pressed herself against him and desperation came through in her touch. She’d guessed what he refused to say.
That he might not make it back.
Chapter 9
Thea watched as Gaje attached clips to his spacesuit and strode back to the hatch.
He stood still, his back facing her, and his spine stiffened with resolve. “I will exit the craft from the outer hall,” he said. “Do not open the hatch or follow or…”
“I could be sucked into outer space.” She swiped the useless tears from her eyes; they wouldn’t bring him back any faster. “I’ll wait here. I won’t touch a damn thing. And…”
“And…?”
She scrubbed her face with her palms then strode up and wrapped her arms around him from behind. Her forehead dropped onto his back. “Be safe out there.”
“I will.”
“Come back to me.”
“I will.”
“Because…” She sniffed. “I know this is fast and all, and it hasn’t been long since we met but, okay, I’ll say it because…” She gulped back the tears welling in her eyes all over again. Despite her will to drive them away, they persisted. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”
His chest deflated, and he turned.
She couldn’t touch him through the silver spacesuit, but she could see his face through the glass panel in the helmet. Reaching up, she traced her fingertip across the material closest to his features.
Could she memorize this moment just in case…?
No. Do not think that.
She pressed for a smile and came from her heart. “I’ll be waiting.”
He lifted a gloved hand and trailed the back of his knuckles across her cheek. With a curt nod, he turned and opened the hatch. It banged closed behind him and the circular metal knob spun.
Without a window, she couldn’t watch through the hatch. She scurried to the front of the ship, hoping she’d see him working outside. As long as she kept him in sight, he’d be safe, right? He’d come back to her. Because the thought of going on without him ripped her apart.
Slumping down into her chair, she tucked her legs up beneath her butt and waited.
Time ticked by, the long seconds broken only by creaks and groans from outside. The sounds had to be the ship settling into its new home or loosening from whatever held them pinned in place. She wouldn’t let herself believe the cries came from Gaje.
To think she’d only met him a short time ago. The heart recognizes the missing piece of itself. This was something her dad told her once before he died in a car crash. He’d taken that piece of his heart with him when he passed on, and her mom had been a shadow of herself ever since.
Would Thea become another shadow?
Steady bangs were followed by the ship tipping to the right. The frame shuddered and screamed.
Then silence.
She sat in the chair while the echo of nothing wrapped around her, chilled her, and dragged her into despair.
She counted to one hundred. Again. A thousand.
Still…nothing.
Her heart split down the middle.
Rising, she staggered into the hall. She’d find his bed. If she was lucky, the sheets still held his scent. She could wrap herself up in everything Gaje and pretend he was still alive.
He was still safe. He was still coming back to her. Everything would be okay.
Her hand reached to open the door.
A creak and the hatch wheel turned.
She dropped to her knees as the door opened and a seven-foot tall silver spaceman strode into view.
After shoving the hatch close with his hip, he wrenched the helmet off his head.
She rose on shaky feet and finding her strength, rushed over and jumped into his arms. They wrapped securely around her as he captured her mouth. Kissing her, he spun her around until she tugged away and tipped her head back. Her laughter rippled around them, followed by his own.
He bared his fangs. “I do believe I have fulfilled all the courtship rules.”
Her heart went pitter-patter. “You’ve more than sacrificed yourself for my honor and no longer need to rescue a cat from a tree.”
“I will engage the ship’s autopilot and then…”
She slid down his body until her toes touched the cool metal plating that made up the floor. “And then…?”
“I will introduce you to the next level.”
She couldn’t contain her grin. “Make it level three or four and it’s a deal.”
“How about seven?”
Her finger tapped her chin. “Now that you mention it, I’m actually holding out for level ten.”
He took both her hands and stared down at her solemnly. “Courtship. Marriage—”
“I haven’t said yes.”
His