Star Fire

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Star Fire Page 5

by Buffi BeCraft


  Dirrel chuckled. At times like this, he could almost pretend that they were a normal couple. “Since you melted my brain, I suppose I’ll have to pull duty elsewhere.” He gave her a lopsided leer as the five minute alarm beeped in the cockpit. “I could be your personal relaxation unit.” He leant down, capturing her mouth in a thorough kiss, his tongue tangling with hers. The alarm shrilled louder, breaking them apart and they started gathering uniforms. He paused, sucking in a breath. “Marry me.”

  Chapter Four

  Consider your choices, then remember that at the end of the day you will have to face them and yourself in the mirror.

  Choose wisely. Free will trumps fate.

  The ship flew like a dream in Sasha’s hands. The advancement of the Arosan technology versus what she was used to punctuated just how much these people had lost. At a touch of her fingertips, departure commands opened up the network of chutes and tunnels that housed what was left of the Arosan government headquarters. The tomblike compound should have been filled with thousands of busy workers.

  The sudden panorama of the blue sky filling the cockpit video display took her breath away. Sasha’s love of flying was deepened by the addition of Tasha’s same love of soaring through the skies and up through space at the controls of these small but powerful ships. If only she could manage a squirren ride before she left for good. That would be amazing.

  Out of the corner of her screen, Sasha watched the gigantic flying squirren jump from the top of a towering nettle tree and ride the wind currents. Back in the day, squirren races had been the rage. Illegal as hell, but what a ride! Tasha had won a tidy sum on the side. She’d planned to invest the money and retire, become a civilian again. Poor Dirrel had been motion sick the one time she’d caved to her wild side and invited him along. She’d never forget his green-tinged determination to stick with her over the finish line. And the lecture he’d given her once he’d realised it was a wager! Dirrel and his love of rules. It was a wonder she hadn’t given the poor man heart failure.

  Seeing her ship zooming close, the creature flicked its tail and adjusted course, then clung to another leafless tree. A small sound from Kiev made her turn her head. As if sensing the direction of her thoughts, he nodded at the animal. “They are used as defensive mounts now. Shepherds tag and maintain small packs.” Kiev leant forward. She watched him stare at the rapidly changing scenery, with more animation and intensity than he had ever shown as Dirrel.

  For a moment, the what-ifs danced in Sasha’s head, only to be squashed. Because, whether she wanted a fling or a happily-ever-after with him, the fact was that her mother was the only family Sasha or Tasha had in the entire universe. She had to go home. She had to accept her responsibility and report the theft of Fortune. Of course, no reputable company would ever hire her again as a pilot. Maybe learning to weld would be fun, she thought sarcastically. Yeah, and maybe things will be different this time around. Maybe I could have my own happy-ever-after with Prince Charming here.

  Understanding the ship’s controls came to her easily. If only steadying her own emotions was as simple. Believing in happy-ever-afters was for naïve fools and little girls. Sasha cross-referenced the onboard maps and programmed the computer to land near the ocean, in the remains of the Atmos capitol city. Her stomach lurched sickeningly as she realised the true devastation both their people had wrought.

  A small alarm chimed, alerting her to the presence of ion emissions and subspace communications unfamiliar to the ship’s computer. Her breath caught. Sasha did a quick scan of Aros’ perimeter. She found nothing to indicate that Fortune was still in orbit.

  With the emissions, she might have believed that they were long gone. But subspace communications? Were they long range communications or short range, which would indicate more than one ship in the area? And why? She’d already determined that the populations of both planets were too primitive and not exotic enough to have anything worth the risk of extending a trade contract.

  A touch of her fingertips lit up a map of the system in front of her. A ship could be hiding anywhere in this section of space. She conceded defeat for the moment, at least until she was more familiar with this ship’s abilities.

  Scenery whizzed by the screen. Their origin was now only a red blip of light on the map. She paused. “What city did we…just come from?”

  What did it matter? She was leaving anyway. Ugh. Sasha stood up before he could answer. “Ship’s computer estimates a five-hour trip to landing. You might as well get some sleep.”

  With that last comment, she fled the cockpit.

  * * * *

  “Ferrin Stand.” An hour and a half later, Kiev’s voice shattered the composure she’d found in the single barracks room.

  She turned, holding the black unitard to her bare chest, covering the important bits. “Do you mind?” The booty of supplies she’d discovered was spread out on the bunk behind her. Sasha lifted her chin, very aware of his rising erection against the fabric around his waist. Kiev’s gaze took in the naked line of her from shoulder to leg. Men were so predictable. Show them a naked chick, and bam, they were ready.

  Not for a minute did she believe his hard-on was for her pale, freckled body in particular. As Dirrel, he’d been partial to Tasha’s gorgeous curves and double-D breasts.

  “Fennin—uhhh.” Kiev cleared his throat and dragged his gaze to her face. “The city. I, as Kiev, am from Ferrin Stand.”

  Sasha’s pulse jumped into hyperdrive as he walked into the room. His presence, big and all male, seemed to suck the air right out of the surrounding area. When he crowded her against the bunk, his dark eyes met and held hers. His cock prodded at her waist. The old Sasha would have given him a dressing down for presuming he had the right to pit her own sexuality against her. She had a reputation as a hard-assed bitch, but had never cared. Sacrifices had to be made for success.

  “Ferrin Stand is named after a fool who took on gods and men alike. The earthquakes ripped Aros apart, reducing the survivors to little more than starving cave dwellers. Fear of both technology and the gods’ notice turned them into starving nomadic tribes.

  “One day Ferrintarin had a great revelation—he believed that he could make a difference. He wanted to become a farmer. The tools were not hard to make. The knowledge was easy to find and learn.” Kiev’s voice was like warm milk on her skin. Soothing. Hypnotic with each simple statement. She made her own stand against the brush of his fingers over the wild edges of her hair, suppressing a shiver of pleasure. “He wanted to stay and put down roots. To prove to the gods that he was not afraid.”

  “But?” Sasha’s brain refused to work. Her body was on fire from his close proximity. All she had to do was let go of the stretchy unitard and have her way with him. She licked her lips, her heart stuttering as he focused on the wetness. He leaned in as if to kiss her.

  “But?” she prompted again. Desire whispered along her nerve endings. A different kind of wetness dampened her labia. Her vagina ached to be filled by the rod pressing against her. She was sure Arosans didn’t wear underwear. If she were taller, she could just wrap a leg around him and slide over his cock. She whimpered and pulled him even closer. Anticipation danced over her skin.

  “The tribes came to sacrifice Ferrintarin for his presumption.” Kiev closed his fingers over the material in a vice-like grip. Sexual energy tingled between them, darkening his eyes with more than the usual shadows. “Legend says that the farmer held out for months, proving to man and gods alike his right to settle. To use tools. To make a better life.”

  “How long did Ferrin hold out, Kiev?” Her question twisted his mouth into a wry parody of a smile. “How did he die?”

  “How am I supposed to know the truth behind the legend, my Star Fire?” His expression shut down, telling her without words that he didn’t want to relive that time any more than necessary. How would it feel to endure two thousand years of living, and dying, and living, and dying again? It was the reason Tasha had stayed in sta
sis, where she belonged.

  He sighed. “Don’t pull away.” Emotions and old pain flickered in his eyes. Kiev played with her hair, as if fascinated. “Ferrin didn’t have much to hold out on or a reason to think he needed to. A sturdy wood hut and a little vegetable plot.”

  “How did he die?” The question was like a horrible accident. She didn’t want to know, but she did. She needed to know what had happened to him over the years. How many times had he come back? Why?

  He shrugged, leaning in to inhale her scent. “The gods destroyed their world in fire. A sacrifice of the same kind had to be made.”

  Tears pricked her eyes. Sasha let go of the unitard. Screw it—he was so much more than Dirrel and Kiev. She let her eyes close as she leaned into his warm embrace. His lips brushed against her temple.

  “Cold eternity, your heart is my stars’ gaseous fire.

  Forever searching, burning comet, the light that guides the way.

  A map, infinite gems, scattered across the night sky.

  My soul, my star fire light, never to part, never to die.”

  Opening her eyes, Sasha touched her fingertips to the rough, day-old beard on his cheeks. “That is the lousiest and most beautiful poem ever,” she whispered, smothering a teary smile. It was time she accepted that Fate’s twisted plan involved throwing them together again.

  Kiev captured her lips in another searing kiss. With a shove, Sasha moved aside the survival kits she’d been assembling, dumping them on the floor. She sprawled across the coverlet and smirked up at him. “Come on, Spartacus, we don’t have all day.” Gaseous fire? She fought not to laugh out loud. The man was sexy, strong, smart, and so not a poet.

  He attacked the buckles on the side of his breastplate. “You know, those references to your culture are both irritating and mysterious. What is a Spartacus? Another man?”

  Sasha slipped her hand up the open edge of his wrap and under-linens. Kiev swallowed hard as she found the knot holding his modesty in place and unravelled the thing. “Never mind. He is not here and I am.” His heated gaze travelled over her possessively. He claimed her mouth before she could respond, thrusting his tongue between her teeth. Tangling, meeting him, the kiss mimicked sex. Her explanation dissolved in a moan as she stretched up against Kiev, wanting, needing him inside her.

  In a swift manoeuvre, he covered her body with his hard, chiselled one. Sasha smoothed her hands over the perfection of him, realising that this wasn’t some bodybuilder. She met the intense look in his eyes, took in the square jaw. This man was a weapon, his body and mind honed for the purpose of protecting his people with the edge of a sword and the cunning of his ancestors. She stiffened, suddenly uncomfortable. What if she didn’t measure up to the past?

  Kiev glided his hand over her breast, softly kneading the small mound before sliding down to take her nipple in his mouth. His sound of appreciation thrummed through her body. Sasha arched into the pleasure. He switched to the other breast while his hand covered the one his mouth had just vacated. Work-roughed fingers plucked at her nipple, making her shudder with need. “Kiev. Please.” She pulled at his rock-hard shoulders. “Let me touch you.”

  Suddenly he sat up, his legs caging her and pinning her without crushing. He caressed her breastbone, making her belly quiver as he traced the soft surface with his fingers. Her vagina ached in response, so needy that she could feel the wetness trickle from her body.

  She pressed up, sliding her hands over his thighs. He traced over the sides of her breasts, making her pant. God, how she wanted him to fuck her. She opened her mouth to beg, aware that she’d never asked a man to have sex with her. Either it had happened or it hadn’t. And damn if she’d ever been the one to expect more than a one-night stand.

  “Do you trust me, Star Fire?” His hand stilled on her stomach. His expression was unyielding.

  Sasha frowned, pushing upward. “Fuck me, Kiev. It’s about sex, enjoying life, making the moment count. Not trust.” She tried to slide out from underneath, to turn the tide and ride him until the universe imploded with their climax. Damn, but he knew how this worked.

  One eyebrow arched over his unreadable eyes. In a moment, he moved, pinning her before she could shift out from under him. Between them, his erection was big, pressing against her belly, tantalising her with the possibility. He slid one of his big thighs between hers, his knee pressed against her clit. Automatically, she lifted, riding him, though not how she’d expected. She shuddered at the thought of his cock sliding into her. His balls hung heavy, making her change her mind. She wanted to be on top, to inhale the musky scent of his body as she sucked and nibbled his cock. Sasha, like Tasha, wanted to set the pace, feel the ultimate power as he lost control and came—either in her cunt, mouth, or hand. She wanted to watch that precious moment when he gave himself over to her.

  Kiev moved his knee away after one delicious slide. With his other hand, he caught and pinned her wrists above her head. Their height difference made the move easy. Sasha rocked, testing his grip. Not sure if she should be angry, she squinted at him suspiciously. She wriggled experimentally, watching his eyes track her bouncing tits. “What gives?”

  “Do you trust me?” His expression said that this was the deal breaker.

  Trust? She frowned, relaxing into his hold. Nervous, she almost waited too long to answer. With a huff of exasperation, she nodded once. I don’t have to be in charge all the time, she told herself. Really, it will be all right to let go. She bit her lip, hesitant. Maybe it would be fun to not be responsible for a change.

  Kiev watched as she stopped resisting. Her small, perfect breasts taunted him with a smattering of freckles. Glancing down, he was amazed again at how beautiful she was. The red colour of her pubic mound beckoned him to explore her pussy with his mouth and his fingers. She nodded, then bit her bottom lip as he moved off her. He aimed a finger at her, mimicking her. “Stay. Do not move.” He raised his eyebrow at her again when she shifted her arms from above her head. With a wary countenance, she settled, stretching her small but firm body out on the bunk, her arms above her head as he wanted.

  Sliding off the bunk, he walked to the pile of discarded clothes. She made a soft sound as he crouched. Looking over his shoulder, he was pleased to see the desire in her eyes. She liked his body. That was good.

  Kiev pulled a scarf from the pile and slowly stood up, dragging the satiny softness through his other palm. It was a long one and it dragged through his fingers suggestively.

  She watched him, then trailed her appreciative regard to his erection. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips, making him think of her mouth on him. Oh, yes. He wanted that, but later. The idea of her hot, wet mouth sliding over his cock made him harder. Kiev tightened his grip on the scarf, letting the cool texture of it remind him of the task at hand. He cocked an eyebrow in a silent question. Would she or wouldn’t she?

  Sasha’s breath hitched again as she finally understood what he meant to do. She moved restlessly, as if trying to decide if she wanted this or not. Suspicion clouded her blue-green eyes.

  “Do you trust me, my Star Fire?” He walked slowly to the bunk, a little surprised that she hadn’t bolted yet. Sliding one knee back on the mattress, he straddled her again.

  “Trust you? We’ve known each other for less than a day.” She tossed her head, a small hitch in her voice revealed that this position was far out of her comfort zone. She was rattled, breathless, staring at the scarf as if it were a snake ready to strike. “You know, I’m pretty picky about who I sleep around with. And if you’re going to do what I think you want to, I’m not so sure… If I say no?”

  “If you say no, then I do not tie you up.” He waited, wanting to do this. Wanting her trust. “We’ll go slower and…adjust to the situation.” He’d be disappointed, but would learn to live with it. Kiev had learnt to deal with a lot of disappointment in several lifetimes. His voice lowered. “Perhaps fuck you from behind.”

  Sasha whimpered as he slid his hands up her sides
and over her breasts. He took his time, tweaking each tight nipple. She shuddered out a breath that made her breasts jiggle. He couldn’t resist bending down and taking the treat into his mouth, smiling in satisfaction when she moaned and wriggled restlessly beneath him.

  “Arms up,” he murmured when she tried to touch his hair. She huffed again, but obeyed. Kiev straightened, encouraged as she fought the need to take charge. She wet her lips again, killing him with the imagery. She fisted her little hands tightly, tense as a board, but kept the position he’d left her in.

  “Okay, Kiev. I trust you, you big Boy Scout.” Sasha shuddered, the words sounded heartfelt. “Right now, this time, I’m all yours.” The uncertainty flared in her eyes again, demanding that he be very careful with her, or this would be first and last time she’d allow this. Finally, she glared up at him, a defiant, delicious display. She had no idea of the honour she’d given him by placing herself into his trust. Barely, he restrained himself from plunging his aching cock into her. She was small enough that he didn’t want to hurt her accidentally.

  He held his triumphant smile in check—this was his element, and he had no intention of frightening her off now.

  “This doesn’t mean you’re the boss of me, though. This is my ship. My mission,” she warned.

  Kiev wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Sasha’s body was one big nerve ending as he bent to kiss her. His mouth claimed hers and his tongue slid past the seam of her lips, demanding entry. Automatically, her hands lifted of their own accord to embrace him.

  With a growl, Kiev pulled away, capturing her wrists in one large hand. Damn, but he had all the grace of a powerful predator, all lean muscle as he threaded the scarf around and between her wrists. The sight of him trapping her sent a strange thrill through her.

  “Do you remember before?” Kiev asked, his voice low as he secured the end of the scarf to the small ring above the bunk, originally intended to secure personal items, not people. She supposed it worked just as well. Sasha tested the bonds, she couldn’t not try. As Tasha, she’d never have let him do this.

 

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