Page 27

She blinked at him. “Well, then carry away. Just know that at some point in your life, you’re going to need both hands.”

He flipped her, tossing her over his shoulder to rest his hands on her backside.

She squealed and squirmed, her fingers digging into his sides. “I’m not a sack of potatoes, Nerx.” She huffed.

He swatted her. Her breath caught, and she pinched her thighs together.

The scent of her arousal thickened. His malehood hardened and began to throb.

He’d been serious about cleansing, but if she kept scenting so damn good, they’d take longer than five minutes.

In the cleansing room, he set her on her feet, then whipped off her tunic.

With another pat on one backside cheek, he nudged her to the spray.

When the water activated, she danced on the spot with her face raised. Black hair plastered to her head, and yet, he thought her beautiful. He stepped in behind her, nudging her back with his chest.

Looping one arm around her waist, he slid his other hand to cup a breast. He thrummed his thumb over her nipple until it tightened, then he stroked her stomach to slip between her thighs.

A groan escaped him seconds before he clenched his jaw. She was so ready for him.

“Kiss me,” he whispered, pinning her to his front.

She angled her head to meet his lips while he tormented her until she trembled in his arms. Not once did she break the kiss, allowing him to swallow her whimpers and mewls.

Against his hard arousal, she swirled her hips, rubbing her soft backside where he ached for her.

Her fulfilment hit her, making her writhe.

Her pert breasts filled his vision when he pulled away.

Spinning her, he hoisted her and pressed her back to the bulkhead.

“Nerxie?” she asked, clutching his shoulders.

“Wrap your legs around me, ensa .”

When she did, he positioned his arousal at her entrance and eased himself into her.

He closed his eyes as heated darts of pleasure rippled along his length.

Maker. Nothing feels as good as her. He withdrew and thrust into her, the back of her head tapping the bulkhead, and drawing a startled gasp.

With one hand behind her head, he gripped her hip as he pounded in her.

She cried out, arching into him as her body trembled.

She tightened her channel around him until it felt like the perfect grip of a glove.

He grunted when pure joy slammed into him, flooding his mind with white ecstasy, like the Ethera had triggered.

As he struggled to catch his breath, he nestled his forehead between her breasts.

Her heartbeat thumped, erratic and yet, somehow, musical.

Warm tendrils wrapped around his heart while whispering her name in a tribal chant.

Stepping back, he released her, letting her slide down the bulkhead until her feet touched the floor. “Shall we?” He swept out his hand, gesturing to the blue button.

She laughed as she slipped around him to summon the dryer.

Warm air bathed them both when he joined her.

So close to her, he couldn’t resist holding her even if it meant parts of him wouldn’t fully dry.

Just the bliss of Britta in his arms brought him so much contentment.

He caught his image in the reflective surface above the waste receptable and grimaced.

His hair…gone. Sadness warred with horror and disappointment.

How could he face his father like this? If Father so much as spoke a vicious word to Lily, Britta, or himself, he’d deal with it like he should have too many years ago.

“Hungry?” she asked, offering him a robe.

“Ravenous,” he rasped, running his gaze down the plunging ‘V’ hinting at her plump breasts while drawing his focus to her sex.

“Charmer,” she said, activating the robe to close. “Let’s not keep Lily waiting too long.”

As he donned his armor, he watched without guilt as Britta pulled on tight-blue leggings she called jeans.

The only undergarment she wiggled into was a bra.

Above this went a sleeveless white tunic that ended mid-waist, exposing a sliver of skin when she raised her arms. Next were her thick boots missing the boosters and magna-locks in his.

She flicked her hair off her face with a puff from her mouth. “Ready?”

He nodded, staring at her while he followed her to the common.

On the table was a feast with Ziot’s plate piled high. “Supreme Commander, Lady Britta,” he said around a mouthful.

“Lily?” Britta scooped her into her arms and carried her around the table, giving exaggerated gasps at the food. “You did so well. This is exactly what I was thinking. Bacon, cheese, maple syrup? Boy, am I starving now.”

Lily giggled then squealed when Britta planted kisses all over her face.

“What is that scent?” Matir called, swinging his legs off the side of the med-E.D. He inched off the bed then limped toward Ziot. Already his movements were smoother and the bruises almost faded.

Britta chose a spot, tucked Lily beside her, then patted the bench, her gaze on Nerx. Without hesitation, he sat while offering Matir an empty plate.

“Want some French toast, Uncle Matir?” Lily asked, scrambled up, then stacked the male’s plate as if he hadn’t eaten for days. Perhaps this was true.

“Syrup if you’re craving sweet,” Britta said as she drizzled golden liquid over a brown square. “Sprinkle cheese if you want a salty-sweet combination. Then add bacon for that wow factor.”

She pushed the loaded plate in front of Nerx while sucking her thumb. “Here, have mine.”

He forgot himself for a moment as he gazed into her eyes. With a sigh, he used a fork to cut off a piece. He stilled when the flavors exploded in his mouth. This was so much better than hotdogs and fish fingers. He said as much, relishing her untamed laughter.

“Supreme Commander, requesting permission to port the operatives?” Edon said from Nerx’s O.D.I.

“Permission granted,” he said, taking the time to lick a fingertip.

Hope conquered his soul. The operatives on board meant he’d have back up when they ventured planetside to collect Aldur and Britta’s mother. With the delicious food before him, Britta warming his side, and Lily teasing Ziot with a strip of bacon, his world was complete.