Tempted by Celestial Bodies

Chapter 8

chapter eight

i’m not sorry

Thrash’s hooded gaze lingered on my exposed flesh and rose to read my expression. Light spiraled up his horns and flared across his chest beneath the scales flexing with his movements. “For a human, you have remarkable stamina. I, on the other hand, need a moment to recuperate.”

“Hey, don’t flaunt it if you aren’t about to use it.” Holding the waistband of my pants together, I rose and relieved Thrash of several blankets, finding a pair of heavy-duty work pants folded on top. “Thank all the celestial bodies! I wasn’t sure how I would walk out of here holding my clothes together.” Assuming we walk out of here . “Don’t suppose you found a shirt?”

“Right there.” He jutted his chin toward a shapeless pile of rough canvas bunched on the ground as he finished fastening his pants.

I glanced at the indicated shirt and scowled. On two different occasions, contamination spills had forced me to change into the generic work clothes we kept stashed in the lockers, and they were not comfortable. “Scratchy but warm, I guess.”

Thrash’s beautiful lips curled into a smile as he came over and slipped my torn shirt from my shoulders. He used the material to gently wipe away what remained of his sticky cum on my face and chest.

“Thanks.” My stomach fluttered at the thoughtful gesture.

He deposited a kiss to my forehead and set to work piling blankets on the ground. “You don’t need to wear any clothes if you don’t want to. I told you before, I can keep you warm.” He winked. “It would be my pleasure.”

I stood, removed my boots, dressed, and put my boots back on faster than I’d ever dressed before. No longer afraid I would freeze to death on the way to the restroom, I raced for the water closet in the corner. If there was one thing to be grateful for trapped in this cave, it was the natural running water fed from above to the subterranean flora on this level and the ice deposit below.

Feeling about ten pounds lighter and moderately cleaner, I jogged to the blanket pallet Thrash had created, toed off my boots—because I wasn’t a heathen who wore shoes to bed—and climbed beneath the covers. I found the protein bar and tube of hydrating gel Thrash had placed next to my side of the blanket bed. I guess it will be a slow starvation. I chuckled at my gallows humor and quickly consumed the protein bar and gel tube before tunneling beneath the blankets.

The covers were warm, but Thrash was warmer, and I wiggled toward where he lay in the center of the makeshift bed. I drew in a deep breath, smelling him—just him. “Are your pheromones gone or am I just used to them?”

“Now that we are mated, they are under control.” He smiled and gently brushed a tangle of hair from my face. “Do you know how happy I am?”

“I can guess. You know, we didn’t technically mate .” I returned his smile, but when I met his eyes, the intensity in his simmering orbs sent an unfamiliar feeling wiggling through me. Embarrassment? No. Living in close quarters with a large team very quickly cured everyone of any shred of self-consciousness. Worry for our situation? No. The possibility of death came with the job, and I’d made peace with that long ago. Hope? Hope for what? I was so close to retirement, to achieving all I’d wanted, but did I want more?

Question after unanswered question circled my brain. I frowned and rolled onto my side, facing away from Thrash.

“Our essences were exchanged. By my species definition, we are mated.” He curled a heavy arm around my middle and pulled me against him as if I belonged there. He’d done it so often in such a short span of time, it was easy to believe I did. His heat radiated through the scratchy clothing, warming my back.

Instead of enjoying the smooth, silky feel of his flesh and scales, I had thermal-lined burlap rubbing on my ass. Damn it, what had I been thinking? “Not the sexiest description, but I get it.” Whether we were mated or not was still debatable, but I understood his meaning.

A puff of air ruffled my hair as Thrash nuzzled my neck. “I would apologize for trapping us here with my oreha pulse, but I’m not sorry.” He flexed his bicep, giving me a squeeze. “Look what I got out of it.”

Smiling, I laughed. “Always good to experience sexual pleasure before you starve to death.”

“You are more than my pleasure. You are my mate.”

For once, I didn’t argue his claim. I wasn’t completely convinced, but I wasn’t so stubborn not to recognize the signs. Whatever this was between us was more than a few good— really fucking good —orgasms. From the moment I gave in, I’d felt safe with him—happier, lighter.

In my thirty-two years of existence in the infinite universe, I’d been with plenty of partners. There had even been one relationship I’d almost walked away from terraforming for, but none had given me the starfruit daiquiris-on-the-beach feel I’d been chasing all my mostly lonely life.

Being tucked inside Thrash’s arms felt even better.

Damn if I hadn’t run headfirst—or pussy-first—right into that entanglement I’d spent the last couple years fervently avoiding.

I sighed and snuggled against my personal radiator. A renewed thread of worry flared in my chest. I’d been so distracted by, well, distractions , that I’d let myself forget we had bigger concerns. “The colony habitat can run on backup power for a month, but we can’t. We should catalogue whatever rations are left down here.”

“Mmm.” Thrash mumbled sleepily into my hair.

My brow pinched. “Aren’t you concerned about our situation?”

He chuckled. “I’m enjoying our situation.”

“Sure, it was great and a long time coming, but have you considered what happens tomorrow? What about next week?”

Laughter vibrated his broad chest against my back. “No. I could not have put together a single coherent thought with my face buried in your luscious cunt and your hot mouth on my cock.”

My thoughts came to a screeching halt. His declaration sent a tight, pulling sensation from my core to my clit. I squeezed my thighs together and tried to forget the soft appendage nestled against my backside. His groin was warmer than the rest of him, and despite the thickness of these uncomfortable pants, I felt his heat through our clothes.

“Okay, fair.” My brain was still half-lost in the clouds, but I was team lead for a reason. “We need to make a plan. First, how many rations did you find?”

A groggy, mumbling chuckle ruffled my hair. “So full of questions.”

“I am. I’d like to survive to be full of other things.” I wiggled my ass against his dick, just in case he hadn’t picked up on my not-so-subtle inuendo.

His fingers flexed on my hip. “We have the rations to survive. I do not have the stamina to survive your squirming.”

“Sorry.” I wasn’t sorry.

“No, you’re not. Get some rest.” He slapped my butt, and with his face nuzzled against my neck, his deep voice vibrated in my ear. I heard the humor—and the challenge—beneath his words. “You’re going to need it.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. The blanket’s rough material pulled at my hair. “Wake me when you’re ready for round two.”

He huffed a laugh and tightened his hold. It wasn’t long before his breathing deepened, and he slept.

I lay silent, staring into the hazy, dimly lit darkness. I’d already outlived the average terraformer. Until today, I would have been fine with saying goodbye to what had been a good life. I’d lived it to the fullest, and not only made my mark, but carved out space in the infinite universe—perfectly engineered empyrean planets for others to live better lives.

But now there was Thrash. I wanted more years, more sex, more companionship, more everything with this man. I hoped we would survive to experience all of that, but in the meantime, I’d make the most of the situation.