six
Molly
Alone in her room, Molly found that sleep eluded her. Now that Oz was gone, fear rushed back in. She couldn’t believe what had happened that day: the ship and everyone almost destroyed.
How could she bear the gnawing fear? It was going to kill her to live like this. She felt like her world was crumbling, and the ship was closing in around her. What was she going to do on this tiny ship?
Somehow she needed to make herself useful, keep her mind occupied on something other than worry. What had Oz said in engineering earlier: that Haze would be able to get her anything she might wish for?
She pulled herself out of bed and was about to sit down at her desk to make a list when her door made a slight creak and hissing noise. She looked up to see an enormous thing moving toward her, a hideous yet somehow golden and beautiful creature. The sanctioned pictures didn’t do it justice. The horror had been somehow minimized to prevent the population from panicking.
The thing was at least two times her size, and it stooped to enter the room. As it came toward her, it opened its mouth. Two rows of sharp teeth stared down at her.
Molly froze, her breath whooshing out of her, panic clawing through her insides. She took a small step back as though it could make a difference.
The thing — the Suhlik — brought its head back to strike. Molly closed her eyes and stopped breathing.
There was a large crash and banging, and she felt wind whip across her face. She drew back, and her eyes opened to see Oz — beautiful Oz — leaping through the air, a small knife in his hand, striking lethal blows at the Suhlik, somehow finding vulnerable spots in the armor-plated sections of its stomach, chest and neck. The Suhlik stretched out talons to Oz, but Oz rolled out of the way, finally pouncing back and sticking the knife into one of its eyes. Oz twisted his knife and withdrew, and the Suhlik twitched and fell to the floor.
Molly’s legs gave out, and she sank to the floor, scrambling immediately back towards the wall.
“Oz, you came. Thank God, you came.”
“Did it hurt you?” Oz asked anxiously. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I… I think so. I—” Molly took a deep breath. “You came just in time. I—” Molly’s body shook from little tremors spreading out from her core. She looked up helplessly as Oz swam out of focus.
The large man knelt down, and his hands grasped her shoulders. She heard his words distantly as though approaching from a tunnel. “Molly, we aren’t safe yet. I need to check the ship. I need you to stay here; lock yourself in your room.” The man glanced at the dead Suhlik behind them. “Lock yourself in your bathroom, so you have two locks between you and any danger. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve swept the ship and cleared out any others.”
Molly gaze back at him numbly. She looked around, confused, trying to decide what that meant she should do.
He reached over and scooped her into his arms. She felt her body tremble as she leaned against his chest. Her body was so heavy and weak. He walked into the bathroom and set her gently down on the toilet seat.
He left for a moment, and she gasped in fear, but he popped back in the bathroom holding the band. “Hold onto this.” He held it in front of her eyes, pausing until she could focus enough to look at it. “Just click here, and it will send a signal directly to me. I’ll be here in two heartbeats. I’ll station Io in your room.” His voice went deadly still. “Nothing will get past Io.” He swiped at the door reader to close it in front of him.
Molly struggled up, clinging to the bracelet in her hand. She swiped the lock button and sunk to the floor in front of the sink.
She was wearing her nightgown, she thought, horrified. The thing had seen her in her nightgown.
She held her arms tight around herself, holding in her body to keep it from melting away.
She strained to listed but couldn’t hear anything, so she stared at the little bracelet that Oz had given her. It was dark and silent. Molly held the bracelet gingerly, not wanting to press the switch by mistake with her shaking hands.
~
Oz
As Oz left, he decided to move first toward Command. The door slid open as he approached, and he tensed, but it was only the Captain heading toward him. “Command Center is locked down,” the captain said.
The captain’s two frengs followed behind him. “Captain, can I leave Io with Molly? I’d rather not—” He couldn’t finish the words. Something felt broken inside, like the world moved too slow, or time went too fast.
The captain gave a few commands to station the freng at Molly’s room.
“Engineering,” Oz said quickly, wondering how this was only occurring to him now. He felt a small tremor run through him as though he’d run a great distance.
I am afraid, Oz thought to himself. Oz pulled himself to attention, to focus, but he felt shame run through him. The girl Molly. She was, it was… distracting. All he knew was that she needed to be safe. He didn’t care about anything except that. He would need to find a better solution than here on his ship. She couldn’t be safe here.
As they reached Engineering, they fanned out and checked each station, weapons still drawn. There were no signs of any more of the Suhlik.
The captain sent out a coded status message to the crew.
“It must have gotten on board when the Suhlik ships approached us, that’s what they were waiting for; why we survived at all. He must have been in the Cargo Bay, waiting for more of them to come over. They were hoping to take it from the inside, while we were distracted by them on the outside.”
“I don’t think they saw your paper on Warp Breach Twists,” the captain joked.
As the Captain circled back to Oz’s position, Oz mentioned, “I wish Haze had been there. He could have—” Oz broke off unsure what he meant. All he knew was that Haze was three times the warrior that Oz himself was. There was something that Haze had, which no other Mahdfel that Oz had ever known, had. It was as though he were some warrior even beyond normal Suhlik coding.
“Oz.” Captain Vren placed a hand on Oz’s shoulder, looking at him intently as though to brook no argument. “We’ve had a warning because of you, twice now, that’s more than we could expect. We should check on Seban. The others are checking the Pit, and I believe Xain is in the cargo bay.”
Oz tried to let the shaky feeling pass beyond, but it clung to him like a misfired torpedo in orbit, waiting to explode at the first disturbance.
As Oz continued with his system checks, the Captain sent a coded message to Seban. Oz heard Seban’s ‘all clear’ response.
Oz cleared a few more status messages from the ship. He hesitated. “I can’t detect any signs of tampering with the instrumentation I have on-hand, but I’d prefer a more thorough check. The Suhlik didn’t have a lot of time and would have been unfamiliar with this design. I could be more thorough though if we were docked and used some of the working sensors at Barvah station? It would mean leaving the ion cloud but…”
Oz tried to sound professional, hide the hopeful rise in his voice. He could only hope the edge of panic he felt was not painted over his face in neon letters: He must get Molly out of this place; he could never let her be in this position ever again. There was no other option.
Captain Vren studied Oz for a moment, considering. “We’re overdue for an external check of the ship anyway. Once there, I’ll have Xain and Haze to do a walk around. Hopefully we are being overly cautious and won’t find anything. I’d hate to lose any more safe havens after we dock there.”
“Captain, it’s just” Oz glanced at the ladder heading up to the crew level, instead of at the door to the cargo and medical bays.
The captain nodded with quick understanding. “Go. The crew and I can handle the rest.”
Oz felt his heart expand as he rushed up the ladder to check on Molly.
~
Molly
Molly felt another quake run through her, leaving her body slowly. She kept picturing Oz’s fierce look as he flew through the air to save her, to stop the Suhlik; the way his tail whipped around; the way he was all feral like an enormous cat. Molly felt like her heart would break in gratitude.
“Shah la mah lo ma,” she whispered, and the translation played back for her. This woman is my woman. A potent thrill went through her. How could someone so powerful be hers? Was that even possible? Could someone like that even want her as she cowered shaken in the ship?
Suddenly, Molly wished to learn his language, to not have a translator handle their talking for them. Maybe one day she would say the equivalent back to him? Yikes, maybe not.
These men were the guardians, the warriors, the saviors, and here was one to protect her alone.
Many long minutes later she heard a soft knock and heard the sound of Oz commanding Io “Return!”.
Molly pulled herself up from the floor, still feeling shaky. She reached over to slide the door open, and Oz peered in at her, concern etched on his face. He took a step toward her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Let’s get you out of here, Molly.”
Molly looked over as they left and saw that he’d laid a sheet over the dead thing, keeping it from view.
“Oz, thank you for saving me. I—”
“You never should have been in danger.”
“It’s okay.” She squeezed his hand. “Just get me out of here.”
They walked down the hall, and he led her into different quarters. “You’ll be safe here, just sit down.” He made a quick search of the cabin, then flipped on a scene of a tree canopy under an orange sky.
He sat next to her stroking her arm gently.
Molly leaned into him, feeling the strong man beside her, the warmth and solidness of his body chasing away some of the chill and tremors. She looked down. “I’m in my nightgown.”
“It’s all right, Molly. They’re searching the ship. They’ll be very thorough. Mars and Io are also doing the rounds. Nothing will escape their notice.”
She stared at him like he was her life raft. His soft eyes seemed to move through her, propping her up, lifting her out of her terror.
Then it was like gravity changed, and she was falling toward him, her face tipping up to kiss him. His lips were soft and giving against hers. She felt heady desire ripple through her and across her stomach, pulling tight at her chest.
For a moment he kissed her back, then he pulled away, his hands reaching up to pull her hands down gently. “Molly, you’re in shock. I—” He pressed his lips to her hands.
“I’m alive,” she said. She felt like her body was floating and trembly. “Kiss me,” she asked her dark green protector, finding the courage to meet his eyes. She pulled her hands out of his, so she could pull his mouth back to hers. As they kissed, her fingers entangled through his hair.
Oz kissed her passionately, then leaned her gently down on the bed, one hand behind her head and the other caressing her cheek as he kissed her. He lay down beside her and held her close against him, his hand running up and down her back, sending shivers through her.
Molly snuggled into him, resting her face against his solid chest. She pressed her face up again to kiss him. Her body expanded as joy coursed through her. Thank all the stars in all the heavens that he had been there, that he had come somehow in time. How had he ever known?
She kissed him as urgency consumed her. His lips melted against hers, and his tongue searched inside her mouth. Hunger grew inside her until she could barely stand it.
Molly pulled his shirt up and he fumbled to get it over his head, revealing his hard, defined chest muscles and abs. She ran her hands down his chest, loving the contrast of her white skin against the green hue of his.
Molly moved her hands more wildly. She pulled at his pants, tugging them downward slightly, trying to communicate what she wanted. He must want it too. What was taking so long?
Oz disentangled himself and pulled back. “Molly, are you sure? I—”
Molly nodded her head wildly, feeling light as the panic rose from her body. “Yes. I really. I’m—” Her voice hitched. “—Sure.” She lilted forward to kiss his mouth, feeling the need spilling out uncontrollably, empty except this one thing. She yanked at his pants again, even rubbing the front where his hard shaft strained against the fabric.
Oz groaned and closed his eyes. His hips pressed forward to rub himself against her hand. He grabbed her waist pulling her tight against him.
He pulled up her nightgown revealing her breasts. He bent down to pull a breast into his mouth, circling her nipple with his tongue.
Molly gasped as the hunger almost overcame her and panted hard. He tugged her underwear down, his hand caressing up and down her sides.
She pulled herself onto him, straddling him with her naked legs. She rocked against him desperate, an empty need surging through her, demanding to be filled.
His hands worked frantically to undo the fastenings on his pants, yanking them down, followed quickly by his underclothes.
Oz pulled Molly to him again, his body naked, his mouth kissing her. He reached down and fumbled around at himself. “Molly, I—”
She grabbed his shaft.
He moaned softly in her ear, bucking his hips slightly, sending another lightning shot of need through her.
She adjusted, gliding down over him, surrounding him, gasping as his shaft filled her.
A shiver ran through her. It was so good. Finally.
Oz froze beneath her with a half-pant, his eyes wide.
Molly arched her back and slid down even further, allowing him to fill her even more, stretching herself open to him, letting him complete her.
Oz gasped beneath her.
Need raced through her insides and up her chest. She wrapped one hand behind his head and one behind his back and slid up and down his shaft, tilting her hips as she moved, enjoying the feel of him as he rubbed at her insides.
He moaned again, still frozen, his member straight and hard inside her. His eyes were wide and hungry as he watched her, almost confused.
She slid up and down him, and he jerked beneath her. She took him in as far as she could, his member spearing into her so deeply, and she rolled her hips so he rubbed against her perfectly inside, making her quiver.
A moan left her again, pulling from her core, anxious need, but she deliberately slowed down, circling her hips so that his member rubbed inside her again, watching his reaction and feeling the tide rise in her.
His mouth hung open, and his eyes were heavy-lidded. His arms… glowed. Then his whole body lit up like a fiery light that burned inside him.
“Molly—” he called softly, almost begging; his hands clutched at her arms. “I—” He moaned and a fierceness came over his face.
He grabbed her waist, holding her onto him, and he rocked his hips up into her. Molly’s eyes rolled back as he penetrated her roughly. The man was so deep inside her, rubbing everything.
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him as he rolled them over. Above her now, he jammed his hips into her, spearing her hard into the mattress. Over and over he rocked hard into her, one hand absently clutching her breast. He stared at her possessively as he speared roughly into her, again and again.
Molly felt herself rising. She wrapped her legs tight around him as the wave built. She panted, losing control, feeling it coming. Her back arched, her whole body clenching. Then she exploded, and her body shattered beneath him. A moan ripped from her as she came.
He froze, reaching down to nip at her neck, then he increased his pace, rocking into her, pounding her again and again until he broke too, freezing as he spilled his seed inside her. He panted and collapsed onto her.
He kissed her check, moving to her neck. He dragged his teeth across her jawbone and licked her sensuously. “I had no idea that would be so much fun.” He nipped at her again then bent over to kiss her mouth. His lips danced across her naked chest. He pulled back as he gazed upon her with soft eyes.
“So amazing.” His tail wrapped around one of her arms, and the end flicked at her nightgown.
He held her nightgown up by her neck, glancing down at her. “Your breasts are so beautiful.” He bent down and circled her nipple with his tongue, then scraped it with his teeth.
Molly’s mouth dropped open. It felt incredible.
As her nipple hardened, Oz pulled back with a smile.
~
Oz
Oz had never felt anything like it before. He kissed Molly’s naked shoulder. The feel of her soft skin against his lips pulled a fast desire through his body to do it again. He felt himself grow hard and ready.
Oz gathered control of himself with difficulty. He must get Molly dressed and away from himself soon. She’d been in shock. He almost hated himself for taking advantage of her, even as he wished he could pretend it was only because she wanted him.
“We should get dressed, make sure everything is good on the ship, that they don’t need anything.”
Oz pulled Molly’s nightgown down, covering her. He reached over and handed her underwear to her. Nerves flitted through him. What must she be thinking of him to take advantage of her like that? He rattled on, mumbling things he was only half-aware of. “At least we are mated now, shah la mah lo ma. I can find some place safe for you to live, get you off this ship. Actually we have a station; it’s hidden away. That might be a good place for now.”
His thoughts scattered, replaying things in his mind, horrible possibilities that made him shudder. He couldn’t believe the Suhlik had thwarted his security so easily. They’d had no warning. To think of how proud he’d been of his ship’s defenses, of his designs.
Only luck had saved his mah lo ma.
Molly adjusted her nightgown down, and Oz noticed her hand shaking. She was still too shaken by the attack.
“The doctor should be able to test you soon, verify that this was enough so that you won’t have to stay on the ship anymore.”
Oz felt his heart lighten. No more danger that he couldn’t protect her from. “Molly, wherever we settle you, just don’t say anything to anyone about the attack. We can’t have the Vargys council over-react to this and withdraw our travel permit.”
She drew back, obviously upset. “Wherever you settle me? You mean, like you could settle me back on Earth?”
“Earth?” His thoughts cleared, but disappointment settled in. It would be too far to ever see her again, but he couldn’t be so selfish. “Yes, of course. Well, not right away. After the baby is born, I suppose.”
“Hah. Right.” Molly had pulled on her coverings and was sitting at the end of the bed, staring at the door. “I have to go; I have to get out of here.”
Oz glanced over quick and felt sympathy flood him. “Molly, I shouldn’t have mentioned the attack. You’ll be safe now. You’ll see.”
“Get. Out. Of. My. Sight.”
Oz recoiled as though he had been slapped. The fire that had been racing through his blood at such a feisty mating cooled and settled to ice. His tattoos faded.
“Let me just clear your room. If you stay here, I can take care of it. I’ll let you know once things are restored.”
Molly faced the wall. She seemed to be watching the canopy of the trees and the leaves moving in the wind. The emotions must be rushing in now: anger at him for failing her, for letting her be almost—
“Molly, I’m so humbled by the attack. I will re-double my efforts to keep you safe until we can get you situated in a safer place.”
“Yes. You do that.”
Molly didn’t look at Oz, so he completed dressing and stepped outside, letting the door slide shut behind him.
Should he bring in the doctor? Would she need something to sleep after such an ordeal? Oz started toward the front of the ship and the medical bay. No. Better to get Molly’s room cleaned first. She would feel more comfortable in her own space.
It was as he was cycling the dead Suhlik into space, and setting the mini-robots to deep-clean the room to the molecular level, that he puzzled over the feisty mating again. He felt himself grow hard at the thought of rolling with his mah lo ma again. It would be unbearable to only mate with her on the rare occasions that they were in the same area of space. If she went back to Earth, he would never get to mate with her again, or even see her again.
Yes. He must convince her of another option that would allow him to be with her. He was sure he could convince her, even if only for the sake of a child having both parents present in its life for as long as possible. Since they were no longer on the Vargys world and had no verlok to trouble them, perhaps they could keep the boy with them for many years.
He felt weak at the thought of losing her, at what had almost happened. More than his desire to roll with her again, one thing was certain: Molly must never be in danger again.