Page 19 of Tempting Cargo
“Not like that.”Nearly like that.
“Well, better you than any of us. We’d have come out with more than bruises.”
True. But they wouldn’t have come away with uneasy feelings and a touch of disappointment.
Some of the bolsters were already inflated, and I passed the blankets round.
“Looks like us two won’t need a bed, anyway,” one of the scientists said, and I remembered they were getting dropped off at the science place later today.
“Lucky you,” Roth said. “This isn’t the most hospitable transport.”
Irritation bubbled up, and with it, the need to defend the prickly captain. “Hey, you picked it. And she’s given us all this, at least. She’s not a transport vessel. I don’t think she normally transports people.” I took a breath, realising I’d gottensomewhat heated. “There’s a convi down the next corridor we can use. And she’ll sort water and food soon.”
And I really wanted some privacy so I could stroke my dick to the thought of an intriguing, strangely attractive alien holding me down.
I’d never had this kind of urge before, alien or no. Being the size I was, nobody had ever thought about taking control over me in bed, including myself, and that had been fine. More than fine. But these new, unbridled thoughts… Maybe Ellie had rubbed off on me a bit because there was a certain appeal to trying something new, in more ways than one. I’d joked with her about the size of my dick, knowing I had nothing to worry about. But what if I did? With an alien partner, what if I didn’t measure up? Kri’ith were big.
Damn. This was one insecurity I’d never had, but apparently all it took to change that was travelling several thousand light years and adding one disturbingly sexy alien.
I shrugged it off. No point losing my self-confidence for a hypothetical situation that wasn’t going to happen. Her disgusted snarl alone had shown me that. And, even if it did, our bodies had so many differences, what was one more?
By the time I got back to the storage corridor, I was smiling. I’d gone from swearing off even talking to kri’ith to fantasising about one in the space of a day; the irony wasn’t lost on me.
Of course, Shohari was there, leaning against a bulkhead as if that was a normal thing for a captain to do in working hours.
What were a captain’s working hours, anyway? And what did she do between stops? “Just here to tidy up, Captain.”
“Just here to make sure you do.”
Fuck. She was looking at me that way again, all intense, glittering eyes, as though she was a predator, and I was prey.
I wasn’t sure rugged was an adjective anyone ever used for an attractive woman, but that’s what Shohari was. Rugged yetelegant, if that was even a thing. Now I was getting used to the broad ear ridges, I could appreciate the way hers curved inwards, drawing attention to her sharp jaw.
And fuck me if my dick didn’t start to get hard again. I wished I’d worn a galactic tunic because at least that would have covered me somewhat, but no, Garrison had to stick to the human clothes today. Knobhead.
I kept my back to her as I folded and tidied away the mess of things that had fallen out in the turbulence. I could get this done, head back to the others, and try to get comfy in the cargo bay. No awkward urges or erections in sight.
“I insist you come to the medbay.” Her tone was all smoky. “I need to make sure you’re not hurt.”
“Honestly, I’m fine. Thank you, Captain, but I’m okay.” When I looked over my shoulder, she threw me a cold glare.
“I am not used to being disobeyed. This might be a small ship, but it’smyship, and I’m the captain. And if one of my crew or cargo needs the medbay, they skykking go.” A growl rumbled in her chest. “Move, cargo.”
Holy fuck.
My dick was an iron bar in my too-tight trousers. I had never, ever wanted to be spoken to like that, but apparently it was never too late to find new kinks. I was almost tempted to comm Ellie just so she could laugh at me and tell me I finally got it.
“Lead on, Captain,” I managed, adjusting myself as I walked behind her, pinning the head of my cock under my waistband. A finger came away wet, and I wiped it on my boxers, shaking my head. Clearly, my body just needed to get laid.
It was a small ship but well-appointed, and I was impressed by the medbay—and by Shohari. When she barked at me to sit, I lowered myself to the padded bench in the centre of the room. She surprised me by saying, “I will need to touch you. Is thatacceptable?” Her manner was all business, but her amethyst eyes still held a faint glitter.
I couldn’t help but say, “I’d like that, Captain.”
She snorted, and it was kind of adorable. “I am just checking you over for injuries, human.”
“I know.” I relaxed, focusing on my breathing as she inspected me with an efficient and gentle manner.
As she pressed the bruise on my arm, I winced.
