Page 37 of Stolen Fire (N.O.A.H (Nostradamus Outerspace Advancement of Humanity) #2)

Blaize closed the door to her quarters. The launch had been perfect, and the team was relieved to have Cifer as their new partner. No one liked to negotiate, except for Rhysa, and her version of negotiation had a limited audience.

“Come here, Beauty.” Cifer gripped her hand, pulling her away from the door.

“Wait.”

Cifer released her, his face a mask of confusion. And that was the final hurdle—his infinite masks.

“I need you to do something for me before we go any further.”

He grinned. “Anything.”

“I want to see you. No illusions. Just you as you are.”

His grin faded. “You might not like what you see.”

“I love you. I’ll love what I see.”

“I love you, too.”

“I want more than your love. I want your trust.” And by giving her his trust, he’d be gaining hers, whether he knew it or not.

Cifer tugged his shirt up and over his head. Blaize traced the shadows of his muscles with her gaze. Cifer raised an eyebrow. “What if I’m fat and out of shape?”

“I’ve seen you work out with Dez. Pretty sure those muscles aren’t an illusion.

And even if they were, it’s not just your body I’m attracted to.

Your heart. The way you care for kids. Your honorable side.

That’s what has me quaking every time I see you.

That’s what convinced me to look beyond the seeming betrayal of you leaving and to examine all your actions as a whole.

You might break the rules, but you have good reasons. ”

“So, I’m an honorable thief now?” He released the clasp on his pants.

Blaize lost the ability to form words as he slowly exposed his hard cock. She wasn’t so dumb as to not hope that his cock remained largely the same. Emphasis on largely. Her cheeks heated.

“I’d love to know what thought put that color on your face, Beauty.”

“You’re stalling.”

“You can’t unsee me once I show you.”

She leaned against the wall as if she wasn’t a massive ball of tension. “Anytime now.”

He kicked off his boots and shed his pants. Naked but not real. Not yet.

She swallowed and remembered to blink.

“Ready?”

She nodded.

His body seemed to shimmer and stretch, much like when he’d reached into the panel on Varik’s ship or into the vent to retrieve the orb.

Except more than his arm shifted. His skin became noticeably greener.

His hair retreated to a short covering of his scalp.

The outlines of scales appeared around his shoulders, hips, and feet.

He seemed shorter, closer to her height.

But she’d been right. His muscles were still there, even more prominent.

She straightened from her relaxed stance as an appendage appeared from behind his hips.

A thick, muscular tail, wide at the base, narrowing to a tip no larger than his thumb.

“I knew it,” she gasped.

“What?” His startled tone and step back had her rushing to embrace him.

“Knew you’d be gorgeous. Knew your muscles were real.” She grinned up at him. “Knew you had a tail.”

“How?”

“You may not have been aware of it, but this extra appendage…” She reached around him and stroked her hand over the base of his tail where it met his ass, stealing his breath. “It made an appearance the night we made love.”

A reddish hue tinted his green cheeks. “I’ve never lost control like that before.”

“Until now.”

“Now?”

Blaize released the clasps on her boots and freed her feet. Her coveralls were next. Cifer stared at her plain bra and panties as if they were the finest lace spun by Aranidot weavers. He reached out a hand and hesitated.

“Touch me.” The words barely cleared her lips before she was enveloped in his embrace, his mouth on her neck, her shoulders, her lips.

She ran her hands over his body too, learning him anew.

The scales on his shoulders weren’t rough.

Like a callus more than a sharp edge. She liked the contrast of the roughness to the smooth flesh that covered the rest of his body.

He slid a finger inside her opening. “So wet and hot.”

“For you.” She shuddered as he slid in a second finger and pumped them, preparing her for what she hungered for. The moan that escaped her lips when he left her body carried the weight of her need for him.

“I can’t wait.”

She caressed his face. “I don’t want you to wait.”

“I’ve got you.” Cifer cradled her upper body in his arms. His tail took control of her leg, lifting and spreading her open. He bent his knees and notched the head of his cock at her opening.

“Fucking talented,” she breathed.

“I can shift my cock into any shape you like.” The tentative tone in his voice pricked her heart.

“No. You. As you are. I want the real us.” She pressed her lips to his.

He thrust up. She went to her tiptoes and lost her breath as he stretched and filled her, lifting her completely off her feet and sliding her down his cock. Strong, thick, flexible, and so much more—his body was a universe all by itself. One she’d never finish exploring.

He took a few steps, each move resonating through her core, making his cock drill deeper.

She squeezed her eyes shut, focusing completely on how he filled and stretched her so perfectly.

He pressed her against the wall of her room, the cold a sharp contrast to his heat.

Sensations washed over her faster than she could process.

He bent his head, thrust out his tongue, and extended it to lash her nipple.

She clenched as the sensation registered so much lower. “Oh damn, that’s a fucking skill.”

He leaned back and laughed. “Literally.”

“We’re exploring that talent again. In a bed.”

He dipped his knees to thrust up and into her with committed force. “We’ll explore everything, Beauty. All the positions, all the places, all the ways I can make you come.”

And she was on the edge of doing exactly that, her body sensitive and shaking, her pussy weeping over his cock as he slid in and out, each time going seemingly deeper. Who knows. Maybe he was. Whatever he was doing, he should keep doing it. Because?—

The tip of his tail teased between her cheeks, tickling her sensitive, untried ring.

She exploded. Like a rocket firing for launch, her entire body responded to the detonation that started in her core.

She bathed him in her cum, breath heaved from her lungs in a scream, and her muscles went rigid.

Through it all, he held her in place, continued to pump in and out, his green-eyed gaze pouring passion into her.

She couldn’t control her head falling back and her eyes closing as the power of the moment washed through her with aftershocks.

And then, he followed her into space, his body going rigid, his grip tightening.

The idea of his prints on her thighs made her body clench around his, and he roared, his rhythm gone and his cock juddering inside her.

She ignited again as he rocked into her, taking her deeper into a space only the two of them could be, the space and the stars they’d created with their explosive connection.

She dropped her head onto his shoulder, completely spent. His rich scent filled her lungs, bringing a sense of belonging deep into her soul. It was an unfamiliar sensation she’d spend a lifetime getting used to. He lowered her onto the bed and left her body. She moaned at the loss.

“Be right back.” He kissed her forehead and freed himself from her embrace.

Blaize’s gaze was drawn to him. Muscles rippled down his back.

Two taught globes framed his thick tail that didn’t quite reach the ground before it tapered to a point.

She’d never been with a male with extra appendages.

Gills had been the most exotic, but Cifer’s appearance didn’t seem exotic.

He was as he should be. His true form made sense. He shouldn’t have to hide.

“You have a choice,” he said when he returned from the bathroom. “This or my tongue?” He held up a damp cloth.

“That’s a question?”

Cifer laughed, stretched his arm back to the bath to drop the towel, and then settled between her legs. “Get comfortable, Beauty. I’m going to be very, very thorough.”

“Nice trick. With the towel.”

“I know a lot more tricks.” He gave her a wicked grin and extended his tongue.

She squirmed, and he held her in place as he took her over the edge again and again.

Banging on the door woke Cifer. He shifted his appearance and quickly put on his pants. Rhysa was on the other side of the door, a huge grin plastered on her face. She attempted to peer around him.

He shifted his body to close the gaps. “What’s up?”

“Dez cooked. Sent me to collect you two since Blaize isn’t answering her comm. Did you put her in a coma?”

Part of him wanted to puff out his chest and assure her that he had treated Blaize very well. “We’ll be there momentarily.”

“Good. It’s tradition for the crew to eat together after we launch. Family style.”

“Give me just a minute,” Blaize called from behind him. “But don’t wait for us. I’m sorry I missed the call. I don’t know what came over me. I?—”

“I’m pretty sure I know what came over you, in you, and all the other ways you can come. Good for you, Blaize. But hurry up. I’m hungry.” Rhysa spun on her heel, her laughter echoing behind her.

Cifer struggled to dress, distracted by the pale, pristine perfection that was his beauty. Blaize managed to finish cleaning up and securing her clothing before him, despite his head start. He shoved his feet into his boots and clasped her hand, enjoying the simple walk to the galley.

Two empty chairs waited for them. Bowls of steaming food filled the table, and the entire crew’s gaze locked on him and his lover.

He held down the proud smile and tried not to puff out his chest too far.

Pride didn’t begin to capture how he felt about his relationship.

And then there was the warm, soft sensation of being surrounded by the crew.

Embraced into the fold of their unity. He hadn’t belonged on The Treasure when he first stepped on board.

Yet, after such a short time, he couldn’t imagine belonging anywhere else.

Bowls passed from hand to hand, food scooped out onto their plates. Rhysa’s voice carried over the polite pleases and thank-yous. “We’re set for Hiargus. I found the best route, but it will still take months.”

Cyra held the platter of meat for Dez. “Shouldn’t be a problem. We have plenty of food and fuel.”

“Not a problem for you or Blaize,” Rhysa replied. “I hope I brought enough batteries.”

Bodi laughed. “There’s always fingers.”

“Yours or mine?” Rhysa asked.

Bodi rolled her eyes. “Never gonna happen.”

“Aw, Princess. I’m so disappointed.” Rhysa stuck out her tongue.

Bodi shifted her shoulder and gave Rhysa an imperious smile. “You couldn’t handle me.”

Veda laughed so hard, she slipped off her chair.

Blaize squeezed Cifer’s hand, and he met her gaze with a smile. She mouthed a single, perfect, once-unattainable word. Family.