by S. E. Smith
Bran cleared his throat before replying. “You know I have some resources inside the council’s inter-circle, don’t you?”
Kordon’s eyes narrowed. Yes, he did know. He had his own resources but had not had time to review any of the reports sent to him with everything going on. From Bran’s tone, though, he thought he better make the time before tomorrow.
“Go on.” Kordon said tightly.
Bran ran a hand across the back of his neck and stood up away from the wall. The conversation had Gracie’s attention now and her brain was quickly assessing what he could possible say. She was somewhat fascinated by the behavior of the other two men as she never expected to see either of them uncomfortable. They always seemed so in control when she saw them.
“My resource says the human councilman has been meeting with some of the other councilmen in secret. He is not even letting any of his aides in and has been very closed-mouth since he found out about Gracie.” Bran was saying.
Gracie’s ears perked up when she heard her name mentioned. Why would they be having private meetings? Gracie knew enough about politics to know it was never good when they started doing that. She remained still hoping to learn more.
“What do you think it is about?” Kordon asked in a low dangerous voice.
Bran held up his hand. “I’m just relaying what I am being told. I think you need to watch your and Gracie’s back. I have a bad feeling about this. I never did like the slimy son-of-a-bitch. He was always too smooth.”
Kordon nodded and looked at Gracie. He started when he saw her watching him intently. A slow smile curved her lips.
“You were just getting to the good part.” She whispered out huskily. “I wanted to know more.”
Cooraan grinned as he stood up. “It is good to have you back with us, Gracie Jones.”
“You scared all of us and that is not an easy task for a Zion warrior.” Bran teased as he took a step closer to Gracie.
Gracie turned her head and looked at the two huge men standing over her. “Thank you. I know you helped rescue me. I can never repay your kindness for all you’ve done to help me.” Gracie whispered softly.
Both men shifted uneasily. If the room hadn’t been so dim, Gracie would have giggled at seeing both of the men actually blushing a little. Bran cleared his throat and shifted from one foot to the other again before stepping up to the bed and brushing a quick kiss across Gracie’s forehead.
“I would do it again in a heartbeat for you, Gracie Jones.” Bran said before stepping back and addressing Kordon who was still gazing at Gracie. “I’ll get back to the bridge. Just watch your backs tomorrow. Quan, Cooraan, and I will also be there to help in case you need anything.”
Kordon turned and looked at his friend and nodded. “Thank you.”
Cooraan reached out a hand and touched Gracie’s cheek softly before bending over and giving her a kiss. “You are one lucky and amazing woman, Gracie Jones.”
Gracie smiled up at Cooraan as he stood up. God, he was huge! “No thanks to Murphy!” She replied with a soft giggle.
Cooraan just grinned back and nodded to Kordon. They had a lot of work to do before they reached Paulus. If Bran had a bad feeling something was going to go down, Cooraan was more than willing to be prepared. He didn’t trust the human councilman any further than he could throw him and that was pretty damn far.
Kordon watched as both men left before turning his attention back to Gracie. She was staring at him with huge, dark green eyes filled with emotion. He gently bent over and pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her neck.
Gracie’s arms wrapped as tightly around his neck as she could in her still weakened state. “I was so afraid.” She whispered hoarsely.
A shudder ran through Kordon at her softly spoken words. “When you are strong again, I believe I told you I was going to whip your ass for doing such as dangerous thing and scaring me so badly.” Kordon murmured teasingly against her neck.
Gracie giggled and pulled back enough so she could rest her forehead against his. “Do you promise?” She whispered.
Kordon groaned as the image made his cock swell with need. “I’ll do more than promise.” He said with a muffled groan. “I need to get you healed as soon as possible. I need to feel you wrapped around me.”
Gracie let her left hand slide down between them until she could feel the hard length pressed against the front of Kordon’s uniform. She ran her fingers along the front and sigh. She was ready to get her strength back too.
“I can feel how much you need me.” Gracie said as a smile lit up her face.
“How long have I been out? What happened? How did you find us?” A worried frown marred her face for a moment. “Is Ladara okay?”
Kordon let out a chuckle as Gracie started firing questions at him. Relief flowed through him. She would be alright. He would do everything in his power to make sure she was safe and well cared for from now on.
“You have been unconscious for the past three and a half days. Mohan refused to rest until you were found. She knew you wanted to come home and insisted on trying to help find you. How she was able to intercept your signal I will never know. I don’t think I would have even noticed it but she did. When I heard your voice…” Kordon stopped and took a deep breath before continuing. “When I heard your voice it was if the gods had blessed me with a gift beyond imagining. Bran adjusted the sensors to scan for the slightest life form. You can imagine how difficult it was to locate one small fighter amongst the remains of the mother ship. We were almost too late.” Kordon whispered as his eyes darkened with the memory.
Gracie reached up and touched Kordon’s cheek. “But, you weren’t.”
Kordon shook his head. “I found you and Cooraan was able to pull the fighter into the transport ship but by then your oxygen was depleted. Ladara’s was not in much better shape. Your body was in the beginning stages of hypothermia, you were in shock from blood loss and your wounds, and out of oxygen. Cooraan picked up your failing respirations on his scanner. He proved what an accomplished pilot he was. The landing bay officer never saw a transport enter and land so quickly without crashing. Luckily, Toolas was prepared for the worse. I was able to get you out and Toolas immediately began working on you. Ladara was still conscious, barely. She told me what happened after you sent her and the other women off. I owe her a life debt for saving you.” Kordon said as he gently pushed Gracie’s thick, strawberry blonde hair away from her face so he could press a kiss into her forehead.
“You were supposed to tell me when she woke.” Toolas’ gentle rebuke came from across the room.
Gracie leaned back and grinned at the healer. “It’s my fault. I wanted to know what happened while I was out of it.”
Toolas laughed. “I’ll tell you exactly what happened. The Admiral has not left your side the entire time and has been running the Conqueror from my medical unit.” She said good-naturedly.
Gracie flushed as she looked worriedly from Toolas to Kordon. “I’m sorry. I hate being such a bother. You should have kicked him out.”
Kordon growled at that and Toolas burst out laughing. “Actually, it is nice seeing so many of the crew without having to be treating them. I’ve enjoyed the company. Overall, this is a rather healthy bunch and unless they get hurt it tends to be very quiet and lonely here. Besides, I don’t think there is anything that would have been able to peel the Admiral from your side until he knew for certain you were going to be fine.”
Kordon sent a scrowl at Toolas but didn’t deny it. “You tend to forget everything you have done for the people of the Confederation of Planets. Your skills and your willingness to fight the Alluthans saved thousands, if not more, lives once again…including the Earth which is a part of the Confederation now.” Kordon’s deep voice said firmly.
Toolas smiled and nodded in agreement. “Admiral, if you don’t mind I would like to examine Gracie now that she is awake. Perhaps you would like to take this chance to get cleaned up. I would like for Gra
cie to eat when I am done. If you like, I can order something for you as well.” Toolas said in her firmest voice.
Kordon reluctantly released Gracie and stood up still holding her hand in his. He forced himself to pull away with a nod. He knew Toolas wanted to give Gracie a chance to talk to another woman. Toolas was concerned after everything that had happened since they found Gracie she might be beyond mentally exhausted and wanted to make sure she wasn’t suffering from the depression that took hold of her before. Toolas gently explained that physical and mental exhaustion combined with Gracie’s injuries and her learning recently of the death of everyone she knew might be too much for her mentally.
“I will return shortly.” Kordon said brushing his hand over Gracie’s hair.
Gracie smiled and nodded in return. “I know. I don’t plan on going anywhere…at least not yet.” She whispered and turned her head so she could brush a kiss into his palm.
Kordon gazed into Gracie’s eyes for a moment more wanting to memorize the beauty of them before he looked at Toolas. “I’ll be back.” He said fiercely.
Gracie couldn’t help the laugh that escaped at his words. In his deep voice with the slight accent it reminded her of a character for a movie. Just the thought of how strong and fierce Kordon could be made Gracie realize she had her own ‘terminator’. Only she knew just what a softy he was underneath the layers.
Chapter 16
Toolas asked Gracie a million and one questions before helping her up and into the bathroom. Gracie decided she could happily spend the next year enjoying the warm spray of mist as it surrounded her. She washed her hair which was growing like crazy. Before the crash she always kept it short as it was easier to manage but for the past three years it was just as easy to pull it up and back or braid it. Now it hung down to her shoulder blades in thick waves with strands of auburn threaded through it. Gracie’s eyes softened as she remembered her older sister always wishing she had the red highlights. A smile curved her lips as she remembered her and Violet using a red permanent marker once to color it. Her dad had been horrified when he saw his oldest daughter’s hair. Her mom just laughed and said it would eventually wash out, although all the permanent markers in the house disappeared after that.
Gracie made a mental note to look up information on what happened to her family. Mohan said Chance and Violet married and had children. She was sad she missed seeing her sister but a part of her wondered if the fates knew she was not meant for Chance.
Gracie gasped as callused hands slid around her waist to draw her back against a strong warm body. She had been so lost in thought she didn’t hear Kordon come into the bathing stall. A shiver ran down her as his hands moved in slow, deliberate circles along her hips toward her belly.
“I thought you were going to your living quarters to get cleaned up?” Gracie asked huskily as she pressed back against Kordon’s naked form with a moan of need.
Kordon leaned down and pressed a kiss against Gracie’s bare shoulder. “I made it half way there and couldn’t stand being away from you.” He murmured as he ran his tongue along the curve between her shoulder and neck.
Gracie arched her neck sideways to give him better access to her. “Kordon, I want you.” She whispered desperately.
Kordon groaned hotly against her as her ass pushed back against his throbbing cock. He wasn’t lying when he said he couldn’t stay away from her. He made it up to the level where his living quarters were and promptly commanded the lift to return him to medical. Toolas took one look at his face and shook her head. With a word of warning not to tire Gracie out, she promptly left ordering the room sealed in quarantine until Kordon overrode the command. No one would be disturbing them. She made sure several dishes of food were left on the low table Kordon had been using to work at knowing they would be hungry later.
“I’m going to love you, Gracie. Forever.” Kordon said softly as he turned Gracie around in his arms and captured her lips with his own.
Gracie wrapped her arms around Kordon’s neck as he kissed her fiercely, her lips parting when he ran his tongue along her lower lip in an invitation to let him in. A low moan escaped her as he slipped inside. She battled her tongue with his in a feverish attempt to get closer. Pressing her breasts against his chest, she groaned loudly at the feel of her tight nipples against his skin.
Kordon broke the kiss and pulled back just far enough to look down into Gracie’s eyes. “Are you in pain from your wounds? Toolas said the healing accelerated has healed most of the damage but I need to know I will not hurt you.” Kordon asked in concern.
Gracie wanted to say the only pain she was having had nothing to do with the wounds she received. Her pussy was pulsing with need and her breasts and skin were so sensitive she wanted to scream with frustration. Gracie reached up and answered Kordon by pulling his head back down until her lips claimed his while her other hand wrapped tightly around his throbbing cock.
Kordon moaned again at the feel of Gracie’s hand wrapped tightly around him. His hips moved on their own accord as she began stroking him slowly up and down. He pulled away and turned, pulling Gracie up his body until her legs were wrapped around his waist and her back was pressed against the back of the bathing stall. He lined his thick cock with her hot channel and slowly began pushing into her. His head dropped down for a moment as the sweet torment of her wrapping around him took his breath away. He could feel every inch of his cock getting caressed by her silky smooth flesh. The bands on his cock seemed to swell in an attempt to make sure he was locked to her so tight they could never be parted.
“Kordon!” Gracie gasped as she felt the bands swell and the ridges on the end of his cock rub her sensitive vaginal wall. “Oh…Oh!” Gracie pushed down impaling herself on Kordon’s thick cock.
Kordon gritted his teeth tightly as he slid even further into Gracie. “By the Gods, Gracie.” He moaned deeply. “You are so slick and hot.”
Gracie giggled as she nipped Kordon’s chin. “You like that? Let’s see if you like this.” She murmured before she rose up slightly and let her weight drop her back down.
She couldn’t go too far as the first band on his cock was swelling, preventing him for pulling all the way out. She could feel it moving in her as she moved. Both of them groaned loudly. Kordon bit back a curse and held Gracie’s hips as he began moving his hips back and forth with increasing speed and force. Gracie’s voice caught on a sob as the pressure inside her built. She was so close to shattering. Kordon seemed to understand how close she was because he moved one of his hands up to pinch the taunt nipple of her right breast. Gracie pulled back with a sharp cry as she exploded at the combination of pleasure and pain. The orgasm washed over her in waves of burning heat. Gracie could feel her body actually shaking from the force of it. Kordon’s fingers dug into her hips as he pushed up forcibly one more time before he let out a long, loud groan.
Gracie felt the hot waves of his seed washing deep inside of her as the first band released deep inside her. Kordon groaned as he pulled out after a few moments. The second band was already swelling and would have locked them together if he had stayed inside her any longer. Gracie let her legs drop down to the floor but Kordon continued to hold her up so she wouldn’t end up a puddle on the bathing stall floor.
“I want to take you from behind.” Kordon said as he let the mist from the bathing stall clean them.
Before Gracie could say anything, she found herself wrapped in his strong arms. Kordon gave the command for the mist to turn off. He stepped out of the bathing stall and set Gracie down gently while he reached for a drying cloth, gently drying her. He paid close attention to every part of her body. If felt like he was trying to memorize her. He carefully dried her hair and combed it out until it lay in a slick wave down her back. Shivers racked Gracie as he followed the drying cloth with his mouth. Gracie moaned at the feel of his warm lips on her face, neck and shoulders.
Gracie turned into him when he worked his way down to her breasts. Her nipples were hard
and swollen. She couldn’t look away as he took one of the sensitive tips into his mouth, sucking on it. Gracie threaded her fingers through his short hair letting her nails scrap along his scalp. She held his head in place as she pressed her breast against his lips wanting more. When one became too sensitive, she pulled it out of his mouth with a slight pop and offered her other nipple for his attention. With each tug, she could feel her pussy heat up and moisture slick her folds as he nipped, pulled, and licked.
“That feels so good.” Gracie moaned out softly, watching as he rolled the swollen nipple over his tongue.
“I want to see my son or daughter here. I want to watch them suckle from you.” Kordon said fiercely looking up into Gracie’s eyes. “I want to give you my child, Gracie.”
Gracie felt her womb clench at the thought of having Kordon’s child feeding from her. Holding the tiny image of their love against her while Kordon watched. It was a dream she never thought possible. Gracie didn’t even realize she was nodding her head in silent agreement.