Page 54 of Tempting Cargo

THE STEWwas unusual but pleasant, a rich, umami broth packed with sweet vegetables and melt-in-the-mouth chunks of meat. My bowl was empty before I knew it, and I reclined, sated, my fingers entwined with Shohari’s.

We all drained our drinks and stacked the bowls on the small, wobbly table. When a booth finally became free at the back, I sat down first, shifting down to the end, and she slid in right next to me. Below the scents of spice and ale, she smelled of Shohari, and I drew her into my arms.

It was a strange limbo. We couldn’t be a couple; we weren’t supposed to even have any hope of a future. But right now, in this in-between station, this in-between headspace where I was tipsy but not drunk, I could pretend whatever we had now, just was.

She nuzzled into my neck, and all I wanted was to savour this moment, savour her. I kissed her temple and stroked her headspines like I’d stroke hair. They softened and gave under my hand, and she didn’t complain, but I’d no idea if it was pleasurable. I wanted to know. I wanted to know all the ways I could touch her that she liked, sexual or not.

Shohari leaned in, her breath hot on my ear. Her clumsy movements and too-loud voice spoiled the sexiness she was going for, but it was kind of adorable anyway. “I still want to fuck you.”

No matter the delivery, it had the desired result; all I could think about was being inside her, and blood rushed to my dick in agreement.

“I had an idea about that,” I said, keeping my voice low as the others started filling the booth. “What happens if I fuck you from behind? We can’t lock that way, can we?”

“What? Like animals rut?” She lurched back, eyes wide.

I drew her back in. “Not so loud. Yes. We’re just animals, Sho.”

“We don’t… Kri’ith don’t do it that way.”

“Humans do it all manner of ways. Ways I’d love to show you.” I pressed a quick kiss to her mouth. “Why don’t you?”

She grimaced. “Because I don’t want asuhlasucking on my curl?”

“Okay. Let’s come back to what asuhlais because I feel like I need to know. But this is a thing we can try, isn’t it? Because I clearly don’t have one.”

“Oh. Maybe, then.”

I was on a roll now, running through my mental list of possibilities. “Or you could ride me, reverse cowgirl.”

“Reverse what? Another animal position?”

“No. It’s like this morning, but you face away from me instead.”

She pouted and sat back, facing the table. “But then I can’t see your face. And I like your face.”

I ignored the squeeze in my heart. “Oh my god, you’re being sweet again.”

“We can hear you,” Paiata said. “You may as well tell him what we’ve got. Actually, I’ll tell him. Seeing as how I’m apparently involved in this conversation too. And Shohari hasn’t—”

She thumped him on the shoulder. “More biology lesson, less gossip please, pilot.”

“Aye, Cap. Asuhlais a shallow indentation above our cocks that sucks on the female’s clit.” He paused, a satisfied smile lighting his angular features. “Males have beads on our cocksthat get stimulated by the ripples, which sets off a chain reaction. Lots of orgasms.” His short headspines bobbed as he tilted his head to either side, casting his eyes over the bar.

“Mmm,” Shohari said. “And that means you don’t accidentally get locked together.”

Paiata spluttered and set his drink down with a jolt. “What? You didn’t.”

“Shut up.” She whacked him on the shoulder. “I hadn’t done it before. How was I to know he wouldn’t have all the same parts as us?”

“Kri’s hairy arse, Cap, have you never watched interspecies porn?” he asked, as if, obviously, everybody had watched interspecies porn.

“I’ve never watched any porn,” she muttered.

“This is fascinating,” I said, “but let’s move on. Thanks, Paiata, for telling me about your dick.”

“Kheh, if I was telling you about mine, I’d tell you how many beads I have, and how big they swell when—”

They what?