by Liza Probz
She stalked down the corridor, headed for the mess. Kat heard the human clomping along behind her and wished then for an airlock to shove him out of.
Entering the mess, she was surprised to discover a large storage container taking the place of the usual small table in the center of the room. She read the sticker on the top of it.
“What’s this?” Jeffrey asked, coming up behind her and peering at the Zantharian writing.
“It seems the chief requisitions officer thought we could do with one of the devices the scientists set up to keep the Hareema prisoner.”
“And electric box?”
She nodded. “Fairly optimistic of him.”
Her companion frowned. “You don’t think we can take the ones on my ship captive?”
“We got lucky with the last one,” she said. “And it was the first we’ve ever captured. So despite your cockiness, I don’t think we have an excellent chance, no.”
“Have a little faith, Kat,” he said, his voice low. She could feel his breath on her ear and for a fleeting moment, she wished she could relax back into his arms.
Immediately banishing the thought of giving into her desire, she stiffened and walked away, moving to a console and punching in the order for a container of water. A metal cylinder popped out of the console and she took it, cracking the lid and holding it out to the human male.
He took it and began to drink. Kat watched his strong neck flex as he swallowed the water, then looked away, wishing she could get rid of the attraction she had for the lieutenant.
“Got anything stronger?” he asked when he’d finished.
“Afraid not,” she said too sweetly. “Is there anything else His Majesty desires?”
The look he gave her told her that there was. But nothing she was willing to give.
“If we’re done here, I’m going back to the bridge.” She didn’t wait for him to respond, instead making her way through the exit and back into the corridor.
“Wait,” he said, grabbing her arm to stop her progress. “I know you’re upset about what happened on the flagship—“
“Let me go,” she said, ripping her arm out of his grasp. “And stop talking about what happened on the damn flagship. I’m over it.”
“But I’m not,” he said, maneuvering around her to block her path. “I want you, Kat, and I know you want me too. I’ve never had a woman react so passionately to me before, and I’ve never felt this kind of longing either. It would be an opportunity missed, to not see where this thing between us is going.”
“There is no thing between us,” she replied. “And the only opportunity I’m missing is to have another regret to add to my roster.”
“Is it because of him?” Jeffrey asked in a low voice.
“Him?” What the hell was he talking about?
“Major Ontarii.”
Her whole body stiffened. She felt like glass, like at any moment she could shatter into a million pieces. “How dare you?” she hissed, almost shaking with rage.
“I saw how you look at him, Kat. But I also saw how he looks at her.”
It was the worst possible thing he could have said to her in that moment. Her skin flushed yellow, her fists clenching as her insides tightened. To have this human realize her secret was too much.
“You son of a shark!” she yelled, flinging a fist at him with as much force as she could put behind it.
Jeffrey caught her arm and pushed her backward until she hit the wall. He pinned her down, grabbing her other arm and bringing it above her head. He held her wrists, his body pressed against hers. The softness of her curves cushioned him and he was lost to wanting to own her again, to drive into her and claim her as his own.
“Assaulting a commanding officer,” he said, his voice low, his face inches from hers. “There’s only one punishment for that offense.”
Kat’s eyes widened. She should be fighting back, trying to escape being trapped by his muscular body, but instead she stared at him. “What punishment?”
“This,” he growled, then seized her lips in a fiery kiss.
Kat was stunned for a moment, only able to feel his mouth on hers. Then reason tried to assert itself, and she began to struggle. It felt too good. Too right.
Jeffrey only kissed her harder, transferring both wrists to one hand while he used the other to hold her head still for his attack. He licked at her lips until she opened them, and when his tongue touched hers, she gave up the struggle and submitted to her desire.
Kat kissed him back in a frenzy, causing him to groan. He pressed his hips to hers, his cock so big, so hard. She mewled against his lips, wanting more as tingles danced at her center.
He used his free hand to pull down her top, unleashing her breasts to his gaze. “So beautiful,” he said when he’d pulled his lips away from hers. He bent and proceeded to suck her right breast fully into his mouth.
She started to cry out from the rough pleasure of it, but then her eyes flashed to the membrane that separated the corridor from the bridge.
We could be caught at any moment.
Instead of causing her to stop him, the risk of being caught only turned her on more. Liquid heat rushed to wet her center and once again, she started to shake with desire. How would it feel to open herself up to him? To let him wedge his thick shaft deep inside of her?
She cried out and clung to him. “Jeffrey.”
“Shhh, baby.” He transferred his attention to her other breast, licking and sucking, teasing the nipple with little nips that drove her crazy. “Tasting you isn’t enough this time,” he growled, bringing his eyes in line with her and fixing her with a hungry glare. “This time I want inside you.”
Kat trembled and groaned, but gave him a nod. She wanted him too. So fucking bad.
He released her hands and grabbed the waistline of her shorts, tugging them down her legs. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Kat,” he whispered, running his hands down her curves until they were under her ass.
He lifted her, and she went with him, wrapping her legs around his waist and pulling his head back up for another blistering kiss. Their tongues dueled with each other, causing her to moan into her mouth.
“Goddamn,” he groaned, his eyes filled with lust. “Your lips are sweeter than honey. I’m addicted to your kisses.”
“Then kiss me again,” she said, licking his lips.
His eyes blazed with fire as he once against ravished her mouth, this time slowly, teasingly, until she was squirming against him.
She grabbed the zipper to his flight suit and began pulling it down, her hands sliding underneath to feel the hard muscles under smooth skin.
He moaned when she ran her thumb across his nipple, pressing his erection against her center. It felt as though sparks would ignite and consume them both.
He leaned away from her long enough to unzip his flight suit further, shaking it off his shoulders and letting it fall. Jeffrey lifted her higher so that he could push down the briefs underneath, freeing his cock. He settled her lower on his hips, his swollen head probing her entrance.
She wanted him, wanted this, so bad. “I need you,” she whispered and slid herself along his cock, wanting to force it inside her.
“Slow down, precious,” he whispered, taking one hand and holding himself so that he could tease her entrance. Back and forth he slowly dragged his cock up and down, teasing her outer lips, coating them with her own moisture.
“Please, Jeffrey,” she moaned. “I can’t take it.”
“You can and you will,” he said. Instead of bristling at his commanding tone she reveled in it. He continued to tease her, back and forth, back and forth, so slowly that she thought she would die from the wanting.
Her heart was trying to beat its way out of her chest, and ever time his head ran over her clit she buckled and groaned loudly, like a needy little whore. His whore.
“There’s that pretty purple color,” he leaned down and whispered into her ear.
Kat glanced down at h
er skin, which had flushed a dark amethyst. She didn’t think her skin had ever flushed this dark. She wanted him more than she’d ever wanted another male.
Her arms tightened around his shoulders, and growled into his ear, “Jeffrey I need you inside me. Now!”
He groaned and pressed forward, sliding inside of her. “How could I deny you, sweetheart?”
Kat breathed heavily, filled with his thick shaft, stretched beyond what she thought she was capable of. Nothing had ever felt so good before. She was fully alive.
“My God, you’re so perfect,” he moaned against her throat as he began to move.
He buried himself in her deep and Kat had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. Another hard thrust and she moaned loudly.
“Shh, sweetheart,” he said, capturing her lips in another kiss. “You don’t want them to hear, do you?”
Kat’s eyes flew to the bridge entrance again, but as he kept thrusting, she realized that she couldn’t contain her cries.
“I’m sorry, precious,” he said, using one of his hands to cover her mouth. “Can’t have you giving us away.” He then proceeded to piston himself into her, his motions rough, his cock probing deeply.
She contracted her muscles, squeezing him tight as her bioenergy began to flow, causing her core to vibrate.
“Ah, fuck,” he ground out as he continued to drive into her. “There goes that vibrating pussy. I don’t know how long I can last when you grip me so good.”
Kat was nearly insensate with pleasure. She ground her hips against him, trying to pull him deeper inside her.
“Goddamn, Kat. Slow down, baby” he moaned.
“No. I want more,” she whined, not feeling at all like herself.
His eyes were fierce as they stared into hers. Her breath was hot against his hand. Her fingers were clenching against the muscles in his back, and she knew her nails had to be leaving marks in his skin.
“Feel me deep inside you, precious,” he said, redoubling his efforts. Kat thought she would scream with satisfaction. “I never want to stop,” he whispered.
His hardness throbbed inside her as she lost herself in his deep blue eyes. Her climax was rushing upon her with the speed of a sailfish. A few more thrusts and she would die of pleasure.
“I want you with me,” he growled, fucking her with everything he had. “I want to feel your tight little vibrating pussy squeezing me as you come.”
His words drove her over the edge. She threw her head back and moaned against his hand. Her entire body felt as if she’d been catapulted into the sun. Every molecule in her burned and exploded.
“Jeffrey,” she screamed and rocked against his cock, needing to ride her high for as long as he would let her.
“That’s it. Fuck it, Kat,” he groaned.
His thrusts were uncontrolled, his head buried against her neck as he gave one more powerful thrust and erupted. His cock twitched deep inside her, knew it was paying tribute to her, to the way she let him love her.
They stood together, clutching one another tight and breathing heavily as they came down from the heights. Kat’s eyes skittered back to the entrance to the bridge but it was still closed. It seemed that they’d avoided detection.
Suddenly the realization of what they’d done crashed over her. Here she was, in the corridor of the scout ship, only one door separating her from the rest of the crew. She was nearly naked, clutching an equally undressed human. There would be no doubt what they’d done if someone found them now.
Kat started to squirm, unlocking her hold on him. Jeffrey let her slide down to the floor but wouldn’t move away. Kat pulled up her shorts, then set about straightening her top.
Jeffrey pulled his flight suit back on with a leisurely motion, his eyes on hers the entire time.
“Kat,” he said, putting a hand to her face.
She batted it away, suddenly overwhelmed by what had happened. Again.
“Don’t,” she whispered, feeling like she was only a second away from weeping. How does he do this to me? How can he get me to drop my guard enough to ravish me in the ship’s corridor?
How can the most fulfilling sexual experience of my life come at the hands of a human male while on one of the most important missions of my career?
Nothing made sense anymore for Kat’Chinna. Her world was crashing down around her, and all because of the man in front of her.
She composed her face, breathing deeply and not letting any of her thoughts show. “Let me go, Lieutenant,” she said after a moment.
“Oh no,” he muttered. “You don’t get to close up on me again. Not after what just happened.”
“I can do whatever I damn well please,” she retorted. “You might be my superior officer for the moment, but you don’t get to control me.”
“Kat, please.” His voice was low, his words urgent. “I know you’re frightened. I am too. I’ve never felt this way before.”
“Frightened?” She tried to laugh, but it came out a strange, choked sound.
Jeffrey put his arms around her, pulling her face into his chest. “Shh, baby, it’s all right. It’s confusing, these feelings we have for one another. But we don’t have to fight it. It’s obvious we have amazing chemistry, and I’m certain there’s more than just sex to it.”
More than just sex? Was he talking about…love? Kat had never been more confused in her life. Could these feelings be more than attraction?
She couldn’t accept that, not now. She had a career that she enjoyed, a place in society that was respected and appreciated. Could she throw that all away for a chance at love with someone from a different species? A different planet?
“Kat,” he said, his hands brushing at the tendrils of her head. They were moving slightly with agitation. “I know you feel it too, this thing between us. I know you want—“
“Lieutenant,” came a voice over the comm.
“Fuck,” Jeffrey growled, his hands dropping to his side.
Kat pushed away from him and over to the comm panel. “Report.”
“We’ve picked up the human vessel on long-range scanners. We’ll be within range of it in two minutes.
She looked at Jeffrey and was surprised to find sadness in his eyes. “We’ve got to go,” she said softly.
“This conversation will be continued,” he said, his voice like iron.
Without acknowledging him, she made her way to the bridge.
Chapter 16
Jeffrey stood near the view screen, strange feelings at war within him. The Earhart lay not far out of range, barely limping along. It seemed the Hareema weren’t so good at piloting human vessels.
Although he should be preparing to board the ship, he couldn’t keep his thoughts straight. His entire mind was occupied with the beautiful female that was leaning over the console beside him.
“Its engines appeared to have limited power,” she said, glancing up at him.
Jeffrey nodded, unable to pull his eyes away from her.
She was back in Ice Queen mode after their interaction in the corridor. He guessed it was to be expected. She was a consummate professional, after all.
Jeffrey couldn’t banish his feelings so easily. His cock still throbbed at the memory of being inside her tight heat. It was like nothing he’d ever experienced, and he couldn’t wait to be inside her again.
Unfortunately, there was a lot to do before he could possess her again. Just retake your ship, capture the enemy, and come back to claim her. He stifled the desire to laugh.
Or cry.
Instead, he focused on the task at hand. “Lieutenant Yarr, you’ll stay here with the ship. The rest of you, you’re with me.”
The five Zantharian soldiers stood, but froze at the sound of Kat’s voice.
“You can’t be serious,” she said, her tone like ice.
“I am,” he said, heading toward the bridge entrance.
“I’m going with you,” she said, hurrying after him.
“It’s too dangerous.”
He froze when he heard her gasp. “Too dangerous? Let’s not forget who stopped the Hareema from killing you on the flagship. If anyone should stay here, it’s you.”
“And yet you’re not the one in charge, are you?”
He turned to find her shaking, yellow forks lighting up her skin. “Don’t do this,” she said, her voice urgent. “I’m the only one who knows how much current to run through those bastards. You leave me here, and you’re risking killing your prisoners.”
Her words twisted a knife in Jeffrey’s chest. She had a point. Zantharians had been trained since birth to kill any Hareema on sight. Although he believed the soldiers would try to follow his orders, he couldn’t guarantee that they’d be able to help themselves when confronted with their age-old enemy.
“Fine.” He pointed at the navigator. “You stay here. If any one of us tries to come back on board, you zap them first to make sure they are who they say they are.”
The navigator nodded and retook his seat at the central console. “The rest of you, come with me.”
Kat was right behind him as they entered the corridor. Jeffrey waited impatiently as the scout ship pulled alongside the Earhart, attaching itself to the human vessel’s entry hatch.
“Stay close,” he said to Kat, his voice rough. “We take no unnecessary risks.”
She nodded. He could tell she didn’t like what he had to say, but she wouldn’t chance being left behind.
The navigator announced that they’d attached to the Earhart and gave the all clear to open the hatch. One of the Zantharian soldiers tapped a code into the entry panel and the hatch slid open.
Jeffrey moved forward, working at the Earhart locking mechanism until the hatch light blinked green. He glanced over his shoulder, ensuring that his companions were ready. Each had the sheen of bioelectricity racing over their skins.
It was time.
Jeffrey opened the hatch, wishing he had a weapon. Find a gun, first priority, then hunt down the Hareema bastards.
He crept down the corridor until he hit the crew’s mess. Mess is the optimal word. He eyed the strewn about dishes and trays. Cabinets were yawning open.