Page 44 of Bernadette

“I do.” He did. “What about Fod?”

“Splendid. We’re now besties. I braided his neck fur, and we talked about boys.”

“Threats were exchanged,” he guessed. “Can I gut him now?”

That brought a hint of a smile. “You might prefer to wait until I like you well enough to bail you out of jail.”

“Okay. Would an apology for holding out on you get me any closer to that moment?”

“Or convince me to let you tag along when I first approach Doljen? Not hardly.”

A flicker of anger woke at her stubbornness. He’d managed the start of conciliation with Tumsa. It was a shaky accord, admittedly. His Dramok had agreed only to discover how well they would cope in close quarters during the trip to Lobam. It was more than Halmiko had a right to, and he’d hoped his luck would continue with Bernadette. He’d hoped she’d relent.

He failed to hold his disappointment at bay. “You are a hard bitch.”

“And you’re a selfish asshole wrapped up in angst. Did you ever think maybe Doljen forgave you for what happened with Zakla, but he’d had enough of the rest of it?”

Her dark eyes were flint. She was pissing him off and simultaneously turning him on, which he hated. Damn her for being the exciting woman she was.

He wanted to know she found him just as arousing. “Youhaven’t had enough of me. I’ll bet you didn’t sleep a wink last night. Admit it. You missed me.”

Her lips thinned, and the skin around them turned white. A flare of triumph went off within him.Got you.

“I don’t need you, shocking as you might find it, Kalq.” Could a voice be frosty and full of heat at once?

“But you want me. Admit it, woman. I give you exactly what gets you off. What you crave. The only kink I’ve missed is fucking you in front of someone else. Which can be easily arranged.”

Her eyes widened. Her nipples were suddenly blatant against her blouse. She wasn’t wearing a bra? The thought made him hard in an instant. He threw caution to the wind.

He crawled toward her. She gripped a coil as if she’d beat him with it. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to strip you and bend you over the counter. We’ll put on a show. Anybody who comes in or walks by the kitchen door will see me fucking their captain to screaming orgasm.”

Her jaw dropped. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Watch me.”

Their struggle was brief. There was no denying Bernadette’s resistance was halfhearted. Halmiko soon had her bent over the counter as he’d threatened, their trousers puddled at their ankles, his legs between hers, his slick primary cock poised at her equally slick pussy.

She writhed, her palms braced against the countertop. She was unable to push up because his hand pressed between her shoulder blades, pinning her to the metal surface. She squalled, an angry sound. Angry with him or with herself for wanting what he offered?

“Tell me no. Tell me to stop,” he invited.

Instead, she spluttered, “Animal!”

“That’s what I thought.” He entered her by the barest inch and paused, giving her a last chance to refuse him.

She shuddered and managed to move enough to enfold another inch. He sighed in anticipation and plunged into her warmth.

Their mingled groans rang in the vast kitchen, echoing against the hard surfaces. Halmiko gazed down at the slender nape of her neck, bared by the bun that tamed her mass of curls. He leaned over her and pressed a kiss to that spot, his hips rocking, feeding her his passion.

Bernadette moaned as delicious friction lit her being, erasing the last of her pique with Hal. Part of her quailed to think any of her crew might walk in on them and witness her in such a state, but it excited her too. It didn’t matter that most were on leave until the next load, except for the Nobeks patrolling outside theRogueto ensure Fod’s goons couldn’t threaten the ship. She and Hal could be discovered.

She closed her eyes and imagined a crowd at the doorway, watching as Hal’s groin thudded against her ass, as he drove his thick shaft deep. As she surrendered to his lust.

His fingers groped for her clit and found it. She cried out at the blast of excitement. She was already close.

The whispers started. “I’m watching that sweet pussy take my cock. I’m looking at myself fucking you, woman. I’m enjoying how you tremble. How that delicious little cunt pulls on me. Oh, and we do have an audience. Kom’s Earther boy just walked in. He looks shocked, but he isn’t leaving. He’s watching you take a fucking. Do you like it? Do you like being on display?”

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