Skyport Virgo 1 - Refuge (9 page)

Shivering, Laleh shoved back against him as if to encourage his touch. His cock stirred at the sensation of her bottom pressed against it. A nagging voice told him to stop before things spiraled out of control, but the primal side of his nature urged him onward.

His hand traveled farther north, circling her navel before sliding up the center of her chest. His fingers moved under the thin fabric to cup her breast. Already her nipple stood erect. He rubbed his thumb over the peak, delighting in Laleh's sharp inhale at his teasing touch.

She reached back and grasped his hip. Pike teethed her shoulder and circled his tongue over her skin. Laleh's hand slid down between their bodies and clutched his cock through the cotton fabric. At her boldness, Pike hissed with surprise. Her searching hand fondled him, moving over his boxer briefs to trace his hard length. White hot desire pierced his belly.

Pike pressed on Laleh's shoulder, urging her onto her back, and captured her lips. A mewling sigh escaped her throat. Her fingers threaded through his hair as he peppered short kisses along her jaw. Pike's hand moved down over her belly but stopped at the waistband of her panties. He debated whether to continue or pull back.

"Please," Laleh begged, hips bucking toward his hand. "Touch me, Pike."

With a low growl, Pike claimed her lips again and dipped his hand into her underwear. Short crisp hairs tickled his fingers as he petted her sex. He stroked his fingertips up and down, eliciting whimpers of excitement from Laleh's lips. As if desperate for his touch, she opened her thighs wider. Wanting complete access, Pike pulled on her panties. Laleh lifted her hips as her undergarments were jerked down over her thighs to her knees. She kicked her right leg until it was freed from the elastic prison.

Lips on her neck, Pike placed his hand on her mound and parted her pussy with his fingertips. Her skin was so hot. He slid a searching finger between the folds and discovered her slick cream already leaking from her core. He rubbed his fingers around the entrance of her sex, not yet penetrating as he gathered her juices. The thought of tasting her sweet cunt drove him wild.

But that could wait.

"Baby, you're soaking wet." His rasped words made Laleh groan. Fingers slippery, Pike turned his attention to the little bud at the apex of her sex. She gasped as he circled her clit. Pike made love to her mouth, nipping at her bottom lip and sucking on the tip of her tongue. He worked the stiff nub. Laleh's breaths came in staccato pants against his cheek and mouth. She clutched at his forearm, nails biting into his skin, and rocked her hips. He could tell it wouldn't be long before she exploded.

Wanting to draw out the experience, he abandoned her clit for the moment. His fingers moved between her wet pussy lips. She inhaled a sharp breath when he slid his middle finger into her cunt. Knowing she'd never been with a man, Pike was extremely gentle with his thrusts. There was no reason to rush or make her uncomfortable. He brushed his thumb over her clit and Laleh moaned loudly. His cock jumped at the primitive sound.

Laleh's hand moved between their bodies. He made no protest when her hand slipped inside his boxer briefs. She clasped his cock in her soft palm and tentatively stroked him.

The sensation of her fingers clutching his dick sent shockwaves of pleasure through his body. By her clumsy movements, he could tell she'd never given a hand job. He pumped his hips, encouraging her to continue. Despite the lack of finesse, Laleh's touch already had his balls drawing up in anticipation.

Pike wanted Laleh to come with him, to feel her shatter against his hand. He flicked her clit faster and used a bit more force behind his finger thrusts. Her fingers tightened around his cock, her strokes quicker. Seeking more stimulation, Pike pushed his cock against her palm. Laleh's breaths hitched.

"Come with me, Laleh," Pike urged, his lips against her ear. She shuddered and bucked against his fingers. "That's it," he cooed.

Laleh's strokes stumbled. Her body tensed, knees drawing up, thighs closing a little.

As if hyperventilating, she sucked in sharp, short breaths. Pike's groin tightened at the sounds of his wife coming undone. And then she came. Shoulders lifting off the bed, Laleh jerked and panted. "Pike!"

Laleh crying out his name as she peaked was all it took for him to break. Groaning, Pike shoved against her hand as he continued rubbing her clit. He buried his face in her neck as his body convulsed, his semen spilling onto her skin and his. Only when she pulled away from his fingers, did he stop. Ever so carefully, Pike withdrew from her body and cupped her mound. Her hand stayed on his cock, petting him as he deflated. For some time, they lay together, breathing hard in the darkness.

Eventually, Pike shifted away from her and took her hand from his boxers. He shirked the cotton garment and used it to clean first her hand and then himself. Balling them up, he tossed them on the floor. The necessities dealt with, Pike gathered Laleh in his arms and tucked her against his chest. Hand on her cheek, he kissed her deeply, lovingly. Clinging together, they fell back asleep.

*

The whirring noise of a shower pulled Laleh from a sound sleep. Stretching her arms overhead, she yawned and blinked. As she lowered her arms, Laleh's hand drifted over a still warm patch of sheet. She rolled onto her side and touched the space where Pike had recently been. Memories of last night flashed before her eyes. Her belly flip-flopped as she remembered Pike's hot whispers against her ear, his fingers playing with her pussy.

What felt so natural at the time seemed so impetuous now. When he'd taken her in his arms and caressed her so gently, Laleh had simply melted. Feeling his cock pressing into the cleft of her backside had been the last straw. No matter how hard she might have tried, it would have been impossible to marshal enough restraint to keep her hands to herself. She'd surrendered to desire—and it had been beautiful.

The shower stopped. Laleh gulped nervously, wondering how this morning would play out after their late night tryst. Sitting up, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and faced the bathroom door. As she listened to the various noises Pike made getting dressed, Laleh used her fingers to brush out her hair, tucking the locks behind her ears.

A slick wetness clung to the very tops of her inner thighs. She embarked on a hunt for her missing panties, finally locating them down at the bottom of the bed, sandwiched between the sheets. Slipping back into them now seemed a little ridiculous so she folded them neatly and set them aside.

Pike emerged from the bathroom in a clean, pressed uniform. A look of surprise crossed his face. "You're awake." Before she could speak, he frowned and apologized. "I didn't mean to wake you. I tried to be as quiet as possible."

She shrugged. "It's fine. How much time do we have before we have to leave?"

"A couple of hours," Pike answered, sitting beside her on the bed. His scent enveloped her, the woodsy leather smell making her nearly high. "Plenty of time for you to shower and have breakfast." He brushed aside her bangs. "How did you sleep?"

Laleh's entire body tingled. "Very well. You?"

"Better than I have in quite a long time." A flash of uncertainty tugged at his face. He seemed hesitant as he spoke. "Laleh, about last night…"

Her gut clenched as she thought the worst. "Yes?"

"I was thinking about it in the shower, and I can't help but worry that maybe I pressured you. Maybe I should have been more restrained." Pike shook his head, obviously disappointed with himself. "I don't want you to feel as if you have to continue the physical side of our relationship just because of what happened between us last night."

Laleh touched his cheek, the skin smooth from his morning shave. She searched for the right thing to say. "Pike, I wanted it. I wanted you. I still want you now."

At her bold declaration, his Adam's apple bobbed. He grinned broadly. "Well. All right then."

Laleh smiled and pecked his cheek. "I'm going to grab a shower."

Pike nodded. "I'll get our things together."

As Laleh stood and moved away, Pike snatched her wrist and tugged her down. His hand cradled the back of her neck, his fingers tangled in her hair. She realized he meant to kiss her and protested. "I have morning breath!"

He chuckled softly. "I really don't care."

Laleh relaxed into his searching kiss. His arms slid around her waist and pulled her closer. She gave into his tugging and settled her knee on the mattress next to his thigh.

His hands massaged her back before sliding down to her backside. He cupped her buttocks through her nightgown. Laleh moved her other knee onto the bed and straddled his thighs. Her fingers sifted through his hair as she moaned into his mouth. Her pussy pulsed with need—and she realized they had to stop.

Breaking their kiss, Laleh pressed her forehead to hiss. "I'm sorry."

He inhaled deeply and slowly shook his head. "No, you're right. We don't have enough time for me to do this right."

Her entire body vibrated at the gruffness of his voice. She kissed him softly. "I'm going to take that shower now."

"Good idea." Pike smiled and ran his thumb over her lower lip. "Tonight."

His heated gaze promised a night she would never forget. Trembling with anticipation, she climbed off his lap and dashed into the safety of the bathroom. Back against the door, she exhaled a shaky breath. So much for taking things slowly…

Laleh muttered a dark curse upon the realization she was
still
lost. And hungry. That blueberry cheesecake muffin and cup of ginger chai were delicious, but they were hardly enough to tide her over for five plus hours. She scowled.
Quick orientation, my ass.

If she ever found him, Pike was going to receive one mighty shoulder punch. He'd described the orientation and safety drills as short and sweet, but four hours of boring spiels from the heads of the various ship departments and three emergency drills were neither short nor sweet. Granted she'd met some nice people among the small group of civilians riding out to Skyport Virgo aboard the
Spica,
but would it have killed the public affairs office to provide them with snacks? Pike was going to get an earful about the dreadful PR aboard his ship.

Laleh's stomach growled as she stared in consternation at the navigation screen mounted on the wall. A blue dot blinked in representation of her position while a red line zigzagged through various deck layers of halls, elevators, and escalators. Somehow she'd ended up down on the sub-decks near the engine room rather than up on the second deck where the mess was apparently located. If she hadn't dropped and broken her transmitter during a safety drill, she would have simply called Pike and asked him for help.

She glanced left and right for some kind of landmark to aid in orientation. According to the map, an elevator should have been just to her right and yet it was nowhere to be seen. Rolling her eyes, she headed for the stairwell she could see and hoped for the best.

Her heels clacked against the metal stairs as she climbed to the next deck. Feet throbbing from all the walking, she paused long enough to take off her heels and then kept going.

That was another bone she had to pick with Pike. While the dress code for civilians was very relaxed, the disembarkation of a new flagship called for a nice outfit. Knowing the maiden voyage of his ship was important, Laleh had chosen one of her favorite ensembles, a pleated A-line skirt and matching bateau top cut from a fabulous blue and black abstract print against a white background. Had she known there was going to be such a great deal of physical activity, she'd have worn flats rather than heels.

Apparently, Laleh hadn't been the only civilian in the dark about the full extent of the orientation and safety drills. The whole lot of them had been improperly dressed for the occasion. Laleh added that little tidbit to her laundry list of gripes for Pike.

Barefoot, she climbed four flights of stairs before reaching another deck with a prominently displayed navigation screen. As she started toward the screen, Laleh noticed the hallway was lined with doorways. She realized this was one of the decks housing the hundreds of crew members.

A side door opened and Laleh plowed into a rather large body. The big toe on her right foot slammed into something rock hard—a boot—and she stumbled forward. An arm looped around her waist, but she'd tipped so far forward there was no stopping the fall. Instead she ended up taking down the owner of the arm and boot.

"Shit!" Laleh cursed as she untangled herself from the bigger body on top of her. She sat up and clutched her injured foot. Tears pricked her burning eyes. Blood dribbled from the cracked nail onto her fingers. Her stomach lurched at the sight.

"Fuck!" A rough male voice echoed in the hallway. "Are you okay? I didn't see you."

"No, I'm not okay! I think you broke my toe!" Laleh glared at the man hunched next to her. With his stubbled cheeks and unkempt brown hair, he had a rather roguish look.

His blue eyes were dark with concern. The black uniform with its odd silver and red patch on the chest didn't register as anything she'd ever seen.

He frowned. "Why aren't you wearing any shoes?"

"I hardly think my heels would have done much to prevent that," Laleh snapped, pointing at her already swelling toe.

Snorting, he rolled his eyes. "No need to be melodramatic. Let me take a look at it."

Without waiting for her permission, he picked up her foot and gently prodded the toe. Laleh winced. "Ow!"

"Sorry." He shook his head and stood. "It's broken." He hauled her off the ground.

"Let's get you to the sick bay."

"My shoes," Laleh said, gesturing to her heels resting against the far wall where they'd fallen during her tumble. He picked them up and thrust them into her hands.

"Thanks."

He slid an arm around her shoulder and braced her weight. "Elevator's that way," he said with a flick of his head. "Think you can make it?"

She nodded and accepted his help as she hobbled down the hall. "Do you have a name?"