Tempted by Celestial Bodies

Chapter 2

chapter two

wrex

Wrex studied the biological metrics feeding through their sensors. Not that they truly needed them. A short-sighted skiskant could see the female’s body was responsive, from the delectable peek of her nipples through her thin nightshirt to the way her skin flushed that alluring pink when they spoke her name. The pheromone glands implanted beneath their collar bones pulsed, sensing her arousal, eager to enhance her pleasure. They gave off a pleasant odor, but only an aroused individual could scent them.

“I assure you; I am not attempting to ‘roofie’ you,” they said, lips turned up in a knowing smile.

This interaction required a more tactical approach, because Wrex could not abide it if her report somehow reached the Consortium. How much distance had they managed to travel from their station? The Consortium’s reach was far, and fear twisted Wrex’s morals into shades of gray. They would never go back to that living Hell, no matter what they had to do to ensure otherwise. Though they didn’t want to hurt the female to do so. This woman, Kori, was far pleasanter fare compared to others they had been forced to service under the Consortium’s brutal grip.

The sight of her biceps alone made their mouth water, a body toned and built for endurance. Kori nearly matched them in height. Banked desire glazed her bright blue eyes and plumped her full lips. Her sleep-tousled hair was as black as the space between stars, and rose in a messy crest, the sides shaved short.

A scent teased their sensors, and Wrex clenched their hands behind their back. Receptive, yes, and the right amount of suggestion could sway this delicious female to their perspective.

“My designation is Wrexler Trivane, but you may address me as Wrex.” They properly bowed to her, hiding their grin when she nibbled on her soft bottom lip. A single touch would be enough to confirm how pleasant it would be to kiss those lips. They kept their proximity to the female, enjoying the little huffs and puffs she emitted in her vain attempts to maintain decorum. Wrex wondered what she would look like undone and what it would take to tip her over that edge.

“Wrex,” she breathed. They liked the sound of her voice speaking their name. To their surprise, she closed the distance first, taking their hand in a firm hold, calloused fingertips massaging the smooth skin of their wrist. “Can you help me understand your situation? Tell me what happened?”

Her touch created sparks of desire beneath their skin. Wrex leaned in, skimming the tip of their nose along the curve of her ear. Kori froze.

“Will you report the pod if I don’t?” Their breath fanned over her face, stirring the short black strands of hair at her temples.

“I—I, wait, this is?—”

Wrex captured her mouth, swallowing her words and the groan that followed, drawn closer by soft lips and slick tongue that they wanted to suck and nip at leisure. They moved further into her space until their clothed chest brushed against her. By the glory, they could feel the peaked buds of her nipples straining through the layers of fabric between them. A problem Wrex planned to remedy momentarily as they reached for the hem of their shirt, breaking the kiss to whip the garment over their head.

The brief break in contact was a mistake. “Whoa, hang on there, stud,” Kori wheezed, slapping her palm against their naked chest. “I need answers.”

Wrex bit back a scowl, but their disappointment must have been evident in their expression. A burst of panic surged through their system. That small taste of her mouth was enough to keep them calm. Seduction was the key to their survival here, and Wrex was determined to never force anyone the way the Consortium did.

But that didn’t mean they could trust this intriguing female to help them evade any retrieval crews sent after them. The Consortium held a contract in Wrex’s name, and in this part of the galaxy, that would be legally binding.

“I’m afraid I can’t provide all the answers, lovely one,” they said, delighted by the deepening shades of red on her skin.

She frowned at them. “What can you tell me?”

Wrex pursed their lips. “That I won’t be going back.” They’d shove themselves out the nearest airlock to suffocate first. That would kill them as surely as any other living thing; their lungs were still flesh and blood.

Kori’s fingers shifted over their pectoral muscles. They grinned. She hadn’t removed her hand from their chest.

Kori didn’t seem to notice where her hand traveled, still nibbling on her bottom lip. “Were you forced into a contract?”

The question made their shoulders go tight, tension spoiling the simmering lust they’d enjoyed until that moment. “My decisions were my own,” said Wrex, dislodging her hand with a shrug. “The contract is all above board, if that is what you’re asking.” They stared, waiting for her to pass judgement.

Her chin lifted. “That doesn’t mean it was a good one. Were you mistreated? I haven’t personally heard of this Consortium, but most courtesan houses adhere to strict rules of conduct for their contracted and their clientele.”

There were rules of conduct? Wrex kept their expression impassive, but the implications of her words wedged an unpleasant truth in their mind. The Consortium might have trapped them after they signed, but this level of ignorance was their fault and that left a hollow ache in their chest. Regardless, their new temporary companion picked up on the inner turmoil, gently gripping their hand.

“I’ve been on the clock too long. Let me show you to my bunk. The report can wait and maybe, after I get some actual sleep, we can work through this mess. Okay?” Her tone coaxed them forward, letting her lead them away from the wrecked escape pod to an offset hallway lined with sealed doors. Kori stopped at the third one, tapping the biometric lock to the unit.

A modest bunk greeted them, the welcome scent of freshly cleansed bedding lingering in the filtered air. The opposite wall featured a desk that spanned the length of the room, cluttered with deconstructed gadgets and tech in various states of repair. Other than that central bit of chaos, the space was tidy. Kori pulled back the fresh sheets for them to climb inside, taking care not to brush against them as she backed out of the room.

“I’ll disengage the bio-lock for the night.” She hovered in the doorway, her expressive face cycling through various emotions without settling on one.

Wrex raised a brow. No bio-lock meant they could roam the ship at their leisure. “That’s an awful lot of trust for a stranger.”

There she went, nibbling her lip again. Wrex wanted to catch her lips between their teeth and take over the teasing.

“I’m a fair judge of people,” she said, letting the sentence hang, an unfinished possibility.

How could she be so sure of a stranger? Wrex sat on the bed, their weight sinking towards the center. “Thank you,” they said. Perhaps cordiality was best for the moment, but they didn’t miss her final lingering glance. A body, willing and receptive, was something they could work with.