by M. K. Eidem
Looking to where she'd indicated, Taarig saw now a softly illuminated area revealing a lone figure sitting at a table. Taarig had never waited on anyone in his entire existence, had never served someone, but looking at Cali encircled in that faint glow, he found himself picking up the glasses and moving toward her.
Cali watched as the Sub Commander came toward her. He moved with an effortless grace and elegance that belied his size. It had her wanting to discover what other contradictions he had.
It was still early at The Brink, which was why Cali was trying to catch up on paperwork instead of working behind the bar. She'd immediately noticed when Taarig walked in. He had a presence she couldn't ignore. While he wasn't as tall as Jamis or as large, he still commanded the attention of every being in the room, including hers.
"Sub Commander," she said, not rising.
He looked at the identical drinks in his hand then set one down in front of her.
"Thank you," she said, lifting it to take a sip. "Hmm, Mae always mixes the best drink."
"May I?" he asked, gesturing to the empty seat across from her.
"Of course," she immediately replied. "I wouldn't have lowered the privacy shield if you weren't welcome."
"Good to know." He sat down then looked at the swirling green drink in his hand. "So, what are we drinking?"
"Mae named it Galaian Wrath. It has a bit of a kick."
"Does it?" He obviously didn't believe her and took a large sip.
Cali couldn't help but smile as his lush lips, the ones she'd thought way too much about lately, tensed ever so slightly, proof that Mae's drink was more potent than he'd expected.
"So, tell me, Sub Commander." She looked at him over her glass as she took another sip. "What brings you to my humble abode?"
Taarig stared at her for a moment, and every plan he'd come up with to approach her faded away, and he decided just to be direct. "I wanted to see you again. Wanted to see if the attraction was real."
She was surprised by his directness and carefully set her glass down before responding. "Attraction?"
"Yes." He'd seen the interest in Cali's eyes as they traveled over him but wanted her to say it. "The one between you and me."
"And what makes you think there is one?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Are you claiming there's not?"
Cali was silent for a moment. She'd always liked the straightforward approach, stating what she wanted and having her partner do the same. Taarig was doing that, and she would respond in kind.
"No." Sliding her drink to the side, she leaned forward on an elbow, her chin resting on her knuckles. "There is an attraction between us, but I'm not sure I'm willing to act on it."
"Why not?" Taarig demanded.
"Why should I?" she challenged back. "While I'm not looking for a long-term relationship, I also don't do casual, and that's all you and the Commander do."
Taarig's eyebrows drew together at her words. "I don't know why you would think that. Neither Jamis nor I have ever been casual with any female we've engaged with on this base."
"Perhaps casual isn't the right word then. Maybe short-term is better. You both choose a female that you know isn't going to be on the base long. That way, there are no uncomfortable moments where an old lover runs into the new one." She gave him an approving nod. "It's a good strategy and has worked well for you, but I'm not going anywhere in the foreseeable future."
"You've been here nearly four standard-years, and I've only seen you once."
"True, but all of Jamis's and your past interests have been in The Brink. They like to talk about 'their Commanders'."
"I wasn't aware of that," he told her, taking another more cautious sip of his drink.
"Of course not. Why would you? You've never come here, and if it weren't for the fact that Jamis has already fucked me, you wouldn't be here now."
"That's a rather crude way of putting it," he admonished.
"Perhaps, but true." She leaned back, giving him an assessing look as she finished her drink. "I have to admit that I wasn't expecting you to show up, not after the way Jamis faked a transmission to get away from me."
"What makes you think it was fake?" he asked neutrally and saw her eyes harden.
"I don't tolerate liars, Sub Commander. I would have thought you understood that after our interaction in the Base Commander’s office."
"I do, and I don't tolerate them either. We all know Nox lied, but there was nothing we could do to him without proof."
"I had proof. You just didn't believe it."
"Coalition rules are skewed to protect those that serve, instead of those it should. It's not right, but it's the way it is, and in this case, I have to say I'm glad about it." He shouldn't have said that last part, but he couldn't help himself. He liked the way her brown eyes sparked, and her well-endowed chest heaved when she got riled up, the way she was right now. Gods, there was so much passion in this little female, and he wanted to sample all of it.
"Glad?!" she hissed.
"Yes, because your punishment was not only brilliant but far more effective than anything we could have done. Now Nox's reputation is in ruins because everyone knows that Wik Corp doesn't ban beings from their establishments without cause."
"They will remove his name from the list when he pays up," she reminded him, trying not to blush at his praise.
"True, but no one will forget; beings have long memories. That's justice. Now, tell me how you realized Jamis faked receiving that transmission."
"Because I was nearly ear-to-ear with him when it supposedly came through. That close, even an Earthan can hear the ping."
"I see." Taarig finished his Galaian Wrath. "Well, if you want an explanation for why Jamis did that, you'll have to ask him. What I can say is that he's never done it before."
"Right." She gave a disbelieving snort.
"I can also say," he continued as if she hadn't said anything, "that my being here has nothing to do with him fucking you and everything to do with not being able to get you out of my head since I saw you in Jamis’s office."
"Really?" She gave him a skeptical look. "Because that was what? Eleven days ago?"
"Ten," he corrected and saw her eyes widen in surprise. "I knew what Jamis had done and didn't want to approach you immediately after, but I hadn't planned on waiting this long. Other things needed my attention."
"You mean like a coupling mechanism unhooking on the flight deck?" She'd heard about the incident and still found it hard to believe. Zagreus Ore coupling mechanisms never wore out because only extreme heat could affect the Zagreus Ore. It came from her father’s homeworld and was the strongest metal in the universe.
"That and a few other things." He shouldn't be surprised that she'd heard about that. After all, she owned the most popular bar on the Star Base. She was bound to overhear things.
"A busy week then, Sub Commander?"
"Yes."
"So, you decided to come to The Brink for…?" She arched a delicate eyebrow at him.
"You," he told her bluntly.
"I see." She felt her nipples tighten, and her channel moisten at his blunt words. Gods' knew how it turned her on. Lifting a hand, she tapped her link and spoke. "Mae, I'll be back later."
With that done, she engaged and locked the privacy screen so her papers wouldn't be disturbed, then rose. "Follow me."
Taarig rose when she did, wondering where they were going as he took in the conservative outfit she was wearing. Well, at least conservative for her. While her top left her arms and shoulders bare, it was solid and completely covered her high, firm breasts. Her skirt was made from the same solid-black material and cupped her ass perfectly before flaring out to end just above her over-the-knee, lace-up boots.
He couldn't wait to peel that skirt off her and discover if her pale skin was as soft as it looked. His gaze traveled over the black, reflective wall she moved toward. While he had no qualms about fucking her against it, the walkway was too narrow
for him to explore her lush, little body the way he wanted.
He was about to suggest they go to his quarters when she pressed her hand against the wall, and it silently slid open. The faintest of glows beneath her hand made him realize she had a bio-chip embedded in her palm. Jamis hadn't told him about that. Wasn't this little female just full of surprises?
He followed her through the doorway then came to an abrupt halt as it slid closed. Before him lay a spacious, discretely-lit corridor, one he'd never known about. "Where the ruk did this come from?" he demanded.
"I believe it came with the Star Base," she teased as she moved along it.
"That's not what I meant," he muttered but followed, taking in the quality of the finishes. Not even on the Command Level was this attention to detail shown.
"I know, but I find it highly amusing the things you and the Commander don't know about your Star Base."
"That's because Wik Corp won't give us the rukking construction designs," he said, letting her hear how that aggravated him.
"You expected them to?" she laughed at the thought. There was no way her dad would allow that.
"No, but it would be nice to know there are extra viewports and hidden corridors on our Star Base."
"What's your problem with the viewport?" she asked, not about to tell him this wasn't the only corridor he didn't know. Or viewport.
"I don't have a problem with it. I just would have liked to have known it was there. I miss being able to gaze out at the stars." He was surprised to find himself admitting that to her.
"Well, except for you and Jamis, everyone else knew about the viewport in The Brink. It's one of the reasons we're so popular." She rounded the final curve of the corridor, moving past the spot where she and Jamis had fucked, then gestured with her arm. "But only a very select few know about this one."
Taarig came to an abrupt halt as his gaze went to where she gestured. Across the room, taking up the entire width from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, was one massive viewport.
"That's… How… Gods…"
Cali couldn't help but laugh at his stammering, but she also understood it. The transparent wall gave a dramatic, unobstructed view of the vastness of the universe and made you realize just how insignificant you really were in it.
"Magnificent, isn't it?" she said quietly, drawn across the room the way she always was. She reached out, pressing her palm against it.
"No!" Taarig was across the room in an instant, yanking her hand from the wall.
"What's wrong?" she asked, turning to frown at him.
"You'll harm yourself," he growled. Viewports could be extremely cold. The transparent material could only filter out the worst of space's extreme temperatures. The larger the port, the larger the temperature fluctuations. Damage could occur to those with even the toughest, thickest skins if direct and prolonged contact occurred. Cali's skin was neither tough nor thick. When he found no damage after thoroughly examining her palm, he raised his eyes to hers. "How…?"
"There's a gel wall protecting the opening," she told him softly, touched by his concern. Reaching up, she caressed his cheek with her free hand. "Just like there are in the landing bays. It regulates the temperature of the wall perfectly, so it's safe to touch. It'll even support a great deal of weight."
To demonstrate, she leaned back and felt the slightest give in the wall's curvature as it compensated for her weight. It was something she liked to do, although she usually did it facing forward. It allowed her to lean out over the Star Base's metal structure, making her feel as if she was floating in space.
Taarig's eyes narrowed as he watched her. He wanted to pull her back, wanted to keep her safe, but seeing her like that, surrounded by the stars, and dark expanse of space, had his cock growing impossibly hard.
Taking a step toward her, he caged her between his legs, his hands cupping her cheeks, holding her still, as he captured her lips in a rough, searing kiss.
Cali knew Taarig Ynn was a confident, intelligent male who took his responsibility seriously to those under his command. It was one of the things that had attracted her to him even though her mind told her she should keep her distance. Cali'd known he'd question the secondary entrance to her quarters because he'd never allow his desire for any female to override his duty to base security. She'd also known the viewport in her private quarters would distract him, but for only so long.
She'd been right. Now she was about to find out if Taarig Ynn could live up to all the hot, sweaty dreams she'd been having about him.
He kissed like a man who knew who he was, what he wanted, and how to get it.
And that had her channel clenching with need.
When she tried to change the angle of the kiss, his fingers slid into her hair and tightened around her braids just enough to let her know who was in control but that he'd never hurt her.
That had her nipples pebbling to hard points while her fingers were digging into his shoulders.
When his thumbs caressed her jawline, pressing down slightly, she knew what he wanted and willingly opened her mouth, allowing his tongue's invasion.
While she was more than fine letting him control the kiss, she wasn't going to let him deny her his skin. Ripping his jacket open, her hands slid under the thin tank he wore. Her fingers caressed his rock-hard abdomen muscles before sliding up to pinch his nipples, so they were as hard and needy as hers.
Taarig bit down on her lip in response. "Did I say you could touch me?"
"Did I ask?" she challenged back even as she tipped her head to the side, giving him access to her vulnerable neck.
Taarig nipped his way along the sensitive skin she exposed, unable to believe how it turned him on. She challenged and submitted to him all at the same time and was something he'd never experienced before. After the initial contact, other females always surrendered all control to him. They knew better than to challenge an Apre male, and while it satisfied his need to dominate them, it didn't heighten his experience the way Cali's actions did, and she seemed to know it.
When he reached the vulnerable junction at the base of her neck, he bit hard enough to leave a mark but not break her delicate skin.
"Gods, that feels so good," she moaned. "More."
He growled at her demand. Was she implying he didn't satisfy her? That wasn't acceptable. His hands moved with the strength and speed all Apre possessed but rarely exhibited outside of battle, stripping her until she was wearing nothing but her lace-up boots.
Gods, she was so sexy standing there, her pale, rosy skin a beacon against the dark vastness of space. She was also completely confident, completely naked, and utterly unconcerned about it.
"Well, that's one way to do it," she laughed, reaching for him again, "but you need to be naked too if we're going to do this."
Taarig captured her hands before she could touch him, easily controlling them in just one of his much larger ones. Spinning her around, he pinned her between him and the viewport. Pressing his chest to her back, he leaned down and growled in her ear. "Oh, we're going to do this, but we'll be doing it my way."
"Oh, really?" she couldn't help throwing over her shoulder.
"Really, little one. You have no idea what's about to happen to you," Taarig told her as his free hand slid between her and the wall.
Between the coolness of the barrier against her front and Taarig's hotter than Earthan body temp behind her, Cali was trembling with need. When Taarig tweaked one of her nipples, she gasped.
"So, you like that, little one?" he asked. "Like it a little rough?"
"Yes," she gasped.
"Then we are both going to enjoy this, but first…" He pinched her other nipple, then splayed out his fingers wide and continued their way down over her delicate ribcage and the taut skin of her stomach. Later, he would be amazed that just one of his hands was able to span her waist, but right now, he was in search of the area Jamis had told him about. Reaching the juncture of her legs, he was surprised to find she was already slick wi
th arousal. His cock throbbed with need as he slid two fingers through her soft folds. Separating them, he found the entrance to her channel. Slowly he pressed both fingers inside her.
"Like that, do you?" he asked as she moaned, her head falling back against his chest.
"Yes," she told him without hesitation, and he rewarded her by pushing in deeper, twisting his wrist. As he did, his thumb pressed against a fleshy nub at the top of her folds. She moaned even louder, and her channel clenched around his fingers.
"So, there it is," he muttered, nipping at her ear, making sure to miss her links.
"Where what is?" she asked, trying to wiggle her hips, so he rubbed her clit again but couldn't with the way he had her pressed against the wall. He was in control here.
"Your external erogenous zone," he growled, brushing his thumb over the spot again.
"Clit," she gasped out in pleasure.
"Clit," he tried the word out on his tongue and found he liked it. He also liked her reaction to him touching it. He repeatedly strummed her clit with his thumb while his fingers plunged in and out of her soft depths.
"If I keep doing this, will you find your release?" he growled.
"Yes," she gasped again, knowing she was close. Taarig’s thick fingers pumping in and out, ever-increasing pressure on her clit, and the ease with which he controlled her, all of it had her on the sharp edge of release. She just needed that final push to go over. "Please, Taarig! More!"
He responded by releasing her wrists so he could pinch one of her nipples, and that last little bit of stimulation was all she needed to scream out her release.
Taarig couldn't believe how responsive Cali was. Never in all his two hundred and seventy-five years, or the multiple females he'd been with, had he ever brought one to their release with only his touch.
It made him feel as if he were one of the Gods, and he couldn't wait to see how she'd respond when it was his cock inside her instead of his fingers. He knew he should give her time to recover before taking her. After all, she was Earthan, but he couldn't. His cock was harder than anything made from Zagreus Ore, and it wanted to penetrate her. Now!