Page 50 of Infala: Bonded to the Enemy
“A warship will be arriving eventually, and when they do myfailures of leadership will be brought before the officers. They will separate us.”
“But I thought the Infala was supposed to be some sort of super-important thing. That’s what Margussa told me.”
“And she was right. Normally, at least. But my people do not care about the Infala bond. It means nothing to them, at least, not when they are out of direct Dotharian Conglomerate observation. And up here, that is precisely the case. Without the shuttles to flee, they will separate us forever, and I will be punished and demoted.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Worse, you will become the plaything of one, if not many.”
She felt her post-orgasmic glow abruptly fade. “Shit.”
“Yes.” He cupped her face in his enormous hands, staring deep into her eyes. “I will not let that happen to you,” he said, on the verge of tears. “The impossible is happening for you and me, and I will protect you at all costs.”
Shalia’s heart fluttered with the heat and adoration in his gaze. He meant it. He meant every word.
“But what can you do? You said it yourself; the shuttles have been either captured or destroyed, and when that ship gets here? It doesn’t sound good.”
“Let me worry about that. There is still time, and I am still commander, at least for the moment. And I swear I will keep you safe. No matter what.”
26
Shalia and Valin talked for hours, nestled in one another’s arms, giving in to the overwhelming feeling of comfort and joy that had enveloped them both so unexpectedly. The shift had been sudden, like flipping a switch, but now that their Infalas were actively growing together, whatever doubts and distrust they might have had previously were gone entirely.
This was who they were now. This was their fate. And as a matter of necessity, their talk had eventually shifted to the new situation and exactly what that would mean. How they might make it through this with their impossible union intact.
They had come up with a plan, or at least the beginning of one. The first and most vital part was that they had to carry on as though nothing had happened. That was crucial. If the others caught wind of their blossoming romance, they would have a problem. And if Grallox found out? Things could go especially bad very, very fast.
Commander Valin eventually returned to his own quarters, though his heart wanted him to stay. But he needed to be seen exiting in the morning. It was his routine, and he could not deviate. When the day began, Shalia made her way to the kitchen asshe was required to do and prepared a hearty breakfast for the crew.
Valin came for his meal, as he did roughly half the time, and sat by himself with his usual fierce look on his face. Shalia brought him a tray, nearly dropping it in front of him as she grazed his body. She apologized profusely, cheeks blushing, her eyes cast low. The crew would just think she was embarrassed and perhaps more than a little scared. That would be good. As for her body’s betrayal, that part was entirely involuntary.
Fortunately, Valin had more control over his own reactions, but only just. He clenched his jaw and slammed his hand on the table with a loud bang.
“Damn you, woman! Watch what you’re doing or your next trip to the airlock truly will be your last.”
“I’m sorry. It slipped,” she said, feeling the other men’s eyes on her as she wiped up the little spill on the table.
Valin rose to his full height, towering over her. His enraged eyes shot across his underlings in a flash, as if looking for anyone else to unload his anger upon. They all turned back to their meals without a word.
“There are no excuses. You are aboard a Dohrag station, and you will act as such. Failure is punished. Just ask any of the crew.”
“It won’t happen again.”
“See that it doesn’t.”
Shalia caught the faintest hint of a wink as he sat back down in a huff. The others sure as hell wouldn’t think there was anything between them, that was for sure. Now they just had to keep it up.
She felt a little tingle between her legs at the thought.Keep it up. He has no problem doing that, she thought, suppressing the grin that threatened to creep onto her lips. She hurried back to the kitchen and began cleaning the dishes, setting her mind to that task with singular focus. When she stepped back out into the dining area the men, including Valin, were gone. His plates, she noted, were neatly stacked for a change. She’d have to remindhim not to do anything for her, not even as simple a thing as that. They couldn’t risk it.
The rest of the day passed normally. The crew went about their tasks, mostly optimizing the supplies they’d already collected from the surface into different stasis containers now that they’d have to adjust their distribution thanks to the loss of both their workforce as well as their shuttles. As for the commander, he carried on as before, though his stern demeanor did slip at times when he found himself thinking of his mate.
As for her, Shalia went about her routine, staying out of the way for self-preservation when not cooking their meals. She did her other chores with restrained efficiency, cleaning and moving quietly through the vessel but not so fast that she’d be left without something to do. Idle hands meant Grallox or the others might get ideas. So long as the prisoner was doing a task as ordered by the commander, they knew better than to interrupt.
The two passed in the corridors twice that day, glancing at one another as they walked but otherwise maintaining their act. But each could feel it. The pull of their Infalas. The lustful rumbling in both of their groins drawing them closer no matter what their rational minds might have to say about it.
It was after lunch that Shalia found herself abruptly pulled into a thick-walled storage compartment. One whiff and she knew who it was, her body tingling in a rush, her pussy wet in an instant.
Valin slid his fingers into her waistband, dipping them into her folds, caressing her clit with startling gentleness for such a beast of a man. Shalia shuddered and groped for his cock, pulling him free of his trousers with both hands, stroking his length as he hardened like a steel bar in her grip.
