Chapter Nineteen
What a difference a retirement makes. Sometimes Ruyn found it hard to reconcile Defense Minister Murta with Mama Murta.
It was as if they were two different people.
He’d never met the defense minister in person, but in holograms she’d been a cold, stern, take-no-prisoners woman.
A force to be feared, she’d never hesitated to make tough, even brutal decisions.
As a cook and café owner, Mama was nurturing, cheerful, chatty, and always had a ready smile.
Even her head covering matched her personality.
She’d traded the somber dark-blue worn with her military uniform for gay hues of hot pink, bright orange, and sunny yellow.
Today, she and Chaumi wore jaunty yellow-green caps.
Chaumi had no sooner seated them than Mama bustled out of the kitchen. “My two favorite customers!” She beamed from ear to ear.
“I’ll bet you say that to all the customers,” Ruyn joked.
“But I mean it when I say it to you. Did you enjoy the last box dinner?”
He winced. “We didn’t get to eat it.”
“Why? What happened?”
“We had a little excitement.” Michaela gave a quick rundown of the break-in, omitting the Prellim connection.
“That’s terrible! Just terrible!” Mama clucked her tongue. “First the attack on you, Ruynko, now Michaela? I don’t know what’s happening on Luturna. This sort of thing never happened when I was defense minister.” She shook her head. “Thank the gods you weren’t hurt.
“I will cook something very special to make up for it!” She adjusted her cap and straightened her matching apron.
“I’m sure we’ll love it,” Michaela said.
“Everything you cook is amazing. Nobody cooks like you do,” Ruyn said.
“You are too kind,” Mama replied. She motioned to her daughter. “Chaumi, bring my two favorite people some drinks.”
“Right away, Mama.”
“It gladdens me, Ruynko, that you have met your lady, and that my little restaurant has played a small part. You are a different man now. She has healed you. It’s obvious how much joy she brings you.
You two were meant to be together. I knew the instant I saw you two together. You protested, but I could see.”
“You were right,” he admitted.
“What was that?” She cocked her head.
“You heard me.”
“I know. I just like hearing it. For as many times as I am right, I don’t get to hear it often enough,” she said. “Not since I retired as defense minister, anyway.”
“Father and I tell you you’re right all the time.” Chaumi set drinks on the table and rolled her eyes. “It’s easier that way.”
“You see what I mean?” Mama smiled affectionately at her daughter.
Mama and Chaumi continued with their respective duties.
“No false modesty there,” Michaela said when they were alone.
“None,” he agreed with a chuckle then reached across the table to take her hand. “I can’t imagine my life without you. I do feel like a new man. I hope I make you as happy as you make me.”
“I feel now like I loved you before I ever met you. Like I was waiting for you to find me.”
His chest swelled with happiness. He felt like he was on top of the world.
“We had a connection right from the start,” she said.
“Why do you think I let you stay?” he joked and then realized there might be truth in it. Opposed to a bodyguard, he’d made only token protests. He could have gotten rid of her if he tried. But some inner voice whispered, Give her a chance.
“Like we were meant to be,” she said.
“Don’t say that too loud.” He shifted his gaze to the kitchen.
She laughed.
“I love your laugh.” He loved everything about her.
He marveled that out of all the females in the universe, the woman he’d connected with was a human from another planet hired against his wishes.
If he hadn’t been attacked, he wouldn’t have met her.
The worst thing to ever happen to him had turned into the best. He did not believe in fate or mysticism, but like Mama said, it felt like he and Michaela were meant to be.
They had to get her allergy under control.
Nothing bad could ever be allowed to happen to her.
It would destroy him. He halted the direction his mind headed before pessimism ruined this perfect moment and raised his glass instead.
“We should toast. To our future and many, many happy years together,” he said.
“To our happy future. I love you,” she said.
“I love you, too.”
They clinked glasses and sipped the fruity, bubbly beverage.
“Not quite what I expected,” Michaela said.
“No.” He’d been expecting something alcoholic. “Chaumi’s choice rather than Mama’s.” The server hadn’t been told what kind of drinks to bring them.
“It’s good, though.” She took another sip.
Just then, Chaumi delivered two plates loaded with steaming, aromatic food. “It’s on the house. A celebration.”
“No…that’s not necessary—”
“She won’t take no for an answer. She says it’s free food or no food.” Chaumi held the plates.
Michaela laughed. “She drives a hard bargain.”
Relentless. A benevolent dictator. “We’ll take it, then,” he conceded. “Relay our thanks.”
Chaumi set the plates on the table. She winked. “Enjoy!”
* * * *
“It’s just as well we didn’t drink alcohol because, after that heavy meal, you might fall asleep before you exhaust me,” he said as they entered the apartment. He’d gotten hard in anticipation. Knowing she returned his feelings made him desire her all the more. He pulled her close for a deep kiss.
“Mmm…” She melted against him. The way her body fit with his was another of the sexy things he loved about her. “No way. I never back down from a challenge.”
He nuzzled her throat, following the slope of her neck to her shoulder, tugging aside her shirt for better access. She had the softest skin.
Her hands slipped under his shirt and caressed his broad back. “I should take a shower,” she said.
“Me, too. You want to go first?” He hated to stop when things were getting interesting, but they had a momentous night ahead of them. Today was a cause for celebration, so why rush things?
“Why not together?” she suggested.
“You have the best ideas.”
They moved into the bath, leaving their clothes on the floor. He couldn’t resist kissing her again, loving the silky feel of her naked body as she rubbed against him. His cock was stone hard and weeping precum, and she hadn’t even touched his lower anatomy yet.
They embraced under the cascading water, and then she lathered her hands and began to wash him. He closed his eyes, enjoying the glide of her soapy, soft hands.
She washed his cock, up and down, up and down.
His bad leg shook. So did his good leg. He leaned against the stall for support.
“Did I ever tell you how impressive I think you are?” she said.
He peeled an eye open, expecting a teasing, lascivious smile, but her expression was dead serious.
“Not in so many words.” He swallowed. “But I caught the gist.”
“So there’s no doubt, I do.”
Seeing himself through her eyes had healed him, restored his faith in himself. “I think you’re impressive, too.” He ducked his head and kissed her. She swayed suggestively, the soap imparting an extra sensual feel, reminding him of the slickness of her pussy.
He soaped up and washed her from head to toe, paying particular attention to her breasts and between her legs. When his fingers moved over her clit, she stood on tiptoe and arched her back. “Don’t fall!” He grabbed her elbow to steady her.
“You weren’t supposed to stop.”
“We don’t need another medical incident.”
“Then let’s get out of here so we can practice safe sex.” She grinned.
They toweled off, and after she flash-dried her hair, they moved to the bedroom. She dropped onto the bed; it barely bounced or depressed. “I do miss the Starlight.”
“We’ll get a new bed.” Maybe move to a new apartment. He joined her on the rock-hard mattress. “The only thing firmer than this mattress is my cock,” he quipped.
She giggled.
“I hope you’re laughing at the bed.”
She leaned over him. “Never at you.” Dancing eyes turned serious, and the love shining in her gaze cut straight to his heart. He couldn’t believe his good fortune.
He brushed his lips at the corner of her eyes and then her cheeks before settling on her mouth and deepening the kiss to a slow, thorough exploration.
Her neck drew his attention next, and he kissed her throat, the leaping pulse heating his blood and causing his cock to ache.
He traced her collarbone before ducking his head and capturing the hard tip of a breast in his mouth.
While he laved her nipples, he toyed with the curls at the apex of her thighs before dipping into her pussy.
“Oh, god.” Her hips came off the bed, and she moved against his hand. His cock throbbed when her wet pussy squeezed his fingers.
She reached for him, but he shifted out of range. “No…just…let me. This is for you.” He scooted downward and lifted her thigh over his shoulder, replacing fingers with his mouth.
He brought her to the brink then moved upward and rocked into her, drawing out the moment, shuddering with intense pleasure as her walls tightened around his erection.
“Yesss…finally.” She tilted her hips to take him deeper and gripped his ass with her heels.
“So impatient,” he half laughed, half groaned. He held her hands by her head, interlacing their fingers. His eyes threatened to squeeze shut, but he kept them open to watch the rapture play on her face.
Her passion-soaked gaze met his. “I love you,” she said.
“I love you.”
They kissed, open-mouthed, sloppy, wet, perfect, continuing to hold hands as hips moved in sync. When she came, exquisite pleasure contorted her face, and only then did he surrender to the ecstasy.
It was, he realized later, the first time he’d ever made love.
Afterward, they lay limbs entwined, hands stroking, occasionally kissing, speaking little. No words seemed necessary.
“Pinch me,” she said after a long while.
“What? Why would I do that?”
“Because I’ve never been this happy. Pinch me so I know it’s real.”