by Lily Harlem
I didn’t trust myself to speak, the swell of emotion was almost overwhelming. A strange flush combined with a chill went through me. I clung to him tighter, the lines of his tall, hard body unfamiliar in my arms
“Uma,” he said softly against my ear. “Really, it’s okay.”
I swallowed again—damn that clogging sensation in my gullet. “It was just frightening, that’s all. We can hardly call the emergency services up here. If your umbilical cord had snapped, it was so unyielding with the magnetic field, if you had—”
“Shh, none of that happened, and we are each other’s emergency services.” He cupped my face and forced me to look up.
I was relieved tears weren’t actually rolling down my cheeks as I stared at him.
“Take a deep breath,” he said.
“I should be saying that to you.”
“I’m breathing just fine.”
“But you weren’t.”
He lowered his head so his nose was almost touching mine. “It’s over, relax.”
I tried to release the tension in my shoulders and spine. “It’s your birthday, right?”
“Yes.” His mouth twitched into a smile.
“I didn’t know.”
He didn’t speak.
“Happy birthday,” I said.
“Thank you. Do you want to celebrate with me?”
“Of course.” There was lots to celebrate, but him coming back on board from deep space was the first I’d be thankful for.
“I have a bottle of champagne. Come to my quarters, and we’ll pop the cork.”
“What? You have?”
“One bottle. Captain’s privilege. I didn’t think I’d ever be in the mood to drink it, but…actually I am.”
I swallowed, and a flip of excitement tugged my belly. “Okay, in that case, I’d love to.”
“Good.” He released me and stepped away. “I’ll expect you in ten minutes. I need to shower, get the smell of the suit off my skin.”
I nodded. “I’ll see you then.”
He turned to Hurin. “Thanks again, mate.”
“Wasn’t going to let anything happen to you, Captain.”
“I appreciate that.” Gavyn nodded, his eyes a little narrow and his expression showing his gratefulness. Then he turned and strode away in the opposite direction Mateo had gone in.
“Hurin,” I said, swiping my tongue over my bottom lip. “That must have been pretty scary watching what was going on by yourself down here.” I gestured to the monitor.
“I couldn’t hear what you were saying to him. I just hoped you were keeping his thoughts as clear as possible.”
“You could tell he was suffering from hypoxia?”
“Yes, I’ve seen it before.” He rubbed his forehead. “Never when I can’t get to the patient, though.”
He appeared so worried, and a little paler blue than he usually did, that I stepped closer.
“I’d started to suit up,” he said quietly.
“You had?”
“Yes, it had to be me to go and get him.”
“Mateo was going to, he was on his way and—”
“And if something had happened to him, we’d be two pilots down.” Hurin shook his head. “I was going out, Uma. Another thirty seconds and I would have been space walking, too.”
“But that’s too risky. There was no one to help you suit up, no one to check your pressures and—” The thought of him going out there not properly prepared was horrific.
“It was a risk I was prepared to take, for Gavyn, for Equinox…for you.” He settled his dark-blue gaze on me.
A strange warmth filled my chest, and I had the urge to touch him. I hovered my hand above his forearms which were crossed over his broad chest. “For me?”
“I’ve told you before, women are very precious. I’ll never sit back and let anyone or anything hurt you.”
His words, spoken in his low, rumbling voice ran like syrup through my mind. I knew he spoke the truth, and he’d said it with such determination, such quiet passion that again my lower eyelids prickled. “Thank you.”
He didn’t reply. Instead, he looked at my hand hovering over his skin.
I pulled away.
“No,” he said. “You can touch me.”
“But I didn’t think…”
“I’ve become used to you, being with you. It was just a shock to start with…when you did. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the touch of a woman, and that was my mother, hardly the same as you.”
“I’m sorry you lost your mother.”
“As did all Athions.”
There was no response to the enormity of that tragedy other than touch, so I rested my palm over his warm arm. Instantly his strength and barely harnessed power radiated into me. Hurin was like no man I’d ever met. His size combined with his no-nonsense, straight-talking personality made him fascinating.
Will I ever truly get to know him?
I hoped so, and as we stood close, studying each other, I felt hopeful that our friendship would grow stronger from this point on.
“You should go. The captain will be waiting for you to celebrate with him.”
“Yes.” Did Hurin wish he could swap places with Gavyn? Spend time alone with me? Drink champagne with me? Relax, loosen up, and share hopes and dreams, our inner thoughts?
Is that what I’m going to do with Gavyn?
I sighed, even though I was excited about seeing Gavyn. This really was getting complicated. And as if it hadn’t been already with Anki and Mateo.
“It will be okay,” Hurin said, stepping back.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re an amazing woman, Uma, with lots of kindness, patience, and capacity for love.” He nodded up the corridor. “Go and have fun. It’s been a stressful few hours.”
Chapter Fourteen
I rapped my knuckles on the door to the captain’s quarters. It was the first time I’d ever done so with the knowledge I was going inside. In the past it had been only to deliver information or tell Gavyn he was needed elsewhere on the ship.
This time it was me who was needed in there.
Anticipation swirled in my belly as I waited for him to answer. I wondered if I should have taken the time to fluff my hair, apply lipstick, perfume. But truth was, I hadn’t thought of it until this moment, I’d been too eager to get here.
The door pulled open. Gavyn stood there, all broad shouldered and damp from the shower. A thick black robe was tied at the waist, and his hair was pushed backward.
He smiled. “Come in.”
I did as he’d asked, and he closed the door.
“Wow,” I said, halting and staring around the huge space. Dominating the entire external wall was a massive convex floor-to-ceiling window showcasing the stars beyond. Before it sat a telescope, an old-fashioned style wooden table, a treadmill, and a weights bench.
“So that’s why you don’t use the gym,” I said, pointing to it. I’d wondered in the past how he managed to stay so buff without ever seeming to work out.
“Captain’s perk,” he said, stepping past me and turning down the brightness on a screen set into the wall. It appeared to be the graph showing the jet blaster pressures. They were all still blue.
“These quarters are one heck of a perk.”
He shrugged and raised his eyebrows. “I’m happy to share.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” My attention was drawn to a huge bed with crisp white sheets and pillows.
He chuckled. “I hope you brought your bikini.”
“Er, no, why?”
“This.” He walked beyond the desk and flipped the lid on a large tub. With a flick of a switch, it lit up red, and the water it held began to bubble.
“No way.” I widened my eyes. He had a hot tub in his quarters. That was really something.
“Yes, way.”
I shook my head and stepped up to it. “I can’t believe all this stuff.”
“Equinox is a modern ship, designed with a few luxur
ies, as you know.”
“Well, yes, but…”
“Like I said, I’m happy to share.”
“I should go and get my bikini.” The water was very inviting, and to sit and relax in it with Gavyn, a glass of fizz and the vastness and beauty of space as background was a dream come true.
“No, don’t worry about that.” He nodded at my t-shirt.
“But—”
“Surely a bikini is just a bra and panties.”
“Yes, I suppose it is.”
“So that will do.” He swept his tongue over his bottom lip and dropped his gaze down my body. “I presume you have underwear on.”
“Yes.” A tremble of need went through me. There was no doubt about it, I wanted Gavyn Rivers, and I would have him. I didn’t think my bra and panties would be staying on for long.
“I’ll get that champagne,” he said.
As he slipped into another room, I stepped up to the sleek silver telescope. Dipping my head, I peered through the lens.
What greeted me was a thing of great beauty. A cloud burst full of dazzling pinks, blues, reds, and yellows and sprinkled with diamonds it seemed to explode upward from the blackness in a chaotic but mesmerizing swirl.
“You like it?”
Gavyn was beside me.
“Yes, it’s stunning.”
“It’s a nebula, a new star.”
“How far away is it?”
“About three million light-years.”
“This is one hell of a telescope.”
“It’s got a small computer within it, making sense of the image so it can be enhanced for the human eye.”
“Clever.”
“It’s a little hobby of mine, finding stars being born.”
I lifted up. “I didn’t know that.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I guess there’s things we don’t know about each other. Maybe it’s time to start learning.”
My skin tingled where he’d brushed his fingers on my cheek. “Yes, we should.”
He stepped away and nodded at the hot tub. “Shall we.”
“Sure.”
He popped the cork and filled two flutes with golden liquid.
I peeled off my t-shirt and jeans then climbed into the bubbles.
The water was warm and smelled vaguely of cleaning products. Sinking lower, so it covered my breasts, I was aware of Gavyn watching me.
The heavy look in his eyes and the set of his jaw was a reflection of my need for him. There was no going back on this. I was sure we’d both go insane if we didn’t see it through.
“Here,” he said, handing me a glass.
“Thank you.” I took it but didn’t sip.
“Can you hold mine?”
“Sure.”
Keeping both flutes aloft, I indulged myself as Gavyn dropped his robe to the floor and climbed in.
Tight black boxers hugged his package, and his defined abs were taut.
“Thanks.” He sat close and took his drink.
“Happy birthday, Captain.”
“This is a damn good birthday present.”
“What is?”
“You know what. Being here with you.”
“Well, it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it.” I laughed and sipped my champagne. The cold fizz coated my tongue and palate.
Gavyn did the same, and the flash of desire that crossed his eyes assured me he was having similar thoughts to me about how this little celebration would go.
And I wasn’t complaining.
“Do you feel okay?” I asked, “after your space walk?”
“They’re always tiring. Make you feel a little drained, but I’m okay. Had a protein bar while I was waiting for you, and this tub will help with muscle fatigue.”
“It was a close call. And I really was—”
“Shh.” He set his finger over my lips, coating them in dampness. “Let’s put it in the past, okay.”
I nodded.
“Good.” He removed his hand. “Because I’d rather talk about the future.”
“Arriving at Planet Athion?”
“No, not that, our future.”
“Oh, okay.” So he was thinking long-term. That suited me, but I was already juggling two lovers. How would I cope with a third? And not just any guy, but the captain.
“I understand that you have something special going on with Mateo and Anki,” he said.
I nodded. “They both mean the world to me.”
“I have a lot of respect for them.”
“Me, too.”
“And their relationship with you.”
I stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue.
“But what I wondered…” He paused. “Was whether you could find time and a place in your heart for me.”
“Gavyn.” I cupped his cheek and stared into his eyes. “I think you know the answer to that.”
“Not for sure.”
“The answer is yes.” I tipped forward and pressed my lips to his.
He returned the kiss. It was sweet, but there was passion lurking behind it.
I moaned softly as his tongue swept over mine and I tasted him for the first time.
“Uma,” he whispered against my lips. “You’re so damn sexy.”
I didn’t reply and he kissed me again. He slid his hand down the column of my neck and then his fingers into the cup of my bra.
A delicious tremble of need washed through me. His palm was big and warm, and he caught my nipple between his fingers.
“So you’ll have me, as one of your men?” he murmured.
“On one condition,” I whispered
“Oh?” He pulled back but continued to massage my breast.
“That you make love to me, Captain Rivers.” My breath caught, and my internal muscles tensed as if anticipating him inside me. “Now.”
He swallowed, and his jaw tightened. “No.” He shook his head.
My heart flipped. “Gavyn? But I…”
His eyes narrowed, and he pulled his hand from my bra. “I can’t make love to you.”
“Why not? I thought you wanted me.” He’d just had his hand on my breast, for crying out loud.
“Uma.” He reached behind himself and set his glass down. Holding my face, he drew me close, so our noses almost touched. “I haven’t been with a woman since before the landings. I got caught up in space travel training and Equinox and defeating the Trad bastards who roam amongst us. So now…now I just need to fuck. And I need to fuck hard and fast and come high up inside you.” He paused. “You think you can handle that? Because I need to know now if you can’t.”
Oh God!
If I’d been turned on before, it had just multiplied. Gavyn needed to fuck. Hard. Fast. And yes, I could handle that. His desire for me was palpable, and I wanted to see it unleashed.
“Uma?”
“Yes,” I whispered, my voice hoarse with lust. “I can handle that.”
“Are you sure? It might not be pretty, and once I start, there’ll be no stopping.”
“I won’t want you to stop.”
He closed his eyes, and his nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply.
“In here?” I asked, wondering what the hell was going through his mind. “Do you want to do it in here?”
“No.” He nodded at my drink. “But finish that first.”
I took a gulp, then another and another and drained the glass. “Finished.”
“Jesus,” he muttered, taking it from me.
“So where do you want to fuck?” I asked, elongating the word fuck to a drawl. “In bed?”
“No, over there.” He nodded at the wooden table.
“That can be arranged.”
“You know you’re driving me crazy with want, right?”
“Only the way you are.”
Suddenly he was kissing me again, his head slanted so he could probe deep.
This is going to be wild.
He pulled back, catching his breath and his cheeks a little
red. “Get out.”
I swallowed then stood and climbed from the tub.
“There’s a towel if you need it.”
I reached for the blue towel and rubbed the worst of the drips from my body. He watched me intently.
“So now go over to the desk,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “Take off your bra and panties and bend over it, facing the window.”
I obeyed him, sashaying my hips with each step. Once there, I peeled off my underwear and dropped it to the floor.
The surface of the table held nothing, so I bent forward onto my elbows, presenting my ass to him.
“Give me strength,” he murmured.
Staring at the window, I studied his reflection. He rose from the tub and used the same towel to rub the worst of the drips from his broad chest.
He was so damn big and gorgeous, yet I couldn’t deny a ripple of nerves as he approached. He’d as good as confessed he didn’t know how much control he’d have once we began. That thought both thrilled me and unnerved me.
“You’ve got me so hard,” he said, shucking his boxers off. “So damn hard it hurts.”
I caught a brief glimpse of his impressive erection before he stood directly behind me. “So do something about it, Captain.”
“I intend to.” He ran his hands up my back, to my shoulders and down my arms, tipping so his cock brushed my buttocks. He clasped my forearms, forcing me to straighten my elbows. “Flat. You need to be flat.” He directed me so my breasts were on the surface and my hands at the desk lip. “Hold on, Uma, you’re going to need to.”
I gulped and gripped the wood as he exerted pressure over my back, putting me in position. Tracing my spine, he straightened and grasped my hips. “And legs wider.” He tapped my ankles with his toes, first my left then my right.
I did as he’d asked, feeling utterly laid out for him, vulnerable, needed, owned. My heart was thudding, my pussy damp, and the cool desk and air con over my hot wet skin had a tiny shivers wending through me.
“I’m going to fuck you now,” he said in a low voice. “Get ready for it.”
“Yes, yes, do it.”
He grunted, and his cock prodded my entrance.
I braced, knowing it was going to be a fast entry.
And it was. He forged in, his way eased by my arousal, until his balls were up against my lips. I was shunted up the table, but he had a tight hold and moved with me.