Page 71 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol 2
“But... it’s been so long,” I whisper, barely breathing. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
“I never forgot you, you know? That night—it’s carved into my memory like nothing else.”
My heart is pounding, breath shallow. I used to think I'd never see Ayden again. And yet here he is, as breathtaking as ever. His beautiful obsidian eyes shine like twin stars.
“Oh Ayden, I’ve missed you so much.”
“I know, sweet girl. I missed you too. But I had no choice. I had to leave.”
“Yes... Logan explained.”
“But I came back. I’m here now. And I’m taking you with me.”
How many times have I dreamed of hearing those words? Too many to count over the years. But now... he’s really here. More beautiful than I remembered. He steps toward me, towering a full head above me. One hand cradles my face, gently turning it toward him. His lips are just inches from mine.
“I should never have left that day,” he whispers.
“It broke my heart...”
“I'm sorry. Will you let me make it right?”
I nod slowly, captivated by the nearness of his mouth. And then he kisses me—hungrily, deeply, like he’s trying to claim back lost time. Waves of heat crash over me. My hands explore him in return, eager to memorize every hard line of his body again. I’m gasping with longing.
Without breaking the kiss, he pushes me with determination toward my room. My legs bump against the bed, and I fall backward, mentally high-fiving myself for coming back toGekkar Creek yesterday. He’s now looming above me in all his glorious majesty, his eyes blazing with a hunger that sends shivers down my spine. I gaze back, devouring him with my eyes. I strip off my white nightshirt, part eager, part anxious. What if I’m not enough? He’s probably known countless women during his travels. And me...
He leans down, kissing me fiercely, his mustache tickling me—
Wait. Mustache?
He didn’t have a mustache a minute ago! I try to push him away, but the silky hairs press insistently against my ear in a cheerful, ticklish caress.
I open my eyes to find myself back in my hut, on my humble mat... and face-to-snout with my little Gooz, who just woke me from that steamy dream with his fuzzy nose.
I’m drenched in sweat, breathless with frustration. My little fluffball, on the other hand, is thrilled with the ear rubs I give him in return.
“It was just a dream,” I sigh.
One more dream, I could add. I’ve had plenty of fantasies where Ayden comes back. But he never does.
A year ago, I tried to forget him in the arms of a Gekkar Creek settler. Frank stayed for a few dozen rotations, working in the greenhouses. It was brief—and disappointing. Since then, I’ve watched passing workers with a new eye. But how could any of them compare to Ayden? Then again... if I’m honest, I never really knew him. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve just idealized that moment. Maybe if things had gone further, I’d have felt the same letdown I did with Frank. But the truth is—I’ll probably never know.
A glance through the hut opening confirms it’s still night. So I lie back down and consciously dive into another dream where Ayden declares his love for me. Pathetic, I know.
Morning comes, and I wake up in a grumpy mood. That useless, frustrating dream lingered all night. I need to move on. Let go of the past.
My little Gooz offers another comforting cuddle before I throw on one of my suits and climb down from my hut to check on Nov.
My grumpy patient has been doing much better lately. The daily baths have worked wonders. For his leg, anyway—not his personality, unfortunately.
I still hope that, with time, the trauma he suffered on Vagantu will fade, and he'll begin to picture a brighter future. He’s still limping, and I worry his leg may never fully heal. The larvae and the resulting necrosis did major damage to the upper part of his calf. And using crutches daily drives him up the wall.
“Good morning, dear friend. How are you today?”
“I’m not your friend. I’m your prisoner. Your guinea pig for your revolting potions,” he grumbles.
“I don’t believe you for a second. I saw you sniff the cream I made to soften your leg. You almost smiled!”
“Your potions must have hallucinogenic effects. All I see is time slipping by while I’m still stuck using these cursed crutches. I’m starting to think you’re dragging this out just to torture me.”
