Javier's POVA fissure was forming inside of me. Splitting my connection to Theo and Mads. And every time I thought about her, laying there, bleeding and crumpled on the ground, the cracks got deeper. Fanning out inside of my chest.Cold and icy.It got out of hand, and it happened fast. I didn't know how to fix this. And after the fight, I healed pretty fast, but I couldn't say the same for Theo. Daxton wouldn't let me see her and honestly, I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle it if I did see her.Bruised and broken.I did that to her. I could blame Mads all I wanted, but he wasn't in his right mind. I was. Over the next few days during bloodletting, I'd watch Mads leave the holding area to go sit by the trees. He'd look over at me guiltily and dip his head. Stare at his hands.His leg still healing from where Theo shot him.I knew he hadn't been back to Peacemaker. Neither had I. And while the full moon was over and he finally seemed more like himself, he still spe
Theodora's POVI hadn't seen Mads or Javier in days, almost a week now if I was being honest. Confining myself to the ship, licking my wounds so to speak. My body still ached, bruises yellowing. The welts on my back were now a light pink instead of brick red. Healing fast with Ellie's help, but I still felt damaged.Who was I kidding? I was damaged.Sol was first to come on board the Peacemaker, Atlas close behind. She was going to be bunking with Ellie which made the most sense because they were close in age. I pretended not to notice how Sol looked at Atlas, standing in the sun, beaming at the promise of the future.The girl had a crush. Clear as day. I almost expected her to get on her toes and kiss him goodbye, but she didn't. Instead, she tucked fiery hair behind her ear and told him she'd be in contact soon.Arrange transport from Ilios. That they would see each other again. His inky eyes watched Sol like he had something he wanted to say…but he didn't. Amelia had de
Theodora's POVThe fact that I could practically feel when Mads and Javier were nearby was really fucking weird. The strain of our physical distance from each other was relaxing even if the emotional tension was still there. It killed me that I couldn't see them. I couldn't let them in.If I did, I'd crumble into a pathetic sobbing mess because I missed them so damn much. The worst fucking bout of homesickness I'd ever felt. Funny. I thought Peacemaker was home. The ship I loved so much, the same one Javier called a rust bucket. A sharp laugh left my lips, followed by a hollow feeling in my chest. My eyes felt so puffy, sore, and red. I couldn't stand Javier back then. My attraction to him was skin-deep. An annoying sexual ache with pent-up frustration from my breakup with Mads. Simple as hell. It wasn't until after I saved him from the Pantomath that it started to feel more serious. That I started to notice how deep it ran. And started to finally notice how Mads looked
Theodora's POVI wasn't ready for sex a few days ago. Everything felt so fragile. New all over again. I had to learn to trust Mads and Javier again. But on the bright side, now I knew our relationship was more than physical.I found myself adoring how sweet Javier was with Sol. How much he cared about his niece and she clearly noticed the change in temperament too. Mads had taken a few massive steps forward to make good on his apologies with the crew. The fact that he even gave Benji a handshake, and returned a hug from Ellie was not lost on me. He'd even playfully bump Sol on the shoulder when she was in his way.He was trying. Working through his own trauma just as hard as we worked together.Those touches meant something to him and it made me feel so warm inside to see.Daxton was starting to come around. Especially now that I didn't feel the need to hide my adoration for my lovers. And Daxton could see how much they meant to me. When we were in open space, Ben
Theodora's POVWhile that wasn't completely uncharted with an occasional finger playing with the opening every once in a while, I'd never accommodated something as big as Javier or Mads. My eyes flickered down to their cocks, clearly erect and excited for me. My sex tingled, flexing with the desire to be filled. Tight. But that also really scared me. I was the type of girl to try anything once. But ass play was not something I ever really considered delving into.But I'd be lying if I said it didn't intrigue me. I'd heard it could be great if I had the right partners. That trust went a long way. And between Javier and Mads, I trusted them wholly, with everything I had. My body clenched down like a vise, snapping my legs shut almost instinctually. Javi withdrew, waiting patiently even though his cock said otherwise. "I won't do anything you don't want to," he promised. But I knew that already. They respected my boundaries. Even the very few times I said my safeword, usually
Javier's POVThe following week went by far too fast. Every night I lay with Theo in my arms. Her breath warmed my chest in little puffs. Mads was finally sleeping too, falling into a regular pattern, one hand clasped over my shoulder while he slept with his face buried in Theo's hair.We would stay like that all day if we could. As each day went by, Theo held on tighter, unconsciously showing me how terrified she was of me leaving. Mads became more distant. Withdrawing as he usually did when he was upset. In private, while Theo was piloting, he tried to convince me to stay.Telling me how much Theo needed me as if I didn't already know. How much he needed me. It wasn't too long ago that I claimed Mads didn't have a romantic bone in his body, but now I'm learning very quickly that he did. He had a soft, molten center becoming more apparent every day.And while I loved him for it, I had responsibilities on Ilios. I was a high-ranking military officer with a shit-ton of paperw
Theodora's POVLife was so different now.It felt like yesterday I was dodging military phasers and jumping off skyscrapers. Fighting with my dad. Avoiding Mads. Lying to my brother about my relationships. Having flashbacks every other day from wartimes.But now I was sitting around a fire pit on my family farm while we passed around a bottle of starshine and reminisced about odd jobs. Mads to my left. Javi to my right. Daxton across from me laughing about something with my dad, arm around Ellie.Benji complimented my mom's cooking. Mads joined the conversation, both dimples proud and on display.Unguarded. Just as visibly happy as I felt inside. Playfully nudging Ellie in the ribs and making her release a big belly laugh.My heart flushed with warmth. I loved him so much.When we arrived at Gaea, we made good on our promise, fixing my dad's barn. All six of us helped my dad with beams and massive hunks of metal. Now that it's fixed, Mads and Javi help my dad with his ser
Theodora's POVWith an entire galaxy to police, I wondered if the Galactic Military ever got tired of chasing me from planet to planet."WALKER!" a booming voice shouted as I crossed narrow scaffolding along the massive skyscrapers on Juniper, one of Juno's moons. This particular moon had a thriving black market, but I guess the guy who sold me my goods also called the cops on me.Bastard.I teetered along the edge, along the clear glass. Inside the building, I watched several civilians point and stare at me, the crazy woman danging above a black abyss, on the precipice of the unknown plummeting down into the black hole beneath me. "Get back here, Walker! Pay for your war crimes!" the booming voice shouted again as shots ricocheted off the glass and into the sky. I could hear the heavy boots of authorities clomping against the structure, shaking the weak supports under me.I threw my head over my shoulder, looking directly at the familiar face of my ex-commanding officer,