Page 38

Chapter

Thirty-Eight

Tivek

T he darkness of space stretched before me through the viewport, an endless canvas of black punctuated by distant stars.

I sat in the pilot's chair, wearing only my uniform pants, the cool air of the cockpit raising goosebumps across my bare chest. My fingers traced the edge of the navigation console absently, my mind light-years away from the ship's systems.

Everything had changed.

I gazed out at the stars, wondering which one of those distant points of light might be Drex. How could I possibly return to the shadows now? How could I resume my life of secrecy after finding Morgan?

But would she want to keep what had happened between us hidden? The thought sent an unexpected pain through my chest. Did I want to?

"There you are."

Morgan's voice startled me from my thoughts. I turned to see her standing in the cockpit arch, wrapped in a sheet from the bunk bed she’d left, her hair tousled. Even in the dim blue glow of the emergency lighting, I could see the questioning look in her eyes.

"I woke up and you were gone," she said, her voice still husky with sleep. There was vulnerability in her tone that made my heart constrict.

"I'm sorry. You were sleeping so peacefully, and my mind was racing. Looking at the stars helps me think."

She moved closer, her bare feet silent on the metal floor. "And what are you thinking about?"

I could have deflected, could have given her some partial truth, but I didn’t.

“About what happens if we make it back to Drex and the academy.” I gestured between us, words suddenly inadequate. "After all this."

Morgan studied me, her head tilting slightly. "You're worried I'll want to keep us a secret."

It wasn't a question, but I nodded anyway, impressed by her perceptiveness.

She stepped closer, until she stood directly before me and let one hand lazily trace the markings that stretched down my right arm. "I don't care if everyone in the universe knows."

Before I could respond, she released her grip on the sheet, letting it pool around her feet. The sight of her made my mouth go dry and my mind momentarily blank.

"Morgan," I managed to stammer, my usual eloquence deserting me entirely.

She smiled at my reaction, a smile both pleased and predatory. In one fluid motion, she moved forward and straddled me in the pilot's chair, her skin warm against mine.

"I haven't gotten close to my fill of you yet," she murmured, her breath hot against my ear.

My hands found her waist instinctively, steadying her as the chair adjusted to our combined weight.

Part of me registered that we were in the most vulnerable position possible, exposed in the cockpit.

But that voice was quickly silenced by the sensation of her skin against mine, the weight of her in my lap.

"This is reckless," I said, though I made no move to stop her from undoing my pants and releasing my cock.

Morgan laughed, the sound vibrating through both our bodies. “Who is out here to see us?”

She made a solid point.

Then her lips captured mine in a kiss that started gentle but quickly ignited into something more urgent. My hands slid up her back, feeling each shift of muscle beneath soft skin as she fisted the base of my cock.

Morgan's hands moved with newfound confidence, exploring and teasing until I couldn't think straight and could barely maintain the tiniest illusion of control. The sensation of her lowering herself onto me was another form of surrender I hadn't known I needed.

The pilot's chair creaked slightly beneath us as I slid one of my hands to her hip, guiding her, while the other traced the curve of her breast, delighting in the way she arched into my touch.

“Eyes on me,” she commanded softly when I started to lose myself in sensation. "I want you to watch me ride you.”

I obeyed, mesmerized by the sight of her above me with the carpet of stars spread out behind her. Her breasts bounced as she moved herself up and down, bracing her hands on my shoulders. It was the most spectacular sight I’d ever seen.

And I was completely hers.

"Tiv," Morgan gasped, her fingers digging into my shoulders as she neared the edge. The sound of my name on her lips was intoxicating and addictive.

I tightened my grip on her hip, helping her maintain the pace as her movements became more erratic.

When she finally shattered, her entire body tensed as my pleasure crashed into me at the same time.

With a hoarse cry, I drove her down onto me as I emptied into her with a shudder.

Then she collapsed onto my bare chest, fighting her breath.

Finally, she looked up at me. “I can’t believe I did that.” She glanced behind her. “In front of all of space.”

I didn’t remind her that, as far as we knew, no one was anywhere near us to see. No need to spoil the moment.

She giggled. “I’m guessing that broke a few spy protocols.”

“Only if you weren’t a mark I was using to extract information from, which you are.”

This made her laugh harder. “I think I did all the extracting.”

I curled my arms around her back, hugging her to me and laughing with her. “You did take advantage of me.”

“And I plan to do it again,” she said with a playful nip at my throat. “As much as I can, until neither of us can walk.”

If I had to go, this way was about as good as I could imagine. “Your wish is my command.”

Before Morgan could respond, a proximity alarm blared from the console, startling us both. Morgan scrambled off my lap, grabbing the discarded sheet to wrap around herself as I hastily adjusted my pants and turned to the controls.

"What is it?" she asked, leaning over my shoulder as I checked the spluttering readings. “ I thought the sensors were offline.”

“So did I.” My heart rate accelerated as I registered what the sensors were showing. "A ship," I said, hardly daring to hope. "Coming into range."

"Drexian?" The strategist was back in her voice, all business despite our state of undress.

I shook my head, studying the configuration. “I can’t tell. Our sensors aren’t functioning well enough to tell me that. But definitely approaching deliberately, not just passing by."

I couldn’t believe it. We’d been found—but by whom?

This was either very good news. Or very bad.