“Veda? Are you in here?”
“Back here.”
Cyra found her nestled amongst boxes of various size and states of unpacking.
“They delivered my hydroponic setup earlier. I’m just checking out all the lights, and grow pots. I need a plan before I start setting it up.” She plucked a light bulb from a pack and inspected it before returning it to the protective casing.
Cyra bit her lip. “I need your help.”
“What’s wrong?” Veda came out from behind the pile of stuff.
“Am I being unreasonable about not using ER bridges?”
“Did Rhysa push you to approve a route with them?”
Cyra rubbed her forehead. “Not pushed exactly.”
“Logically, the risks are minimal but not zero. And to be fair, your physical reaction to them seems to be unusually strong.”
Cyra shivered at the physical memory of being pulled and stretched when Auvi would use them.
“But are you sure this isn’t about something else?”
“Like what?”
“Like that handsome male who calls you queen, saved your meal for you, and is now living in the quarters next to yours?”
Cyra crossed her arms. “What does Dez have to do with worm holes.”
Veda waggled her thick eyebrows. “I’m sure he’d be willing to help you withallyour holes.”
“Funny. Did I say I liked you? Get ready for launch, Miss Comedy.” Cyra turned and left the sound of Veda’s laughter followed her.
Speaking of Dez, she should verify sure he was actually on board. She’d spoken to everyone other than him. He needed to be prepared for takeoff.
Cyra knocked on the door to Dez’s quarters. She hadn’t seen him anywhere else on the ship during her final visual inspection to make sure everything was stowed away and safety doors were closed, so he had to be in there unless he was gone. Before her mind could run down that dark corridor, she heard his deep voice.
“Coming.”
The word held more promise than it should. The door opened and all ability to speak left her. Dez wore a tiny pair of form fitting briefs which left nothing to her imagination. And as good as her imagination had been when she’d thought of him, it was woefully inadequate. He was huge—everywhere. She’d already seen his sculpted arms and suspected he had a washboard stomach. But he was so much more than her imagination had teased. She trailed her eyes over his bulging biceps, up to his broad shoulders, down his muscular pecs with the dark, almost black, flat nipples that made her mouth water. She continued down the center of his abdomen that was like a valley chiseled in stone between a series of boulders that made up his core. She continued to follow the dark markings down to his shorts, everything pointed to his enormous cock that seemed to be growing larger the longer she stared. She couldn’t draw her eyes away.
Dez stepped closer, forcing her to meet his dark yellow eyes. He was breathing just as heavily as she was. “Did you want something, my queen?”
Well, fuck. Could he have made an innocent question sound any dirtier? She paused and took a deep breath. She shook her head slightly, trying to get the blood flow back to her brain. “To make sure you were prepared…for launch.”
“Do you require my assistance with launching the ship?” His tone was teasing. She was sure he knew exactly howThe Treasurefunctioned after all the stories and the personal attacks. He had to have overheard the whispers while they’d visited all the bars looking for a navigator.
“We don’t have to clear atmosphere when leaving the station. Just wanted to make sure you were ready.”
“I’m ready. And willing. And able. For whatever I can do for you, my queen.” His deep voice held so much dirty promise.
So many images raced through Cyra’s mind. A tawdry to-do list that heated her cheeks. “Your captain.”
“That too.”
Cyra spun and left him standing in the door of his quarters. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t be authorizing their departure anytime soon. She’d be wrapped around him like seaweed on a pier. All the reasons that was a terrible idea floated away on the tides of her desire. Except for one. She had a ship and a business to save and people counting on her. No pressure.
A couple of cycles after leaving Cassan, well on the way to Kolben, Cyra’s crew had settled back into their routines. Veda focused on establishing her indoor greenhouse and Dez helped with the construction and took point on working with the dogs. Cyra strode down the wide empty corridor to the deck to review some administrative communications. She trailed her fingers against the locks on the built-in storage embedded in the walls, still in awe thatThe Treasurewas hers. On deck, Blaize and Rhysa were at their stations. It would be a smooth trip, even if it was a long one. As soon as they delivered, they would continue to work to find more crew and more contracts. It was the life she’d dreamed of.
