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They looked at each other across the roo stalled at his tongue He knew she was right, and he wanted her to be wrong She saw him realize there was no way out

“Fine,” he said “When the others get back, let’s talk about doing so a couple people on for a ht, we can look at keeping them on permanently”

“That sounds good,” Naomi said

“It’s going to change the balance on the ship,” Holden said

“Everything changes,” she said, putting her arms around him

They ordered food froenetically uishable fro, Holden tried to be cheerful, tried to hide his unease from her It didn’t even start to work, but she appreciated the effort

After dinner, they watched the entertainment feeds until the time came in the comfortable rhythm of their day that she turned off the screen and drew him back to the bed Sex with Holden had started off as a thrilling thing, years ago when they were first seeing exactly how stupid a captain and an XO sleeping together would be Now, it was richer and cal

After, lying on the big gel-form mattress with the sheets in ropes at the foot, Naoht of the Roci and of Sairl and a ineers had roped her into on the Canterbury Her recollections had started taking on the surreal confusion of dreaht her back almost to wakefulness

“I don’t like having theone”

“Hmm?”

“Alex and Aet in trouble, we’ll be here I can’t even just fire up the Roci and go get them”

“They’ll be fine,” she said

“I know I sort of know” He propped himself up on one elbow “Are you really not worried?”

“A little maybe”

“Ihappened If they didn’t come back…”