Chapter 28
Cyra yawnedas she made her way to the galley. Rhysa and Blaize were there, along with someone she’d never met before. The woman’s wings flitted lazily as she chatted with Cyra’s crew as if she’d known them forever. Cyra peeked over Dez’s shoulder to see what he was cooking. It looked unusually fresh, and the smell made her mouth water.
“I picked up some produce at the market while I was finalizing the contract.”
She hadn’t slept well, and kept tossing and turning seeking another few minutes of rest. “How long have you been awake?”
“I awoke quite early. We have much to do today to prepare to leave.”
A sliver of resistance trailed down her gut along with the hot drink. “Are we going to be able to get the refrigeration upgrade installed today?”
“They’re scheduled to arrive shortly, as will the parts for the fuel containment repair.”
“Thank you, Dez,” she said quietly. He was making it very hard for her to remember he was not part of her crew and she couldn’t invite him to stay. There were parts of being a captain that had never found their way into her girlhood dreams of leadership.
Somewhat more awake, she approached the unknown woman. “I’m Captain Cyra Maejzur, nice to meet you?”
The woman stood, wide-set eyes were accented with dark eye stains that popped against her golden skin. Her long black hair framed the stunning effect. “Bodicea Szerensci, or just Bodi.”
Cyra glanced at the rest of her crew, expecting an explanation.
“While we were out last night,” Blaize sucked in a breath and Cyra prepared for a long explanation. “Rhysa and I decided to check out the nightlife here. I mean it’s going to be a while, and you were already in your tank, and Veda said she’d watch the ship.”
“Where is Veda?” Cyra interrupted.
“Greenhouse. She already reported on Queen and Princess. Everyone’s good.” Rhysa replied.
“Anyhow, we were at this bar and it was just buzzing with life.” Blaize giggled at her lame joke. “And while we were there, we met Bodi, and it turns out she’s a communications specialist. She worked on all kinds of ships for years. And she’s been the communications liaison for the royal family on Arbotriz. She’s beyond qualified, and she’s interested in joining us.”
“More that interested.” Bodi’s voice was low with a hint of aggression. “It’s been too long since I’ve been off planet and I miss it.”
Cyra was torn between being thrilled and concerned about their finances. With the unexpected repair, and the upgrade to the refrigeration, not to mention feeding another crew member, she wasn’t sure she could afford this stroke of luck. But she couldn’t afford to pass it by either.
“In fact, Rhysa and Blaize mentioned there might be a partnership opportunity?”
That option carried its own risks. She already had three partners. And what if Bodi didn’t fit in? “Possibly. I’m willing to give you a temporary contract for the trip to Kolben. If that works out, we can renegotiate. If not, we can drop you here when we pick up the next load of produce.”
Bodi’s wings quickly flittered and stilled. “That works.”
After they finished eating the omelet and fruit salad Dez had prepared, Cyra met with Bodi to go over the contract. Bodi didn’t ask about any of the details of the contract. She signed quickly and returned to staring at Dez. It made Cyra uncomfortable, but she didn’t address it. He could manage his own love life. It was none of her concern. At least, that’s what she told herself before leaving the galley for the deck.
After several hours of discussing the repairs with Blaize and the fuel needs with both Blaize and Rhysa and all the options for getting to Kolben, Cyra was exhausted. Rhysa, who had argued to use bridges, was completely against using one to get to Kolben. But Cyra worried avoiding wormholes could set them back because they were so far behind schedule. Rhysa was adamantly opposed and insisted they would be fine traveling at the fully accelerated capacity of the ship. Blaize confirmed that, with the repair, there was no reason they couldn’t avoid using an ER Bridge. Cyra had finally given in. Her crew had a change of heart? Why? There was something she was missing. The lack of logic made her brain hurt. Rather than continue to struggle for answers, she retreated to her water tank.
The next cycle, after all the final checks were made on the fuel system and the new refrigeration unit, they launched. Cyra had no problem getting the ship out of atmosphere by simply imagining having sex. So what if it was Dez she pictured. At least he could power her emotions without actually fucking her, thank goodness. For whatever reason, sexual energy led to a much smoother burst from atmosphere. Sometime in the future when she had a ton of time on her hands, she’d ask Blaize to explain the system to her in detail.
After the launch, Rhysa verified the navigation and declared there was nothing more to do. “I’ll keep an eye on trajectory for a few more until last meal is ready.”
Cyra nodded her agreement. Blaize and Bodi left the deck. Time to find Veda and have some girl time. Her best friend would listen to all her concerns about the changes in the crew, the ongoing threat that could be Varik or someone else, and, of course, Dez. Because as much as she tried to ignore the situation, he was constantly on her mind.
The med lab was empty which meant she was either in her quarters or working on her garden. Cyra checked Veda’s quarters first since it was closer. As she entered the corridor, she heard voices—an argument between Dez and she wasn’t sure who. She hurried to his quarters. His door was open. Bodi had her arms wrapped around him.
My mate.
“You know you want me to order you around. You’re a natural submissive. I can see it in you. I can give you what you need, a little dominance. Just get on your knees, Dez. Or I could even spank?—”
Cyra exploded. “Bodicea! Let go of him right now.”
Bodi jerked her head around and her dark eyes went wide. She released Dez and took several steps back, hands in the air. “Captain, we were just…”
It wouldn’t take a minute to jettison Bodi. But if Cyra did that, the crew might mutiny or worse, send her out behind Bodi. Cyra sucked in a slow deep breath and willed her gills to settle. “I don’t care what you think you were doing. I’m going to say this once and you, if you understand what’s good for you, will remember it always. He’s mine. Don’t touch. Ever.”
“Yes, Captain.” Bodi’s wings were buzzing they were flapping so quickly as she left Dez’s apartment.
Cyra stepped into the room and hit the panel to close the door.
Dez didn’t say a word, but his gaze was locked on her. He wore nothing but a pair of pants, his chiseled dark chest lined with markings he claimed were hers. He’d probably been changing his clothes after cooking or getting ready to work out. She didn’t care. “What the fuck was that?”
“She followed me. I didn’t realize—you have nothing to be concerned about.”
“Really? You’ve been calling me your queen, insisting that you’re mated to me. And the first cute bubble-butted, big-boobed bad-ass who wants you can be in your rooms, touching you?
“I didn’t?—”
“You didn’t say no.”
“My queen.” He tilted his head and gave her a soft pleading look. Held his arms open.
Cyra considered falling into them, but maybe he liked what Bodi was offering. “Take off your pants.”
“My queen?”
“It wasn’t a question, Dez. You understood the words.” Would he push back? It was a crazy risk, speaking to him that way.
Dez’s mouth turned up in a small smile as he undid the fastener on his pants and dropped them to the floor. His gaze smoldered through her.
Holy typhoons. Cyra clamped her mouth shut and swallowed. Her gills fluttered.
His cock began to harden. Apparently, whatever Bodi had done or said hadn’t worked. He truly hadn’t wanted her.
Cyra closed the distance to Dez, almost pressing her body to his, maintaining the smallest amount of space. She reached down and grasped him firmly.
“I’m not sharing.” She stroked him. His thick, hard, length filled her fingers. She teased the spongy head, squeezing it and causing a tiny release. She rubbed her hand across the top and released him so that she could slowly and purposefully lick his essence from her palm. Her gaze never strayed from his.
His breathing accelerated. She licked her hand again. His cock vibrated, shivering with his need for her. More pre-cum beaded from the head. She rubbed her wet hand over his tip and down his shaft, jacking him off—slowly. Firmly. Taking possession.
“You’re mine.” She sped up. Did he realize he was thrusting into her hand? The power and control over him sizzled through her, heating her core. She moved away as he tried to close the tiny gap between them, maintaining one single hand touching him, working him, drawing his orgasm from him. She moved faster and gripped him tighter.
“Please, my queen,” Dez begged.
Cyra pushed her clothed body against his naked one and pushed him toward the bed without breaking contact with his cock. He sat when the back of his knees hit the edge, jerking him out of her hand. Cyra dropped to her knees and took his cock in her mouth. She held her gaze to his yellow eyes as he roared and erupted, hips thrusting in tiny bursts despite his clenched muscles. He came completely undone. She swallowed every bit of his hot cum. It was hers. He was hers.
She stood and removed her one-piece uniform. Naked as he was, she crawled on top of him, shoving his torso down to the mattress. She shifted up his body until her core was over his face. She met his fire-filled gaze and willed him to respond to her demand without being told. Dez stared back, stroked his hands gently up the outside of her thighs, over the globes of her ass, and opened his mouth.
She lowered onto his face, close enough that he could work magic with his tongue. He held her hips gently. He wasn’t controlling her, he was hanging on. He kissed her wet lips. He licked deeply, suckling her like she was the only water on a desert planet. He maintained their visual connection the entire time.
Cyra moved her hips unable to hold still any longer. It had been so long since she had been touched by anyone intimately, privately. Auvi had never done this for her. She was an oral virgin and Dez showed her everything she’d been missing. Cyra couldn’t help moving harder and faster.
Dez’s grip on her hips tightened, hanging on, encouraging her to ride him. He sucked on every part of her, her lips, her clit, her delicate folds. It was as if he was mapping her pussy with his mouth, taking inventory of everything she liked and finding ways to make her like it more. Time had lost all meaning when she gave in to him and exploded.
She thrust her head back, closed her eyes and screamed out all the air in her lungs. The stars outside their ship appeared behind her eyelids. She shook and stretched and lost all connection to anything other than Dez. It was almost as disorienting as going through a wormhole the first time. But with no fear, no discomfort. Only wave upon wave of pleasure.
Holy fuck, what is he doing to me?
Dez clutched her tighter, working her through the entire experience. Until finally, she found the air to tell him to stop. He immediately released the tension in his hold, resting his hands on her hips. The warm, strength of his touch steadying her, bringing her back to ground. She tilted her head down to check on him. Had she been too much? Too out of control?
His smiling face glistened with her release.
Cyra shifted her leg to free herself. Dez lifted her as if she weighed nothing and somehow they ended up aligned on his narrow bed, her body pressed to his. His arms were wrapped around her and her head rested on his chest.
“My mate,” he sighed.
Cyra bit her lip. What had she done?