LunarReunion (6 page)

“No. It doesn’t have to be, not this time.” He took another
step forward.

She shook her head. This was infinitely more painful than
fighting. “We had a good time, better than good, and I don’t regret a moment.”

Filid stopped, his tentacles dropping for a moment as
confusion altered his features. “You’re not willing to even give us a chance.”

“What chance? You’re still APM and I fly a liner. What do
you think our chances of crossing flight paths will be?” She should be kissing
him, not pushing him away, but she couldn’t. He’d pull her apart without even
realizing. Her need for him would destroy them both.

For a moment he said nothing. Then he crossed the remaining
distance between them in a few long strides and sealed his lips to hers. She
resisted for a
milli-tric
before melting against him. Her arms wrapped
around his neck, his tentacles traced along her bare arms. She didn’t want to
let him go. She wanted to know he was waiting for her and that they would be
together but the one thing she’d learnt in the APM was just how vast space was.
Even sticking to the trade routes, there were so many commerce stations and
spaceports, so many ships.

She eased back, her lips crushed and hungry for more. Her
eyes filled with tears. “Are you trying to say goodbye or begging me to stay?”

His arms remained around her waist while one tentacle
brushed the tear from her cheek so softly she barely felt it. “Both. I don’t
want to leave with you thinking I’ve forgotten about you.”

“That would have been easier. Now I know you want me as much
as I want you.”

He rested his forehead on hers. “I can leave the APM. You
can stop flying.”

She closed her eyes. She knew that. She’d thought of it
before. “And do what?”

“We’ll find something. We could go to
Lekithia
.”

She shook her head. No, she wasn’t ready to go home and she
knew that going to his planet wasn’t an option, like the
Amayans
the
Klokians
didn’t tolerate aliens very well—that and most aliens didn’t tolerate
Klokian
rules very well. “There are still places I want to go.”

“Then go there with me. I want to see the galaxy with you.”

He made it sound so easy, so tempting. “And how will we eat?
We still need chits.”

“Are you allowed family on the liner?”

“Yes, but only married. No formal union, no travel. There
was a problem with people claiming partner status for every fling.” Usually
they tried to get the partner working too. They didn’t like dead weight on
board. “You’d find life on a liner dull.”

“I’d have you… Besides, aren’t you transferring to the
Adventure
Bird
? My cousin can do the paperwork. I can use it to get out and join
you.”

In his arms she wanted to believe it was that easy and that
everything would work out, but she couldn’t. Nothing for them had ever been
easy. “We’d be married before we even knew if it was going to work out. That’s
crazy.”

“How else are we going to get the chance to find out?”

“I don’t know. Can we start by booking leave and spending
time together?” It wasn’t what she wanted, she wanted everything now, but their
relationship was so fragile it needed time to grow. Maybe they needed time to
grow too.

“Where’s the next stop on your cruise?”

“Commerce
fractar
6.” While it was a commerce
station, there were shuttles to the planet below and it was a layover of five
days to give people plenty of time to shop and look around.

“Ugh. I totally understand why you want to switch to the
Adventure
Bird
.”

She smiled. “Meet me there. We can talk further, make plans.
And I can see if there are any vacancies on board.”

“Good idea. I can look at the paperwork for getting out.”

She lifted her head and looked him in the eye. “Don’t jump
yet. I don’t want to be blamed for you giving up a promising career.”

“I won’t. I don’t want to be stranded without a job and
without you. I love you. It just took me six years to realize that.” His hand
slid lower to cup her butt and pull her close. There was no doubt about how
much he wanted her, but he only placed a light kiss on her lips that left her
wanting more.

She wriggled her hips, enjoying the feel of his erection
pressing against her but knowing that neither could act on it in such a public
place. “I loved you the moment you boarded my ship, but I knew I could never
have you.” However, now he was here, trying to find a way to be with her. It
would be worth the wait, and for once she was looking forward to going to
Commerce
fractar
6.

He smiled, his teeth dark against his skin and his tentacles
brushing against her face. “At least it’s not going to take us another six
years to get together.”

“I’m not sure I could wait another six years.” Her fingers
made patterns on the back of his neck and tangled in his tentacles. When one
brushed her lower lip, she flicked her tongue along its rough surface.

He drew in a breath but didn’t pull away. “How much longer
do you have?”

“Half a
tric
.” Not long enough to hire a room and
make it worthwhile. She sucked the tentacle into her mouth and watched his reaction
more closely. His eyelids lowered and his breathing quickened, and she was sure
she felt his cock harden.

“Turn around.” When she hesitated he turned her so she was
facing the window and the ice planet below.

“We can’t do anything here, anyone could come up.” And yet
the thrill was there. They’d played strangers, and now they were lovers.

“Who says we’re doing anything, we’re just looking out the
window.” But his hand was sliding over her hip and between her legs. The length
of his cock was pressed against her ass.

He pressed his fingers against her clit and she had to bite
her lip to keep from moaning aloud. She was still sensitive from before, but
that didn’t stop her from wanting more and wishing she had longer before she
needed to be back on the liner. Yet she didn’t want to be caught either…and he
was in uniform.

“Do you want me to stop?” he murmured in her ear.

“No… But it doesn’t seem fair.” She’d be getting off and he
wouldn’t be.

“Trust me, I’ll make up for it later.” She heard the grin in
his voice and then he eased his hand into her pants. The contact of his fingers
on her slick flesh made her jump. Then he was circling her clit and dipping
into her slit as if they were alone and not standing on the viewing deck.

Her breathing became faster and she wanted to grind against
him but that could get messy. “Are you sure?” Her voice was soft and breathy.

“Oh yes. I want to hear you come one more time.” His voice
was a low growl as he buried his face in her hair, but it sent shivers of heat
through her body.

She closed her eyes, no longer caring about the view of the
ice planet below, only about what he was doing to her. His other hand traced
around one nipple until it peaked and pressed against the thin fabric of her
top. She couldn’t help but move as the tension built. Her legs felt weak, she
needed him in her. His fingers slid in at just the right moment, every movement
rubbing her clit. The friction of his skin was almost too much. She tipped her
head back against his shoulder.

“That’s it, come for me.”

The shudder rippled through her body and her core clenched
on his fingers. He kept playing with her clit until the last wave had finished
and she was panting as though she’d run a lap of the Moon. He kissed her cheek
and then her lips when she turned her head.

“Now, that was a goodbye.” Filid was smiling.

“I hope your greeting is just as good.” She grinned and ran
her hand up his cock, still hard and unsatisfied. No one had disturbed them,
could she take the risk and drop to her knees?

He shook his head as if he’d read her thoughts. “I’ll claim
that on
fractar
6.” He smoothed his hand over her braid. “Go, before I
change my mind and make you late.”

She gave him one last kiss, safe in the knowledge that she’d
see him soon and sure that this time they would fight to make it work.

For the first time in her life Silva had looked forward to
going to
fractar
6. Best known for its location on the major trade
route, it had everything any alien could ever want except style, looks or even
a hint of pleasantness.

If Decadent Moon was licking the glitter off on an almost
naked dancer’s body,
fractar
6 was licking the sweat from the hairy butt
crack of a cleaner who thought taking a shower would reduce his potency as a
lover. The
Warabi
thought the molds growing in their hair were a sign of
strength and virility. They made Silva want to gag. She forced a smile as she
walked past one that was cleaning the gray metal floor of the station.

There were no bright colors or seductive ads, no shows designed
to tease and tantalize. Sex was for sale, but instead of feeling like fun on
Decadent Moon it kind of felt sticky here. The shops were full of goods from
around the galaxy, but there was nothing that she wanted.

However, with nothing to do but wait for Filid, she looked
around the shops. It was better to be moving than sitting and waiting and
wondering why he wasn’t here. She’d been here for three days already. The
passengers were either shopping on the station or had gone down to the planet.
Some had left the cruise, others would join, as this was a major stop.

Around her people haggled for the best price as if this was
a market on
Lekithia
and every chit mattered. The people here had the
chits to fly. They didn’t realize how lucky they were. It added to her bad
mood.

Perhaps she should have stayed on the entertainment levels
and had a few more drinks. But she was tired of knocking back advances from
other males and the offers to buy her a drink. There was only one person she
wanted and he wasn’t here.

Where was he?

They’d had something. Hadn’t they?

The excitement she’d had when she’d first arrived had
vanished after a day. Now she was nursing a hurt that was far greater than the
one caused six years ago. She’d believed that he’d wanted her and was willing
to try to make it work.

Why confess to remembering her if he’d then planned to throw
it away?

It didn’t make sense.

Perhaps he’d gotten back on his ship, reconsidered and
decided she wasn’t worth it. He’d had her and now the need had been sated. She
couldn’t say the same.

But off Decadent Moon their hastily made plans were bound to
unravel, weren’t they? He’d stayed in the APM this long, so why would he leave
now?

Why would he leave for her?

Because he loved her. Because she loved him. That should matter.

She wandered around for a little longer, enquired at the
exchanger but no message had been sent ahead for her. If she knew which ship he
was on, would she have sent one? A reminder that they were supposed to be
meeting? No, he would come. She had to believe that, and she would until she
got back on the
Lunar Bird
and flew away. Only then would she put him
from her mind for good.

On the viewing deck she found a spot where she could watch
the docking and undocking of the small ships, and the planet beyond. Partially
shrouded in with clouds, the greenish water and yellow land masses were
tempting her to visit. That’s where she would’ve gone for the few days she had
off if she hadn’t been waiting for Filid.

Not because there was anything exciting to do there, but it
was always nice to feel ground beneath her feet and swim in the ocean. And
while the atmosphere was thicker than she was used to, she could get by without
a breather. Just. The one time she’d gone hiking down there she’d worn one
because she had no desire to pass out on a strange world where less than ten
percent of the population spoke the common language of Allied Abbreviated.

She shook her head. For a planet on the main trade route,
the citizens liked to keep their culture protected. Many other planets had
become a giant melting pot of everything and anything. Perhaps there was
something to be said for staying with your own species. But whenever she closed
her eyes, Filid was there with his white skin, blue eyes and tentacles reaching
toward her. She shivered remembering the touch of his rough skin on hers. Her
toes curled in her boots as longing slid deeper into her blood.

At least she had the memories.

* * * * *

Filid presented his identification to security, half
expecting them to stop him and arrest him on the spot. It wouldn’t have
surprised him if the APM had given notice to
fractar
6. Security waved
him through as if there was nothing wrong.

He let out the breath he’d been holding. The last three days
had been tense. But then he’d never left his post before. He’d absconded
without leave from the APM. They’d denied his request, short notice, non-family
member—there’d been a litany of reasons. Most of which he’d agreed with, but
this was his last chance with Silva. Even though he knew where she worked and
could track the liner she’d never forgive him if he didn’t meet her here.

It might already be too late.

And he probably wouldn’t have long before the APM caught up
and arrested him—they knew where he was going after all. That wasn’t going to
look good on his record. But right now he didn’t care. He just needed to find
Silva.

From the central walkway the solid gray structure of
fractar
6 loomed above him, and below. It was huge. Full of people, shops, bars and
whores. APM ships stopped here for resupply and recreation leave. The nearest
ship would already be on its way to collect him. Usually it was his job to be
making the arrests. He didn’t look forward to being on the other side.

If Silva had accepted his rushed proposal, then the APM
might have granted him leave to see his partner. It would have made things
easier but then it wouldn’t have meant anything. He didn’t want to marry her
because it was convenient. When he married her it would be because he loved her
and it would be something they both wanted.

This wasn’t going to be the extended break he’d been looking
forward to. He’d be lucky to have a day with her. And he still had to find her.
There were so many people, so many thoughts that he couldn’t reach out and find
her in the swirling, almost solid mass of emotions that buffeted him.

He glanced around, read the signs in Allied Abbreviated and
tried to get a feel for the different levels of the station, but he still had
no idea where to start looking, and running around the station wasn’t going to
find her fast. He needed to bring her to him.

He turned around, keeping an eye out for anyone who looked
like security or was in the blue of the APM. All those times he’d been the one
going after an absconder and now he was the one with the clock running down.
Anxiety tightened his stomach. He could fail. This could all be for nothing. He
didn’t like the feeling at all.

With a rough plan in mind he went up two levels to where the
jewelry stores were and bought a heart stone. Pale blue and almost spherical,
it fit in the palm of his hand. Under the supervision of the seller, a
Vink
who
could tune their body to any crystal, he poured everything he felt for Silva
into the stone. The love, the fascination with her hair, the joy at seeing her
again.

He kept the fear that he’d blown his last shot into the flux
to himself.

Then he got the heart stone gift wrapped and asked for
directions to the nearest exchange office. They held messages, as well as other
items, and were used by people who couldn’t afford a personal courier. They
were less secure, and often used by criminals, but he would be waiting nearby
for Silva to collect.

He’d spend more chits since arriving here than he had on
Decadent Moon. Once he’d have never thought that possible. People saved up for
years to spend up big on the Moon. Yet here he was on
fractar
6, and
he’d quite happily spend every chit he had to find Silva. The only question was
would she make it to the exchange before the APM caught up with him?

This was one of those times he wished he didn’t stand out
quite so much. Unfortunately
Klokians
still drew attention because there
were so few in space. As he waited an alien looked at him and his tentacles as
they walked past. A child pointed and was hushed by its mother—whose
embarrassment, tinged with curiosity, washed over him.

The whole time, he was scanning the area for Silva, with his
eyes and with other senses. If she got close he’d be able to feel her. Time
seemed to stretch out. There was the very real risk that she’d already returned
to the liner. Should he pay the exchanger to send a message to the liner just
to be sure? Why hadn’t he thought of that straight away?

He was about to turn and spend some more chits when he felt
a shimmer of familiar thought brush over him. Confusion and annoyance, hurt.
Silva. He turned but couldn’t see her yet as she was hidden by the people
walking along. Then she was there, at the counter of the exchange to collect.
She didn’t look thrilled to have been called up—Filid considered it a miracle
she’d been on the station and had looked at the message boards. Maybe she had
still been hoping he’d show, even though he was late.

Filid watched for a moment as she collected the gift, her
scowl softening to sadness. She didn’t want a gift. She wanted him.

After a glance around she spoke to the exchanger, who just
shook its head. Then she took a few steps out of the way, plucking at the
ribbon as if she wasn’t sure she wanted to open it. That was when he moved
forward.

She saw him as soon as he did. Anger and happiness radiated
from her.

He was late. And the APM military police was on his trail.
Hardly the things happy reunions were made of. Why did they have to keep
settling for almost and second best? He wanted it all, with her.

She put her arms around him, as if she couldn’t believe he
was actually here. “I though you weren’t coming.”

“I’ll tell you once we get out of sight.” He kissed her to
stop any questions.

She squeaked and pressed against him, her body molding to
his in the way he’d dreamed. Her tongue flicked against his in a way that made
him regret being three days late and knowing he wouldn’t have as long as he
wanted with her before he was caught.

“Can you get a room with your chits?” he whispered in her
ear.

Silva drew back and looked at his civilian clothing. “What
have you done?” But he could tell she’d already worked it out. Her eyes
widened. “Oh, Filid.”

“I had to.”

She took his hand and they moved with the crowd, up another
floor until they found a hotel. They could have gone down to where rooms were
let by the
tric
—and he might only have
trics
before the APM got
him—but Silva obviously felt the same way as he did as she led the way to a
quieter, more expensive area of the station. This was the kind of place where
paying extra was worth it to avoid
hugrix
lice and other things that
thrived on body heat and warm flesh. A few hours of luxury with Silva were
worth whatever was being charged.

He ran his hand up her back as she booked and paid. It
wouldn’t stop the APM from finding him, merely delay them a little longer.

She opened the room, dragged him in and let the door slide
closed before questioning him. “Tell me you didn’t really abscond?”

His gift was still in her hand, unopened. Her concern was
only for him. How had he spent so many years not looking for her?

“My leave was denied.” He traced her jaw, unable to keep his
hand from touching her. “I knew that if I didn’t make it I’d never get another
chance.” He kissed her softly, taking his time to relearn the shape of her
mouth and the way her lips moved against his. “I’m sorry I was late.”

“You’re here. That’s all that matters.” Her free hand slid
over his chest and tangled in his tentacles.

But he’d come so close to not being here. Between the APM
and her liner they would hardly see each other. Something had to change.
“They’ll catch me before it’s time for you to leave.” He stole another kiss. He
wanted more, needed more. Longing was pumping in his blood and making him hard.

He’d jumped ship for her.

He’d always sneered at those who’d absconded. Laughed at
their reasons and not cared that they’d be punished. Now look at him. He was
one of them. Flux, he’d probably know the officers they were sending after him.
He’d never live it down.

Spending some time in military prison wasn’t going to fun.
But he’d already calculated the punishment and the odds of getting caught
before he saw Silva, before he’d even jumped. One
tric
with her would
make it worthwhile. The chance to tell her that he’d give it all up in a
heartbeat.

“Why? You have sent a message I would’ve understood. We
could’ve changed our plans.”

“I can’t live without you. I knew that the moment I left
your ship all those years ago. I just wasn’t ready to say it.” He hadn’t been
ready to accept what that meant or the sacrifices they’d have to make. They’d
both been too young back then.

“They’ll lock you up.” Her lips brushed his as she spoke, as
though she couldn’t bear to put any distance between them.

“First offense, ten standard days. Then I’ll see the psych
and talk about why I did it and they’ll want to know if I’ll do it again.”

Her eyebrows drew together in concern. “What will you tell
them?”

“That I would if it meant seeing you.”

She smiled sadly. “They’ll discharge you, without
recommendation. You’ll need that rec to get a job on the
Adventure Bird
.”

“There’s a job?”

“There’s a security officer position coming up.”

He cursed in
Klokian
. “I guess I’ll have to tell the
APM what they want to hear.”