Page 25 of Star Cruise Captain's Story

“Dr. Shane promised to help me get a rejuve resonator treatment and I know the arrangements will take time. My superiors are going to want endless debriefings on what I saw and heard while I was a prisoner. It’s going to be a long damn time before I’m free to pursue anything.” Daveed straightened and stared at Gil. “I’m resigning my commission, I do know that. I can’t serve another day—I’m too bitter and jaded. I wouldn’t impose myself on my fellow active duty soldiers. I wouldn’t be any good in any kind of operation now.”

“You did fine while my team was getting us out,” Gil protested mildly. “Don’t make any rash decisions but you know I’ll stand behind you no matter what. You can always join the CLC Line and sail with us.”

“Can’t quite see myself on a cruise ship,” Daveed said with a genuinely amused expression on his battered face.

“Hey, I couldn’t either at first but my bosses are good people, ex-military, and you’d be surprised how much variety of experience there is on a cruise ship.” Gil finished his drink. “But no pressure intended, little brother. Just want you to know you have a place to go with me.”

“And Maeve?” Daveed said with a wink. “Your lady is really something else. Red was telling me a few tales about life ontheNebula Zephyr. How does she manage to be an AI and a woman at the same time and how do you keep her under the government’s sensors?”

“Short answer is we had Mellurean help,” Gil said. “Speaking of her, I need to get back to my own cabin and check on her, see how she’s doing after all this. She’s relatively new to having an actual body and the temple collapse sent her stress levels into overload. We touched base briefly when the shuttle arrived but I’m anxious to spend time with her tonight.”

“Don’t let me keep you,” his brother said without a trace of sarcasm. “I’m surprised you’re out and about doing the officer thing rather than holed up with her.”

“Maeve understands why I do the things I do,” Gil said with gratitude for the fact. “We’ve been together a long time now, starting with the battleship where we met. Take it easy on yourself, all right? And remember I’m here—we’re all here—if you need any help from any of us. Even Midorri. She’s part of the team too.”

“Yeah, I gathered she’s quite the accomplished four-footed saboteur. Actually I’m thinking I’ll go check on Sofillia and her colleagues, make sure they’re doing ok.”

“I looked in on them and the guys in the wardroom earlier. They all seem to be settled in, as much as anyone can be after what they endured. Lucky it’s only a short hop to Zebulon Six with all the power Maeve is pouring on. I’m anxious to hand the former hostages over to people who know what they’re doing with freed prisoners and also get them reunited with their families if possible. Not to mention medical care. Emily is the best but her resources are limited here on theValkyrie Revenge.”

Gil and Daveed walked together through the corridor, separating at the door to the cabin the women were sharing. As he continued on his way toward his own cabin, Gil savored theglow of success at having saved his brother, with the help of his team, not to mention rescuing the other hostages as well with no loss of life on their side of the equation. He couldn’t remember a time he’d been happier or felt more triumphant, not even after any of the major battles he’d fought in as commander of the battleshipGalatea. This victory was personal and as he walked, he sent the Lords of Space a thank you in his heart. This operation had had such a small chance of succeeding and yet the team had brought it off, thanks to Jake, Red and the others.

And Maeve had set the whole thing in motion after he left on his own undercover operation. She was a hell of a woman and he was about to render his thanks to her.

Gil walked faster.

Maeve was waitinginside their cabin and threw herself into his arms the minute he came through the door. “Finally! Time to ourselves now.”

Emotion and desire rising, Gil hugged her, seeking her lips for a kiss, which he immediately deepened. He took possession of her mouth in a desperate caress, savoring the warmth and taste of her. Maeve responded eagerly, her tongue meeting his in a dance of passion, even as she ground her hips against his, the pressure causing his cock to lengthen and pulse. She was truly his best friend, ideal woman and love of his life, all wrapped up—now—in a beautiful body. All Gil wanted was to be inside her silken heat, driving them both to climax. He picked her up and carried her to the bunk, which he noticed with appreciation was extra wide. No detail was too tiny for Maeve when she was modifying a ship to suit her tastes.

Exchanging frantic kisses, their hands roaming over each other’s bodies with anxious abandon, he and Maeve managed to undress each other and then tumbled naked onto the crispsheets. “I want to be gentle and take my time with you,” he said, smoothing her tousled hair off her face as she gazed up at him, “But I don’t think I can do gentle right now.”

Maeve shifted her position, to bring the weeping tip of his shaft into alignment with the entrance to her body and realizing how ready she was for him made Gil even more aroused, if such a thing was possible. “Hot and hard is what I want right now,” she said. “After everything we went through today, all the close calls and scary events, I need this. I need you.”

He drove deep into her with one thrust, knowing she was telling the truth, grateful they were of the same mind right now. Maeve was tight around him and Gil thought he might finish immediately, before he’d even truly begun, like an untried cadet. Moving in and out, Maeve’s body in perfect sync with his, Gil forced himself to do space astronavigation tables in his head to hang onto his composure long enough to reach his goal, deep in her core and ensure she was right there with him when he climaxed. A wary part of his mind watched for the telltale tremors of overload in his partner’s body, but there were none. Maeve screamed his name and arched into her climax, obviously in the height of erotic pleasure. With a sigh of gratitude Gil unleashed his own passion, abandoned his iron control and allowed himself the release he’d craved.

They lay together, hot and sweaty but sated for the moment and he moved her so she could use his shoulder as a pillow. He couldn’t believe she hadn’t transitioned to her AI state after the intensity of what they’d shared. “You okay?” he asked, kissing her lightly on the forehead. “Now we’ve taken the edge off, next time I won’t be so quick off the mark.” He trailed a fingertip over one of her tightly furled nipples and chuckled as she shivered at the sensation. “I intend to pay attention to all of you next time.”

“Same,” she replied, drifting her hand over his already semi erect cock. “By all indications you’ll be ready to play again soon.”

He rolled over to come on top of her and stared into her eyes. “Always, with you.” Gil hadn’t planned to say what came out of his mouth next but the words felt right. “Marry me.”

Maeve’s icy blue eyes opened wide and she recoiled a bit on the pillow. “Are you serious? Is that even legal? How would we?—”

“Theo is officially the captain of theValkyrie Revengeso he can legally perform marriages here in space. I asked him earlier and he’s willing. Delighted even.”

“But I’m not human,” Maeve reminded him.

“You’re a citizen of Mellure and the Sectors recognizes marriages between humans and sentients from other allied planets.” Gil hadn’t realized how much he wanted to claim her as his wife until she began asking questions whether the ceremony could be done. Had he missed an important clue? Why was she hesitant? Heart full of trepidation, he asked, “Don’t you want to be my wife?”

“More than anything,” she answered promptly. Despite her reassurance, she moved away from him, sitting cross legged on the bed and taking a deep breath. “But there’s something you need to know. I can’t remain in this form all the time. I’ve gotten much better at handling stimulus.” She smiled and gestured at him with an amused expression. “I mean, obviously. But I—Ineedto return to an AI environment periodically. The Mellureans told me it’s not a physical requirement but a mental one, all on me and I’ve tried and tried and I’m doing much better but?—"

She was getting all wound up. Distressed for her, Gil took her in his arms and on his lap, which made his cock all too happy but he got control of himself. This was a discussion theybadly needed to have. “Are Jake and Emily together twenty-four hours a day?”

“No, of course not.”

Gil kept making his case. “Are Owen and Tyrelle? Or is he down in his cargo holds, happy as a clam, most of the day, while she tends the ship’s hydroponics and does special projects for me?”

Tilting her head, Maeve raised one eyebrow. “Where are you going with this?”

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