was tempting to contact Big again, but he resisted. He’d gotten lucky the last time. His fellow clone had been too shocked to hear from him to really dig for answers about what exactly had happened to him, and who he was bringing home with him.
He had a feeling Big wouldn’t be pleased about Hailey. It wasn’t because she was a human. Big wouldn’t like her visiting the base, only to be returned to her colony at some point. It risked them all if she guessed the secret location and told someone. Their only home would be blown to hell if the authorities heard about free clones.
A slight ache began in his chest, thinking about giving Hailey up. Everything had changed the day before, when she’d asked him to kiss her and he’d carried her to bed.
They’d made love, rested, and then he’d tugged her into the shower. He found her shyness very appealing and sexy. She’d blushed when he’d crouched down to soap her body, wanting to touch every inch of her. He’d wanted to make love to her again but she had admitted to a bit of soreness.
It had been her first time, and she wasn’t a clone. They healed faster. He’d prepared dinner for her but he’d stopped to kiss her often. She was addictive. They both seemed to enjoy spending time together.
She’d allowed him to sleep with her, as well. To feel her cuddled in his arms, her head resting on his chest, had been even more addictive. Hailey felt so right, snuggled against him. He hadn’t drifted asleep quickly, like she had. Instead, he’d just enjoyed the contentment of having her close.
He didn’t want to let her go.
“I’m fucked,” he sighed.
She’d mentioned how she didn’t expect him to marry her, but he wished he could become her husband. He’d share vows with her in a heartbeat. There wasn’t anything he’d enjoy more.
But Hailey would never agree to stay with him. Everything she’d said assured him that her parents meant too much for her to give them up. And it would be suicide for him to attempt to live on her colony. The port authorities would kill him the second they realized what he was. Which would be when they ordered him to place one of his hands on a scanner as he stepped off a shuttle. He hadn’t been imprinted with data chips under the skin the way humans were.
It was a hell of a problem.
“So fucked.” He punched part of the console with his fist.
“What’s wrong? More pirates going to attack us? What are long-range sensors telling you?”
He twisted his head, staring at the focus of his thoughts. Hailey visually scanned the windows at the front of the cockpit. He spotted a flash of fear and stood, opening his arms. He just wanted to touch her. Hold her. He pulled her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her.
“Everything is fine. I’m sorry if I scared you. I was thinking about something else.”
She hugged him around his waist. “A cookie for your thoughts.”
He smiled and stared down at her, his eyebrows arching. “I’ve never heard that saying before.”
“It’s a Prospect thing.” She grinned. “Sweets are what we bargain with to get family and friends to tell us something we want to know, or to do us a favor. I don’t think we actually have cookies in the kitchen. I haven’t seen any, but I could hydrate a pie. I’m trying to bribe you into telling me what upset you. You punched the controls and cursed.”
He debated over being completely honest or not.
“You can tell me anything.”
“I don’t think you want the truth…”
That he was falling in love with her. Hell, maybe he already had. It wasn’t just the sex. Hailey was sweet, kind, and he liked everything about her.
She frowned. “We’re partners, remember? In this together. Is something wrong with the ship? Did an alert go out to the authorities about the Morgan? What is it?”
Guilt surfaced. “It’s none of those things. We’re safe, and I’m certain we’ve lost the pirates. I’m avoiding all the common flight lanes to reach where we’re going, and it’s remote. I feel secure right now that we’ll make it there without running into more trouble.”
“Then what is it?”
He released her, backing up before pulling her onto his lap as he took a seat again. She settled on him to get comfortable. He liked that she didn’t protest. “I promised to return you to your parents.”
Emotion he couldn’t read