The deep sentiment in his voice startled him. He tensed, waiting for their reaction.
Elle’s smile widened, and she inclined her head to him. “Thank you, Angelo Thirteen.”
She didn’t seem to care if he displayed his emotions or not. How very interesting. “Perhaps we should see if it works before you thank me too much.”
She nodded, but a small smirk played on her lips. “Adalyn, plot a course for the inter-dimensional portal. Britnie, charge up the reactors. Montoya, Nuette, hold on.”
“I’m on it.” Britnie crossed the room to a small console embedded in the wall. Her fingers flew over the screens. “Santek, you with me?”
The walls rippled, and a low groan echoed from an unknown source, somewhere deep in the ship. Angelo Thirteen furrowed his brow. “Is the ship alive?”
So involved in her work, Britnie didn’t acknowledge his question.
The reactors lit up, one by one, including the small unit from his pod. His pulse beat loud in his ears. Would his provide enough power?
The engines roared to life.
A cheer rose from the bridge. He glanced at the vid-screen.
Elle’s smile washed over him, plunging him beneath a wave of emotions he couldn’t identify. His chest expanded, and he wanted to explore star systems, conquer worlds, take on the entire universe, do whatever it took to see that smile again, and again, and again. If he wasn’t careful, he’d want to stay with her.
That couldn’t happen.
She’d made it clear he had a one-way ticket.
CHAPTER 7
The scent of the Lipidite plant filtered into Elle’s lungs and she inhaled, the sweet aroma calming her ragged nerves. A handful of small fruit trees lined the cultivation unit, surrounding mounds of tubers, large leafy green vegetables, and an assortment of edible flowers. A low hum emanated from the iridescent lighting built into the synthetic ceiling, the only reminder she was on Paragon.
She’d turned one of the ship’s container compartments into the cultivation unit. The special place was a luxury on her ship, but she needed somewhere to unwind, relax, let the stress of her job melt away.
After the debacle with the failed reactor, they’d lost some precious time, but over the past couple of days, they’d almost covered enough distance to get them back on track, thanks to Angelo Thirteen. Since he’d come on board, they’d spent more time together, getting to know one another. He’d moved into an unused crew chamber and had kept busy learning various aspects of her ship. His gentle nature never faltered. Despite her initial misgivings, he’d grown on her, and she couldn’t help her attraction to him. Even now, heat rose to her cheeks.
“Ugh, Elle, concentrate.” She pinched the bridge of her nose, pulled her favorite stool closer to the Lipidite plant and sat down. The deep green leaves were in stark contrast to her cold, barren world. Only the small, inhabitable strip near the equator had enough warmth to sustain the treasured planet.
With careful deliberation, she pinched the stem at the end of a large leaf and caressed the soft frond. A sense of peace wound into her soul, and her tense shoulders relaxed. This was what she needed.
She laid the leaf on her lap and folded the ends, this way and that, shaping her small creation. When she was done, she held up her handiwork.
“It’s beautiful, Captain. What do you call it?” Angelo Thirteen’s deep voice resonated into her chest.
Warmth spread to places she didn’t want to acknowledge. She stood, a nervous energy pulsing through her veins. “I didn’t hear you come in. How long have you been here?”
He leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. A slow smile tugged at his lips, and she focused on them. They were so tempting, and it was all she could do to pull her gaze to his eyes.
“Long enough to watch you make that squirrel.”
A nervous laugh broke from her lips. “This is an ornithium, a small sub-surface dweller from our planet. The tiny creature comes above ground to retrieve nuts that fall from the trees during the season’s first frost. It is the good luck symbol for our winter celebration—Lintria, representing hope and love, for if this small animal can survive in the harshest of conditions, so can we.”
“I see. When is your next observance?” His calm demeanor called to her, sending a tingle of curiosity and excitement along her nerves.
“In a few days, when our sun is lowest in the horizon in the southern hemisphere. This special day is celebrated by everyone in our culture.” Her throat constricted. Toman was still in jail. If she didn’t return to get him out before the celebration, he’d observe the rite in the mines and never participate in another. She couldn’t think about that.
With a quick swallow, she focused her attention on the sexy man in front of her. “Thank you, again, for replacing the reactor.”
His gaze flicked to her mouth before returning to her eyes. The brown in his irises deepened.
Warmth spread between her thighs, and she bit her lip.
He took a step forward, closing the distance between them. “It was the least I could do, given you saved me from a long, cold, lonely journey through space.”
“Well, then, seems we’ve saved each other.”
The lines around his eyes flinched ever so slightly. “Teach me.”
A ball of confusion rolled in her stomach. “What?”
“Teach me how to make,” he pointed to her piece, “one of those.”
She stifled a small giggle. “You want to learn how to make a Lipidite Ornithium?”
The smile that broke across his face endeared him to her. “Yes, Captain.”
“Please, call me Elle. Captain is so formal.”
He gave her a short nod.
She pointed to the chair in the corner. “Pull up a stool.”
A fluttering sensation started in her stomach, and a sense of happiness welled inside. He was so calm, so different from the other males she knew. She couldn’t help but want to spend time with him.
He dragged the nearest stool close to her, and when he sat, his kneecap brushed against hers. Even through the thin scrubs, her skin tingled at the contact. His unique scent reminded her of a cool rain shower on Alta, and she had the sudden urge to be held in his strong arms so she could drink him in, savor his scent up close and personal. A shiver not born of fear raced down her spine.
She couldn’t look at him, so she busied herself with her task. With a quick pinch, she broke off two more leaves, twice as big as the one she’d used to make her piece. The larger size would be easier to demonstrate the proper technique. She handed him one, and their fingers touched.
Sparks flared like a high-voltage energy current. The force of the cold fusion reactors paled in comparison. Her pulse ticked up.
“I’m ready whenever you are.” He spread the leaf across his thigh.
She swallowed.
“The art of folding leaves is called tamitos. Fold the leaf in half, two times. Like this.” She demonstrated with her own, careful with the delicate frond. With a quick glance, she noted he’d done the same.
“Now, fold the tips here and here. Then flip over the leaf.”
He scooted forward onto the edge of his stool, his legs surrounding her thighs. “Like this?”
Heat chased the tingling sensation all the way to her core. She gasped. As his scent invaded her senses once again, a lump formed in her throat. She struggled to breathe.