Page 75 of Into Orbit
‘Please tell me you know what that means.’
‘I know what itmeans,’ I muttered. ‘In theory.’
Maeve and Elswyth exchanged a look.
‘Willow and I have been sneaking around for three years,’ I said defensively. ‘There wasn’t a lot of time forsnuggling, and even when there was, it wasn’t … restful. We were too afraid we’d get caught.’
‘We’ll have to teach you, then,’ Elswyth said matter-of-factly. She climbed onto the bed next to me. ‘Maeve harassed the communications engineers until they built a feed to Earth media, so we get human content on the comms stream now. Some of it is pretty good.’
Maeve snorted. ‘You have a low bar, beautiful. Reality TV is notpretty good.’
‘I like all the emotion,’ Elswyth said, unfazed. ‘Can you get the snacks?’
Maeve bustled around the food processor, fiddling with the programme until she had enoughpopcornandchocolateto feed a small army. She laid it within arm’s reach in front of me, fussing with the tray and with my blankets until I snarled at her.
‘Grumpy,’ she muttered.
‘It is my job to fuss overyou, not –’
‘Yes, yes, we know, you’ve told us,’ she said impatiently. ‘And when you can walk, Ashton, you can do your job. ForElswyth, not me, just so we’re clear. Fuss over me and I will fuss back with my fists. I don’t need that shit and nor do I want it.’
‘You are ourkaria, you need –’
She climbed onto the bed and silenced me with a swift, fierce kiss.
My mind blanked the moment her lips touched mine.
‘The film is starting,’ she said, breaking away and sitting beside me like nothing had happened. ‘Shh.’
Every inch of my skin was tingling, hyper aware after the quick caress of her lips. My cock twitched under the blankets; I casually shifted my arms into my lap to cover it. Elswyth leaned against me, resting her cheek lightly against my healing shoulder, and Maeve mirrored her on my other side, linking her arm through mine.
I could smell both their scents, Elswyth’s alluring floral and Maeve’s assertive musk. My mouth watered and I swallowed nervously.
This was …nice.
They were warm and comfortable by my sides, and their combined scent went straight to my cock. Elswyth’s silver hair was tickling my skin and Maeve’s fingertips were absently tracing patterns on my forearm. I took a shuddering breath.
‘Are you all right?’ Elswyth asked, concerned.
Maeve glanced at my stirring crotch and laughed. ‘He’s fine, beautiful. What did you choose for us to watch?’
Elswyth pressed a button, and an Earth melody filled the room. I wrinkled my nose. It was relatively gentle compared to some of the other so-calledmusicMaeve had subjected us to, but it was still somehow tooloud. There were too many instruments and too many sounds, and they all happened too quickly.
The screen showed a green Earth landscape. ‘Oh, this is Anna’s favourite,’ Maeve said. ‘She talks about it all the time.’
‘Where are the trees?’ Elswyth said, wrinkling her nose. ‘Why is there so much green but no trees?’
Maeve snorted. ‘That’s grass. It’s a plant, too. Humans are obsessed with it. And this is a period film, so there’s alotof grass. And rolling hills. And roses, and white dresses, and lingering looks.’
Elswyth touched her ear. ‘Willow said my translator isn’t broken, but sometimes I’m not sure.’
Maeve rubbed her cheek on my shoulder, laughing, then took up my hand, lacing her fingers through mine. My heart lurched. ‘Just watch. It’ll make more sense later.’ She paused. ‘Or not, maybe. I don’t really get these films, to be honest.’
There was a softbeepfrom outside the room, and the door slid open. Willow walked in, then stopped short when he saw us. ‘Oh.’
‘Want to watch a movie with us, doctor?’ Maeve purred.
Willow flushed his lovely deep green blush, then ran his hands through his waving hair. ‘You did this on purpose.’
