Page 41 of Salvation
That was a good question. The only one who had been adamant about this was Administer Corvus. She frowned. “Why would she do this?”
“Corvus?” He shrugged. “She does have a point. Our new relationship might impede our professional commitments.”
Oh. They were back to that. “Why would it now if it did not before? Even you just said so.”
Nick’s mouth curved into a gentle smile and he reached for her hand, enveloping it between his. “And I meant it. If both of us are determined to maintain our professional responsibilities despite a personal relationship, then where is this problem the administer perceives?”
Her heart stuttered in her chest. “Y-you mean youwantto be involved with me?” There was no way he meantthat, was there?
“I do, very much, Sakura Yamata. It feels like there could be something special between us, and I’d like to find out.” His thumb stroked over the back of her hand, sending little tingles up her arm. “I was pretty sure that you wanted the same.”
She drew her brows together. Of course she wanted the same, but it still seemed hard to believe he was serious. Tall handsome men like Nick did not fall for short, round women like her. What happened the other night at Dacey and Nero’s wedding, it had to be theryma.
And then there was the thing with his so-called cousin. “What about Captain Solaris?”
His brow furrowed. “Ora?” He appeared genuinely confused.
“You two are…something special too, yes?”
Now he gaped at her. “You think we’re…that Ora and I are…?” He fell back against the couch holding his sides as his deep laughter filled the room.
“I do not see what is so funny.” She folded her arms across her middle.
Nick swiped at the tears falling from his eyes. “Jesus, Saku, that’d be like kissing mysister.”
It would? “So, you are not in a relationship with her?”
“Oh, hell, no! And I hope to god she never finds out that you thought so because she’d beat the shit out of me for giving you that impression.” Nick seemed to be regaining control. He raised her hand to his lips and her heart fluttered like a cherry blossom floating on the warm air currents. “It’s you—only you. No one else in this universe makes me feel more alive than you do, Saku. And no one is more beautiful or real to me than you.”
Kenji had been wrong, so very wrong. She had been a fool for allowing his words to control her all these years. She swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. “That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me, Nick.”
His face dipped closer, the sincerity in his eyes touched her heart. “I mean it. The Anferthians still need us, and you and I need each other. I intend to fight this ridiculous condition.”
There was no way to stop the smile radiating in her heart from showing on her face. “Me too.”
Nick leaned closer and she lifted her chin. His lips grazed over hers, a promise sealed, then he touched his forehead to hers. They were in this together now.
