by Calista Skye
As he drove himself faster inside of her, he pulled her hips against him. “I want you to come for me,” he growled into her ear.
Without waiting for a response, he gripped her beneath her thighs, his powerful hands lifting her legs out of the way. He rested his palm on her mound, circling her as he pulled himself out, leaving her breathless, feeling the emptiness of his absence.
The floodgates were open, and all the desire that she’d held back for so long came rushing to the surface. She’d never felt the ache of longing so intensely.
“Beg me,” he said. “Show me how much you want it.”
She quivered as he hovered above her; the look in his eyes was primal. Kira could see the hunger, a raw passion that would devour her. And she needed to feel it. To feel him.
“Please,” she said. “I need you inside me.”
With a victorious grin, he plunged himself into her. With a skilled and steady rhythm, he rocked his body against hers, building his speed as the waves of intensity and pleasure filled her.
It started slowly. The tingling warmth surging through her, building into a hot molten fire in her core. “Beg me,” he said. “Tell me how much you want it.”
Kira bit her lip to stifle the moan that threatened to erupt. She could barely contain herself. The low growl in her ear as she felt him swelling inside her was more than she could bear. The raw power and burning desire sent her over the edge.
“I’m going to come,” she said breathlessly, her back arching in pleasure as she thrust her hips up into him.
Ja’al brought her back to the ground as he thrust deep inside her, burying himself to the hilt as she moaned. The waves of pleasure shot through her body, exploding in a feverish burst.
Her body still pulsed, trembling in pleasure as her hips found the ground. She drew in a deep breath as Ja’al smiled at her, pausing long enough for a faint moan of satisfaction to escape her lips before sliding back inside her.
Kira wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in closer to her. He buried himself inside her again. He wasn’t going to let her rest, she thought as he quickened his pace and the slow, steady build of pleasure began in her again.
Her eyes fluttered open long enough to glimpse his arms flexing as he worked himself deep inside her. His body glowed gold against the night sky, and it grew more luminous as his pleasure built.
She lifted her hips, wrapping her legs around him. She wanted to feel him deep inside her. She smiled in delight at the pleasure he took in her body. A man like Ja’al kept everything so close to the vest. She understood, now, the depths of the passion he concealed. And she admired him even more for his ability to control his emotions.
But here, surrounded by the trees as the bonfire burned in the distance, she felt the flames of his passion. The deep intensity that made him a leader. The strength that made him a man.
Her body tensed around him as he penetrated her, thrusting deeper and faster as he leaned in and kissed her neck. The warmth coursed through her as she felt him stiffen inside her. Seeing this side of him, the raw, unrestrained passion and pleasure, was more than she could stand.
He flexed against her, holding her fast to the ground as he shut his eyes. Kira felt the change in his breath as he drove himself deep inside her, thrusting harder than before. Her body tensed, and her hips rocked up to meet him as she purred with pleasure.
With a deep growl into her ear, she felt the warmth of his seed spreading inside her. The feeling sent her over the edge as her hips bucked wildly against him and her core exploded again. Waves of pleasure shot through her extremities as every inch of her skin tingled with electricity.
When Ja’al finally relaxed his body, he collapsed beside her, breathing heavily. Beads of sweat covered his face, dripping down his strong jaw as he caught his breath. He closed his eyes and a warm smile drew across his lips.
She leaned in and nuzzled up beside him, running her hands along his broad chest as she relaxed, comfortable in the care and protection of his body. She took in the moment, savoring the scent of his bare skin, mixed with the distant smoke of the bonfire and the trees as the sound of drums beat in the distance.
No matter what happened, no matter where this journey led them, she was grateful for this moment. Happy in his arms. And for the first time she could remember, she felt like she had found a home.
Chapter 11
Ja’al glanced around the simulator room and felt it closing in around him. Compared to the tranquility and open air of the forest, the narrow corridors of the Rebel base felt oppressive. Not a place you could call home. He smiled to himself, realizing that the voice in his head was Kira’s.
Thoughts of her had permeated his mind. Changed his way of thinking. He had his reasons for joining the rebellion, but they were buried in the past. Having Kira in his life made the Kamaran threat feel more immediate. Someday, things will be different, he thought. When this war is over, we can live a better life.
He made his rounds, powering up the holodisplay in the center of the room. The faint hum of the electronics filled the air, echoing through the chamber as the harsh light of the projector lit the room.
The cadets filed in, taking their seats around the room’s tiered perimeter, chatting amongst themselves. Fighting against the marines on Orvantis had put them out of their depth. But they had all learned a valuable lesson, and they were motivated to shore up their weaknesses.
At least the open air and the celebration had been good for morale. He worried sometimes they demanded too much from the cadets. But the Kamarans would be merciless. And so he, too, must be. If the Storm Squadron was going to lead them to victory, their trials had only begun.
When Kira entered the room, his gaze fell on her immediately. The relaxed smile on her face made her skin glow with a warmth that starkly contrasted the cold, oppressive rock walls around them. When he caught her eye, she smiled at him briefly, careful to avoid drawing the attention of her squadmates.
Discretion was important. He didn’t regret their time together in the forest of Orvantis. But if any of the cadets got the impression he treated her differently than the rest, there would be trouble. He had to maintain his impartiality. And he couldn’t let his growing feelings for her blind him. He was still her commander, and he owed it to her to give the training she needed, regardless of his feelings.
Especially since her victory had changed the standings on the leaderboard.
“Good morning, cadets,” he said as he made his way to the center of the room. “I trust you’re all well rested after our little interlude on Orvantis. I hope you enjoyed your time. It’s a gift.” He glanced out to Kira, remembering the soft touch of her body.
“Relaxation is a luxury we can’t often afford,” he continued. “It’s important to make the most of it while you can. Remember those moments when you’re in the heat of battle. War is messy. And when hope seems lost, you have to remember what you’re fighting for.”
Ja’al stopped in front of the holodisplay, waving a hand over the scanner to bring it to life. The glowing image of the leaderboard leapt into the air, hovering in the center of the room. He hadn’t yet updated the information to show the results of the exercise on Orvantis. But he knew what it would show. Things were about to change. And not everyone would be happy with the results.
“We’re lucky to have such talented recruits here in our ranks,” he said. “Because, unfortunately, we don’t have as much time to train you as you deserve. But after watching you all perform over the past several weeks, I’m confident you’ll all be up to the tasks required of you.”
Ja’al looked out to Jomanak, who leaned back with a smug smile, folding his arms over his chest. He was a good pilot. One of the best Ja’al had ever seen. His confidence in his ability was well-founded. But when confidence lapsed to arrogance, he grew reckless. Dangerous. And the Kamarans would exploit that weakness.
“But what you didn’t know,” he said, “is that our training here wasn’t just design
ed to teach you the intricacies of air-to-air combat. That’s an important part of the equation. But it’s not the whole story.”
Jomanak sat up straight. “Commander,” he said. “With all due respect, I disagree. No one can outmatch me in aerial combat. Any Kamaran pilot that tries will be making his final mistake.”
Ja’al nodded. The kid wasn’t wrong. But his inexperience made him blind to his weaknesses. “The scores on the leaderboard don’t lie,” he said. “You’ll be an asset to the team. But you’re blind to your weaknesses, cadet. And that makes you dangerous.”
“To the enemy,” Jomanak said.
“To your squadmates,” Ja’al replied. “You’re hotheaded. Your arrogance causes you to make poor decisions. And you don’t know how to manage your assets. You don’t know how to use the strengths of others to your advantage. And you don’t understand the psychology of your enemies.”
Ja’al pressed his thumb to the scanner on the holodisplay, refreshing the data.
Kira’s name was at the top of the list.
The room erupted in applause.
“Congratulations, Kira,” said Ja’al.
***
The minute Ja’al dismissed them, Kira fled from the simulator room, ignoring the calls of Reina as she followed her out the door. It had to be a mistake. It was a fluke. It was Ja’al’s decision to split them up back on Orvantis, not hers. She didn’t do anything to earn that rank.
“Kira, wait up!” called Reina, following her through the cramped, rocky corridor. “What’s going on with you?”
Kira stopped. She wasn’t going to shake her. There was nowhere to go. Living inside a military base on an asteroid didn’t afford much privacy.
“He rigged it,” she said, turning to face her friend. “There’s no other explanation. He fixed the numbers to put me at the top of the list.”
“No, Kira. He couldn’t have. Think about it. He’s not the only one looking at that data. If there was something wonky, the other unit commanders would know. You’re there because you earned it.”
Kira shook her head. She couldn’t believe it. Even if she had earned top marks in whatever screwed up performance analysis they were using, she didn’t want the responsibility. “If anything happens,” she said, “if we were attacked, I’d be expected to lead. I don’t want this. I’m not a leader.”
“You’ll do fine,” said Reina. “If you couldn’t handle it, you wouldn’t be here.”
“Maybe she shouldn’t be here.” Jomanak stepped out from the shadow. “You did get lucky out there. You’re not qualified to lead the Storm Squadron. You’ll get us all killed.”
“Nobody asked you, Jomanak,” said Reina.
“And that’s a problem,” he retorted. “If they’d asked me, we wouldn’t have wound up with someone so incompetent in charge of us. I’m not flying under her. She doesn’t know the first thing about aerial combat tactics.”
“Ja’al disagrees. So do the scores. If that’s not good enough for you, you should just quit.”
Jomanak spat. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you Reina? You’ve always wanted to see me fail. I didn’t join the rebellion to go home a failure. By the time the Kamarans are finished, I’ll have no home left. I came here to win this war, and I’m going to make damn sure it happens.”
“Then you’re going to have to trust me,” said Kira. She stepped closer to him, speaking in a careful, measured tone. “Look, I don’t understand how it happened, either. And yes, you do know a lot more about aerial tactics than I do.”
“See,” he said, “you need to step down while you still can. Before it starts costing the lives of innocent people.”
“I don’t want anyone to get hurt, Jomanak,” she said. “I don’t understand how it happened. I don’t know how they’re scoring us. I’m just here doing the best I can.”
“Your best,” said Jomanak. “Real comforting.”
“I don’t like it any more than you do. But if they need me to lead … I’m going to lead.”
“You’re going to get us all killed.”
“Not if you help me,” she said as she looked up at him. She may not be able to outmaneuver him in the air, but she could see the big picture. She had a lot to learn, but she was willing to admit her weaknesses, and she was willing do the work. To learn on the strengths of her team.
Jomanak stared at her, silent.
“I’m not your enemy, Jomanak. No matter what the leaderboard says, I’m going to need your help to lead the Storm Squadron. We’re in this together. You’re the best pilot here. Gods forbid we’re called into action before we’re ready, but if we are, I need you on my side. I can’t beat the Empire without you. Will you help me?”
Jomanak’s face tightened. He looked off down the hallway for a long moment before turning back to her. “I don’t like it, Kira. But if they’re putting you in charge, you’re going to need someone to make sure you don’t kill us all.”
Kira smiled. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.
***
Ja’al sat in the cramped, rocky alcove connected to the simulator room that served as an office for the instructors, watching the conflict between Kira and Jomanak. He smiled to himself as he watched her stand up for herself. The moment of realization that dawned on her, that she needed to get Jomanak on her side, was exactly the kind of brilliance that would allow her to excel.
For a moment, he had considered going to intervene. But it wasn’t necessary. Kira handled him with skill, turning an enemy into an ally. So many fighter jocks lacked the finesse that leadership required.
And she was right, in a way. She would need his help out there in the star field. Tactics could be learned, but a leader needed to use the strengths of her team, molding her people’s motivations, and uniting them towards a common goal.
But she still had a lot to learn. She still didn’t trust herself, or her skills behind the controls of a fighter. She still didn’t trust her decisions in a pinch. And Ja’al would do everything in his power to help her. But there would come a time when she’d have to make a tough call and he wouldn’t be there to help.
It was a relief to see her stepping up now. Believing in herself. He hoped it would last.
As Ja’al switched off the holoscreen, he thought of their time together back on Orvantis. The taste he’d had of her was not nearly enough. And now, the floodgates were open. He needed to see her again.
But until then, he could use his desire. He summoned the warrior’s restraint from deep inside himself and pushed his desire to the back of his mind. As he drew a measured breath, sublimating the energy of passion and circulating it through his body.
A high-pitched beep from the comm system interrupted the ancient ritual, drawing him back to the present.
“Commander,” said the young officer. “Urgent news.”
Ja’al straightened in his chair and buzzed the man in. A young communications officer from the garden world of Anara, the officer’s skin still glowed with the deep bronze of a life in the sun. The harsh cold of space hadn’t yet robbed him of his color, or his enthusiasm. Hold onto it, Ja’al thought to himself.
“What’s the report, ensign?”
“Sir,” the young officer said. “We’ve detected an unusual pattern of movement among the Kamaran fleet. They appear to massing an attack force. Here in the Gamma Quadrant. I believe they’ve found us.”
The dark gold color drained from Ja’al’s face as the blood rushed inward. “Are you sure?” asked Ja’al. His training allowed him to keep his tone calm and even, though his mind raced through the defensive scenarios and their possible outcomes.
“As certain as we can be, sir. We haven’t been able to crack their communication encryptions, but using the scanning tech the Raiders developed, the movements of the fleet are clear. They’re gathering. And they’re preparing to strike.”
Ja’al swallowed, a dry lump in his throat. “You’ve told Prince Adaar?”
“Yes sir. He instructed me to get
word out to the Squadron Commanders. Since we don’t know how they discovered our location, we have to keep our discussions off the standard comm channels. In case they’ve been compromised.”
“A wise plan,” said Ja’al. He expected nothing less from Prince Adaar. He was a bold man, but never took unnecessary risks. Ja’al had trained him well.
“He’s called a meeting of the senior officers to discuss our strategy. Tonight, in the Combat Information Center.”
“Thank you, ensign,” said Ja’al, holding the young officer’s gaze as he saluted. “Dismissed.”
When the steel door hissed closed, the full weight of the situation hit him. Without more time to prepare, the Storm Squadron would have to defend them. Ready or not, they were about to get their first taste of real action. And with the change in the leaderboard, Kira would have to lead them.
Chapter 12
Ja’al stared at the small stone statue in his quarters, the sole artifact adoring the tiny rock room. He didn’t need the sentimental reminders of his life back home on Kamara. He was glad to get away. But the statue, an ornate stone figure carved by his father, reminded him to be strong in times of uncertainty. Ja’al carried the lesson with him, focusing on it when he needed it the most.
The meeting with the senior officers wasn’t scheduled until the evening. Despite the urgency of the situation, the officers needed time to prepare their assessments of their teams. Honest evaluations of their capabilities were the only way to choose an appropriate strategy to combat the looming Imperial threat.
Ja’al knew the Storm cadets well. Knew their strengths and weaknesses. Knew how they functioned together as a unit, and what was likely to unfold in the event it came down to combat. Though they showed potential, they were woefully unprepared. And if the Kamarans were sending a fleet to destroy the Rebel base, they wouldn’t take any chances. They’d send the best of the best.
He traced his fingers over the carving, feeling the rough texture of the stone beneath his fingers. Prepared or not, the Kamarans were coming. And the Storm Squadron would be called to do their duty. They would show courage in the face of fear. He only hoped that would be enough. It would all hinge on their ability to work together. To understand and outsmart their enemy. It would all depend on the leadership of ….