by M. K. Eidem
Now she was so exhausted she didn't even bother to strip off her clothes and let sleep claim her.
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Cali couldn't stop the smile that broke across her face as she watched Sub Commander Ynn walk across the bar toward her. He'd contacted her earlier, through The Brink's comm, stating he'd be down to escort her to third meal. She'd tried to tell him she could get there on her own, but he'd ignored her by disconnecting the comm.
She hadn't planned on working, but it was Mae’s and Tay's union anniversary, and Mae had asked if she could come in a little late. Soon it wouldn't be just the two of them, and Cali wanted them to have this time. She would have told Taarig that if he'd given her a chance.
"You said you were off tonight," Taarig said as he sat down in an empty seat at the end of the bar, ignoring the stares he was getting. She was again wearing one of what, for her, was a conservative outfit. A high-collared, long-sleeved, black shirt made from some type of woven material ended halfway down her torso. It thinned as she moved, revealing she wore nothing beneath it. Her skirt, also black, hugged her hips and brushed the tops of her black, heeled boots that ended mid-thigh.
All-in-all, she was almost covered while still managing to show off all her tasty bits to her customers. For some reason, that bothered him. She'd even removed the energy wands from her hair, letting it flow around her shoulders in dark waves.
"An owner is never really off, Sub Commander, any more than you or the Commander are."
Taarig nodded his head, still distracted by the possessiveness he felt for Cali.
"Mae will be here to take over for me soon, and then we can go." She set a glass of Apreian skotsk down in front of him, then walked away to wait on another customer.
Taarig leaned back and took a sip of the perfectly poured skotsk. He hadn't seen her pour it, and Jamis had told him how she kept the bottle in a hidden cubby. That meant she'd already had it out, anticipating his wants. That had a warmth spreading through him, which had nothing to do with the skotsk.
He watched as she single-handedly served her thirsty patrons quickly and efficiently. She seemed to know them, calling many by name. She was relaxed, ready to laugh, and always seemed to have a smile on her lips. Then Vaine Masala pushed her way up to the bar, and her entire demeanor changed.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Cali said nothing as Vaine shouldered her way between the two males Cali had just served. As the datter of a Coalition general, Vaine was used to getting her way and getting people to back down. Her status allowed her to obtain sleeping quarters on any Coalition base, including meal credits, but she relied on the males she slept with to provide her with everything else. Being on the restricted list had cut her off from that flow of credits. While many males were willing to spend their credits on her, few were willing to give her actual access to their account. That severely curtailed her social life, and Cali knew she wanted it back.
After what happened with the Hogg, Cali knew Vaine wasn't going to just let this go. What did surprise Cali was that she'd come back so soon!
"Phoc wine," Vaine ordered.
Cali's only action was to slide a chip reader in front of Vaine.
Vaine glanced down at it and sneered, "Start a tab."
"No."
"Listen, you Earthan bitch, I'm General Masala's oldest datter. If you don't serve me, he will destroy you."
Cali braced her hands on the bar as she leaned closer to Vaine to say, "I don't care if you're the datter of the rukking High Navarch. You're on the restricted list. You pay, or you don't drink."
Males moved out of the way early in the confrontation because Vaine's tail began to swish from side-to-side angrily, so no one was close enough to stop her when she pulled her fist back and swung at Cali.
Taarig set his drink down when Vaine approached, his instincts telling him he'd need his hands free. When Vaine's tail began moving, he'd risen to his feet, knowing it signaled that a Phoc was about to attack. Before he could jump over the bar, Vaine threw a punch.
Cali had been prepared for Vaine's swing, had known it was coming before Vaine probably did. After all, she hadn't been born yesterday, and she had older brothers. As Vaine's fist came toward her face, Cali ducked and swung out her own arm, but instead of trying to block Vaine's arm, she connected with the outside of it and redirected it back toward Vaine.
"Ruk!" Vaine swore and stumbled back as her own fist plowed into the side of her face. Before she could shake it off and come at Cali again, Tay was there, his massive arms wrapping around her, lifting her off her feet.
"Cali, you okay?" he asked.
"I'm good," she reassured him.
"Let me the ruk go, you Galaian bastard!" Vaine demanded, struggling in Tay's arms.
"What do you want me to do?" Tay asked, unaffected by Vaine's struggle.
"That's it, Vaine. You just got yourself banned. Good luck getting a drink on any Star Base now." Her gaze went to Tay. "Get her out of here."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Taarig waited until they were alone in a lift before asking, "I take it that wasn't the first time Vaine has given you trouble."
Cali gave a humorless laugh. "No. She's been trying to get around being on the restricted list ever since I put her on it. Last night she even tried to get a Hogg to buy her drink."
"A Hogg?" He couldn't keep the shock or concern out of his tone.
"Yeah, it seems she hoped I'd be intimidated enough to let it slide. I wasn't."
"And the Hogg just accepted your refusal?" That didn't sound like any Hogg Taarig had ever met. They were notoriously short-tempered over the slightest perceived insult.
"Not at first, but a large glass of Apreian skotsk served with no ice changed that."
Taarig grimaced at the thought of drinking Apreian skotsk warm.
"Hamm turned out to be a pretty decent male."
"Hamm?" He frowned at her, never having heard that name before.
"The Hogg male. His name is Hamm. He'd only been on the base a few hours when Vaine came up and sat down next to him in The Brink."
"So, he didn't know."
"No, and once he did, he told Vaine what he thought of her. Man, did that piss her off!"
When the doors of the lift opened to the Command Level, Taarig guided her out and down the corridor to Jamis’s office. Cali ignored the looks she was getting from those they passed. She knew they were all questioning why she was there and why Taarig had his hand on the small of her back. At this time of day, they wouldn't have wondered why any other female was heading to the Commander's quarters. But she was Earthan, and that changed everything. She tried not to let that upset her.
Taarig didn't request permission before entering the Base Commander's office. He just put his hand on the bio-scanner then gestured for her to precede him when the door slid open. He guided her across the room that looked as it had the last time she'd been in it to another door. After touching another bio-scanner, they entered Jamis’s private quarters.
Cali let her gaze travel over Jamis’s private domain. It was large by Coalition standards, not as large as hers, but still large enough for there to be several couches and chairs, all pushed close to the walls. A table with domed covers now sat in the center of the carpeted room, with three chairs around it.
"You're late," Jamis said sharply from where he stood across the room, then silently cursed himself. He hadn't meant for his words to come out like that. He had planned on showing Cali just how smooth and charming he could be. But he was nervous. Gods! Him! A Star Base Commander. An Apre. All because of a little Earthan female and the way she made him feel.
"Would you like something to drink, Cali?" Taarig asked, shooting an aggravated look at Jamis. What the ruk was wrong with him. Was he trying to drive Cali away?
Instead of answering Taarig, Cali walked across the room until she was right in front of Jamis. Reaching up, she gripped the back of his neck and pulled him down, capturing his lips in a deep, hard kis
s. Cali'd wanted to do that ever since they’d woken in that emergency shelter and something they hadn't done when they'd fucked. So now she was going to find out if he kissed as good as he fucked.
Jamis didn't move as Cali advanced on him. He hadn't known what she was planning, but the look in her eyes had his cock hardening. The strength of her grip surprised him as she pulled him toward her, but he quickly forgot about it when he felt her lips on his for the first time.
He'd been berating himself ever since their encounter for not taking his time with her, for not discovering all her secrets, including if her luscious lips were as soft as they looked. They weren't… They were softer and demanding. It was a demand he was more than willing to meet. Wrapping his arms around her, he brought her body flush with his and then opened his mouth so their tongues could duel.
Taarig slowly set down the bottle he'd lifted and watched Jamis and Cali kiss. Gods, it turned him on. It wasn't as if he hadn't witnessed it with the other females they'd shared, but none of them had been Cali.
The kiss was everything Cali had hoped for and so much more. Jamis’s lips were soft yet firm. They yielded to her demand even as he pulled her closer and his taste… Gods, it was more potent than any alcohol she'd ever served. Before she could get drunk on it and forget why she'd started this, she tore her mouth away.
"I'm not one of your crew, Jamis Dexxirs." She tried to keep the breathlessness out of her voice. "I don't answer to you. If you can't handle that, then there's no reason to take this any further."
Jamis’s eyes narrowed at her ultimatum. No one, male or female, dared to challenge him like this, except for T, because they all feared him. Yet he didn't intimidate Cali at all, and he could tell she was serious. She'd walk away if he didn't give her the right answer.
"You are right, Cali. You aren't one of my crew, and I apologize if I gave the impression that I had the right to command you." He waited for a heartbeat then said, "At least outside the resting chamber."
Cali was surprised Jamis had acquiesced so quickly and was about to accept his apology when he tacked on that last sentence, and even though it had her channel clenching with need, she refused to give in that easily. "You think you can command me in the resting chamber?"
"Yes." He let her feel how hard he was for her as he let her body slowly slide down his until her feet touched the floor. "As will Taarig and you'll love every moment of it."
Cali wasn't going to argue with that. Not after what she'd experienced with each of them separately.
"But first, we'll eat." He guided her to the already set table and pulled out a chair. After she was seated, he and Taarig removed the warming domes then sat down on either side of her.
Cali looked down at her plate and couldn't believe the array of offerings on it, but what surprised her the most was, "Gyr?"
"You've had it before?" Taarig asked, unable to hide his surprise.
"Oh my, yes. It's wonderful. My mother said it reminded her of meat on Earth known as Kobe Beef." Looking from male to male, it suddenly occurred to her that they had gone to great lengths to provide her with something they'd thought she'd never had before, something extremely special to them and expensive. "But it was only one small bite, a very long time ago. May I?" she asked, picking up her eating utensils.
"Of course," Taarig told her.
Chapter Nine
It was one of the most delicious meals Cali had eaten in a long, long time, even though conducted in nearly complete silence, but it had been a comfortable silence. Jamis and Taarig had served an excellent Apreian wine she'd never tried that was rich and robust and paired perfectly with the Gyr. It had surprised her because Taarig and Jamis didn't seem to be the type of males who enjoyed a good glass of wine.
It made her wonder what else she didn't know about them.
She couldn't wait to find out.
With only a few bites of Gyr left, she looked up to find Taarig and Jamis had both finished their meals and were now intently watching her. Feeling mischievous, she picked up a piece of Gyr with her fingers, ran it through the juices on her plate, then leaned toward Jamis and held it in front of his mouth.
Jamis watched her intently as she offered him the meat. Did she know what it meant to a male Apre to be served this way? In ancient times, an Apre's Lalla would feed her mate in such a way to show him, and everyone else, how much she cared for him, that she was his and only his. That Cali was doing it had every one of his possessive instincts rising, along with his cock. Closing his mouth around her fingers, he sucked her offering from them.
Cali slowly withdrew her fingers from his mouth, letting them linger on his firm lips for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she broke eye contact with Jamis and looked down at her plate. Picking up the remaining piece of meat, she made sure it too was coated in the remaining juices, then turned to find Taarig already leaning toward her, his mouth open.
Taarig accepted the bite then watched Cali's eyes widen when he closed his mouth and wrapped his tongue around her fingers, erotically sucking on them before slowly releasing them. She was serving him as a Lalla would, and he was going to reward her for it. Her low moan, along with the darkening of her eyes, told him she liked her reward.
Cali didn't understand Jamis’s and Taarig's reaction to her feeding them. While it wasn't something she'd ever done with her other lovers, with them, it seemed right, natural even. Before she could dwell on it, though, Jamis stood and swept her up into his arms. Usually, Cali would have gone supernova on anyone who grabbed her without her permission, but this was Jamis, and the move only filled her with more desire and need.
Jamis carried Cali through to his resting chamber and set her on her feet next to his bed. Cali feeding T had Jamis fighting two conflicting emotions. Anger that she dared touch another male and pleasure because the male was T. Hearing the sexy little moan she'd given T had him wanting her to do it again because of him. His first instinct to make that happen was to ravish her, to take what he wanted. He'd already done that, and as satisfying as it had been, he hadn't taken the time to explore every curve of her compact body. He hadn't learned those secret places that drove her crazy with need and made her moan. This time, he would discover those places, but he needed to get her out of her clothing to do so. Dropping to his knees, he gripped the heel on one of her boots.
"Up."
When she immediately obeyed, he set her foot on his thigh then slid his hands up along the muscled curves of her calf and thigh until he reached bare skin. After caressing the silky flesh for a moment, he slipped his fingers under the edge of her boot and started to pull it down. As he did, he realized they were armadil, a material that, when stretched, conformed to whatever it surrounded but then retracted back to its original size when removed. It was a rare and costly material from the outer reaches of the universe and not something he would have thought an Earthan could afford.
"Lift your arms, little one," Taarig ordered.
Cali had been so stunned by Jamis kneeling before her that she hadn't noticed Taarig coming up behind her. Still, she readily obeyed, allowing him to pull her shirt up and off. When her arms were free, she reached back and wrapped her arms around his neck, tipping her face up to his.
Taarig had immediately started stripping off his uniform as he entered Jamis’s resting chamber. He wanted to feel Cali's sleek, naked, little body pressed against his again, needed to sample the sweetness of her luscious lips also. So when she reached up, wrapped her arms around him, and offered him those lips, he immediately captured them in a deep, torrid kiss.
Tossing her shirt aside, Taarig trailed his hands down along the soft underside of Cali's inner arms until he reached the curves of her breasts. Filling his hands with those generous globes, he squeezed and kneaded them, rolling her nipples until they were taut points.
Cali let herself sink into Taarig's kiss, moaning into his mouth when he pulled her back against him, his stiff, naked cock settling along the cleft of her ass.
Jamis finis
hed removing Cali's boots then sat back on his heels to watch T pleasure Cali. Her hips arched toward him, and Jamis felt his cock harden further. Gods, she was beautiful and so open with her responses that he wanted more. Reaching up, he stripped her of her skirt and lower covering, then ran his hands up her now-bare legs lifting one over his shoulder. It was then, for the first time, he saw what his lust had caused him to miss. The Gods needed to strike him down for being too impatient to explore something this beautiful.
A pair of pink, puffy lips hid her channel from his view, but her external erogenous zone, or clit, as Taarig called it, pushed its way through, glistening with her desire. Gripping Cali's ass, he pulled her toward him and heard her cry of pleasure as he latched on to the little nub.
"Jamis!" Cali ripped her mouth from Taarig's, sinking a hand that had been wrapped around Taarig's neck into Jamis’s hair, keeping him exactly where she wanted him. Gods, she'd known taking two Apre males at once was going to be a challenge but what she hadn't counted on was how quickly they would be able to overwhelm her.
Jamis growled his approval at her vocal response and continued to worry her nub as he slipped first one and then a second, thick finger into her. Gods, he didn't remember her being this tight before. How had he not injured her when he took her so roughly against that wall.
Taarig's mouth worked its way down Cali's neck, nipping and sucking as he watched Jamis feast on her sweetness, his fingers pumping in and out of her channel, driving her desire higher and higher. As her hips moved rhythmically with Jamis’s thrusts, Taarig slid his cock up and down the crease of her ass, the perfect globes tightening and releasing around him, making him feel as if he were inside of her.
"More!" Cali demanded, her grip tightening on both, as she felt her orgasm building. She wanted it, needed it, and as Jamis sucked harder on her nub and Taarig bit down on her neck, she found it.
As Cali screamed out her release, Jamis surged to his feet. He needed to be inside her. Now. Ripping off his clothes, he all but snarled. "Get her on the bed!"