Advance

by Gun Brooke

  Entering the bridge, Dael only shook her head at Weniell. “You still have the bridge, Commander. I’ll be in my ready room, reviewing the reports. Tomorrow, we’ll gather all the department heads and have the other mother ships do the same, and thus gain a complete perspective of what we have to deal with. For now, only use the most necessary crewmembers for the normal duty roster. The rest will no doubt have things to tend to with loved ones and in their quarters.”

  “We’re on the same page, sir. I have the orders prepared.” Weniell nodded from the command chair.

  “Thank you, Thresh,” Dael said quietly. “Carry on.”

  In her blissfully quiet ready room, the décor and furniture sat reasonably untouched. Only her shelf of memorabilia had fallen over and would need repair. She bent and picked up her collectables, placing them on her desk. Her computer tablets filled the rest of the space, and twelve of them were blinking an insistent yellow, showing they held reports for her to read. She sat down at her desk, grabbed the first one, and pressed the sensor. Time to get back to work.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Helden gazed up at Spinner, her face serious. “You cannot let her off the hook this time,” she said. “If you leave her alone too long, she’ll regroup, convince herself that staying just friends with you is her duty, that her personal happiness is secondary, if even that. Giving her space is a mistake. Go to her. You’re an expert spin-jack player. Be prepared to go for broke when you convince her that the two of you are meant to be.”

  “Meant to be?” Spinner gaped. “I never would’ve pegged you for the romantic type, Helden.”

  “Ha. Shows how much you know. I will have you know, my husband and I shared a long and passionate marriage. Unfortunately, it spawned a son who wasn’t equally interested in marital bliss. He left his family home alone most of the time. His wife, Remery, was lovely, but not very strong. She was a curator at a gallery and preferred to surround herself with art and other objects rather than raise her daughter, which I did after my husband passed away. Dael usually traveled with me wherever I was ordered to go. When she decided to follow in my footsteps, her mother had the gall to be insulted that Dael chose not to take over the gallery after her. Instead, Dael became one of the youngest admirals in Oconodian history and ultimately the one chosen to save our people.”

  “And you think I’m the right person for this formidable person.” Spinner wanted to hear how Helden justified this crazy idea.

  “You’re not only right. You’re perfect.” Helden pushed the joystick and moved closer. “She needs you, and she’s been utterly miserable since you had that falling out. Dael hasn’t told me any details, she would never let me in that much, but judging from both your reactions, it was bad.”

  “It was…” Spinner sighed. “I won’t betray her trust by blabbing about it, but yes, it was bad. You say she needs me—and I can see that. I can. That doesn’t mean she loves me. And that’s what I want. That’s what I need.”

  “Oh, Aniwyn, she does. I shouldn’t be the one to tell you this, but I can see I have to. She loves you, even if I sometimes wonder if she’s confessed that to herself.”

  Spinner pressed a hand below her sternum, trying to keep the jitters under control. “I’m prepared to approach her again, risk my heart, if you will, but as you knew my mother, you also know why this is so hard for me.”

  “Yes, I do understand. The way Pamas left you and your brother was selfish, even if she did it to save herself.”

  “She saved herself from my father’s violence, but my brother paid the price. He just switched to another punching bag after she left.”

  “Perhaps she never thought he’d turn to his children in the manner he’d hurt her?” Helden shook her head, looking sad. “I feel responsible. I helped her, but in my defense, we planned for her to take her children with her.”

  “You helped her?” Spinner’s mouth grew instantly dry, and she grabbed the tea mug and drank. “She just disappeared and didn’t even leave a note. For years, I thought he’d killed her.”

  “She told me she’d arranged for a new identity for the three of you. That was clearly not true, or perhaps it was and her plans didn’t work out the way she intended. I don’t know, and I’m so sorry you and your brother were left alone to deal with your father’s—”

  “Yes.” Spinner took Helden’s weak hand between hers. “Now listen.” She wet her lips. “I don’t blame you. At least you tried to do something. Not many people do even that. And I don’t know if you heard, but I had reassuring news via the buoy messaging service. My brother and his family are doing well, and they’ve promised to stay away from any of the protests on Oconodos. They’re ready to leave as soon as the Exodus plan is set in motion.”

  “That is great news. I know several who lost friends and family in the attack against the protesters.” Helden regarded her carefully. “So, about Dael, go find her and convince her that the two of you deserve to be happy. All right?”

  “How can I refuse an order from a fleet admiral?” Spinner crinkled her nose. “I’ll try. I promise. If…if I fail, I just want you to know, I’m not sure I have it in me to try a third time. Your granddaughter has the power to shred my heart. Careful as I am, I’d never have let it go this far with someone else. Dael…is Dael. She’s the one.”

  “I understand.” Helden placed her good hand on top of Spinner’s. “You’ve reached her inner being, something I’ve never seen happen. I think you’re equally guarded when it comes to your emotions. If you dare to share your feelings with her, that will strengthen your relationship, in whatever form you want it to be.”

  “All right.” Spinner let go of Helden and stood. “I heard you were amazing on the bridge, by the way. Guess it never goes away, does it?”

  “What doesn’t go away?” Helden looked puzzled.

  “The commanding persona. The identity that you and Dael slip into like you’re wearing a second skin.” Spinner smiled. “It’s quite something to see.”

  “You don’t realize you do the same?” Helden smiled up at Spinner. “Going from the extroverted party-girl who loves to gamble to the CAG in the blink of an eye?” She chuckled. “I’d say that’s an even more amazing transformation.”

  “Perhaps.” Spinner checked the time on Helden’s wall-mounted clock. “Better run. See you tomorrow.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” Helden waved as Spinner pressed the door sensor and left.

  *

  Dael stepped inside her quarters, tired, but jittery. To her surprise, the rooms were dark, with no sign of anyone having been there. Slumping against the closed door, she drew a trembling breath. Clearly Spinner had changed her mind. Who could blame her?

  “Lights on ambiance,” Dael said, her voice tired.

  The light came on and then she saw Spinner sitting in her recliner. She stood, dressed in black trousers and a sleeveless white shirt, looking stunning. Moving with sure strides, Spinner wrapped her arms around Dael. Spinner’s soft lips pressed against her throat. Inhaling deeply, Dael recognized Spinner’s scent, so familiar. “Aniwyn,” Dael whispered, and held on tighter.

  “Don’t think. Don’t talk,” Spinner said in a raspy tone. “I want you so much. I have, for the longest time, and I need you…I do.” She tugged at the fastening of Dael’s jacket, opened it and pushed it off her shoulders, and let it land on the floor. Despite sounding so passionate and greedy, Spinner handled her gently, as if making sure this was all right.

  Dael could hardly breathe. Arching into Spinner’s touch, she tried to communicate how much she needed her in return. Her nipples hardened, and the sweet ache between her legs spoke for itself.

  “You’re so stunning. So beautiful,” Spinner whispered against her skin. “Let me. Please, let me.” She wormed her hands in under Dael’s tank top, slipped them around her back, and held her closer.

  “Aniwyn.” Dael moaned and drove her fingers into Spinner’s hair. The soft, wild curls filled her palms, tickled her, and s
ent shivers up her arms. “Kiss me?” She wanted Spinner to know how much she needed her kisses, how she’d dreamed of them so many times.

  “Mmm…” Spinner murmured her way up to Dael’s lips. She hovered there, just for a moment, their breaths mingling, but it was enough to make Dael whimper impatiently.

  “Come here,” Dael whispered, and tugged lightly at Spinner’s curls, pulling her in. Parting her lips just a little, she nibbled at Spinner’s lower lip, teasing it.

  Spinner in turn groaned against Dael’s mouth before she slipped her tongue inside to caress the inside of her lips. Dael responded in kind, matching each caress with one of her own.

  Letting go for a moment, Dael guided Spinner back to the recliner. She pushed slightly at Spinner’s shoulder. “Just sit.” Efficiently, Dael removed her boots and then climbed into the chair, which was wide enough for them if she half-sat on Spinner’s lap. Gazing at Spinner this closely, she saw several buttons had come undone, and her mouth watered at the sight of the soft, full breasts and the lean muscles playing under the copper-brown skin.

  “Hello there,” Spinner whispered, and ran her hand up and down Dael’s arm. As she reached the shoulder, she let her finger travel in under the shoulder strap of Dael’s tank top, following the fabric down to her collarbone. “You feel so good, so smooth.”

  Dael slowly unbuttoned the rest of the buttons of Spinner’s shirt. “You feel amazing.” She spread her fingers wide as she caressed Spinner’s chest, trying to cover as much skin as possible. “Like silk.”

  Spinner smiled. “Would you undo your hair for me?”

  Knowing her voice wouldn’t carry, Dael only nodded and pulled the hair-ties from the thick bun at the nape of her neck. Her hair billowed out around her, and Spinner’s eyes grew even darker.

  “So beautiful.” Shifting, Spinner lowered her head and caught Dael’s lips again. Her tongue flicked against Dael’s, over and over until Dael cried out, arching to increase the sensation.

  “Don’t stop. Aniwyn…”

  “Never.”

  Dael gasped for air, pulling back enough to look into Spinner’s eyes. “I’m yours, Ani. I’ll do my best to make you believe me.”

  Spinner ran a gentle fingertip down Dael’s neck in between her breasts, tugging at the neckline of her tank top. Not taking her eyes from Dael’s, as if constantly checking for permission, she slid her finger farther down, across Dael’s stomach, where she ran it along the waistline of Dael’s uniform trousers.

  “May I?” Spinner studied Dale through her curls that kept falling before her eyes.

  “Yes,” Dael whispered, and began to tremble again.

  Spinner unclasped the trousers and slowly pushed her hand inside. “Tell me if I do something…something you don’t like, or want.”

  “Please, touch me, Ani.” Not even hesitating, Dael spread her legs, wanting to feel Spinner even closer.

  *

  Spinner moaned from sheer bliss as Dael made room for her hand. Dael was so wet, and Spinner knew she was too. Returning to Dael’s mouth, she tugged gently at her lower lip with her teeth and then deepened the kiss again. She simply couldn’t get enough of the sensation of Dael’s skin or the sound of her voice as she gasped Spinner’s name. Dael’s hair surrounded them like a beautiful blond river.

  “I need more,” Dael whispered huskily. “I need you…more.”

  “Anything you want, Dael. Just tell me.”

  “I need to feel you inside.” She pushed long tresses of hair from her face and looked up at Spinner with glowing eyes. “To be yours.”

  Spinner’s heart picked up speed, making it nearly impossible to breathe. “Mine.”

  “Yes.” Dael raised her hips, her breathing coming in short gushes.

  Spinner slid her fingers into Dael’s briefs, reveling in the satin-smooth skin. She carefully parted the slick, engorged folds between Dael’s thighs and slid two fingers inside.

  “Oh, yes.” Dael groaned. “So…hot.”

  Spinner moved her hand, pressing her fingers deeper and curling them as she pulled back again. Moving as much as Dael’s clothes would let her, she trembled from the heat surrounding her. Dael clung to her, fingers in her hair, one leg hooked over Spinner’s.

  “You’re so wet.” Spinner grunted, out of breath.

  “Because…of you. All you.” Dael was trembling violently now.

  “And about to come?” Spinner slipped a third finger inside, which made Dael howl.

  “Yes!”

  “Now?” Smiling tremulously, Spinner didn’t even blink, not wanting to miss a thing.

  “Ah! Ah! Yes!” Dael’s hips elevated high above the recliner as her body tightened around Spinner’s fingers. Convulsing over and over, she whimpered until she was a listless bundle in Spinner’s arms. Spinner couldn’t remember ever witnessing such a sensuous and sexy display as she gazed at the dazed woman before her. Her heart thundered and she wanted to remain like this forever. Still, she slowly pulled her fingers out and wrapped her arms around Dael. She shifted until she had Dael firmly on her lap. Dael sat curled up under Spinner’s chin, her hands tightly fisted around Spinner’s shirt.

  “That…that was so good.” Dael freed one hand and cupped Spinner’s cheek as she kissed her neck. “So good.”

  “Yes, it was.” Spinner kissed the top of Dael’s head. “I hope I’ll get to do it again. Whenever you want me to.”

  Dael smiled. “Sounds fine to me.” She kissed Spinner’s neck again and trailed her collarbone with the tip of her tongue. Then she suddenly shifted, making Spinner sit on the recliner while she herself knelt on the floor. She pulled Spinner toward her, balancing her hips on the edge of the seat, and moved farther in between her legs.

  *

  “Dael?” Spinner ran her fingers through Dael’s hair.

  Kissing Spinner’s hand and up her arm as far as she could reach, she then repeated the caresses on her other arm.

  Spinner hummed. “Feels great, but—”

  “—but what, love?” Dael tilted her head and watched Spinner carefully. “I just want to reciprocate, to make you feel like I just did…may I?”

  “If you want to, yes…please.” Spinner sat up straight and unbuttoned her shirt and pulled it off. She wore nothing underneath, and Dael’s mouth watered at the sight of the dark-maroon, hard nipples.

  Spinner cupped Dael’s neck and scratched her scalp with one hand and offered her left breast to her with the other one. Dael didn’t need to be asked twice. She leaned in slowly, took the nipple between her teeth, and sucked in long, languid movements. The taste and texture of the puckered nipple made her moan against it, which, to her delight, sent shivers through Spinner.

  She worked her way over to the other nipple, gave it the same treatment, and then back again to the first one. Eventually, she could tell they were becoming oversensitized. Gazing up at Spinner, she noticed that Spinner was squirming, even rocking, on the seat, clearly seeking relief.

  “Can we take your trousers off?” Dael asked quietly.

  “Trousers. Sure. Yes.” Spinner stood, and Dael quickly pulled off the black pants and then nudged Spinner to sit down again, still at the very edge of the recliner. She spread Spinner’s legs wider and caressed her slowly, first with her fingertips along her damp, hot sex, and then, as she couldn’t resist, she bent forward and placed her mouth on the fabric, right over the area where Spinner’s clitoris was located.

  “Ah!” Spinner jerked and clung to the armrests. “Dael!”

  Dael pressed her tongue against the engorged labia, felt them separate beneath the thin fabric of the briefs. Next time there would be no fabric between them whatsoever, but now, this was how she wanted to do it. The scent of her lover, together with the moaning, the not-so-quiet “Don’t stop, don’t stop” urging her on, made Dael’s own level of arousal climb again.

  “Dael, you’re…you’re going to…” Spinner began to tremble violently, arching, and Dael held on to her slender hips, keeping her
in place so as not to lose track of the pulsating clitoris. Wanting to share the moment with Spinner, Dael let go with one hand and shoved it between her own legs. It only took a few strokes, and she moaned Spinner’s name over and over before she locked her mouth firmly against her.

  “Oh, Dael, Dael…” Spinner slumped sideways and Dael had to hold on to her so she didn’t fall off the chair. She took a blanket from the armrest of the couch next to them and climbed up on the recliner and wrapped an arm around Spinner, helping her sit comfortably. Draping the blanket over their sweat-soaked bodies, she held Spinner close. Gradually their breathing slowed and Dael’s heart rate became normal.

  “Celestial Lords, you’re awesome. I feel completely drained.” Spinner sounded astonished.

  Dael chuckled and tucked the blanket in tighter around Spinner with tender hands. “It’s you who are amazing. You seem to have figured out how to handle me.”

  “I’m not so sure about that, or that you need ‘handling’ at all, but if by that you mean I understand you better, that may be true. Thanks to Helden, to some extent.”

  “Helden?”

  “Oh, don’t worry.” Spinner grinned. “She didn’t give away any family secrets but merely encouraged me to not give up on you.”

  “Good for Nania.” Dael placed her head on Spinner’s shoulder. “And good for you. You’re braver than I am. I’ve never been so afraid of losing you like I was today. With so much unexplained.”