Read Online Legacy Code by Autumn Kalquist - Free Book Online Page A

London . Maybe if they were still there, Zephyr’s father could have kept Dritan from the draft.
    “Era.” Dritan’s fingers stilled, and he stopped running them through her hair. “Don’t talk about the president, the board—any of it. Please. Just keep your head down and wait for me.”
    Era wiped the tears from her cheeks and didn’t answer. What could she say? I’ll die if I lose you.
    “It’ll go fast,” he said. “I’ll be back before you—if you…”
    Before I have the baby. If I have the baby. The thought of what would happen if the baby had the Defect hung in the air between them, unspoken.
    “I’m sorry I have to leave you like this.” He placed a hand on Era’s stomach. “I wanted to be here.”
    “I don’t want to stay up here without you,” Era said, crying again. “There has to be a way to get you out of this.”
    “I have to do my part. Just one solar cycle.” His voice was firm.
    One solar cycle. 150 days. 150 chances for something to go very wrong on Soren.
    Dritan gently rolled Era off his chest and held himself above her, meeting her eyes. “I will come back to you. And I’ll think about you every second I’m not with you.”
    Era’s pulse quickened, and she pulled him close, crushing her lips to his. The pain in her throat eased. He kissed her again, slowly this time, and ran his hand down her body, stopping to cup her breast under her suit. Her nipples hardened against the rough fabric, and she let out a small moan.
    A shiver curled down her spine as he brought his lips to her ear and nibbled there. He teased a trail along her jawline with the tip of his tongue, bringing his mouth back to hers.
    Era trembled and pressed a hand against his chest. “I need you now.”
    He stood, pulled off his boots, and unzipped his suit in one swift movement, never taking his eyes off hers. A sheen of sweat coated his lean muscles. He shrugged his suit the rest of the way off. He was ready for her.
    She sat up and yanked on the zipper of her own suit. It stuck, then ripped away, the worn fabric finally giving up.
    Dritan pulled her to her feet, and her suit fell into a crumpled heap of ruin on the floor. She stepped out of it and placed her hand against his chest. Faint scars he’d gotten in the sublevels criss-crossed his body, and she traced one of them down his abdomen, her fingertips tingling. He lifted her wrist to his mouth to kiss the infinity tattoo that matched the one on his own wrist.
    He crushed his lips to hers and nudged her toward the bunk, hungry for the same release she needed. They fell into it, and she closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his warm body pressed against her, the feel of his tongue as it found her own.
    He’d fill her up, make her feel whole, safe, wanted. She’d savor this night. It could be the last they ever had together.
    ∞ ∞
    Era sat on their bunk, watching as Dritan stuffed his spare uniform into his bag. Her eyes drifted to the now nearly empty shelf. Only one thing remained. A small folded scrap of exec-standard bedding.
    “Mali picked me as her replacement for archivist.” Era forced out the words. “I said yes.”
    Dritan hefted his bag and tossed it across his body. He gave her a small, proud smile. “I knew she would.”
    He went to the door, but when he hit the button, the door didn’t budge.
    “Come here. Watch,” Dritan said. “You need to learn how to fix this now.”
    Era reluctantly got up and went to the door.
    He slipped a panel off the wall, pulled out a bundle of wires, and twisted the ends of a few, pointing to each one as he did it.
    “If these don’t connect, it won’t open.”
    Era stared hard at the wires. Don’t work. Lock us inside. Make Dritan miss his transport.
    He inserted the twisted wires back in their spot and hit the button. The door opened.
    “Got it now?”
    The lump in Era’s throat expanded, and she nodded. Dritan tilted his head to the side, and with a sad smile, he offered his hand. She took