by Kate Rudolph
But she would be beautiful bound before him.
His tongue followed his fingers, kissing trails down her body, stopping when she moaned and playing with her until she was spitting out curses and begging him to go harder, to give her more. And he hadn’t even gotten to the wet heat of her sex yet. He’d kept his pants on for the most part and his cock ached to be freed, but he didn’t trust himself not to plunge right into her the moment he was able, and he needed her even more gone, even more desperate. It became his mission, something he dedicated his entire being to. The space station could have disappeared around them and Xandr wouldn’t have noticed, so focused on the feel of Andie’s flesh under him, the sound of her pleasure, the scent of her all around him. He wanted to bury himself in it and never let go.
How had he avoided her for weeks? How could he ever give this up?
He wanted to kiss her again, but when he rose up, Andie turned her head to the side, offering her neck like she was an ancient sacrifice. Xandr wanted her lips, wanted her taste, but he wouldn’t take anything she wasn’t willing to give. And even if she’d kissed him before, he couldn’t force it now, he wouldn’t.
So he left his mark on her neck, nipping at the skin there and sucking until there was no mistaking what he’d done.
And if he couldn’t kiss her lips, he’d kiss her somewhere else. He finally slithered lower until her leg rested on his shoulder and he opened her up, his mouth covering her sex and delving in until she cried out. Her hand touched his head for an instant before she yanked it back, as if remembering that he hadn’t told her to let go yet.
He teased her, bringing her to the edge until she was gasping before pulling back, kissing the insides of her thighs and gently bringing her back down. She cursed him even as she begged for more, and Xandr could only imagine the types of revenge she planned. He couldn’t wait to find out. He wanted this to last all night, their pleasure never ending, never needing to enter the real world again. They could leave all of their worries behind them and dedicate themselves to pleasure. If Xandr could wish for one thing, it would be for that to come true.
Instead he opened Andie up, his fingers dipping into her as his tongue circled her sex, and she cried out, rippling around him as pleasure tore through her. He didn’t let up, didn’t want to let her go, but his own body begged for release and if he didn’t get in her soon he’d be done before he began.
He shucked off his pants and was back before Andie had time to realize he’d gone. Her arms lay limp over her head, fingers barely brushing the headboard as she heaved in breaths and lay there, a debauched goddess that Xandr didn’t know how to let go. He already knew tonight wouldn’t be enough, and he could only hope that she’d give him more, give him whatever parts of herself she was willing to part with so that he could hold them close and keep them safe.
She saw him standing over her and offered a pleasure drunk grin, letting her knees fall open in silent invitation, the look in her eyes daring him to take her, to bring them both even more pleasure. He wanted to take her hard and fast until she was screaming his name, and something must have shown on his face because her eyes brightened.
“Whatever you’re thinking,” she said, voice a little slurred, “yes, do that. Now.”
He needed no more encouragement. He hitched her legs up and seated himself at her core, easing his aching cock inside the clench of tight heat. It was like coming home, seating himself all the way in her until they both groaned. He took his time with it, the girth of his cock too wide to go so fast so soon. Then he moved, sliding in and out of her like they’d been designed to fit together, designed to move as one.
“God,” Andie gasped, “you’ve been holding out.” He knew he was built different than a human man, but Andie seemed to enjoy it, and he would give her plenty of time to explore him. Later.
This wasn’t a gentle dance, no, and Andie seemed to have forgotten his command as her hands came down and clutched at him, but Xandr couldn’t care. Any place she was touching him burned with the heat they created and he wanted to be incinerated. He wanted to kiss her again, but the angle was all wrong, so he dedicated himself to bringing them both to completion, gritting his teeth even as his body wanted to tumble over that final peak and empty into her.
She was so hot around him, so tempting, that words poured out of his mouth, nonsense and promises that he’d give her a moon and the stars and anything in his power so long as she stayed with him, by his side until the last light in the sky faded to nothing. Whether it made any sense to Andie, he couldn’t tell. She was saying things as well, though her words came out garbled and mostly urged him to go harder, to hit her right there and keep doing it.
Her wish was his command.
And when Andie finally cried out, finding her pleasure once more, Xandr let go, burying himself deep inside her with a deep groan and coming until his vision went white with pleasure. His cock swelled further within her, sealing them together as he emptied himself while Andie rippled around him. It seemed to go on forever, wringing him out to the depths of his soul. He clutched Andie tight, afraid to let go, afraid to step back from the moment, knowing that things could shift when this was over, that both of them might realize just how messy it could be to try anything more than a night together.
Her body was soft and inviting, and he lay down beside her, his arms around her and unable to do anything but breathe in her scent and pray that this wouldn’t all be a lovely, forgotten dream.
CHAPTER SEVEN
ANDIE DIDN’T WAKE ALONE the next morning, something that would have surprised her if they hadn’t gone for rounds two and three in the middle of the night. But on the second morning, the bed beside her was cold and a glance at her watch told her she didn’t have much time to make it back to the ship before they were set to take off.
She jolted out of bed with a curse and quickly cleaned up before throwing on her clothes and making her way to where the Seventh was docked. Only when she saw Xandr calmly talking to Captain Alleyva did it occur to her that she hadn’t spared a moment to think he might be coming back for her. And when he offered her a polite nod, as if they hadn’t spent much of the last thirty-six hours exchanging fluids, everything came crashing down on her.
Just a casual encounter. It was what she’d offered, it was what he’d accepted. But she didn’t know why it had to hurt so damn much.
She managed to keep her expression under control, sliding back into her memories of her time on Ixilta. Showing too much there could have gotten her killed and she’d learned to keep her emotions under wraps. Showing too much now might get her heart shredded to bits and she wasn’t about to deal with that. If Xandr wanted to pretend nothing had happened, fine, they’d pretend. Even if her muscles ached pleasantly and she still had the memory of him inside her.
Someone jostled her shoulder and Andie looked over to find Sayevi grinning. “Looks like Xandr’s a bit more relaxed.”
Her dark skin didn’t show a blush easily, but if Sayevi was looking closely, she might have spotted it. If she did, she said nothing. “Should we really be gossiping?” Andie was surprised when she sounded so normal.
The pilot snorted. “You’ll learn.” Then she leaned in close and Andie could feel her eyes raking over her, studying her like she was some sort of scientific specimen. “Looks like he’s not the only one who took advantage of our time off.”
This time Andie felt the blush from the tips of her fingertips all the way to the ends of her hair. “A lady doesn’t kiss and tell,” she managed.
“Keep your secrets,” Sayevi said with a shrug. She headed towards the cockpit where she’d be needed momentarily and Andie fled for her room.
It was going to be fine, she told herself. She was a big girl, and it wasn’t like she’d let her emotions get too deeply involved. Thank god she hadn’t let him kiss her again. The whole thing had been intense enough and her lips still felt a bit swollen from everything she’d done that hadn’t involved his lips on hers. She wanted
him again, badly enough that she just might take any scrap he offered and try to tell herself she was happy about it. How pathetic did that make her?
No, she couldn’t do that. One night, okay, a night and a half, of fantastic sex didn’t make her into some desperate little girl who couldn’t control her emotions.
She changed out of her jumpsuit into a different new outfit. She was going to have memories associated with that jumpsuit for the rest of her life and she didn’t know when she’d be able to bring herself to wear it again. Even if she didn’t have many outfits, that one now felt too significant to wear casually, at least anytime soon.
The ship rocked as they took off and Andie thumped back onto her bed. The captain was sure to call a meeting soon enough to let them know what the next job would be, and Andie would need to find her anyway to learn what she was supposed to be doing while they were in space, but right now she wanted to steal these few moments for herself.
Had that been the stupidest decision of her life? Only time would tell. She wanted to promise herself that she wouldn’t sleep with Xandr again, wouldn’t put her heart in any more danger, but she knew that if he crooked his finger at her, she’d follow him. And it wasn’t just because he had the kind of cock dreams were made of. Andie hadn’t known what to expect, but his girth had been enough to stretch her almost, but not quite, to the point of pain. And the way it was ridged and grooved was nothing like she’d ever imagined before.
She moaned and turned to her side as if she could banish the memory. She didn’t want to get horny when she was still feeling the sting of Xandr’s rejection.
A quiet knock at her door forced her out of bed. She wasn’t going to ignore the crew, especially not now that she was one of them. But when she slid the door open, she almost swallowed her tongue. Xandr stood there, his head almost brushing the ceiling, an unreadable look on his face.
Andie didn’t know what to say, but she fell back on old habits and stepped back to invite him in, closing the door behind him. Only when they were alone in her tiny room did she realize that might not have been the best idea. She could already smell his scent, something spicy and electric and just a little woodsy. She wanted to roll around in it until it was embedded in her skin.
She needed to get a grip.
“Is everything alright?” Andie asked, keeping her voice neutral. Xandr had made it clear what he thought when he disappeared in the morning and then looked at her like she was no one special. She could treat him like just another guy. She could.
“I’m sorry I was gone this morning. Keana had some things she needed me to see to and you seemed to be sleeping soundly. I didn’t want to wake you.” He leaned his back against the door as if he was trying to keep as much space between them as possible, whether out of respect for her or something else, Andie didn’t know.
“Okay,” she replied. “Thanks for letting me know.” What else could she say to that? The man had his own duties and she couldn’t hold that against him. “Nex─” she cleared her throat before she gave too much away. “I wouldn’t have minded the wake up,” she said instead. “Just so you know.”
His gaze sharpened, electric blue bright enough to pin her in place. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
She had to get him out of there. If he stayed much longer she was going to throw herself at him and damn the consequences. “I’m sure you have things to do,” she began.
But Xandr was already shaking his head. “My schedule is clear for the next few hours.”
Oh. Oh.
What the hell. This was such a bad idea, but Andie’s fingers ached to feel the hot flesh of Xandr’s skin once more. If she craved him so much after a night, she didn’t know what another encounter would do to her, but the longer he stood so close to her, the less she cared.
“The walls are kind of thin,” she warned, probably unnecessarily. This was his ship and he must have known all of its secrets.
Xandr smirked, sending a curl of desire straight to her core. “Malax is busy in the engine room and Taryn is inventorying our supplies. They won’t be back for a while.”
Desire wrapped its tendrils around Andie and she pulled her new top off over her head and threw it in a corner somewhere. “Take off your pants.”
OVER THE NEXT WEEK Andie didn’t know if she and Xandr had managed to keep their relationship a secret from the rest of the crew, or if the crew was just politely ignoring it. Though relationship might have been too heavy of a word for them. They fucked and split, barely taking time to talk between stolen moments that had them both crying out and finding ways to steal more. But when they were done they went their separate ways. No shared beds, no whispered sweet nothings.
No kisses.
That last one was all Andie’s fault. The first night she’d pulled that part of herself back and refused to give into Xandr, and he’d caught on quickly. He could read her body like nothing else and respected her wishes better than any lover she’d had before. But a part of her wished he’d steal a kiss, break that barrier she’d erected between them. Maybe the lack of kissing was the reason he hadn’t opened up.
Or maybe he just saw her as a convenient lay and appreciated that she didn’t require more than a good fucking to be satisfied.
Was she satisfied? Yes and no. Xandr could give sex lessons to a pleasure bot and when he was done with her she could barely walk. But that was only her body. Her heart cried out for more. She wanted him to open up to her, wanted to know why he sometimes looked at her like her eyes were made of stars and she held a universe in the palm of her hand. Wanted to understand the dark moods that sometimes had him take her hard and fast enough to make her scream in the best way possible.
But she couldn’t get more from him if she didn’t offer more of herself, and she feared if she gave him more, she’d lose it all.
“You look like you’re thinking too hard,” Sayevi joined her on the couch in the common room while they waited for Xandr and the captain to show up. They finally had a job waiting for them and excitement thrummed through the crew. From what Andie understood, they didn’t normally go this long between jobs, but with Xandr gone for so long and only now back, it was taking time to readjust. In addition to that, some of their old contacts had suddenly disappeared so there weren’t as many jobs as there used to be. Sayevi assured her that it was the nature of the business and things would get back to normal soon enough. Andie hoped she could believe her.
“Believe me, I’m not thinking hard enough,” Andie responded. If she’d been thinking, she’d have the Xandr situation under control.
Sayevi gave her a look, but before she could say anything Captain Alleyva and Xandr came in and started the meeting. Xandr looked like he’d sucked on a lemon; his face was pinched and his blue eyes were storm dark. Whatever was happening, he didn’t like it, but clearly the captain had overruled him. Captain Alleyva, on the other hand, was practically dancing in place she was so excited.
“Okay, boys and girls,” she said, more chipper than Andie had ever heard. “We’ve got a good one.” She nodded to Xandr, who scowled as he turned on the holo player and brought up the information about the job. “This is an abandoned research station on the moon Talaufon. Two Oscavian scientists worked there, first under the auspices of the Duke of Lehiot and later for an unknown third party. The scientists, Nyden and Brakley Varrow, have since disappeared and they’ve left all their goodies for us to pick over. We’ve been contracted to extract the memory chips from two of their work stations and deliver them to our buyer. Anything else in the station is ours for the taking. We expect to find at least some precious metals and jewels that were used in their experiments. The station is only guarded by a security system and no one has set foot inside for more than a year, as far as we know.”
Xandr didn’t make a sound, but he shifted in a way that drew all eyes towards him. He sent Captain Alleyva a challenging look, but remained silent.
The captain sighed. “There is, however, one complicating factor. Xan
dr and I have run all the scenarios and I am confident that this team can get in and out safely. You’re all good at your jobs and you don’t make stupid mistakes. As long as we stick to the plan, we’ll be a lot richer in just a couple of weeks.”
“Keana...” Xandr sounded ready to jump in and take over the meeting, his tone full of warning. Never had it been more clear to Andie just how much he wanted to be the captain again. She would have asked him about that if they ever bothered to talk, but she pushed that thought aside.
The captain nodded. “Talaufon is currently an independent moon, but the Duke of Lehiot owns about half of the viable land on the planet. Through him, the Oscavian Empire has taken an interest. The moon has become quite the metropolis, often used for... off the books, shall we say, meetings for Oscavian officials. There is a gala scheduled to take place in two weeks, one with a handful of Oscavian nobility slated to attend. The building that is holding the gala is connected to the research station through a series of tunnels and those will most likely be monitored. We will need to have eyes on the gala and I want Andie and Xandr to take that. Xandr can use one of his military cover identities to blend in, Andie will be his date.”
No one reacted to that last bit and from the way the silence settled in the room, Andie got the uncomfortable idea that she and Xandr were the worst kept secret on the ship.
“We all know Xandr’s aversion to the empire, and he wants us to delay the mission. But our buyer has a strict timeline they’re working under and if we wait until after the gala we’ll lose our window. This job is too big to pass up, especially when we have no particular concern about Oscavian most wanted lists at the moment. We’ve seen the attendee list and there’s no one to worry about. But out of respect to Xandr, we’ll put this to a vote. All in favor of the mission?” She waved at the holo player and a staggering number appeared in the air. “That’s the payout we’re looking at.”
