I thrust into her again, my other hand working her clit. "Like this?"
Ruth makes a wordless sound, arching against my hand. She rocks against me, adding to the friction, and I lose control of myself, barely aware that I'm coming against her back, my release shattering through me even as her cunt clenches around my finger once more. Stars dance behind my eyes, and I shudder against her as she grips my wrist tight. I've stopped moving, but I don't think it matters, because she jerks her hips up against my hand, and then her cunt squeezes tight and she whimpers, her entire body trembling.
I struggle to catch my breath, trying to remember to push my fingers into her body, to touch her even as the hot aftermath of pleasure floods through my veins. Ruth is stiff against me, and when I brush a fingertip against her clit, she lets out a little whimper and pushes my hand away. "Too sensitive," she gasps. "Let me come down."
"Did I…make you…? Did you…?" I feel foolish having to ask. I'm pretty sure she did, but like the inexperienced male I am, I came too early once more.
She moans, nodding. I still have a finger buried inside her, and when I move it, she twitches, her cunt clenching again.
My female. My mate. If I could stay here in this moment—in dirty, used bathwater with my finger buried in her body—I absolutely would. I don't think I've ever been so happy to be in the presence of another person. She makes me…eager to face the next day. Eager to see what the future brings.
As long as it has more of Ruth in it, I'll be happy with whatever the universe holds. I reluctantly slide my hands from her body and cradle her against my chest. "We shouldn't have picked the tub. Now we need to get into the shower and truly wash off."
She chuckles, the sound naughty and tired all at once. "You know, people fuck in the shower, too."
"Don't tempt me," I tell her, my tail flicking. I suddenly want to place Ruth on every surface in my quarters and rub her cunt for her until she comes again and again. I want my quarters to reek of her pleasure. I want the scent to linger so I have something when she's gone.
Because I know in my heart she won't stay. Not with me.
65
RUTH
When I see the pink beaches of Jirri IV, now, I think, things will really kick into high gear.
It's been a week since we decided to have our mini “vacation.” Since we know we're being hunted, why not be hunted somewhere fun instead of the asshole of the universe (aka Prefalon), right? So we've been heading to this planet, which I'm told has beaches as far as the eye can see, remote vacation villas that mean we won't have to be around anyone else, and lots and lots of water and sunshine. It sounds lovely, even if it makes me feel incredibly guilty to think about going there while my friends are still stuck on the Buoyant Star. I'm not sure I'll be able to get past the guilt if I get to sit on the shore sipping alien versions of mai tais, but Straik is positive this will be a good move for us.
And selfishly, I kind of want to soak in some sunshine after years of being on ship.
Once we arrive, though, things are…odd.
Not the beach itself, which is beautiful. We have our own private tiny island in the middle of nowhere, complete with trees that look like branches of coral, baby pink beaches with the finest sand I've ever put my toes in, and a comfy bed in a beach hut that is stocked full of tropical fruit and soft bedding. The crew take turns on watch, and we've been attacked no less than twice on the way here, both times non-events as the bounty hunters were quickly taken care of. Jamef's been offloaded to another station, and now we're on Jirri, we're safe, and some of us are bored out of our damn minds.
I gaze out at the beach, sitting on the shore. I don't mind the sand that creeps under my filmy white tunic, or the fact that I don't have a swimsuit (which is apparently not a thing here on Jirri). I dig my toes in the sand as the warm water washes over my feet, and I plot seduction, instead.
Straik needs to be seduced.
I thought after our naughty bath that things would be different. That we'd open up to each other and he'd start sleeping in the bed with me. That we'd wake up curled around each other and let things happen naturally.
Nope.
After our sexy bath, Straik put me in bed and slept on the floor. And he's slept on the floor for the past week. Other than the occasional kiss to the forehead, he hasn't touched me again.