Hope was so grateful Viper realized she wouldn't feel right not staying with the others and had their dwelling set up near the communal building and infirmary. Hope thought he'd perhaps made the excuse that he needed to be there to help, so his mother didn't completely hate her, but he did work a lot. He spent much of his day organizing further housing, supplies and security. He was basically the governor of their small city.
Hope found herself looking forward to their meal breaks and their evenings together as they fell into a comfortable rhythm.
The only thing she didn't like was how the Anguis also had entertainment media. They seemed to follow one or both of them everywhere. Hope more than once had avoided going outside since they weren't allowed in any of the buildings. Viper wanted to toss them out of the camp, but that would only make it worse. Paparazzi were the same everywhere, a damn nuisance.
"So you are going shopping with the group today?" Viper asked as he reviewed his tablet sitting on the sofa in their pod's living room.
Hope snapped out of her reverie.
"Yeah, I didn't get a chance to when they went last time." Hope replied as she pulled on a pair of sandals then paused.
It dawned on Hope that this would be the first time she and Viper would be separated by more than a short walk in the weeks since they'd met. As much as Hope wanted to go into town she was suddenly not so interested anymore.
Hope looked over at Viper as she finished buckling her shoe. She tried to catalog the intense emotion that had been growing and smoldering inside her. It was different from anything she'd been willing to admit to herself thus far. Sure she felt lust and an easy affection for Viper, and he made her feel safe not only physically but deep down. This was more than that.
The realization scared her.
Viper always looked at her with adoration and desire, but in the back of her mind Hope worried that all Viper's affection was hormone induced, and one day he'd wake up and she'd have been nothing but a phase. In the beginning it hadn't bothered her that much. However now it intruded on her thoughts more and more. If that was the case it would devastate her because help it or not Hope had seriously fallen for the man. And the longer she knew him the harder it became to guard her heart.
Hope shook her head trying to reconcile the things she felt.
"One day at a time." She coached herself.
No sense in worrying and jinxing everything. She just needed to let the pieces fall where they would. If she tried to hold on to too tight, she'd just strangle the life out of whatever they were building.
Viper stood and handed Hope a small thing that looked like a smart phone.
"This is how you can contact me, and it gives you access to credits to use with the vendors." Hope tried to pay attention to Viper as he showed her the various features on the comm. Hope found herself mostly staring at his green eyes and the way his mouth moved, rather than the words he said.
"What?" Viper said as he noticed her expression.
"Nothing." Hope wrapped her arms around him and snuggled into his chest. "Thank you. I was just planning to look."
"Try to find a scarf for your head. Your little nose and cheeks are still red from staying out in the sun too much yesterday." Viper suggested sniffing her hair as he squeezed her to him.
So caring and thoughtful.
"That's probably a good idea."
"Sorry I can't go with you." Viper tipped her chin up and frowned.
He had a meeting with his father and some public relations' adviser. Hope was sure it was going to be dull and frustrating as they discussed the prejudiced group they called the Purists.
"No worries." Hope stood up on her tip-toes to give him a kiss.
Viper lowered his mouth to hers. Hope poured all of herself into that kiss. She wasn't ready yet to admit out loud what she felt for him, but somehow she wanted him to know. Viper tasted delicious and spicy that drugging chemical expression of his desire for her. It was distracting how it warmed her to the core.
"Take your dagger." Viper grunted when he reluctantly pulled back.
"Oh yeah. "
Hope jogged back to the bedroom, put it on, then headed for the door. She blew Viper a kiss then took off to catch the shuttle.
Wouldn't you know, there was Ophidian.
"I should've known Viper would send extra security." Hope smiled to herself.
"Oh yay! You did take today off.!" Hope squealed at seeing Tara.
Her girlfriend practically had to be beat with a stick to take a break every now and then.
"I wanted to see the market and have some girl time." Tara said excitedly.
"Where's JP?"
"He went last time, so he decided to stay at camp and work at the infirmary."
"Hello Ophidian." Hope said.