by Shara Lanel
I stuck my tongue out at him and gave his companions the once-over, which is exactly what they were doing to me. Two males, as well as a female of a species I wasn’t familiar with, made up the rest of the crew. Hopefully the female didn’t have cannibalistic tendencies, like the moon people. One of the men had intelligent, calculating eyes. That’s what drew me to look at him for longer than I would have -- because he appeared totally ordinary otherwise. He was a bit shorter than Nate, with messy brown hair, a round face, and the beginnings of a potbelly.
Nate pointed at him first for introductions. “This is Daedalus. He’s from Titan, and he’s going to be our mechanic.”
“Cool,” I said, offering my hand. He hesitated a moment, then shook it firmly while saying nothing. Well, as long as he knew his way around the engine room, he didn’t have to talk.
Nate gestured to the female. “This is Tracha, from Europa.”
Europa ... where the fuck was Europa? I knew it had to be one of the moons, but hell if I knew what planet it orbited.
“Hi, Tracha,” I said, again offering my hand. She shook it tentatively, and the thing that shocked me most was the soft fur covering a hand that was the same size and shape as mine. Weird. I was guessing Europa was a cold moon.
“And last we have Freddy, from good ol’ Earth.” Nate’s tone of voice immediately roused caution in me, but it didn’t last long. This man was gorgeous. When I touched his hand, I felt a zing to my toes.
He grinned broadly. “G’day, sheila. Have a naughty?”
Ooh, a yummy Australian accent, too, but I had no idea what he’d said. “Um, my name’s not Sheila.”
Nate stepped up and took my arm. “I recommend you ignore most of what he says.”
“Hey, mate, you have to at least tell us this lovely lady’s name since we’re going to be traveling together.”
Pointedly looking away from Freddy and at the other two crew members, Nate said, “This is Helena Terra, and I have promised her safe passage to Earth.” He turned and glared at Freddy, who seemed unfazed by the announcement.
“That’s why I’m here.”
Hmm, wonder what he meant by that? But no one explained what Freddy was doing on the crew, and just then, Ju reached the nose of the ship with her bags.
“Good Zeus, Ju, I told you to pack light!” Nate said.
“Bite me, flyboy. These are necessities.” She walked across the platform and immediately smiled at the sight of Freddy. “Oh, my, prime flesh there. Thanks, sweet pea.” She squeezed Nate’s arm, which made me want to snarl.
“Ju, I did not pick him as a gift. Get over yourself.”
“I’d rather get over him, all over him.”
Freddy had a look of wonder on his face. “Where are you from, Ju?”
“Neptune, and let me tell you, you’ve never had lovin’ until you’ve been with a Neptunian.”
Man, this was going to be a long trip. Nate was ignoring her, but I had to wonder if he’d ever had lovin’ with this particular Neptunian. The other two crew members were glaring at Ju and Freddy’s rapport.
Finally I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Shall we board, or is there something we could help you with, Nate?”
He glanced at the fuel pump. “Nope, we’re ready to roll.”
“Finally.”
Nate winked at my sarcasm. Poor man -- too stupid to not like me. Well, maybe this trip would rectify that.
* * * * *
“Hey, you wanna take the wheel?” Nate was joking, of course. There was no wheel on the overcrowded flight deck, just buttons, and at the moment, the whole thing was following a pre-programmed flight plan. He’d pressed some unimportant buttons the minute Helena had stepped through the hatch, though, just to look busy. Like he had a purpose for being up here alone other than thinking about her.
She blinked. “Hell, no, I actually want to make it to Earth.” Then she caught sight of the blurred star field outside the ship, visible through the broad “windshield,” and she grew mesmerized. It was an awe-inspiring sight, especially if you weren’t used to it. Nate had forgotten how much he loved it out here, traveling so fast that many of the points of lights blurred. That is, if you looked in the right direction. Some of the windows had to be screened, because all you could see beyond them was the huge, broiling orb of the sun.
He grinned. “I could teach ya.”
She tore her gaze away and focused on the wall of screens, each displaying readings, such as engine core temp, grav pull, and space stations along the route. “No way, but I do want you to spill it on Freddy. What’s his role on this crew? For that matter, what’s Jujanza’s role?”
Nate didn’t like to hear her questioning Ju’s usefulness. He considered his friend basically a first mate, someone who was good at everything from diplomacy and satellite transmissions to cooking and making drinks. “Ju’s good at a lot of things.” He also didn’t like Helena’s scowl. “What? Are you questioning me when I’ve arranged this whole trip for you?”
She looked away quickly, then found one of the rotating chairs to sit in. They were comfortable as hell, which is why he often found himself up here on the deck. “I’m not questioning you. I guess I’m just curious.”
“Freddy’s a pilot ... just in case we need a spare.”
“We sure as hell better not need a spare!”
“Better safe and all that.”
Helena had her innate sex appeal intact from the pull of her chest on the tight fabric of her top, to her bent thighs and petite feet that she’d pulled up and tucked close to her hips. Nate had been reliving the moment he’d had her pinned to the desk in the back room, thrusting into her tight body. Could not get that out of his mind, but he did notice that she’d lost some of her enthusiasm. She’d been so excited to leave the Mars atmosphere on the first day. She’d stared out the rear glass panel, watching the planet’s edge as it finally appeared, then watching it fill less and less of the screen. But now they’d been in flight for two days, and she was starting to get antsy. Maybe wondering about her choice or worrying about her future. Returning to a planet she’d been exiled from had to be a bit stressful.
Nate leaned closer, hands on his knees. “Are you having second thoughts?”
“No. I’m just impatient. I can’t believe it takes so long to get there.”
“You know there’s tons of factors in that, like fuel conservation and grav pulls, and it’s just plain far away. It’s not a drive to the settlement, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Nate reached for her hands. “However, if you’d like a diversion, I’m perfectly willing to provide that for you.”
Her eyes widened. “I thought you were flying this crate.”
“Autopilot.” He patted his thighs. “Why don’t you join me?”
She hesitated, like she ought to have an excuse not to, but then she smiled. Her smile lit her face, erasing the lines of impatience from her forehead. Nate felt the faint stirrings of an erection as Helena’s lithe body moved toward him. Long legs, womanly hips, narrow waist ... She turned so he could see her perfect ass, glimmering with galaxy holos, before that ass settled onto his legs. Warmth and softness. He wrapped one arm around her back to make her comfortable, but then he debated what to do with his other arm. Finally, he settled for draping it across her thighs.
Scattered memories intruded on the present, images of Helena laid back against his desk, legs spread wide, images of her damp face as she’d looked at him from between the de Lunas. Every night he dreamed about these things, nearly driving himself mad when he resisted the urge to join her in her bunk. He’d promised not to use her, so she had to come to him, like now ...
Her face was a bit higher than his in this position, so Nate looked up into her eyes and then at her kissable lips. He combed his fingers through the fine hair that fanned across her back. She leaned in close and kissed ... his nose. Okay, not what he was going for. He stroked her cheek and redirected those lips a little lower. Ah, perfect. The
y settled onto his mouth, feather light, playful, brushing back and forth, not letting him have everything he asked for. He could be patient for a little while, but then he wanted more ... on so many levels. He wanted her mouth open so his tongue could delve inside to taste and explore. She seemed to want the same, her tongue tangling with his, tracing his teeth, pushing deep, then pulling back so she could suck his tongue into her mouth. This kiss was as good as it had been in the back room of the fueling station -- or was it better? Hell, the present with Helena always outranked a mere memory. But he wanted more than just the physical. He wanted to feel close to her mentally, emotionally, but he didn’t think she was ready.
He’d gone from the stirrings of an erection to a full-blown one. It was constrained by his pants and the female ass pressing against it, but whenever Helena wiggled ... ooh, baby. He decided to pet that part of her body by sliding his hand down her back until he could grip one solid cheek through the slick fabric. So nice, and this gave him more control to keep her from moving away. With his other hand, he discovered the contour of her thigh, from the outside to inside, soft and pliable, from the knee higher to the apex. Her warmth spread to his fingers, allowing him to remember the heat of his body inside hers, pumping into her, creating an erotic friction. He wouldn’t linger at her core, not yet. His fingers drifted higher, along her stomach to one plump breast. He proceeded softly, so she wouldn’t feel like he was a bear out to maul her. He cradled the globe, felt its weight, then closed his palm around it for a gentle massage. So soft and small, so female, driving him to want to protect her at the same time he wanted to take her relentlessly.
All the while, the heated kissing continued, making him hotter than the sun.
When her hands started exploring their options, he lost all train of thought. Her lips left his mouth as she massaged his biceps and along his collarbone, encouraging him to relax, slow down, until she came to the zipper in his garb. Once there, she proceeded to reveal more and more of his skin, chest hair, and nipples. Nipples sounded so feminine, but, hell, that’s what they were. And they tingled where her breath caressed them. She pushed the fabric lower, almost to his waist, but it wouldn’t go farther with her sitting on his lap. Nate felt ready to die with anticipation.
Next, the long strokes began. What was she thinking as the tips of her fingers traced the outline of his pecs, explored his stomach? Was her mind a pleasant blank? Was she replaying memories, as he was? Comparing him to other lovers? God, he hoped not. She flicked at his nipples, sending a shot of pleasure through his chest straight to his dick. Her hands seemed playful while her mouth warred with his, wide open and accepting one moment, narrow and feasting the next. He liked that she didn’t rush to suck his ear or his neck. He actually felt more connected to her this way.
But he had to feel her skin, too.
He peeled her top down to her hips, and that was all he needed to keep him happy for quite a while. His broad palm ran up the bare skin of her back, so he could enjoy the contours of her waist and ribs and shoulders. The hand that had been cradling her breast while clothed recommenced its project. Nate used his fingertip to trace the sensitive skin around her swollen nipple. His finger and thumb came together to squeeze it into a hot, pink peak. She gasped into his mouth, and he would’ve grinned at her reaction if his mouth hadn’t been busy. He went back to tracing the distended flesh, then followed with more squeezes and a twist or two, listening for her reactions. He could feel her excited breath and racing heart. He could sense when he applied the perfect pressure to send sparks shooting through her body. His own body was feeling extremely cramped, since his cock had gone into countdown mode.
“Feel like fucking?” he whispered into her closest ear. Once again she gasped, excited by the coarse word. Or was it anticipation she was responding to? Nate didn’t care which; he just reveled in his power to arouse her.
“Thought you’d never ask.” She dismounted and de-clothed in record time, while he unzipped his pants and eased his aching dick free. She wriggled back on top of him, and the fur of her pussy brushed against the sensitive back of his dick.
“You’re killing me.” He tried not to moan as he wrapped his hands around her hips to guide her into place, while she gripped his cock and eased it closer. He knew the tip was wet and probably leaking onto her thumb, but she didn’t seem to mind. And when it finally made contact with her body, he realized she was just as juicy.
“I want you deep,” she said, as she took control of the rhythm. Her hair covered much of her face, and he couldn’t read her expression. Nate blanked out his worries, that she might just see this as something physical or as a trade again, in exchange for extreme pleasure. Her bouncing breasts were very close to his lips, so he leaned in and tasted.
“Um, good. What’s the beeping?”
Nate blocked the space station warning beep out of his consciousness. No way was he stopping. “Ignore it.” He helped her keep the rhythm going the way he liked it with his hands on her hips.
“It’s not important?”
“Not now.”
He caught her smile as she bent down to kiss him. Oh, man, oh, man. His balls were tight. He was so close to release, and her keening moan let him know that she was, too. He opened his eyes to look once again at her glossy hair and bouncing breasts, but unfortunately, that wasn’t all he caught sight of.
Damn! Freddy leaned against the hatchway with a huge grin on his face. He shamelessly focused on the action before him, doing nothing to make his presence known. Fuck! The Aussie had already seen his fill, and Nate was too close to coming to stop so he closed his eyes again and ignored the asshole. Helena switched to a slower movement, tightening her vagina around the head of his cock before slowly sliding down his pole. She did this three times before he lost it. He groaned as his liquid shot into her. She lifted herself up and this time circled her hips as she lowered. He pulled a nipple into his mouth, sucking gently.
“Oh, Nate.” She came, wrapping her arms around his neck and cradling her head against his shoulders, breathing deeply.
Nate opened his eyes to glare at Freddy, hoping he’d take the hint and get lost before Helena was any the wiser, but the ass refused to move or avert his gaze. Scowling, Nate brushed Helena’s mane away from her ear and whispered, “Freddy’s at the hatch.”
She squeaked. “You mean looking at us?”
“Yes.”
“How long has he been there?”
Lying seemed the best course of action. “Just a moment.”
“Oh, thank God.” Keeping her chest pinned to Nate’s for coverage, she whipped her head around and said, “Get lost, perv!”
“Bravo! That was quite a show.”
“You suck!”
“No, my dear, Nate does, and quite well it seems.”
Nate heaved a sigh, noticing that the beep continued in the background. He needed to turn it off and switch to manual until they passed the station. It was in Mars’ orbit, so too soon for them to need to stop.
Freddy straightened. “I was just concerned about the alarm. It sounded important.”
“And as soon as you leave, I’ll tend to it.”
Freddy gave him a half-assed salute before backing into the hallway.
* * * * *
I watched Nate’s shoulder muscles flex as he navigated around the space station, which looked huge through the view shield. It was huge, in comparison to our ship, probably as big as our outpost on Mars. Nate had pulled his pants on quickly, but left himself shirtless. I was taking my time getting dressed now that we were alone again. The crazy thing was that I was feeling oddly titillated, not just from the jaw-dropping sex I’d just had with Nate, but from the knowledge that Freddy had seen part of it. I guess it was still the influence of the de Lunas.
And if I allowed myself to examine my motives -- something I rarely did -- I’d realize that I’d wanted to have sex with Nate. I’d wanted to feel close to him, feel his strength, but at the same time I thought if I was plea
suring him it wouldn’t let him get closer to me with stupid things, like, you know, conversation.
The next being to enter the hatchway was a lot less amused to see Nate shirtless and my hair in disarray. Jujanza glared daggers at me before marching to Nate’s side. I again felt a stab of jealousy, not knowing the true nature of the couple’s relationship before I came along, but I pushed that aside. It was time I got to know the other crew members and found some better way to spend my time, or this was going to be an exceptionally long trip.
“See ya, Nate,” I said, combing my fingers through my hair.
He turned. “Helena, you don’t have to rush off.”
“Yeah, I think I need a shower.”
“Uh, okay.”
Ju was clinging to his arm and pointing at one of the flashing screens. Ugh. I needed to get rid of this jealousy bug. It served no purpose at all, except to remind me that I liked Nate way more than was good for me.
I found Freddy in the lounge area playing a game on the vid screen.
“Up for a game, sheila?” he asked.
“Why do you call me Sheila?” I plopped down on the room-sized couch, leaving a couple feet of space between us.
“It’s just slang, luv. Means female.”
“Oh.”
“More fun when you don’t know the truth, isn’t it?”
I shrugged.
“So’d you have fun up there? I’m sure the captain did.”
Funny, I never thought of Nate as the captain, though technically he was, just as I’d not thought of him as my boss since the de Luna incident. “Well, I hope he did. Hate to be alone in the activity.”
“But sometimes alone feels so good.” He made a crude gesture with his fist, and I wrinkled my nose. “So hows about some sharing? Do you spread it about?”
“Subtle.”
“Never. I find diplomacy gets me nowhere.”
I grinned. “A man after my own heart.”
He concentrated on the game again for a moment, jabbing his thumbs into the controls. “So the captain’s not a man after your own heart?”
