by S. E. Smith
Her lips parted. He couldn’t resist.
Closing the space between them, he pulled her up against his body and leaned down to kiss her. Her lips were warm and soft. Softer than anything he’d ever felt.
She moaned as he shifted his mouth across hers, tasting her, letting her warmth soak into him. He’d been able to explore her the last time they kissed. He wanted that intimacy again.
He ran his tongue across her lips, questioning. Once more, she opened herself to him. His dick throbbed with longing as he slid his tongue into her, relishing everything she had to give.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, leaping up and gripping his waist with her legs, as she’d done back at the clinic. The context was so very different this time.
With better access, she returned his kiss with ardor, burrowing her fingers through his hair, nipping at his lips. He gripped her backside, pressing her close, grinding his erection against her core.
This was bliss. Better than any time he’d used Coupling—the drug used by the Coalition to manage their population’s biological needs. It couldn’t compare at all to this—to feeling Caitlin—experiencing every shiver and tantalizing caress. He’d never been so attuned to someone else, or to his own body.
He wanted more.
Pressing her up against the wall, he thrust against her, losing touch with all reason and thought. There was only sensation and pleasure.
He ran his lips along her jaw, kissing a path to her neck and tracing his teeth over her skin. She gasped, clutching at his back.
“Oh God, Marq.”
Her words spurred him on. He could feel a throbbing pressure building in his groin. Her breath caught in spurts as her fingers dug into his muscles.
How could anything feel so good?
Just when he thought their worlds were about to collapse and remake themselves, the communications alert went off.
Caitlin stiffened, gasping for breath. He was panting as well.
The communications controls were too far for him to reach. He let her slide to her feet, holding her gaze the entire time.
The pinging persisted, grating on senses that were already saturated.
“That sounds important,” she said.
He let out an exasperated breath, surprising himself in how much it resembled a growl. Caitlin grinned, her eyes heavy-lidded.
Marq stepped away, then slammed the side of his fist onto the communications control.
“What?” he barked.
“Commander,” a smooth female voice said. “Is everything all right?”
Sorca.
His chief of security.
He forced his voice to sound calmer. “Yes.”
“You changed course,” Sorca said.
“I’m conducting a visual inspection of our sites.” It was a plausible enough explanation, but he wasn’t certain Sorca would believe him. She was head of his security for a reason.
“I trust you’re finding everything in order.” Sorca often sounded as though she knew more than she was revealing. This was one of those times, and it irritated Marq even more.
“Affirmative,” he said.
“Shall I inform Outreach that they can expect a flyby?” Sorca asked. “I wouldn’t want any of my team to think you’re a saboteur and embody trigger-glee.”
“I believe the expression is ‘become trigger-happy’. Proceed with notifying Outreach.” Marq tapped the control to end the transmission.
“Who was that?” Caitlin had her arms crossed, one hip jutting out and her head angled to the side. The same posture that she’d held when she’d been upset with him earlier.
“That was Sorca. She’s in charge of security on the Reckoning.”
Caitlin kept staring at him, as if she expected additional information.
“And…she’s a Cygnian-Sadirian hybrid,” he said.
“Like I know what that is.”
“Her Sadirian DNA has been combined with another sentient species. It is—was—a very rare occurrence, making her invaluable to the Coalition fleet.” And the High Council, before they’d been assassinated. “We’ll need to be cautious around her.”
“Why, because she’ll be jealous?”
“Do you mean romantic jealousy?” The side of his lips pulled up again, deeper this time. He wondered if this was his first true smirk. “It is my understanding that for one to experience that particular emotion, they must be involved in a relationship. And Sorca and I are not involved beyond our duty assignments.”
Caitlin shrugged and looked away. Marq stepped closer to her, resting his hands on her hips, as he’d longed to do. He flexed his fingers, relishing the fullness of her body.
Her mouth fell open a bit and she glanced up at him. Her breath quickened and a pink flush spread over her cheeks.
“Are you experiencing jealousy, Caitlin?”
She shook her head, then stared up at him, holding his gaze with burning eyes. “Maybe.”
“Does that mean we’re in a relationship?”
Her lips twitched—first pulling into a smile, then pursing as if she was trying to fight it. She stepped closer to him and wrapped her hands around his shoulders once more.
“It seems kind of fast for that,” she said. “But then, I am the jealous type.” She shrugged again. “I’m working on it.”
“This is still part of us exploring each other,” he said. “And it is uncharted territory for me.”
Caitlin laughed. “Says the guy flying the Earthling past his moon bases.”
He echoed her laugh, the sound becoming familiar. He had a feeling he would need to grow accustomed to it while he was with her.
“The only reason I mentioned Sorca’s uniqueness is to let you know that her senses are more acute than most Sadirians’. Once we reach the Reckoning, we’ll need to be cautious with her or she may detect that you’re an Earthling.”
“I’ll keep all that in mind in case I have to fight her for you.”
The thought chilled him. “That’s not something to joke about. She’s our best fighter—the strongest and fastest soldier in the fleet. Cygnians are a warrior race and Sorca follows their customs in that regard. The only person to ever best her in battle is her bondmate, Eric Peterson.”
A little furrow appeared between Caitlin’s brows. Marq found himself wanting to kiss it, but held himself back.
“That sounds like an Earth name,” she said.
“It is.”
“What’s a bondmate, then?”
“It’s most closely akin to spouses in your culture. Eric is part of the Department of Homeworld Security—the group that is our point of contact for all things involving Earth, like obtaining permission to build the moon bases and Outreach.”
“Sorca mentioned Outreach as well. Is that another colony?”
“It’s the space station.”
“You guys sure are building a lot of stuff out here. Aren’t you afraid we’re going to notice it?”
“Earthlings are very close to being able to colonize the moon, and we’re having to work around various satellites. With our cloaking fields, sensors, and ability to override Earth’s technology feeds, we should be able to remain secret until it’s time to let everyone know of our presence.”
“When will that be?”
When the war is over?
He opened his mouth to speak, but thought better of it. He didn’t wish to frighten her.
“Soon,” he said. He hoped he spoke the truth.
Chapter Nine
Caitlin had finally managed to rouse the willpower to let go of Marq so he could change their course yet again. His crew must think it weird how long they’d circled Kindred while they were talking. Marq didn’t seem bothered by it.
The ship was climbing again. This time, as the surface of the moon fell away to be replaced with stars, the window was taken up almost entirely with an enormous structure. Skeletal rings of metal wrapped around a central spike, giving her an idea of what it would look like when
it was done.
“Oh wow,” she said.
Smaller ships buzzed about the proto-station, lights sparking in some places as giant sections of metal were fused together. A blocky shuttle passed them, heading in the direction of the moon bases.
“This is incredible,” Caitlin said.
She turned to Marq when he didn’t respond. The deep furrows were back between his brows and he was staring intently at the smaller screen superimposed on the window. His lips were pulled in a deep frown.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Sorca must have told Nika I was conducting inspections. She’s sent me a report on operations. We’re falling behind on fabrication of key components we’re going to need to keep construction on schedule. Nika will wish to speak with me as soon as we board my ship.”
“Is your ship as impressive as the moon bases and space station?”
“See for yourself.”
His frown slowly transformed into a smile as he stepped behind her and turned her to face the window again, her back against his chest. This time, when he wrapped both arms around her and held her close, it had nothing to do with trying to keep her upright.
A thrill skittered over her at his closeness and feeling the strength of his embrace. She could definitely get used to this.
The skimmer circled the space station only once. Another structure started to come into view—a huge ship, nearly half the size of the space station.
It was spearlike, long and sleek, with a sharp front and broader back-end. Unless what she thought was the back end was actually the front. It was hard to tell with it hanging there in space.
The design looked almost aerodynamic, but she couldn’t imagine a ship that huge flying through any kind of atmosphere. There were also large protrusions on every surface, with openings that faced forward, backward, and toward both sides. Spinning circular lights within each reminded her of the chambers of the big machine guns she’d seen mounted on helicopters in a couple of movies.
“That’s, um…” she began. “That’s a heck of a lot of guns.”
“The Reckoning is the ship responsible for enforcing Coalition law, along with her sister ship, the Arbiter.”
Those names didn’t sound very peaceful.
“Do you have to do that a lot?” she asked. “Enforce law?”
He didn’t respond, but she felt his breath hitch.
“If this ship brings the consequences, I don’t understand how anyone would dare to try to break your laws,” she said. “I mean, who could stand up to this?”
“It is…possible.”
“That sounds kind of scary.”
Marq hugged her tighter, resting his chin on the top of her head. “I didn’t wish to speak of this.”
“This being whatever was making my sister so nervous about me going aboard your ship.”
“Yes.”
She gave him a few more moments, then said, “Are you going to tell me?”
Marq let out a long breath. “Until recently, the Coalition was the greatest technological power in the galaxy.”
“The galaxy? Wow.”
“We had an enormous fleet, military bases at strategic locations, and the loyalty of every planet, domeworld, and space station inhabited by sentients.”
“Or so you thought.”
“We knew there were those who wished for independence. Otherwise, the fleet wouldn’t be necessary. What we didn’t know is that they had formed what they call the Tau Centauran Assembly—and somehow obtained technology that far surpassed our own.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“In a way…they may have created a path for all of us to be free.”
She turned in his arms so that she could see his expression as he spoke. This sounded like the kind of talk that could get a soldier into trouble.
“Are you supposed to be saying this?” She looked around the ship, at all the controls and technology she didn’t understand. “I mean, can’t someone be listening in?”
Marq shook his head. “The High Council might have done such a thing, but I have more faith in our current leaders.”
“Are they that assembly that wanted independence?”
“No, not at all.”
“It’s just… You made it seem like maybe they’re the good guys.”
“They are most assuredly not the good guys. But their first act of aggression was to destroy our High Council.”
“Okay. Definitely bad guys.” Then again, Marq didn’t seem that broken up about it.
He shook his head. “Actually, in comparing the acts of the High Council against that of the Tau Centauran Assembly…” A grim look crossed his features, the furrow between his brow deepening. “Their deaths were a blessing.”
His words chilled her. “How can you say that?”
“Because I know of the crimes of the High Council—more than almost any other Sadirian. They cared only for themselves and for maintaining their power and access to resources. They’ve done terrible things, Caitlin. Unspeakable things.”
His eyes glistened as he spoke and his voice took on a more gravelly tone.
She kept her voice gentle. “How can anyone on your ship be loyal to them then?”
“Not everyone is aware of the previous situation,” he said. “If word were to spread of some of their atrocities, there would be chaos and despair.”
“And nobody wants that.”
The room seemed to be spinning a bit. Brigid was right—not that Caitlin would ever admit it. There was so much more going on here than Caitlin had realized. This was definitely turning into the most complex “routine checkup” she’d ever done.
“I think I need to sit down for a minute.” She looked around the ship, but the area they were standing in was empty. “All this advanced technology and you guys don’t have chairs?”
“Not on skimmers.” At her questioning look, he elaborated. “Small ships like this one are meant for only short-term travel. There’s a resting area above, though, if you’d like to lie down.”
“I’m okay,” she said. “I just need a minute.”
He held her closer against his chest. The feel of his arms around her grounded her more than the artificial gravity of the ship.
“I didn’t wish to burden you with this knowledge,” he said.
“It’s my galaxy, too. I’d rather know what’s going on. It’s just a lot to absorb.”
“You’re handling all of this magnificently. We’ll be on the Reckoning soon, and my quarters have ample seating. You’ll be able to rest then.”
She laughed a bit and looked up at him. “After I check on my patients.”
He shrugged sheepishly. “If you are able to. I’ll be reassured once I’ve seen Meredith with my own eyes. The examination can wait until you’re feeling strong enough.”
“I’m strong enough.” She tilted her chin up and glared at him.
Marq smiled and nodded. “That you are.”
She looked over her shoulder at the ship they were approaching. One of the small, box-shaped vessels flew out from a large opening that spanned the underside of the ship, turning toward Outreach. The skimmer headed for the hangar.
“Your heart is pounding,” Marq said.
Caitlin swallowed past a lump in her throat, willing herself to calm. “Does your suit have sensors that tell you that?”
“I can feel it through our bodies.”
He leaned back and rested his hand on her chest above her heart. Which also meant it was on her breasts.
That only made her heart pound harder. Lightning arced through her nerves, her skin tingling and heat firing like a furnace in her belly.
He probably didn’t know what putting his hand there meant for an Earthling. Nudity wasn’t a taboo for his people, and maybe touching that particular part of her anatomy wasn’t a big deal, either.
Still, she couldn’t stop herself from imagining him sliding his hand into her suit and cupping her breast. She
would kiss him again. They’d slip out of their uniforms and…
Light flooded the ship as they entered the hangar, burning away her fantasy. It had been so much more enjoyable than the fears that suddenly plagued her.
This was a badass alien spaceship with a scary name and whose purpose was to enforce laws set by what sounded like an evil regime that had been displaced by a faction of people—of aliens—whose motives she knew next to nothing about. She had no idea what would happen to her here.
But her sister had been aboard, and she was fine.
Marq cupped Caitlin’s chin, turning her gaze toward his.
“I am the Commander of the Reckoning,” he said. “I swear to you, I will keep you safe. Can you trust me?”
She took a deep breath, then nodded. “I can.”
Chapter Ten
“You’ll need to put your hair up.” Marq finished making the last adjustments to Caitlin’s bracer, locking down its functions. They were nearly ready to disembark. “Our helmets automatically deploy in the event of depressurization, and you don’t want anything in the way if it does.”
“Depressurization, huh? Does that happen often?” Caitlin was smiling, but her voice trembled.
“Not at all,” he said. “But it’s regulation to wear our hair in ways that won’t interfere with our uniform. You’ll stand out less if your hair is up.”
She crossed to the large black bag she’d brought with her and started going through its contents, then stood when she’d found a tie. As she reached behind her head to pull her hair into place, the material of her uniform strained against her breasts.
She was going to be conspicuous enough as it was.
And if he kept staring at her chest, he was going to become conspicuous himself. Already, he felt his body stirring. He quickly turned away, finalizing their arrival procedures.
The skimmer had landed in the main hangar bay without incident. A soft orange glow covered the viewport.
“What’s with that light?” she asked.
“Decon procedures. The outer hull is being purged of random radiation and any contaminants it might have picked up on Earth.”
