Learning to Blush: Swarii Brides, Book Two

by Korey Mae Johnson

  Finally; she had what she needed. Now, she just had to save it to a disk. She held her breath, staring at the screen as a blue bar lit up the screen, illustrating how much of the massive amount of data she was saving onto a Frian data disk.

  Suddenly, just the way Jack and Peyton had dropped in, special Frian soldiers dropped down by her and settled on their feet.

  Penny’s mouth dropped open, and then she squinted.

  Thorton jumped over three pieces of furniture to step in front of her. “Not today, Lizard. Not today…” Thorton hissed as he brought up his guns. Penny didn’t even know what Thorton meant by that. Just listening in, it seemed like the men had to say something strange or cliché every few minutes as if it was some sort of side-game.

  Thorton kept his guns up when the Frian soldier dropped dead to the floor. “How we doing, Babygirl?” he asked her.

  Penny turned back to the monitor and then yanked the data disk from the system consol. “I got what I need on the attack,” Penny assured.

  “Good. Let’s get you and Kitten out of here…” He turned and only saw Ellie’s oxygen mask on the ground, but no Ellie. “Oh, for crying out loud!”

  They scanned the room and saw Ellie wandering right through the middle of the battle, looking like a lost puppy, confused by her surroundings. She looked up and saw Jack fighting in front of her looking like she was sure she was walking through an imagined scene in a dream.

  A Frian was suddenly right next to her; his gun raised a foot from her head. “No!” they both screamed.

  Jack suddenly looked and snatched Ellie to the other side of his body, covering her like a living shield, just as the Frian was firing.

  BOOM.

  “No!” Thorton screamed. “Jack!”

  Jack clutched his torso and crumpled go the ground.

  Now, Thorton was angry. VERY angry.

  Penny slumped to the floor, her hands over her head, watching what was in front of her—a blood and gore mess. It was strangely difficult to feel sorry for the Frians, maybe because they were so much like actual lizards, but she was quite amazed by how quickly the boys were beginning to mow them down, using Jack as their rallying cry.

  Soon, the blasting quieted, and then it became nothing at all.

  Until Penny heard a ‘click’.

  Jazeel was right next to her, the only Frian left in the palace, a device in his other hand. Graham and Thorton froze immediately, knee-deep in the mass of bodies around them. “The proud Swarii—once so high and mighty, just like your stupid ancestors. How low you’ve stooped, breeding with monkeys that grew on some space-rock unsuitable for our habitation.”

  “Look—you can aim that at me,” Thorton advised nervously, stepping towards him. Graham and Thorton’s body was frozen as they watched Jazeel hold up a bomb in his hand and begin to program it. Jazeel raised his hand to show an inactive bomb. “I plan to kill all of you. Wait your turn. I said once that your kind would never kill me.”

  There was a red flash, and Penny dropped out of the way of Jazeel’s blaster as he lurched forward to hit the ground. Mike was standing right behind him. “Well, you were seven-eighths right, you bastard,” Mike told him, yanking the only half-way programmed bomb out of the body’s hand.

  Thorton stepped forward, letting out a breath. “Mike… I owe you… For Penny—you saved…”

  “How's THAT for point-and-shoot, Boss?” Mike said cockily, tossing Thorton the bomb like it was a softball. Thorton caught it clumsily in his hands, and then looked like he was very relieved to have caught it. “Let’s get the hell out of here. I need a shower.” He looked around. “…Where’s Tim?”

  Tom suddenly dropped his gun and moved a Frian’s body out of the way so he could find Tim. “Tim! Tim buddy?” Tim wasn’t moving. “Tim! Tim!” Tom cried, and listened to his heart. “Tim, no… No!” Tom wondered what he should do: how could he resuscitate his brother? He couldn't die!

  Tim suddenly groaned, showing that he was awake before Tom could begin CPR. “Don’t even think about kissing me,” he murmured weakly.

  Tom paused, frowned, and then smiled. “Yeah, you wish.”

  Penny let out a breath of air, and the others rolled their eyes to rush to Jack’s side and began to check his vitals. Ellie was on the floor next to him, holding Jack’s hand.

  “We need to get him back to the ship,” Ellie said weakly.

  “Don’t bother…” Jack sighed. “I’m not going to make it… I just want to say… How proud of you I am. Of both of you. My sons.”

  Graham swallowed heavily.

  Thorton froze and then narrowed his eyebrows. “Jack, cut it out. I’m not going to let you die of a stomach wound like you’re some little girl or something.”

  Jack narrowed his eyes. “Stop ruining my death, you ungrateful little bastard.”

  “Thorton,” Graham said, trying to intervene in this scene, which should have been sad, but quickly formed a negative edge. “He just called you Son. Isn’t that what you wanted since you were five? He’s trying to make amends…”

  “And he says it once and then he dies? What a jip. No way. I’m not taking that consolation prize. Jack, I’ve already lost one father in my life, so I’ll be damned if I let you leave this party early.”

  Jack sighed. “I’m not going to make it, Son. You’re a good boy, but you can’t save everyone.”

  Thorton took off his jacket to be able to put some pressure against Jack’s stomach. “You’re always telling me what I can and cannot do, Admiral, and I’m not gonna take it anymore.” He looked towards Mike. “Run ahead and get the ship started. We’re leaving. Now.” He turned towards the crowd around Tim. “Beast—you and Tom get that joker on his feet and back to the ship, pronto. We’re leaving in five.”

  Graham helped Thorton lay his father on a gurney. Thorton looked up and saw a smirk on his face. “What?” he asked as he and Graham carried Jack out. “What are you grinning at?”

  “You,” Graham replied, then watched as Penny walked quietly and proudly behind Thorton, gazing at her husband like he was in control of the sun, moon, and stars.

  “Me?” Thorton echoed, confused. “Why?”

  “You’re finally a leader.” Graham gave sort of a proud grin at his cousin, who smirked proudly back at him. “I can still kick your ass, though.”

  “Only if I let you out of charity, Captain,” Thorton replied.

  “Ah, no,” Ellie groaned to Penny, rubbing her hands tiredly against her eyes. “We’re not five-minutes removed from a life-or-death situation and already they’re about to measure their dicks.” She looked around and saw Penny quickly look down at the small disk in her hand. “What’s that?”

  “You know how you said our ships were gonna help win the war?” Penny asked her.

  “Yeah…”

  “Well, that database was full of everything. Stuff not even the Fledge could get ahold of. I have codes, communication cyphers, I have battle plans, weapon plans, ship plans…” Penny gave a wry chuckle. “Your ships might help win the war… But this little thing is gonna guarantee it.” She waved the disk proudly through the air.

  They trudged back to the ship where Tim was immediately met and catered to by what could only be described as a large flock of harem girls, all of whom were quickly aware that Tim was a soldier, was attractive, and had been injured fighting the Frians.

  Tom shook his head and watched as two girls fed Tim water from a single cup. Tim looked like he was in heaven. “That lucky rat-bastard,” Tom said. “He shot me, worried me, I had to carry him all the way to the ship… and now he’s surrounded by a sea of breasts… So, so many breasts…” He shook his head as he stared at the women with a mixture awe and disappointment.

  Mike laughed and patted his shoulder. “Nice guys finish last. Now let’s burn some rubber. I want to see the admiralty crap themselves when they see us come back so soon. The admiral living to tell the tale might also be good.”

  Tom gave a laugh and pulled down his
sun glasses. “Sounds good to me, Red Leader.”

  “Do you think we’ll ever get tired of making Star Wars references?”

  Tom shook his head. “Nope.”

  “Just wonderin’. Punch it, Chewie.” And with that, the ship flew right out of Frian airspace with a burst of light and some very loud screams from a very large group of women.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Say it again.” Thorton had his fist holding on tightly to Penny's red ponytail and was pulling it so her nose pointed up to the air.

  She had never been taken from behind before, but she liked it much more than she thought she would. Somehow, it seemed more animalistic, more savage. She loved the feel of his hips pounding up against her bottom. “I love you,” she said. She'd been saying it over and over again that night, and the more she said it, the easier it had become for her to say. Of course, in this position, she wanted to say whatever Thorton wanted to hear. He was dominating her, and as he did so, she found herself loving him even more.

  He had been fantastic, powerful, and he had saved her in the nick of time again. Maybe he always would, no matter what ever happened to her. He was her safety net; her hand to hold. He was also a pain in the ass, was always on her nerves, never said the right thing, and was bossy to boot. But he would never, ever let her down. He would brave any danger for her.

  That's what she wanted to believe, anyway—more than anything, she wanted to believe he was someone to rely upon.

  “Put your head down,” he instructed, letting go of her hair and pressing her shoulders to the mattress before he placed that free hand on her hips. He was now using her hips like handle bars as he thrust hard and deep into her. He was obviously getting down to business; which was great because she'd already come three times and was exhausted. His thrusts were quick and violent now, but somehow she felt powerful, too. She felt the passion he had for her. It was like the first time they'd made love, sans audience. It was the same raw, uncontrollable lust, the same desperate drive.

  His grunts became louder until he actually gasped and cried out, shooting liquid heat deep into her womb. After a long moment, she felt him crawl over her to rest his sweaty forehead against the back of her neck. He kissed her shoulder and panted, “I love you.”

  “You no longer seem quite as ready for battle as you did earlier,” she commented teasingly with a giggle in her throat.

  He flopped wearily to the side of her and curled her into his arms, resting his giant hand across her bottom. “This bottom drove me crazy. It's going to be the end of me one of these days.”

  She blushed. “You have a strange obsession with my bottom. I don't think it's healthy.”

  “Me neither,” he agreed, and then grinned down at her. “It can't be helped, though. It's too perfect.”

  “You said it looked good even when it was botchy and bruised,” she reminded, craning her head back.

  “I like it when it's a little blotchy and bruised. I'd like it better if I was the one that got it that way last time,” he grumbled. He gave her bottom a gentle, yet strangely loud, smack and then hoisted himself off the bed. “Reminds me that there're still Frians and scum out there that need some killing done…”

  Suddenly, she felt a twisting sense of dread settle in her stomach. She felt cold, and empty. She didn't know what it was, or what caused it. But the idea of Thorton walking out the door and leaving her filled her with dread—she felt like her safety net was abandoning her. She watched him splash water over his face, neck and head from the nearby sink.

  She knew she was re-hatching an old issue, but she said, “Take me with you.” To keep from sounding too desperate, she added, “You owe me.”

  Thorton looked over at her, raising an eyebrow.

  “I gave you guys enough information to save Libii—a whole goddamned planet—and to prepare for this stupid battle!” she snapped.

  Thorton pressed his fingers to his forehead. “And I'm very proud of you,” he hedged. “But that doesn't give you carte blanche with your safety. When I tell you over and over again that your safety is the number-one most important thing in the universe, I'm not joking. Just obey me in this one thing, please?” He turned away from the mirror and searched around for his trousers. “I don't want to argue with you right before I go out there. I'm trying to get my head in the game. This might be the last battle I ever fight.”

  Her eyes widened.

  He smirked as he jerked his legs through the legs of his pants. “I meant that in the best possible construction. This could be the end of the war.” He shook his head. “I can't believe it. Thousands of generations we've been fighting the Frians. It could all end tonight.” He gave a laugh. “It makes me wonder what I'm going to do afterwards.”

  She shrugged, and then wondered what had happened. Wasn't she so happy two seconds ago?

  A small voice in her mind told her, 'Obey, obey, obey', while another one, a more desperate one, told her not to let him go without her. She couldn't be left behind by him. Not by Thorton. Not now.

  Though she had already made arrangements with her brothers to keep her from sitting on the mothership, on her ass, waiting for word of Thorton's survival… But she hated disobeying Thorton. “I'm one of the best fliers of my brothers' ships! They designed it to drive like a car. A car run with a computer system that I designed.”

  “And I told you over my dead body,” he reminded with a slow drawl.

  “You did,” she admitted.

  “And so case-closed. I said to let it alone or let it alone with a sore tail, didn't I?”

  “Thorton—hear me out, I really just want to go with you. I'd just feel better… I just…” She just didn't want to get attached to someone and have him disappear. She knew that's what it was, she could almost say it… But she didn't.

  Thorton pinched her chin and looked into her eyes. He seemed to feel it too, the change in her, the confusion, the desperation. Yet he chose to be so stubborn about his stupid decision of making her 'stay put'! “I'm going to be fine. I've been fighting Frians all my life.” He pinched her nose playfully. “If someone comes by in a couple days and tells you I didn't make it, they're dirty rotten liars. I wouldn't dream of dying when I have my fireflower to come back to.” He kissed her on the cheek.

  She frowned. “You know, in some cultures, that sort of confidence is bad luck.”

  He sighed and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I love you. I'll be back in time for breakfast.” He kissed her cheek again. She couldn't smile to wish him luck.

  When they'd come back from the Frian planet two months ago, it seemed like they were healing up Jack just to put him in front of the firing squad. The admiralty was invested in making sure he got the boot, since he went against the orders of the Emperor and the majority of the admiralty (who could overrule his higher power) to go on the rescue mission.

  Thorton presented Penny to the Emperor directly; he wouldn't go to the admiralty. They traveled to Swaraan to see the most powerful man in the universe face-to-face… And although Penny could tell that the emperor was a man who never smiled, and was very upset when Thorton and Penny went around security to bother him during his breakfast, he was still a very, very happy man when given that much information about the Frians—very time-sensitive information, at that!

  The emperor had come back to the Mothership with them, convened the admiralty, and had fired them all—a smile still on his face.

  If it wasn't for the large battle that was quickly impending, Penny might have considered the whole thing one big, happy ending. It wasn't time for peace yet—with new information, new technology on their hands, new plans, new codes, and a biological weapon to destroy, the ship had been a madhouse ever since!

  That wasn't half of it. Thorton was now Admiral Thorton Hux—he, Graham, and even the human Peyton Jones, had been instated by the emperor himself. Thorton kept looking at himself in the mirror, startled over and over again when he saw a man in an Admiral's uniform looking back at him.

/>   “Don't go without me,” she pleaded him softly. “I'm still getting used to having you. I don't want to lose you already.”

  “You're not going to lose me,” he assured, smirking. “We have years and years of squabbling ahead of us.” He kissed her again in a light, playful way before he let her go and gave her a swat on her bottom, saying, “Behave yourself.”

  “What trouble could I get into staying right where I am?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Thorton merely gave her a stern, 'Don't guilt me' look before he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.

  * * *

  “Where do you think you're going?” Jack said, leaning on his cane and looking over at Ellie, who walked through the command center with her shades down.

  Ellie spun around and shrugged, trying to pretend she was going nowhere. Graham certainly didn’t want her—his pregnant wife—fighting in any space-battle a Jonas-Warp away… But she found herself drawn to doing it, anyway. “What? I'm not going anywhere.”

  “You only wear those ridiculous things if you think you're going to do something mind-bogglingly cool that you end up getting turned over a knee for later,” Jack reminded, pointing to the sunglasses over her eyes. “Besides, the sun's to the east.” He gestured towards the back of the ship.

  Ellie grunted unhappily before she pushed her glasses back to the top of her head. “I don't get this level of distrust, Dad. Don't you have something better to do than rag on me? There's a war going on, you know.”

  Jack smiled kindly. “Thanks for reminding me.” Suddenly he frowned again. “If you think for one, solitary moment that I won't take my belt to you for the slightest bit of foolishness, think again, Kiddo.”

  “How can you threaten a pregnant woman like that, Jack? Shame on you—I'm carrying your first and only grandchild!” She put her hands on her hips and glared. When she did that, however, her family came up behind her, looking like a gang in a bad musical, every one of them wearing sunglasses on their faces.