"Abso-keffing-lutely," he growls, squeezing my shoulder again.
"Then I'm down with it," I say. "Let's get married and fuck some shit up."
He nods jerkily, his breathing labored. "Right now?"
Well, no. Right now I want to take his virginity. "You seem a little preoccupied right now." I release his shaft and move down to fondle his sac. "Is this a bad time?"
"This is the best time I've had in a week," he pants. "But unless you want the others to watch, we should head to your quarters."
It's on the tip of my tongue to tease him. To tell him that I want to swim instead. But I've waited a week for him to touch me again, and all the while I was stewing and wondering what I did wrong, he was getting piercings in his dick because he loves me. At least…I think he loves me though he's never said it. "Do you love me?" I demand suddenly. "Or is this just fascination for you? Because I kinda need the love if we're going to marry. Sex is great and all, and it doesn't have to be a commitment, but—"
He slides a hand under each arm and lifts me into the air. When my feet are dangling off the ground and we're eye level, he presses a kiss to my mouth, a gentle one full of promise. "I love you, Ruth. I love you, you demanding, impossible female. If anything, I find it difficult to believe that you want me."
"I do," I tell him. "You try to be mean but you're just a big softy, aren't you? I like that softness. I like how you care about others even when it's not convenient. And I like how you take care of me."
"Not very soft right now," he says, voice thick with need. "Don't think I've ever been harder."
"Then put me down. Let's go back to my room and squeeze into that tiny, ridiculous bed you have for me."
Straik pulls me against his chest, sliding his hand under my ass and carrying me like a toddler. "I have a better idea." At my curious look, he turns and heads down the beach, abandoning his robe. "We're going back to the ship and I'm going to take you in my bed, because that's where you belong."
"I do like a man with a plan," I admit, leaning in to nip at his ear. I wrap my arms around his neck and hold him close. I've got a plan of my own, too. We'll get down to business and I'll make him come before we have sex, just to take the edge off. He's got a hair trigger, and while I think it's sweet, I also want a nice, hard round in bed with him.
He's lucky I'm such a generous girl, I think to myself as I bite his earlobe gently.
Though truly, pleasuring him is my pleasure, too.
As an underwear-clad Straik strides past Zaemen, something else occurs to me. "What about your crew?" I whisper into his ear so the others don't hear me. "Are they going to be upset if we get married?"
"Dopekh might," Straik replies. "You know he's in love with me."
I bite his ear again, just because he's brought that up so many damn times in the last week.
"As for the rest of them, they know you're mine." His arms tighten around me. "I think they've known it longer than I have. Though they're probably going to lobby to get mates of their own once I marry my female."
"If women and men are willing, I don't care who gets laid as long as I do," I tease him. "But I draw the line at meeting your mother."
"I don't want to see my mother again unless it's on the barrel end of my blaster," he grumbles, striding up the ramp. This man sure can walk fast when he has a purpose. "Let's not think about my mother right now, though. I'd much rather think about you and where I get to lick you."
Now this is a topic change I like. "Where do you want to lick me?"
"Everywhere."
I'm down with that.
69
STRAIK
Happiness and nervousness war in my thoughts as I carry Ruth toward my quarters. It feels a little strange to abandon the tropical island in exchange for my familiar rooms, but I want the first time that I take my female to be in my bed, not in a rented one. I want Ruth to feel like she's safe in my arms. That I have her, and I cherish her. That I remember her trauma and how she needs to be treated gently and reverently.
I'm going to worship every pore of her skin.
Ruth's wicked teeth nibble at my earlobe, her tongue swiping over my skin in a maddening tease. "You didn't have to pierce yourself for me, you know," she tells me as I carry her up the ramp and down the empty hall. Aithar is on the bridge, monitoring the ship, but he's smart enough to know not to come bother us once he checks the monitors and realizes where we're headed.