Page 18 of Her Alien Cyborgs
“These are your quarters.” She pointed to a pair of doors set across the passage from each other. “Nothing fancy. I don’t have crew or passengers on board that often, but you should be comfortable. There’s a bed, a vid screen, and a sanitation room attached to both cabins. That reminds me. Ship, you listening?”
“Always.”
“Good. I need you to add the males with me to the ship’s roster. Their names are Kalan and Fyr’enth.”
“Spelling?” the ship asked.
She smiled at them. “Tell the AI how you want your names spelled.”
They gave her matching bemused looks and did as she requested.
“There we go. Ship. Mark them as crew and give them full access to all standard systems. Oh, and assign them the standard pay and benefits package.”
“Done.”
They stared at her, disbelief and confusion on their faces. “Access to all systems?” Kalan asked.
“Pay and benefits?” Fyr’enth said.
She wasn’t good at pretty speeches, but her next words came from an unexpected place—her heart.
“We’re not getting through this unless we work together. If you’re on my team, I figure that means you’re on my payroll, too.” She lifted both arms from her sides in a gesture of openness. “I trust you not tofraxxup my ship because if you do, your lives are in as much danger as mine. If you need something, the ship will now provide it to you. If you want information, you can use the ship’s database. As far as I’m concerned, theGambitis your home for as long as you want to stay.”
She wasn’t sure who was the more surprised, them or her. Did she mean what she said? Yes. Absolutely. But there hadn’t been any time to really think about the situation they were in. When had she decided to make them part of the crew? Or invite them to stay on theGambit? She had no idea. But it felt right.
They must have thought so too because the next thing she knew, she was caught between two hard male bodies. Their scales gleamed like molten silver, and desire shone in their eyes. “You’re offering us everything we’ve ever wanted,” Fyr’enth said softly.
“So we need to know what you want in return,” Kalan said.
“We can protect you,” Fyr’enth said, his mouth close to her ear.
“Or pleasure you.” Kalan’s eyes locked with hers. She saw his need but also the uncertainty.
She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could figure out what to say, Kalan’s mouth crashed down on hers.
A firestorm of need consumed her in seconds, burning away every rational thought.
Instead of pushing him away, she reached up to tangle her fingers in his hair, using it as leverage to pull him closer. His next growl buzzed against her lips, and she answered with a low, throaty moan.
Fyr’enth pressed a hot, open-mouthed kiss to the side of her neck. She drowned in a sea of sensation. The rough touch of their beards against her skin, their hard bodies crowding hers, the low, primal growls and groans that filled the surrounding air.
Kalan’s tongue tangled with hers in an erotic dance that made her head spin.
It took far too long to find the brain cells and willpower to protest. “Stop,” she finally managed to whisper. “We need to stop.”
They both pulled back an instant later, and she had to fight the urge to chase after another kiss.
“Thank you.”
Kalan was still so close his breath fanned her face. “For what? Kissing you?”
“Or stopping?” Fyr’enth asked.
She noticed they had a habit of finishing each other’s sentences. It was too soon to know if it was going to be an endearing quirk or an annoyance.
“Both,” she said and then realized she needed to tell them something. “But in the future, remember to ask permission before doing something like that. I know consent is a new concept for you both, but it’s important. Touching someone without their permission is disrespectful. Plus, it can get you into a mess of trouble.”
She smiled to lessen the sting of her words. “But since we’re all under the thrall of this blasted mating fever, allowances should be made. I shouldn’t have touched you either.”
