Page 28 of Captain's Companion

“I want you to myself for hours, days, maybe years,” he said.

“Go on,” she pushed him away from her. “Go offer him coffee and something from the kitchen. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

“I want to,” he grumbled.

“Little Ulrik is not coming out to play,” she said. “You are not fucking me with someone in your ready room.”

“Making love to you,” he corrected her.

“Doesn’t matter what you call it,” she said stepping to the drawers to get lingerie. “We aren’t doing it with someone in your ready room.”

“Fine,” Ulrik said. “I will have my way with you as soon as my shift is done so you better be ready.”

“Maybe I’ll let you,” she said. “Maybe I’ll have my way with you.”

Ulrik swallowed hard hoping she would. “You better go,” she said. “I want juice and a croissant with that jam. What was it called?”

“Durany berries,” he said.

“Please, Ulrik,” she said stepping into her skimpy underwear.

“Yes,” he said his hand trailed along the waistband of her underwear. His fingers hooked in the side. “I like these.”

“If you behave, you might get to take them off me,” she promised as she pushed him towards the door.

Ulrik left her to dress. Returning to his ready room, he typed in exactly what he knew she liked and upped the quantity because the doctor was there. He added in coffee because she reminded him to get coffee for himself and the doctor. “She’ll be right out,” he said.

“How are you handling your demands,” Doctor Shifleman asked.

“I’m fine,” Ulrik said as he drummed his fingers against the desk he leaned on. He planned to sit next to Gwyn. If it was bad news, he needed to be near her.

“Relax, captain,” Doctor Shifleman said.

“Is she all right,” he asked. “Did the drugs they forced on her, do any damage?”

His door slid up and an automated trolley arrived with his order. “Captain, you don’t normally serve refreshments,” Doctor Shifleman said.

“Gwyn suggested it,” Ulrik said realizing he didn’t make people feel welcome in his ready room.

“She’s having a good influence already,” Doctor Shifleman said.

“Who is,” Gwyn said as she walked into the ready room.

“You are,” Doctor Shifleman said.

“He’s busy with the ship,” Gwyn said as she poured two cups of coffee for the two men and a glass of juice for herself. “He can’t be expected to remember everything.”

“Lift the other one,” Ulrik said. His arm snuck around her waist, pulling her near him.

“Croissants,” she said inhaling the smell of them. “They’re lovely. Doctor, do you want some?”

“I’d love one,” Doctor Shifleman said. He took a plate from her with two croissants on it as well as some of the Durany jam. “This is lovely jam, made from the Durany berry on Pelta IV.”

“Yes,” Gwyn said. “Ulrik introduced me to them. I love how tart they are.”

“I need your permission to speak in front of the captain,” Doctor Shifleman said as he took a seat. Gwyn pushed Ulrik into a chair and sat next to him. He tore apart a croissant for her and slathered it with the jam.

“He needs to stay,” she said. “What did you find?”

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