you is fierce, bright one. I told you before that I’ve been thinking about you nonstop since our first meeting, but I don’t believe you quite understand the depth of my devotion.”
“Tell me,” she whispered. She needed to hear that whatever it was that was between them wasn’t one-sided. She knew it was fast and crazy but didn’t care. “Please.”
Axis ran his thumb across her bottom lip but stayed silent, despite the plea.
“I’ve dreamed of you too,” she blurted, thinking maybe if she said it first, he’d follow suit and put her out of her misery. Her past was littered with so many instances of her being unwanted that she needed to hear that he felt the same hunger. “Each time they punished me, I thought of you to take me away from the pain.”
Her confession finished as a whisper against his chest. He’d squeezed her tight, practically plastering himself against her, making it a little hard for her to breathe. In a split second, Nova relaxed into his embrace.
“When you say things like that…” he paused to clear his throat. “I worry my need will scare you.” Her new husband mumbled the words against the top of her head, surprising her with the vulnerability she could hear behind them. “I’ve tried to slow it down, to temper it so it doesn’t overwhelm you, but the only thing I can think about is claiming you.”
“Claiming?” Nova was pretty sure she knew what he meant but wanted to make sure they were on the same page.
“Sex.”
“Sex,” she parroted back with a nod. Yep. Totally on the same page.
“Now is not the time,” he finished with a deep sigh, loosening his grip. He ran his palms up and down her arms to keep her steady as he separated them slightly. “We need to put all our focus into searching the landing field. I don’t want to chance missing any clue to the others.”
“Same.” Nova gave him a nod accompanied by what she knew was the biggest pout in the world. “After we find Talis and Cruum though…” She gestured to the space between their bodies. “We’re having a come-to-Jesus meeting. Understood?”
“Not really,” Axis drawled with a smile and shake of his head that had her wishing she could say “fuck it” and start their honeymoon sooner rather than later, “but I think I understand the overall message.”
“Good,” she said with a clap of her hands. “Let’s get this over with so we can get to the good stuff, okay?”
“I like this plan.” Without another word, Axis grabbed her hand and pulled her back onto the path in the direction they’d been heading. His stride was longer than hers, which left her half a pace behind him, but she didn’t mind. The slight lag gave her a chance to appreciate his ass.
“Eye on the ball, Nova. Eye on the ball. Not on his ass.”
“Did you say something, bright one?” Axis asked, dropping back until they were side by side on the path.
Nova bit her lip to stop from repeating it. It was the truth, after all. Her Phaeton was packing some serious grade-A baseball player bubble butt that she wanted to sink her teeth into—literally. Instead, she went with a safer alternative. “I was thinking we could take turns asking each other questions as we walk.”
“I like that idea,” Axis agreed, watching her out of the corner of his eye. “That might work at keeping your gaze off my ass.”
“Wha—” Nova squawked, her mouth falling open in an embarrassed laugh when she realized she’d been caught. She used her free hand to smack him on the arm as she giggled at his teasing. “Jerk!” At some point, they’d stopped walking again, lost in their own little world on the deserted path in the middle of nowhere.
“I love that smile, Nova.” Axis brushed his thumb against the corner of her upturned lips before dropping a peck there. “It will be my lifelong mission to make sure that it graces your lovely lips as frequently as possible.”
Nova had turned her face up to her handsome hubby, more than ready to welcome an even deeper kiss from him when he stepped back once again. “Come,” he said with a tug. “I want to know as much about you as possible, bright one. May I ask the first question?”
“Sure.” She shrugged, her insides heating at his words. “What’s the question?”
“Why did you sign up for the Pact?” Axis looked down at her beside him as they walked.
“Wow,”