I put on the suit even with the pain burning under my skin. Salin handed me an anti-inflammatory. He looked stunning.
I pulled him close, brushing our noses together.
— You ruined me, Sali. — I whispered against his skin. He smiled, half shy, half worried, but with a proud gleam in his eyes.
— If the world's ending, good to know all we need is a bed. — he said, teasing.
— Oh yeah, I slept great.
— I think you passed out.
— Were you worried?
— I checked every five minutes.
I held him a little tighter.
— Sounds like someone needs a massage.
— I do. — he leaned into my lips, then headed for the door.
I watched him.
Stepping out meant returning to real life. Showing them a version of me that looked stronger than I felt whenever Salin wasn't around.
The burn in my shoulder didn't let me forget that some son of a bitch was pulling strings they shouldn't be touching.