“Yes,” she whispered. Her heart beat double time. “Now, fold in this direction and tip it here, then pinch the end and you’ll be done.”
He struggled with the last part and before she could stop herself, she placed her hand over his, squeezing the delicate frond between their combined fingers. A slow gasp escaped her lips.
“This is more complicated than I imagined.” His voice was low, sensual.
She wasn’t sure if he meant the leaf folding or their situation. At this point, she couldn’t stop her gaze as it rose to meet his. Beautiful pools of brown, she lost herself, falling into their depths. She trailed her finger over the raised edges of the marking under his eye, her fingertips tingling at the sensation. “Tell me about this.”
The muscles in his shoulders and arms tensed, but he didn’t move. He held her gaze, his features deadpan except for the slight furrow in his brow. “My marking is the number thirteen. It was tattooed onto my skin the day I was born in the clone farm. There were twelve before me. As replicas, we are emotionless and identical in every way.”
A sudden coldness hit her in the gut. “That’s not possible. Everyone feels. Everyone is unique.”
He stood, the sudden movement knocking his creation and the stool to the floor. The crash echoed off the ceiling. With his back to her, the muscles in his shoulders bunched.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Her leaf fell from her fingertips as she approached. The desire to comfort him raced through her veins. She couldn’t restrain herself any longer and ran her hand over his shoulder until her fingers rested against his chest, right over his heart. Placing her cheek against his broad back, she whispered, “There’s plenty of emotion in you. I feel it here.”
He turned to face her, his intense gaze flitting back and forth, studying her. As he raised his hand, an involuntary flinch wracked her body. Before she could react, he trailed a finger over her forehead and placed a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. The gentleness in his touch sparked the fire between them, and her lips tingled. Something stirred deep inside, building on the foundation of trust.
A brazenness she wasn’t aware she had rose to the front of her mind, and she spoke the words before she lost her nerve. “Let your emotions loose, Angelo. Show me the passion inside you.”
A spark lit up his eyes, burning its way deep inside her, scarring her in its intensity. He placed one hand at the back of her neck and cradled her head. The other, he wrapped around her waist. With a quick tug, he pulled her against him. The firm muscles in his chest and abdomen sent a thrill to her core, and a rush of wetness dampened her panties.
He lowered his head, and his minty breath caressed her cheeks. A short, quick gasp escaped her mouth, and she licked her bottom lip. His gaze riveted there, and she ached for him to kiss her.
He obliged, his soft lips teasing her with a gentle caress. A moan escaped him, and he deepened the kiss, devouring her, pouring all his emotions into their connection. She melted under his onslaught, blissfully aware of this tall, strong male holding her so tenderly in his arms. Never in her life had she felt so wanted, so needed, so cherished.
His tongue slid across the tender juncture between her lips. A new round of desire surged through her, and she leaned into him. Beneath the soft material of his scrubs, the hard planes of his chest were like steel. She longed for more, of what, she wasn’t sure, but she didn’t want him to ever let her go.
When at last he released her, their panting breaths echoed in the still chamber.
He brought his gaze to hers. “Elle, you called me Angelo. No one has ever called me that before.”
Still recovering from their passionate kiss, her heart pounded loud in her ears. “I thought that was your name.”
He kissed her forehead, the soft touch so tender, so caring. “My name is Angelo Thirteen.”
“You are Angelo to me.” Never again would she call him Angelo Thirteen.
A half-smile tugged at his lips, but the creases around his eyes betrayed his sadness. “On Earth, emotions are forbidden. No one is an individual. We are raised without parents, taught to conform. Any overt display of emotions is punishable by…”
A loud exhale escaped his lips, and he released her from his embrace. Coldness ran over her skin in his wake, raising goosebumps everywhere he’d touched. She missed him already.
Unable to stop herself, she ran her hand down his thick, muscular arm. “Please, continue.”
“I was on my way to Iridis to start a new life as the base mechanic. The planet offered me a chance to leave Earth, find someplace I could live without fear of…” he looked at her, and the conviction in his eyes made her still, “…reprogramming, losing my identity, being alone.”
A heavy lump formed in her gut, and she couldn’t stop the question as it fell from her lips. “How many times were you reprogrammed?”
He shrugged. “There’s no way to know.”
Realization hit her square between the eyes. He’d left Earth to escape. She’d planned to send him back. Her stomach churned, sending acid into her mouth. She swallowed the bitter pill.
A slight crackle filled the air—the com-link.
“Elle, we’re at the rendezvous point. Malachi has pinged me three times. I need you on the bridge.” The tension in Montoya’s voice was unmistakable.
Angelo studied her for a moment, his intense scrutiny burning into her soul. “You should go.”
She gripped his arm. “Come with me.”
CHAPTER 8
Elle stepped onto the bridge, her attention focusing on her second in command. Montoya studied her vid-screen, her stiff shoulders displaying her unease. Standing against the navigation station, Adalyn glanced up, and she pursed her lips. This was the meeting they’d come here for, but none of them looked forward to the exchange. Elle’s chest tightened.
“Captain, Malachi is on the com-link whenever you’re ready.” Montoya’s low and controlled tone was tense.
After Elle left the cultivation unit, Angelo had remained by her side. Even now, his presence was a constant reminder of their time together. A soothing warmth filled her chest.
He rubbed his fingers down her arm, the gesture tender and supportive. “Elle, what can I do?”
His offer to help meant more to her than she could say. As much as she wanted to soak up his calming influence, she needed to complete this deal. Toman’s well-being depended on it. She shook her head and gave him a quick smile. “Thank you for your offer, but I have to do this on my own.”
His eyes darted back and forth as he assessed her. With a quick nod, he stepped aside and leaned against the bridge’s hatch. “I’m here if you need me.”
An unexpected lightness filled the empty spot in her chest, but there wasn’t time to dwell on it. She placed her hand on the back of her captain’s chair, her fingers digging into the synthetic material. She glanced at Adalyn. “Display on holo.”
The hologram lit up, the giant orb coming to life before her eyes. In the center, a single Sandowin appeared—Malachi. His green eyes penetrated from beneath his shroud’s hood. The tip of his pointy nose was the only bit of visible skin. He leaned forward and raised a bony finger. The appendage reminded Elle of a twig. Disgust twisted her stomach.