by Lily Harlem
“Uma,” Mateo said. “Are you coming?”
I wiped the tip of my index finger over my bottom lip, dragging the skin a little.
Gavyn’s gaze followed my movements. His pupils were wide, his jaw set tight.
“We’re going to set up a game of Monopoly,” I said. “Will you join us?”
He didn’t speak for a few seconds, then, “I don’t think so.”
“Because of your headache?”
He frowned a little.
“I saw Hurin.”
“Good, he was looking for you,” Gavyn said.
“He found me, and he said you hadn’t felt well.”
“My head is fine.”
“I’m glad.” I paused. “So you can join us?”
“I might.”
Chapter Five
As I left the bridge, Mateo grabbed my hand. “Wait,” he said quietly and glanced over his shoulder at Gavyn. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, I had no idea he was standing there.” Mateo wore an expression of grave concern.
“Neither did I.”
“Well, of course you didn’t, you were…busy. But I should have been keeping an eye out.”
“My aim was to distract you from everything but what I was doing.” I squeezed his hand. “I guess I was successful.”
“Fuck, yes, and you know it.” He rubbed his brow. “But the last thing I ever want is for you to feel uncomfortable about us.”
“I don’t, not at all.” I looked over Mateo’s shoulder at Gavyn.
He was standing with his back to us, fiddling with some dials on the wide chrome console.
“You don’t?” Mateo said.
“No.” I cupped his cheek. “Because I think Gavyn enjoyed the show.”
“You do?”
“Yes. Maybe I’m a bit kinky, but that’s kind of hot, don’t you think?” I swept my lips over his.
“Yes, if you think so.” He grinned.
“I do. Listen, I have to go. I’ll see you later, in the games room.”
“Sure.” He pulled me close again, so his lips hovered over mine. “Thank you for a wonderful start to my morning.”
I spent most of the day in my quarters. I cleaned out Magic’s cage, caught up on some of the reading I’d promised myself to do on this journey—Macbeth—and enjoyed several cups of coffee and a dried fruit plate.
When it was time for dinner, I headed to the canteen.
There was no one else there, but I heated a chicken slice and had it with salad and pasta. It never tasted quite the same as on Earth, being that it had been treated for preservation purposes, but it filled my stomach and had all the nutrients I needed.
I was surprised that none of the crew joined me as I ate. It was the usual time for dinner.
Perhaps Hurin is having more problems with sleeper seventy-one.
Staring out of the window at deep space, I pondered the problem of the low fever. It was strange to have no other symptoms, but then again, without being awake it was impossible to ask if he had a sore throat or an earache. Maybe even a rotten tooth was to blame. Sleepers, both human and Athion, all had thorough medicals, but that didn’t mean some conditions wouldn’t arise during the six-month journey.
I made a promise to myself to ask Hurin more when I saw him. He was so conscientious about the sleepers this was bound to be worrying him. A little support from his fellow crew would help him with his job.
My contemplations turned to Gavyn. For a moment I worried his headache had returned and that was why he wasn’t eating, but then I remembered he’d said it was better.
Maybe he doesn’t want to see me?
That thought didn’t sit well at all. I wanted to see him. I liked Gavyn and couldn’t help but be concerned for his well-being. Losing his sister to a Trad wasn’t easy to handle, and neither was his guilt for not being there to save her.
“Hey, Uma.”
I looked up. It was Anki.
I smiled. “I wondered where everyone was.”
“Busy, busy, I guess.” He slipped a plated meal into the convection warmer. “I’ve checked on the goats.”
“You have?”
“Yes. Thought you deserved a night off.” He walked over to me, cupped my chin, and pressed a kiss to my lips. “Figured you might be tired after we stayed up so late.”
My lips curled into a smile against his. “Tired in a good way.”
“Can I come to your room tonight?”
“Yes. I’d like that.”
“Mateo will not mind?”
“Perhaps you’ll have to let him have a turn tomorrow.”
“Did I hear my name?”
Mateo strode into the canteen. He’d changed his sweats for denims, and his hair was damp as though he’d just showered.
“Er, yes.” Anki straightened and folded his arms over his wide chest, wrinkling his tunic top.
“In what context.” Mateo’s eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced between us.
“I was saying that I will have tonight with Uma and you can have tomorrow night.”
“You were, huh?” Mateo’s gaze settled on me. “And what does Uma think to that plan?”
I stood and brushed a crumb from my t-shirt. “I think I want to have a simple life.”
Mateo raised his eyebrows. “Having two lovers, two men who want to spend time with you in and out of the bedroom, is never going to be simple. Surely you knew that.”
“Yes, of course I did. And I adore you both, want to spend time, during the day and at night, with you both.”
Anki nodded seriously. “I have no problem with you being with Mateo. You were his first.”
“Yes. She was mine first.” Mateo reached for a meal, I wasn’t sure what, and he didn’t seem to know either. He slammed it into the second warmer and flicked it on. “And that’s worth remembering, Anki. We have a lot of history, Uma and I.”
“I understand.” Anki bowed his head for a brief moment, then raised it with a determined glint in his eyes. “And I, too, want to have a history with her, and a present and a future.”
It seemed to me they were puffing up their chests and establishing some kind of pecking order. I wasn’t sure how successful they were being, though.
Sure, Mateo outranked Anki, and he was right, we did have a long-established relationship. But Anki was a strong, sexy Athion. He hadn’t got to where he was by being weak and unfocused. He was also a man clearly prepared to fight for what he wanted…me.
“There’s plenty of my time to go round,” I said, squeezing Anki’s hand then walking over to Mateo. “And let’s face it, we have more than we know what to do with up here.”
“That’s true.” Mateo looped a lock of hair over my ear. “I will come to you tonight. Anki had last night.”
I opened my mouth to object. Perhaps I wanted Anki. Maybe I desired a night on my own. But something in Mateo’s eyes made me keep quiet. It was a flicker of vulnerability, uncertainty, and I knew he needed me.
The way I needed him.
“I’d like that,” I said. “And it does seem fair.”
Mateo pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Uncertainty was replaced with relief.
I turned to Anki. “Is that okay?”
“We could always…what is it called? A threesome.” Anki grinned and twitched his eyebrows. “The three of us, in bed…fucking.”
“No,” Mateo said quickly and shook his head. “Not that.”
Anki laughed. “I knew that is what you would say, Mateo. You want her for yourself.”
“Of course I do.” Mateo kissed my cheek. “I’ll look forward to later,” he whispered so only I could hear. “And I’ll return the favor from the bridge.”
A spiral of desire tugged at my belly. Mateo was damn good at making me come on his tongue. I certainly wouldn’t object to him settling the score.
I smiled and stepped away. “I’m going to prepare Monopoly in the games room for us to play. Come along
when you’ve eaten.” I gestured to the clock. “And when you see Gavyn and Hurin, tell them, too.”
The games room was quiet, so I found an old playlist from the early thirties and put it on.
As I sung along, I spread out the board and began counting out the pretend money. It was a classic game, one my grandfather had taught me to play many years before the landings. I’d always liked the concept of paper money, it seemed so quaint.
I picked the small steel boot as my token and set it on start. I hoped the others wouldn’t be long.
After filling up a jug of water, I changed the playlist to something quieter so we could chat.
Anki and Hurin arrived together. Hurin, as usual, had his tablet under his arm. When he sat, he placed it on the desk.
“Everything okay with sleeper seventy-one?” I asked.
“No change.” He relaxed back, his big bulk making the metal chair creak. “But I’m keeping him under close observation.”
“What’s the problem with him?” Anki asked, then set a kiss on my cheek.
Hurin raised his eyebrows. “Nothing to worry yourself about, Anki.”
“Okay.” Anki shrugged and sat.
“So it’s…official then,” Hurin said.
“What?” I asked.
“You two as a couple. Mateo is okay with it?”
“Yes.” Anki raised his chin. “We are, and he is.”
Hurin kind of grunted.
“What?” Anki asked.
“Nothing.” Hurin folded his arms.
“Tell me.” Anki frowned, an expression that was unusual for him.
“I guess I didn’t think he’d change his mind about sharing Uma. He seemed really mad about the whole idea in the cinema room, when he was trying to smash your face.”
“We talked it through,” I said. “All three of us.”
Hurin set his attention on me. “I’m impressed you found a solution. Mateo is a proud man, a very talented pilot, and it’s clear he loves you very much.”
“Yes.” I nodded. “He’s all of those things, and for the record I love him, too.” I paused, enjoying saying the truth that was in my heart. “We go back a long way, and I can’t imagine not being with him. But equally, Anki and I have a connection we want to explore.”
“We fucked,” Anki said. “Last night. And it was really hot and wet and great. We got so breathless and—”
“Anki!” I turned to him.
“What?” He paused. “I shouldn’t say that?”
“Well, it’s just…” Heat was rising on my cheeks. “It’s…”
“Private.” Hurin reached for his tablet, ducked his head, and studied the screen. “It’s none of my business what you do together as a man and a woman.”
“You don’t want me to tell you what it’s like?” Anki asked.
“No,” Hurin said gruffly. “I don’t.”
“Why not?”
“You know why.” Tension radiated from Hurin. His shoulders were stiff and drawn up around his ears.
“Ah, yes, okay.” Anki switched his attention from Hurin to me and grinned. “I guess it will be different for Hurin when he finds a woman.”
“Anki, enough,” Hurin snapped. “Or you and I will fall out.”
“I’m sorry.” Anki held up his palms. “Really I am. Didn’t mean to—”
“You never do. You just talk too much.”
Anki turned to me. “Do I?”
“No more than anyone else,” I said and took Anki’s hand. “But let’s keep some things private between us, the way Hurin also values his privacy.”
Hurin glanced up at me, his deep-blue eyes narrowed.
I held his gaze for a moment. We both knew what was being left unsaid, there was no hiding from that. Anki had been right, sex for Hurin would be different, he wasn’t built like other men.
“Ahh, we’re all set.” Mateo strolled into the room. “Good, I hope no one has claimed the top hat, that’s my lucky counter.”
Grateful that the tension had broken, I flicked the hat at Mateo. “Here, it’s all yours.”
He caught it, then sat to my left, the opposite side to Anki.
“Is Gavyn coming?” I asked.
“Yes.” Mateo pointed to the door. “He was right behind me.”
As he’d spoken, the door slid open. Gavyn walked in holding a small packet of cookies.
“Hi,” I said. “Are you ready for Monopoly?”
“Haven’t played it for a while,” he said, taking the fifth seat at the table, between Anki and Hurin. “Anyone fancy a cookie? They’re chocolate chip.”
“Oh wow.” I licked my lips. “Yes, please. Been ages since I had a chocolate cookie.”
“Captain’s privilege. I got a little stash in my quarters.” He smiled and tore open the packet. “Here.”
The cookies were passed around, and I began to explain to Hurin and Anki the rules of the game. After a minute, though, it was deemed best to start playing so they could grasp the game that way.
Soon money was exchanging hands, properties being bought and sold, and I spent a stint in jail. Mateo was relaxed—and I guessed that was something to do with him knowing he was spending the night with me—Anki was proving to be quite a businessman, and Hurin had left his tablet alone for longer than I’d ever seen.
Even Gavyn was relaxed, which was a relief. I studied him, wondering again just how long he’d stood there on the bridge, and if it had turned him on to watch us. It turned me on to think of him there, him getting hot, maybe even erect. I hadn’t known it would, but it did.
Am I an exhibitionist?
He caught me staring at him, and I quickly looked away, embarrassed at the thoughts rushing through my head. But that didn’t stop them being there, not one bit.
Chapter Six
Six weeks passed by. Equinox was right on track with speed and distance journeyed, and Gavyn and Mateo had felt it safe to reduce the magnet shield. It seemed, thankfully, there was no reason to think the Trads were still tailing us.
That didn’t stop me from occasionally looking out of the window in my quarters and wondering if they were lurking in the darkness. The very thought gave me the creeps. There were lots of females on Equinox, yet I was the only cognitive traveler. I was the only one having to cope with the worry of Trads having located our ship.
But both Anki and Mateo had told me not to worry about it. I was well protected on Equinox, and soon we’d be at the halfway point of our mission.
Heading out of the changing room at the pool—after thrashing out fifty lengths then pulling on sweats and a t-shirt—I found myself almost bumping my nose on Hurin’s chest, again.
“Oh, sorry,” I said, reaching out to press my hands on his body to steady myself but then quickly stopping.
Hurin didn’t like to be touched.
“It’s okay.” He stepped back, clasping his tablet.
“Have you been working out?” I asked. He hadn’t been on the weights when I’d arrived.
“No, I was searching for you.”
“You were?” He’d only ever sought me out once before, and that was about a sleeper.
“Yes.” He frowned. “Seventy-one.”
“The guy with the fever?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you said it had stayed the same, no change, and so there was nothing to be done about it.”
“There has been a change now.”
“Really? What?” I was curious and also once more a little flattered that Hurin thought I was the one who might be able to help.
“The EEG is showing his coma isn’t as deep as the other sleepers.”
“That’s strange. What could have caused that to happen?”
“I have no idea.” He bit on his bottom lip. “Why don’t you come into the sleeper pod, I’ll show you his charts. If you have time, that is.”
“Of course I have time.”
“Good.”
We fell into step and headed aft, toward the sleepers.
“Has anyone else developed a temperature?” I asked.
“No, nothing to report.”
I hesitated, then, “I really admire how you focus on your work so much, Hurin. The sleepers are lucky to have you overseeing them.”
“It’s my job.”
“I know it is. But you’re devoted to it, utterly. I think that’s commendable.”
“I am their voice, their senses, their guardian while they are sleeping. I take that very seriously.”
“As you should, and do. I’m just saying if ever I was a sleeper I’d want you taking care of me.”
“You would?” He glanced at me.
“Of course. I have total faith in you. I trust you entirely.”
“Thank you.” He paused. “That means a lot coming from you, Uma.”
We reached the pod and set about the ritual of sanitizing and donning scrubs.
Stepping into the pod, I paused. It never failed to leave me feeling a little in awe at the brilliance of this huge room. So many humans and aliens, all oblivious to their flight through space, kept healthy and safe for six months.
The lighting was dim, though each domed glass capsule glowed faintly golden. The rows seemed to stretch endlessly either side of me, though I knew there were ships that carried many more than we did.
“It’s this guy.” Hurin brushed past me, his bare arm skimming mine. “I wondered if you might see something I’ve missed on his observation chart.”
I touched my arm, in the spot he just had. “I doubt it, but okay, I’ll take a look.”
I followed Hurin to the fifth capsule, and we stopped at the end. The air was cool, and Hurin’s body heat radiated onto my shoulder.
“This is the temperature recording,” he said, sliding his finger over a screen at the end of the capsule. “Next to it is the pulse rate, blood pressure, and arterial oxygen saturation.”
“His pulse is still slow.”
“Yes, that’s remained the whole time.”
“Is he super fit?” I asked, glancing at the sleeper. “That could decrease his resting heart rate.”
Like all the others he was naked. Several wires and lines were attached to his head and body—and what a body. He was a fine specimen of the human race. I wondered what profession he was, and what his reason for going to Planet Athion might be. He could have easily been a model, before the landings, that was.