Roark
I stood outside the door listening. It was not an ethical thing to do, but I could not stop myself. I wish I had stayed away, because now I knew my skin color bothered her. I tried not to let it bother me as I remembered how strange Cami looked the first time I met her.
“Bye, Roark.” Cami smiled as she left the room.
Standing just inside the doorway, I softened my voice. “I brought food.”
Her face lit with a smile that melted my heart. She looked thin compared to Cami, and I wanted to feed her.
“Thank you.”
I pulled a table over next to the bed and set the plate down. It was mostly finger foods, packed with nutrients and calories. She didn’t waste any time before picking something out and tentatively tasting it.
“It’s good,” she said, and smiled again.
I could feel her hesitation, the awkwardness. Not knowing where to begin, I asked, “Is your name Lara?”
Her face turned a nice shade of red and then it disappeared; I liked the color.
“Yes, it is. I’m sorry I lied. But in my defense, I didn’t know you. Still don’t, really.”
I felt like a youngling lost for words. I had watched Cami and Zorvak, but never took the time to get to know Cami. Ulayian males did not like others encroaching on their territory, and Cami belonged to Zorvak.
“Thank you for helping me,” she offered.
“You are most welcome.”
Nodding to the chair next to the bed, she smiled shyly and said, “Sit down, join me.”
I lowered myself down, but couldn’t think of anything to say.
“You’re Roark, right?”
“Yes.”
Just being this close to her put me on edge. My cock stood painfully hard as it demanded that I take her, claim what I knew was mine. Instead of acting on any of it though, I tiptoed around her, giving one-word answers. As someone used to getting what he wanted, I felt like a youngling trying to lure a female to my bed for the first time.
Lara kept biting her lower lip, twisting her hands slightly together, then picking something else to eat. I felt her discomfort.
“This food is really good.” She popped a cia into her mouth.
“I am glad. It is a vegetable grown on Ulaya.”
“That’s the name of your planet, right?”
“Yes. And you are from Earth? Like Cami?”
She smiled once more, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I am.”
Her voice broke, lower lip quivering slightly. I had seen Cami do this on a rare occasion, and only in extreme sadness. I almost panicked as desolate feelings washed over me.
Acting on instinct, I erupted from the chair and gathered Lara into my arms.
“You are not alone anymore,” I tried to reassure her.
I know. I’m trying to hold it together. I really am, but I’m not like Cami. She’s fearless.
My heart soared when she spoke to me so intimately.
You are strong.
I’m not. Cami is the strong one.
I do not believe that. Think of what you have been through, what you survived. And do not forget that you escaped the Suntae; that is not an easy task.
My friends didn’t make it out.
A wave of guilt washed over me, and I knew it was hers. The desire to alleviate her fear was strong, but I was at a loss.
Nonya kept telling me that her brother was coming for her. Do you think he rescued them all?
The answer to that was probably no, but I didn’t want to admit that to Lara. I am not sure.
She turned in my arms and looked me square in the eyes. Hers were stormy, beautiful as she yelled at me. Don’t lie to me!
I am not lying. I would never. The truth—I am sure Nonya’s brother is looking for her. If it was my sister, I certainly would be.
She turned her upper body and snuggled against me. Thank you.
With her head buried in the curve of my neck, I tightened my grip, holding her close with one hand, stroking her hair with the other. The silky strands slipped between my fingers. I once thought her hair was yellow, but looking more closely, I saw it was many colors. Dark yellow strands, mixed with light, a hint of red every now and then. Truly mesmerizing. And her scent! She smelled like the winter flowers on Ulaya.
Leaning back, she swiped her eyes and smiled bravely. Sorry for my breakdown.
I think you are entitled after everything you have been through.
She chuckled. “I just had a girly moment.”
Curiously, I asked, “What does that mean?”
“It means,” she patted my chest, “that I finally took the time to process everything that happened—being lost in space, the horror of that cell.”
She clamped her jaw tight, I felt the anger roll through me.
“How bad was it?” I had my suspicions, but I wanted to know for sure.
As the images rolled through her mind, I saw it all. Strapped to a table, poked and prodded like an animal. The humiliation she felt as she lay naked before them. My hands balled into fists and I wanted to kill them all!
“I didn’t understand much, but the others did. One of the worst parts was the smell. They never cleaned our area…”
She shook her head. She didn’t need to say anything else, I could put the pieces together.
Sniffing, she rubbed her red nose and smiled. “Is this your room?” she asked.
“Yes. It is a bit small. The flyer is not that big.”
She looked around and I tried to see it through her eyes. It contained a large bed, a small table and one chair. There was a small closet and a cleaning room with a solar shower. Nothing more, and certainly nothing extravagant.
“It’s a lot bigger than my room on Exploration One, and the bed is more comfortable.”
“I am glad you like it. Would you like to see more?”
Her eyes widened, her excitement washing over me. “I would love that.”
Reluctantly, I set her off my lap and onto her feet, instantly missing the contact. When I took her hand, electricity sparked between us. She froze, mid-step, the pulse in her neck increasing.
Quickly turning around, I pulled her into my arms, her body pressed tightly against mine. I wanted to hold her, protect her, sink deep inside her soft body.
Staring into her desired-filled eyes, her breath drifted over my face with each exhalation. I needed to taste her. Just one taste as I leaned in. Our lips touched, lightly at first. Soft and warm, her lips barely moved, and then she deepened the kiss. Her tongue licked the seam of my lips and I thought I would go mad with desire. Pressing my cock into her stomach, I wanted her to feel how much I wanted her. Our tongues swirled, my hands skimmed down, finding the hem of her shirt. My shirt, which was all she had on. Touching the bare skin of her hips, I wanted everything!
I need to fuck you!
As I lifted her, the shirt rode to her waist and she wrapped her legs around my middle. Just as I took one step toward the bed, Cami’s voice drifted down the corridor.
“Lara? Want some more to eat?”
The air changed and reluctantly, she slid down my body onto her feet. I inhaled deeply and tried to get my desire under some kind of control.
“No thanks, Cami!” she yelled, her eyes steady on mine. I don’t know what came over me.
It is the bond that draws us together.
Don’t insult me. I know what I want. I was talking about almost having sex knowing Cami could walk in on us. I’m a lot of things, but I’m not an exhibitionist.
Neither was I, but right now, I could not talk about sex.
Taking a few deep breaths, I took her hand. “Come on,” I said in a strained voice.
We walked in silence as I led her out of my room.
“This is the galley,” I said, stepping inside.
“Wow, it’s at least twice the size of ours!”
Heading over to the replicator, I showed her how to use it. “There is plenty, so help yourself anytime.”
And then I inadvertently grimaced.
Lara chuckled. “What put that look on your face?”
“If Cami offers you cofa, do not drink it.”
About that time, Cami and Zorvak walked through the door. Cami headed straight for the replicator. Looking over her shoulder she asked, “Roark, what are you telling her about my cofa?”
No need to answer; she had probably heard me talking.
Programming the replicator, Cami made two cups of her vile drink. “Here you go Lara.” She handed her a cup, and then took a sip of her own.
I watched Lara’s facial expression, trying to discern if she liked it or not. After one taste, her nose scrunched up and her upper lip curled.
“Cami, this stuff is disgusting! How can you possibly drink this shit?”
Cami burst out laughing, her eyes darting between mine and Zorvak’s. “I just like forcing them to drink it. You know, they pretend to like it.”
“You do it for fun?” Lara asked, incredulous.
“Well, yeah.”
“Do you even like this shit?”
“Nope, not even a little.”
Lara giggled, the sound light and happy. It bubbled up until it became a boisterous belly laugh.
Zorvak rounded on Cami. “Female, do you know how often I have drunk that thick liquid for you?”
Cami laughed, setting her cup down on the table. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Punish you, of course.” Zorvak bent down, grabbed Cami around her upper legs and tossed her over his shoulder. As he stormed out of the galley, her laughter trailed behind them.
“Well that was…”
“Embarrassing,” Lara finished, and then she chuckled again. “If you knew the Cami I knew, you would find this all very strange.”
“How was she before?”
“All business. She kept her nose in a book, constantly studying. Wouldn’t even take a break to have a good time.”
“She does seem different then.”
“You have no idea.”
“Come on, let me show you the rest of the flyer.”
Without prompting, she took my hand and smiled up at me. “Okay.”
I showed Lara around the flyer; more specifically, the engine compartment. I spent a good hour or two explaining every connection, every color coding in detail.
“This is amazing!” she gushed, looking over the components.
She asked intelligent questions while looking over the conduits. I took my time to answer each one of them, explaining everything methodically. It was easy to see how Lara would be chosen as chief engineer. She had common sense and understood the basic concepts of engine propulsions—at least the ones used on the flyer. No doubt she knew her own systems inside out.
“Come on, I’ll show you the control room.”
“Great!”
Testing her emotions through the link, I knew that most of her desire had been replaced with intrigue and excitement. I squeezed her hand, anxious to show her the rest.