Page 61 of Stolen Fire
Dez and Cyra entered the bridge. Dez settled in the chair behind the launch console first, and Cyra lowered herself onto his lap. Blaize forced herself to face forward, despite the tightness in her thighs and the desire in her core.
“We have clearance to launch,” Bodi announced without a glance back.
“Navigation is set. Ready when you are, Captain.” Rhysa had spun her chair around to face Cyra and Dez, completely shameless.
Blaize glanced back to catch Cyra rolling her eyes at her navigator as they lifted off the flight deck. The real show wasn’t required until they were ready to leave the atmosphere. Blaize couldn’t help but side-eye the couple over her shoulder. They rose faster and faster as Dez whispered in Cyra’s ear, his arm around her middle and his hand between her legs, hidden under layers of diaphanous fabric. Cyra’s breathing increased, her chest heaving. Dez scraped his teeth along her neck. Blaize clutched the armrests of her chair as Cyra slammed her hands to the console and released a shuddering moan. The Treasure burst through the atmospheric layer and into the dark embrace of space.
Dez scooped Cyra into his arms as he stood. “The captain and I will be in her quarters if needed.”
Rhysa let out a joyful whoop.
Blaize squirmed in her chair. The feeling of being watched only made her voyeuristic arousal more embarrassing.
Veda released the straps that held her to the chair. Blaize realized she’d forgotten that critical safety feature.
She followed Veda off the bridge. “I’m going to check the engines.”
“Again?” Veda asked.
“Need to make sure I didn’t miss anything.”
“See you at mid meal,” Veda called back before veering into the med bay.
If Blaize forgot something as simple as her safety harness, what else had she missed? She began again from the start and worked her way through each checklist for the third time.
“You still in here?” Veda’s voice tore Blaize from staring at the completed list on her pad.
How long had she been staring at the same screen?
“Here.” Veda handed her a protein bar. “You missed the meal.”
Blaize tugged open the wrapper. If she didn’t, the soft-spoken medic would turn fierce and insist on a full medical scan. “Thanks,” she said with a full mouth.
“Come on.” Veda tugged at Blaize’s uniform. “You need to get out of this room. Come breathe some oxygen with me. It’s good for the plants.”
Blaize let Veda lead her into the greenhouse. And Veda was right. After a few minutes in the greenhouse and finishing the protein bar, she did feel better. Physically.
Silence filled the corners of the room. Veda seemed content to wander from plant to plant, inspecting the small blossoms or emerging fruit. She even had more seedlings started.
“I can’t sleep.” Blaize clenched her jaw, unsure why she’d admitted the situation to Veda.
“That makes sense. You’ve been using work to avoid the emotional issue of starting a relationship with Cifer.”
Blaize blinked at Veda’s back.
“Do you want friendship or a medical opinion on how to get some sleep?”
Blaize wasn’t in the frame of mind to dish on her fucked-up relationship—or non-relationship—with Cifer. “Sleep advice?”
“Burn some energy. Get your muscles tired.”
“I’ve been working in the engine room.”
Veda shook her head. “Aerobic workout. Either sex or the gym. Equally effective.”
“Did you just prescribe sex?”
“It’s very effective for insomnia.”
