Authors: Imogene Nix
He looked at her and smiled. “Would you have believed it beforehand?” He stepped towards her. “I know the interruption was ill timed, but do you think…?”
She stared at him. “What? You want me to…?” She waved a hand in the air and his smile deepened. “After that? How can I be sure…
she
…
it
…?
Arrgh!”
Jessa
shook her head from side to side.
“
How do we know that no one is listening?”
“The wall colours.” He looked at her.
She squinted. “Sorry?”
“The wall colours mute when she is not here. She can choose whether or not to be within the room. Right now, she isn’t. It’s a muted colour. If the colours are bright you can usually tell. But the
Princess Gospah
will also withdraw when couples wish to be…intimate.”
“I don’t know…” She had whispered the words, wanting to be with him in every way and worried that the ship would be a voyeur.
“Jessa…” Galan leaned in and kissed her softly. “
Trust me.”
But she couldn’t let go yet. Jessa stood and moved away. “What happened?” She changed the subject and Galan sighed heavily. Jessa knew it wasn’t totally fair to him, but she needed to know why. What had caused the alarm before she could give herself over to him.
“A man made for the ship and tried to get in.” He harrumphed and sat himself down on the end of the bed. “At least come and sit down beside me if you want to talk.”
She eyed him cautiously then nodded, before making her way over to him. “And?”
“He tried to break one of the plates that protects Gospah in space. Fortunately our own security men were on hand and dealt with the situation quickly. I only saw as he was taken away.”
“So the threat is over?”
“Yes, Jessa. He has been dealt with and I hope we won’t see any more of him.” Galan shook his head. “Now, I believe, maybe I should leave you alone.” His words sent a spurt of pain through her system.
She didn’t know if she was ready for the intimacy, but even more so, she didn’t want him to leave. He stood and she reached out a hand. “No. Please…don’t go…”
“Jessa, I can’t…”
“I know. I need to be sure.” Jessa sucked in a deep lungful of air, then she whispered, “And I am.”
Once she had made her decision she knew it was right. She hooked one hand behind her back and he sat on the bed watching.
Oh man. I’ve never done this before.
Her fingers shook on the clasp and she fumbled a little before feeling the give in her bra. Finally it gaped away from her body and she quaked a little, wondering what he would say.
A soft sound emanated from Galan and he smiled, just a small uptick at the corner of his mouth, but enough to let her know he liked what he was seeing.
“Your turn.” She had whispered the words, emboldened.
He stood, pulling at his shirt before he stripped it away. He stood waiting while her heart thumped madly.
“Uh uh. More. I saw that last time. Show me something new.”
His smile broadened and he settled his hands on his pants. Her breath caught as he inched them down, a flash of white caught her eye and he smirked. They dropped to the floor with a thud and he stepped out of them. He watched her, wearing what looked like over long boxers, tied with a cord. She moaned, noting how they sat on his hips, dipping ever so slightly towards his groin. A brief arrow line of hairs travelled from his navel to what was hidden below the cloth.
“Not fair,” she breathed and he chuckled in reaction. She watched mesmerised as his chest moved with the sound. She extended her hand, needing to touch his flesh. She stepped forward so that she now stood within touching distance of him. Extended one finger and made contact before pulling it away.
Electric. Sparks of arousal flew through her body and she gasped in reaction.
“I want to touch you.” His guttural words filled her body with heat and she nodded wordlessly.
He reached out to her, touching first her shoulder before lightly sliding down her arm. “So beautiful. And all mine.”
She shuddered at his words as she caressed him, feeling the dips and hollows of his chest and up to his collarbone. So firm and warm and she wanted more—needed more.
Her core warmed and grew damp while he touched the tip of her breast. Her knees buckled and he grabbed her up, lifting her to the bed even as he fastened his mouth over hers. Jessa touched her tongue to his while he roamed his hands over her body, searching for the hem of the skirt she wore and shoving it out of the way. Galan’s hard fingers kneaded her thighs until they opened.
Jessa tugged on the tie at his waist. Mindless need filled her and she arched as he moved his lips down her neck, finding the most sensitive spot on her collarbone, using his tongue to lave her skin.
“Oh God!” She bucked as he found her panties and burrowed below, seeking the entrance to her core.
“Naked. We need to be naked,” she panted and pushed at him.
He levered himself away, shucking his under things while she made short work of her skirt and panties. Then they were naked and skin to skin. She got a glimpse before he covered her once more with his body. His erection magnificent and at the tip a bead of moisture seeped slightly.
Galan touched her again, this time he caressed the downy hair at her apex as they kissed. She felt him graze the sensitive skin between her legs, making her squirm with excitement. She arched into him, knowing that her own release was close. He slipped a finger within and she nearly came with the exquisite feelings. She groped for his cock and found it, fondling the tip, now engorged and pulsing.
“Inside me, Galan. I need you now!”
He jack-knifed up. Fitting himself against her and in one quick thrust pushed himself to the hilt inside her.
Then they moved, both rocking against the other as she gripped his shoulders. “More.”
“Yes,” he cried hoarsely, his lips once more against her neck. She tensed against him. Her body spasming rhythmically around him and he moved one more time.
She felt the jetting of his release deep within her and exulted in it. Never before had the sensations been like this. Sex, well the few of times she had tried it, had been marginally warm. Never hot and frenzied like this.
He rolled, pulling her with him. “Now you are truly mine. In every way that counts.” Jessa noticed the deep reds on the walls and cringed. She’d totally forgotten that the ship was sentient.
“Oh God,” she groaned and Galan looked at her.
“What?” His eyes narrowed. “You aren’t going to regret this now, are you?”
Jessa shook her head. “No. But the…
this ship
? Did it hear us?” She glanced nervously around.
He laughed and the rumble of his muscles against her still highly sensitised body left her tingling once more in sensual reaction. “No, she withdrew.”
Jessa looked around. “But the room. It’s glowing with red… I mean, what does that mean?”
He must have heard the bewilderment in her tone and he chuckled once again. “The room reacts to our emotions. This is the after passion red. If you had been paying attention beforehand, it would have been even brighter than this.”
She looked at him.
Really? Amazing. Who would have ever thought of this, even in their wildest dreams?
Jessa couldn’t contain the blush that suffused her body, but she cuddled up against Galan. Her life had certainly changed since the phone call from Seth that fateful evening. What was it? Less than a fortnight ago? But she still wasn’t sure what the future held for her. “Galan?” She lifted her body up onto one elbow.
“Hmm?”
“What’s going to happen to Seth and I? I mean, knowing the government…they aren’t going to let just anyone go to Hesparia. And with my background, I sincerely doubt I would even get a look in.”
“I don’t see that it should be their choice. Both you and Seth are members of the crew now. We won’t leave you behind.” He’d said the words, but the seed of doubt remained.
“So just how do you plan to move that many women on this one ship, anyway?” It wasn’t a huge ship and from what she could see, it was nowhere near large enough to move that many extra people.
He smiled, running his hand over her hair. “You really want to discuss this now?”
She tapped his abdomen. “Yep.” She grinned at his pained expression.
“Okay then. We have another ship, behind the moon. Just waiting for the go ahead and we will act as a transport to and from the ship. It’s too large to make landing, but has adequate berth facilities.” He sighed. “Now, are you satisfied?” He looked so put upon that she laughed.
“Not quite.” With those words she dipped her head forward for a heated kiss once again.
Chapter Seven
This time when Jessa emerged from her room, she felt loose and energised. Ready to meet any challenges life threw at her. They moved together down the corridor. Not quite hand in hand, but close enough to be able to touch. She smiled to herself, Galan was a caring lover and she knew the stars had been in alignment on the day they had met.
They entered an office she hadn’t been in before. Joras and Seth sat at a table, deep in conversation. Seth looked up, took a second harder look and nodded as if he knew what they had been doing. Jessa knew she blushed a deep, almost beetroot red she was sure, as her face burnt. Not that she was embarrassed…much, but still, Seth knowing she had slept with Galan after their conversation was a touch…well,
embarrassing
. It was true.
“Galan, we have been requested to meet with their United Nations. I have accepted on your behalf.” Joras’ voice showed no knowledge of their intimacy, but one thing she had learnt during their time on the Princess Gospah was that Joras rarely showed what he was thinking or feeling, playing everything very close to his chest. Jessa thought perhaps it was something he only showed with those closest to him.
He indicated to the two chairs and they sat, while Joras handed a tablet device to Galan. The runes and shapes still meant little to Jessa, but determination filled her.
I will learn to read them and write in his language too, even if he does leave me behind.
They discussed how they would travel to the United Nations. Joras stated that they wished them to travel with the Prime Minister. Galan wanted to use their own transport. In the end, though, Joras argued that it was a show of goodwill. And they currently needed every bit they could get. Galan assented and it was resolved that they would travel the next day to meet the Prime Minister at the military aerodrome located in Richmond, using their government sanctioned vehicles. Galan was less than impressed that they would take upwards of a week between meetings and travel. Seth shrugged his shoulders, explaining that their planes didn’t have the capabilities of Hesparia’s, from what he understood. Both Seth and Jessa were to travel with them.
They put together a list of resources, images and information they thought might help to sway the situation and Jessa watched as they both worked with efficiency. Seth worked at something that looked remarkably like a primer and Jessa wondered what skills she had to offer in the negotiations before she sighed heavily.
“What worries you?” Galen’s voice dipped low and a warm tide spread through her belly.
“I just don’t feel I have anything to offer. You know. In the negotiations.”
“Of course you do.” Galan kept working even as he said the words, but they seemed absent to her. Almost as if they were an automatic response.
“I don’t.”
“Jessa, you are much better than me at spelling and writing, how about we work together on this language dictionary?” Seth’s voice called across the room and Galan quirked his brow. She let out a frustrated huff and wandered over to stand behind Seth. She watched as he struggled to input the information into his laptop while balancing the tablet.
“I can do that.” She sat herself down and was quickly immersed in the task, typing in the words, finding a phonetic spelling that allowed her to adequately create an English version.
“Jessa?”
She raised her head. “What?”
She looked at Galan who was smiling down at her.
“It is time to eat. Come. We will join the crew in the meal area.”
“But we’ve only just started.” She grimaced, but Galan just grinned at her.
“You have been working for hoors.”
Jessa giggled. “You mean hours.” But she rose anyway accepting the hand he held out for her. Seth sent a highly amused glance her way and she snickered before he and Joras joined them.
They found the rest of the crew in a festive mood. The meal was perfectly delicious, though she had no idea what it was. The lightly spiced meat was succulent though Galan had assured her it was low in fat and high in protein. He’d mentioned the animal it came from but it was meaningless to her. The tubers were tender and tasted divine, even if they were blue. She had also insisted that they order some local delicacies to be brought aboard, including lamingtons and pavlovas, bananas and coconuts, even lychees and the delicious tropical star fruit. She could see the crewmembers eagerly devouring them.
“Do you usually eat like this?” She extended her hand.
“What, as a group?”
Jessa laughed. “No, I meant with such foods? And options?”
He looked at her and smiled. “Our planet is mainly agrarian, so we grow our own meats and vegetables. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the welfare of our planet and we take a dim view on those who don’t. Of course, there are some members who cannot help, such as the aged and infirm. In those cases, their foods are provided and highly nutritious. Our healers ensure that they are comfortable and well-nourished at all times. They have already done their service for the planet and we thank them.” He stopped and looked at her. “But that isn’t what you want to know. Yes, we do eat well at our meals. Many participate in communal repasts, ensuring that there is a variety in their diets that they might not enjoy if they prepared foods for just themselves.”
Jessa thought over his words. It seemed almost utopian, but there had to be a fly in the ointment apart from the loss of the child bearing women. “What about crime? Is that a problem?”