by Terri Lane
“If we don’t, we’ll regret it soon,” he said. Knor got up, then extended his hand for me to grasp. He pulled me up and I took a deep breath before following him back to the elevator.
“Don’t worry, we can always come back,” he said.
“I take it I need special clearance to get up here?” I asked.
“Yes, only I take you here,” he said pointedly. I read all the undertones, he didn’t want Waylen ruining the memory he created for me there.
“Only you,” I acknowledged. Knor cupped my neck and pressed his lips against mine hard. I captured his bottom lip between my teeth gently and he licked into my mouth, tasting my tongue. We made out for a good minute before pulling apart to catch our breath.
“Stay with me tonight?” he asked, his voice hoarse. I bit my lip, hesitating. “What?” he said.
“I’d love to…it’s just that I was hoping to save sex until later?”
“Got to you first didn’t he?” his tone was bland then and he looked as if he wanted to punch something.
“Knor, please…” I said. “I still want to spend the night with you.” He took a deep breath, then nodded, his eyes softening.
“Let’s go then,” he said. I hoped Waylen didn’t scour the ship looking for me. Again, I felt like the worst person for what I was doing. But for the life of me, I couldn’t decide between them.
“Hey, maybe we can stop by my room to get some movies?” I asked.
“Actually, I’ve copied you and brought a storage of movies from Bagar-1, have you had the chance to watch much Bagarian television?”
“Nothing but the news,” I admitted.
“Wonderful, I made sure to load some movies you will more than appreciate,” he said. I held onto his hand tight as we were enclosed by the elevator. Soon we were back on the cabin level and walking to his room. It was slightly larger than mine, but had much the same setup. I sat on his bed and reclined against the pillows. Knor walked around the bed, disappearing into his closet for a few minutes. When he came back, he was wearing nothing but a loose pair of light grey pajama pants. It made me want to get comfortable too. So I got up to shimmy out of my jeans. He folded them and tossed them on the single reading chair next to the long window.
We cuddled up in bed and he projected a small movie drive onto the wall. As he scrolled through the list, I wondered what sort of movie he’d settle on. A comedy? Action movie? A drama? A hodgepodge of all the major genres? Those usually didn’t go over well on Earth, so I didn’t imagine they’d be much different in Bagarian versions. He settled on a movie in which the title was translated to, ‘Going Nowhere.’ I couldn’t help but laugh.
“What?” Knor smiled at me, though his eyes were bemused.
“‘Going Nowhere?’ what kind of an obscure title is that?” I asked.
“The same kind as Lord of the Rings,” he rebutted. I thought about that for a second and decided he had a point.
“Okay, sorry I jumped to conclusions a bit there,” I offered.
“It’ll just deepen my satisfaction when you come to find this movie incredible,” he said smugly.
“You’re on,” I pressed play on the projector’s small remote. “Is this a Bagarian classic or something?” I asked.
“Something like, it’s very old. But not many people recognized its merits when the movie first came out. Lately, it has been receiving much acclaim. Which is odd, usually books and paintings carry a latent impact,” he explained.
“Must speak to a lot of audiences today,” I murmured. So far, the movie had long opening credits. I rested my head on Knor’s shoulder and he pinched my side, causing me to squeal.
“Don’t fall asleep,” he warned.
“I won’t,” I promised. Though I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I’d be able to keep that promise. Knor put his arm around me and I forced myself to stay awake past the credits. Once the movie started though, I was enraptured. Thankfully it had English subtitles so it was easier for me to follow. It was an incredibly artistic and well written film. The dialogue was about ethics and societies of the far future. Should space travel start uniting entire sectors of the galaxy become a reality, which it was slowly but surely becoming. I always thought the best movies made the viewer question things after the movie was done.
“Whoa…” I said as the ending credits rolled across the screen. Knor chuckled at my expression. My eyes were wide and I was just thinking.
“Indeed…did you like it?”
“It was great,” I exclaimed.
“Would you marry an alien?” he murmured. I glanced at him, my expression pensive. I chewed on my bottom lip for two seconds while I thought about it.
“Yes, if our species were compatible,” I said. Bagarians and humans had the same number of chromosomes, an X and Y. Our species could procreate and live on either planet. There were a few human-Bagarian hybrids already in existence. Living healthy lives on Bagar-1 for the most part. I believe only one hybrid lived on Earth with her family. Knor nodded thoughtfully, though I could tell he was trying to hide a smile. His lips were upturned slightly at the corners. I slid my fingers onto the base of his throat and lowered his lips to mine. His lips moved against mine fervently, then his tongue slid against mine, fluttering and swirling. My sex clenched as I imagined his tongue doing the same thing to my clit.
I rubbed my hand along the growing bulge in his pants. His cock grew hard and lengthened in under a minute. He took my hand and slid it underneath the waistband of his pants. I gripped his silky cock, ridged with veins, and pumped my fist around his shaft. Knor slid his mouth to my neck and sucked on the sensitive skin just under my ear. My body grew flush and I felt moisture slick between my folds.
“I want you,” I moaned in a low voice. Knor chuckled, the sound entirely seductive.
“I thought you didn’t want to,” he murmured. He brushed his lips over mine in a feather light kiss. My sex clenched with lust, but I winced with some lingering soreness. I sighed and he kissed my ear, then my cheek, then my lips. I kept stroking his cock and tilted my head back to hold his gaze. His eyes were an electric silver and he was trying to breathe evenly, but his chest was heaving. Knor put his hand over mine to stop me.
“But you’re…” He kissed me, drowning out my protest.
“It’s alright. Come morning I’ll get what I’m due,” he said.
“Why not now?” I asked. He removed my hand from his cock and I sighed. I needed to make my mind up quick about who I was going to choose. I knew he didn’t want to be with me so soon after I was with Waylen. I’d feel like scum about it afterwards too. Knor got out of bed, his erection made a tent in his pants that he tried to hide with his hand as he walked to the bathroom. After I heard the door shut, I groaned loudly. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, what’s more is that I was starting to feel like scum.
“Well, if we had sex just now I wouldn’t have lasted very long,” Knor proclaimed as he stepped out of the bathroom. I could barely muster a laugh and he did a double take, noticing how miserable I suddenly looked. “You know, if you pick me you wouldn’t have to feel so down on yourself,” he said. I sighed heavily and patted the bed next to me.
“I have feelings for you Knor, it’s just…” I shrugged, unable to finish the sentence.
“You have some unresolved attachment to my cousin,” he filled in.
“I guess you can say that, yeah,” I grumbled.
“I wouldn’t want you to choose me while you still feel attracted to him. So, this is okay for now,” he said. “Don’t worry, I may not like it. But I will wait for you to make up your mind to be with me,” he said, smiling. My heart leapt for him in that moment and I almost told him he was the one. But Waylen’s intense gaze flashed in my mind and held my tongue. I settled for kissing Knor soft and sweet on the lips. Then cuddled in his arms when he got back onto the bed, my head resting over his steady heartbeat.
***
I slept next to Knor of course, then spent much of the ‘
daytime’ hours with him as well. We mostly lounged around in his room, watching movies and hanging out as peacefully as a middle-aged couple. I was starting to see myself with Knor for the long-run.
“Don’t move, I’ll go get us some lunch,” Knor said. We’d just finished another movie. I was wearing one of his loose drawstring shirts because my sweater was making me sweat when surrounded by his high body temperature. I needed to go change.
“I want to stop by my room for a second to change and…brush my hair,” I said. Knor grinned sheepishly.
“I’ve been keeping you hostage,” he noted.
“Well, I’m a willing hostage,” I amended. He kissed me soundly on the lips and pulled me up from bed. I quickly changed and we meandered to my room. My heart beat just a bit faster as I held my breath, praying Waylen wasn’t waiting outside the door or anything. He wasn’t, thankfully, and we went in without a problem.
“Would you like to shower with me?” I asked Knor. He quirked an eyebrow at me and a slow grin spread across his lips.
“All you have to do is crook your finger,” he said. “You don’t even have to ask.” He chased me into the bathroom and caught me around the waist, lifting me onto the sink counter. I pulled off my sweater and unhooked my bra, throwing them to the floor as he whipped his shirt over his head and let it fall to the ground. My skin felt flushed, as if Knor was slowly consuming me in his personal ball of fire. He kissed my neck and held my breasts in his hands, kneading and massaging them. He gave me a wet, sloppy kiss, before he sucked one nipple into his mouth. Then the other. He kissed and left hickeys all over my breasts, sending shocks of lust through me. My sex was slippery with need.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and he tilted me back, his arms banded around my waist, to kiss my neck and press his lips to mine. I ran my tongue over his bottom lip and he groaned. Knor pulled off my pants deftly and lifted me, walking the few steps into the shower stall. He turned on the water, our mouths still connected, and pressed my back against the far wall.
“Your pants,” I mumbled against his lips. He set me on my feet and quickly took them off, throwing it over the top of the shower stall. He hadn’t stepped into the spray of water, so they were dry apart from a few water splotches on the side. I stepped back, under the warm fall of water and Knor stepped forward with me, his cock strained up toward his bellybutton. We hadn’t had sex in a while and the lust filled electricity in his eyes was turning me on just as sure as his touch. Knor slipped his fingers between the folds of my sex and rubbed my clit.
I moaned and held onto his arms. He slid two fingers into my core, which was clenching with need, and groaned.
“You’re so tight,” he said gruffly.
“I want you,” I panted. I leaned against the back wall of the stall and he lifted my leg, hoisting it up underneath my knee. He gripped his cock and guided it into me slowly. The feeling of fullness was incredible. My moan was complimented by his groan and then he started to thrust hard and fast. All I could do was hold onto him as he drove deep over and over again. My sex gripped him tighter and tighter until my entire body was taut and quivering. I knew my orgasm was going to be a doozy.
I cried out as the climax punched through me. My toes curled as the pleasure warmed every inch of me. Knor cursed loudly and slammed his hips against mine twice before he stilled, his own release jerking through him. Knor pulled out of me, then slowly let my leg down. I leaned against his chest for a while until we both caught our breath. We showered after our recovery, then lazily got dressed. I wanted to go get lunch, then take a long nap.
“You look drunk,” Knor observed, making me laugh. We stepped out of the room and I almost ran right into Waylen’s chest, but Knor tugged on my arm, keeping me from doing so.
“Of course,” Waylen growled.
“Waylen,” I gasped. “Hi…” it was lame, but that was all I could think to say.
“Hi?” he said. His expression was both pissed and, I could tell, a little bit hurt. To see that look on Waylen’s face sliced through my chest unexpectedly. I took a deep breath and then rubbed my temples.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled. “I thought we all knew what was going on?”
“Yes, but it doesn’t mean I won’t get upset seeing you two together,” he said.
“Face it cousin, we’re competing for Aliya’s affections and I’m winning,” Knor said in a smug tone. I closed my eyes briefly and took a breath, praying for strength.
“I came here to speak with Aliya,” Waylen said.
“She and I have plans,” Knor rebutted. He actually stepped in front of me, right into his cousin’s face. Again, I found myself in the horrible position of witnessing a brewing storm.
“You don’t control her,” Waylen said through his teeth.
“Neither do you,” Knor growled in kind.
“Knor could you wait a second while I talk to Waylen really quick,” I piped in. But they didn’t hear me. It felt like angry static was surrounding them. I was just waiting for the first blow to land. I almost closed my eyes.
“You’ve had your time, where is the honor in playing fair?” Waylen seethed, he spoke in Bagarian.
“Games of the heart are hardly fair or rational cousin,” Knor sneered, having switched to Bagarian as well. I cursed under my breath just as Waylen shoved Knor out of his face and that was the gavel blow. Knor swung at Waylen, who saw the blow coming and dodged it by leaning back. Waylen grabbed Knor around the waist and shoved him against the metal door. I stepped back a couple of steps, watching with wide eyes. It was like watching a car wreck.
Knor jabbed Waylen in the ribs and landed the punch. But Waylen seemed to absorb the blow. He pinned his forearm against Knor’s neck and punched him in the gut as well.
“Stop guys, stop fighting!” I yelled. Knor hit Waylen in the throat and Waylen staggered back a few steps to catch his breath. “Oh my god,” I groaned. “Stop, both of you, it’s enough,” I said, exasperated. But they weren’t done, it seemed like they just had to duke it out or something.
Knor used his advantage to tackle Waylen to the hard ground. He pinned him to the floor and straddled his waist. Even though Waylen was on the bottom, they traded punches. I looked up and down the hall, hoping someone would emerge. It seemed insane that no one was walking around, the ship was filled to its maximum capacity with people, mostly trained officers who were big enough to help break up the fight. I didn’t know whether to run and look for help, or chance hurting myself by trying to physically break them up.
Suddenly, red flashing lights lit up the hallway and a male voice sounded over the ship wide intercom, “Commander Knor to the pilot hub, there’s a Scenario Seven approaching.”
Waylen and Knor jumped apart immediately. Waylen had a cut on his lip and Knor, a nasty cut on his eyebrow. They both had bruises on their cheeks and were disheveled as all hell.
“What’s a Scenario Seven?” I asked.
“An unprecedented chain of events,” Waylen answered gruffly. Knor glanced at him reluctantly.
“Can you find out why the ship had to slow enough from warp to run into a band of asteroids?” he asked.
“Fine,” Waylen clipped. They turned away from each other to walk in opposite directions, I didn’t know who to follow. I figured, staring at asteroids coming at us would be more anxiety inducing and I didn’t really need more of that at the moment. I hurried after Waylen.
“Are you okay?” I asked him, again it was a stupid thing to say, but I couldn’t say nothing.
“I’m fine,” his answer was clipped, his tone uninviting.
“You didn’t have to fight him,” I reasoned.
“I know I didn’t, but there are some instincts we can’t help,” he huffed. I was practically jogging to keep up with him. We were headed in the direction of the second elevator.
“So…why can’t Knor find out why the ship had to slow down while he’s up there?” I asked.
“His foremost job right now is to steer the sh
ip into clear space,” Waylen said.
“Wouldn’t one of the pilots up top have had to slow down the ship?” I asked.
“It could have been done manually from the engineering level,” he answered. We reached the elevator and Waylen inserted his keycard before pressing the ‘E’ button on the switchboard. His tone and expression were stoic. Even though he was the one who got into the stupid fight, I felt horrible. Hell, I was why they were fighting.
“Waylen, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to blow up like that,” I said. “I don’t usually date and I suppose it’s for good reason…” I said, remorseful.
“Don’t apologize Aliya, I hate it when you do,” he said, his tone softer. I searched his face and clung to hope that he didn’t despise me yet.
“But I feel like—”
“Don’t. It’s my fault. My own insecurity I suppose,” he admitted in stilted sentences. I couldn’t believe Waylen, of all people, was admitting to an insecurity. “I’ve projected it onto you. A woman of your stature should never apologize. You’re beautiful, intelligent, of high office. You should have suitors at every corner. I want you too much,” he confessed.
“Waylen…” I whispered. Maybe I was a sucker for heartfelt words, but my chest filled with warmth. At the same time, I felt like a ragdoll, being tugged in opposite directions by my own heart. No matter who I chose, it would hurt to give the other up in the end. He gave me a sad smile, then caressed my cheek.
“We share something deep whether you recognize it now or not. I’m not going to flake away like an afterthought Aliya,” he said. My breath caught in my chest, then the elevator door slid open. As we stepped into the bowels of the ship, the entire vessel seemed to jostle. Waylen steadied me by gripping my waist, when we felt it was safe to move we continued forward.
The whole floor had color coded mechanics. There were huge machines, pipes, and connections everywhere. Narrow walkways snaked between it all, but eventually Waylen found a huge interface at the center of the floor. He used his passkey to access a time log.