more. “I’m sure we have
any number of things we could discuss.”
“ I agree.” She took a deep breath,
pulled back slightly, and tugged his hand. “Do we talk in the sleeping quarters
or on the flight deck? Which would be more comfortable for you?” She looked him
over and nodded. “I’m worried for you, Fin. You choose where you would be most
comfortable, please.”
“ The sleeping quarters, I think. I
can put my leg up in a comfortable position, and you can sit in close.” When
she tugged on his hand again he finally, slowly released her throat. Turning
his hand, he caught hers in his and tugged her behind him out into the
corridor.
When his hand moved from her
throat, she swallowed. “Is it wrong that I liked you touching me like that?” It
was something she hadn’t wanted to think about, just how comforting she found
his hand upon her throat, how safe she had felt and needy as well.
“ Not in the least,” he told her.
In the sleeping quarters he settled onto the bunk, a pillow under his leg, and
the others at his back. “Come, sit,” he said, patting the spot next to him.
Taking the seat that he had
offered her, she settled in close to him. Her head on his shoulder, she closed
her eyes, reveling in the feel of her hand upon his chest and the heat of him
surrounding her fully. “What is it that we should discuss?”
“ Anything you wish,” he told her.
“I’m sure you have a number of questions, about a great many things. Choose
something you require an answer to and I’ll do my best to give you that answer.
You ask a question, and then I will ask one in turn.”
“ So … you
have your own destroyer. What is your ranking?” She didn’t care, but it was the
first question that popped into her mind. “Since you have your own ship you
will be able to have me with you when you are offworld ,
right?”
“ I’m ranked as a general in our
Armada, and yes, you can come with me wherever I go. Though generals rarely are
on a destroyer, I prefer to be in space as much as I can to ensure that I don’t
get sucked in by someone’s political agenda on our home world.” He ran a finger
up and down her arm. “What all was entailed in your position?” he asked softly.
“You needn’t go into any great detail, or too scientific on me, but I am
curious as to what all you were in charge of.”
“ You sound just like my brother,”
she mused with a smile. “He stays in space as much as he possibly can as well
so that he’s not cornered by some eligible girl and her equally desperate
mother or so that he’s not drawn into some political debate.” She was stroking
her hand over his chest as she spoke. “As head of the Medical Ministries, I run
all of our medical facilities. If there is a breakout of illness, I’m called
in.” She shrugged. “Largely I’m the one who moves the paperwork. I hate
paperwork. With a passion.”
“ I’ve never been highly fond of
paperwork either. Thankfully there’s usually someone else that can attend to it
instead of me. Though some I can’t escape because of security clearances. What
is your next question, Adira ?”
“ Have you ever backed away from a
fight?” she asked and looked up at him. “One that you weren’t
sure of winning without a tragic loss of life. Would you ever back away
from one?” By the stars, she prayed that he never had to face off against Petr.
“My brother, he’s in our military services as well.”
He shot her a curious look, but
didn’t push it. “I’ve made a number of strategic retreats to gain the upper hand, or to allow us time to rethink the situation. Only
once have I ever pulled back entirely from a fight I wasn’t completely sure I
could win. I’ve never felt the need to beat an opponent where I’m outgunned, or
outmanned, for the sake of pride. If I feel I can’t win, I’m more than willing
to withdraw.” He fell silent for a moment. “Is there anyone on your home world
you’re leaving behind with a
any number of things we could discuss.”
“ I agree.” She took a deep breath,
pulled back slightly, and tugged his hand. “Do we talk in the sleeping quarters
or on the flight deck? Which would be more comfortable for you?” She looked him
over and nodded. “I’m worried for you, Fin. You choose where you would be most
comfortable, please.”
“ The sleeping quarters, I think. I
can put my leg up in a comfortable position, and you can sit in close.” When
she tugged on his hand again he finally, slowly released her throat. Turning
his hand, he caught hers in his and tugged her behind him out into the
corridor.
When his hand moved from her
throat, she swallowed. “Is it wrong that I liked you touching me like that?” It
was something she hadn’t wanted to think about, just how comforting she found
his hand upon her throat, how safe she had felt and needy as well.
“ Not in the least,” he told her.
In the sleeping quarters he settled onto the bunk, a pillow under his leg, and
the others at his back. “Come, sit,” he said, patting the spot next to him.
Taking the seat that he had
offered her, she settled in close to him. Her head on his shoulder, she closed
her eyes, reveling in the feel of her hand upon his chest and the heat of him
surrounding her fully. “What is it that we should discuss?”
“ Anything you wish,” he told her.
“I’m sure you have a number of questions, about a great many things. Choose
something you require an answer to and I’ll do my best to give you that answer.
You ask a question, and then I will ask one in turn.”
“ So … you
have your own destroyer. What is your ranking?” She didn’t care, but it was the
first question that popped into her mind. “Since you have your own ship you
will be able to have me with you when you are offworld ,
right?”
“ I’m ranked as a general in our
Armada, and yes, you can come with me wherever I go. Though generals rarely are
on a destroyer, I prefer to be in space as much as I can to ensure that I don’t
get sucked in by someone’s political agenda on our home world.” He ran a finger
up and down her arm. “What all was entailed in your position?” he asked softly.
“You needn’t go into any great detail, or too scientific on me, but I am
curious as to what all you were in charge of.”
“ You sound just like my brother,”
she mused with a smile. “He stays in space as much as he possibly can as well
so that he’s not cornered by some eligible girl and her equally desperate
mother or so that he’s not drawn into some political debate.” She was stroking
her hand over his chest as she spoke. “As head of the Medical Ministries, I run
all of our medical facilities. If there is a breakout of illness, I’m called
in.” She shrugged. “Largely I’m the one who moves the paperwork. I hate
paperwork. With a passion.”
“ I’ve never been highly fond of
paperwork either. Thankfully there’s usually someone else that can attend to it
instead of me. Though some I can’t escape because of security clearances. What
is your next question, Adira ?”
“ Have you ever backed away from a
fight?” she asked and looked up at him. “One that you weren’t
sure of winning without a tragic loss of life. Would you ever back away
from one?” By the stars, she prayed that he never had to face off against Petr.
“My brother, he’s in our military services as well.”
He shot her a curious look, but
didn’t push it. “I’ve made a number of strategic retreats to gain the upper hand, or to allow us time to rethink the situation. Only
once have I ever pulled back entirely from a fight I wasn’t completely sure I
could win. I’ve never felt the need to beat an opponent where I’m outgunned, or
outmanned, for the sake of pride. If I feel I can’t win, I’m more than willing
to withdraw.” He fell silent for a moment. “Is there anyone on your home world
you’re leaving behind with a
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