I'm starting to think that Adiron really did fall in love with me instantly, even if it defies logic. I've been fond of him from the get-go, of course. And the sex is amazing. I'm finding it increasingly hard to imagine my life without him in it in some way, so I think I must be in love…but I worry that our cozy little bubble has warped things. That once we're out of this situation and back to “normal” (whatever that may be), that things will change. That Adiron won't be all that interested in a plump black human woman who wears responsibility like a cloak. If his love for me ends as quickly as it began, it won't be all that surprising, will it?
I'm prepared for his infatuation to end, and I'm trying not to let my heart get caught up in the process. It might already be too late, though. Just thinking about what happens to us when the others return makes my chest tighten painfully.
I finish my tea and set the cup down, watching him as he polishes off the noodles. Now that my stomach is empty of everything but tea, it feels a little better. Maybe it was a bad batch of food. Who knows. "So what's the plan for today?" I ask brightly. "More work on the ship's controls?"
Adiron makes a face. "Might as well. I won't be satisfied if I don't give it everything I have, you know?"
I understand. Ever since we locked ourselves down into this small portion of the ship, things have been quiet. The power flickered once more, but Adiron changed out a few more wires and we've been cruising ever since. He's been going up to the bridge occasionally, suiting up to protect himself from the intense cold and lack of air, and heading over to the bridge to search for parts. The tricky thing is that he doesn't want to destroy the ship's actual control system in case Straik returns and we need to pilot the Star out of here. So Adiron's been tinkering with things, but I'm pretty sure it's a futile effort. He wants to try, though, and I can't blame him. It beats drifting without even making a single attempt to save ourselves.
He gets up to check the control panel on the wall. It was initially just supposed to be a communication port between rooms in the ship, but Adiron's rigged it to feed into the ship's status updates so we can at least know what's going on without venturing out to the bridge constantly. I get up with him, and when he gets to the panel and taps a few buttons, I rest my cheek on his arm, watching. This is another part of our routine, as comfortable as it is uneventful.
"Messages?" I ask, just because it never hurts to check again.
Adiron taps a button. "Nothing." He leans over and plants a kiss atop my head. "Remember, don't panic. It just means they're not in range yet."
"I'm not panicking." I slide my arm around his waist. He's explained to me a half-dozen times that they have to get to the Little Sister, refuel and then make their way back. "And the ice field?"
"Still a month out from drifting to the danger zone. We'll handle things before we get there, I promise." He rubs my back, comforting me. "I won't let you freeze."
"I know." I believe him, too. If anyone can figure something out between now and then, it's my big, determined Adiron.
He pushes away from the panel, sits down on a nearby seat, and draws me in for another kiss—this one on the mouth. He rubs his nose against mine in a playful manner. "Okay with you if I work on my project in here? I can wheel the cart in and spread out on this table. I need the space."
His “work” always makes a mess, but it's fine. I don't mind cleaning up after him—it gives me something to do instead of just stare at the ceiling. "Go ahead, babe."
Adiron grins at me. "You're welcome to lend a hand, you know."
I snort. "We both know where you want my hands, and it's not anywhere near your tools."
He draws me in closer, his gaze locked on my breasts. "I mean, I like to think of my cock as a tool—"
Something electronic chirps.
We both freeze, staring at each other. "Is that…" I ask.
"A ship," Adiron says. "Just came on the radar." His face lights up in the biggest grin and he tugs me into his lap and puts his hands all over me. "I told you my brothers were on their way."
59
ADIRON
I'm wrong. The moment I set Jade down and triumphantly hit the comm buttons, I know it's not my brothers. The “communication” that the Buoyant Star receives (if you can call it a communication) is nothing more than a ping sent to see if the ship receives it. That wouldn't be my brothers. They know we're here.