Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)

by Marissa Meyer

“Aces,” Carswell Thorne murmured. Dropping his feet to the ground, he leaned forward to inspect her closer. “Is that all hair?”

“Oh, it’s you,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “I was expecting the cyborg.”

“Captain Carswell Thorne, at your service.”

It had been a long time since Kai had seen that expression on his adviser. The expression that indicated he thought Kai was a moron.

“Captain,” she murmured. “I think I’m in love with you.”

An eyebrow shot up. She counted six beats of his heart before, suddenly, he laughed. “Don’t tell me it took you two whole days to realize that. I must be losing my touch.”

“Cress—hey, no more sleeping. I need you. Remember the vultures, Cress. Vultures.”

“Listen, Cress, I hate to break this to you, but I am sweaty and itchy and haven’t brushed my teeth in two days. This just isn’t a good time for romance.”

But then Wolf’s breath hitched and all the fury drained out of him with a shudder. Like a man shot fatally through the heart, he collapsed over his knees, covering his head with his good arm like he wanted to block out the world.

It was like watching him die.

“When did you have time to take a mistress?” His smile faltered. “Don’t talk about Cress like that.” “What?” “Oh—wait! You mean Darla. I won her in a hand of cards.” Cinder gawked. “I thought she’d make a nice gift for Iko.”

he said "that's my girlfriend" 🤬

“What is she doing here?” “What? Who?” “That—that girl from the last town.” Thorne tilted his head. “That’s Darla. The escort-droid? Why are you and Cinder so confused about this?”

“I guess it’s time.”

he's so dramatic fr

Then he was kissing her. The battle became a hurricane, with them caught in the eye—his arms cradling her against the wind, her skirt billowing around his legs, his lips gentle but coaxing as if they had all the time in the world.

“Make sure I don’t shoot anyone we like.”

Now he was the Carswell Thorne who had given her strength in the desert. Who had come for her when she was kidnapped. Who had kissed her when hope was lost and death was imminent.

Thorne shuffled his feet. “You know, if it was a bad kiss, you can just say so.” She stiffened. “That’s not at all what I … Wait. Did you think it was a bad kiss?” “No,” he said, with an abrupt, clumsy laugh. “I thought it was … um.” He cleared his throat. “But there were clearly a lot of expectations, and a lot of pressure, and…” He squirmed in the chair. “We were going to die, you know.” “I know.” She squeezed her knees into her chest. “And, no, it wasn’t … I didn’t think it was a bad kiss.” “Oh, thank the stars.” His head fell back against the chair. “Because if I’d ruined that for you, I was going to feel like such a cad.”

“Believe me, Cress. The pleasure was all mine.”