Page 66 of Secrecy

For one wild moment, I found myself wondering what it would be like to stay here on the station, hidden away in this paradisewhere the outside world couldn't touch us. But even as the fantasy formed, I knew it couldn't last. Reality waited beyond these walls, and sooner or later, we would have to face it. But not yet. Not when his hands were burning fire into my skin and his thrusts were sending me careening over the edge.

My hands slipped down the water-soaked stone wall as I braced myself, each pump of his hips making me gasp and moan.

“Is this what you wanted, cadet?” he teased as he bent forward and nipped my ear.

“You know it is,” I managed between snatched breaths, as water flowed over my shoulders and down my back.

“Is this how you like it?” he growled, the words sending vibrations down my spine. “Hard and deep?”

With a manic nod and a shuddering scream, I came apart, my fingers curling on the wall for purchase. Then Tivek gave a final thrust, holding my body flush to him as he pulsed into me. His grip on my hips relaxed even as I straightened, and he wrapped his arms around me from behind, cupping my breasts and kissing my neck as the water continued to flow over us.

Gradually, my racing heart slowed, and Tivek reached behind me to turn off the water. He grabbed a large, fluffy towel from a nearby rack and wrapped it around me with surprising tenderness.

"You're intoxicating," he said simply. “I cannot get enough of you.”

I stood on tiptoe to kiss him again, a softer, gentler meeting of lips. He tasted of water and soap and something uniquely him, a flavor I was quickly becoming addicted to. We stepped onto theplush mat together, still wrapped in each other's arms, reluctant to break the spell.

Then the sharp beep of the door shattered the moment.

We froze. There was no time for me to retrieve my clothes, let alone put them on and look presentable.

"Lieutenant Tivek?" Serge's distinctive voice carried through the suite. "I've brought you some clean attire. I'm just going to leave it on the bed, shall I?"

Tivek gestured frantically for me to stay in the bathroom while he grabbed another towel, wrapping it around his waist.

"Thank you, Serge. I’ll be out in a moment."

I pressed myself against the wall beside the bathroom door, clutching my towel tightly around me, heart hammering in my chest. Through the narrow opening, I could see Serge bustling around the main room, hanging garments in the wardrobe with brisk efficiency.

"I believe I've got your measurements correct," Serge was saying. "Though honestly, you Drexians are absurdly large. The fabric requirements alone!" He made a tsking sound. "Still, I think you'll find everything fits properly. The blue will complement your coloring nicely."

"I’m grateful for any clothes that aren’t torn and dirty,” Tivek replied, and I had to admire his ability to sound completely normal while standing there in nothing but a towel with a naked woman hiding in his bathroom.

"Now, I’m off to deliver fresh clothes to your colleague,” Serge continued. "I've selected a lovely pale green dress that will look spectacular with her complexion. I thought I might coordinate. Ihave a lavender suit that would look simply divine alongside the green."

I shot Tivek a panicked look. If Serge was heading to my suite next, I needed to be there to receive him, not hiding naked in Tivek's bathroom.

"That sounds lovely,” Tivek managed.

"Doesn't it?" Serge agreed. "I did tell you that the captain has invited you both to dine with him tonight, didn’t I? Well, I'll leave you to dress.”

The moment the door clicked shut behind him, I darted from the bathroom. "I need to get back to my suite before he arrives.”

Tivek followed me to the balcony, eyeing the gap between our suites. “Are you sure?”

I wouldn’t choose to traverse the gap in just a towel, but these were hardly normal circumstances. “This is how I arrived.” I pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "See you later. At dinner, I suppose.”

Before I could overthink it, I climbed over his railing, took a deep breath, and stretched my leg to reach the other balcony. I scooted over and then jumped to the floor, landing with a soft thud and clutching desperately at my towel to keep it from flying open.

I'd barely straightened up when I heard my suite door open and Serge's voice call out, “Hello? I’ve brought you some clean clothes.”

I forced myself to look casual, leaning against the balcony railing as if I'd simply been enjoying the view. "In here, Serge."

He appeared in the doorway, arms laden with garment bags. His eyebrows rose slightly at the sight of me in just a towel, but he recovered quickly.

He bustled to the standing teak wardrobe. "Now, I've brought several options, but I really do think the green will be your best choice. It has a lovely flowing quality to the skirt that will catch the light beautifully when you move."

He turned to face me, tilting his head slightly as he studied my appearance. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought he was going to comment on my disheveled state or ask why I was standing on the balcony in a towel. Instead, he simply said, "You might want to use the hair dryer before going out. The evening air can get quite cool, and wet hair is a recipe for catching a chill."

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