let myself rest on his strength. ‘She thinks that we’re using her. That I’m using her to be with you, and you’re using her to get to Elswyth. That all we want is someone to solve our problem.’ I closed my eyes. ‘When she said it, I was so surprised that I couldn’t find the words to respond. And wewereplanning it, Ash. We talked about it. I couldn’t lie and say that we hadn’t. But I didn’t get the chance to explain that wasn’t all there was.’
He tipped my chin up so I couldn’t look away. ‘And?’
‘She stormed out. She was angry, Ash. Andhurt.’
He studied my face. ‘Good.’
I blinked. ‘What? Ash, she –’
‘Stormed out, hurt and angry. Would she do that if she didn’t care?’
My lips parted; he swooped down and stole a kiss. I let him kiss me, then pushed him away. ‘You don’t understand, Ash, she was –’
‘Terrifying?’ he supplied. ‘Filled with rage?’
I nodded.
‘Good,’ he said again. He saw the look on my face. ‘Will, love, if Maeve didn’t care, she would have walked out with a laugh. There wouldn’t have been any rage, because that female only picks fights when she cares about something. She’s protecting herself. I’d wager it’s probably one of the first times.’
‘Protecting herself?’
He gave a wry smile. ‘You’re the smartest being I know, Willow, but sometimes you’re thicker than heartwood. Maeve is clever and quick and funny and beautiful. So why hasn’t she ever had a … What do humans call them?Partner?’
