by Imogene Nix
She stared at him, shock clear on her face. “But…Galan…” Then she blushed, the red tide rising on her pale skin.
His mind whirled as the primal thrill rushed through his body.
“Yes.” The single word echoed through the silence.
“You will stay with me, then?”
“Yes.” She gulped.
“Be sure. I will not ever let you leave me.” He bit the words out then he dipped down, until his mouth was level with hers and she gave a sigh. He felt her reach up, catch her fingers behind his head, and she opened her mouth to his tongue.
He was lost in the maelstrom of passion.
Galan cupped her breast, while he touched and mapped her body. He was hyper aware of her nipples as they budded against his chest. He pulled away. “You’re mine. You know it, don’t you?”
She shivered in his arms and he waited for her to acknowledge his words.
“I’m…Galan, I…”
“Mine.” He growled the single word as primal triumph roared through him.
The feelings he evoked in her were wild. She wanted him. Every fibre of her body cried out for his touch. His caress. Jessa quivered in his arms, glorying in the sensations he invoked. The feel of him pushed up tight against her left her gasping for breath. He was so big! It made her feel cherished and safe…and wanted.
Against her own will, Jessa moaned slightly, needing more of the drug-like kisses that filled her up.
He laughed lightly. “Soon, my beautiful. We will not rush this though.”
“Galan, I want…”
He stilled as if waiting for her refusal and she swallowed past the lump that had lodged in her throat, seeking a boldness she had never before possessed. She gulped, as she finally understood that he felt as uncertain as she did. “I want…you.” The words rushed out and he smiled, as her knees turned to water at the gleam in his eyes.
He moved quickly, crushing his mouth to hers and he thrust his tongue within the welcoming cavern of hers.
Their tongues tangled and she gloried in the sense of rightness. He ran his hands over her body, igniting small wildfires everywhere he touched. A slip here, just across her buttocks and a caress there at her shoulder, left her burning with the promise of pleasure yet to come.
Oh God! She was so turned on by this man. She didn’t know how he did it, but she wanted more!
Jessa twined her fingers in his hair, before moving to his shoulders, learning the shape of him, before dropping to his chest. Savouring the feel of corded muscles below the cotton which kept her from the skin she so desperately needed to touch.
He found the fasteners of her blouse, deftly twisting a button through the hole before he burrowed in beneath the thin material. His light and questing touch on her stomach had her pulling away with a gasp.
“How do I…?” He pulled away and she saw his passion glazed eyes, then he hurried on to his own suit fastenings, shaking with the intensity of their passion. Then the top half was gone, baring his skin to her wandering scrutiny. It’s all mine for the taking.
Her mouth dried and she chanced a look at his face. “You like what you see, don’t you, Jessa?” His voice was hypnotic and she nodded slowly before she lifted trembling hands to the fasteners of her top he hadn’t yet toyed with, slipping them through the holes. She watched him, his hooded gaze smoky and intense. And she gloried in the feminine power she had over this man.
Jessa pulled the blouse from her body, extended her hand and let the item fall to the floor. Then it was forgotten as the sound of his heavy breathing filled the silence. She waited for his response, her stomach twisting and churning wildly.
Jessa watched as Galan’s view dipped to her breasts, hidden only by a plain cotton bra. They weren’t large and she had many times wished they were more enticing. Now she wanted him to see them, touch them and find them just right, even if they were only covered by dowdy underwear. She silently cursed that she owned no sexy lingerie for this man to see her in.
“You are truly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” She vibrated with need at his words as he extended his hands to cup her twin globes. She cried out as he teased the sensitive nubs.
Slowly he moved his fingers towards the straps. He toyed with them before dropping them to the cups once more. He grazed his fingertips over them—up and down over the light material, each pass running ever so slightly over her nipples. Jessa wanted to cry out at the pleasure his touch evoked.
“I’m going to love you. I’m going to touch you and I’m going to pleasure you. Because you are mine.”
Her eyes closed at his words. He shuddered beneath her touches.
Klaxons wailed and the lights flickered on and off. Galan pulled away. “Stay here.” He jackknifed up quickly, collecting his shirt and shrugging it on. “It will be safer.” Then he was gone, leaving her alone in the room.
Jessa headed slowly to the bed. Her body heavy and her breathing hadn’t slowed much. Tension sparked through her and she squeezed her legs together vainly hoping to settle the arousal spiking through her. The wail of the klaxon ended as miserable tears rolled down her face.
So close!
She sighed, wiping a hand across her face… Jessa struggled to contain herself. “God knows it nearly happened and the damn alarms go off.” As the importance of that filtered back into her consciousness, she grimaced. “I hope it wasn’t anything too bad,” she muttered aloud and jumped at the voice that sounded through the room.
“No, Jessa. It was an incursion that was quickly dealt with. I believe Galan has given orders and is returning to you right now.” The walls glowed shades of blue, green and yellow as the perfectly modulated voice startled her.
“Who said that?” Fear snaked through her.
The chime of laughter filled the air. “It is me. The Princess Gospah.”
The what? Holy hell, the ship can talk to me?
“No. No ship can talk.” She waited, curling the fingers of one hand against her chest, while she hauled on the bedding to cover herself.
“Alas, Jessa, I can. I know Galan has not explained about me yet. I am a sentient species and offer my services to those of pacifist leanings. I and my brethren have been with the Hesparians for generations.”
Jessa gasped at the explanation. Sentient ships? For a moment, she wanted to laugh and believe it was a hoax. But the next thought stopped it in its tracks. Hadn’t that also been the common theory about long distance space travel? That it was a fantasy which humans wouldn’t achieve in a single lifetime? At least until the Hesparians had come on the scene.
“I will leave you now, I believe Galan is on his way to you and above all, we respect the privacy of those who travel aboard us.” The room colour changed to a light blush pink and Jessa was sure it meant she was alone once more.
The door slid open and in walked Galan. “Jessa, forgive me.” He reached out a hand in entreaty.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she blurted out her demand and he stopped dead.
“Tell you what?” He looked puzzled.
“About the ship. That it can talk and is sentient.”
He looked at her and smiled. “Would you have believed it beforehand?” He stepped towards her. “I know the interruption was ill timed, but do you think…?”
She stared at him. “What? You want me to…?” She waved a hand in the air and his smile deepened. “After that? How can I be sure…she…it…? Arrgh!” Jessa shook her head from side to side. “How do we know that no one is listening?”
“The wall colours.” He looked at her.
She squinted. “Sorry?”
“The wall colours mute when she is not here. She can choose whether or not to be within the room. Right now, she isn’t. It’s a muted colour. If the colours are bright you can usually tell. But the Princess Gospah will also withdraw when couples wish to be…intimate.”
“I don’t know…” She had whispered the words, wanting to be with him in every way and worried that the ship would
be a voyeur.
“Jessa…” Galan leaned in and kissed her softly. “Trust me.”
But she couldn’t let go yet. Jessa stood and moved away. “What happened?” She changed the subject and Galan sighed heavily. Jessa knew it wasn’t totally fair to him, but she needed to know why. What had caused the alarm before she could give herself over to him.
“A man made for the ship and tried to get in.” He harrumphed and sat himself down on the end of the bed. “At least come and sit down beside me if you want to talk.”
She eyed him cautiously then nodded, before making her way over to him. “And?”
“He tried to break one of the plates that protects Gospah in space. Fortunately our own security men were on hand and dealt with the situation quickly. I only saw as he was taken away.”
“So the threat is over?”
“Yes, Jessa. He has been dealt with and I hope we won’t see any more of him.” Galan shook his head. “Now, I believe, maybe I should leave you alone.” His words sent a spurt of pain through her system.
She didn’t know if she was ready for the intimacy, but even more so, she didn’t want him to leave. He stood and she reached out a hand. “No. Please…don’t go…”
“Jessa, I can’t…”
“I know. I need to be sure.” Jessa sucked in a deep lungful of air, then she whispered, “And I am.”
Once she had made her decision she knew it was right. She hooked one hand behind her back and he sat on the bed watching. Oh man. I’ve never done this before. Her fingers shook on the clasp and she fumbled a little before feeling the give in her bra. Finally it gaped away from her body and she quaked a little, wondering what he would say.
A soft sound emanated from Galan and he smiled, just a small uptick at the corner of his mouth, but enough to let her know he liked what he was seeing.
“Your turn.” She had whispered the words, emboldened.
He stood, pulling at his shirt before he stripped it away. He stood waiting while her heart thumped madly.
“Uh uh. More. I saw that last time. Show me something new.”
His smile broadened and he settled his hands on his pants. Her breath caught as he inched them down, a flash of white caught her eye and he smirked. They dropped to the floor with a thud and he stepped out of them. He watched her, wearing what looked like over long boxers, tied with a cord. She moaned, noting how they sat on his hips, dipping ever so slightly towards his groin. A brief arrow line of hairs travelled from his navel to what was hidden below the cloth.
“Not fair,” she breathed and he chuckled in reaction. She watched mesmerised as his chest moved with the sound. She extended her hand, needing to touch his flesh. She stepped forward so that she now stood within touching distance of him. Extended one finger and made contact before pulling it away.
Electric. Sparks of arousal flew through her body and she gasped in reaction.
“I want to touch you.” His guttural words filled her body with heat and she nodded wordlessly.
He reached out to her, touching first her shoulder before lightly sliding down her arm. “So beautiful. And all mine.”
She shuddered at his words as she caressed him, feeling the dips and hollows of his chest and up to his collarbone. So firm and warm and she wanted more—needed more.
Her core warmed and grew damp while he touched the tip of her breast. Her knees buckled and he grabbed her up, lifting her to the bed even as he fastened his mouth over hers. Jessa touched her tongue to his while he roamed his hands over her body, searching for the hem of the skirt she wore and shoving it out of the way. Galan’s hard fingers kneaded her thighs until they opened.
Jessa tugged on the tie at his waist. Mindless need filled her and she arched as he moved his lips down her neck, finding the most sensitive spot on her collarbone, using his tongue to lave her skin.
“Oh God!” She bucked as he found her panties and burrowed below, seeking the entrance to her core.
“Naked. We need to be naked,” she panted and pushed at him.
He levered himself away, shucking his under things while she made short work of her skirt and panties. Then they were naked and skin to skin. She got a glimpse before he covered her once more with his body. His erection magnificent and at the tip a bead of moisture seeped slightly.
Galan touched her again, this time he caressed the downy hair at her apex as they kissed. She felt him graze the sensitive skin between her legs, making her squirm with excitement. She arched into him, knowing that her own release was close. He slipped a finger within and she nearly came with the exquisite feelings. She groped for his cock and found it, fondling the tip, now engorged and pulsing.
“Inside me, Galan. I need you now!”
He jack-knifed up. Fitting himself against her and in one quick thrust pushed himself to the hilt inside her.
Then they moved, both rocking against the other as she gripped his shoulders. “More.”
“Yes,” he cried hoarsely, his lips once more against her neck. She tensed against him. Her body spasming rhythmically around him and he moved one more time.
She felt the jetting of his release deep within her and exulted in it. Never before had the sensations been like this. Sex, well the few of times she had tried it, had been marginally warm. Never hot and frenzied like this.
He rolled, pulling her with him. “Now you are truly mine. In every way that counts.” Jessa noticed the deep reds on the walls and cringed. She’d totally forgotten that the ship was sentient.
“Oh God,” she groaned and Galan looked at her.
“What?” His eyes narrowed. “You aren’t going to regret this now, are you?”
Jessa shook her head. “No. But the…this ship? Did it hear us?” She glanced nervously around.
He laughed and the rumble of his muscles against her still highly sensitised body left her tingling once more in sensual reaction. “No, she withdrew.”
Jessa looked around. “But the room. It’s glowing with red… I mean, what does that mean?”
He must have heard the bewilderment in her tone and he chuckled once again. “The room reacts to our emotions. This is the after passion red. If you had been paying attention beforehand, it would have been even brighter than this.”
She looked at him. Really? Amazing. Who would have ever thought of this, even in their wildest dreams? Jessa couldn’t contain the blush that suffused her body, but she cuddled up against Galan. Her life had certainly changed since the phone call from Seth that fateful evening. What was it? Less than a fortnight ago? But she still wasn’t sure what the future held for her. “Galan?” She lifted her body up onto one elbow.
“Hmm?”
“What’s going to happen to Seth and I? I mean, knowing the government…they aren’t going to let just anyone go to Hesparia. And with my background, I sincerely doubt I would even get a look in.”
“I don’t see that it should be their choice. Both you and Seth are members of the crew now. We won’t leave you behind.” He’d said the words, but the seed of doubt remained.
“So just how do you plan to move that many women on this one ship, anyway?” It wasn’t a huge ship and from what she could see, it was nowhere near large enough to move that many extra people.
He smiled, running his hand over her hair. “You really want to discuss this now?”
She tapped his abdomen. “Yep.” She grinned at his pained expression.
“Okay then. We have another ship, behind the moon. Just waiting for the go ahead and we will act as a transport to and from the ship. It’s too large to make landing, but has adequate berth facilities.” He sighed. “Now, are you satisfied?” He looked so put upon that she laughed.
“Not quite.” With those words she dipped her head forward for a heated kiss once again.
Chapter Seven
This time when Jessa emerged from her room, she felt loose and energised. Ready to meet any challenges life threw at her. They moved together down the corridor. Not quite hand in h
and, but close enough to be able to touch. She smiled to herself, Galan was a caring lover and she knew the stars had been in alignment on the day they had met.
They entered an office she hadn’t been in before. Joras and Seth sat at a table, deep in conversation. Seth looked up, took a second harder look and nodded as if he knew what they had been doing. Jessa knew she blushed a deep, almost beetroot red she was sure, as her face burnt. Not that she was embarrassed…much, but still, Seth knowing she had slept with Galan after their conversation was a touch…well, embarrassing. It was true.
“Galan, we have been requested to meet with their United Nations. I have accepted on your behalf.” Joras’ voice showed no knowledge of their intimacy, but one thing she had learnt during their time on the Princess Gospah was that Joras rarely showed what he was thinking or feeling, playing everything very close to his chest. Jessa thought perhaps it was something he only showed with those closest to him.
He indicated to the two chairs and they sat, while Joras handed a tablet device to Galan. The runes and shapes still meant little to Jessa, but determination filled her. I will learn to read them and write in his language too, even if he does leave me behind.
They discussed how they would travel to the United Nations. Joras stated that they wished them to travel with the Prime Minister. Galan wanted to use their own transport. In the end, though, Joras argued that it was a show of goodwill. And they currently needed every bit they could get. Galan assented and it was resolved that they would travel the next day to meet the Prime Minister at the military aerodrome located in Richmond, using their government sanctioned vehicles. Galan was less than impressed that they would take upwards of a week between meetings and travel. Seth shrugged his shoulders, explaining that their planes didn’t have the capabilities of Hesparia’s, from what he understood. Both Seth and Jessa were to travel with them.
They put together a list of resources, images and information they thought might help to sway the situation and Jessa watched as they both worked with efficiency. Seth worked at something that looked remarkably like a primer and Jessa wondered what skills she had to offer in the negotiations before she sighed heavily.