Page 19 of Saving Lauren

“I have no objections to that,” I giggle. He smiles then pulls my lips to his again. This time he gives as good as he gets. The kiss is still tentative, and mine to control. I love every minute of it. Having this big alien at my mercy is really doing something for me.

We break apart, both panting. D’Var looks utterly dazed, me smiling at him.

“That was amazing!” He grins, then he kisses my lips before he walks towards the bathroom.

I ogle him a little, because that man looks way too good in those soft pants. When he turns to give me one last smug grin before he enters the door, I can’t deny that he sets my body on fire with his perfect body and those kisses.

We both freshen up, then leave for the Command Center to get breakfast. When we pass the sliding doors, I notice that the ship now has quite a different view. Where yesterday there were stars and wide amounts of space as far as the eye can see, now there is rock, rock, and pieces of rock.

“Where are we?” I ask. T’Rak and O’Rec both look up from their noodles.

“Asteroid belt," O’Rec answers while D’Var goes to make me a bowl of noodles of my own.

“Hmm,” I say, looking around for a place to sit. It gets crowded with the four of us here at the same time. It looks like I am going to be her for the long haul, but if I’m staying with them on this spaceship, I am going to need a kitchen and a decent place to eat.

When D’Var and I have finished our noodles, O’Rec clears his throat.

“I have rebuilt a couple of solar lights to use for your plants," he says.

I smile. “Thank you! That is so nice!” D’Var growls a bit and O’Rec just laughs. I feel D’Var’s arm coming around me. I realize he doesn't like me smiling at O’Rec. I pat his leg and give him a quick kiss on his cheek to set him at ease.

I clear my throat. It’s now or never, I guess. “Do you guys think it is possible to make some adjustments to the ship?”

Three males stare at me in utter shock. Eyes wide and mouths open.

“I uh…” I breathe in deep, I can do this. “From what D’Var has told me, you live on this ship, right?” D’Var gives me a nod while he squeezes my hand, giving me the courage to continue.

“So, since I am D’Var’s mate, I guess I will stay with you on the ship, correct?” Another encouraging nod.

“I would like to have some kind of dining room, like a mess hall? Somewhere we can sit and hang out, or eat together, at a table. If things work out with the plants, I would love a spot where I can experiment a bit with cooking; a kitchen.”

The room falls silent. Then T’Rak opens his mouth.

“We can do that. We can divide the Cargo Bay in two, reroute the noodle station to the back. That also gives O’Rec space to set-up a separate security station…” His voice trails off, while he stands up and stalks towards the hallway. We all hurry after him.

When we enter through the sliding doors behind him T’Rak. He stands in the middle of the cargo bay.

“The wall can go from here to there.” He gestures at the other side of the cargo bay, he turns towards O’Rec.

“O’Rec, can you pull the wires and reroot the noodle station?”

“Absolutely,” he grins. “I will get to that, then set-up the new security station when it’s done.”

T’Rak nods, then points to the empty space next to the hiding place. “The greenhouse can go there.”

I nod, that is an excellent place.

“D’Var and I will work on the wall.” He looks at D’Var, who lifts his chin in agreement. “There are materials in the Engine Rooms we can work with, let us get to work.”

T’Rak and O’Rec walk away, leaving me alone with D’Var. He looks at me and smiles. “You are such a fearsome female.”

I blush.

“All the equipment you need for the plants are over there, by the crates,” he continues.

“I think I need to look at some pots first," I say and he guides me to a corner of the cargo bay where a lot of containers and pots are stashed.

“Should I take some for you?” he asks, eager to assist me. But I decide it’s time for me to take some control back. To take something back that was once, one of my biggest qualities: my independence. So I turn around, giving him my most confident smile.

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