Page 55 of Kameer's Mate
“Officer Gorrsum, I find it difficult to believe that members of the crew I personally selected for this mission are incapable of installing a simple environmental control panel. Are you certain they made mistakes during the installation?”
His face darkens, and he scratches his neck with a trembling hand. “They’ve become unruly as well, Chief Kameer. I have never seen engineers behave so poorly in my entire life. I smelled alcohol on Ensign Harrek’s breath this morning and I was forced to send him back to his temporary quarters.” He shakes his head. “I do not understand why they do not respect me. When I threatened to demote Ensign Harrek to work in theRorrsa’smess hall, he laughed and walked off. Laughed! He laughed in my face!”
Indeed, it would appear Officer’s Brute trap is working faster than I expected. I’d thought I would have several more days until I must play my part, but it would seem events are transpiring more quickly than I imagined. I stare at my old friend as the cold knife twists deeper in my stomach.
“Perhaps I should return to theJansonna,” I say in a thoughtful tone. “Just for half a day or so, just long enough to instill fear in Ensign Harrek and the others. I will admit I departed the human worldship in haste without giving proper instructions to the other crew members. Perhaps if I directly order their obedience to you, their work habits will improve.”
Officer Gorrsum appears scandalized by my suggestion, but I know him well enough to know he’s pretending. My suspicions about him increase, and I start to mourn the loss of my friend. Perhaps he was never who I thought he was. “I couldn’t ask you to return to theJansonna, Chief Kameer. Not when theindividual who wants you dead is likely among our crew. I highly suspect Ensign Harrek, and I hope to have proof for you soon. He probably feels that you should’ve elevated him to officer by now and thinks if you’re dead he’ll have a better chance of moving up the ranks.”
I release a long breath and pretend to appear deep in thought. “I bet you’re right. I bet it is Ensign Harrek who wants me dead. Nevertheless, I cannot have the engineering crew I handpicked for the final work on theJansonnamake such blunders. The worldship needs to be ready for landing on 58-Z. Therefore, I will return to theJansonnain secret to work on the ship. But you mustn’t tell any of our crew members. I will work during the curfew hours so I’m not seen, then once the work is complete, I will return to theRorrsa.”
Officer Gorrsum gives me a wary look. “Are you certain? I would hate to impose on you, Chief Kameer, but you are right. TheJansonnamust be ready for landing on 58-Z as soon as possible. If something goes amiss, I fear Captain Warren won’t want to hand over the two thousand human females we are still owed. It would be tragic if the alliance crumbled in the final hour.”
“It’s not an imposition at all. I will depart theHaxxalon a shuttlecraft tomorrow morning. I believe there’s a supply run already scheduled, so I can hop aboard without anyone even knowing.” I chuckle. “It’ll be like old times when we used to jump from ship to ship, avoiding the formal logs, just for the fun of annoying our superiors.” I’m talking about our antics long before the war, of course, when we were both stationed on theHaxxalfor our first apprenticeships.
He joins in my laughter, and I almost regret what I’m doing. Regret how easy it is to bait him. But it must be done, and if he’s truly the mastermind behind the attempts on my life, then he must face the consequences of his crimes.
“Thank you, Chief Kameer. I anticipate your arrival. Would you like me to meet you in the docking bay?”
“No need. But if you could make sure the Founders’ quarters I recently occupied on Deck Twenty-One are ready for my return, I would be much obliged.”
“Consider it done.”
Chapter 29
MANDY
When I awake,I hear Kameer on a video comm call, so I get in the shower to cleanse myself of the layers of his seed that dried on my body overnight. I flush as I work up a lather of soap under the hot water, a bit weirded out that I actually fell asleep in such a state.
Through the bond, I sense Kameer is still on the call, so I take my time as I scrub myself from head to toe. Thankfully, the soap in the shower seems to be multipurpose, and it works for my hair just as well as it does for my body.
At last, I rinse off and step out of the shower. As I dry off, I lean into the heartbond, and I feel a soft caress in my mind, as though Kameer is touching me. He’s still on the video comm call, but he’s aware that I’m thinking about him.
After brushing my teeth, I exit the bathroom and head for the closet. We’d tossed our bags inside last night, but neither of us unpacked yet. I grab a dress from my bag and put it on, then decide to busy myself with unpacking both our bags while Kameer continues his call. Through the bond, I sense he’sspeaking with one of his crew members from theJansonna. I could listen word-for-word, but I don’t. It doesn’t feel right. I want us to be able to have some private thoughts and interactions.
I wonder if the heartbond works this way for all Darrvason-human couples. The way Kameer described it, sometimes there are small differences, and not all mated pairs can communicate telepathically.
As I rummage through Kameer’s bag, withdrawing items to stow on the closet shelves, I come acrossthe strap.
My heart skips a beat and heat quakes between my thighs. As I hold the implement and feel its weight, my breath catches, and I can’t help but imagine Kameer wielding it against my bottom as he punishes me for some unknown transgression. In my head, I hear the whooshing noise followed by a smack, and a quiver races across my backside.
How badly would it hurt?
For a split second, I consider hiding the strap, as well as the container of phalluses, the latter of which I spy in his bag atop a stack of folded shirts. Could I do it? Could I hide both things and then shield my mind from him so he doesn’t discover my deeds?
He plans to continue my anal training, and he wants to claim me with his dual shafts in tandem very soon. The butt plugs, of course, would facilitate that.
During our lengthy mating session last night, I caught several glimpses of his carnal plans for me, plans that will undoubtedly push my limits. I shiver, though I can’t deny the heated pulses building in my core. How can I fear it yet also crave it?
If I hide the plugs, would he assume they were misplaced or perhaps left behind on theJansonna? Maybe. We left in a rush.
Would he immediately replicate another set of plugs?
Not only would I immediately replicate another set of plugs, pretty human, but I would spread your cheeks wide and apply the strap to your bottom hole a few times.
I gasp at the sound of his deep voice reverberating in my head, and a second later, a huge shadow falls over me. I drop the strap and the container of plugs and stand up. When I notice the dark, predatory look in Kameer’s eyes, I take a few steps back.
But there’s nowhere to go. He’s standing in the closet doorway, tall and muscular and radiating authority, and I’m trapped inside.
