"She was been researching the similarities between ikthians and the other species under their rule. The Dominion didn’t like what she found."
"Really? What did she find?"
"That our DNA—naledai, human, ikthian—is more similar than the Dominion is comfortable with. She’s betting some ancient species helped with our genetic development. She made it sound like we all came from the same species."
"The idea that another species helped us all evolve is a bit difficult to believe, I’ll admit, but I bet it would be even harder to swallow for the Dominion. Their whole doctrine, their rationalization for taking over the rest of the galaxy, is based on the theory that they’re a superior race. Something like this…" His voice trailed off as he seemed to imagine the possibilities.
"If some of Maia's research magically appeared in your hands, would you know how to get it to someone that could use it?"
"Definitely. The Dominion's argument falls apart if we're all genetically similar to each other. And while some ikthians will overlook it, this might lend us the support we need to turn the tide of this war." Akton considered the possibilities further. "It will still be difficult to completely undermine the Dominion’s authority, but things will go faster when reason is allowed to speak.
Taylor began pacing again. "Maia didn't have anything on her when I brought her here. She would probably need access to an interstellar network in order to get a copy...and my superiors would never sign off on that."
"You remember what I said the last time we talked, Taylor? If you’re going to break the rules, you might as well break them all the way."
"The politicians aren’t interested." Her fingers twitched into fists as she remembered Bouchard's face. "I tried to explain about Maia’s research, but they didn’t understand. I’ll need to sneak it to you somehow. Hopefully you can get it to go public, and then the brass will have to revise their strategy for dealing with the ikthians."
"And what about Maia? What happens to her?"
Taylor felt like she was being torn in two. She didn’t know what to do. She wanted a magical solution that would allow Maia to go free without betraying the orders of her superiors.
"Taylor." Akton took another step closer. "I can get her to safety. Just…consider that if you do decide to hand over the research."
Taylor ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "I won’t let her get hurt, Akton. Not anymore." That was one promise she felt comfortable making.
Chapter Thirty
For the next two days, Taylor managed to avoid Maia and her superiors almost entirely. She spent a lot of time lurking around the mess hall, sitting mostly by herself and ducking out of conversations. Her talk with Akton had been both enlightening and conflicting, but she was still having difficulty sorting through all of her options
Although she had not discussed it with Maia yet, Taylor knew that getting the ikthian's research to the rebellion might turn the tide of the war. At the very least, it would be a blow to the Dominion. Perhaps it would convince the brass to cooperate more effectively with the other species, including the ikthians that were part of the rebellion.
Then there was Bouchard. He obviously did not trust the ikthians and wanted to end negotiations as quickly as possible, even if it meant settling for something less. If the Chairman got his way and Maia was returned to the Dominion, Taylor was sure that she would die. Taylor's stomach twisted into unpleasant, slippery knots at the thought.
But all those problems did not even begin to sort through the mess of emotions that Taylor felt for Maia. She wanted the ikthian to be safe, but she also craved her company and her touch. However, she knew that her feelings would lead to nothing. Things between them were already complicated enough, and she did not want to make them worse.
By the third day, Taylor realized that stewing over her problems would lead nowhere. The Coalition and the Dominion would reach some kind of agreement soon, and no matter what they decided, Maia would end up suffering. She entered the front room of the suite hesitantly. Aside from sleeping on the couch every night for a few hours, she had been spending her time anywhere but here in an effort to avoid this confrontation.
Maia glanced up at Taylor from her spot on the bed. They stared at one another for a few moments, both uncertain of each other. Finally, Taylor took another hesitant step closer. Perhaps this would have been easier if they were not in the bedroom.
"Maia, can you tell me more about your research?"
Maia furrowed her brow at Taylor’s request, but she did not appear to be upset. "What about my research do you wish to know, Taylor?"
Taylor leaned against a wall. She kicked at the floor with one of her boots, and she could not decide what to do with her hands. Eventually, she shoved them in her pockets. "How has the Dominion reacted to it so far? Aside from sending seekers to kill you, I mean."
"The public has not seen it yet. My initial findings were presented to a committee, and they chose to think this research could suggest that ikthians were genetically engineered for superiority."
Taylor shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "And did your findings show that?"
Maia shook her head. "No. They granted me the funds to continue my research, but what I managed to uncover only seemed to contradict what the Dominion hoped to find. I sent them regular updates, but did not even have time to put together a formal presentation before they sent soldiers after me."
Taylor took a deep breath. She had to do something. She had been waiting around and feeling sorry for herself for far too long. If she really wanted to help Maia, this seemed like the best way. "What do you think would happen if I got your research out there? Showed it to the public? There are rebels on Nakonum who might be able to use it."
"I am not sure," Maia said after a long pause. "I cannot even begin to guess how other species might react to my research, but informing the Dominion..." A small worry line creased the middle of her forehead, and Taylor had the sudden, irrational impulse to smooth it away. Instead, she removed her hands from her pockets and folded them behind her back, curling her fingers into her palms. "Making my research public to the citizens of the Dominion might make a few of them change their attitudes. It will certainly embolden the dissenters who claim that we are not predestined to rule the entire galaxy."
"Is the Dominion's control over their own people really that shaky?" Taylor asked. She had not even known that there were ikthian dissenters before Akton had informed her. From the outside, the ikthian empire looked firm and unshakable.
"It is weaker than they would like to believe. Not all of us are monsters, Taylor. I admit I was rather neutral on the subject before I began my research, but the more information I uncovered, the less reasons I could find to support subjugating other intelligent life." Maia paused and looked up at Taylor from her seated position. "And not all of the aliens I have encountered have treated me badly."
Taylor felt a lance of guilt through her stomach. The weight that never seemed to leave her shoulders was suddenly crushing. "Maia," she said, struggling for words. "The way I used to treat you…the things we did…"
"The things we did cannot be undone." Maia stood up from the bed, closing the distance between them. "And I would not want to undo them, even if I could. Those moments are very precious to me, Taylor."
Taylor could still see the wet shimmer of tears in Maia’s eyes. "I didn’t mean to hurt you," Taylor said, desperately wanting Maia to believe her.
Maia reached out and took both of Taylor's hands in hers. "You are the only human to show me kindness here." She ran her thumb over the back of Taylor’s knuckles. "That means so much to me."
"I should have shown more. I should have treated you better from the beginning instead of seeing you as a bargaining chip. And I don’t expect repayment for what I’m doing right now. I just want it to be the right thing."
"This is not about repayment. Nothing in the world could force these actions from me…these feelings." Maia's thumb began tracing o
ver the back of her hand, lingering over each callous and scar, and Taylor felt her heart thump faster.
"Maia…" She looked up, and Taylor's breath caught in her throat. She had always thought that Maia was beautiful, but it had never struck her this way before. Simply looking at her face threatened to stop her heart. "I don’t want to hurt you. And it seems like no matter how we feel, both of us are going to end up grieving."
They drifted closer together until their faces were only inches apart. "No, we won’t," Maia murmured softly into Taylor’s lips. "Not for this."
Taylor took her mouth in a soft kiss, asking for permission without words. Maia granted it, parting her lips and sliding her hand up along Taylor’s arms. Taylor trembled at the gentle touch. Although she knew she had missed Maia's touch over the past few days, she had not realized how much she had missed her taste. Her scent. The sounds she made. Everything about Maia overwhelmed her. It seeped into her pores and made her crave more.
Before she even realized what had happened, Maia had pushed her down onto the bed and crawled on top of her. Maia's hand moved to cup the side of her face, and Taylor's chest constricted. She wanted this, wanted it badly, but at the same time, she knew it was a horrible idea. She opened her mouth to protest, but before she realized what was happening, their lips were pressed together. This time, she did not have the strength to resist.
Maia's kiss was inexperienced, tentative one moment and overly eager the next, but Taylor did not care. She simply wanted more. She parted her lips, allowing Maia's tongue to dart out and taste her, and then repeated the motion herself. She moved to pull Maia closer, wrapping her arms around her neck and tracing the folds of her crest. She felt a surge of pride when Maia shivered and whimpered softly into her mouth.
Maia finally pulled away, leaving both of them panting for breath. Taylor let her. "Maia...I’m sorry about being so indecisive. I just…I haven’t wanted to make another mistake and I…"
Maia looked almost hurt at that comment. She let her hands slide over Taylor's stomach, feeling the muscles there beneath her shirt. Gently, she traced the hem, pulling it up to reveal the first strip of tan skin. "This is not a mistake. It never was."
"But…" Taylor's protests were lost as Maia's warm hands slid beneath her shirt, lifting it up. Instinctively, she raised her arms over her head to help. Soon, it was tossed aside, and Maia began exploring all the naked flesh available to her, running her hands over Taylor's torso.
"Please..." The pain and need in Maia's eyes made Taylor's heart ache. "Let me have this."
Maia’s warm hands cupped her breasts, and Taylor's eyes fluttered shut as she swallowed down a moan. "Maia," she whispered instead, arching into the touch. Teasing fingers captured the hardened peaks of her breasts. "I…" She managed to open her eyes again. Meeting Maia’s gaze made her breath catch. "All right."
Maia smiled and kissed her again, pushing her down onto the bed. Her lips lingered over Taylor’s collarbone for a moment before trailing steadily downward. "I don’t know what makes me do this, why I feel this way for you," she muttered, and Taylor groaned as she captured the peak of a nipple between her lips. She released it a moment later and Taylor whimpered in disappointment. "I cannot help it, though. I need you."
Taylor tried to reply, but all she could manage were breathy moans and whimpers. It had been so long since another person had taken charge like this during sex. Her previous lovers had always been timid, or stared at her expectantly as if she knew exactly what to do. Although she usually loved taking charge, it was nice to allow someone else to lead her for once. Her hands wandered to Maia’s shoulders, and she gripped the soft skin like a lifeline. Maia began kissing along her stomach, and her body pulsed in anticipation.
Slowly, Maia's hands drifted down to hips. Her fingers dipped beneath the hem of her pants, brushing against warm skin, and Taylor felt herself pulse against the seam. When Maia withdrew, Taylor's hips pushed forward ever so slightly, encouraging her touch.
Maia took the wordless offer and cupped a hand between Taylor's legs. "By the ancients... you are so warm, so ready for me. I can even feel it through your clothes..." She lowered her head and placed a kiss on the button of Taylor's pants before undoing them. Taylor wanted to speak, to tell Maia how much this meant, but no words came. She could only look down at Maia and hope that the ikthian read some of her feelings in her face.
Taylor lifted her hips when Maia began tugging at her pants, eager to be out of them. They were tossed aside, and her underwear quickly followed. As soon as she was naked, Taylor spread her legs, leaving herself completely open to Maia's gaze. It seemed to burn into her, and Taylor felt a heated flush crawl up along her chest. Maia was studying her, examining her, and her blue eyes had darkened with lust.
Chapter Thirty One
For a moment, Maia froze, taking in the sight. Although she had touched Taylor here before, she realized that she had never taken the time to look closely, to memorize the details. Taylor’s anatomy was similar to hers, but the color was deliciously alien. Her inner folds were a much darker shade of pink than the rest of her skin, almost red and glistening with wetness. Slowly, Maia trailed her fingers through them, entranced by the silky feeling. It felt similar to her own anatomy, but different at the same time. She smiled when her fingers hit the hard point at the very top, causing Taylor to gasp. Gently, she ran her finger over the tip, and her heart jumped in her chest when Taylor's thighs twitched.
Taylor moaned softly, inclining her hips toward Maia’s retreating touch. "Don’t stop," she murmured. Maia began rubbing in slow circles, noticing the way Taylor’s breath hitched as she rocked forward. She caressed Taylor’s stomach with her free hand, soothing the twitching muscles there. She kissed along Taylor’s exposed thigh, sucking the skin in between her teeth momentarily and swiping her tongue across it. She made her way up the thigh that way, alternating between light kisses and small bites. She moved her hand away, and just before Taylor could whimper at the loss, she closed her mouth over the point of her clit, sucking inward and lashing her tongue across the tip.
"Maia!"
Maia let out a soft moan against the swollen bud trapped between her lips. She could catch a few traces of Taylor’s taste this way, but after a moment, she could not resist moving down. She tasted more of the heavy flavor when she slipped her tongue past the tight ring of muscle at Taylor’s entrance, curling it forward to coax out as much as she could.
Taylor groaned, and Maia felt the grip on the back of her head tighten. Every time her tongue swirled or pushed forward, Taylor’s hips rose off the bed. Sensing that she was close, Maia moved back up to her clit, sliding a hand between Taylor’s legs and pressing two fingers forward to take the place of her mouth. She was rewarded when Taylor groaned and rocked against her fingers. She slid them inside, curling them forward.
Maia was fascinated with Taylor's responses. Wetness spilled around her fingers, coating her hand along with Taylor's inner thighs. It was nice to have such physical proof of Taylor's arousal. She released the human's clit and grinned when she heard Taylor groan at the loss. "I have wondered what this would be like for a while," she murmured, continuing to push her fingertips against the spot inside of Taylor that made her stiffen and clench down. "To see all of you, to know all of you...to explore you at my own pace."
"Explore to your heart's content," Taylor breathed softly, continuing to run her fingertips over the dips of Maia's crest.
Maia smiled. This might be the last chance they had, and she was determined to enjoy it. Her touches were exploratory as she coaxed Taylor into rocking against her mouth, but there was urgency behind them as well, a desperation for closeness, for lost time that had slipped by them.
Maia could see and feel the tension coiling in Taylor's abdomen, and she knew it would not be long before she made her lover release. Taylor arched slightly with each swipe of Maia’s tongue, each push of her fingers. "Maia…oh God, Maia." Taylor’s grip on the back of her head faltered.
"Maia, I’m…"
She could not even manage a warning. Maia felt Taylor pulse between her lips, the warm silk of her inner muscles tightening and fluttering around her fingers. She kept up her slow thrusts, drawing forth as much pleasure from her lover as possible. Taylor moaned above her, and her hands clutched desperately at any part of Maia she could reach. Maia hummed with pleasure as more wetness coated her tongue.
As Taylor’s contractions subsided, Maia withdrew her mouth and slowly pulled her fingers back. Taylor reached down, beckoning for Maia to join her. She crawled up and settled against Taylor's side, resting her head on the human's sweat-slicked chest. Her heart was still racing, although her breathing began to slow down again
"Maia..." Taylor whispered, cupping her cheek and lifting her chin. She looked up with soft, trusting eyes, and Maia felt her heart break and begin to mend itself at the same time. She let her thumb brush over Taylor's cheekbone, then her lips, shivering slightly when she realized that her fingers were still covered with Taylor's wetness. On impulse, she urged Taylor's face closer, bringing their mouths together in another kiss. They melted into each other, sharing the taste.
When the kiss broke, Maia whimpered in protest, but Taylor surprised her by rolling her over, easing her onto her back. Taylor's lips trailed down her throat, covering it in a line of light kisses. She was a mess of emotions—confusion, desire, fear, and affection—but she smiled through all of them. She would not give up this moment for anything. "Taylor," she breathed, running her hands up and down along the human's lean back. She could feel the muscles moving beneath her palms. "You make me feel so much that I..."
"I want to make you feel," Taylor pleaded as one of her hands slid between their bodies. She started with Maia's stomach, tracing patterns around her navel, gradually dipping lower. All the while, she kept her eyes focused on Maia's face, as if to make sure there was no sign of doubt or reluctance. And then her gaze flicked down to the collar cutting into Maia’s throat, and she felt her pulse flutter above the tight band. She knew what Taylor was thinking, but she did not dare to hope.
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