8. Elodie

Something wakes me in the middle of the night. A bad dream, I think. I have a dim memory of flying through the sky, a dozen jets hot in pursuit, but even as I try to remember the details, they fade into nothing.

I open my eyes. While I was asleep, the window dimmer stopped working, and neon light now streams into our room. My bed is soft and comfortable, and I don’t want to get up to adjust it, but it’s far too bright for me to fall back asleep. Ugh.

Calder’s breathing is deep and even. He’s out like a light. I slowly inch out of bed, not wanting to wake him, and go to the window.

Outside our room, Luxaria still parties. Mothwings are the newest craze here, and there’s a wind tunnel in front of our hotel. People glide on the currents, the translucent gadgetry on their backs making them look like brightly lit insects.

A beam of light hits Calder.

Wow.

My podmate has thrown off the covers. He’s wearing a pair of sleep pants and nothing else. It’s the first time I’m seeing him shirtless, and I stare openly.

Calder’s body is sculpted muscular perfection. His chest is covered with swirling tattoos. Faint scars bisect his skin, which is odd and makes me wonder. Calder is Karven; his body is equipped with healing nanobots. No matter how often he gets beaten up, they should be able to fix him up. There should be no scars.

He inhales sharply. “Please, no,” he begs. “No.”

My eyes fly to his. They’re still closed. He’s having a nightmare. I pad over to the bed and slide over to his side. “Calder,” I whisper. “Wake up.”

His expression is distressed, and he whimpers in his throat but stays asleep.

“Calder,” I repeat softly, touching his cheek. “It’s just a bad dream.”

“Elodie,” he breathes. “Thank fuck.” He grabs my hand and pulls me against his body, my back pressed against his bare chest. His arm wraps around my waist, he cups my breast, and. . .

Hang on. Is that his cock nudging my ass?

Yes.

Oh. My. Stars.

I freeze. Is Calder still dreaming? Is he awake? I listen for a sign that he’s aware of what’s going on, but his breathing has turned steady and even again.

Okay? I guess the nightmare is over, but now he’s thinking horny thoughts? Because that’s definitely his cock, and it’s thickening. And, if the bulge against my ass is any indication, it’s huge.

I don’t know why he’s hard. Do the Karven get erections in their sleep? My fingers itch. I want to turn around. Pull his erection out and stroke it. Take it in my mouth. I want?—

Elodie, what the hell?

I need to stop this.

Immediately.

Except my thoughts refuse to stay chaste.

Calder is built. His body is covered with muscle. What would sex with him be like? Would he squeeze my breasts hard enough to make me gasp? Would he pin my arms over my head and lick my nipple until I begged him to fuck me? Would he slam my back against the wall, wrap my legs around his hips, and thrust into me, hard and urgent?

Fuck.

I try to squirm out of his grasp, inch by inch, but Calder’s arms are a vice. A hot, sexy trap I cannot escape. He’s got me, and he’s not letting go.

And my body loves it. My insides clench. My nipples tighten. Without meaning to, I wriggle my ass, a thrill shooting through me as his erection jerks against my body.

“Elodie,” Calder murmurs again, his arms tightening around me.

Hang on.I finally clue in. He’s saying my name, and he’s hard. Is he having a sex dream about me?

Cut it out, I scold myself. Whatever Calder’s doing in his sleep doesn’t count. He’s not awake, and he’s not aware of his actions. It feels wrong to stay in his arms. Wrong to savor the thick weight of his cock. I should pull away and go over to my side of the bed.

But I don’t.

I’m a bad, bad person. It’s been so long since I’ve been touched, and I don’t want this feeling to end.

Would it be the worst thing in the world to sleep with Calder?

I try to list all the reasons it’s a bad idea to have sex with my podmate, but in the middle of the night, held snugly in his arms, my resistance evaporates. All that’s left is the taut steel cage of his muscled arms and a suspicion that making love to Calder would ruin me for other men.

But I want it. I want to be ruined by him.

Everything I do is in service of my goal of buying a spaceship. I scrimp and save. I work long hours and let people like Jarel Onel and Foder Throop walk all over me. I’ve forgotten what it feels like to have fun. What it means to be reckless.

It would be reckless to sleep with Calder, but if that kiss was any indication, I bet it would be a lot of fun.

Throwing caution to the wind, I make myself a promise. If Calder gives me any sign that he’s interested in being more than my fake boyfriend, I’m going to go for it.