Mathiras (Corsair Brothers 4)

More than a coat of paint, though, the Second Star just feels like a happy place. Someone always seems to be laughing, and food is constantly ready in the mess hall. We get together to watch human vids or gladiator fights in the rec room at night, or play Sticks, and it’s just…nice. It’s relaxing and quiet, and returning to the station is like being wrapped in a blanket.

Or being wrapped in Helen’s arms, since they’re constantly around me. She helps me carry in some of the lighter crates, listening as I tell her about the things I saw on station and the conversations I had with Zakoar and his human female. I made a deal with them to provide metal scrap that he can send to one of his “friends” who makes the prosthetic limbs for him, but constantly runs low on material. If we can provide that, it’ll be a simple thing to make enough credits to keep our station flush with food and supplies. Helen loves this idea and praises me for shepherding it to fruition. It was more of me being in the right place at the right time, but I love the adoring way she gazes up at me and I decide I can take a little credit here and there.

When all the supplies are unloaded, she immediately saunters into my arms and slides her hand down the back of my trou. “We have two hours before dinner. Want to spend it in bed?”

Her eyes are bright with enthusiasm and even though I’m pretty sure my cock will be sore in the morning, it rises to the occasion. My mate is definitely making up for lost time. “You really did miss me.”

Helen gives me a confused look. “Of course I did, Matty. You’re my mate. I missed sleeping next to you. I don’t think I’ve slept at all since you left.”

I pull her into my arms, hugging her to my chest. “I’m teasing, love. I know you missed me. I missed you, too. I thought it’d be easier to be separated for just a few days. Looks like I’m a keffing idiot.” I chuckle at the realization, thinking of the annoyance I felt when Kaspar and Adiron were both pissy at being separated from their mates. I get it now. Being apart from Helen is like having someone carry my heart off the ship and they expect me to go about my day as if everything is normal. It’s keffing impossible.

Helen sighs and snuggles against my chest, burrowing against me. “You’re my keffing idiot.”

That makes me laugh. I contemplate dragging her into one of the lavatories on the mining station, since they’re closer than our rooms, but just then, Adiron comes around the corner. “Hey! There you are!”

I could swear Helen’s fists tighten on my clothing, as if she’s refusing to be pried apart from me. I turn and glance over at my brother. “Something wrong?”

“I just got a comm from Straik,” he says, excitement on his face. “He told us we’re going to want to tune to the channel coordinates he sent over in about two hours.”

Excitement flares in my chest. “Is today the day?”

“Today’s the day,” he agrees smugly. “Jade’s making snacks. This is gonna be the best.”

“What is it?” Helen asks, curious.

“Lady va’Rin is about to be arrested,” I tell her. “And it’s going to be transmitted to all of Homeworld, unless I miss my guess.”

As Adiron fiddles with the comm station, the rest of us settle in on the couches in the rec room. Jade hands out bowls of snacks while Alice grumbles that she should be with Sterre. “I promise you, the moment I look away, that carinoux is going to shit out a dozen babies. You watch.”

“Do you really think it’s a dozen?” Helen asks eagerly. “Can I have one?”

“I’m fine with you taking one if Mathiras is,” Alice says with a shrug. Kaspar tosses himself down on the couch and then pulls Alice’s legs over his lap, settling her against me. “But they have to stay with the mom until they’re a little older.”

Helen turns to me, her eyes wide and pleading. “Can I have a carinoux baby?”

I fight back a grimace. The keffing carinoux already shits more than I’d thought possible and we have two cleaner bots programmed just to follow the damn thing around and scoop up its leavings. Still, when Helen looks at me with such hopeful, pleading eyes, how can I refuse her anything? “If you want one, I don’t see a problem with it.”

My mate beams at me and throws her arms around my neck, spilling some of the contents of my bowl as she kisses my cheek and then goes to nibble on my ear. When she starts sucking on my earlobe, I shift the bowl in my lap and have to distract her. “What’s this snack, Helen?”