Ashore by Isabelle Adler

Author:Isabelle Adler [Adler, Isabelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: NineStar Press, Lgbt, sci-fi, spaceships/pilots, action-adventure, Abduction, Bisexual, demisexual
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2019-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

MATT LOITERED IN the corridor leading up to the main hatch, like a dog waiting for his master to come home. At least, that was what he thought dogs did, because he’d never actually owned one, either real or biomechanical. He was pretty sure even a loyal pet would at some point become sorely disappointed with his caring skills.

He was debating whether calling Ryce was a good idea when the entrance panel finally lit up and the hatch slid open, admitting a very tired and—Matt could see it clearly from the tightness around his eyes and mouth—very irate Ryce.

“You’re back,” he blurted, leaning his hand against the wall, his knees weak with giddy relief.

Ryce cocked his head to the side, as if judging his response. His flight suit was rumpled and smelled faintly of sweat and jet fuel.

“Of course I’m back,” he said with just a hint of annoyance.

Matt peeled himself off the wall and crossed his arms on his chest, trying to appear more nonchalant. He wanted to pounce on Ryce, hold him close, whisper even sillier things in his ear, but it seemed none of it would be welcome right now.

“Did they give you a hard time?”

“No,” Ryce said. “No one approached me at the station docks, and I stayed as far away as I could from anyone else on the transport on the way back. Seemed like a wise thing to do.”

“I guess that means they’ll contact us with further instructions, then,” Matt said. A part of him was glad Griggs’s people had left Ryce alone instead of harping on his failure, or worse, retaliating, but another part wondered at this unexpected benevolence; it was nothing if not suspicious.

Ryce just nodded. He looked weary—not even tired, really, but sort of jaded. Coming down from an intense adrenaline rush must have been rough, but Matt knew it was more than that. Ryce was used to being the best at everything, both when it came easy and when it required hard work. Suffering defeat at something he considered his forte, his calling even, was not something he was used to dealing with, especially when there had been so much riding on his potential win.

Matt let his hands fall to his sides and took a step forward. They were now standing only a few inches apart, but the invisible wall he’d gone out of his way to erect between them was still there, a barrier not to be crossed.

He hated seeing Ryce so despondent. Maybe he couldn’t touch him, but he could at least talk.

“Hey. Don’t let it get to you, all right? It was the first time you’ve flown the route. That other guy in the Waxwing knew what he was doing. You’ll get the hang of it next time. You know you’re better than all those pilots; it’s just a matter of getting your toes wet.”

Ryce gazed at him, his expression intense and unreadable. For a moment, Matt was afraid Ryce was going to snap at him—not that he didn’t have a right to.

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