by Ruby Dixon
But all is as I left it, and I check the logs of the station as well as the surrounding satellites that monitor the area. All has been silent, and the only thing that wandered close was a freighter that changed courses the moment it got close to the asteroid belt. Suits me just fine. I return to the Little Sister, Sleipnir at my heels…only to find that Sophie is fast asleep in the same spot I left her in.
My heart aches at the sight. I know she hasn't been sleeping much lately. It's all the more reason I'm glad that we've returned to my station. Sophie needs a place where she can feel safe, where she can relax without worrying she's in danger. I would never tell her that she can't help the fight to find the brothers, but I'm relieved that she's decided we should take a step back. We can keep our ears open for communications that come through, or check in with other pirate ships that move through the area. The Jabberwock can take up the front lines; we can do other work quietly in the background and still contribute. If nothing else, we can add funds to the pool.
I carefully lift Sophie from the chair and carry her out of the ship. My mate doesn't even stir, just curls up against my chest, lost in dreams. I deposit her in my bed—our bed—and when Sleipnir immediately jumps into the bed next to her, I pull the blankets over both of them. "You watch over her while she sleeps," I tell the carinoux. "I've got some work to do."
There's a million things to be done now that we're back. The station's an older one so there's always something going offline or malfunctioning, air filters to replace, systems to power back up now that we've returned…plus the Sister has to have maintenance so she can sit in the dock, unused, for as long as necessary. It's a staggering amount of work that's been piling up while we've been gone, but I don't mind it. We're home, and Sophie's safe.
Truly, does anything else matter?
I'm elbows deep into a wall-unit filtration system when I hear footsteps behind me. A moment later, Sleipnir butts his head against the back of my leg, my knee almost giving out.
"Hey now." I move to the side, avoiding the carinoux's overly enthusiastic rubbing. "Some of us are trying to work here."
"And some of us slept all day," Sophie says, followed by a long, loud yawn.
I slide my hands free of the filtration system and turn to look at my pretty mate. She's adorably sleep-tousled, her hair a mess around her shoulders, her clothing rumpled, and there's lines on one side of her face from pressing her cheek into the linens. Even so, the circles under her eyes have diminished and her smile is bright, and she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. "You're awake."
"You sound disappointed," she teases.
I grab a towel and wipe my hands free of old dust and oil. "Was hoping to wake you up with my head between your thighs."
She gestures at the door. "I can go back to bed and pretend to be asleep. Give me two minutes."
I laugh, shaking my head, and she laughs, too, and it's such an easy, pleasant moment that I almost forget that I never had them before her. I never had any joy before her. The realization that I almost lost her hits me and steals the breath from my lungs.
Kef me. If things had gone differently…
"Jerrok?" Sophie's laughter dies and she gives me a curious look, tilting her head as I storm over to her. "Are you okay?"
I move close enough to pick her up and haul her into my arms. I want to crush her against my chest and squeeze her so tightly that I never let her go, because right now, my system is flooding with the thoughts of her dead, her wounded…
I have to be careful. Not just for her sake, but for mine, because my existence impacts hers. If I had died and she was sold into slavery again, I know that would break her. And I won't let anything harm my Sophie. Gently, I tug her close, mindful of the strength of my new hand. I wrap my arms around her as if she's fragile glass, and just breathe in her scent for a moment. Her arms go around me, and her hands stroke up and down my back.
"I can't lose you," I tell her. "Ever."
"I'm not going anywhere." Her fingers graze my tail. "You're stuck with me."
Stuck. As if she has no idea of what a gift she is. "I've missed touching you," I tell her, suddenly desperate to be sheathed inside her body. I need to connect with her, need to feel her under me, yielding to me, giving to me just as much as I am giving to her. I need to claim my mate to appease the animalistic, possessive side of me that's threatening my sanity.
I never thought of myself as a wildly possessive type, despite the fact that mesakkah are known to be utterly focused on their mates. I thought it wouldn't affect me, that I'd be unchanged if a female entered my life. Ha. I slide my hands to Sophie's backside and haul her into my arms, carrying her as I head out of the storage room and into the hall.
"Where are we going?" Her arms twine around my neck, the breathless note in her voice indicating that she has some idea.
"To our bed. I plan on claiming every inch of you. Repeatedly."
"And Sleipnir?" She leans in and I think she is going to press her face against my neck, but instead, she nips lightly at my ear.
My cock jumps in response. "I do not plan on claiming him."
She giggles, smacking my arm. "I meant should we give him a chew of some kind?"
In this moment, aching for my mate like I do? I don't care if the carinoux chews a hole right through the station…but then I pause. Sigh. Because I'm growing fond of the irritating beast, and I know Sophie adores him. I set her down on the floor. "Find him something. Anything."
My mate grins up at me with a wicked look in her eyes. "Go and get started without me. I'll catch up."
Start without her? Is she crazed? But it gives me an idea, and I head to the bedroom, stripping my clothes off as I go.
87
SOPHIE
After Sleipnir is settled in the terrarium with a nice, fresh hunk of metal piping—his favorite—I practically race down the hall toward the bedroom.
I'm so damn aroused. It's been forever since Jerrok and I had sex. Definitely over a week. And I'm aching with the need for him to touch me. I hope he took my advice and got undressed while he waited for me, because I don't think I can wait much longer—
I turn the corner and lose my breath at the sight of Jerrok.
He's sprawled in bed on his back, his legs hanging over the edge of the mattress and his feet on the floor, as if it was too much effort to get entirely onto the bed. He's naked, too, his cock proudly arching into the air. As I watch, he runs his new hand slowly up and down his length.
Touching himself.
Waiting for me.
Heat pulses between my thighs and I bite back a moan at the sight. God, he's beautiful. I take a few steps forward, entranced as his fist works up his length and he gives the head of his cock a little squeeze. He lifts his head as I approach, and there's such heat in his gaze that it makes my entire body respond. "You said to get started without you," he murmurs. "This what you wanted?"
"It's even better," I whisper, pulling off my own clothing. "Does it feel good when you touch yourself?"
"You know it does. You also know it feels better when you do it." Jerrok lifts his chin, indicating the bed. "Come and join me."
I let my serviceable jumpsuit fall to the floor around my boots, then bend over to unfasten them, as well. I love the hiss of Jerrok's breath as I bend over, because he's probably watching my tits, and I love that even this movement is sexy to him. I straighten, pulling my hair free from the bun atop my head, and I feel like Aphrodite, a beautiful and enticing goddess, as I approach my waiting mate.
Jerrok strokes his cock faster as I approach, his gaze locked on me, and I crawl onto the bed at his side. I lean over to kiss him, and as I do, I put a hand on his cock, covering his fist, and working his length along with him.
His groan against my lips is one of the most gorgeous sounds ever, and it just makes me hungry for more.
I stroke him, once, twice, letting my lips play over his. "I missed you," I tell him between kisses. "I'm glad we're alone again."
/>
"Me too." The rasp of his voice is desperate, needy, and it makes my pussy clench in response. "Would have stayed if you wanted. Would have crossed the entire galaxy for you."
I melt at that. "I know. But I wanted to come home."
Jerrok kisses me again, his mouth hungry and desperate on mine. Our tongues flick against one another, and then I'm the one gasping as he lifts his hand from his cock and places it between my legs instead. "You wet for me?"
"Always."
"Good girl."
I whimper, because god, how long has it been since I heard that? It makes me so damn aroused I can hardly stand it. "Need you," I tell him again. "Please, Jerrok. Need you so badly."
"I know." He kisses me again, and then Jerrok takes control. His hands move to my hips and he maneuvers me expertly down onto the bed, rolling over until I'm the one on the mattress and he hovers above me. "You tell me how you want this, love. Hard and fast, or slow and sweet?"
My toes curl at the choice. I want both. Oh boy, do I want both. At the same time, though, I feel so empty and aching and hollow without him, that it makes my choice easy. "Hard," I pant. "Fast. We can do slow later."
Jerrok growls low in his throat, pleased, and lifts my thighs, pushing them forward until my knees are practically in my face. I suck in an excited breath, holding my legs as his weight bears down on me. He strokes his cock against my folds, the ridges dragging against my skin and sending goosebumps through my body. "You're so wet already."
I squirm, because it's true. I grew wet the moment sex was brought up. My body is utterly primed, and just the thought of touching Jerrok is enough to make my body ache with need for him.
With one last slick stroke through my folds, he sinks deep into me and I cry out with how good it feels. There's the inevitable feeling of tightness, of being stretched, that always comes with his first stroke, and then it's followed by the sensation of being utterly filled, and my skin prickles with goosebumps even as I sigh with sheer pleasure.
"Good girl," he tells me in that low, husky voice. "Look at how good you take my cock."
A whimper escapes me, my entire body clenching in response to those sexy words. Fuck, I love that. I love how deep he fills me and how he gazes down at me with such a possessive look. How he's so damned careful when he holds me, even as he drives his cock deep into my body again with his next stroke. He always pauses to make sure I'm all right, then continues when he sees that there's nothing but bliss on my face.
"My girl," he growls. "My Sophie. My fierce, beautiful girl."
He hammers into me with hard, wrecking thrusts that shake the bed and make my breasts bounce. It feels incredible, and I'm whimpering with pleasure as he fucks me into the mattress, my channel clenching tight around him as my release creeps up on me. His spur rubs against my clit relentlessly, and before I know it, I'm tightening with that all-over sensation that tells me that I'm about to come, and come hard. I dig my fingers into my thighs, holding them pressed to my chest as Jerrok pounds into me. It's. So. Good.
Jerrok shifts his weight again, one hand sliding under my ass and lifting my hips ever so slightly. I'm puzzled as to what he's doing—but then he pushes deep again and it hits the spot inside me that feels like magic. My legs jerk, I make a sound that's totally incoherent, and then I'm coming, my body clenching tight around his cock as a hard, delicious release roars through me. Jerrok continues to pound into me with fierce strokes, until I fall back, limp, against the mattress. Only then does he give in to his own release, dragging my hips down against him hard as he uses my spent body.
I'm smiling as he collapses on top of me, and my arms go around his neck. "Love you," I murmur, practically humming with contentment from every pore.
"Love…you…too…" he pants, and I wiggle underneath him, because I love how worn out he is. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
I snort. "Never." Even if his fingers dug in a little tight when he came, I loved it because I love watching him lose control. "You feel wonderful."
"So you enjoy being crushed underneath me?" He braces his weight on his elbows, lifting off me just a bit, and then begins to nibble at my jaw and throat. I'm one of the luckiest women in the universe that Jerrok is a cuddler. He loves to touch and kiss and caress after sex…which usually turns into more sex, but I don't mind in the slightest.
I just hold him closer. "You never crush me. I like the way it feels."
Because it feels like home.
Epilogue
Sixteen Months Later
SOPHIE
I press my toes against the cool edges of the new tub, enjoying my soak. How did we survive with only a shower for so long when there are tubs in the universe? I sigh happily, my chin sinking into the fragrant bubbles. They're not as foamy as a bubble bath would be back on Earth, but I've found a soap mixture that does the job reasonably well and smells like exotic flowers. It's utterly delicious and perfect to soothe sore muscles…especially the ones in my butt. I've been on a cleaning tear for the last two days, and my legs are suffering because of it.
The floors of the station sure look nice, though.
The comm in the wall chirps. "Bethiah will be here in a half hour, love." Jerrok's deep, delicious voice makes a shiver run through me, even after all this time. "Will you be ready?"
"I'm getting out of the tub," I call to him. "Right now."
"You need help drying off?"
"No, because we both know you just want an excuse to put your hands on me," I tease, pushing the “drain water” button with my toe.
"Why is that a problem?"
"I love you," I tell him, shaking my head even as I sit up in the bathtub. "I'll be out in a minute."
"Love you, too." He chuckles as he turns off the comm.
I smile as I get to my feet and dry off, toweling water from my hair. It's been a while since we've seen anyone. Things have been quiet on this end of space, and even the pirates that drift in with salvage from time to time have been few and far between. Jerrok says it's because of the position of the asteroid belt to the nearest planets. The asteroid belt stays stationary, but the planets have drifted farther away from us, taking a lot of the traffic with them. The nearest planet will move closer again in about two years, but Jerrok's not worried. He's more than ready for quiet time, he tells me. As if it's not quiet all the time already.
I touch my stomach thoughtfully. Maybe Jerrok meant something else. Maybe the lull in traffic would be a good time to raise a baby. It's something we've talked about recently. Neither one of us is ready to be a parent, but maybe in the future, with several quiet years ahead of us…it wouldn't be the worst idea.
We'll have to talk about it again.
For now, though, I need to dress and get the place ready for our visitor. I pull on a shift dress and a pair of sandals I made for myself with ribbon and some leather (and a bit of stubbornness) since a lot of the stuff we run across isn't human sized. I tie my damp hair into a loose braid and then make my way to the terrarium.
As I do, I pass Jerrok, who's got a crate in his arms. His eyes brighten at the sight of me, and he pauses. "You look pretty."
I give a little twirl. My dress is made from stitched-together remnants of a silky tablecloth we purloined from a wrecked ship brought to our doorstep, and it's this lovely shimmery color between red and purple, depending on the way the light hits it. "You like?"
"You make everything look good," he tells me, then leans in for a kiss. "Happy birthing day, love."
I giggle at his mangling of the word. The mesakkah don't celebrate birthdays, but last year when I confessed to him about mine and how I missed birthday cake, he grew obsessed with having a party for me this year, no matter how small. This is the third time today he's told me “happy birthday” and I know he wants me to feel special today. As if he doesn't make me feel special EVERY day. "Thank you, babe. I'm going to get some fresh flowers for the table before Bethiah gets here. Where's Sleipnir?"
"Probably eating your flowers," he
says. "Should I put on some noodles?"
I nod, leaning in to kiss him again, just because I love his mouth. "I'm going to add vegetables to it, though."
Jerrok makes a horrified face. "Must we?"
"Green things are good for you, damn it." I poke him in the side. "And you like them."
"I tolerate them," he corrects. "But yes, if you want green things in our perfectly good noodles, today is your day."
With a sassy wink, I head on to the terrarium, smiling to myself. It's a never-ending battle between us, dinner. Jerrok will absolutely eat noodles day in and day out without fail. He hates anything even remotely shaped like a protein bar, and I know it reminds him of the war and bad memories. It's just…man, I get tired of noodles sometimes. I think longingly of the small bag of flour we got from Kivian's brother and his mate, who live on a farm planet. It's a different kind of grain, but it's milled like flour and I swear, I made so much bread when we had that stuff. It's a shame I didn't save any for a birthday cake, but it wouldn't have the right texture anyhow.
At least now we have vegetables.
I duck into the terrarium, as one of the leafy vines is growing over the entrance and I don't have the heart to trim it back. I love the wild greenery and the only thing I really do with them is to try to coax them into growing on the makeshift trellises that are scattered throughout the dirt beds. The terrarium itself is a thing of beauty, so green and verdant that it takes my breath away every time I enter. Now, instead of just green plants, there are bright splashes of color mixed in, huge red flowers next to bright blue blooms. There's a yellow flower that smells a bit like honeysuckle and looks like clusters of grapes, and I lean in close as I pass by it. I now have an entire bed for flowers of all different shades, and I head toward it. It kills me to cut any of the flowers, because I can enjoy them for months out here, instead of just a few days inside a vase.