man mentioned the tears, and they wouldn’t, not if they wanted to live anyway.
She smiled, turning around and waving Zero over. “Zero, this is Eric. Eric… Zero.”
She held her breath as she watched the two men face each other. They weren’t squaring off, not exactly. If they did and it got physical, her brother didn’t stand a chance. Not against Zero. Hell, she wasn’t sure he’d stand a chance even if he wore her suit. There was a lot more to being the kind of soldier they were than brute strength and armor.
For a moment, she didn’t think either of them were going to move. Then Eric stepped forward, his hand outstretched.
“Welcome to the family, Zero,” he said with a smile as the bigger man stepped forward to shake his hand. Even in the blood-splattered remains of his lab coat, and having obviously been worked over, he still had enough pride to match Zero look for look.
“Although, I have to give the mandatory warning, even though it’s more than obvious you can beat me to a pulp… hurt my sister and I will find a way to end you.” He grinned suddenly. “That’s if she doesn’t get to you first.”
Eris coughed, somehow managing to cover the strangled choking sound that had escaped her at Eric’s threat.
“Perfectly acceptable,” Zero grinned. “Although, to be honest, can I put in a request for you to get to me first? I think I might sustain less damage than if she gets to me.”
Eric chuckled. “Yeah, I think you might be right.” Then his expression sobered. “So, what happens now?”
Zero let go of his hand, his eyes unfocused for a second.
“Uplink,” she mouthed to Eric, who looked fascinated. “He’s checking what’s going on.”
“Exactly,” Zero replied and his voice had that richness and awareness that told her he was fully with them. “Boss has called a debriefing later. So that gives us time to get you settled and cleaned up a little. If you’d like to follow us…”
“You know,” Zero murmured to Eris half an hour later as they left Eric settling into his new quarters. “I think he’ll grow on me.”
She smiled over her shoulder at him as they headed down the corridor toward their quarters, and the beauty of it hit him like a blaster array. He paused, his heart stuttering in his chest so violently he was forced to direct a query at his onboard for a status report. It came back all clear almost before he’d finished the thought but already he wasn’t listening to it.
All that mattered was her… Eris… his Eris.
He hadn’t missed her words to her brother. She’d said they were together. That they were a couple. No hesitation or prevarication. No looking at him for confirmation. She’d just owned it… and it eased something deep down in his heart.
“Look at me like that again,” he murmured, “and we won’t reach our room.”
Startled, she looked at him again and then her eyes darkened, twinkling with mischief as she stuck out her tongue. The irreverent little display hit him in the center of his chest and he mock-growled, unable to hide his grin at the same time.
Two steps later and he caught her up, turning her in the same move and pinning her up against the wall. He kissed her urgently, bodies pressed tightly as he used his bulk to hold her in place. Parting her lips with a hard sweep of his tongue, he ravaged her mouth, taking what he wanted.
What they both wanted.
She whimpered, a soft moan of desire as she wrapped herself around him. He hardly needed to urge her to wrap her legs around him, sliding a big hand down her thigh to cup her ass.
With a real growl this time, he ground himself against her. She was so tiny and delicate, but so strong at the same time. She was his equal in every way, and he couldn’t believe he’d found her.
That she was all his…
Breaking from her lips with a desperate gasp, he kissed along her neck. Hard, biting kisses that made her gasp and grind against him.
“Oh… for fuck’s sake, you two. Get a damn room!”
They both jumped at Skinny’s voice behind them, Zero automatically covering Eris with his body. She giggled, hiding her face against the side of his neck and his heart felt light at the soft, carefree sound.
“This place is turning into a fucking loveboat,” Skinny growled and stomped off, shouting over his shoulder. “At least keep your godsdamn clothes