Page 10 of Commander's Mate
“Then what?” I asked carefully.
“You are solmatu. I don’t think I can let you go. Don’t you feel it?”
“I know I’m completely attracted to you,” I admitted. But it was more than that. I felt he was someone I could trust, who liked me as I was starting to like him. “But I don’t want to be a burden. Back on Earth, I made my own living as a mail carrier. What can I possibly do here?”
“I don’t have an answer for you right now, but I will help you understand our ways. That should help you find your place here,” he assured her.
He was so kind and solicitous, I found it hard to reconcile that side of him with the fierce warrior I knew he must be. We talked and ate and laughed a little. He was easy to be with though I was always aware of the undercurrent of sexual tension between us. Sometimes, I would catch him looking at me with such passion smoldering in his eyes that I knew he was thinking carnal thoughts. Not that I was opposed, I just wanted a chance to know him better, but I knew I couldn’t hold out for long.
After dinner, Zared showed me how the shower worked and gave me one of his clean shirts. It was very much like a t-shirt without the ribbed neckline. It came to halfway to my knees and was made of a little heavier cloth than the slave dress. I was so delighted to be clean after so many days.
I was a little disappointed to find that Zared was gone when I finished in the bathroom. I didn’t know what to do with myself so I laid down on the small sofa in the sitting area and took a nap that lasted until the next morning.
I woke the to find I was covered with a light blanket and Zared was sitting in the chair across from the sofa watching over me. He smiled faintly as I opened my eyes and blinked a couple times to be sure I wasn’t dreaming.
“I’m sorry I had to leave, I was needed on the bridge to relieve the admiral.”
I sat up slowly, and smoothed down my hair. “I figured you probably had work to do, so I was just going to take a little nap.”
“More than a little nap. You must have been tired. You slept all night.”
“It’s been a long couple weeks, and I was stressed about my situation.” I stood up. “Be right back I need to use the ---lav.” It took me two minutes to figure out that the toilet flushed itself. Then I splashed water on my face and dried it with a towel that popped out from a cubby in the wall.
Zared stood when I came out and crossed the short space between us to take me in his arms and hold me close. In his eyes was the unspoken question, then he kissed me. He was gentle at first and then demanding. I opened willingly to his probing tongue and moaned as it caressed mine. That’s all it took to light a fire between us. I saw no reason to resist what I knew was coming. I wanted him, needed the release he could give me. Whatever else Commander Zared Maktu was, I believed he was a man I could grow to love. Then and there, I realized I wanted to love him.
