Page 26 of Star Cruise Captain's Story

“Indulge me. Are you and I together all day, every day on theNebula Zephyr? Physically?”

“You know we’re not.”

“Exactly. Even people who love each other as much as we do don’t spend every single day in bed, or even together doing other activities. You can be in your AI form when you need to be and you can be in this form as my loving wife and companion at times which work for both of us. And the rest of the time we’ll be in communication no matter what.” He took a deep breath and added, “You’ve told me re-entering the AI form is like slipping into the ocean, right?”

Maeve nodded. Her expression was much happier now, which relieved his anxious heart.

“I think of you as an enchanted mermaid, coming to me on land—in the physical life—when and how you choose, and returning to your natural environment when you need to do so to replenish yourself. It’s all win/win. I’m grateful for every second we share in reality and I also treasure the relationship we have as captain and ship. I want us to be married to formalize our bond, now you’re able to join me in my world. If I could move into yours, I would but I don’t think even the Mellureans can accomplish that feat.”

She laughed but he could tell his declaration moved her. She probably enjoyed his unexpected whimsical streak too, whichhad surprised even him. “Yes, I’ll be your wife and proud to have the title and the commitment.”

Gil kissed her hard and folded her into his arms. “There should be a ring but I’ve screwed that part up and I’m sorry.”

“We can pick one out when we get back to the ship,” she said. “I’ve acquired a taste for jewelry oddly enough and I noticed a tray of gorgeous rings in one store on the A Level. For the wedding rings there’s no problem—I can manifest those. The Mellureans taught me how to bring certain of my skills at manipulating my environment into the ‘real’ world.”

“I guess we’ll never go broke then, if you can spin gold from thin air. One less thing to worry about,” he said, rubbing his nose against hers. “What a wife I’ve caught for myself!”

Holding the striking pendant which he’d noticed before and wondered about, Maeve said, “When we eventually leave theNebula Zephyr, this tiny warp device the Mellureans gave me can operate as my base of support if there’s no suitable AI environment nearby for me to jump to.”

Gil opened his mouth and she held up a hand so he swallowed his intended words. Maeve finished her thought. “I know neither of us wants to leave the ship any time in the foreseeable future but I wanted to let you know I had it covered in case you were worried.”

“I wasn’t. I trust you to think of everything.” He brought one hand up to cup her breast and fondled the sensitive peak. “Enough conversation? Have we settled all the open issues? Because I’m more of a man of action by nature and my nature is calling to me.” His manhood was pushing against her bottom, hard and ready for the next round of love making. Gil kissed the sensitive spot on her neck and Maeve raised her head to accommodate him. “I can’t resist you.”

“There were a few things we did in the dreams I want to try in real life,” she said as he continued to place tiny caresses on her body. She wriggled a little while he explored.

“Only a few?” Raising his head, Gil teased her. “I’m disappointed.”

“A few to start with,” she amended with a flirtatious smile.

“Show me your favorite one.” He spread his arms wide. “I’m all yours and nothing is off limits.” He remembered their shared dreams as being quite steamy and erotic on occasion. He was sure Maeve had done her usual thorough research into the subject at hand, which was mutually pleasing sexual relations. There were definite advantages to being in a relationship with a woman who had the capabilities of an AI.

She pushed him onto his back, which he allowed, and immediately grasped his jutting erection in one hand while fondling his balls with the other.

“Promising,” he managed to say, as the sight spooled up his arousal. Maeve’s lips were an object of fascination with him, to the point he’d dreamt more than once of her sucking him off.

Without commenting, Maeve licked the big vein underneath from root to tip, her tongue massaging the sensitive area before she switched to swirling it over the head, all while watching his face. Then she acted on his unspoken fantasy and took him as deeply into her mouth as she could, applying suction and working him into a nearly unbearable level of arousal.

“This will be over in a minute if you keep doing what you’re doing,” he managed to say.

Her grin was wicked as she deep throated him and Gil lost all control. His climax was epic and he fell against the pillows when he was done. Maeve curled up to him with a satisfied sigh. “You live up to my soap opera fueled fantasies quite nicely, Captain Fleming.”

“I’m glad to meet your expectations.” He had to laugh and she joined his mirth with her own. “I think it’s my turn to act on a fantasy now.”

Raising her eyebrows she studied his face. “Which would be?”

Gil relocated to the foot of the bunk, pulling her to him by the ankles as she giggled. Running his hands firmly up her thighs, he parted her folds and applied himself and his tongue to pleasing her, laving the sensitive area, using the tip of his tongue to stimulate the hidden pearl of nerves and then penetrating her. She tasted sweet to him and he grew hard again, ready to plunge into her core. Being skin to skin with Maeve gave him the stamina he’d had as a raw cadet but he could apply himself much more skillfully to pleasing a lady now and he did his best to use everything he knew to make her happy. Judging by her moans and the way she clutched at his shoulders and pulled his longer than usual hair, he was accomplishing his goals.

They spent most of the night engaged in their private games, trading long held fantasies and making each other wildly happy and not once did Maeve suffer from the need to flee to the safety of the AI environment, which Gil counted as a major victory. He’d meant every word he said on the subject of her dual nature but on the whole he preferred to have the woman in his arms as opposed to the sultry voice on the subaural com. He loved and cherished both but the long night with Maeve was an excellent harbinger of good things to come in their lives together.

As he was finally drifting off to sleep, Maeve in his arms snoring gently, Gil reflected on how much his life had changed since he’d been given command of the oldGalateabattleship and had first ‘met’ Maeve, who wasn’t even known by the name at that point. The two of them had grown together and bonded tightly and it was sweet indeed to now have her as his in allways. He wouldn’t have been able to rescue Daveed without her help and the allies she’d made into a team for his benefit.

Was ever a man so blessed?Probably not and he wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve the happy outcome but he wasn’t about to question the good results. Life would never be boring with Maeve and together they’d explore the stars, anchored by each other and their love rather than in a home on a planet somewhere, which exactly suited his spacefaring nature. She was a perfect match for him and vice versa, or so he hoped but all indications were positive. A chuckle escaped his lips at the concept.

“Go to sleep,” she murmured, stroking his chest affectionately. “You’re thinking too much and it’s keeping me awake.”

“Yes, dear.” He stifled a chuckle and closed his eyes. He didn’t have to wish for the good dreams tonight —she was in his arms andreal,and a man could ask for nothing more.

EPILOGUE

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