Dagger's Hope

by S. E. Smith

  “Move,” Dagger said as he watched a huge male Gartaian emerge out of the dark shadows. It paused in the middle of the river, as if sensing that it was not alone. “Now, Jordan.”

  Jordan nodded, keeping the butt of the rifle firmly pressed against her shoulder and her finger on the trigger. She turned when she heard a loud roar come from the opposite side. Her eyes darted back and forth when she realized that another male, this one younger from the light gray color of his skin, had come out of the opposing woods to her left.

  “Uh-oh,” she whispered, moving along the side of the Starship. “I think we are in the middle of a territory dispute.”

  “The younger male is challenging the bull,” Dagger gritted out. “Get up the platform.”

  Jordan didn’t argue. She twisted and climbed up onto the platform that they had left partially closed due to the Starship sinking. She reached down and grabbed the bag of tools that Dagger was holding up to her.

  While the Gartaian were almost blind, they weren’t completely. Dagger knew they could see the movement of shadowy figures. The biggest advantage they had was their sense of smell. It was excellent, just as he had discovered back on Bruttus. Fortunately, the two bulls were more interested in each other than in him and Jordan.

  “Here,” Jordan whispered, stretching out her hand to grab the last of the equipment while keeping an eye on the young bull as it pawed at the ground.

  Dagger handed the small pouch up to Jordan before pulling himself up onto the ramp. He turned when he heard Jordan gasp. The old bull had accepted the challenge and had risen up onto his back legs. The loud sound of his bellows rung through the air before the two charged each other.

  He didn’t wait to see what happened. Slamming his hand on the door control, he sealed it just as the ground under them shook from the force of the two massive bodies colliding. Jordan was staring at him with wide eyes filled with emotion. From the expression on her face, he could tell that she was remembering the fight back on Bruttus.

  He stepped forward and ran the back of his fingers down her flushed cheek. “I survived,” he murmured. “I survived because I had something worth living for to come back to.”

  Jordan’s eyes filled with tears, but they didn’t fall. Instead, she gave a watery laugh. He loved that about her, that she could see past the pain.

  “I didn’t give you much choice,” she teased. “I warned you what would happen if you didn’t come back.”

  “Yes, you did,” he murmured, his eyes darkening with emotion. “Let’s get cleaned up.”

  He knew from the secretive smile on her lips, that she caught the meaning behind his words. He wanted to shower with her and then he was going to love her. Just the thought of holding her in his arms again stirred his body awake.

  “I’ll help you store the tools,” she replied. “Then, we’ll get cleaned up.”

  They worked as a team over the next half hour, recharging the torches and storing the equipment. His blood was boiling by the time they were done. Every time Jordan walked by him, she would brush her hand over him. It was just a soft touch across his ass, a finger down his chest, a flick across one of his nipples, or a blatant swipe across the front of his pants with a knowing look.

  “Enough,” he growled when she blew a warm breath along his neck as he bent to store the last of the materials. “You are a distraction.”

  He turned and scooped her up into his arms before she could dance away from him. She squealed when he pressed a wet kiss to her neck. The sound of her giggles washed through him, taking with it another layer of the pain and anger that had been his only companion for so long. It was music to a deaf man who suddenly discovered what it felt like to hear. Her dancing eyes, flushed face, and the happiness shining from it humbled him as nothing else could have. She gave with her whole heart.

  “I love you, Dagger,” she whispered, seeing the flash of vulnerability in his eyes again. “So very, very much.”

  His throat worked up and down and he nodded. Turning on his heel, he strode through the lower level of the ship to the lift. Stepping into it, he set her down, suddenly self-conscious of how dirty he was from working on the engine and that he probably didn’t smell much better than the Gartaians outside.

  “I need a shower,” he said gruffly.

  Jordan laughed again and nodded. “Yes, so do I,” she giggled, wiping at a dark smudge on her arm where she had rubbed against him. “I have the most awesome idea.”

  He looked down at her, and raised an eyebrow when she rubbed her hands together. For a moment, his eyes were frozen on the way they moved, as images of the night before danced through his head. Shaking it, he blinked and tried to focus on what she had said.

  “What?” He asked.

  Jordan took a step toward him just as the lift stopped and the door opened. “I said, I could bathe you, if you bathed me,” she repeated with a toss of her head as she stepped out of the lift. “Last one in has to wash the other first.”

  Dagger stood staring at the back of Jordan as she took off. A low growl escaped him when he finally comprehended what she was saying. She was disappearing through the door to their cabin when the door to the lift started to close on him. Thrusting his hand out, he took off when it opened far enough for him to squeeze through.

  He entered the room to a line of Jordan’s clothing. It looked as if she had stripped on the move. Her ankle boots were tossed to the side. He stepped over the remains of the thin pajama ‘shorts’ she had made and her shirt. Turning, he paused when he heard the soft sound of her humming an unfamiliar song.

  Pulling off his boots, he quickly stripped out of his clothing. He picked up his pants and Jordan’s discarded clothes, and stuffed them in the clothing refresher before stepping into the doorway of the cleansing unit. For a moment, he just stood watching her as she lathered her long hair and tilted it back to rinse it.

  “Are you coming in?” Her soft voice woke him from his trance and he nodded.

  He pulled the door open and stepped inside with her. The shower was larger than normal for a Starship. Arindoss spared no expense when he upgraded the ship. It was either that, or the previous owner had just as an expensive taste as the former fight club owner. Right now, Dagger was just thankful for their forethought.

  Dagger’s eyes were glued to the moisture running down Jordan’s upturned breasts. He bent forward, mesmerized by a stubborn droplet that clung to one taut nipple. Her low moan echoed in the narrow space when he ran his tongue over it.

  “Let me,” he murmured, taking the soap from her and squeezing a touch into the palm of his hand.

  He didn’t want anything between his skin and hers. Sliding his palms up under her breasts, he pressed a kiss to each nipple before running his hands over the rounded globes. The feel of his rough palms over her silky skin made him want more.

  He followed the movement of his hands with his eyes, wanting to memorize every inch of her like this. The water on her skin made it glisten in the low lights of the cleansing unit. His fingers stroked her skin as he followed the tiny droplets.

  Skimming his fingers over her stomach, he knelt in front of her. He gentle massaged the soap into her skin, watching as it dissolved and washed away. Raising his hand, he glanced up at her with a small, sexy smile.

  “More,” he ordered.

  Jordan raised an eyebrow at him, but reached over and picked up the soap. Pouring another penny size drop in his hands, she wondered if she had made a mistake of challenging him when she almost dropped the bottle. She shifted her weight, leaning back against the back of the shower when he nudged her thighs in a command to open her legs for him.

  “Dagger,” she whispered throatily when he began massage the soft curls between her legs. “More. Use… Please…”

  Another moan escaped her when he tugged on the curls. Her hips rotated until she was pressing them away from the wall and closer to him in invitation. She closed her eyes and sent a small prayer of thanks upward to the genius behind the
alien soap that dissolved the moment the area was clean.

  “Oh, yes,” she whispered out loud when Dagger’s lips replaced his fingers.

  He murmured his approval when she raised her right leg and draped it over his shoulder while she held on to his shoulders. She leaned her head back and kept her eyes closed as she focused on the feelings rushing through her. Her hips rocked in rhythm with his tongue.

  His eyes flickered upward when her left hand slid off his shoulder and to her breast. In his mind, he remembered what it was like to suck on them, pinch them until she arched upward for more. Just the thought of it made him want to come.

  “Oh, Dagger,” Jordan moaned when he slid his finger deep into her vaginal channel.

  The silky smooth feel of her core wrapping around his finger sent pleasure bursting through him. He pulled almost all the way out, pulling a whimper from her and added another finger. She was tight and her body was greedy for him. Vivid memories of how it felt wrapping around his cock drew a silent curse from him and he renewed his attack on the small nub that he discovered caused her to shatter when he touched it.

  He ran his tongue over it and was rewarded with a flow of her desire. Sliding his fingers through the light colored curls, he spread her labia, opening her to him. Reaching out, he touched the tip of his tongue to the small pebbled nub that seemed to swell in response. His hands pressed against her thighs when she jerked.

  “Don’t move,” he growled against her.

  Her low whimper was the only answer he received. He continued to lick the nub while stroking her, moving faster and faster in response to the pressure she was exerting on his shoulder and pressing against his back with her heel. He could feel the exact moment that she went over the edge into an explosive, soul shattering orgasm.

  He twisted the two fingers he had pressed up inside her as she pulsed around him and drank deeply. The hand on her breast had dropped back down to his shoulder where she kneaded his flesh in time with her release. He reluctantly pulled back and rose on shaking legs.

  Dagger threaded his fingers through her wet hair and sealed his lips against hers in a deep kiss. He knew that she could taste her essence on his lips. Deepening the kiss, his tongue danced with hers as he tried to show her how much her release had affected him.

  Closing his eyes, he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, drawing deep breathes to calm his thundering heart. He shuddered when he felt the tips of her fingers tracing the muscles of his stomach. Opening his eyes, he stared down at her in wonder.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  Jordan smiled tenderly up at him, her fingers moving in slow, sensual circles. “I love you, too. Now, it’s my turn.”

  Dagger braced his arms against the side of the shower as Jordan poured a small portion of soap into her hand and rubbed them together before she began sliding them across his outstretched arms. He swallowed and bent his knees a little when she moved behind him and began rubbing his scalp before moving down to his shoulders.

  “You’re so much taller than me, I can’t reach the top of your head without you bending down,” she murmured, running her fingers along his shoulder once he had straightened.

  “Does it bother you?” He asked, glancing over his shoulder. “My being taller than you?”

  Jordan shook her head. “No,” she replied, touching the faint scars crisscrossing his back. “No, I like it.”

  Dagger turned back around to face the wall. Jordan smiled when she saw his hand clench as she moved further down his body. Biting her bottom lip, she reached over and poured more soap into her palm before replacing it. Rubbing her hands together again, she took a step closer so that her breasts brush against his back while her hands slid down over his taut buttocks.

  “I always did like a guy with a tight ass,” she whispered as she ran her hands over the curve of his buttocks before circling around and cupping him in her hand. “Then, again, a nice crotch isn’t so bad either.”

  Jordan could tell she was playing with fire. The tension building inside Dagger was radiating through the narrow shower unit. She knew he wouldn’t last long, especially when she finally wrapped her hand around his cock.

  She ran her hand back and forth along the slick, smooth surface. Her hand caught on the bulbous end and she circled it with her palm. The low, guttural groan that tore from his throat told her he had reached his limit. Twisting, his hands spanned her waist and lifted her up.

  “Wrap your legs around my waist,” he demanded, pressing her back against the other side of the shower unit.

  His hands wrapped around her thighs as he drove upward, impaling her on his throbbing cock. Dagger leaned forward, breathing heavily into her ear as he rocked his hips. Each upward stroke drove him deeper into her. Jordan wrapped her arms around his neck and used her thigh muscles to help hold her still when his hands slid around her waist and pressed her more firmly against the shower wall.

  Low, hiccuping sobs escaped her as he continued to drive in and out of her with increasing speed and force. Just when she thought her legs would give out, he threw his head back and cried out. Jordan bent forward, biting down on his shoulder as her own body reacted to the sudden swelling of his cock and the pulsing jet of his seed as he came.

  “Yes!” He hissed, bowing his head against the curve of her neck. “Yes!”

  Jordan laid her head against his shoulder in exhaustion. Her body felt limp, boneless, after such a joining. He kept one arm around her, holding her to him as he gently pulled out of her. A low whimper escaped her and she turned her face into his neck at the loss of their connection.

  She was only vaguely aware of him turning off the shower. He stepped out of the shower with her still in his arms. Reaching for a towel, he set her on the vanity and tenderly dried her.

  “Why don’t you rest while I fix us something to eat?” He suggested, brushing her damp hair away from her face. “I will come get you when it is done.”

  Jordan blinked sleepily up at Dagger and nodded. A tired sigh escaped her when he picked her up and carried her into the other room. She was asleep before he even finished covering her up.

  Dagger sat on the edge of the bed, watching Jordan for several long minutes before he finally stood up and pulled out a pair of clean trousers. Sliding them on, he didn’t bother with his boots or a shirt. If he had his way, he wouldn’t need them for the rest of the day.

  Chapter 15

  Dagger grunted and set down the tool he was using to work on the electrical system. At least the outside repairs were finally completed. It had taken him two days longer than he thought it would to fix it.

  Part of the reason was because the damage was more extensive than he thought. The other part was because the narrow patch of dry ground they had taken refuge on was part of the Gartaians’ feeding and mating ground. This made it impossible to do any work safely outside while the creatures were present.

  “Here,” Jordan said, handing him a bottle of water when he sat up. “At least we don’t have to smell that creature anymore.”

  Dagger grimaced and nodded. “That’s true,” he replied handing her back the empty bottle. “It took long enough for the others to clear the remains.”

  “Ew!” Jordan said, wiggling her nose.

  Dagger laid back and picked up the splicer. The old bull had been no match for the younger one they discovered. The mammoth carcass had bloated in the heat. The other Gartaians took their time, stripping chucks from the decomposing body, but it hadn’t been fast enough for him and Jordan.

  “You should have stayed inside the ship,” he grunted.

  “And leave you unprotected out there while you worked? Not happening,” she replied, taking a sip of her drink. “Besides, it didn’t take them that long to clean it up.”

  Dagger chuckled. “No, it usually doesn’t,” he replied, liking the way humans shortened their words. “I need to finish this by today. The ship has sunk another foot. If we don’t leave in the next day or so, I’m not su
re we’ll be able to without me digging out the landing gear.”

  “How much longer do you think it will take you?” Jordan asked.

  “I need to check the connection on the outside panel. I didn’t realize the circuit board was damaged, but I can see where it overheated and melted. Fortunately, I can repair it using components from another board. Still, I want to make sure it didn’t melt through to the outside. If it did, it could cause an explosion during takeoff,” he explained, sliding the damaged board out and laying it beside him.

  “Why don’t I go fix some dinner while you work on it?” Jordan asked, sliding her hand over his stomach. “You need to keep your strength up.”

  Dagger’s hand whipped out and grabbed hers when she slid it lower. He watched her eyes darken and her face soften when he lifted his hips up at the same time as he pressed her hand down over his cock. This was something she had started the morning she smacked him on the ass. Foreplay, she called it. Whatever the hell it was, he enjoyed it.

  “Kiss me,” he ordered, pulling her hand up and toward him so that she twisted off balance and half fell across him. “Kiss me, Jordan.”

  He released her hand and slid his palm down and over her hip. Meeting her half way, the playful kiss turned to heated desire. He swore the more they came together, the more he wanted.

  “I definitely think you need to be fed,” she whispered, lying almost completely on top of him.

  “Warning, vessel alert,” the computer suddenly announced.

  “Ouch!” Jordan cursed when she jerked her head up in surprise and it hit the underside of the console. “What the….”

  Dagger rolled Jordan off of him and twisted. He jumped to his feet before reaching down and helping her up. A low curse exploded from his lips at the thought of how defenseless they were. Pulling her behind him, he strode toward the door.

  “How far out?” He demanded as he reached for the laser rifle propped up next to the door of the engine room. “Give me the estimated time of arrival.”