Tash

by ML Guida

  He carried her to the bed and brushed her hair off her sweating face. “Are you saying he’s on Sutois?” His voice was grave and a glint of hate flashed into his eyes.

  “I don’t know…exactly.” She pressed her hands on his cheeks. “But I saw it. To save your dad and uncover the secret, we have to work together. Isn’t that what mates are supposed to do?”

  He swore underneath his breath. “You’re not playing fair, are you?”

  “No.” She dropped her shaking hands and blinked away her tears. “No, I’m not.”

  Willow jumped into her lap and purred.

  Tash scratched the top of Willow’s head. “What about your cat?”

  Scarlett ran her down the cat’s arching back. “No, she stays here. I don’t want her to be a midnight snack for a hungry Gog.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Captain Topaz will be here soon.” He caressed her back. “I suggest you pull yourself together.”

  “A shower and a change of clothes will be nice.”

  “I can arrange that.” He ran his finger down her cheek, making her shiver. “I wish I could join you, but there isn’t time.”

  She lifted her chin and brushed her thumb over his lower lip. “Maybe later.”

  His eyes twinkled with desire. “That I can promise you.”

  Her heart quickened and blood pooled between her legs. She tried to ignore the passion growing inside her, but couldn’t resist kissing him. He twisted his hand in her hair and returned her kiss with a fervor that sent her toes on her fire. She could barely breathe. He moved to roll on her the bed, but Willow meowed in protest.

  He broke off the kiss. “I’d better leave while I can. Clothes will be waiting for you when you’re finished.”

  She rested her head against his forehead. “Okay. I’ll miss you.”

  “You’re a tempting, wench.” He gently moved out from underneath her, but picked up a lock of her hair. He sniffed. “So, lovely. Like a flower in one of our gardens. Until later, mate.”

  She couldn’t breathe or talk.

  He left her with her mouth hanging open and wishing she could wash his broad back. She got off the bed and forced her shaking legs to move toward the wall. Oh, crap. She forgot to have Tash open the bathroom door. He obviously had things to do and she couldn’t be demanding he come back to perform such menial tasks.

  She braced her shoulders and spread her trembling legs apart. “I can do this. Door open.”

  The door slid open. She smiled and jerked her arm back. “Yes!”

  She hurried inside. She didn’t even want to look in the mirror, because she knew she looked like a mess. Her hair stuck to her sweaty skin like sticky spiderwebs.

  Steam filled the bathroom and she hopped into the shower. Giddiness swelled up inside her and she laughed as she held out her arms. Marble walls surrounded her as if she’d entered a five-star hotel. She could get use to this luxury.

  Water pelted her as if a massage therapist had jumped in behind her. She sighed and move her neck side to side. Tension drifted off her weary body and swirled away into the drain. Shampoo was on the ledge or at least she hoped that’s what it was. Shimmering silver liquid pooled into her palm. She sniffed. It had a fresh, spicy smell like Tash.

  She shrugged and quickly lathered her hair and scrubbed it until she heard it squeak. Bubbles cascaded down her body. Soap made her body slick, and she wished Tash would have joined her. Warmth spread through her belly at the thought of him and she wanted his hands on her. She imagined each thrust, every shared pleasure, every orgasm, but disappointment doused the arousal building inside her. She sighed. They didn’t have time for sexy times.

  As if on cue, the bathroom door slid open.

  “Tash?” She stopped and narrowed her eyes trying to see through the steam.

  Someone cleared a deep voice.

  “Tash?” Tingles swept up the back of her neck and across her cheeks. She tried to cover herself with her hands.

  “I was just coming to tell you that I left clothes for you on the bed.” Clothes rustled as if they were being shed.

  Through the steam, she could see his impressive body. She laughed nervously and put her hand on her pattering heart. “You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry. I thought I could keep my distance, but all I could think of was you.” His words warmed her heart. No one had ever said such things to her.

  She was too choked up to answer.

  He entered the pulsing the shower, his green eyes glittered with desire. “Shades, you’re beautiful.”

  His gaze set fire to her, arousing every sense, every thought, every nerve. The skin across her chest tightened and she wet her lips at the sight of all that sleek muscle. She tilted her head and stared at his erect cock. His sheer maleness excited her and her fingers tingled with need to touch his bare skin. She flashed him a greedy smile as her fingers closed over his hard flesh. “I thought we didn’t have time for this.”

  He sucked in his breath. “I couldn’t get the image of you naked out of mind. And you’re playing with fire.” His voice was heavy with lust. “We don’t have much time…” He grabbed her buttock and squeezed.

  She squealed in delight. “A dirty quick one?”

  “Yes.” He kissed her hard, pulling her to his massive chest, squashing her breasts against hard muscle. She met his eagerness with abandoned enthusiasm. Their hungry tongues probed deeper, tasting desire.

  She ran her hands over this back, his muscles moving underneath her palms.

  He lifted her onto his thick cock. She eagerly spread her legs, and shivered with anticipation.

  “Lock your legs around my hips.”

  She did as she was told and planted kisses on along his rugged chin.

  He held her buttocks and pushed her against the wall. Her heart pounded hard, sending blood thumping down to her aching core. She clung to his neck, his wet hair burying her fingers. His hot mouth captured her budded nipple, driving her mad with pleasure. He licked and laved her until she whimpered.

  “Please,” she hissed, a sound that was half-pain, half-pleasure.

  “Not yet. Slick. Shades, delicious.” His breath only made her hotter.

  Wet heat flared between her trembling thighs.

  “Take me.” She clawed her fingers into his thick strands, wanting to keep his wicked lips locked on her greedy breast and squirmed her heat against him. Her wet body was on fire with pleasure.

  He lifted his head and kissed her, devouring her as if she were his favorite meal.

  She thrust her hip first and unleashed a fury. He slammed his cock deeper and she cried out in delight.

  “Yes!”

  The intensity zipped to zealous pace. Pleasure shot through her with each frenzied thrust. The rough motion sent her over the edge. She couldn’t breathe. The only thing that mattered was him. She hoped her visions were right, and they’d survive the mission. She needed this hot, quick sex.

  Hot water pumped up their heat. Their desperate movements turned furious. Flesh flapped against flesh. Drops of water spurted into the air. She swore smoke lifted from their smoldering bodies.

  Then in one hard motion, her orgasm crested like a shooting star. She dug her nails into his hard back.

  He arched his back and then thrust hard, filling her with an unbelievable pleasure.

  “Shades, you’re going to kill me.” He rested his forehead against hers and planted his large hand on the tile next to her head.

  “And you me.” She squeezed her legs tighter, taking his little pulses deeper.

  He kissed her briefly. “As much as I want to stay here.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Or take you in the tub, Topaz will be here soon.”

  Fear edged a little of her pleasure away and her gut fluttered with dread. Pretending she wasn’t crawling with terror, she smiled sweetly. “Promise, we’ll consecrate your tub?”

  “Yes.” He slowly lifted her off his cock and placed her on the tile.

  She shook with fear
and pleasure. She swished her hair out of her face. “Next time I want to wash your body.” She ran a finger up his abdomen liking how he sucked in his breath and quivered.

  She laughed and winked. “I can’t believe that I’m having an effect over a captain, no a bear, on a great spaceship.”

  He clasped her finger. “You bring me to my knees.”

  Her laughter died and her mouth ran dry. She searched his eyes to see if he were telling the truth. She drew on her power and realized his anger was dissipating. She could read his mind.

  He was as scared as she was and that sent terror ripping through her.

  She clasped his hand with her shaking one. “We’ll survive.”

  He kissed her again, desperate, decisive, determined. “Get dressed.” His passion had left his eyes and left the hard captain.

  He turned, leaving her in the cold shower with her fear. Not just for herself, but for him.

  10

  Tash cursed himself for losing control yet again. He grabbed his clothes out of the steamy shower and forced himself to leave. He really had only gone into the bathroom to tell her, but the steam had rose around her curvy, sleek body. His cock had grown to life, and his bear had demanded that he’d join his mate.

  Usually, he was able to remain in control, but with Scarlett, he’d returned to an eager cub.

  He quickly jerked on his pants, vowing to keep to the mission, but then Scarlett came out of the bathroom naked. Droplets of water glistened on her skin. She’d braided her white hair and it curved down one shoulder.

  He scrubbed his hand down her face. “Shades, you really are testing me.”

  “Sorry,” she murmured. “But I didn’t have any clothes inside.” Her voice was shy and her cheeks bright pink. She reached for the undergarments, blank pants, and red shirt that he’d brought her. She frowned. “These look like my size.”

  He shrugged. “They are. I had the Leibniz Splitter design them especially for you.”

  She shook her head as she slipped on the lacy underwear. “The Leibniz Splitter.”

  “It’s a computer that designs our clothes and washes and dries them for us. We just put in our measurements and the computer does the rest.”

  She lifted a slender eyebrow. “You remember my measurements?”

  He smiled. “I remember everything about you. How you have freckles across your nose. You have a dimple on your right check. And then there’s my favorite––you have a beauty mark on your right breast next to your nipple.”

  Her cheeks turned red and she turned her gaze from his. She put her hand over her breast. “I’ve always been embarrassed about that mark.”

  He slid his arms around her waist and pulled her toward him. Ignoring his hard cock, he kissed her briefly on the lips. “You never have anything to be embarrassed about with me.”

  “Yes, I can feel that.” She locked her arms around his neck. “You weren’t satisfied?”

  He shook his head. “I can never get enough of you.” He sighed and lowered his head. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to take a cold shower or I’ll never be able to focus. Please be dressed.”

  She laughed. “I will. I promise.”

  He hurried back into the bathroom, stripped, and hopped into a freezing shower, cursing his dick that wouldn’t be satisfied.

  Within a few moments, he was in a semi-normal state and prayed to the Shades that Scarlett had kept her promise or he was in serious trouble.

  Luckily, Scarlett sat on the bed, fully dressed, petting Willow. She smiled. “Feeling better?”

  “For now,” he grumbled. “We need to head up to the bridge.”

  She gently put Willow on the bed who got up and rubbed her head against Scarlett’s arm.

  She looked at Willow with tears glistening in her eyes.

  He swallowed the lump in his throat.

  “Will you make sure that someone feeds Willow?” Her voice was so tiny that he had to strain to hear her.

  He nodded. “I’ll give Vaughn instructions to care for her.”

  “Thank you.” Tears glistened in her eyes, but then she blinked and they were gone. She slowly stood and wiped her shaking hands on her thighs.

  He clasped her hand and kissed the top of it. “I’ve changed my mind. You should stay with Willow.”

  She braced her shoulders. “We’ve been over this. I have to go with you. You’re not going back on your word, are you?”

  He dropped her hand and sighed. She definitely wasn’t a shrinking rose. She had thorns and pricked at its pride. “No, I haven’t.” He held out his arm. “Shall we go?”

  “I’m ready.” She headed toward the door.

  He forced himself not to stare at her curvy buttock that sent his blood on fire. They walked in silence down the corridor and then into the elevator. Beads of sweat glistened off her forehead, and she folded her arms underneath her breasts. He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her everything would be all right. That they would survive. But it would be a lie. He couldn’t spin a tale to his mate. Besides, with her vision, she’d know he wasn’t telling the truth.

  The doors opened to the bridge. Tash’s muscles twitched and uneasiness roosted in his gut.

  Communication Officer Krup turned around in his chair. “Captain, good you’re here. We just got word from both the Orion and the Ambassadors’ ship. The Ambassador is requesting to dock and allowing the Amabassadors to come on board to the Intrepid.”

  “Tell the Ambassadors’ ship that they can dock.”

  “Yes, Captain.” Krup closed his eyes, took a calming breath, and whirled around in his chair.

  Tash pulled out his telicator. “Tash to Engineering.”

  “Engineering, Rye here.”

  “Rye, the Ambassador ship is preparing to dock. Meet me in the docking berth with a security attachment.”

  Scarlett flashed him a tense gaze. “Let’s rock and roll.”

  Tash frowned. “I don’t understand that reference.”

  Scarlett’s tenseness faded and she grinned, shaking her head.

  Tash slid his telicator back into his belt. “Vaughn, you have the come. Alert the Orion that we’re prepared to board.”

  Vaughn nodded. “Yes, Tash.” He gripped Tash’s shoulder. “Be careful, bro.” Vaughn’s anxious tone sent Tash’s heart went into palpitations and tingles spread across his chest.

  Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.

  Tash took a deep breath and squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “I will.” He hoped his stern voice hid the fear that threatened to burst through his tight chest.

  He nodded at Scarlett. “Time to go.” He pulled out his eruptor.

  She frowned. “Is that your weapon?” Rather than condemning, her voice was curious.

  “Yes, the Ambassadors aren’t going to like what I have in mind.” He headed for the elevator doors, praying to the Shades that he was making the right decision. But based on the evidence, he didn’t have much choice.

  Scarlett followed him inside. The doors closed behind her.

  He braced his legs shoulder length apart and held his eruptor in his hand. “Docking berth.”

  She cast her gaze over him. “You’re doubting yourself, aren’t you?”

  He raised his eyebrow. “You running around in my mind?” He wasn’t sure that he liked the idea of her peeling back the walls of his carefully guarded brain.

  She flashed him a quick grin. “No, I’m not. I’m just beginning to figure out your moods. I like trying to reading you the old-fashioned way, rather than just reading your mind. The old-fashioned way’s more of a connection. Reading your mind…” She drew her brows together. “Would be cheating. You can’t read my mind, so it wouldn’t be fair of me to read yours.”

  He was about to say something. No, he was about to kiss her again.

  But the doors slid open to the docking berth. Rye waited with several security bears, all armed and all grim.

  He stepped in front of her and glanced over his shoulder. “Stay cl
ose to me.”

  “Don’t worry, I will.” She nodded, but her eyes were huge. She twirled around and her mouth hung opened as she took in the berth.

  He smiled. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  She nodded. “Space is amazing.” She put her hand on her chest. “I can barely breathe.”

  He looked at space through her eyes. Stars twinkled, suns glowed, and planets from purple to pink to blue that ranged from small, large, and enormous slowly orbited. Each time, he went into space he always felt like the Shades had painted a beautiful canvas.

  Except for Sutois.

  He shook his head and concentrated on the task at hand.

  The Zion was about a quarter-size of the Intrepid, and it was slowly coming alongside the Intrepid, ready to drop off their passengers.

  Or at least that’s what the helmsman thought.

  “Rye, are you ready?”

  He shrugged. “As well as can be expected. Once we do this…”

  Tash lifted his chin. “We’ll be looking at being court-martialed.”

  Scarlett shook her head. “No, you won’t.”

  Both Rye and Tash looked at her.

  She gave them a lopsided smile. “I promise neither of you will be. Including Vaughn.”

  Tash didn’t remember her unleashing this vision, but she had many secrets that he hadn’t discovered yet.

  “I hope you’re right,” Rye mumbled as he pulled out his eruptor. He pushed the code on the docking podium that would open the sliding glass door that separated to the ships.

  The glass door opened.

  Several men and women wearing white robes with the United Planet Confederation emblem embroidered on their right breast.

  One older man had a shaggy blond hair and he had a holier-than-thou-look on his stern face. He took a step. “I’m Ambassador Eli from the planet Dryke. We request permission to come on board the Intrepid.” His hard voice hinted he expected to be obeyed.

  “Time to pay the piper,” Scarlett mumbled.

  Rye rolled his eyes. “He’s not a piper. He’s an Ambassador.”

  Scarlett flicked her hand. “That’s an old Earth saying.”

  Tash ignored both of them. “I’m sorry, Ambassador Eli, but there’s been a change of plans.”