Page 65 of Captain's Treasure
At least someone on the ship had the right attitude.
“I’m just worried, that’s all.” Jarn paced the length of Varik’s quarters. He really should take over the captain’s lodgings. They weren’t much bigger, but it was the principle of the thing. Later. After he got rid of the mutinous busy-bodies.
“Did you hear me?” Jarn paused and glared down at Varik.
Varik stroked his cock to keep from letting the situation soften him. “Do we have to keep rehashing this? I’d much rather listen to you gagging on my cock than lecturing me about what I should do with my ship.”
“But that’s the point.” Jarn put his hands on his hips. “It’s not your ship. Technically.” Nice save, but Varik caught the chastisement. “The grant committee was notified.”
“The comms officer sent a message. This far into space that’s not the same as the grant committee receiving the message. It could take cycles for that message to be received by some low-level clerk. By that time, if you do what I tell you, we’ll haveThe Treasure.” In fact, they would land on Arbotriz in the next two cycles, depending on approvals and space at the landing port. “Don’t worry.” Varik tugged his lover into his bed and freed him of his clothes and his ability to speak. Much better. Varik thrust his cock deep into Jarn’s throat until he found his release.
The next cycle they received word that they would be allowed to land at the auxiliary spaceport on the far side of the planet from whereThe Treasurewas docked. Varik fumed.
“How did you not know they had two space ports?”
Jarn’s cheeks turned shades of red. “It’s not documented in our databases on this planet. Probably a recent build. I don’t know. This is my first time being the lead navigator and I’ve never worked in this galaxy. Why is it always my fault whenyourplans don’t work out?”
Varik saw red. “Just get us docked.”
It wasn’t like he had any choice. The rebellion had seethed through all the crew Varik hadn’t personally contracted. He had to get them off theHarlan Johnson. There was no way he could rely on them to do what needed to be done to overtakeThe Treasure. Landing held its own risks. They had to report the captain’s death and the brief quarantine. Medical officers swarmed the ship dressed in bio-hazard suits, swabbing everything and everyone.
While they waited for results, Varik went to his former comms officer’s quarters. He was the lead rebel. If Varik swayed him, the rest would follow. As soon as he opened the door to his quarters, Varik said, “I’ll pay you the full price of your contract if you get off this ship as soon as were cleared and take your buddies with you. No accusations, no filing of reports, no bullshit.”
“Why would I do that?”
Varik stepped into the man, forcing him inside and close the door. “Because if you don’t, you’re going to become very ill, could be life threatening.”
A glance at the syringe in Varik’s hand made the man back up, hands raised. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“Good. Then we agree. Your contracts, paid out and you go away quietly.”
The man’s head bobbed in agreement.
“I’ll deposit half of what you’re owed now. In ten cycles, if I have no…trouble…you’ll get the rest.”
That would give Varik plenty of time to catch up toThe Treasureaccording to the routes he’d calculated with Jarn using ER Bridges. Hell, he might get to Kolben beforeThe Treasure, be ready and waiting to take her back. He had to assume she was fixing the fuel problem he’d given her and that she would resume her path to Kolben. The deadline was looming. If she’d bothered to read the contract, she’d be in a hurry to get there, but would she get over her aversion to using a wormhole? There were too many fucking variables. And once she delivered the mining slave, she’d have the funds to keep hisTreasurefrom him and there would be nothing he could do about it.
Chapter33
Cyra pulledout the bottle of grain alcohol she’d found in Auvi’s quarters. Last meal was over and everyone was sitting around the table in the galley. Everyone but Dez who had left as soon as he’d finished eating and he’d eaten quickly. He was avoiding her, using the dogs as an excuse. She didn’t care. She didn’t. She just wanted to have a drink with her crew and relax. It had nothing to do with him. She set up five small glasses and poured a healthy shot into each one.
“To the crew ofThe Treasure.” She lifted her glass and threw back the drink in one swallow. It burned her throat and based on the four sets of watering eyes starting at her, she wasn’t alone.
“The second shot is always better.” She poured them another round.
“Goddess bless, this stuff is horrid. What the hell is it? Cleaning fluid?” Bodi asked after the second shot was gone. Her golden skin flushed copper.
Cyra was wrong, the second was just as bad. But, it was starting to have the desired effect. The ache in her heart eased a little, growing numb which was fine with her. “Have you ever liked someone you couldn’t have?”
They were her crew and she probably shouldn’t be discussing personal feelings with them. Too late. After the two drinks, she didn’t really care. She probably just needed another drink. She filled their glasses, drinking quickly to maintain a buzz. Even with the strong liquor, her metabolism would process it rapidly and she would be sober before the next shot. She didn’t want to be sober.
“I’ve never wanted anyone like that,” Veda admitted.
“You’ve never been with anyone?” Rhysa asked.
“Nope.”
“Aren’t we a pair?” Rhysa nudged Veda with her shoulder. “I’ve been with everyone and you’ve been with no one. But neither of us have wanted anyone the way they want each other.”
