18. Epilogue

Six months later

"Do we have to?" Lis said, knowing that, yes. Yes, they did. A promise was a promise, after all.

Nox shot her a look.

"I know. I just…" she trailed off to focus on making a course correction.

There was a steep learning curve to flying a ship so much more technologically advanced than anything she'd ever piloted. Even the shuttle she was guiding into Cinzia's atmo presented a challenge.

But, once she got the hang of it, it was like riding a bike. The hardest part was learning the written language. She was still learning, but she knew enough to avoid accidentally discharging the rail gun when she meant to boost the speed.

"She's just such a pain in the ass," she said, finishing her thought.

"Yeah, like we need another one of those on the Luck ," Navi said from the safety of his seat at the back of the shuttle.

Lis growled at him over her shoulder.

"Navi," Nox said, "you know what happens when you poke at her."

"Hey, now. Maybe I was talking about myself."

"I didn't think you were that self-aware," Lis shot back.

She'd been slightly concerned about how she'd fit in on Nox's ship, but his entire crew adopted her as one of their own, enthusiastically helping her learn everything she needed to know about the system. A few years younger than her, Navi had become the younger brother she never wanted.

And Nox, well, he'd done exactly what he promised — he showed her the stars. She turned a smile on her mate. She still couldn't get over that this man was hers forever. He'd made room for her in his world, welcomed her in, encouraged her to explore and make changes so she'd be comfortable and settled. So it would feel like home to her. She still missed Earth and the friends she'd left behind and always would, but being near Nox made everything better.

When Lis looked at him with her heart in her eyes, it never failed to make his own heart thunder in response. From the co-pilot's seat, he reached out a hand, loving how easily she twined her fingers with his. "Thank you for agreeing to this, my mate," he said.

"Eh, it's just another transport job, only this time with live cargo. And I can tolerate Parvani for the week it'll take to get to that colony she's bound for. It's only a week, right?"

"Should be," he said, sliding his thumb over the back of her hand, marveling at the softness of her skin. "And after that, what would you say to a short trip down to Badin? A friend lent me a cabin for a few days. Right on the water."

Her eyes lit up. "On the water?"

He nodded.

"Will there be frosty adult beverages?"

"Of course."

"Oh, I'm so in," she said with a bounce of excitement. "And, luckily for you, Feriq has sourced me a teeny tiny bikini that I can wear when we're there."

He swallowed hard. "What color?"

"Red," she said, watching as Nox's eyes darkened with desire.

"Please don't kill us because you're making googly eyes at each other," Navi called from the back.

Rolling her eyes at her new, annoying little brother, Lis set the shuttle down directly in the center of the landing pad. "Perfect," she crowed. "See? I can make googly eyes at my mate and land. Two things at once, what a concept."

He made a rude gesture before checking and holstering his blasters.

She raised an eyebrow at Nox. "We expecting trouble?" she asked, fastening her weapon around her waist.

"Feriq says not right now, but it's Cinzia," he said with a shrug.

"Better safe than sorry."

"Precisely."

Since joining the crew, Lis had become quite proficient in using blasters. A privateer's job was more dangerous and action-packed than she expected, and she was loving every minute of it. She cast a look at Navi. Mostly every minute.

"You ready?" Nox asked, slipping an arm around her waist and bending to kiss her cheek. He knew she wasn't one for much public affection, but she tolerated it around the crew. And thank the goddess because he had a hard time keeping his hands off her. In time, the mate bond would settle but, until then, her barest touch set him off.

She nodded. "Have I told you how hot you are in those tight pants of yours?"

"Not today," he said, nipping her earlobe. "And you look damn fine with that blaster on your hip. I like my mate dangerous."

She huffed out a laugh, wiggling her backside against his rapidly stiffening cock. "And just how dangerous am I?"

"Woman, you're deadly."

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Navi said, stomping down the ramp.

Feriq greeted them at the door of his bar. "Thank you for coming."

"Anything for you," Lis said, returning his hug. "Hey, I'm going to pop over to the clinic for a minute. Sona said she left something there for us. A mate gift, I guess?" She shrugged.

"Guess I'll wait here, then. No rush. It's not like I have a pissed-off ex on my tail or anything." Parvani snarked, flopping into a booth near the door.

Feriq pinched the bridge of his nose. "You wouldn't have to worry about that if you left on Antana's Luck six months ago, like we'd discussed."

"Like I told you, I had things I had to do," Parvani said with a toss of her hair.

Before the argument between the siblings got out of hand, Nox said, "Navi will escort you to the shuttle. We'll be along shortly."

"Copy that," Navi said, slinging Parvani's bag over his shoulder and gesturing at her to follow.

Feriq watched his sister flounce out of the bar. He turned worried eyes to Lis and Nox. "Please take care of her. She may be prickly and hard to get along with, but she's had a rough go of it."

"Don't worry, Feriq. We'll look out for your sister. I promise," Lis said, giving Feriq's hand a squeeze. "I'll lock her in her room when she gets too annoying. Should prevent anyone from tossing her out of the airlock."

He huffed out a laugh. "Thank you."

Nox clapped a hand on his shoulder. "And you be careful. That ex of Parvani's comes sniffing around…"

Feriq's eyes hardened to amber shards. "He'll meet the end of my blaster."

"Good. And call us if you need anything."

"Like help with disposing a body," Lis added.

They stared at her.

"What?" She lifted her hands. "That's what friends do."

"Anyway," Feriq said with a small smile, "Thank you. Now, go. Pick up your present and get my sister the hells off this planet." He shoved them out the door, closing it behind them.

Back in the bright sunshine, Nox once again claimed Lis's hand. "You remember the first time you walked down this road with me?" he asked.

"The green smoothie."

"Breakfast freeze."

"Same thing," she said, giving him a grin. "You remember the clinic?"

His brows drew together in confusion. "Both of us winding up in a medi-tube?"

She bumped his shoulder with a giggle. "No. That part sucked. I'm talking about the supply closet."

Light dawned. "My hand down your pants."

"Well, I mean," she spluttered. "Yes. That."

They swerved around a young couple who'd stopped at a stall selling the alien version of shaved ice.

"I remember you riding my hand." He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "I remember making you come and tasting you on my fingers."

Lis turned bright red, her hand clenching around his. "I remember that, too." She gave him a crooked grin. "You want to do it again? I mean, we're headed to the clinic, anyway."

"Hells, yes." He pulled her to a stop, his hands on her shoulders, and rested his forehead against hers. "I will love you until the last star flickers in the sky, my beautiful mate. And if you want to spend that time locked in a closet with me, I am beyond happy to do just that."

"You're such a poet." She took a deep breath, breathing his scent, letting it ground her. "I love you, Nox, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then grabbed her hand and dragged a laughing Lis with him through the clinic doors.