Page 22 of Thruster (Hunted Relics #9)
Kelta climbs into bed with me some hours later. “Real bedding? Don’t you ever accidentally light yourself on fire?”
I crack my eyes open to her gorgeous face and the feeling of her soft, warm body—her bare skin—sliding over mine as she pulls herself up to me. "I did when I was younger, and when I'm really worn down. Hypervigilance makes me run more on instinct. When I'm rested and charged, I have more control."
“I like the sound of that. You being charged up and in control, I mean.” Kelta runs her hands over my side and touches one of the cables plugged into me, charging my core. She kisses my shoulder and checks every nutrient tube and cord. “Do you always have to sleep on your side when you’re hibernating?”
"Usually do it standing up." I point to the oval chamber in the wall. Our standard rooms are small with just enough space for a bed, cell, and a closet for weapons and other gear. But I’m happy to have my own space again. “Did you satisfy Clover for the moment?”
Kelta laughs and nestles closer to me. “I’m pretty sure Clover is never satisfied or even takes a break. But I sense she feels responsible for all of you like Mother, which I've learned is the ship’s AI.”
“Yeah. Every Titan ship has a Mother program and a CP, a CyberPilot.”
“It’s nice how they sort of gave you a family. I’m glad the Creators didn’t forget you’re still human in your cores.” She chews a lip. “I’m more thrilled about another part of you though, if I’m honest.”
“Oh?” I can’t help but grin when she hooks her leg over my hip and pulls me on top of her. Knowing my weight is far too much for her, I prop myself up on my elbows and knees.
Kelta pouts. “I like a little pressure.”
I ease myself against her. “Tell me if I become too much.”
She braces my jaw in her hands. “I’m just glad to have you with me. You saved me when I was dying—twice.”
I look down at the burn scars on her body from my engines that day I caught her in the sky.
“Stop. No regrets. Don’t feel guilty about that.” Then she smirks like she’s got some tiny little secret.
“What?”
“You’ve basically branded me. It’s an ancient practice humans once did to tell others which animals were theirs.”
“You are not an animal,” I correct. “Never say such a thing again.”
She winks. “You sure about that?”
Kelta reaches between us and grabs my stiff cock with a firm hand, then strokes me up and down until I’m a raging mess of need. “Pretty sure you turn me into one.”
“I think you have that backward.” I take her hand, guide it to my lips, and kiss the backs of her fingers. When I lower myself between her thighs, Kelta squirms beneath me.
She digs her fingers into the synthflesh of my back. "Hurry, please. I've been aching for you since we got here. It's really difficult to listen to Clover and work on ships when every other thought I have is about your thrust .”
Her need for me makes me pant, and I eagerly find her opening with my tip. As the heat of her envelopes me and holds me tightly, I become desperate to keep things this way. "Kelta?"
She arches beneath me as I penetrate her slowly, deeply, trying to hold onto every moment. Kelta moans, and her hands soften against my sides. "Yeah?"
“We got lucky, finding Blaster’s crew.”
“And?” Her pussy grips me tighter.
I struggle to catch my breath. “You would’ve died without them. So please, promise me you won’t risk your life like that again. I would rather be decommissioned than forced to endure this existence without you.”
She hooks her ankles behind my hips, then her arms around my neck and kisses me. “You are more important. Hundreds need you.”
“But I need you,” I whisper into her mouth. “So you’re just going to have to stay alive for me if you care about them.”
Kelta squints at me and then swats my side.
I chuckle at the light tap. “What?”
“Do not play with my heart, Thruster. You almost died for me up there.”
"You're special. You have the skills we need to get off this planet."
“So stay alive because I need you, and they need me.” Kelta crosses her arms beneath me and lifts her nose. “The deal goes both ways.”
She’s feisty, and I like it. “Come on, you’re not that mad are you?”
Kelta steals a sidelong glance up at me, her pretty brown eyes finding mine. When her pussy tightens around my cock, I know she’s not really upset.
I nibble her ear. The sweet taste of her skin ignites a need for more and makes me flex inside of her.
Kelta unlaces her arms and braces my sides with a pant.
“Didn’t think so,” I tease.
Then, to my surprise, she hugs me close and starts to cry.
I stop and slide my arms around her. “Kelta, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She sniffles and wipes her face dry with a hand.
"We don't have to do this if you don't want to," I offer.
“No, I’m okay. It’s just…emotional release.” She sniffles again and seems to find peace. “So much has happened—and changed. I don’t think I could’ve done it without your perky, sunshiny ass keeping me focused.”
I have never been valued for much other than my skills in the sky. But Kelta has given me a new sense of importance for simply existing. I don’t know what to say. So I say the only thing that comes to mind. “I love you.”