Page 20 of Her Cyborg Commander (The Drift: Haven Colony #9)

19

River left the shuttle with reluctance. Not because she wanted to stay and get caught but because it meant the end of her first solo flight. Once they were aboard the scout ship, Eddi would handle the flying. She’d planned to spend some time in the cockpit, though, learning anything Eddi wanted to teach her about the ins and outs of piloting.

The AI activated the jump-drive within seconds of their arrival. It jettisoned the tunnel they used to cross over the moment the airlock door sealed.

“We are underway. The other ship has changed its transponder and is now appearing as an unnamed Viper class vessel registered to El-Corp, which appears to be a holding company.”

“Three guesses who the real owner is,” Edge said. He was already busy taking off his body armor and dumping it in a pile in an open corner.

“My gut says it’s Torex,” River said. She was ready to ditch her armor as well and happily shed the protective but restricting gear.

“That would be my first guess, too, but it could belong to anyone affiliated with the Shadows.”

They looked at each other, both dusty, sweaty, and stained with blood.

“Please tell me this sweet little ship has a shower?” she asked.

“It does.” Edge reached out a hand. “Come with me, minx.”

She took his hand and let him lead her through the confines of the ship. It wasn’t large, but the design was well thought-out with a balance of practicality and comfort. The sanitation cubby was no exception. After so long living and sleeping in her cramped shelter, the ship felt almost palatial by comparison.

There was even a separate shower stall, and Eddi confirmed it could recycle the water fast enough to allow them unlimited use.

Edge stopped her just inside the door. “Strip off and give me all your clothes. I’ll put everything in the recycler and have Eddi use it to make you something new.”

His offer surprised her, but she wasn’t going to argue. She never wanted to see any piece of her current outfit again.

He took her things and disappeared, which gave her time to use the facilities and rinse the dust out of her mouth. When he returned, he was as naked as she was, his cock rising from between his legs and a gleam in his eyes that told her she wouldn’t be showering alone.

“Eddi, engage privacy mode,” he instructed.

“Engaged,” the AI stated before lapsing into silence.

“Now, let’s get you off your poor feet,” he said. Before she could protest, he caught her by the hips and lifted her onto a small stretch of counter beside the sink.

“Stay,” he told her, grinning as he leaned in to kiss her lightly on the mouth.

She nodded, faintly amused and somewhat embarrassed by this unexpected treatment. He turned on the shower, fiddling with the knobs until he was satisfied with the temperature. Then he pulled a towel from underneath the sink and soaked it in the warm water.

“I could rinse them off in the shower. That should get most of the sand and grit out.”

“We’ll get to that,” he said as he kneeled in front of her. “Let me take care of you.”

“Okay,” she said, aware of the warmth creeping up her cheeks.

He took one foot in his hands and wiped the dirt away with more care than she thought him capable of. Slowly and gently he cleaned each cut and abrasion, muttering darkly as he took in the damage she’d done. Bright spots stained the towel, but not as much as she’d expected.

“The medi-bots did a better job than I expected. I thought the dirt would slow the healing process.”

“It has, but I can clean this up enough the medi-bots can manage the rest.” He looked up at her, his ice-blue eyes filled with concern. “How’s the pain?”

“I haven’t dropped the nerve-block yet,” she admitted. “I got a little distracted by my very sexy nurse.”

“Your sexy nurse says it’s time. If it hurts too much, I’ll get you something to help, but you know we can’t keep those blocks in place for too long.”

“I know.” She braced herself for the discomfort and deactivated the block.

“How is it?”

“Not bad at all.” River wiggled her toes. “At this rate I’ll be healed up by morning. Does this mean I can take that shower now?”

“Not yet. Let me finish up.”

He went back to work, and again she was surprised by his gentleness. Even without the nerve-block, she never felt more than a brief bite of discomfort.

When he finished, he pulled open a small slot and dropped the towel inside. “Laundry chute,” he explained.

“Nice. Sevda put some serious money into upgrading this ship.”

“She did.” He held his arms out to her. “Come here, minx. I’ll carry you to the shower.”

It was less than a meter away, but she knew better than to argue with him right now. Once he had her, he turned and carried her over to the steady flow of gloriously hot water.

“I’d forgotten how nice it feels to have a proper shower. The one back at camp couldn’t manage more than a drizzle of warm water.”

“This is much better,” he agreed. “What about the shower at your place back home? Is it big enough for two?”

She laughed. “It is. Is that your way of asking if I’ll share my shower with you?”

“Maybe. I always liked the idea of having a place with a view of the river.”

“You could have picked one with a view. Why didn’t you?”

As they talked, the water poured over both of them, sluicing away the sand and sweat. The cuts on her feet stung a bit, but the water would finish cleaning the wounds and let them heal properly.

“Because I didn’t care which house I lived in. I didn’t think any of them would ever feel like a proper home. It would just be a safe place for me to rest. Why would I take one of the ones with a pretty view away from someone who would actually appreciate it?”

She cupped his cheek in her hand. “Because you deserve nice things, too. You don’t have to sacrifice everything for us, you know. We want you to be happy, too. All of us. Not just the cyborgs but everyone who knows you.”

His eyes filled with a mix of confusion and longing. “Yeah?”

“Yes, you big idiot.”

“You know what would make me very happy right now?” he asked, his lips almost touching hers.

“I think I can guess.” She closed the distance and kissed him before he could. “Whatever you want, Commander. It’s all yours.”

“All I need is you. Not your surrender, though you know I love that. But this time, I want you. No demands. No submission.”

She shivered despite the hot water flowing over her. “I’d like that too.”

He set her down then, watching her carefully in case her feet were still to tender. “I’m fine,” she assured him.

“In that case…” He wrapped a strong arm around her waist and pulled her in for a searing kiss. She moaned into his mouth and reached between them to wrap her fingers around the hard shaft of his cock.

He bucked against her hand, his body shuddering as he groaned her name. His cock twitched and pulsed as she stroked him, the twining of their tongues a promise of what was to come.

“What do you need?” he asked, his voice all gravel and steel.

“You. I want you inside me.”

Edge raised his head to smile at her, his eyes bright with desire. “As my minx wishes.”

He kissed her again. This time it was a slow, heated kiss that made her heart pound and her toes curl against the tile floor. This kiss went on forever, leaving her drunk with passion as he tasted and teased her.

She worked his cock with her hand, matching the slow, easy heat of his movements with her own.

Eventually his mouth left hers to trace the line of her jaw, down to her throat, and then lower still. The soft touch of his lips blended with the flow of water over her skin until it all blurred into one glorious whole.

Her body sang with need, but still he continued his way slowly down until his mouth was on her breasts.

She released his cock to bury her fingers in his hair, holding him close as she kissed him with a hunger she’d never felt before.

Edge laughed and reached up to catch her by the wrist. He raised her arms over her head and held them there as he used his free hand to tweak one sensitive nipple. “In a rush. Are we?”

“Yes,” she huffed at him.

“Soon. But first…” He leaned down and drew her nipple into the heat of his mouth. She arched into him, craving more of his touch. More of him .

He gave her what she needed, but soon his hand drifted lower, sliding down her stomach to her pussy. With a low growl, he pushed one finger into her slick folds.

“Yes. Like that. Please,” she whispered as he stroked her. Without thinking, she moved her feet further apart, opening herself to his questing fingers.

He circled her clit with a callused fingertip, his tongue mirroring the motion as he laved her breast.

“I love you,” she whispered. Then she pulled her hands free of his hold and buried them in the thick mane of his hair.

Edge released her breast and raised his head to stare into her eyes. “Say that again.”

“I love you.”

He flicked her clit with his fingers again and then pulled his hand away. “I am the luckiest man in the galaxy. And for the record, I think I’ve loved you since the first day we met.”

When he kissed her this time, her world went up in flames.

“This shower is too fraxxing small,” he announced a few moments later.

She didn’t protest when he picked her up again. She simply held on as he stalked out of the shower. “Where are we going?”

“Bed,” he declared, “and I don’t plan on letting you leave it again until tomorrow.”

She kissed him again. “You won’t hear any complaints from me.”

The bed was bigger than the shower but not by much. It was a double wide bunk that took up one wall and most of the floor space.

He set her down in the middle of the mattress, kissed her once, and then covered her with his body. She parted her thighs in welcome as he settled over her, his hard cock coming to rest just outside where she needed him most.

“Tell me what you need,” he coaxed her, his cock throbbing as it pressed against her entrance.

“I already told you,” she protested. “But I’ll say it again. I want you.”

“I will never get tired of hearing that.” Edge kissed her again, and then he was inside her.

His groans filled the room as their bodies merged, her flesh giving way to his thick length. As his hips touched hers, she arched her back, taking him deeper still, and was rewarded with a wave of pleasure so intense she gasped.

“Perfect,” he whispered, the word a caress as heated as any kiss. Then he was moving, each thrust slow as he buried himself inside her, only to withdraw until she ached with the loss of contact.

They danced together for ages, the pleasure building as they moved in harmony, each giving and taking in equal measure.

When it was all too much, she told him so. Not in words, but with small cries and needy moans that spurred him to move faster, to take her to the edge and let her soar.

Faster. Harder. Deeper. He drove himself into her like a force of nature. The pace grew wilder, and she felt his cock thicken as he neared the breaking point.

Edge threw back his head and shouted, his face a mask of ecstasy as he lost himself in her body. She followed him into the maelstrom, her cries blending with his.

When her senses returned, she opened her eyes to find him looking down at her with an expression of pure primal satisfaction.

“I was wrong. I’m not keeping you in bed until tomorrow,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

“No?” she teased. “So I can get up right now?”

“Absolutely not. You’re staying right here for two days. Maybe three.”

She laughed and settled deeper into the mattress as a sense of deep contentment and joy filled her heart. “Yes, Commander.”