Silver

by Siren Allen

  He didn’t want to be alone with her right now. His body was on high alert around her and though she was being eerily cordial, he knew she wasn’t ready for what he was ready for. Plus, he was still wondering why Striker told him the bed was being destroyed by her, yet Silver had found everything intact, better than intact, when he visited a moment ago.

  “Captain,” Gamma called to him. “Go to her. We got this.”

  “She’s resting.”

  “Then rest with her. It’ll be your turn to man the ship while we rest soon.

  True. His mate had been readying for bed when he left her. Perhaps she’d fallen asleep already. He could bed down on the floor without disturbing her.

  “I’ll go. But wake me as soon as you need me.”

  The males nodded. Dismissed by his crew, Silver turned and left the deck. He knew they were being helpful, attempting to give him time alone with his mate before it was his turn to pilot the ship.

  Time alone with her wasn’t in his best interest right now. She was his mate. He wanted to trust her. He wanted her to want him. But the number of beings he trusted were dwindling.

  His crew member was right, if you can’t trust your ship, who could you trust? The same saying applied to mates. If he placed his trust in Malia, only to have her turn on him, that would destroy him.

  Best he tread carefully, until he found out what she was up to.

  Chapter Twelve

  The lights were out in the bedroom.

  A good sign. Entering quietly, he eased the door shut behind him. Thank the stars for good eyesight. He walked over to the bed to find his mate, underneath his covers with her back to him and her face to the wall.

  He’d give his right arm for a chance to slide under the covers with her. Unfortunately, he’d probably have to defend himself and his crew soon. He needed his right arm. Since there wasn’t an extra bed in the room, Silver kicked his boots off and bedded down on the floor.

  The temperature on the ship was comfortable, he didn’t need any blankets. With his arms behind his head he stared up at the ceiling of his room, unable to sleep. What was she dreaming about?

  Him?

  Killing him?

  Making love to him?

  Yeah, probably not the latter. Though his thoughts had run rampant at their last encounter, he was positive she hadn’t been thinking the same things he’d been. Silver turned onto his side, then tensed when he heard the bed creak.

  “Silver, is that you? I can’t see in the dark.”

  Damn mating pull. Just hearing her voice was causing his body to heat.

  “It’s me, sorry I disturbed you.”

  “You didn’t. Where are you?”

  “On the floor.”

  “The floor?” Her voice rose a notch.

  More creaking noises followed her statement, reminding Silver that he needed to go to the cargo hold and retrieve the bed his crew members had stolen for him and Malia.

  “Hey you,” her sweet voice drifted down to him.

  Silver turned onto his back and stared up into her beautiful face with her half closed eyes.

  “What are you doing down there?”

  “Going to sleep.”

  “On the floor?”

  Silver smirked, knowing she couldn’t see his grin. “Yeah.”

  “Why?”

  Why? He didn’t really know why.

  “Silver, there’s room in the bed for you.”

  He noted the hint of exasperation in her voice, like she’d been telling him that for years now.

  “I don’t think it wise that I join you.” He allowed his arms to drift lower until his hands covered up the erection straining against his pants.

  “Why not?”

  Stars, her why’s were going to kill him. He was the captain of the Striker. Because he said so was his usual response to why. Yet, with his mate, he was sure that response would get him a tongue lashing, and not the kind the mating pull was causing him to crave.

  “Silver, did you hear me?”

  He sighed. “I did.”

  “Am I getting on your nerves?”

  “Of course not?”

  “Am I asking too many questions?” She giggled. “I just asked another question. Sorry, I get goofy when I’m tired.”

  Smiling Silver told her, “Go to sleep mate. I’ll be fine on the floor.” He liked her goofy giggles. They made him feel warm on the inside.

  “I won’t be fine knowing you’re down there. Get it the bed, please.”

  Get in the bed, please. That was what finally pulled Silver off the floor. Malia scooted over in bed, making room for him. The smile was still on her face, but an uneasy look was in her eyes.

  “You sure?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  Silver stepped closer to the bed.

  “Wait,” she raised her hand, warding him off, her eyes wide.

  He knew it. She didn’t want him sleeping next to her. He told himself it was okay. Yet the pain remained, a dull ache in his chest. Silver stepped back.

  “No, don’t go. I’m just saying,” she lowered her hand to the mattress. “You’ve been doing whatever captains do all day.” She cocked her head to the side.

  He had no idea what she was talking about.

  “Yeah. And?” Silver shrugged.

  “Yeah, and, you haven’t bathed. You can’t get in bed without bathing.”

  Ohhh.

  “Is there enough water for daily baths?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “Oh.”

  He hated the disappointment in her features. “But for this trip there’s enough. My crew isn’t the bathing every day kind of people anyway,” he joked, but was actually telling the truth.

  “Do you bathe every day?” she asked

  He didn’t. But he didn’t think that was the answer she wanted to hear. He would, from this moment on, to please her.

  “I don’t,” he confessed. “But I will, if you want me to.”

  Her smile was everything.

  “I want you to,” she told him. “But I know how scarce water is. Back home, we have sanitation misters. I’d rather have a bath, but they do the job also.”

  “Yeah, we have one onboard.”

  “Great,” she beamed. “So, are you going to go bathe?”

  Oh yeah, bathing, well, showering, since there wasn’t an actual tub on board, just a stall.

  “Okay, I’m going to go bathe.” Yeah, her smile would make him her slave. Still watching her, Silver slipped his shirt off. Her eyes widened, smile waivered. He unbuttoned his pants then froze when she closed her eyes. Hands at his waist band ready to give them a swift tug, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

  “Are you really going to get undressed in here?”

  Shit.

  He hadn’t even realized he was getting naked in the middle of his dark bedroom. Where was his mind? In bed, already.

  “No,” was all he could say.

  “It looks like it.”

  “I thought you couldn’t see.”

  “I can see enough. My eyes are adjusting to the darkness.”

  Leaving his pants on, Silver bent down and retrieved his shirt. No point in trying to explain his actions. He had no explanation. He snatched his shirt up and then headed toward the bathroom.

  Not wanting to leave on a note of awkward silence, he called over his shoulder, “Be right back.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  Yes, she would.

  Always.

  ***

  He tried to recall the last time he’d bathed.

  Silver lathered his chest with an unscented bar of cleanser. He hadn’t bathed once while on Venus. They’d stolen a tank of water from a nearby store and had used that to wash their face, hands, and other junk that got sweaty.

  But a full shower. He hadn’t one of those in a long time. It felt nice. And with Malia only a few clicks away from him, it felt naughty, especially since he was showering in the dark.

  In a rush to get
back to her, he bypassed the light switch and headed straight for the stall. His mate was awaiting him in bed. His heart leapt at that thought and so did other things. With hot water falling over his frame, Silver slid one hand down to his cock and gripped it tightly.

  Stars, he was rock hard, his body yearning for his mate. Silver stroked himself. Closing his eyes, he let his head fall forward as images of his mate masturbating while dreaming about him filled him mind.

  Sex with her would be spectacular. He knew it would. He wasn’t an untried male. He’d been with plenty of females. None had ever stoked his desire the way his mate was doing. And it wasn’t just the mating pull forcing him to feel things for her.

  It was her, the little things she did. The way she smiled, the sound of her laughter, the way she cocked her head to the side when she was thinking about something he’d said. She was perfection.

  He couldn’t wait to rub his hands over her flesh and feel her shiver underneath his touch. He was going to take great pleasure in making her moan all night long as he kissed and licked every inch of her.

  Silver thrust forward, pushing into his palm, wishing it was her heat he was sliding into. She would be wet. Oh so wet. He groaned as he thought of her wetness sliding over his cock. His dick jerked. He stroked faster, pumping his length.

  He was going to come. That was probably for the best, to take the edge off before he climbed in bed behind his mate. Behind his mate. That thought caused images of him fucking her from behind to form in his head.

  The doorknob to the bathroom turned. His head jerked in its direction. Had he locked the door? Nope. In stepped Malia.

  “Silver, are you okay? I heard noises.” She flipped the light switch on and her mouth fell open in shock.

  He wanted to stop. He really did. He couldn’t. His orgasm was too close and the sight of her sent him over the edge. Silver came hard, groaning as his hips jerked until every last drop was ripped from him. Shit. She was still standing there.

  Silver stared down at the shower floor watching water and his semen wash down the drain. This was the ultimate embarrassment. He heard her clear her throat. He didn’t look in her direction.

  “Uh, okay,” she told him from the doorway. “I see that you’re okay. Um, I’m going to let you finish… showering. Take as long as you need.”

  Silver nodded and waited on the sound of the door closing before he began cursing.

  “Shit, fuck, fucking shit.” He banged his head against the wall.

  There was no way she’d allow him to sleep in the bed with her now.

  His cock hardened again.

  What the hell.

  ***

  Who leaves the door unlocked while showering?

  Silver, that’s who. The image of his naked body was burned into her brain for eternity. What the hell was wrong with him? Malia turned onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. He’d be done in a few minutes.

  Then he’ll be in bed with her. It was going to be awkward enough before this, now it was going to be downright unbearable. Malia turned onto her side, pretending her panties weren’t wet.

  She ignored the flames of desire scorching her skin. Stars, she’d watched him come. Instead of turning away and apologizing, she’d stood there like a perv and watched him finish jacking off. And she didn’t regret it.

  That was what pissed her off. She wanted to be mad at herself, not merely embarrassed. If she wasn’t careful, this little charade would get the best of her. And she couldn’t afford to allow that to happen. Malia shut her eyes tightly and feigned sleep when she heard the door to the bathroom open.

  “Malia, are you still awake?”

  She didn’t say anything.

  “If so, let me know. I forgot my clothes and you used the only towels in the room so I have to come out naked.”

  Seriously, what the hell was wrong with this guy? No towels, no clothes, jacking off and looking sexy as hell while doing it. He was playing her role better than she was. Still, she pretended to be asleep.

  “Okay, coming out.”

  Inching closer to the wall, Malia tried to keep her breathing regular. She heard him walking across the floor. She was so in tune with him, she picked up on every little noise he made.

  From the sound of his breathing to the sound of his feet carrying him across the floor. And for some reason, each sound turned her on. She listened as he opened a drawer. Soon he would be clothed. Soon all those muscles would be covered.

  Damn, she hadn’t known he had all that under his clothes. Unable to help herself and not quite sure she wanted to, Malia turned onto her other side and stared across the room. She could see perfectly fine in the dark now.

  And what she saw made her hornier than ever. He stood facing her, holding a dark-colored folded item in his hand. But to hell with the item. What was hanging between his legs was the main attraction.

  Malia swallowed, and that simple act made her wonder what he would taste like. Clenching her thighs together, she prayed for strength, the strength to remain where she was and not get up and go to him.

  Stars, he was growing harder, longer. She tore her eyes from his cock and allowed them to roam up his body. His hard abs flexed, as if they knew she was staring and wanted to impress her.

  She was definitely impressed. When her gaze reached his eyes, she found him staring back at her. Time stood still. And, for a brief moment she wasn’t concerned about escaping or being upset over the fact that he’d taken her in the first place. Her thoughts were only on him and the attraction brewing between the two of them.

  “Malia?”

  She heard the unasked question in his voice. Every nerve in her body tingled, alert, awaiting her response. The mating pull literally felt like a pull, drawing the two of them together like magnets. She lifted the covers and beckoned him to join her.

  They didn’t have to have sex. There were other things they could do, other things that would give the mating pull its due and clear the erotic fog clouding her judgement. She just needed to take the edge off.

  That’s all. And apparently so did Silver. He dropped the clothing he was holding and moved forward, his determined strides bringing him closer to her. Malia reminded herself that she was doing this for her freedom.

  She ignored the part of her that screamed this was so much more than that.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Silver stopped at the edge of the bed, his body trembling.

  “You sure?”

  He needed her to be sure. There was no going back after this. If he touched her this night, he would never let her go. Who was he kidding? He wasn’t letting her go no matter what.

  “Malia, are you sure?”

  Malia shook her head. He couldn’t describe the feeling of disappointment that came crashing down on him.

  “I’m not sure,” she whispered, eyes downcast. “I don’t think I want to go all the way. Can we just, touch, a little?”

  Hell, yeah they could.

  “Whatever you want.”

  They could go as far as she wanted. This was all about her. He just wanted to be next to her, to have his hands on her. His body screamed for him to pounce on her, his muscles flexed, ready for the move.

  Silver held himself still, scared he would frighten her if she saw what type of beast the mating pull would turn him into if it was denied its due for too long.

  “I guess I shouldn’t have all these clothes on.” Malia stared down at her pajamas. When she reached for the top button he stopped her.

  “Let me.”

  Her hands were shaking. When he leaned forward across the bed, he realized his hands were just as unsteady. Hold it together, Silver. He unbuttoned the top button, but fumbled the second.

  He took a deep breath to calm himself, then quickly undid the rest of the buttons and pulled the fabric aside. A stifled moan escaped before he could catch it. She wore no bra. Her breasts. Her glorious breasts. They were beautiful. He wanted them in his mouth. Right now.

  Hold it
together, Silver.

  He kept his eyes on her neck as he slid the fabric over her shoulders. Every inch of skin he revealed called to him. The mating pull was humming inside of him, its excitement increasing his own.

  Once he had the top off, he tossed it to the side, not caring where it landed. Malia laid back on the bed and lifted her hips. He hooked his fingers in her pants and slid them down. He kept his eyes on her face, knowing if he stared anywhere else he’d lose his small grip on sanity.

  Moving slowly, he rubbed his hands up her legs until he reached the thin material of her panties. Damn, she had curves. Before pulling her panties down, he rubbed his hands back down her legs, enjoying the outline of her body.

  He loved the way her hips flared. In the silence of the room, he could hear the change in both of their breathing. He could hear her heart rate increasing. Still staring at her face, Silver slid her panties down her legs then tossed them aside. Now they were both naked, both vulnerable, both ready.

  “Tell me what you want me to do,” his voice came out deep, darker, filled with lust.

  She closed her eyes. Silver leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. It took an insane amount of strength for him to be gentle while his body was screaming for him to go hard, go into beast mode.

  “Malia,” he whispered against her lips. “We can go as slow or as fast as you want. Tell me what you want me to do.”

  As he spoke, he trailed his hand down her side, loving how smooth her skin felt. Silver kissed her again and to his surprise her lips parted, allowing him entrance. He entered, sliding his tongue against hers.

  Her taste, stars, she tasted better than the dessert she’d gifted him with. Her tongue played with his. She explored his mouth. First shyly then boldly, with more confidence. When her hands delved into his hair, Silver gripped the sheets to keep from pinning her against the bed and shoving into her.

  He’d promised he would do this at her pace. He wouldn’t break that promise, even if it killed him. And it might indeed kill him. But what a splendid way to die. Her hands roamed over his neck and shoulders.