Page 60 of Red Marked

Leave. Fuck off, already!

“Do you know if she’s single? Rift, that is.”

The longer this asshole stands here, the more chance there is he’ll find Star.

Fuuuuuck!

“I wouldn’t know.” I turn serious. “It’s none of my business. Or yours. Dating between employees is frowned upon in this facility. If it ever happened, HR would need to be notified.”

“Understood, sir.” He nods hard. “I have to say…” He gets this sappy look. “I’d be outside HR first thing in the morning if I thought I had a chance. The same goes for most males on this base.”

I yawn. “I need to get to bed, Slate. I’m dead on my feet, and I have another early start.”

“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. Good night.”

“Good night.”

He finally leaves.

Holy fuck!

I hear his footsteps as he goes. Star waits a full minute before she drops, landing without a sound. She straightens, looking absolutely fine. She flicks her hair back over her shoulder.

“He talks a lot,” she whispers.

I hold back a smile and nod.

I get her down the hallway and through my door and lock it behind us.

“That was too fucking close,” I push out.

My apartment is one room with a kitchen counter along one wall, a sofa, and a small dining room table. There’s a desk shoved into the corner where I work when I need to. Then there’s a door to the bedroom, and another to the bathroom. It’s pretty small.

Star stands in the middle of it and turns a slow circle.

“Oh, my gosh. It’s so freaking awesome to be indoors. I can’t believe I took so much for granted before,” she whispers, her eyes wide.

She reaches out and touches the light switch. Off. On. Off. On.

“Sorry.” She grins. “I can’t help it.”

“It’s fine.” I smile back.

She walks into the kitchen and turns on the faucet, putting her fingers under the stream, then turns it off, then on again. She opens the refrigerator and stands in the cold with her eyes closed and her face tilted into it.

She closes it again and turns to me. “I’ll get used to it all again, I’m sure.”

“I’m sure you will. Grab some water while you’re there.” She opens it again, takes out two bottles, and hands me one.

“Thanks. I also have juice and soda. Then there’s coffee⁠—”

Her eyes brighten. “Oh my crap! Coffee! I’ve missed coffee, but it can wait until morning.”

“We should get some sleep. My alarm goes off at five-thirty.” I nod toward the bedroom. “You take the bed.”

“No, that’s okay. Thanks for offering, but this is your house. I’ll take the sofa.”

“No. You get the bed.”