Free Bloodbound: A space/fantasy F/F romance (Sparkbound Book 2) by CR Barlow Page B

She didn't know why she thought that, it was ridiculous. Both of them had moved on, and Ingrid had made it plain that she wasn't interested in resuming their former relationship. By this time Lolita would have no desire to restart their relationship, either. She liked to talk about how pretty she was, but she wasn't interested in Ingrid like that anymore.
    "What do you want?" Ingrid asked, a little harshly.
    "To see you eating. Three healthy meals a day. You're wasting away, and I don't like seeing you like this."
    Ingrid stepped back. She didn't meet Lolita's eyes. It was just human concern, nothing more. "Sure. I'll eat. Let's find a ship and get going."

Chapter Two
     
     
    The atmosphere of Uranus was damp and chilly. Though it was blue from a distance, after they landed Ingrid saw that the planet had a green tinge to its surface. It was almost completely smooth, pocketed by deep burrows that were capped by thin crests that would burst if they were to be stepped on.
    It was impossible to grow any sort of crops in the soil, since it was more frozen gas than anything else. Nobody knew how the manticores survived on the planet. The mermaids of Neptune claimed to have a method of communication with them, but as they refused to divulge this method, it was assumed that they were lying. The consensus from most planets were that manticores had a mid-level intelligence, enough for a primitive social system, but nothing else.
    Almost everything about manticores was a mystery. But it was known that Uranus was a dangerous place, and all attempts to colonize it had ended in disaster. These days, only poachers dared to set foot on the planet.
    Ingrid ignored the twist in her stomach as she dressed in the armor she had bartered for from the dwarves of Jupiter. Energy-resistant armor was useless against manticore stingers. Their skin also had certain properties that deflected energy-based weapons, so the brunette strapped a sword around her waist.
    "Aren't you going to get ready?" Ingrid glanced up at Lolita.
    The blonde sighed and tugged her dress off, reaching for the tunic and trousers she would wear under her armor. Ingrid turned her back. She did not need to notice how perfect Lolita's body still was. Without that stupid corset she liked to wear, her proportions were perfect, her waist just the right thickness to wrap arms around, her hips flared, her breasts soft and round.
    Ingrid had known she was bisexual from the time she was a little girl, but she had only fallen in love–real love, not just crushes–twice in her life. Once was with Edan, the man she eventually married. She had fallen for him when she was twelve, and through the ups and downs of her life, she always loved him.
    Lolita had been her second love. When Ingrid met her, she was 'taking a break' from Edan. And though she still loved him, she ended up loving Lolita more at the time. It had been confusing, but even more confusing when Edan followed her to Pluto and asked her to marry him. It was so expected and comfortable to be with him that she said yes. And when she was with him, she loved him more than Lolita.
    I am not going to think about this right now, Ingrid told herself firmly. It's too confusing. Besides, Lolita doesn't feel—
    "I don't suppose you'd be okay for one last time in bed before we get ourselves killed," Lolita grumbled.
    Ingrid glared at her.
    "Don't look at me like that."
    "It has been over between us for—"
    "I know. I know." Lolita tugged at her blonde hair and shook her head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up."
    "You shouldn't have," Ingrid agreed tensely. "You know my feelings on the matter."
    "I'm sorry. I'm just not looking forward to dying without…" she trailed off, and Ingrid was grateful for the silence.
    "Do you have your emergency oxygen?" Ingrid asked, checking her own supply.
    Lolita nodded. She opened her mouth but an explosion outside rocked the ship. Ingrid was thrown into Lolita's arms. Both toppled. Cursing,