Page 7 of Stardust Paws and Alien Claws

The cosmos stretched out before us as the Koloss banked into the inky blackness of open space. Stars winked into being, their brilliance no longer outshone by the station’s glow. I drifted closer to the viewport, drawn by the breathtaking vista.

So this was the great unknown that awaited us. Despite the immense distances, it no longer seemed so vast, so isolating with Doanor and his crew by my side.

After an eternity compressed into mere moments, Doanor’s rough voice snapped me from my reverie. “Shall we continue the tour? There are a few more areas I’d like to show you.”

I followed him from the bridge, doing my best to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. My mind still swam with phantom sensations – the scorching press of his body, the lingering musk of his skin. This façade of intimacy was going to take some getting used to.

The corridor curved gently to the left before opening into a spacious galley. Sleek metallic countertops curved in a broad horseshoe shape, punctuated by built-in cooking stations and food printers. A long dining table dominated the center, already set with an array of covered dishes that released tantalizing aromas into the air.

At one of the cooking stations, a lanky, reptilian figure twisted around at our entrance. Glittering scales shimmered across her lithe, sinuous frame, and a pair of slit-pupiled eyes regarded us with open curiosity.

“Kylari, this is Cassidy,” Doanor said by way of introduction. “She’ll be with us on this job as...my companion.” His tail curled slightly as he spoke the final word, almost imperceptibly.

Kylari cocked her head, flicking her forked tongue against the air as if tasting my scent. An enigmatic smile drew up the corners of her thin lips. “A pleasure to meet you, Cassidy.” Her voice slithered like silk against my skin, smooth and hypnotic. “I must say, you’ve landed yourself quite the impressive mate.”

Heat flooded my cheeks anew as I opened my mouth, grasping for a reply. Doanor cut me off with a rumbling chuckle. “I’m the lucky one,” he demurred, slipping an arm around my waist and pulling me against his side. “I’ve been counting the days until we could finally meet in person.”

My breath hitched in my throat at his casual possessiveness, his words igniting sparks that danced across my skin. He played the role of besotted partner with utter conviction, his deep voice practically smoldering with restrained ardor.

Two can play at this game, buster.

Looping my arms around his thick neck, I raised myself on tiptoe to press my lips against the taut cords of muscle at his throat. A shudder ran through his powerful frame, so fleeting I wondered if I’d imagined it.

“And I you, my heart,” I murmured against his skin, allowing the barest hint of a caress with my tongue.

Doanor froze, the sudden tautness of his body belying his relaxed facade. His pupils flared, blown wide for the span of a single ragged breath.

Before either of us could shatter the delicate tension, Kylari cleared her throat with a low trill. “Well, now that you two have been...reacquainted...” She turned back to the cooking unit, deftly slicing some kind of violet tuber. “I’d best get dinner prepped so you can properly celebrate your reunion later.”

My face burned anew, but I refused to be the first to break away from Doanor’s embrace. Let him make that move, if he dared. I wet my lips as I met his smoldering gaze.

“Yes, dinner first,” he agreed at last, his voice pitched lower than usual. “And then...perhaps we can continue our more private tour?”

The heated promise in his tone made my knees go weak. Before I could formulate a suitably brazen response, however, he extricated himself from my arms with a deft smoothness that left me unbalanced.

“For now, I should check in on our other cargo,” he added, turning on his heel and striding from the galley. “Let me know when you’ve finished, Kylari.”

I stared after his retreating form, equal parts stunned and aroused. That smug, insufferable...magnificent brute! How dare he draw me into this game of seductive one-upmanship only to leave me utterly discombobulated?

Then again, perhaps I’d been too effective at flustering the mighty Captain. My lips curved into a slow, predatory smile.

This mission had just become infinitely more intriguing.

DOANOR

Istrode into the galley, the scents of the evening meal wafting through the air. My nostrils flared at the familiar aromas of seared protein and spiced vegetables, but there was an underlying sweetness that was new - like sugared berries or nectar.

The crew was already gathered, their boisterous laughter and conversation filling the room. And there she was, Cassidy, sitting amongst them as if she belonged, grinning as she listened to whatever tale Kylari was regaling her with.

My chest tightened at the sight of her relaxed, at ease amidst my hardened crew. A peculiar warmth bloomed within me, both unsettling and...not entirely unpleasant.

“Ah, the captain graces us with his presence,” Fenzik grinned, his scaled brow ridge arching. “We were just swapping stories about our esteemed leader.”

I shot him a look, daring him to continue as I took my usual seat at the head of the table. Cassidy caught my eye, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly before she ducked her head. Was she...bashful?

“We’re just getting to know each other,” she said brightly, tucking a loose strand of golden hair behind her ear. The simple gesture drew my gaze like a tractor beam. “You didn’t really give me the full picture on Stardust Souls. I feel like I missed a lot of details of your past.”

A few knowing chuckles rippled around the table. I tensed, readying myself for the onslaught of questions that were sure to come. Kylari leaned forward, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief.

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