23. Sylas

TWENTY-THREE

Fuck,she was incredible. I couldn't stop replaying the moments from the past twenty-four hours in my mind. Her look of surprise when I praised her. Clearly, I needed to stop underestimating Aurelia Callisto, because she was determined to blow my mind in every way possible. Why had I ever doubted her place in my crew? She was exactly what I needed. Her smiles and her laughter filled a void in my being that I hadn't even known existed before.

The shuttle door opened, and I reached for her arm, to pull her back and tell her—what? That she was perfect, and I was a fool? That I wanted more? I couldn't have those things, and I knew it.

I shook my head, letting her walk back onto the ship, into the arms of the other officers who'd become her friends.

"Welcome back, Captain," Leo said, clasping an arm on my shoulder and squeezing.

My sister stood at his side after a moment, and there was a worried expression on her face. Before I could reassure her I was fine—really—she threw her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug that we hadn't shared in years. "You worried the shit out of me, Sy. Don't do that again."

"I won't," I promised. But looking over at Aurelia, at the warmth in her face as she embraced the other girls, I knew I would take it back in an instant if something happened to her. "I'm sorry."

"When we couldn't reach you, I just?—"

"Did exactly what you needed to do. And we're back in one piece."

She dipped her head in a nod, letting out an exhale. "Right."

Leo and Kayle shared a look. I wondered if something had passed between them. She'd normally rolled her eyes at him at least once by now. The two had never hated each other, but there'd always been a fire between them. They'd rile each other up like no one ever had.

It was amusing, but I also meant what I'd told him before. If he fucked around with my sister and broke her heart, there would be hell to pay.

"Captain—" It was Wren, this time, who spoke up. "What happened? We need to know."

"I know," I said, unable to pry my eyes from Aurelia. "We'll give a full debrief soon."

First, I wanted to talk to Aurelia alone.

They stood in a line, faces formed into disapproving lines. I knew they didn't understand what had transpired. I barely understood it myself.

But if they thought that this was just an excuse for us to sneak off alone, they couldn't have been more wrong.

Even if that was exactly what had happened.

Orion cleared his throat. "Three hours, on the bridge?"

I nodded. That time would be helpful. At the very least, we could clean ourselves up. And I could check in on Aurelia, who'd been quiet. "See you then."

Everyone else funneled out, clearly dismissed.

"Aur—Lieutenant Callisto," I called, trying my best to ignore my slip-up over calling her by her name.

"Yes, Captain?" She looked up at me from underneath her lashes, and I stood close enough that if I moved just an inch, we'd be touching. God, how I wanted that. To memorize every curve and sweep of her body. To really know her, intimately, inside and out.

"Good job out there." My throat felt dry. Was this really how we were going to leave things? "You were… exceptional."

The rest of the crew finally vacated the room, leaving just her and I standing in the hangar bay.

"Thank you." She dipped her head, worrying her lower lip into her mouth. I wanted to smooth that furrow between her brows. Longed for our time back on the planet's surface, because there was no chance of prying eyes.

My voice was hardly above a whisper. "What's on your mind, little star?"

"I…" Aurelia smoothed a hand over her uniform, looking up at me. "I don't want to go back to the way things were before. Between us."

"No?"

"No." She shook her head. "Things feel… different now."

I shifted an inch, so the tips of our boots were touching. "Different how, Aurelia?"

Her skin turned that beautiful shade of pink. But she didn't hold back her tongue. "You know how, Captain."

"Brat," I muttered, loving that mouth of hers. Wanting it back on mine. We'd shared one last kiss before the ship came into view, under the setting sun on the rocky surface of that strange planet.

If it was the last one we'd ever have, at least we made it count.

Her hands came up, clutching onto my jumpsuit. "Rae…" My voice was low. A warning. Anyone could walk in. Anyone could catch us.

"I don't want this to end," she murmured, her lips only a breath from mine. "I don't want that to be the only…"

"I don't either," I admitted. And though I thought it would cost me something to admit, it didn't. What had passed between us was too good to limit to one time. If she thought it would get her out of my system, she couldn't have been more wrong.

"Sylas."

Fuck, the way she said my name. It undid me. Brought me to my fucking knees. What I wouldn't give to have her say it every day. To look at me like that.

"Mmm?" I rubbed by nose along her neck, inhaling her scent.

"We can't," she said, her breath low. "The crew?—"

"Who cares?" We were too close together, but I couldn't bring myself to move away. "Fuck them. They don't matter. Only we do."

"But—"

A large metal clang sounded, and we sprung apart.

Aurelia winced as she settled on her ankle.

I scowled at her injury. "You should head to MedBay. Get that checked out."

"I'm fine." She jutted out her chin. "It's not even bothering me, really."

I ground my teeth together. "You're not." Looking around, I scooped her up into my arms. "We're going. End of discussion."

"Sylas." My name on her lips was soft. Her voice was light, but it was impossible to miss the tone of worry in it. "We're going to get caught."

"I'm just helping my officer who's in pain," I said, though really I just needed an excuse to touch her. "If anyone asks, that's what we'll tell them."

"Okay," she whispered, relaxing into my hold as she finally wound her arms around my neck.

I liked how perfectly she fit in my arms. I'd thought the same thing back on the planet's surface, too. That holding her like that felt right. It should have been jarring. Should have left me on unsteady feet, like the ground was crumbling underneath me. Instead, all I could wonder was why… Why hadn't we done this sooner?

Heading towards the MedBay, I kept my gaze in front of me, not making direct eye contact with any of the crew in the halls. Luckily, it wasn't too busy, and we made it with no effort.

"Aurelia," my Chief Medical Officer rushed out, as I set my pilot back down on her feet. "Are you feeling okay?" Astrid wrapped an arm around her waist, guiding her onto one of the sterile examination tables.

"I'm fine. I just twisted my ankle or something. Sy—" She cut herself off, clearing her throat. "The Captain wanted me to get it checked out."

Astrid gave me a look, and I nodded. "She couldn't walk on it. Took a pretty nasty fall, too."

"Any cuts?"

"Mostly just scrapes," I interjected. "We got them cleaned off."

Aurelia's cheeks had a faint blush to them. Her eyes connected with mine before looking away quickly. Was she thinking about our time in the underground lake too? She gave me a look as Astrid stepped away to grab her equipment.

"What?" I asked.

"You're acting like an overprotective?—"

I narrowed my eyes. "Watch how you finish that statement." My head dipped low, my lips brushing against her ears. "Or I'll find a way to put that mouth to better use."

"Sylas." My name was a whine released from her throat.

I stepped back as Astrid came back into the room, her medical tablet and a tray of tools in her arms. A male MedBay nurse was at her side, ready to assist.

The thought of someone else touching Aurelia, another man's arms on her smooth skin, almost had me seeing red.

But I shook the thought away, because I had no right to jealousy. We'd slept together once. Though there was no doubt in my mind if it hadn't been for the furry friend who'd taken a liking to Aurelia, I would have fucked her in that lake, too.

And even if what she said earlier was the truth—that she didn't want whatever was between us to end—I couldn't help but worry about losing her.

She was too young for me. Too pure and warm, and everything I didn't deserve. Eventually, she'd realize that too. And then she'd leave. Just like they always did.

"Let me get you all checked out, and then you can go."

"Thank you." Aurelia dipped her head.

Astrid turned to me. "Will you be staying for my exam, Captain, or do you have somewhere else you need to be?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Right. Err." I felt the full weight of both women's stares as I turned around. "Let me know how she's doing, Commander Loxley."

"You got it, Captain," Astrid agreed with the dip of her head.

I left the room, wondering exactly how fucked I was, because there was no way I was going to get Aurelia Callisto out of my mind.