He sat at the table in the common room, drinking a cup of coffee, and reflecting on the day. He'd truly enjoyed spending some time with Lyra. He thought she was a sweet girl. A smart girl. A girl who'd gotten a really rough break in life and was paying a steep price for something that wasn't her fault.

That ability of hers had led her there, to the point they were at. To the edge of the fighting rings, and most probably a date with death. And Dariux grimaced to himself, knowing that he was the one shepherding her down the chute.

"How'd you sleep?" he asked without turning around as Lyra stepped into the common room behind him.

"Very well, thank you," she replied.

"Coffee's hot," he said, finally turning to face her.

She gave him a small smile and walked over, pouring a mug for herself. After they'd taken off from Pryma, Dariux had initially thought about putting her back into her box and turning her stasis field back on. If he'd been smart, he would have done that. He'd already inserted himself too deep into her world and couldn't afford to let himself get any deeper.

Instead of ordering her back to the box though, he'd told her she could use his quarters to take a shower and get some sleep. They still had a long journey in front of them. Plus, it gave him some time to think about his situation and figure out what he was going to do.

Lyra sat down at the table across from him, staring into his eyes. He could see the tension and apprehension on her face. She knew the decision that weighed heavily on him. She took a sip of her coffee and set the mug back down, holding it in both hands, as if drawing warmth from it. Though, he doubted she could feel much of anything through the bioelectric gloves.

When she looked into his eyes, he saw that earnestness and steely determination again. He was sure she was about to launch into a spiel about not putting her back in the box and for giving her freedom. He was sure she was going to beg for her escape. For her life. When she spoke though, he was taken aback by what she said.

"It's okay, you know," she said. "I understand if you put me back in the box and finish your job. I see things a lot different now, after talking to you. I understand why you're doing what you do. And as much as I want to hate you for doing your job, I can't. In your place, I can't say that I wouldn't make the same decision. So, I just want you to know it's okay. I get it."

"I haven't decided anything just yet," he said softly.

"But – you'll be killed if you don't deliver."

He shrugged. "Unless I run."

"And be on the run for the rest of your life?" she asked. "From what you said, this Syndicate isn't the forgiving type."

"They're not," he said. "But, what kind of a person would I be if I turned you – not to mention those seven other people in the cargo hold – over to them, knowing what they have in store for you? When I took this job, I assumed I'd be running guns or drugs or whatever. I never anticipated hauling living, breathing people."

"I'm not going to try and convince you one way or the other, Dariux," she said. "I know this isn't an easy decision for you. I can see the toll it's taking. I just want you to know – to believe – that there is no judgment from me no matter what you decide. I understand."

Lyra looked at him with no guile or deception in her eyes. She actually meant what she was saying, which surprised him. In her place, he figured he'd be begging for his life. Trying to manipulate every weakness, play every angle, do everything in his power to avoid having to get back in that damn box.

But Lyra wasn't begging. She wasn't manipulating. She meant it when she said she wasn't going to judge him for whatever decision he made. Which, of course, only drove that dagger of guilt even deeper into his heart.

He hated the position he was in and cursed himself for not leaving well enough alone and not opening the damn box in the first place.

It was bad enough that it was another person inside. It was worse that the person inside was somebody he felt so drawn to and compelled by. Somebody who touched something deep within him. Somebody he really seemed to have a connection with.

"Put your hands on the table," he said.

"What?"

"Your hands," he replied. "Put them on the table.

Lyra did as he asked, and he slipped a small black device out of his pocket. He held the device to the box attached to her right wrist and pushed a couple of buttons. A moment later, his device chimed and the box slipped off her wrist, the glove deactivated. He repeated the process with the left wrist and just like that, she was free.

Lyra looked down at her hands, rubbed them together, relishing the feel of her own skin more than she ever thought possible. The smile on her face was wide and there was a light in her eyes he hadn't seen before. She stood up and rushed around the table, pulling him to his feet. Lyra pulled him into a tight embrace, her firm body pressed against his.

They held each other for a long moment before she started to pull away. Lyra put her hands on either side of his face, their eyes locked, their gaze lingering for a long moment. The air between them was suddenly filled with anticipation and desire. Dariux, feeling the heat inside of him burning, leaned in and pressed his mouth to hers. Her lips parted, their tongues dancing and swirling together.

His head was swimming and his heart thundered inside of him as the passion and desire raging inside of him grew. Slowly, she broke the kiss and leaned back, their eyes still locked together. Dariux wanted her. Wanted her in ways he never wanted another. But, he didn't want her to give herself to him for the wrong reasons.

"Lyra, I – " he started and bit off his words, suddenly unsure how to put his thoughts into a coherent statement.

She looked at him, her full, sweet lips still slightly parted and he longed to feel them against his again. Longed for – more. Much more.

"I don't want you to do this if you think – "

A small smile touched her mouth and she put her finger to his lips, shaking her head slightly.

"I do this for no other reason than I want to," she says. "I know there is no certainty with anything. And if this is nearly the end for me, I want to feel something. Something good. Something that makes me feel alive."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded and gave him a flirty little smile. "Nobody makes me do anything I don't want to."

"I believe that."

Lyra leaned in and kissed him again and Dariux pulled her to him tight to his body. Their kiss grew in fire and intensity and Dariux ran his hands all over her body. She was so firm beneath his hands, but he yearned to feel her flesh under his fingertips. He pulled her shirt, lifting it up over her head and threw it to the side.

Dariux ran his hands over her smooth flesh, the fire inside of him burning brighter. Hotter. Lowering his face, he kissed her neck as he slid his hands up her body, cupping and kneading her breasts. Lyra let out a small gasp as he planted a line of kisses down her chest, taking one of her stiff nipples into his mouth. He sucked and licked her nipple, feeling her body shudder beneath him. Her hands were in his hair, pulling it, as her movements became more urgent.

"Dariux," she gasped.

His stiff cock strained against his pants, begging for release, but he wanted to savor every moment. Wanted to make her feel everything she wanted. Wanted them both to enjoy the experience for as long as they could.

Dariux slid her pants down and pushed her backward. Helping her up, he sat her down on the table and quickly removed her boots and her pants, tossing them into the pile with her shirt. Lyra tugged at his shirt and he let her pull it off of him. He kissed her again, a shudder passing through him as she ran her nails down his chest, sending chills crawling across his skin.

Dariux parted her thighs and dropped to his knees before her. His golden gaze never leaving hers, he leaned forward, running the tip of his tongue along her wet, swollen lips. Lyra sucked in a sharp breath as he slid his tongue deep into the warm, wet center of her.

"Yes," she moaned. "Yes, yes, yes... "

Dariux licked and sucked on her pussy hard and fast, nipping her clit and burying his tongue deep inside of her. He slipped two fingers into her, driving them hard and fast as he sucked on her clit. Lyra grabbed his hair, pulling his face deeper into her as she ground her pussy against his mouth.

Her moans grew louder, her grip on his hair harder, and her body was tight and trembling. Dariux drove his fingers into her hard and deep, and Lyra cried out, her voice reverberating through the small room. Her body spasmed as she came hard, her pussy throbbing and pulsing around his fingers and tongue. Dariux kept licking her, thrusting his fingers into her, wanting nothing more than for her to feel good. To feel alive.

Eventually, her orgasm subsided, but when he stood up and looked into her eyes, all he saw was heat. Pure desire. She reached down and unfastened his trousers, pushing them down to his hips. His cock was rigid and ready to go. Lyra grabbed hold of it, squeezing it tight at the base as she ran the tip of her tongue around her full lips.

"I need you to fuck me, Dariux," she moaned. "I need you to fuck me right now."

A salacious smile on his lips, he stepped forward as she parted her thighs for him, wrapping her legs around his waist. The head of his dick pressed against her dripping wet opening. He felt the heat radiating from her and it made him shudder.

She locked her hands behind his neck and drew him closer, planting her mouth upon his. She kissed him with such force and passion, it nearly took his breath away. Dariux stepped forward and in one, smooth thrust buried his cock deep into her. Lyra cried out as he filled her up and stretched her open. They stood for a moment, his hard prick sheathed inside of her, giving themselves a moment to adjust.

When a devilish little smile crossed her lips, Dariux leaned forward, planting his hands on the table, and braced himself. He began to pump his hips, driving his cock into her tight, wet little hole again and again. Lyra leaned forward and bit his shoulder, making him draw in a sharp breath. The small sting of pain though, blended perfectly with the pleasure of moving inside of her, making every sensation that more vivid and vibrant.

Their bodies slapped together as they fucked, the sound of flesh meeting flesh melding with their cries of passion and pleasure, creating a beautiful symphony of sound in his ears. Lyra dug her nails into his shoulders as he continued driving his cock into her, harder and faster. Shockwaves of sensation coursed through him as her mouth found his for a kiss that was filled with raw, primal lust.

She quickly pushed him away and slipped down off the table. Turning around, she bent over the table, giving him a view of her smooth, pale ass. Dariux gripped her flesh with one hand, letting the fingers of his other trail over the red tiger stripes across her back.

She looked over her shoulder at him, a look of hunger and anticipation in her eyes. He stepped forward and drove his cock into her again, his body exploding with sensation. Gripping her hair with one hand, he gave her thick mane a hard yank as he pounded himself into her again and again.

Lyra called out his name and he gasped as he felt the muscles inside of her squeeze and grip his cock. She pushed herself back against him, taking him into her even deeper. Dariux felt his balls tighten as the familiar pressure began to build up within him. He grunted and thrust himself harder, deeper, gritting his teeth and trying to hold off the inevitable.

"Come for me, Dariux," she moaned, looking back at him, her eyes locked on his. "Come for me."

As if her words were the key that unlocked him, Dariux felt his body shudder as he drove himself into her one final time. He held himself there, deep inside of her as his cock began to throb. He cried out as he exploded inside of her. His body shuddered as he unloaded himself deep in her pussy.

As he filled her up, he felt her body tighten around him. She let out a long, shuddering breath and called out his name as another orgasm crashed down upon her. Together, they rode out the waves of pleasure, their bodies shaking and shuddering.

Slowly, their breathing returned to normal, and Dariux stepped back, his now-deflated cock slipping out of her, along with a rush of his fluid. Her legs shaky and looking a little unsteady, Lyra turned around and wrapped her arms around him, leaning against him, a smile that made her look drunk upon her face. She gave him a soft, sweet, chaste kiss on the lips. Dariux held her and smiled, feeling entirely content. Happy.

And it was then that he realized those were feelings he hadn't had in quite a long time. Maybe never.

"I don't know what this is between us," he said, his voice low and soft. "But, it – "

She pressed her finger to his lips again and shook her head. "There's no reason to say anything," she cut him off. "Let's just enjoy the moment. Together."

He nodded and held her. They stood together, their bodies entwined, and Dariux basked in that feeling of unfettered joy, of companionship – holding onto it as long as he could.