by Smith, S. E.
“I’d better keep my own secrets locked down tight then.” Her comment sounded wistful, definitely not in the light-hearted tone they’d both been using.
He put his finger under her chin and turned her face so he could check her expression. “Hey, if anything’s bothering you, you can always talk to me. Well, maybe not about dance steps, but anything else. I’m a good listener.”
“I found out who sent me the other flowers,” she said, and he was positive it wasn’t meant as a non sequitur. “Well, not his name, come to think of it. But a passenger. He was the one who came up to me during the party and tried to ask me out.”
“But?” Senses heightened, he heard an odd note in her voice.
Tassia shook her head. “Nothing. I’m sure he won’t be bothering me again and, if he does, I know who to call, right?” She smiled and patted his arm.
“Damn straight.” Unable to resist any longer, he kissed her.
She parted her lips and he deepened the caress. In a rush, she moved to sit on his lap, straddling him. The pressure of her soft bottom on his aching cock was sensual torture. Arms around his neck, she continued the kiss he’d begun and pushed him onto his back on the sand, lying on top of him.
He broke off their kiss regretfully and shifted to his side, moving her carefully so they lay facing each other. Tassia rolled over and contemplated the faux sky, breathing hard. He was mesmerized by the rise and fall of her breasts, tempted almost beyond caution to reach over and touch one of the pebbled nipples under the thin silk of her top. He had the feeling if he put his hands on her again, they’d mutually combust. But his gut told him events might be moving too fast for her. This was only what…their third so-called date? Although the attraction sparking between them right now was off the charts.
“We could take this somewhere more private,” he said, throwing caution to the winds. “If you’d like, we could have a nightcap in my quarters.”
“I’d like that,” she said. “I’m not ready for the evening to be over.” Rising, she dusted sand off her skirt with a tiny frown. “Your cabin is probably more comfortable than even a romantic beach.”
“I’ll do my best to make sure everything is just the way you’d like it to be,” he said, feeling a rush of anticipation. “And the beach will be here if you’d like to come for another visit.” Getting to his feet, he unobtrusively adjusted himself to make his arousal less obvious, pulling his shirt free to hang over his pants. Then he went to retrieve her shoes from the spot on the beach where she’d left them.
When he handed the red stilettos to her, she kissed him on one cheek and then the other. “A reward, for the private beach and for saving me the steps to reclaim my best new shoes.” She danced away from him in one of incredibly graceful movements, heading toward the exit.
Maeve, we’re leaving the beach now, you can flip the ganglion on. Liam jogged to catch up to Tassia and caught her free hand.
I hope you had a pleasant interlude. The Ship’s voice was bland, but he bet if Maeve had possessed an avatar, she’d be winking at him.
Leaving the beach deck, he took Tassia’s free hand and headed for the grav tube. In companionable silence they rode the silvery antigrav stream to Level Fourteen where his cabin was located. The corridor was deserted and once inside his living room, Tassia dropped the shoes and came into his arms for a long kiss, her breasts pressed against his chest.
When they came up for air, he said, “Nothing’s going to happen here that you don’t want, I promise. Tell me no and I’ll stop.”
A slight flush came to her cheeks but she met his eyes and smiled. “Duly noted but I very much want to be here, with you.” She took his hand and tugged him toward the half open portal to his bedroom, not that he offered any resistance to her urging. “We have most of the night left and I don’t want to waste any of it.”
He picked her up and carried her into the room, placing her on the bed. Pausing to kick off his shoes first, he lay on the bed next to her. She rolled over onto her side, raising her face to his and he kissed her again, his tongue exploring the warm, silken depths of her mouth as he allowed his free hand to drift to her breast. Toying with her nipple, which immediately pebbled under his attention, he groaned and pulled her body into tight alignment with his, until the vee of her hips was cradling his fully aroused cock. She draped one leg over his butt and made the contact even more intimate. The layers of their clothing frustrated him but he intended to be sure she wanted to take this attraction all the way tonight.
He put his hand on the fastenings of her blouse and slowly undid the first one, then the next. Tassia lay on her back as he opened the shirt to reveal a lacy black bra. “I like this,” he said, cupping her breasts through the fabric and squeezing gently.
“Micki gave me shopping advice,” she said.
She sounded nervous to him so he tore his hungry gaze from a survey of her amazing body, lifted his hands and sat up. “Tassia, I’m not sure you’re fully on board here. We don’t have to make love, although obviously I really want you. You seem on edge—care to tell me what’s on your mind?”
Sitting up herself, she said, “You’ll be my first lover.”
Whatever he’d expected to hear, it wasn’t that. His heart skipped a beat in his chest at the news, which made this interlude between them of even more significance than he’d originally believed.
“You make me feel happy, safe, cherished.” She lowered her eyes and played with the hem of her short skirt. “The mere thought of you always gives me feelings inside, cravings—a physical longing to be close to you.” The color mounted in her cheeks again. “I dream of having your hands on me, of the two of us lying together. I never dreamt about any other man in such a fashion but you’re special to me.”
Liam cleared his throat. “I feel the same, Tassia. You’re on my mind all the time, distracting me from my duty and when I watch you dance I’m mesmerized. You give me feelings, as you so elegantly expressed it, emotional and physical. I guess I can’t hide the evidence of your effect on me.” He grinned as she glanced at his arousal tenting his pants. “I’d be honored to be your first lover. We’ll take it slow and I’ll make sure it’s good.”
She licked her lips and the sight of her pink tongue sent a pulse of hot desire to his cock, which pressed against his trousers insistently. The need to make love to her pounded through his entire body. He reached to pull her into his arms but she leaned back. “I must tell you I may not be with the Zephyr after Dyenbachar Five. Whatever is between us may be of short duration. I’m willing to take the chance but I think from things you’ve said to me since we met you aren’t the type for a mere shipboard fling and that’s all this can be.” Her expression was wistful. “So I have to warn you.”
Her words gave him pause because she was right—he’d fallen for her hard and casual encounters weren’t in his nature, two good reasons to call this evening off and walk away in a polite, gentlemanly fashion before she broke his heart. As soon as the idea crossed his mind, he banished it. Screw caution, she’s everything I’ve ever wanted and she’s here with me now. Maybe he could change her mind before the Zephyr ever made it into orbit around the damn planet. Liam knew himself and he was a determined guy who obtained his objectives, in the military and out of it. He’d do his best to persuade Tassia to alter her plans to include him on a permanent basis. No way was he letting the best thing that ever happened to him slip away. Not without giving the furtherance of a real relationship between them his most hard charging effort.
“Warning acknowledged. But you have to agree to give me a fair chance to work on changing your mind.”
Sadly she shook her head. “My reasons are compelling.”
“Fine, I accept the statement you have reasons but I don’t accept losing you in two weeks. Promise you’ll keep an open mind. I might be able to help with whatever it is bringing you to Dyenbachar.” He reached out and took her hand. “Anything short of marriage to another guy, I can handle.”
&
nbsp; “It’s nothing like that,” she said quickly. “I wouldn’t be here in your bed if it was.”
“All right then, shall we agree to disagree for now about whether our relationship has an end date at Dyenbachar and resume the more um engaging activities that brought us here to my quarters tonight?”
Face set in serious lines, she studied him for a long moment before nodding. “Agreed.”
Although his arousal was still uncomfortably hard, Liam knew the mood had veered away from romance and sex, so his first challenge was to get them both back into the right frame of mind. If he couldn’t accomplish the feat, he’d gently break it off for this evening and convert the end of their date into a nightcap followed by walking her to her own cabin.
Try again another night.
Soon.
“All right then, now we have too many clothes on,” he said. “I need to study this amazing black lace and what you’re hiding underneath.”
“There are matching panties,” she said with a wiggle of her hips that made his cock want to sit up and take notice.
“Let me help you with all those layers,” he said, raising his eyebrows and giving her what he hoped was a comical leer.
Apparently it worked because she giggled and started tugging at the blouse.
He helped her peel off the shirt and the skirt and took time to properly admire her lithe dancer’s body clad only in wisps of lace. “You’re gorgeous.”
“I have costumes nearly as revealing as this,” she said, “Only with more feathers and whatnot to distract the eye.”
“Yeah, this is just for me though and I intend to appreciate the view.”
“You’re the overdressed person now,” she pointed out.
“True enough.” Liam left the bed long enough to lose his shirt and socks and kick off the pants. He preferred to go commando and Tassia’s appreciative expression as he stood there nude was arousing in and of itself.
She held out her arms to him and he took the invitation, coming over her on the mattress as she lay against the pillows. He kissed her long and deep before he allowed himself to push the lace away from one soft breast and lave the nipple with his tongue before taking the peak into his mouth fully and tasting. Tassia wriggled under him, making little moans of pleasure. She put her arms around him and adjusted the angle of her hips, bringing his already weeping cock into dangerous proximity to her inner folds.
He broke off what he was doing and brushed the tousled hair from her face, rubbing the tip of his nose against hers in affection. “I should use protection before we go any further. No sense in taking any risks.”
She didn’t release her hold on his shoulders. “I’m protected—I had the inject at a free clinic about six months ago. The doctor said it would help with a hormonal issue I was having.”
“For my part, we security officers get a complete health check every six months and I’m clean,” he said. “I haven’t been with anyone in a long time.”
She gave him a quick kiss. “I know—you’re not into casual.”
“Exactly.” He captured her lips and kissed her while he unfastened the bra. Sexy as the lingerie was, he preferred to have Tassia naked, every inch of her gorgeous body pressed against his bare skin. Then he ran his hand over her athletic stomach, appreciating the way her dancer’s muscles rippled with core strength. He slid his fingers under the edge of the panties and through the soft tiny curls until he found the destination he was seeking. She was definitely aroused but not wet enough for her first time to be comfortable. Breaking off the kiss, he scooted down between her legs and pulled off the last bit of black lace, tossing it on the floor.
Her scent was arousing, delicate and feminine with a hint of womanly musk and as he applied his tongue in ways he was pretty confident she’d enjoy, Tassia squealed and grabbed at him. Liam heard the pleasure inherent in her sound and motion, so he continued to feast, swirling his tongue over the sensitive bud until she arched her back and climaxed with noisy abandon.
He held her while the echoes of the sensory explosion rippled through her body and then explored further, inserting first one finger and then two more into her soft folds. “You’re more than ready for me now,” he said, seeking her permission. “It makes me hot how wet you are.”
“Please,” she said, apparently too aroused to form more words.
He laughed with pleasure, took himself in hand and gently penetrated the soft entry to her body, moving slowly and watching her face as he progressed. She was tight around him, which made him impossibly harder, but remembering this was her first time, he restrained the urge to plunge deep and fast. He pumped in and out until she caught the rhythm and moved easily with him. It was as if they were dancing in the most intimate and private way possible between two people and he was on a sensual high holding her in his arms while she held him inside her body, doing impossibly erotic things to his cock.
There was a moment of resistance where she bit her lip and stiffened, her body locking him in place. Tassia kept her eyes firmly shut and whispered, “I’m fine, don’t stop.” She trailed her hand along his back in a lazy line before firmly squeezing his butt cheek. “I’m more than fine in fact, but not if you don’t continue right now.” Her lips curved in a mischievous smile.
Taking her at her word, he kept going, until he was fully seated in her body and they were as close as lovers can be to achieving the state of oneness. Then he let loose some of his tight control and brought her to orgasm once again, going over the edge himself as she locked her legs around him to hold him in place to enhance her pleasure.
* * *
Tassia felt wonderful—relaxed, hot, sweaty, well loved—with her man holding her in his strong arms and the experience was everything she’d ever dreamt it could be. Liam was a careful, considerate lover and she wanted more. “I don’t think I could ever get enough of you,” she whispered, running her hand through his short hair. “You’re addicting.”
“Give me a little time to recover since we still have a few hours left in the night and I’ll do something to satisfy the alleged addiction to my person,” he said a bit drowsily. “Unless you’re too sore.”
“I’m fine.” She wiggled her hips experimentally and his semi erect cock throbbed deep inside. Do you have duty tomorrow? We don’t have rehearsal tomorrow, which is probably a good thing after I did all that dancing, stood for hours in sky high heels and then had a different kind of workout here, thanks to you.”
“I arranged with Jake, my boss, to have the later shift tomorrow. I wanted to spend time with you after the party and be able to sleep in. Depending how late we um stayed out.” His smile was satisfied.
“You always think ahead, don’t you?” Humming a cheerful Ruatsarn tune, she rubbed his back with one hand.
“It’s basically a requirement in the Special Forces, which is where I spent my life prior to joining the Nebula Zephyr. Keeps a guy and his team alive.”
“No wonder I feel so safe with you.”
He wiggled his shoulders. “Hey, the massage felt good, keep going. I like your hands on me.”
“I’m thinking I should place my hands in other, more interesting places,” she said, reaching between them to where he’d slipped from her body. Under her fingers his arousal grew, hardening and lengthening as all the blood in his body rushed to his groin. “Are we ready for the promised second round yet?”
With a big grin Liam rolled over to provide her better access to explore his body. “Given the right encouragement, I will be.”
* * *
Exhausted in a good way after a night of lovemaking and a sensual shower session, eventually Tassia threw her clothes on and made her way to her own cabin. Grabbing his clothes from the floor, Liam insisted on escorting her. A quick kiss sweetened the parting at her cabin’s door and once she was inside, with the portal closed, she leaned against it and sighed in pleasure.
Life on the Nebula Zephyr was full of everything she’d ever wanted— dancing, friends and a worthy
man with whom to fall in love.
Yet the happiness was destined to last only two more weeks and then she’d have achieved her goal of safely arriving at Dyenbachar Five and the choices to be made would be heart wrenching.
She walked into her bedroom and stared at the lacquer box holding F’rrh’s spirit. Touching the lid with her fingertips, she said, “How am I ever going to leave Liam? Why did my dreams come true now?”
There was no answer from the jenfellini but she hadn’t truly wanted F’rrh to appear. She wanted to stay in her happy bubble for as long as she could. I’ve been dedicated in my pursuit of the overarching goals and now I deserve some good things in my life.
5
Liam was making his rounds of the upper decks a few days later, well pleased with how things between Tassia and himself were proceeding. He saw her every night and his cabin had been the scene of more steamy encounters. Tassia was growing more adventurous in what she wanted to try in bed as she grew accustomed to having him as a lover and he had burgeoning confidence he could change her mind about whatever she’d planned to leave the ship for at the next planetfall.
He’d politely greeted a group of passengers and moved on in his assigned patrol route when Maeve hailed him on the subvocal frequency. I think we may have an unauthorized pet on board.
Although surprised, he wasn’t overly concerned, because at times their richest and most entitled passengers had been known to sneak animals on board without proper paperwork. The situation required diplomacy and tact but usually was resolved with few ripples. Although sometimes the pet in question had to finish the voyage in quarantine if there wasn’t any documentation. “What cabin?”
I can’t specify. Can you go to the security office, and I’ll show you what I have?