"Better?" I whisper as he rolls onto his side. The slide of his cock out of my body always leaves me feeling a little bereft, as if I've lost something special. Of course, in the next moment, he pulls me against him, tucking my head against his chest, and that lonely feeling is gone just as fast as it arrived.
"You always know how to make me happy," Adiron tells me, hugging me against his chest.
I let my fingers “walk” along the planes of his pectorals, down toward his navel. "Well, I didn't get to finish my sexy massage, so I guess we'll have to pick up where we left off later."
"I agree," he says immediately. "My cock feels relaxed, but now you need to work on the rest of me."
I snort, amused, and my smile widens when he presses a kiss to my wild hair. My natural, kinky curls are probably standing on end right about now, but I'll fool with them in the morning. I dip a finger into his belly button. "So how long do you think we'll be here, since Sophie doesn't want to go with us? I know it probably changes your plans."
He rubs my shoulder, and I can tell by the silence that he's thinking. "Not really," Adiron says after a long pause. "Sophie's not a good navigator, so it's not like I could rely on her anyhow. She mostly just cleaned up after us and did odd jobs on the ship. If you don't mind pitching in to help me run things, I think we'll be fine. I can show you how to work some of the basic controls, too."
Learning how to fly the ship? "I like that idea. So, just you and me on the Little Sister?"
"You, me and some weaponry." His fingers dance up and down my arm. "I'll show you how to work those, too. It's gonna be a lot of learning for a while. Hope that's okay."
"You mean we won't be able to just make love all day long?" I tease.
"I didn't say that. You can sit on my cock while I show you how to work a blaster." He pauses for a moment. "Kef me, that sounds really hot."
I smack his chest. "Focus, Adi."
"Oh, I'm focused. Give me a moment and I'll be ready to go again."
This man has ridiculous stamina. I just roll my eyes—but I'm secretly pleased. I love that he can't get enough of me, because the feeling is mutual. "So where are we headed once we leave? Any ideas?"
His hand drops to my stomach. "First, we'll head to a nearby station and get some additional fuel cells and supplies. We'll load up on protein cakes and some alternatives to noodles, because I don't want you wasting away. You need to eat."
"And fruit?" I ask hopefully.
"All kinds of fruit," he agrees. "Jerrok says he's got a few contacts at Three Nebulas Station. They'll be able to help us out." He rubs my arm thoughtfully. "Once we're done there, I think we'll head back into Slatran space. An escape pod's supposed to chart a course for the nearest habitable planet or closest station, so we'll head to the Buoyant Star's last location and see what we can find."
It sounds reasonable. "What if we run into Shaalyn again?"
Adiron chuckles. "Well, that would be some luck, wouldn't it? It'd be your call again, though. We'd do with her as you want."
I think about what Zoey told me. How Shaalyn killed her crew to save her own ass. I think about how she stabbed Adiron in the gut and left him to die, too. I think about the baby inside me, too. I might never be as stone-cold as some of the corsairs, but Zoey was right. I do need to stop thinking like a human and expecting the laws to be fair and just.
They weren't exactly fair and just on Earth, either.
The soft heart can stay, but it can't interfere with the life I'm building out here. The next time we meet Shaalyn, I won't feel like a monster if her execution is in my hands. I'll remind myself about her stabbing Adiron.
"Once we find my brothers and your friends, well, there's just the matter of the sleepers on the Star. Jerrok's promised to keep them safe on the Star until sa'Rin comes for them."
"They'll be safe on his planet?" I ask again, though I know I've asked it a dozen times since I first heard about it.
"Absolutely. I've been there a few times myself. Humans everywhere." He chuckles. "And lots of crops. Maybe if you and me ever get tired of the corsair life, we can take our kid and head out that way."
I smile up at him. "I think I'd like that. But for now, I'm just happy with you."