Page 73 of No Strings Attached

When they broke apart, he whispered, “That’s alright, Vi, I love you, too.”

She pulled her face back to look at him and saw the deep sincerity in his eyes. They stayed like that for an eternity, with an immense depth of emotion passing between them, all joking gone.

Thirty: She Has a Knack for Being in the Very Center of Every Shitstorm

Bahbi actuallydidstrut out into the main room to see if the Trallians had arrived from the ship with clothing. He had made Vi get in the shower first because he knew they couldn’t safely take one together and be able to return to the group right away, as badly as they both wanted each other right now. And also, because he knew that she was needed to address the chaos he had inadvertently created far more than he was.

He stopped short at the growling showdown going on between Acken and Mister Beastly at the master suite’s doors. Mister Beastly looked intent on getting into that room, presumably to rip apart Former Commander Zalon. Acken had his hands locked around Mister Beastly’s arms while Steev loomed a few feet behind Mister Beastly, ready to assist if Acken was overpowered. Caussus, Friend, and Valis sat on the sofa and watched in silence.

Bahbi cleared his throat and said, in a raised voice, “Mister Beastly,” and all heads snapped around to him. He cleared histhroat again, nervously. “Vi won’t allow him to stay if you don’t want him to, I promise. Let her come out of the shower and speak with you, please. I know she won’t put him before you, and I think you do, too. You’re very important to her. To all of us.”

Mister Beastly visibly relaxed, but Acken didn’t take his hands off of him. He tried to steer Mister Beastly over to the sofa, but Mister Beastly wrenched his arms free and stalked over to Bahbi. Bahbi put all his focus into holding his ground, while trying to maintain a relaxed posture and easy countenance, as if hedidn’tthink the Garoxian was going to tear him apart.

From the doorway to the bedroom, Vi softly said, “Mister Beastly, can we talk in here?” She was wrapped up in a towel and her hair was a wet, tangled mess. She walked back into the bedroom and Mister Beastly followed.

Vi called over her shoulder, “Shower’s all yours, Bahbi.”

Bahbi followed them, walking past Vi and Mister Beastly seated on the bed together, then closed the bathroom door. He saw Vi’s nipple covers on the side of the sink and was nearly dropped by the force of the desire that washed through him.

Right now, he didn’t care what happened with the females, or if Zalon and Beastly went toe to toe. All he wanted was to pull Vi’s naked body into his and spend some uninterrupted hours in private together. She loved him. He knew it whether she ever said it or not; it had been written all over her face when they had stopped teasing each other.

Bahbi stepped into the small shower stall and started washing the dead Olferian’s blood out of his fur.

When he came back out of the bathroom, Vi was dressed in one of her coveralls and sitting on the bed alone, waiting for him. He went to toss her nipple covers onto the pile on the bed, but it was gone.

She shrugged, “I had one of the crew start collecting everything from everyone. It didn’t seem like a good time for everyone to be walking around armed.”

“Mister Beastly?”

“If Zalon wants to stay, Mister Beastly will listen to the story of his disgrace and reserve judgment. I’ve given him the final say on whether Zalon is allowed to join us. He’s promised not to attack him, at least.”

She looked up at him and smiled, wearily. He sat down next to her, put his arm around her, and pulled her into his body. She sighed with contentment.

“Vi, I’m having a hard time caring about any of this right now. I just want to sneak off somewhere with you and spend a week behind a locked door. I don’t know how you’re still going, still leading this mess.”

She swung her legs over the closest one of his and dangled her feet, so he pulled her fully into his lap and pressed her against his chest.

“These moments help, Bahbi.” She looked up at him. “You’re the only reason I’m able to do any of this. Do you know that?”

He shook his head.What did she mean?

She laughed, bitterly, “Later. I’m too fucking tired to make sense or say pretty things. C’mon,” she stood up and held her hand out, “every step gets us closer to being alone for a while.”

Vi sat down on the sofa with their crew and Valis; Bahbi sat close beside her and wrapped an arm around her. She looked around at them, making eye contact with each.

“Valis has asked to join us. He and Bahbi have told me a little about the Melinor, which sounds very impressive. Does anyone know anything negative about the Melinor?”

Acken leaned forward, arms on his knees, and said, “The Melinor are some of the most respected warriors in the galaxy, and we would be proud to include one, but anyone can claim to be one. A true Melinor will have taken a vow of celibacy, and his cock will be marked to show that. He will not hesitate to provide us that proof.”

Valis smiled, stood, and dropped his pants. There was a spiraling tattoo encircling his impressive cock from the head to the base, although Vi was more fascinated by the electric blue pubic hair that surrounded it. Realizing she was staring, she quickly looked away and to Acken.

“Do you need,” she said, doing a poor job of suppressing the hysterical giggles that wanted to break free, “to get close and read it?” Bahbi smacked her arm lightly.

Acken looked at her in surprise while Valis pulled his pants back on and sat, then he boomed out a laugh, “No, little she-beast. It is written in a language only known to the Melinor. Only they will ever know what is written thereon. I have seen the language before, however, and can confirm it appears to be the same. I am satisfied.”

“Anyone else,” Vi asked, “thoughts?”

Bahbi gripped her shoulder, “I’m a yes, for sure. Valis saved my life.”

---