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Boinking Like Crazy

*Jalen*

I held Ren’s hand as we climbed aboard the Verne . I should’ve probably been nervous at the prospect of meeting her crewmates after my garden sent one of them on a trip they hadn’t planned. Arda’s mate honestly sounded a bit scary, and he had a huge reason to not be a big fan of mine. But after finally making Ren mine, I just couldn’t stop smiling.

Everything about that night had been sheer perfection. She’d been insatiable ever since, even as the heat symptoms faded. If it weren’t for our promise to bring Arda the data we’d collected, I’d have happily spent every waking hour in bed.

Be cool, idiot. We need them to like you.

The advice rang through my mind as we strolled through a long white corridor decorated with silver accents. Ren stopped midway down and opened the hatch to a room filled with muffled chatter.

All conversation cut off as we slipped into a space dominated by a large table and chairs. I recognized the machine in the corner as a food processor. This must be the mess hall. But I only gave the room a cursory examination once I realized everyone’s eyes were on me. The two females I remembered, along with a hulking golden-haired male who must be the infamous Lux.

Karsen was the first to race across the room. Ren met her halfway, allowing her friend to wrap her in a hug. “I’m so glad you made it back in one piece.” Karsen pulled back only to shrewdly scan Ren from head to toe. “Don’t lie. Do you have any injuries? We can go to the med—”

“Relax, Kar. I’m fine. It’s good to see you, too.” Ren grinned crookedly.

Arda leaped to her feet next and stopped beside my mate with her arms outstretched. “Do I get a hug too?”

Ren nodded with tears in her eyes. “I missed you guys.” She tugged Arda close and sighed.

I hung back, watching with a smile as Ren soaked up the love of her friends. All except for one.

Lux cleared his throat, his arms crossed over his chest and an unreadable stare on his face. “Good to have you back, Ren,” he said, but his gaze stayed glued on me, sizing me up.

Ren split a look between us before a giggle spilled out of her lips. “Jesus, Lux, relax. He’s cool.”

Lux finally glanced her way but merely grunted before swinging his hard gaze back to me.

I resisted the urge to shudder, and thrust out a hand in the Terran style, uncertain which greeting his species preferred. “I’m Jalen, Ren’s mate”—I glanced hopefully at Arda—“and the Verne ’s new planter?”

“Ship’s botanist,” Arda said, sidestepping Ren so she could snag the hand I stretched out and shake it. “Welcome aboard, Jalen.”

Perhaps it was seeing his female’s acceptance, or perhaps the mention of my being Ren’s mate, but something about the exchange finally convinced Lux’s severe expression to lift. The corner of his lips ticked up in what might pass for a smile on someone who was used to spending their life frowning.

“Mates, huh?” Lux directed the question to Ren.

Ren’s cheeks pinked up cutely. “Yep. We, uh, just made it official.”

Karsen clapped her hands, face lighting with delight. “You did? Oh, that’s fantas—”

A series of hisses and yowls intruded on the happy moment. My brow screwed up as I twisted, hunting for the source of the eerily familiar noise.

“Is Smudge back?” Ren asked. “And still in heat?”

A creature darted into the room that made the hair on my neck stand on end. At first glance, the sickly gray thing looked like it’d been skinned. But then I vaguely remembered Ren telling me about Lux’s pet, and my shoulders sagged.

Smudge yowled again, only to press her chest to the floor and lift her swaying crotch high in the air.

“Not in here, you horny devils!” Arda groaned, waving her hands to shoe the purring creature out. But not before I glimpsed a second—more familiar—lifeform. One with black fur, a purple tongue slipping out to lick his lips as he sniffed the air near Smudge’s thighs, and three working legs where there ought to be four.

“Trivet? What are you doing here?”

Lux stood, planting himself firmly in my path. “You know this creature?”

I nodded. “He’s a lormate. I kind of raised him.”

Arda burst into laughter. “Oh, this is rich!”

Lux’s scowl deepened.

Ren frowned. “What’s going on?”

Karsen hid a giggle behind her fingers before explaining, “Turns out Smudge found a creature compatible with her on Dionus.”

Arda added, “Remember that howling I heard outside that I thought was a hallucination? It was him. We found them together—boinking like crazy.” She used her boot to gently nudge Smudge into the hall, and Trivet followed readily. “They refused to be separated, so we dragged them both on board. At the rate they’re going at it, we’ll have kittens before long.”

Warmth spread through my chest. “Truly? I always thought he’d end up alone because of his deformity.”

“He should have,” Lux grumbled, murder in his eyes.

Uh oh.

Ren snaked an arm through my elbow, dragging me into the hall. “I’m gonna show Jalen our room. Here’s the data you wanted. See you guys later, ’kay?” She tossed Arda the memory drive that she’d dug out of her pocket, then slammed the hatch shut and burst into a fit of laughter.

“I’m glad you find this funny. He wants to kill me!” I winced as the catlike creatures came into view once again, Trivet looking ready to mount Smudge at any moment. Luckily, Ren wasted no time dragging me away from them down the hall.

“Lux will come around. He’s just a little rough around the edges. You’ll get him to cool the grump act eventually.”

I grinned, puffing out my chest. “True. I have a way about me.”

She patted my arm. “You do.”

“Perhaps I should show him how to frolick?”

Ren snorted. “I’d love to see that.”

And I love you. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I held off. Probably best not to declare my undying affection with a serenade of horny critters yowling in the distance.

It could wait. We had all the time in the universe.

Ren punched a code into a dial, and then a hatch slid open. Shyly, she turned to me, her gaze dropping to her boots. “It’s not much, but it’s home. I honestly don’t spend a lot of time here, so if you want to decorate or change anything, I’m game for it.”

“I bet it’s perfect.” With a smile, I stepped inside, taking my first look at the sparse interior. Bare walls and shelves stared back at me, more like what I’d expect to find in a guest chamber instead of the resident mechanic’s quarters.

At least the bed was nice. It was large enough for both of us to spread out, not that I’d mind being forced to press against her in the night.

But then my gaze caught on something strange. Within a few steps, I plucked the item off my mate’s bed. “Ren…” I bit back a chuckle as a memory flashed through me. “Tell me, is this… Nicky-boy?”

Ren’s face turned scarlet as she shoved the door closed. “Oh my god, I can explain.”

Perhaps another male would make her, but as I watched embarrassment stain her skin, all I cared about was making it go away. She was my mate, and I hadn’t been lying when I’d told her I wanted her to feel good. Clearly, this wasn’t. But I could fix that.

“Forget it.” I tossed the pillow aside and sank down on her— our —bed, patting the cool sheets beside me. “I’d rather hear you scream my name.”

*Jalen*

A few hours later, a knock on the door woke my slumbering mate from her nap. She rubbed her eyes, and groggily said, “Verne? Who’s at the door?”

“Captain Arda is waiting in the hall,” a robotic voice announced from somewhere nearby, making me flinch.

“Tell her we’ll be out in a moment.”

“What was that?”

“The Verne ’s computer. If you ever have a question, all you have to do is ask.” Ren hopped out of bed and shrugged on her skinsuit while nodding at my clothes. I took the hint and dressed, scanning the walls warily.

Ren chuckled and slapped my back. “Relax. No one’s watching you. Promise.”

All the same, a rare frown curved my lips. It would take some getting used to living with all this technology.

After stuffing her feet into her boots, Ren opened the hatch. “Capt. What’s up?”

My smile returned as Ren’s casual greeting filled my ears. I loved how close her crew was. More like a family than mere workmates.

Arda rocked back on her heels. “Thought I’d stop by to see how you were settling in.” She peeked around Ren’s shoulder at me. “And I wanted to offer Jalen a tour of the greenhouse, if he’s up for it.”

I met her in the doorway. “That would be great.” It’d be nice to surround myself with plants for a change. Perhaps that would negate some of the strangeness from being amid all this metal and machinery.

“Sounds good to me. There’re some things I need to check on in the shuttle bay.” Ren lifted a brow. “Mind if we split up?”

A pang of discomfort struck me, but I brushed it aside. We’d spent the last couple weeks attached at the hip, but I couldn’t hover over her indefinitely. Besides, it’d be nice to get to know my new boss a bit better. “I don’t mind.”

“Have fun with your babies!” Arda called with a wave as Ren jogged down the hall.

I snickered. “Babies?”

“Just a joke.” Arda nodded in the opposite direction. I joined her in the corridor, and our leisurely steps echoed in my ears. “Ren’s always treated the hopper and Verne like they were her children. I’m glad she finally found something with a pulse to love on.”

I sighed, feeling like I was walking on air. “Honestly? Me too.”

Arda’s nose wrinkled as she examined my gait. A tiny chuckle caught in her throat, and she muttered something under her breath I didn’t quite catch.

“What was that?”

She shook her head, smiling. “Oh, nothing important.” Then she stopped at a hatch, punched in the code, and flung open the door. “Here it is.”

Heat swamped me, along with the sour stench of decay. My smile slid away as I stepped into what I could only describe as a planter’s worst nightmare. This wasn’t a greenhouse—not in its current state. More like a plant graveyard.

“You can see why we need your help.” Arda winced, rubbing the back of her neck. “Think you can fix it?”

With a deep breath, I surveyed the wreckage. Plentiful water trickled in my ears, and rich soil filled chest-high planters, most sporting brown, shrunken plants that had seen better days. It would likely all need to be replanted, but the space had potential. “Yes. I’m up for the challenge.” I turned to her with a grin as something I’d forgotten to mention earlier popped into my head. “Oh, before I forget again—” I dug into my vest pocket. “This is for you.” I handed Arda the letter Official Minra had requested I deliver after we last spoke.

“What is it?” she asked as she tore open the seal.

“The people of Onatel would like to hire the Verne ,” I explained as her gaze danced across the page. “They want someone to investigate the Thrin smugglers who’ve been stealing from Dionus.”

Arda tapped her chin. “Hm. I need to discuss this with Lux and the rest of the crew, but I will say, I’m intrigued.” She continued reading, and as she scanned the bottom of the page, her eyes narrowed. “It says here they sent you with payment?”

“They did.”

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense.”

I chuckled, then dug in a different pocket. I emptied the cloth sack into my open palm and held it out for her to see.

“Seeds?” Her lips pursed. “What kind of cheapskates are we dealing with here?”

A grin split my cheeks. “Actually, if what those smugglers said was true, in about a year, this greenhouse will be the proud home of one of the most valuable plants in the galaxy.”

Arda’s jaw dropped. “Shut up! Those are the flowers the Thrin are stealing? What did Ren call them… Bellright?”

“Ellbright.”

“Wow. Okay.” She nodded at my palm. “Take care of those babies, would you? And let me think about this.” She shook the letter. “I’ll have my answer before we leave Harlxston tomorrow.”

“Harlxston.” That was where Rhelt was.

“Yep. Ren asked to see her sister before we left. It’ll give you a chance to say goodbye to your cousin, too.”

My stomach clenched. “It will.”

I only hoped that meeting wouldn’t be the disaster that ruined everything.