Pirates of the Dark Nebula (Hearts in Orbit Book 2)

by S. C. Mitchell

  She drew in a comforting breath when she saw Ian was sitting up in bed, a portable computational terminal on his lap. The young boy, Donald, stood by Ian’s bed.

  “You see the quantum quadrangle tangent here?” Ian asked, pointing to the screen.

  Donald nodded.

  Magda stood nearby, a tray of food in her hands and a determined look on her face. “Ian, you need to eat.”

  “I’m fine, woman. Leave me be.” Ian waved his hand in Magda’s direction, but his focus remained on the display.

  “No, you need to eat now,” Magda insisted. “Time enough for your toys.”

  Ian blustered. “Toys? Insufferable woman, I’m trying to discover where we are and how we got here.”

  Magda plunked a tray of food on his lap, blocking his access to the terminal. “What’s to discover? You’re right here, injured, and in bed. And if you don’t eat, you won’t get better.”

  Magda shifted her gaze toward Donald. “And you, young man, need to play. Enough schooling. You’ll damage your karmic connections.”

  Ian sputtered. “Karmic connections?”

  She glowered at Ian. “Let him be a boy, Ian.”

  Magda, Ian, and Donald were so intent on their conversation, none of them had noticed the intercom hail. Luna felt like a voyeur, but their antics brought a smile to her lips. Ian was clearly out of his element with the fortuneteller.

  Science and mysticism had been at odds since the dawn of man. Luna usually came down on the side of science, but there was a definite shift in her thinking since meeting Magda. There’s more there than meets the eye.

  Would Ian see it also?

  In any case, Luna determined it was time to make herself known. “Ian, be a good boy and eat. I already have the analytics running, and I’ll need you healthy when the results come back. Do what your doctor prescribes.”

  Ian shook his head. “This woman is not a doctor. She’s a—”

  “She’s a friend,” Luna interjected. “A friend doing her best to get you healthy again. You should be thankful.”

  Ian’s shoulders slumped. But he did pick up the fork. “Very well. Thank you, Magda.”

  The acknowledgment had very little sincerity behind it, but that was Ian. Still, Luna threw him a bone. “I’ll let you know the moment I have any results and if you come up with any insights, send me a message.”

  Luna closed the connection and went back to entering the last of her data.

  Done. Now we wait.

  She leaned her head back, in her seat, pressing her eyes closed as she willed her mind to quiet. The analysis had dredged up theories from the depths of her memory she hadn’t considered since college, and her mind spun with possible solutions to the enigma of how they’d arrived in another galaxy.

  The cabin door whooshed open, drawing her attention. Rik leaned against the doorframe, a quirky smile gracing his all-too-kissable lips. “Got a surprise for you.” His soft, low tones were just the distraction she’d been looking for. Her girly parts were all aflutter, but as he moved aside Luna’s jaw dropped.

  The hall lighting reflected off a shiny, metal figure.

  “Harvey?” Tears sprung unbidden to her eyes, and she rushed toward the door, unsure which of them she would hug first.

  “Greetings, Miss Callista. I have missed you also.” The electronic voice sounded like sweet music to Luna’s ears.

  She wrapped one arm around Harvey, and the other around Rik, dragging them both to her. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. Oh gods, how?”

  Rik chuckled as he planted a kiss on the top of her head. “I don’t leave good people behind, if I can help it. I picked up the pieces right before we came to rescue you on Xio. Wasat Pinder put him back together.”

  Covering Harvey’s new battery pack and transceivers was shiny new chest-plating. Luna ran her hand over it. “Titanium?”

  Rik’s eyes filled with mischief. “It’s going to take more than a blaster shot to take him down next time.”

  Harvey extracted himself gently from Luna’s embrace. “Now, if you will excuse me, I believe we have a problem I need to address.”

  The droid sat down at the in-cabin workstation, and started running over Luna’s calculations and notes while connecting himself into the interface socket.

  Luna took the opportunity to pull Rik’s head down, mashing his lips to hers. Kissing him like she’d been dreaming about. Long, hard, passionate. Her tongue tangled with his and she felt his arousal against her stomach.

  She pulled back, awash in the delight she saw in his eyes.

  “You are the best . . .” What? Friend? Companion? Lover? Rik was all those and so much more, so she just left the statement open and kissed him again.

  “This operation will take me a while,” Harvey droned. “Perhaps you two could occupy yourselves in the next room.”

  Luna’s giggle broke the kiss. “Did you program him to say that?”

  Rik shook his head, but a lust-filled gleam crossed his eyes. “No. Would it have mattered if I did?”

  “Oh, come on you two.” Harvey’s mechanical fingers continued navigating across the keypad, his ocular sensors taking in the display content. “Do you think I’m dumb or something?”

  How did the droid manage to put inflection into that monotone, mechanical voice?

  Rik tugged Luna into the cabin’s bedchamber. “If he hadn’t suggested it though, I would have. You need a break, and I need . . . you.”

  He pressed the control to slide the door closed, then backed Luna against the wall. “We have to do something while we wait. Might just as well be something fun.”

  Cocooned in his arms, she sighed as the heat of his hard lines permeated her body. His golden brown eyes widened as he stroked a hand through her hair. “Harvey’s a lucky droid. He got to watch you grow into the incredible woman that you are.” His teeth snagged her bottom lip, gently pulling so his lips could suck it in and release. “I’m just glad he’s not the jealous type.”

  Rik’s hot breath tingled across her neck, causing her to clench in passionate delight. He feathered light kisses along her jaw line.

  Luna raked her fingers through his unruly hair, pulling him closer, doing her best to match his passion. It wasn’t hard.

  Her core flared, molten heat flowing throughout. Her mind was awhirl with erotic suggestions. She wanted him . . . needed him so badly.

  His hand moved down her back, caressing as it traveled, pausing briefly to cup her ass before tucking behind her thighs and sweeping her off her feet into his arms. He turned and carried her toward the bed.

  Placing her gently on the mattress, he stood back, working the magnasnaps on his shirt. “I need you frackin’ bad.”

  “Ditto,” she replied coyly, as she began to work the fastenings on her blouse.

  Rik’s eyes darkened with passionate desire. His gaze swept her, and she toyed with him, taking her time, teasing each reveal of skin.

  “You’re killing me.” He shrugged out of his shirt, as he toed off his boots.

  She ran her tongue across her bottom lip, enjoying the ripple of muscle along his arms and across his broad chest. “Then get naked and come help me out of these things.”

  When he released the catch on his slacks his cock burst from his fly, pulsing rigid and ready. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest, and her breath quickened at the mere thought of him inside her.

  She ripped open the last of her shirt’s closures and pulled the garment from her. Enough teasing, she needed action.

  Rik slid into bed beside her. His lips, starting at her shoulder, trailed scintillating kisses and nips up the side of her neck before his teeth captured her earlobe. He nibbled and sucked erotically, sending jolts of electricity through her core.

  Her breath quicke
ned. “Oh gods, Rik.”

  “Tease me, will you?” His finger glided along the top of her breast following the seam of her bra. Her nipples tightened, aching for his touch.

  She released the front catch on her bra, freeing her breasts into his waiting hand. He cupped one gently, rolling the stiffened nipple between thumb and forefinger. Triggermoths fluttered in her stomach, as passion boiled deep in her core.

  “You are so incredibly beautiful.” His eyes blazed a trail down her torso as he rose up and slid his hands down her sides.

  She toed off her shoes as he reached for the waistband of her slacks, then lifted her hips as he manipulated the hidden magnalatch. With a tug, her slacks skated down her legs and off.

  Rik threw them aside, his gaze now traveling up her legs to the apex. “My starshine.”

  As he slid back up the bed beside her, his hand dragged up the inside of her thigh. His cock pressed against the outside of her leg, pulsing as if calling to her for attention.

  She reached down and took his shaft in her hand.

  “Oh yes.” Rik clenched his teeth, closing his eyes and rolling his head back. She stroked his cock from base to tip. He pulled in a huge, ragged breath. “Just like that.”

  His mouth closed on the peak of her breast, his tongue dragging across her pebbled nipple, as his hand glided up to the apex of her thighs.

  His thumb manipulated her clitoris, rolling the sensitive nub, as his fingers slid along her damp folds then plunged deep within. Molten fire boiled inside her.

  Her fingers involuntarily tightened around his shaft as her core clenched around his fingers. His cock jerked in her hand. “Oh, yeah.” His rapid breaths told her he was close. She forced herself to loosen her grip.

  Ardent waves rose within, crashing against the walls of her resistance. He was everything, everywhere. He controlled the center of her being, and Luna eagerly gave herself up to the ecstasy that rose to consume her. Waves of erotic heat rippled from the very core of her existence.

  She clung to him and he slid his arm under and around her, pulling her close, as his other hand continued its penetration and manipulation. Her head spun, heat spiraling from her core as she fell headlong into a giant chasm of orgasmic release.

  “That’s it, Luna, ride it, just let me take you there.” His deep voice so filled with lustful urgency.

  And there was amazing. Luna sailed on passionate wings, coming down gently from a soul-sundering climax. “Mmm. That was nice.”

  Rik wiggled his eyebrows at her. “You’re welcome.”

  As her mind cleared she realized she still held his rigid shaft in her hand. “But you’re still . . .” She squeezed gently.

  “Not for long if you keep that up.” He shifted to bring one knee between her legs. “Just need to make sure you’re ready for more.”

  More? There’s more? A delicious warmth seeped through her core and she smiled. “Ready when you are, Captain Mazar.”

  He shifted, bringing his legs over hers, to kneel between her thighs. “Oh, I’m more than ready.” His eyes gleamed molten hot. Taking his shaft in hand, he ran the tip down her folds. “Permission to come aboard?”

  Her channel ached to be filled by his girth. She clenched in anticipation. “You damn well better.”

  Then he pushed in, sliding that glorious length into her, filling her completely. “Yes.”

  His thickness, moving inside, triggered anew the rising flood of passion within her core. Once again orgasmic currents surged, aflame with the fires of desire.

  Rik adjusted his angle, increasing his rhythm and delving deeper. The depths of her being reverberated in response to each incredible stroke.

  Hold on, hold on. Sweet ecstasy stole her breath as passion once again built to an explosive level.

  “I . . . can’t . . .” Rik’s ragged breath reflected his own loss of control, as with one last forceful plunge, his release overtook him. Powerful, breathless, and completely fulfilling, Luna rocketed to new heights of orgasmic release. Intense waves of heat radiated from the center of her being outward, and her body capitulated to the all-encompassing power of their coupling.

  Complete, satisfied exhaustion. Rik had poured all the worry and wonder of the past few days with this incredible woman into his lovemaking. What was it about Luna that took him past propriety, past sanity, into pure bliss?

  Breathless, he’d used the last of his strength to push sideways, to avoid falling on her. Still, he was loath to separate from her, pulling her toward him as he went, to lie facing her, his arms enfolding her. So fragile yet so powerful, he couldn’t get enough of her.

  If we somehow make our way back, she’ll be gone. Someone like her isn’t for someone like me. Was it wrong to imagine being lost a billion light years from civilization a good thing, because she was here with him?

  “I love you.” He hadn’t meant to say it out loud . . . or had he? Why was a man who’d faced down the wrong end of a blaster barrel countless times afraid of three little words?

  He felt her stiffen in his arms. “You do?” Her beautiful green eyes rose to meet his. “You really do?”

  A knot twisted in his stomach. He’d had no right. “I can’t help myself.”

  Her finger twirled through the hairs on his chest.

  Fix this. “I know I shouldn’t. That you’re . . .” Wonderful. Way out of my league.

  A quirky half-smile played over her luscious lips. “I’m what?”

  “Look.” Rik grasped for words that wouldn’t form. “I’m just a . . . a beat cop. Barely that. And you? Well, you’re this galaxy-class, amazing . . .”

  “Squint?” She chuckled. “Isn’t that what you guys call us?”

  Why is she laughing? “I was going to say brain trust. You’re smart as hell. Smarter than . . . gods, smarter than anyone I’ve ever met. A guy like me is . . .” Again, words failed him.

  “A guy like you?” She raised an eyebrow. “A guy in one of the noblest professions in existence? A guy who sacrifices his own life every day to keep me and the rest of the galaxy safe?”

  “You don’t know the things I’ve done.” So many dark deeds.

  “I don’t need to know what you’ve done. I’ve seen who you are.”

  She brought her lips close to his. “I love you, Rik Mazar.”

  Her kiss was tender, yet full of everything that was Luna. His mind still awhirl in disbelief, it took Rik a moment to respond.

  Then passion flared, and he crushed her to him.

  She loves me.

  He loves me.

  Luna’s head still swirled, her senses overpowered by the heady scents of vallenoak, ginger, and the erotic muskiness of their lovemaking.

  Lovemaking? It had been that and more. So beyond anything she’d ever felt with a lover.

  Rik spooned her from behind. Their second session had been as intense as the first, yet Luna was in no hurry to return to the problems of the real world. In here, in this bedchamber, it was just her and Rik.

  His finger traced a circle around her nipple, never touching the bud which once again rose to his ministrations.

  “Tease.” She snuggled closer, his strong arms cradling her intimately.

  He chuckled, his breath hot against her neck. “Do you know you have perfect breasts?”

  Luna snorted. “They’re too small.”

  She was nothing like the large breasted, full figured supermodels of the central coreworlds.

  “No they’re not.” He took the opportunity to bring both hands around to cup her breasts. “Look, a perfect fit.” He brushed his thumbs across her nipples, causing her core to clench.

  He kissed a trail up the back of her neck, as his cock pulsed to life against her backside.

  Tina’s voice over the intercom was like a
bucket of icy water poured over the heat of the moment. “Captain, The McCaffrey is moving toward us.”

  “Frack.” Rik was out of bed and at the intercom in seconds. “Sound general quarters, Ms. la Cross. I’ll be right up.” He pulled his slacks from the pile of clothing on the floor.

  When his eyes met hers, regret shown deeply in his expression, but he was all business. “Keep working on how we got here, and if we can get back. I’ll need as much information as possible when it’s available.”

  She rose and began to dress. “Aye, Captain.”

  Chapter 24

  The McCaffrey lumbered toward them on an intercept course. Rik knew it would be futile to run.

  Markus Stout took a deep breath. “They’ve locked weapons on us, Captain.”

  “Raise shields, Mr. Taygete.” It would be foolish for the pirates to attack, but this was Kristin. Anything was possible. “Mr. Tyson, Mr. Stout, stand ready to return fire if we are fired upon.”

  Kyra Jansky was on communications. “Captain, we have an incoming connection.”

  Rik nodded to her. “Put it on the main monitor.”

  Kristin Devenport’s visage filled the screen. Her eyes wide. Her face a mask of fear and rage. “Where the hell have you taken us, Mazar?”