Assassin by Another Name

by T C

  "I'm close too," he moaned, even though he knew she'd feel his building pleasure in the Psionically. He kissed her lips, her throat, her chest as he moved against her. Moved within her, seeking the release he felt approaching for both of them. Her legs flexed around his hips and he moved, thrusting into her as she pulled him into her. His hands were on her hips, tracing her flanks, tangling in her hair. And still he moved within her, moved with her, and he moaned into her mouth as he kissed her.

  "Kaydia," he gasped, throwing his head back as he drove himself into her. "Kaydia...oh... oh, Kaydia..." His shaft pulsed against her walls. "KAYDIA!" He screamed her name as he gave one final thrust, and his lips found hers as his cock pulsed and gushed, filling her with the hot, physical proof of his love.

  There were a few quiet moments between them, as they rode out their bliss, bodies entangled in a sweaty heap. Just ragged breaths and slight shifting of sticky skin from the floor. Eventually Kaydia sat up, resting her head against his chest, and wiping tears from her eyes. “That uh…”she laughed, somewhat embarrassed. “That wasn’t exactly what I intended. But,” She looked up at him, smiling sheepishly, “It must have been what I needed.” She kissed him once more, arms wrapping around his neck. It was tender, and soft, and over before too long, as they continued to catch their breaths, “Thanks.”

  She didn’t want to move. She wanted to rest there, listening as his heartbeat slowed and calmed down, feel his fingers trailing along her body. She wanted his warmth and his kisses and his love, and she wanted him to feel loved from her as well. Still, they had to eventually get stuff done. “We still didn’t make it to the shower,” She teased, kissing him on the cheek. “Should we try again? Or are we just going to get filthy right after? Maybe we should continue to explore the Scrapper. Just until we find our favorite spot.”

  Reaching up on the table, she handed him the memory disk, teasingly pulling it away one more time before putting it in his hand. “I’d say you earned this. Though I doubt you are going to include what you had to do to earn it in any reports you write. I…I hope it helps.” Straining, she managed to stand, bracing herself against the wall as standing made her legs feel like jelly. “I think we need a breather before we go again.”

  Quentin cradled Kaydia in his arms as she leaned into him, savoring the slow, lingering kiss they shared. "It's what we both needed," he said, closing his eyes and listening to her breathing. Her joke about the shower brought a smile to his lips, as did her complaints as she rose. "I would love to try again, once I catch my breath." He grimaced as he stood, accepting the disk and weighing it in his hand. "And once my back recovers."

  The disk spun in his fingers, then clattered as he tossed it onto his end table. "And that can wait," he decided. "Also until I catch my breath and let my back recover. So I'll be entirely at your mercy in that regard..." He gave her a tired sort of leer, then yawned and kissed her affectionately. "And you'll be in it as much or as little as you want."

  He yawned again, and his stomach made a gurgling, rumbling sound. "For now, though," he said reluctantly, "we should probably wash and eat something. And then see how well my bunk sleeps two." He yawned again. "Because I don't know about you, but I'm tired and hungry now." He leaned in, kissing her lightly. "And the Scrapper will still be here to explore..."

  * * *

  Backfired

  "You're a fool, Sunfell."

  Linora's plasma blade ignited in her hand even as she gasped in surprise. She hadn't expected, hadn't sensed anyone in her private office. But there sat Dooku's man, the Baronet, his ornate plasma blade disassembled on her desk. It clearly wouldn't work, not right now, and the realization did not make her feel safer.

  "Why?" she asked, shutting the weapon down.

  "Your assassin," the Baronet answered. "Scarlet."

  Linora kept her expression calm. "Oh? Why?"

  "I had not realized the infamous Scarlet was the same woman who entertained me in the past. I had assumed her to be a mere honey trap of a killer, a disposable asset. Not a trained killer, as skilled with a plasma blade as with the arts of pleasure. You are a fool."

  "Again, why?" Linora demanded.

  "Cultivated properly, she would have made a fine lieutenant for you. Fierce and loyal, in battle and in bed. You squandered that opportunity, and now..."

  "She was rebellious!" Linora snapped. "She needed discipline!"

  "Degradation is only discipline if used sparingly," the Baronet replied evenly. "And drugs are a chancy leash for one who is initiated into any tradition of the Psionics. You know this." He began fitting the plasma blade together. "And now she has united with this Justiciar, and they will be strong together."

  Finally, weapon reassembled, he looked up at her. "What is it they sought, last night. Tell me."

  ***

  Consciousness returned in stages, until Quentin was forced to acknowledge that he was indeed awake. Based on the clock by his bed, he had slept nearly thirteen hours. And based on the absence of lissome redheads in his bed, Kaydia had not. Which was a pity, because the thought of waking up in her arms was a pleasant one. As was the thought of the ways they might have celebrated waking up in each other's arms.

  Yawning, he stretched muscles left sore from the previous day's exertions. His knee still ached where Kaydia had kicked him, and there was a pleasant soreness in his lower back from all the effort he'd put in when they'd returned to the ship. That thought sent a delicious heat through him, stiffening his cock in response. Which would have been wonderful had Kaydia still been in bed with him, but which made dressing difficult.

  Wearing a grey pullover and black slacks, he finally emerged from the small cabin to find Kaydia sitting at the galley table. Her hair was tousled, and she wore one of his shirts like a tunic with rolled-up sleeves and a pair of pants that hung loose and obscured her figure, and she was the sexiest sight he'd ever seen. "Morning," he said, then braced an arm on the table and kissed her thoroughly. "I could get used to waking up like this," he smiled.

  Pulling himself away before he could kiss her again, which he knew would lead to sliding in next to her (which would lead to exploring her sleek body as he kissed her again, and then her straddling him, and then a whole day lost as they loved each other to utter exhaustion...), he smiled stupidly and trotted up to the cockpit. A few minutes later he returned, buckling on his belt and carrying the clothing they'd left there the previous day. He stuffed them in the ship's cleaning unit, then grabbed a ration pack and sat at the galley table across from her.

  "There's a few things we need to do," he observed, digging into the self-heated meal. "First, we need to get you some clothes." He chewed and gestured with his fork. "Not that you don't look good in mine, but... well..." Another bite. "Clothes and whatever else you need to start making a home of the Scrapper."

  Saying it aloud like that was... interesting. The thought of sharing his home, his life with her made him feel giddy. Eating more, he took her hand. "So put together a list, and we'll see what we can fill from the starport shops. And then we need to go over the data you recovered. See if we can find the identity of the party that paid for The Dissident's ship. Or, more likely, the shell companies that paid. And then we go after the next link in the chain."

  Laughing a little, he squeezed her hand. "We should also remodel the cabin a little. Put in a larger bunk, if nothing else."

  “I would really like that” Kaydia admitted, closing the distance between them with a kiss.