Chapter 16 - Five humans, plenty of gossip
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Five humans, plenty of gossip
Garrison
IGNORING THE ache of my disappointed dick, I peeled myself off the floor and dressed slowly, trying to make sense of things. One minute Shohari was on top of me, kissing me. The next, I was on my own.
And, damn, that kiss. She’d tasted of heat and spice, and her tongue… holy shit.
I played it all back in my mind, how satisfying her weight on top of me was, how, once we’d found how best to kiss, it was as if she was almost devouring me—in a good way. A very good way.
As she’d rubbed her pussy against me, I’d felt something substantial through her leggings, and I could swear part of her had been moving. Rather than being repelled, I was intrigued. Intrigued and aroused.
I licked my lips, trying to get an extra taste of her, but there was only my own skin and the tingle of a memory.
Why had she run?
It would have been easy to assume she didn’t like me or didn’t enjoy what we’d too briefly shared, but I was certain there was more going on.
I smacked the door release button harder than I meant to, and the console beeped an admonishment. I didn’t know enough about her, or her culture, to begin to fathom the reasons.
My mood must have shown because as soon as I entered the cold cavern of the cargo bay, all eyes were on me.
“What’s up?” Zerena said.
I didn’t want to talk about it. My dick was still semi-hard in my stupid trousers—extra tight over Shohari’s shorts—and I couldn’t work out what I was feeling yet myself.
“Come and sit down.” Fenn sat quietly, but the girls fussed around me, mithering me to talk.
It occurred to me, if I was my father, I’d shout at them, put them in their place, refuse to talk. He’d never helped anyone in his life, not even himself. I’d never wanted to be like him, not since I saw him make Mum cry when I was five.
Eventually, when Imani asked if it was the captain, I nodded, grateful to chase away bad memories with something I could answer.
“Good,” Zerena said. “Because the only gossip we’ve had since we got captured was Rayna and co. leaving with the pirates, so we’re due something else, I think.”
“And Ellie and that reptilian,” Fenn said.
“Have you heard from her?” Imani asked.
“Hush, let him speak.” Zerena held up a hand, and I found some words.
“We kissed, and then she ran away.”
“What? Rewind. Start at the beginning.”
“We were sparring—”
“What?” Zerena crossed her arms. “How come we’re stuck in the cargo bay, and you’re sparring with the captain? Where?”
“Do you want me to finish this or not?” I managed a small smile. “There’s a training room. We were wrestling.”
When I caught their eyes, their knowing nods and smirks eased my tension a little.
“It’s as you can imagine. Boy meets girl, boy fights girl, girl pins boy, they end up kissing.” I sucked in a ragged breath because, fuck, that kiss. I could still taste her. “She broke the kiss—after being very into it, I hasten to add—then forced herself off me and ran away.”
“‘Forced herself’? ‘Ran away’?” Imani’s voice was gentle. “They’re interesting choices of words.”
“She looked distressed. I’m worried about her.”
“I’m worried about you, Garrison,” Zerena said. “You catch feelings too easily. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” She grimaced. “You know this thing with her can’t go anywhere, right? So what’s going on?”
“I know.” My head dropped, upper spine aching with the stretch. I’d have told them how I was feeling, but I couldn’t put it into words for myself, let alone anyone else. It was easier to worry about her.
“Anyway, I thought you hated kri’ith?” she teased.
I caught her eye for a brief, lopsided grin. “Not this one.”
“So, what do you want?”
That was the question, wasn’t it? What did I want? I wanted her. Beyond that…
We’d be on Vadias in three days, though the thought of it was nebulous, as if it were a potential reality that wouldn’t resolve.
Maybe I had to approach this new chapter in our lives with a new attitude. If I couldn't imminently explore the galaxy, I could embrace whatever new experiences came my way. Shohari was a beacon I couldn’t help but be drawn to, despite the trepidation that needled at me.
“I want to explore this,” I said, certain. “But she’s skittish. I know she likes me, and I don’t know why she pulls away."
Should I say more? Fuck it. “I don’t want to gossip, but I overheard something. A conversation on the bridge. It sounds like there’s something strange going on with her and her family.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. As soon as I realized how private the conversation was, I walked away. But I think there’s more to it. I can’t help feeling she’s in some kind of trouble.”
“And you want to help.” Fenn wasn’t asking a question.
“I do.” And I didn’t want to leave the Dorimisa until I had.