Page 55 of Avery

"I don't know." I turn to look over my shoulder and watch as Helna disappears onto Skia's ship, with him still not turning around or acknowledging her at all. Surely, he wouldn't let her stow away. "Maybe not."

Right on cue, our comms ping with a message from Helna.

Don't wait for me. Going to see if I can fuck this Sombran.

My feathers ruffle at the message and Avery lets out a long laugh. Jovi also laughs when we get to the ship, one of his hands slapping down on my shoulder. "Who's going to tell Holoth that Phial brought his sister out into space only to lose her in less than a couple weeks?"

I hiss at the idea of Holoth thinking I was careless with his sister, but Avery doesn't let me worry for long. She has my back just as I have hers. "Helna is a grown woman. If she wants to go ship hopping, I don't think she's in any danger with Skia."

"No, probably not," Jovi relents on his teasing me. "Were Essa and Alik still out there?"

"They were." I narrow my eyes up at the purple behemoth. "Is something wrong? Is there anything I need to know about?"

Jovi's lips flatten into a tight line as he looks above me toward the doors of the ship. Sloane has her hand wrapped around one of his many biceps, but she doesn't look like she's going to answer me, either. Finally, Jovi sighs and gives me something.

"I don't know exactly what's going on, but it has to be important. Essa was freaking out right before you two came back."

My brows pull tight together. "Essa doesn't freak out. Not unless her scary face counts."

"No scary face, just freaking out." Jovi shrugs. "I'd go get the ship ready to leave. Whatever it is, I don't think we're staying on Earth."

The idea of having Avery all alone in the navigation pit has me forgetting about whatever could be bothering Essa. Not that I don't care, because I do. But I also care very much about being alone with Avery.

"We'll get the ship warmed up," I tell the others, moving toward the navigation pit with Avery beside me.

I want to get her locked in the nav pit with me as soon as possible. Maybe have her take off her pants again so we can continue the game we play in there, where I get her worked up and eager for me. Sure, I'm still sore, and she's probably still exhausted, but traditions are traditions.

I'll worry about what's worrying Essa later when she's willing to talk. If anything, it was probably a message from her sister. Anytime Essa asks her if she wants to leave their home planet, her sister says no, and Essa is a little sad for the rest of the day. I'm sure that's what's happening now.

We're not in the nav pit long when I get a message on my comm telling me we're good to leave.

"As soon as we're out in space, I'm eating your pussy," I tell Avery without looking over at her. I'm sure her cheeks are flushed, and her underwear is damp. "For now, will you disengage the docking controls?"

Avery fumbles with moving her chair up to the dashboard, but she's quick with her job. I send a message to the crew, telling them to get buckled in and make a jump to one of the moresecluded spots we frequent. We can come up with a game plan as soon as we're off this planet.

"Phial," Avery says after we make the final jump, and I click through the comm to lock us in the room together.

"Mhm," I hum, sending a message to the crew telling them not to bother us for a good long while unless it's an emergency.

"I love you." Avery's words are soft and restrained, and when I look at her, I can see the tears she's trying hard not to shed.

"I know you do." I move to her, cupping her face between my palms. "And you know that I love you. Forever. I was serious. You're never going to be rid of me. So, pull up your skirt and let me feast. You can be emotional after you've come."

Avery throws her head back as another peel of her beautiful laughter fills the air. She does as she's told, though, and lifts her skirts as high as she can while still buckled in. I only release the lower buckles before I kneel in front of her, kissing her thighs before settling in between her legs.

twenty-four

Epilogue

Avery - Two Years Later

"How is the timing this bad again?" I groan as my lower abdomen warms and cramps. A flash of heat sizzles through my body as Phial rolls me onto my stomach and thrusts into me.

"The timing is perfect," Phial says as he thrusts into me with both of his cocks. I want his tail inside me, too, but from this angle, it's not happening. "The trial is over, everyone involved was found guilty, and we're getting to ditch the dinner with everyone so I can fuck you instead."

"They're all going to think we just didn't want to be there," I cry out as he pulls my hips back to give himself more leverage to pound into me.

My pussy flutters against him, the first ripples of my orgasm tickling me. I move my hand to my clit, running soft circles against it with the flat of my fingers, trying to get myself over that edge. Phial bites his teeth at me, but his hands stay planted on my hips, his claws dipping into me and leaving angry red indents.

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