Chapter 17
Banjo
“Iused an emoji in my conversation with the captain this morning,” Stells says, her voice echoing slightly in the otherwise quiet kitchen. Unless I’m singing or humming or making some kind of racket, it’s always surprisingly quiet in here.
I glance towards the door to the cockpit. Closed. Good. I don’t want to disturb Tavryn. He’s been locked up in there since we took off. I figured he was working through stuff with Stells until she started talking to me.
“Oh yeah?” I’m happy for the conversation, but her timing could be better.
I’m taking another shot at that curry recipe Oliver gave me now that I know what the spices actually are, and I’m trying to stay focused so I get it right this time.
There’s not much room for fresh food on board, so wasting what we have would be a crying shame. “Which one did you use?”
“Guess.”
Ah. Viola likes to play this game. I learned a long time ago that “I don’t know” isn’t a good enough answer.
I think about it as I stir everything around in the skillet.
It smells much better this time. “Hm…that one that’s cryin’ real hard?
” I guess. The laughing crying ones are my go-tos, but I don’t really see those coming up in any sort of conversation between the two of them.
Stells tsks. “No, the one that appears to be rolling their eyes.”
“Of course,” I laugh, shaking my head affectionately at her even though I’m not sure she can see.
She probably can, if the stuff she told me about the cameras is true.
“I should’ve known. That’s much more your style.
” When talking to Tavryn, anyway. Their banter is interesting, to say the least. It’s easy to tell they’ve known each other for a long time.
I bite my lip, hesitating for a moment before I give in and ask what I really want to know.
“Has he said anythin’ to you? About me?” I sound like a teenager, I know, but I can’t help myself.
Tavryn isn’t exactly talkative when it comes to how he’s feeling about things.
I’d ask him myself if I wasn’t so worried about ruining whatever is happening between us. It’s still new and fragile.
“Like what?” Stells asks, her tone all innocent. Oh, she knows exactly what I’m talking about. The corners of my mouth lift in a smile.
“You know what I mean.” The curry looks done, so I turn the burner to low so it can simmer a bit. That way it’ll be warm whenever Tavryn wants lunch. Hopefully it’ll be soon, because I’m starving. That pastry this morning wasn’t near enough to hold me over.
“I wouldn’t be concerned.” Stells’s voice is so warm and reassuring I can’t help but believe her.
“The captain is very invested in you, even if he doesn’t always show it.
I’m sure the two of you will continue to have a very enjoyable time together.
” She pauses. “Ah, he’s coming this way, so I’ll refrain from saying more. ”
That’s when the door opens and Tavryn walks out.
He frowns when he sees me leaning against the kitchen counter next to the stovetop.
“She’ll refrain from saying more about what?
” he asks, his frown deepening when my cheeks start to flush.
My easy blush always gives me away in situations like this. It makes me a terrible liar.
“Um…” Before I can make up something that’s semi-believable, Stells jumps in and saves me.
“I was attempting to cajole Banjo into discussing what exactly the two of you got up to last night after the open mic night,” Stells says in her normal smooth, even tone.
Wow. Someone’s an excellent liar. It probably helps that there’s no body language to go off of.
“Unfortunately, he’s remained tight-lipped about the whole encounter. It’s a shame, really.”
Tavryn glares off towards a corner of the room, and I follow his gaze to see a camera mounted there. Oh. Interesting. So that’s how Stells can see what’s going on. “This is the last time I’m going to ask you to behave,” he says with a huff. “Now get back to work.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Tavryn turns his attention back to me. “Is the food ready?” He gives the air a sniff before his tongue darts out to lick his lips. Suddenly, I’m not thinking about food.
“It is,” I tell him, stepping between him and the waiting curry.
The relief of Tavryn coming back paired with Stells reassurance that Tavryn is invested in me is making me feel bold.
And horny, though that probably has more to do with the fact that Tavryn is standing right in front of me looking oh so delicious.
For some reason, he’s in his full get-up again—hat, boots, and all. I swear the outfit gets hotter the more I see him in it. “But you’ve gotta pay me if you want some.” I grin at him. He cocks his head.
“Pay you?” he asks, slowly closing the distance between us as he speaks. Anticipation builds in my gut, making my mouth water. “Oh, darling, you’re confused. You’re the one who's supposed to be paying me.”
He catches my chin with his tail to keep my eyes on his. I swallow thickly, my throat suddenly feeling dry. “I told you on day one I don’t give free rides. So what are you going to do for me?”
Dozens of ideas flash through my mind. It’s enough to make my cock stir. All the blood leaves my brain to fill my growing hard on, which is probably why I blurt out something dumb. “Is it okay if you only come once?”
Tavryn gives me a confused look. I plow on. I’ve started this conversation, so I might as well finish it. “I mean, I wanna suck you off right now, but I’m starvin’. And you ain’t real quick.”
His tail whips away from me, and I scramble to explain myself. Getting Tavryn mad at me is not going to help the mood any.
“Not in a bad way or nothin’!” I nearly stumble over the words because they come out so quick. “I just wanna make sure you always feel good. Because you always make me feel good. And the way you just keep goin’ absolutely blows my mind.”
The compliments soften Tavryn’s expression. More importantly, his tail is flicking back and forth behind him like an excited dog. It’s funny, considering I’m the pet here.
“It’s not ideal,” he finally tells me as he reaches around me for a bowl. I step out of his way. The moment has passed, at least for now. “It can be difficult to calm down after being only partially satisfied, but it’s not impossible.”
He lifts the spoon to his nose, giving it a little sniff before he loads it into his bowl. I’d be offended if my last cooking attempt hadn’t been a disaster. Once he’s helped himself, I grab my own bowl and load it up with curry.
“So y’all don’t have quickies?” I ask as I sit across from him at the small table.
The bite I take while I wait for his answer burns my tongue, and I nearly spit it out.
“Ow! Ow! Hot!” I keep my mouth open to try to cool things down.
Tavryn stares at me like I’ve lost my marbles, taking a slow bite of his own food without even blowing on it.
Apparently, the heat doesn’t bother him.
After I manage to swallow my bite and chug half my drink, Tavryn speaks.
“There are ways to be quicker, if necessary.” Now that piques my curiosity.
I don’t want to rush him, of course I don’t, but it could be fun to make him fall apart fast like that.
“Mostly with the aid of specifically designed toys.”
“What kinda toys?” I eagerly lean across the table towards him, my meal completely forgotten.
It tastes good, I think. My tastebuds are too burned for me to really taste much of anything.
Tavryn seems to enjoy it, if nothing else.
“Dildos?” Tavryn nods. I should have known.
He definitely knew what he was doing with mine.
“And…” Tavryn pauses, frowning a little. He takes another bite as he thinks. I use the moment to enjoy the way his throat bobs as he swallows. My hard-on definitely isn’t going down, that’s for sure.
I’m so distracted by how pretty he is I completely miss what he says next. What catches my attention is him making a vulgar motion with his hands. He makes a circle with one, shoving one finger of his other hand in and out of it.
When he realizes I’m just staring at his hands, he quickly drops them below the table. I look up at him, grinning. He doesn’t return it, though the corner of his mouth twitches just a bit. I’m pretty sure it was going to go up, not down. “Um…did you say somethin’?”
Tavryn sighs, shaking his head at me. Oh, I liked that sigh. It was almost affectionate. “What do humans call the type of toy you put your cock in?”
My grin grows even brighter. Right. We were talking about sex toys. How could I forget? Tav’s sex toys. Toys, plural, because he apparently has a whole collection. He’s really been holding out on me.
“You mean a fleshlight? Or a cocksleeve?” He shrugs. “Yeah, I think that’s what you mean. I ain’t never used one.” The idea has me blushing again. I already come quick enough. I can’t imagine what would happen if Tavryn used something like that on me, but I really want to find out.
“They can be quite pleasurable when you lack a partner,” Tavryn tells me.
He smirks at me across the table, and it makes my stomach flip.
“Although I suppose you don’t have any issues pleasuring yourself when you’re alone.
” This time, it’s Tavryn leaning forward.
“Is that what you’re going to do after this? When I return to the cockpit?”
I lick my lips, glancing up at the camera mounted behind him.
Tavryn’s brow furrows just a bit before he realizes what I’m looking at.
“Ah. I can turn those off, if it bothers you. But I can assure you Stells minds her own business when it comes to things of that nature, no matter what she might say.” He smiles this pretty half-smile. “Plus, who is she going to tell?”