Page 21 of Cosmic Crush

Dust Storm

Mari

I waited until I was one-hundred percent sure Raider was asleep. I raised my head from the hammock, staring at his nest. He was snuggled on a mound of soft looking blankets.

Part of me wished I was right there next to him.

There was something wrong with me. Whatever this bond was between us was getting out of hand. He called me his mate and blamed it on his venom, but…it felt deeper than that.

I should hate him. I should be fighting him, wanting to destroy him, seeking revenge. Instead, all I found myself doing was stealing glances at him.

Of course, I’d insisted I sleep here and him there, and the sweet hunk had agreed.

The dinner had been delicious, and he was enchanting me—which was a problem. If he was telling the truth, then this whole situation was notexactlyhis fault.

Getting Stockholm syndrome for the hot alien, are we?

I needed to get out of here before it was too late. I couldn’t go falling for him.

My brain said yes and my heart said no.

Raider snored softly, deeply asleep. I gradually sat up and slipped out of the hammock. My feet hit the cavern floor quietly.

I felt guilty for leaving him. Dust storm or not, I had to get out of here. Maybe I could talk them out of charging him with another crime...

My heart beat faster as I crept to the doorway. Most of the lights were off and I could hardly make out shapes in the darkness, but as I went to the doorway, I used my hands along the wall to guide myself.I felt the smooth stone, finding comfort in touching it.

I turned to the left. That was the only direction we could have come from. The room and pool were to the right, so the entrance had to be this way.

I listened, slowly moving down the passage. The further I went this direction, the louder howling noise sounded. If the storm was this bad, there was no way that I could get out.

The darkness lessened, but only slightly. This planet never truly got dark at night. The stars were bright enough that the land was illuminated. But, with the storm, most of the starlight was swallowed up.

I blinked a few times as I passed between two rocks, seeing the opening to the cave. A solarcycle sat near a crevice door, one that was a window to the outside world.

I ran my hand along the solarcycle, contemplating. I had no idea how to work that thing. The word “BUCK” was painted on the side.

My gaze went back to the doorway. Sand blew outside, the wind raging. There was clearly a shield between where I stood and the opening of the cave, one that was invisible to the eye. I imagined that if I stepped out, the howling of the wind and the sand would be much worse.

My lips parted as I stared. There was no way I was going out in that.

Fuck.

I sighed and looked back down at the bike, searching it. Maybe there was a radio or phone… If I could just let Stella know I was okay, I would feel infinitely better.

There was a small radio attached to the front. I sucked in a breath, hitting the on button. I recognized the model it was. I could dial a number on it or tune into other radio frequencies.

Sweat rolled down my neck. I looked up at the darkness of the passage, halfway expecting Raider to jump out.

“I’m okay,” I whispered to myself, hitting the keys for Stella’s number. Hers was the only one I knew by memory. “I’m alright. You don’t need to worry.”

I was talking to myself, but I still could feel my heartbeat calming.

The radio beeped, static echoing. “Ma—mari? ma—” It cut in and out, the storm outside disrupting the signal.

I pressed the button to speak, talking fast. “I’m alright, Stella. I’m okay. He won’t hurt me.”

Was I sure of that?

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