Chapter 14

The crew was due for a night out, and Halkon was the home of the Minth, the best bar in the entire Creg Planetary System. Thinking back to last night’s pool encounter with Xan, Sloan felt a shiver travel up her spine. She’d made it a point never to get involved with a crew member, but with Xan, she knew things were already past that. There was something about Xan that drew her to him. Perhaps it was the intense way he watched her when she entered the room or the flutters she felt in her stomach any time she was near him. There was something more to him, and she couldn’t wait to uncover some of that tonight. What happens on Halkon stays on Halkon, right?

She’d received a delayed comm from Neven letting her know that he had been in touch with D’Arian, and they were interested in the possibility that Xan was alive. Apparently, they were under the impression that he had been killed on Bija. The comm hadn’t had much information on it, only that someone from D’Arian would meet them on Halkon the following day. They would contact her directly once they arrived. That was it. Sloan hoped she had made the right choice, and she decided to keep this to herself until she could figure out if the D’Arian contact was legitimate.

Not wanting it to interfere with spending time with Xan, Sloan had gone out of her way to spend more time with him. She enjoyed learning more about him. She’d decided that her night on Halkon would be a night with Xan. She couldn’t hold back anymore and didn’t think he wanted to, either. This might be their last night together, so they might as well make the most of it.

Sloan decided to dress up for her crew’s night out. Her pants were form-fitting and not her usual grease monkey or jumpsuit chic, and her lavender top tied around her neck and showed off just enough cleavage. This wasn’t something she would usually wear, but she wanted it to be a special night for Xan. He was officially a part of the crew now, at least for tonight.

As they assembled in the docking bay, the crew was anxious to have a night of freedom. Sloan walked into the room packed with all her crew and told them the good news. She whistled to get their attention and received a cheer, a few whistles, and a couple of “Looking good, Captain” calls in return.

“Quiet down, quiet down.” The excited chatter dropped in volume, so she made her announcement. “Fifty credits for everyone.” The room erupted in yells of enthusiasm. “So, spend them wisely.” That was drowned out by cheers. “And rooms are reserved at Akin Hotel. We have to undock after offloading, so the Arrow won’t be back until morning. What does that mean? It means don’t get into trouble because I’m not bailing anyone out of a cell.” Nobody paid much attention.

The airlock engaged, and Halkon security staff were on the other side of the door ready to scan everyone before the fun could begin. Sloan hung back, making sure everyone made it through security without issue. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle and butterflies in her stomach when she saw Xan. He entered the docking bay, dressed in something other than his standard issue crew clothes. He sure cleaned up nice. His hair seemed to have its natural deep luster back. It gently brushed against his collar, and she fisted her hands at her sides to keep from reaching out to run her fingers through it.

“You look stunning.” He walked toward her and stood in front of her.

“You don’t look so bad yourself. You clean up real nice.”

“Dev loaned me some non-uniform clothes. He thought I might want to dress up.” Xan said, scrutinizing his borrowed clothes.

Sloan dipped her head to catch his eyes and stared deeply into them. Her heart raced and his breathing increased as they stood frozen in the moment. They could have stayed there forever, lost in the swirling expanse of one another, if security hadn’t interrupted.

“Last call for security check, then we need you to lock it down,” the head of security called out to the pair from the edge of the docking ramp.

“Well, I guess we better be going.” Xan offered his arm to her. Sloan took it and walked toward the airlock door. She hit her comm, “Eaon, we’re good here. Lock her down.”

“Locking down, Captain. Have fun without me.”

“Oh, don’t even try to guilt me, not after what you did on Larkin. You’re lucky they let us dock anywhere in this sector.”

“Joking, Cap. Have fun. You need it. Locking her up nice and tight until first light.”

The security scan complete, Xan glanced at her, expectedly. “So where to, boss?”

“Don’t you get started with that. Tonight, I’m Sloan.” She checked around for other crew members, but it seemed everyone had dispersed in record time as they got through the scan. “When you came to Halkon before, where did you go?”

“It was an Academy trip to the Ulian Museum.”

“I can’t say I’ve ever been there before.” Sloan hadn’t even known there was a museum on Halkon. Then again, her crew was always up for different kinds of cultural experience when they had leave from the ship. There were certainly elite sections of Halkon, but the crew tended to keep things more grounded than that.

They walked past the shopping district with high-end shops that were brightly lit and well appointed. Sloan saw signs for the Ulian Museum on the way to the mag-levs. When did they put a museum in this station? she wondered. As they strolled, Xan told her about his trip to Halkon, and Sloan wondered if she shouldn’t give the upper-level side a chance next time around.

“My mother was upset when she heard from the museum director that I had nearly knocked over an ancient Ulian vase. It held sentimental value to the family, and I was forced to comm her every night for seven days to have her recite the history of the vase.”

“The history of the vase took seven days to recite?” she asked as they stepped into the lev, and she pressed the button for the Tankon District.

“No, but the way my mother speaks . . . spoke, any story could go on for seven days.” Xan had a sad twinge in his eye, and Sloan squeezed his hand.

“Well, let’s have some fun to make sure we enjoy our night on the town.”

The doors to the mag-lev opened, and the understated, quiet reserve of the upper levels were blasted away. Hawkers were selling various wares, there were bars on every corner, and music pulsed from every establishment in the surrounding area. The aromas of food from all over the district filled the air, some sweet, some heady, and all delicious.

Xan took a hesitant step out.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Sloan said, not able to hide her enjoyment of his apprehension.

He stared at her, shocked that all this energy and life was bustling a few levels from his reserved childhood memories of Halkon. When Sloan mentioned that they were heading there for their drop-off, he couldn’t envision her fitting in there. Now that he’d seen this place, he could see her being right at home.

“I bet you could have gotten into a whole lot more trouble on that trip to Halkon had you known about what was down here.”

“I certainly could have,” Xan said absently as he took in all the sights, sounds, and smells of the Tankon District.

“So, what do you want to do first? Eat? Drink? Dance?” Sloan practically hummed in anticipation of her night out with Xan.

“I think we will have to be eat, drink, then dance because that’s the only way you’ll be able to get me to dance—if I’m well and truly drunk.”

“Eat and drink it is! Because we are definitely dancing!” she said saucily. Xan grinned, and it melted Sloan even more. To know that she’d put that smile there had her beaming at him.

She directed him to the closest bar and ordered four Xeon shots and a dish of noodles.

“Four?” Xan inquired, grinning.

“Well, I figure I better start early getting a few drinks in you or else I’ll never get to dance.”

They spent the next few hours talking about their time in the sector. They also talked about their childhoods, staying away from Sloan’s abduction from Earth, but they did discuss happier times they had both enjoyed. She regaled him with her prowess on a huffy bike going down Deadman’s Hill. He told her about all the pranks his brothers used to get up to and punishments meted out by his mother.

Finally, Sloan’s favorite song this cycle came on. “Okay, no more stalling. We have to dance to this one.” She lured him toward the dance floor. It was packed, but there was more than enough room for two more.

“I . . . have to . . . head to the bathroom.”

“Oh, come on, you are not going to try that one again?”

“I really do. I’ll be right back.”

Not to be deterred, Sloan responded, “I’ll meet you on the dance floor.” Sloan made her way to the floor, which was full of all types enjoying a night out and this system-wide hit. She danced, swaying to the music as the drinks and great tunes got her going. While humans were not entirely unknown in this system, they were an oddity, which drew some attention. Once the song ended, Sloan scanned the crowd for Xan, but he was nowhere to be found. Sloan hoped he wouldn’t think that hiding in the bathroom would get him out of giving her that dance.

A body leaned against her, and at first, she thought someone was only trying to get by and moved forward to give them room. But the body stayed plastered against her back. She tried to turn, but whoever it was wrapped their arms around her waist. As Sloan was about to twist this jerk’s wrist, she spotted a slight shimmering skin tone that reflected under the club’s dim lights.

She glanced over her shoulder and found Xan staring directly into her eyes. “It’s about time you got here. I was worried you had fallen in.”

“Once I saw your dancing, there was no way I could stay away.” They continued to stare into each other’s eyes as Xan spun Sloan around to face him, his chest grazed against her breasts. She felt her nipples pebble at the contact and heat of their stare. As she brought her hand to the side of his face, he gently moved his face toward her hand.

Entranced in each other’s stares, she felt the warm feeling that always accompanied long stares into Xan’s eyes. But the feeling was much farther south than it usually was. Sloan felt a jolt straight to her pussy, and the flashes that were being transmitted were not exactly memories but an anticipation of what was to come. She could feel his mouth on her, on her breasts, her core, all over her body. Sloan’s breathing picked up and hitched as Xan slid his hand underneath her shirt. A shiver went up her spine as his hands moved up to cup her breasts before trailing down her sides, skimming her skin and causing her to break out in goose bumps. The crush of the crowd covered Xan’s under-the-shirt action. Sloan ran her hands under his shirt and felt the shimmering plates that ran along his spine. Xan moaned against Sloan’s neck as he continued to use his clothing-covered manhood to drive her crazy on the dance floor.

Xan took his hand out of Sloan’s shirt, brought it to the back of her head, and drew her closer while lowering his head to her lips. Sloan could feel Xan’s breath against her mouth, drawing a shudder from her. Their lips were a hairbreadth apart when all hell broke loose. Dancers pushed and screamed as a fight between two Rockovians demolished the club.

“Looks like it’s time to go.” Xan grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the entrance. Sloan craned her neck to try see the action as the two pummeled one another and tables, chairs, and everything else in their path was destroyed. Rockovians were knowns for their destructive capabilities, and Xan wanted her nowhere near them.

“That was going to be an awesome fight,” Sloan said as Xan guided her along.

“Don’t grumble. I’m sure there are better things we could do with our time.” He let his gaze linger on her lips. That seemed to get her attention as Sloan picked up her pace to match his and they made their way back to their rooms.

As they walked to the hotel sector, Xan held Sloan’s hand, their fingers intertwined as they stole sideways glances at one another. Sloan knew that the moment they reached their rooms, there would be fireworks, and if the visions that were pulsing off Xan right then were any indication, Sloan was in for the night of her life. They weren’t clear pictures, like the memories he shared with her before, but pulsing feelings and emotions that were heightening Sloan’s own arousal and making it hard for her to walk straight.

It wasn’t only about sex. With Xan, Sloan felt she could finally let her guard down. A man who not only understood her but also melted her heart and her panties. Growing up the way she did after Earth meant that she always had to have her guard up, but with Xan, relaxation and comfort reminded her of home and family. It was something she wouldn’t let pass her by. Right now, relaxation was not what she was thinking about. She couldn’t wait to run her fingers over the plates that ran down his back as he pumped into her. Sloan had to clench her legs together as they made their way to the hotel, which seemed to be a lot farther away than she remembered.