She gasped, struggling to get out from underneath him. “Nate, get off of me. You’re on fire.”
He rolled off of her, standing up, but not with the speed she expected. Why wasn’t he concerned? She grabbed the blanket from the bed, wrapping it around him. Smother the flames. That’s what she’d learned during emergency training aboard Star Spirit. But the sheet charred into ash without any effect on him.
What on Earth? She stared in confusion as the flames danced across his skin. Yet, he didn’t seem to be in any pain. Instead, he frowned, his eyes wet and dull.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen.” He diverted his gaze as the blaze died down. “You weren’t supposed to see this.”
“See what? You catching fire as we had sex?” Her heart raced. Had her mind played a trick on her? The flames had disappeared completely, leaving no red welts or a mark of any kind on Nate’s skin to indicate any burns. But at his feet, the blanket lay in ashes. She glanced at her body. She’d felt the heat, too, assuming it all part of another intense orgasm.
Nothing. No read blotches. No blisters. Only a light sweat across her skin.
Nate wrung his hands. Never, in all of their time together, had she ever seen him so downcast.
“I…I told you I’m part Claustrian.”
She nodded, anxious for further explanation. She’d never seen, nor heard of a person catching fire and coming out unscathed.
“Well, I don’t have the full power of my ancestors, but….” His cheeks flushed. “I ignite every time I orgasm.”
Every time? Releasing a heavy breath, she covered her mouth to hide her grin. Sure, she’d had her own explosive release, but she hadn’t expected Nate to combust.
He spun away from her, rushing to the other side of the room, gathering his clothes.
Shit! Had she offended him? “Um, Nate? What are you doing?”
“Getting ready to leave. The date’s over.”
“No.” Her knees buckled. She fell to the floor. He was leaving her again.
He spun around, rushing to her side. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head. How could she be okay when she was about to lose the only man who’d made her happy? Her body quaked. Just when she thought she had everything—at least for one night—he decided to leave early.
“I’m so sorry. I tried to resist, to think of something else, but I couldn’t help myself. It felt so good to be inside you again.”
With his last whispered words, she reached out to him, trying to think of a way to convince him to stay. “It was good for me, too. Better than good. Amazing.”
“And then I had to ruin it.”
“But you didn’t.” Strength back, she lifted his chin so she could gaze into his eyes. “You didn’t. Sure, it surprised me a bit, seeing you on fire, but you’re okay. That’s what worried me. And Nate? I want you to stay. I don’t want you to leave.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You don’t?”
“No.” She smiled as relief flooded the features of his face. “But I want to know why neither of us burned while the sheet did.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. There’s no one around to ask anymore. I assume you didn’t because of our connection, our joining.”
“But why didn’t you react like this when we were together on Earth?” She gasped, covering her mouth as a new thought flashed through her mind. “Is that why the military forced you to leave?” If such was the case, he had to have slept with someone else at the same time as her.
“No.” He brushed his thumb along her lips. “No, Ava, don’t think like that. I never slept with anyone else back then but you. This fire, it didn’t start until two star cycles after I left Earth. Again, I don’t know why. I guess I still hadn’t come into my powers.”
He kissed her forehead then climbed onto the bed. “Now, the one drawback to this power is that it drains my energy. I’m dead to the world for hours afterward. Come join me, please, because in a matter of minutes, I’m going to crash.”
She crawled onto the bed, curling up in his arms, wanting to spend every last second with him before their date ended. “Will we see each other again?”
He stroked the side of her face. “I want more than to see you again, Ava. I want you to stay with me. Ride through the universe by my side.”
“I don’t know if I can.” She had so many things to consider, especially her parents. Who would take care of them?
He pressed his lips to hers in a sweet, gentle kiss. “Promise me you’ll at least think about it. I don’t want to be away from you again.”
She didn’t want to leave him either, but she’d never gotten everything she wanted. The position aboard Star Spirit had come along only by chance. And somehow Madame Eve had worked her magic to find Ava’s long lost love. But would her luck run out if she remained with Nate? Would she ever be able to return to Earth?
“Yes, I’ll think about it,” she said. But his sleepy breaths tickled her neck. He’d already dozed off.
Ava lay beside him, satisfied and tired, yet unable to close her eyes. In the next couple of hours, she had to give something up.
***
Nate groaned, brushing hair from his face as he returned to consciousness. With little time left before Ava returned to the mother traveler, he had to find a way to convince her to come along with him. Or maybe he could allow her sleep, let her miss getting back to Star Spirit. She would have no other choice but to stay with him. He leaned over to curl up with her, but found the other side of the bed empty. He whipped his eyes open, bolting out of bed. Glancing around the room, he prayed Ava hadn’t already left, that he’d find her somewhere in the suite. Yet, his gut told him otherwise.
He rushed from room to room, examining every closet, every corner. His heart ripped apart as he found each one empty. Ava had left him without saying goodbye. The same as he’d done to her all those star cycles ago.
He pounded his fist against the minnica wall. He’d had no choice. She did. She could have waited until he woke before she tore his heart from his chest and stomped all over it.
He sighed. Maybe it was easier this way. He didn’t have to watch her walk away from him. Besides, had he really expected her to give up her job and the chance to return to Earth, to her family?
No, he’d wished for too much. He ran his hand over his face. At least he’d had one night of wonderful memories and the most fulfilling sex with Ava, without the painful goodbye.
Yet, without closure, he would pine for her as he had before their one-night stand. Gods, why did he have to be part Claustrian? Why did the universe hate him so much? He yearned to yank out that part of his DNA.
But what could he do? He had to face the inevitable. Except for his best friend, he’d never have anyone he could count on. One day, Wyn would leave him, too.
***
Ava rushed into the communications booth, tears streaming down her cheeks. She’d made the hardest decision of her life. And now she had to tell her parents. She wiped her tears with a tissue then blew her nose. No need to make them think she regretted the choice she’d made. With a deep breath, she punched in their address then waited for the satellites to connect, for her parents to appear onscreen.
Her mother came on first, chewing her bottom lip. She wouldn’t look into the camera. Oh gods, had something happened to her father? She never should have left Earth in the first place.
“Mom? What’s wrong?”
She wrung her hands together then glanced up at Ava’s father.
Phew! He was okay, but stared at her with the same nervous apprehension.
“Ava, it’s good to see you,” her father said. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good.” She managed a faint smile. No way would she tell them about her decision until she found out why they appeared so distraught. She could always change her mind. Nothing was final yet.
“Honey,” her mother said. “I know we should have waited until you returned, but we’re moving.”
“What
? Why?” She couldn’t leave Star Spirit now. They’d need her income even more with rent rates always on the rise.
“I hope you understand, Ava,” her father continued. “But we don’t want to be a burden on you anymore. We’ve found co-op housing for just the two of us. Your Aunt Ruth said you could stay with her when you’re not traveling.”
“We’re sorry, Ava,” her mother interjected. “We couldn’t pass up this opportunity. We want you to come visit us, though.”
She took a deep breath. Their news made her decision a little easier, but it still hurt they hadn’t included her in the decision, hadn’t even mentioned they were considering moving the last time she’d talked to them. “I have something to tell you, too. I’m resigning from Star Spirit.”
She cringed at their collective gasp.
Her mother leaned closer to the camera. “But what will you do? Where will you stay? Are you at least coming home first?”
She turned away then glanced back at them. No time to chicken out now. “I’ve met someone.”
“Are you sure that’s such a good idea? Throwing everything away for a guy?”
Her father’s glare left her on edge, but she was an adult, and they didn’t need her anymore.
“Daddy, I know him from Earth. I’ll be sure to keep in contact wherever we go.”
“You mean you’re not staying on Elatia?” Her mother’s eyes grew wide.
“No, we’ll be on his ship. Listen, I have to go. I have a lot to do.” She hated for their conversation to end so soon, but she had to get back to the hotel before Nate woke up.
Her parents sat back. “Okay. Be sure to stay in touch, though.”
She nodded. “I will. I love you.”
After their goodbyes, she cut the connection, rushing to the elevators to get to her room. Once she’d tossed all of her belongings into her bag, she ran to the door. She gave the space one last glance. Michelle. Shit, what would she tell her?
Without time to wait around for her best friend to return, she left the room aboard Star Spirit for the last time. She’d email Michelle before leaving the planet. If anyone would understand her need to be with Nate, her friend would.
As the elevator zipped around and then up to the main level, Ava penned her letter of resignation.
***
Nate fumbled out of his hotel room, down to the lobby. Never had he been as unsure of his future as now. Before falling asleep, he’d believed he would see Ava again, arrange another night together if he couldn’t convince her to travel with him. But his dreams had slipped away in the middle of the night.
He skulked past Kalara and her husband, engaged in a deep lip lock. Rolling his eyes, he groaned. How did they stay together in a profession such as theirs? He couldn’t even keep the one woman who’d managed to capture his heart.
Cursing the universe, he shoved his way out the door, into the crowded streets of Havmiola. Dammit! He didn’t want to see anyone right now, let alone the spirited, sexually charged habitants and visitors of Elatia.
He searched for a way out, a side street, some means to get back to his ship without having to deal with all of the happy people. Gods, why is life so cruel?
An alley to his right provided the perfect escape. He shuffled back to the spaceport, his ship resting among the other vessels. Finally. With a heavy sigh, he punched in the security code to open the door.
As he glanced inside, the cruel gods reached into his chest, yanking out his heart. Wyn sat in the captain’s chair, making out with the voluptuous woman on his lap. While she looked nothing like Ava, her facial shape and the color of her skin indicated her Terran ancestry. Around the same age, too.
Wyn pulled away from the woman, glancing in his direction. “Hey, Nate.” He stood up with his new love interest, draping his arm around her shoulders. “This is Michelle. She’s, um… traveling with us for a bit.”
Great. A passenger to remind him of what he’d lost, or to take Wyn away from him for good. He nodded, trying not to be too much of an ass, but he couldn’t muster a more enthusiastic greeting.
Wyn frowned. “What happened with your date last night? Did she kick you out like all the others?”
Trying to loosen the tight grip on his chest, Nate inhaled. He didn’t want to talk about it, but his best friend would press him until he spit out something. If he wasn’t too busy with his new girlfriend. “Ava, I mean…. My date went well, but she left without saying goodbye while I slept.”
“Wait a minute.” Michelle stepped forward, away from Wyn. “Did you say Ava?” She grinned, her eyes growing wide. “You were Ava’s date? She’s my best friend.”
He cringed. Even better. He would be sure to spend any free time locked in his cubby. He didn’t need to see them groping each other all the time.
Michelle shoved him in the shoulder. “Why’d you let her get away? She had so many expectations for your date. So did I. Not only did she need to get laid, but she wanted something more, a future with someone she could connect with.”
And he had offered, but she’d walked away. “I didn’t exactly have a choice. She left me.”
The woman leaned toward him. “And you say the date went well?”
“Yes, better than well.” Hence why it hurt so much to find her gone. He sighed, overcome by the memory of holding her in his arms as he fell asleep. “I don’t get why she wasn’t there when I woke up.”
“That does it then.” She linked her arm in his. “We have to go get her. Ava needs a kick in the ass. She needs to live a little.”
Get her? A glimmer of hope spread through him. Would he have another chance with Ava?
***
“The captain’s going to stop coming to Elatia if we keep losing employees. You’re the second person in my department to resign today.”
The housekeeping manager’s words repeated in her head. She felt no guilt from her decision, but who else from Star Spirit had quit? Walking down the ramp for the last time, she recited the names of the employees she knew, trying to figure out who it could be.
“Ava!”
She glanced up as multiple voices screamed her name. At the end of the ramp stood Nate, some guy she didn’t know, and Michelle. She should be on Star Spirit. Was she the other employee who had resigned? And why wasn’t Nate still sleeping in the hotel room where she’d left him? “What are you all doing here?”
Nate glanced up at her, gripping the bottom of the hand rail. “We came for you. Hoped you’d join us.”
Ava smiled. If she had these three as company, she would enjoy traveling through space. It would be the chance to get away she’d always dreamed of. Because even on Star Spirit, she still felt the chain to her parents. Now, they’d set her free.
Her best friend rushed up to meet her. “Ava, you have to come with us. I know you have your parents to think about, but you need to be happy, too.”
She met Michelle with a hug. “I know. I already quit.” The decision had lifted so much weight off her shoulders. Leaning closer, she whispered, “What happened to the twins?”
With a laugh, Michelle turned toward the guys at the bottom of the ramp. “I found someone better. A sure thing.” She grabbed Ava’s hand, walking down beside her.
Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest as she approached Nate. After all this time, they finally had a chance to be together.
“You quit?” He raised his eyebrows, a grin threatening to appear on his lips.
She nodded, joy bubbling through her entire body. For once, she’d done something she wanted to, not because she felt obligated. And everything had worked out. “I’m all yours.”
Wrapping his arms around her, he spun her in circles. “I love you, Ava. Gods, I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She gripped him tight, never wanting to be apart from him again.
When he stopped, he set her down facing the other two. “You already know Michelle, but Ava, this is my best friend, Wyn. Looks like the four of us are going to be living together.”
Wyn reached out and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Maybe now, this fucker will decide to settle down.”
Nate squeezed her ass, making her jump. “The only place I’m going to be settling any time soon is in my cubby and in Ava.”
“Not if I get to the ship first,” Wyn called, racing off with Michelle.
Ava laughed, taking off with Nate. They easily caught up to the other couple due to Michelle’s high-heeled boots. She and Nate reached the star cruiser first. Once inside, she found herself in a tiny room with a bunk and some built-in drawers. Smaller than her accommodations on Star Spirit, but worth it to be with Nate.
“Looks like Wyn has the first shift.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “And I get you.”
She wouldn’t argue. Without much room to move, she lay on the bunk, pulling him on top of her. “Thank the gods Madame Eve brought us back together. Now, take me, Nate. Make love to me.”
“With pleasure.” He claimed her mouth, slipping his hands underneath her clothes.
She moaned, pressing against him, anxious to experience the explosive orgasms he would elicit from her as they ventured through space.
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.
When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.
Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers.
You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter@jsubject
~Also by Jessica E. Subject~
Accidental Romance
Leanne Declan plans to take over the family farm, but an accident threatens to change her life forever. Unable to do even everyday chores, she must depend on her family and friends until she can find her feet and perhaps a love strong enough to help her dreams come true.
Another Night, Another Planet (1Night Stand Series) Page 4
