10. Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

B ecca

I wake tucked against Pyne’s naked body, which is warm and smells like flowery soap and sex. My back is to his front, his leg slung over my thighs, and his arm is tight around my waist.

I flip in his embrace so I can look at him. Did I really pass out after the galaxy’s most powerful orgasm last night? He may be a love-god, but I’m a terrible bed partner. I hope he took care of himself when my selfish ass got lazy and left him horny and abandoned.

But instead of being angry, his eyes flicker open, latch onto my face, and a slow smile curls on his lips.

“Sleep well, sugarplum?”

“Like the dead.”

His eyes fly wide. I guess that idiom didn’t translate well.

“That’s a good thing, Pyne. You were so talented you sapped all my energy and didn’t get your just reward.” His cock takes this moment to slap loudly against his belly. I give him hubba hubba eyebrows and ask, “How about now? I promise I won’t leave you wanting this time.”

He looks at the clock and slides backward. “We have just enough time to shower and get to the cooking arena. How about I take you up on your offer the moment we get back to our room?” He gives me a wink that is so sexy it makes my chest feel as though it’s going to implode.

Thirty minutes later, we arrive at the cooking arena. There’s an odd energy here; the crew are avoiding eye contact.

“I have a bad feeling about today’s immunity challenge,” I mutter as Pyne and I wait for Arisha to dramatically reveal the next death-defying stunt she’s going to force us to perform.

Pyne squeezes my hand, his calloused palm warm and reassuring against mine. “Don’t worry, Becca. We’ve got this. And if things go sideways, I’ll be right there to catch you.”

I can’t help but smile at his confidence and support, even as my stomach churns with nerves. Last night’s intimacy deepened our bond, transforming our unlikely partnership into something more meaningful, more real.

I tear my affectionate gaze from him when Arisha sashays onto the stage, her sequined dress catching the light like a disco ball. “Welcome, contestants, to your next immunity challenge! Today, you’ll be facing your fears and testing your trust as you navigate… the Cosmic Ropes of Doom!”

She gestures grandly to a holographic display behind her, revealing a dizzying array of narrow beams, swaying bridges, and precarious platforms suspended high above a bubbling pit of luminescent green goo.

“The pit is made of kiridium . It won’t burn or maim you. It will simply sap your strength, making it difficult to compete in this afternoon’s baking challenge. Here’s a hint—don’t fall in!”

As she titters at her little joke, murmurs of anxiety ripple through the assembled teams. I catch sight of the reptilian Saurians grinning wickedly, their forked tongues flicking out in anticipation. The felines from Felis Prime look equally smug, their fluffy tails twitching with barely contained glee.

Pyne leans in close, his breath warm against my ear. “Just stick with me, Becca. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I nod, steeling my nerves as Arisha explains the challenge rules. “In this special Cosmic Confections version of a three-legged race, each team will be tethered together as they navigate the course. You must work in perfect sync to cross the beams, bridges, and platforms without falling into the bubbling pit of kiridium . The first three teams to make it safely to the other side will win immunity.”

Pyne and I exchange a determined glance as a robotic arm descends from the ceiling, clamping a glowing tether around our waists. The cord pulses with an eerie blue light, and I can feel the hum of its energy against my skin. There is just enough room to maneuver so we can swivel around each other to work side by side.

“Looks like we’re in this together, sugarplum,” Pyne quips, his tail flicking mischievously. “Just follow my lead and try not to get us both dumped, yeah?”

I elbow him playfully, feeling a surge of affection and adrenaline. “Pretty sure that’s my line, space gladiator. I spent five years in gymnastics. Let’s show these other teams what real teamwork looks like.”

As the buzzer sounds, Pyne and I leap onto the first beam in perfect unison, with me in front, our movements synchronized as though we’ve been training together for years. We balance precariously on the narrow surface, our tethered waists forcing us to mirror each other’s steps and movements. Pyne’s tail helps keep us balanced.

The Saurians lumber ahead, their bulky frames and lashing tails making it difficult for them to navigate the delicate obstacles. They snarl and snap at each other, their partnership devolving into a vicious blame game as they teeter dangerously close to the edge.

The felines move with fluid grace, their sleek forms and natural agility allowing them to glide across the course with ease. They smirk and purr as they pass us, their tails entwining with confidence.

“Ignore them,” Pyne growls, his focus never wavering from the path ahead. “We’ve got this, Becca. Just trust in us .”

Drawing a deep breath, I take strength from his unwavering confidence. Together, we tackle the swaying bridges and spinning platforms, our bodies moving as one. When a sudden gust of artificial wind threatens to topple us, Pyne’s tail wraps securely around my waist, anchoring me as we regain our balance.

Not everyone is still making their way through the obstacle course. There were many heavy splashes accompanied by grumbles and growls and squeals and laughter. Everyone emerged dripping in slimy green goop and looking drunk.

As we approach the final stretch, the Saurians and felines are neck-and-neck in front of us, their bickering and posturing reaching a fever pitch. Pyne and I exchange a silent nod, a wordless agreement passing between us.

In a burst of speed, we sprint across the last beam, our tethered forms blurring together as we leap and twist over the final hurdle. The goo bubbles and hisses beneath us, but we barely notice, our gazes locked on the finish line.

With a final, triumphant lunge, Pyne and I cross the threshold hand-in-hand, our chests heaving with exertion and exhilaration. We collapse into each other’s arms, laughing breathlessly as the Saurians and felines gape at us in stunned disbelief.

“We did it,” I gasp, my face pressed against Pyne’s sweat-slicked chest. “I can’t believe we actually did it.”

He grins down at me, his blue eyes sparkling with pride and something deeper, something that makes my heart flutter. “Never doubted us for a moment, sugarplum. We’re a force to be reckoned with, you and I.”

As Arisha announces our victory and the robotic arm releases our tether, I feel a surge of emotion threatening to overwhelm me. The challenges may be growing more perilous, and our competitors more ruthless, but with Pyne by my side, I believe we can overcome anything.

And as we exit the stage hand-in-hand, our heads held high and our hearts beating in sync, I realize this partnership, this connection we’re forging through sweat, tears, and cosmic goo, is the real prize—one that no immunity challenge or baking contest can ever take away.