Page 42 of Crush
Ollie’s little hand snuggled into hers. “Mom?”
“What is it, owlet?”
“I don’t want to leave here. The adventure isn’t over.”
She kissed his head. “No. It’s not over.”
June and Teq flanked her as they walked slowly through theDeepWanderto her quarters.
She glanced up at him. “I guess we didn’t blow up?”
“Wedidn’t,” Ollie said before Teq could answer. “But the pirates blew off their whole boarding apparatus. Mag had to rescue two of them or their blood would’ve boiled in space.” He scowled fiercely. “Maybe Dorn should have to boil in space.”
June hugged him to her side. “Mag will make sure they face justice at Luster Station.”
“Mag was almost to the bay when I launched the grappler,” Teq said quietly. “He took Dorn into custody along with the pirates who were attempting to board.” He didn’t scowl quite as fiercely as Ollie, but it was close.
She found herself leaning slightly into his shoulder, even though he must be hurting as much as she was. “I wish I could’ve carried you all the way out.”
His steady strides faltered as he half turned to her. “But you did.”
Before she could clarify, they were at her door. With June’s help, she got Ollie washed up and into his own bed.
As she kissed him good night, he murmured, “Roxy is so happy we’re staying here. It says it’s making a surprise for us.”
That sounded ominous. “I love surprises,” she lied.
Except that wasn’t entirely true. Shehadloved some surprises lately: the shimmering beauty of cave slug slime, her flair with a laser chainsaw, loving a space orc…
She walked with June to the apartment door, and the smaller woman gave her a long hug. “I can’t believe this is so…much,” she mumbled. “I’d freak out but…”
“I hear it’s an adventure,” Adeline reminded her. “I can’t wait to find out what happens next.”
After a moment, June peered sidelong at her with a smirk. “Oh, I’ll hazard a wild guess.”
Teq was still waiting by the door, but June slipped past him and shut it before he could escape.
With his back to the portal, he looked almost afraid. “Are you…” He cleared his throat. “How are you…feeling?”
Adeline rubbed the back of her head ruefully. “Whatever Sil did to me before I woke up, I don’t feel anything.”
Teq’s shoulders sagged, all four of them. “Ah. So…no feelings at all?”
“Oh, Teq.” She walked right up to him until their toes overlapped. “Youmade me feel. I felt terrified. Furious. Confused.”
“Adeline…”
“I felt protected. I felt desire.” She took one of his hands, threading her fingers through his, so his tremor went all the way through her too. “I feel…” She let out a breath. “Hope. You made me believe in this second chance.”
His black eyes shone like a bug she hadn’t believed could be beautiful, like piercing lasers and a million promising stars. “I have felt all that. And more. Because of you. I feel…this is what they mean by love?”
Stepping even closer, she angled their joined hands between them so her heartbeat reverberated through him. “This is love.”
“You…will stay?” His antennae trembled.
She knew that uncertainty too well, and she would make sure her mighty crusher never doubted, never regretted, always knew he was loved. “Crusher Teq, do you want an Earther wife-mate?”
“I want you.” He swung her up into his arms. “Adeline. I’ve only ever broken rocks. For you and Oliver I will make a new place, a new life, a new chance. Just tell me how you want it to be and I will make it.”
She flung her arms around his neck, hoisting herself high enough to center a kiss on his mouth. “I’m sure the handbook is around here somewhere, but let’s skip to the step where we make love.”
“I will make your home from stone and from my body,” he promised, “from my i’lva, from any fortune I find.”
She kissed him again, and then once again, wonder and delight blazing through her like an infinity of shooting stars. “We’ll find it together.”
And with her orc mate, she knew their adventure together would never end.
