Page 30 of Saving the Sautiitions

I don’t wait for a response as I take off running up the path to our house. We pack up quickly, mostly just clothes since the ship will be stocked with food and essentials, and head out to the SUV. I throw myself into the passenger seat as Vahru drives us. Hopefully, Garvon won’t mind lending us another ship.

Chapter 20

Kari

Vahru carries our bags as he leads me through the building to find Garvon. He merely nods to Avalah behind the desk as he marches through. I follow him as he enters the long, dark, sloping hallway and I grab his tail just to stay with him. I’m nearly jogging to keep up with his long legs.

He stops dead in his tracks, his body shivering as my fingers slide up his tail, gripping it just past the base. I walk up to stand beside him, my face tilting to look up at him as his nostrils flare, eyes closed. He takes a deep breath and slowly releases it. I watch him closely, unsure of what’s going on.

“Kari. What are you doing?”

I swallow, my fingers tightening around his tail as I worry that I’ve done something wrong. “I’m having trouble keeping up with you. I grabbed onto you to help me. Was that wrong? Did I hurt you?”

He shivers again, his eyes opening as they focus on me, his pupils blown wide. “No, you didn’thurtme, but…” His eyes drop, and I follow his gaze. His poor pants are straining to contain his raging cock, and I throw my hands over my mouth.

“I’m so sorry.” I can’t stop myself from giggling slightly, his eyes narrowing as he watches me. “I didn’t know that would happen. I’m sorry. I really was just trying to keep up.”

He sighs, straightening his shoulders as he closes his eyes, trying to get himself under control. I press my lips together and fight to contain my laughter. He takes a long breath in and speaks through gritted teeth. “Next time, just grab my shirt, okay? Or simply run.”

I give him an apologetic smile as I bite my lip. He marches on, our bags in his hands, and I jog to keep up with his pace. I’ll remember that little trick for later on when we’re alone. I know he wasn’t gritting his teeth because he was angry. He just wanted to throw me against the wall, but that’s no way to show up in front of a colleague.

We round the corner and push through the plastic curtain to find Garvon standing in front of the wall of screens and schematics, a pen tapping his lips. When he turns to us, his smile broadens as he takes us in, walking over to meet us.

“Captain, Vahru. Needing a ship, I presume?”

“Please?” I bat my lashes at him, and he laughs, his head falling back as his long black hair falls down to his hips, the few white strands shining in the dim light.

“Anything for you, Captain. No need to beg.” He continues to chuckle as he walks over to his workbench, opening a drawer and looking in. “What kind of ship are we needing? What kind of mission is this?” He turns, his eyebrows raising as he looks at us.

“A simple mission to gather some supplies and tech. We need to get to Ithosirah. It’s in the Lovithay Galaxy. It’s a long trip, but it only needs to hold the two of us and plenty of supplies for the journey.” I stiffen my spine, pulling my shoulders back as I settle into the role of captain.

Garvon turns back to his drawer, humming as he taps his lips with the pen. He quickly snatches a set of keys once he’s decided, and waves for us to follow him. I shrug and shuffle after him; Vahru hefting our bags and walking along beside me.

I glance around and take in all the ships lined up in the hangar. Some extremely large, like the one we took on our last mission, some much smaller and more streamlined. I wonder what sort of craft he’s picked for us when he stops, turning to a ship and grinning.

“I think she’ll work for you. Enough room for a crew of four, provisions are stocked, and she’s fast enough to get you there a few days sooner than others. This work for you?” He turns to look at me, his bright eyes nearly sparkling in the light.

I grin up at him and then at Vahru. “I think it will do just fine.”

I walk over to Garvon and gently take the keys from him before grabbing his hand, shaking it as I smile up at him. “Thank you, Garvon. I owe you one.”

“Nonsense, Captain. You don’t owe me anything. It’s a pleasure to know that I’m helping you save the universe.” His voice is low and deep, something meant only for us. My heart swells for this loveable giant and without thinking, I throw myself at him, arms open.

My hands barely grab his arms in a hug, his body too broad for me to truly hug him. He laughs and pats my back gently. I pull away and smile up at him before turning to board the ship.

“Good luck, Captain. See you again soon!” He salutes me with a wide grin, and I return the gesture before walking up the ramp and into the ship. I head straight to the bridge, putting the keys in and starting it up.

Vahru joins me a few moments later and plops down into the pilot's seat. He carefully maneuvers the ship out of the hangar and quickly gets us into space. It isn’t long before he’s setting the autopilot with our destination and slumping into the seat.

“I’m exhausted. It’s been one hell of a day.”

I step over and slowly rub his shoulders, neck, and head. I slide my fingers through his soft hair, massaging his scalp before working back down. He groans, his body softening into the seat under my touch.

“We have a long journey ahead of us. Would you like to go lie down?”

He nods his head, groaning as he pulls himself up out of the chair. Turning, he heads down the hall for our room, and I scurry to catch up, grabbing his tail without thinking. He freezes as he grabs the doorknob, his breath hitching.

“Oops, I said I wouldn’t do that again, didn’t I?” I smile as I scrunch my nose, biting my bottom lip as I slowly slide my fingers up his tail to the base, bumping his ass. “My bad,” I whisper as my hand starts to slide back down.

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