Chapter 12
Zarath
The harsh lights of the Chokreini Space Station were startling after our intimate encounter, and I rubbed my eyes, trying to focus. Maybe two orgasms in a row weren't the best way to prepare for a serious mission.
Familiar sights and smells flooded my senses — smells of food from home, music I recognized, and people who looked like me. Yet I noticed details I'd overlooked before — the intricate patterns etched into the metal walls, the soft hum of the life support systems. My mind wandered to Delilah, imagining her wide-eyed wonder at experiencing this place for the first time.
"You okay there, good boy?" Dave's warm voice startled me from my reverie. His moss-green hand rested gently on my shoulder, grounding me. I looked back to see Hana, Corvu, and Voa walking along slowly behind us.
"Of course. I was merely... cataloguing potential security vulnerabilities." I frowned at him, narrowing my eyes. "Don't call me that."
"Mm with the way you came all over our Lilah's face today. Maybe I should call you a bad boy. Come on, let's get moving before Harold sprints ahead to flirt with the senator."
As if on cue, Harold's voice piped up behind us. "I'm too old to sprint! But I will walk beside you at a sedate pace. The senator might need my technical expertise!"
I groaned. "I don't think she asked for cybersecurity, Harold."
"Must be an oversight. Everyone needs cyber security," Harold huffed.
We piled into the nearest lift; the doors whooshing shut behind us. Dave immediately turned to Harold, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "So, old man, planning to woo the senator with your vast knowledge of ancient Earth tech?"
Harold's wrinkled face flushed. "I'll have you know, young whippersnapper, that my skills are highly sought after!"
"Oh, I'm sure," Dave teased.
Harold cackled, elbowing Dave. "Speaking of being sought after, did you and Ixeo ever work out? How's that infatuation with our resident Zangrel coming along?"
Dave's wings twitched, a deep chuckle rumbling in his chest. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Dave and Ixeo? I inched closer to Dave, feeling possessive. My mind raced, torn between the mission at hand and the distracting thoughts of Delilah, of Dave, of everything I'd been trying to push aside. Dave's wing brushed against my arm, sending a shiver down my spine. He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear. "Relax, Z. I'm not fucking Ixeo. Yours is the only cute male ass I'm after."
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus, though his words made me imagine myself impaled on his cock.
"Oh! I forgot I came in on you two getting hot and heavy. Sorry, Zarath, the Ixeo thing was just a joke," Harold said, patting my arm. "He teases me about being old. I tease him about his crushes. It's our thing."
"Right," I said tightly.
"If you're his latest crush, I approve. I think you two make a cute couple."
"Aikkoans only mate in throuples," I said, then blinked, wishing I hadn't spoken.
Harold whooped. "Woo-wee! Who's the third?"
Dave's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Well... that's strictly classified information."
Even as the words left his mouth, I felt the light brush of his pinkie finger against mine. My breath caught as our fingers intertwined, the simple touch sending a jolt of electricity through my body. I reminded myself sternly that neither of us wanted anything serious, that this was just a fleeting moment of connection. But I couldn't deny the way my heart soared, a melody of longing and desire thrumming through my veins.
If only Delilah were here too, I thought wistfully. The image of her warm smile flashed in my mind, and I felt a pang of worry. As if sensing my thoughts, Dave leaned close, his lips barely grazing my ear as he whispered, "Don't worry, she's safe with Voa and Ixeo on the Voyager."
I turned to him, startled. Was I that transparent? And how did he always seem to know exactly what I was thinking? Before I could voice my questions, Dave's hand tightened around mine, giving it a firm, reassuring squeeze.
The lift doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the bustling corridor beyond. As we stepped out, I clung to Dave's touch, grateful for the anchor it provided amidst the swirling chaos of my thoughts.
As we entered Senator Moali Krullo's opulent office, I was immediately struck by the warmth radiating from Dave. His imposing figure, usually so intimidating, seemed to soften as he greeted the senator with a disarming smile. I watched, fascinated, as he effortlessly took the lead alongside Hana.
"Senator Krullo," Dave said, his deep voice rich with respect, "it's an honor to meet you."
The senator's luminescent skin seemed to glow as she returned his smile. "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Lonoa. I've heard much about your team's exemplary work."
I hung back, studying Dave's interactions. The way his moss-green skin caught the light, the gentle curve of his lips as he spoke — it was mesmerizing. I shook my head, trying to focus on the task at hand.
"We're thrilled to hear about your upcoming speech at the Interplanetary Unity Council," Hana chimed in, her enthusiasm palpable.
Senator Krullo's eyes lit up. "Ah yes, it's a topic close to my heart. The connections between races are vital, you see. We must foster not just tolerance, but true understanding and acceptance."
As she spoke, I couldn't help but notice how Dave's wings twitched slightly, as if in agreement. The movement sent a shiver down my spine, and I had to force myself to pay attention to the senator's words.
"Interspecies relations, friendships, even romance — these are the bridges that will unite our galaxy," she continued, her voice filled with passion.
Suddenly, Harold pushed forward, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Speaking of interspecies romance, Senator," he began, his voice dripping with charm, "I'd love to hear your personal thoughts on the matter."
I rolled my eyes, embarrassed by his blatant flirting. But before I could intervene, Hana elbowed him out of the way, laughing good-naturedly.
"Forgive our colleague, Senator," she said, still chuckling. "But he does bring up an important point. We have concerns about potential violence from extremist groups who oppose interspecies relationships."
The senator's expression grew serious. "A valid concern, indeed. While I do have secret service agents for protection, I believe a more subtle approach is necessary."
I leaned in, intrigued despite myself. The senator's words reminded me of my personal mission, the weight of it pressing down on me once more.
"That's where we come in," Dave said, his voice low and reassuring. "Our agency will provide that extra layer of security, blending in with the crowd to spot any signs of trouble."
As Dave spoke, I couldn't help but admire his professionalism. It was a stark contrast to the playful, teasing man from earlier, and yet somehow just as alluring. I wondered which side of him I preferred and immediately chastised myself for the thought. After all, this was just a job, and Dave was just sex. Not that I really had any experience with that.
I shifted uncomfortably, frustrated that Dave had taken charge so effortlessly. It should have been me leading this conversation. After all, I was the one with the prestigious background, the one who truly understood the intricacies of interplanetary politics.
But as Dave continued his discussion with Senator Moali, something unexpected happened. His massive wing brushed against my side, the touch so light I almost missed it. A moment later, it happened again. The gentle caress of the claw at the tip of his wing sent a shiver down my spine, grounding me in a way I hadn't felt in years.
"We'll ensure maximum coverage of the event space," Dave was saying, his eyes locked on the senator.
I leaned into his touch, craving more of that comforting connection. Was he doing this on purpose? The thought both thrilled and terrified me.
"Your dedication is admirable," Senator Krullo said, her luminescent skin seeming to glow with approval.
As we prepared to leave, she turned her gaze to Dave and me, a warm smile playing on her lips. "I must say, your love is quite charming. Tell me, do you have a third, as is Aikkoan tradition?"
My mind went blank. I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
Dave, however, didn't miss a beat. "Our third is back on the ship, Senator. She's our group's medic."
I gaped at him, my heart racing. What game was he playing? Harold elbowed his way between us.
"Speaking of thirds, Senator," Harold said, his eyes gleaming, "Are you single, by any chance?"
As I watched Dave and Harold joke about Dave’s supposed throuple, my patience snapped. I grabbed Dave's hand, my fingers wrapping tightly around his, and yanked him away from the group. "Excuse us," I hissed over my shoulder, not caring how abrupt it seemed.
Once we were out of earshot, I rounded on Dave. "What the hell was that?" I snarled, keeping my voice low. "I thought this was just temporary. A fun flirtation. Nothing more."
Dave's golden eyes met mine, unfazed by my anger. He shrugged, his massive shoulders rising and falling. "I don't see the harm in humoring the woman, Zarath. It's all part of the act, isn't it?"
His nonchalance infuriated me even more. Didn't he understand? "That's not the point!" I snapped, my voice trembling slightly. "You can't just say things like that without—"
"Do you want to be my boy? My pet?" Dave cut me off, leaning in close. His breath was hot against my ear. “You haven’t given me your consent yet.”
I didn't know the answer to that, but my cock was 100% on board. I should not have been horny again so soon.
"If you and Lilah truly want to be mine, we should discuss it. And you're going to have to deal with my Aikkoan needs. I have a lot of needs."
I froze, my anger evaporating in an instant. Heat flooded my body, and to my shock, I felt my inner muscles flutter at the thought of Dave inside me. The intensity of my reaction caught me off guard.
Dave's eyes widened slightly. "Fuck," he muttered, shifting his stance. "Don't get too horny. My dick is already getting hard."
I swallowed hard, torn between desire and confusion. "I... I don't understand," I whispered, hating how vulnerable I sounded.
"Oh, come on, Z. The psychic thing you're doing?"
"What psychic thing? I don't have abilities."
Dave chuckled, the sound vibrating through me. "I thought all Chokreini had psychic powers," he said, his golden eyes twinkling with amusement. "I can definitely feel waves of energy coming off you, Zarath. It's... intoxicating."
Shock rippled through me, followed quickly by embarrassment. "I... I didn't realize," I stammered. "I've never had abilities. My younger brother, Moslu, he was always the one with the gift."
Dave's expression softened, and he reached out, his fingers brushing my arm. The touch sent sparks through my body. "Maybe you just never noticed before," he murmured. "I could feel your wild emotions in there. It drove me crazy."
"Sorry," I whispered.
"No, you don’t understand," he continued, "It drove me crazy that I didn't know how to settle you down. I didn’t know how to make it better."
"The mission," I muttered, more to myself than Dave. "I can't let... this... get in the way." I opened my eyes, forcing myself to focus on our surroundings. The sleek lines of the space station, the hum of machinery. "This job is just a means to an end," I said firmly, even as part of me ached at the words.
Dave raised an eyebrow, his wings rustling slightly. "Is it?" he asked softly.
"It's supposed to be. I'm supposed to be eradicating Serenity9 from the galaxy."
"Says who?"
"It's a long story, okay? My brother, he was an addict, and..." I trailed off, shuddering, and Dave wrapped his arms around me, then his wings.
"Shh. I can feel your pain, sweetheart. It's okay. Do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't know if I'm ready yet."
He smiled kindly. "Why don't we forget this for now and go get Lilah. We could take her shopping?"
Taking another shaky breath, I nodded, not entirely sure a distraction was the right choice, but it seemed so very Dave. I wondered if I would ever be able to get him to deal with the tough emotions.