Page 8 of Stardust Paws and Alien Claws

“So how long have you two love-birds been messaging, hmmm?” she asked, her gaze flicking between us. “Must have been getting pretty serious for Doanor to finally take the plunge.”

The words froze in my throat as all eyes turned expectantly to Cassidy and me. Think, damn it! I searched her face for any hint, any clue as to how she wanted to play this. To my surprise, she didn’t miss a beat.

“Oh, it’s been a few months now,” she said airly, resting her chin in her hand as she looked at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. “Doanor’s replies were always so...terse at first. I thought he might have been a spam bot!”

A bark of laughter escaped me before I could stop it. The crew joined in, their mirth reverberating through the chamber. Even I had to admit the human had a clever wit about her.

“I’ll have you know my conversational skills are unmatched,” I said, unable to keep the gruff edge from my tone as I fought a losing battle against the smirk tugging at my lips. “Perhaps you just weren’t... engaging enough topics to pique my interest.”

Cassidy’s eyes widened momentarily before crinkling at the corners. “Is that so?” she challenged, her voice taking on a teasing lilt that did strange things to my pulse. “Well, we’ll have to find a subject more...stimulating for that famous silver tongue of yours.”

The innuendo was not lost on me, the suggestive words coiling like fire in my gut. The heat of a dozen stares bored into me as I struggled to keep my expression impassive in the face of her brazen flirtation. Damn this woman and her disarming smiles!

Somehow I managed to tear my gaze away and focus on filling my plate. I could have sworn I heard Cassidy’s soft giggle over the clamor.

The questioning continued as we ate, the crew shamelessly prying into the sordid details of our “courtship.” I was uncharacteristically flustered, my typical gruff demeanor cracking as Cassidy deftly fielded each inquiry with just the right mix of coyness and clever retort to keep them eating out of her hand.

All the while, I found myself increasingly transfixed by the sparkle in her eyes, the coquettish tilt of her head, the way her lips quirked ever so slightly when she glanced my way. My hearts pounded out a frenzied staccato with each playful parry between us, every teasing barb she cast my way.

I decipher the enigmatic looks and gestures. Was she truly just playing her part? Or was there something more beneath that sunny facade, some deeper well of feeling I couldn’t quite fathom?

The need to know, to understand this human who so thoroughly disarmed me with her warmth and spirit was rapidly becoming an ache, an itch I couldn’t scratch. Even as I deflected the crew’s probing with carefully constructed half-truths, my attention remained centered on her, drawn like a starving man to a feast.

“So, how did you two lovebirds finally decide to meet up in person?” Fenzik inquired, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

I opened my mouth to respond, but Cassidy beat me to it. “Well, after months of exchanging steamy messages and holo-vids, I simply couldn’t resist Doanor’s rugged charms any longer.” She batted her eyelashes at me again, and my hearts skipped a beat. “I had to see if the real thing lived up to the fantasy.”

A chorus of hoots and whistles filled the air, and I felt my face growing impossibly hot. Cassidy’s hand found mine under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to comfort me or taunt me further.

As the meal drew to a close, I could sense the crew’s curiosity had been thoroughly piqued. They seemed convinced that Cassidy and I were indeed a couple, albeit an unconventional one.

“Well, as entertaining as this has been,” I announced, rising from my seat, “I’m afraid we must leave you. We have some... business to attend to.”

A wave of suggestive hoots and hollers greeted my words, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Cassidy stood as well, looping her arm through mine in a gesture that felt far too natural.

“Lead the way, captain,” she murmured, her voice low and sultry.

I swallowed hard, acutely aware of the weight of her gaze and the warmth of her body pressed against mine. Steeling myself, I guided her out of the galley, leaving the catcalls and laughter behind us.

The corridor stretched out before us, the dim lighting casting long shadows that beckoned and concealed in equal measure. I was acutely aware of Cassidy’s presence at my side, the subtle sway of her hips as she moved, the faint floral scent that clung to her hair.

“We’re headed to the secured cargo bay,” I said gruffly. “Can’t risk prying eyes discovering our...precious cargo.”

Cassidy nodded, her expression unreadable in the low light. “Of course. Lead the way, captain.”

I suppressed a shiver at the way that title rolled off her tongue, my body reacting in a most unhelpful manner. Pushing aside the unwelcome stirrings, I led her through a series of unmarked corridors, keying in access codes at seemingly random intervals.

Finally, we reached an unremarkable bulkhead door, its durasteel surface devoid of any markings or indicators. I punched in the final code and it slid open to reveal a small alcove housing a bioscanner.

“After you,” I said, gesturing for Cassidy to step inside.

She arched a delicate brow but complied, regarding the sleek, curved panel with open curiosity. “Some high-tech security system, I take it?”

“One of the most advanced bioscanners in the quadrant,” I confirmed with a hint of pride. “It performs a multilayered scan - genetic, biological, physiological. Anything less would be woefully insufficient for our needs.”

Cassidy’s eyes widened slightly at that. “It sounds...intense.”

“Intensity is paramount when dealing with contraband as rare and valuable as our cargo,” I said, unable to resist adding a rakish wink.

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