21. Chapter 21

Ava left Rhutg and Erox a while later with Vox to go to the mess hall across from navigation. Her head was spinning with the logistics and plans that were formed, discussed, and agreed on.

By the next cycle, they would be sending Nuor off the ship with the other Phor still present, including Ebel. Before then, Ava would need to talk with Ebel about how to operate the tracking technology that they used when she had gone off ship before with Nuor. She hoped he would understand and cooperate for her to use it on her new mission. The Vorbax were not above taking the information directly from one of the Phor still alive, but there would be no need for that if she could get Ebel to help.

She busied herself and made both herself and Vox a plate from the mess hall synthesizer before running two plates back into navigation for Erox and Rhutg. Vox was already sitting in the mess hall, eating, when she returned. She pulled the chair out next to him and settled down with her own food, near the same booth she’d sat in at the mess hall before the ship changed hands. The stars were luminous here, adding their own light to the stark lighting given off by the ship.

Ava and Vox watched the stars as they ate, both lost in thought for different reasons.

“Will you miss it?” Vox finally asked.

Ava, thinking of the mission, furrowed her brow, confused by the question.

Vox clarified. “The stars. Once everything settles down and you are no longer part of a ship.” He said it so certainly, as if the mission ahead only was a stepping stone to his eventual plan of seeing her away from here.

Ava, nerves jangling, swallowed audibly. She forced the schematics of the mission from her mind to consider the question. If she was free of the ship?

“Not the stars. I’d miss the engine though,” she said after some thought. “I like the pressure to fix something and the satisfaction from seeing it done right. Such a big machine, and knowing how it works and moves everything . . .” As she said it, she felt how true that was. She was also scared. What would life be like without metal walls enclosing everything? Fear raced down her spine from thinking of a truly open space and never returning to this place she’d called home for so long.

“Will you miss anything?” she asked, distracting herself.

Vox took his time answering. “If you asked when I first left, in the beginning, no. Life outside Xai was distasteful to me. But I have come to learn there is . . . beauty here.” He pointed to the outside view. “It is so still, yet everything in this universe is so perfectly in unison for life. If I forget the creatures that harm others that share space with us, I find myself in awe of the universe.” He turned his frilled head to her and added, “I can also not begrudge the stars so much, because they brought me to you.”

Ava’s heart panged hearing that. It made her feel so odd, like she wanted to squirm, and hot all over. She put her hand over his on the table. “Are you just interested in me because of the tests Erox ran?”

Vox put his finger under her chin and angled her head so their eyes met. “No. Before I even talked with you, I grew to care about your soul. From the first time you were above our heads in the vents. It’s only been added to since then.” He paused then added, “I will not lie. Having the test confirm our compatibility made my heart soar.” He smiled at her softly. “I already know the answer, but could turn the question around to you. Are you interested in me only because of protection?”

Ava shook her head no immediately. “I don’t know why, but my heart wants you. It feels like light when I look at you. It’s different than I’ve felt before. It feels . . . I feel . . .” she trailed off, finding it difficult to describe the fluttering feeling in her chest every time she looked at him. The yearning to be near him that she felt.

Vox nodded, smiling, a soft expression on his face. “You’ll stay with me then? You’ll be my love on the bayva fields?”

Ava swallowed and nodded, tears in her eyes. Vox leaned over and gathered her gently in his arms to watch the stars together. She never wanted to be apart from him.

Ava got lost in her thoughts, content in his embrace. Staring outside, her mind strayed to saying goodbye to Ebel and Nuor. After making the decision to help Rhutg earlier, everything would feel even more concrete when she was alone on the ship with the Vorbax and the Tuxa husks.

“I wish I knew what you were thinking when you stare off like that,” Vox gently chided.

Ava turned back to him and put her hand on his. “I know you do. I thank you for not looking without asking.”

“I can ask now though, if you would share.”

“I am just thinking about saying goodbye to Nuor and Ebel. There have been so many changes lately, and seeing them off is going to make everything so . . . real, I think.”

“There is still time to change your mind and to go with them.”

Ava smiled a wistful smile. “I am going with you, Vox.”

Vox sighed and briefly flashed bright blue before returning to normal. “I still do not like this.”

She squeezed his hand. He turned his hand over to cradle hers and squeezed back.

“Would you stay with me after I meet with Ebel?” Ava asked.

“Yes, and during. Always. It seems when I leave you alone, you get in trouble. I don’t think it would be wise for you to go off and to start making even more dangerous deals.”

Ava smiled at that. “You’re going to have your job cut out shadowing me then. However, I am fresh out of deals and alliances right now.” Even though she was happy now with the plans, she was nervous about what had been promised with Rhutg.

“I can sense your fear.” He began to hum and glow. A soothing sensation washed over her. “Are you okay with me doing this?”

“Yes,” she said, nuzzling into him. “It helps.”

“Hmmm,” he said, looking at her. His gaze changed, his eyes heated, and the sensation he was putting out did as well. He pulled it back a second later, turning it off.

It didn’t matter. Ava felt his lust as her own, and it made her more aware of how their hands touched. It made her remember the kiss they shared earlier. With her fear now gone from his soothing, she remembered everything and felt herself slip back into that moment.

Ava willed herself to say something, anything, with the tension she now felt. She cleared her throat. “I know you feel the same way I do.

Vox didn’t move, watching her raptly.

Ava turned in his arms so she could look up at his face, her stomach clenching strongly with that unfamiliar feeling. They had been dancing around each other like this for cycles, teasing each other with their mutual attraction.

“Vox. I don’t want to . . . I like you, Vox. I feel safe, and something more.” She put her hands on his chest.

A twin heartbeat later, he covered them with his as he angled his face and sought her mouth again.. She gave it to him freely, and he moved his hands to cup her around her behind. He scooted her bottom closer up on top of him, moving her so her legs were wrapped around his torso, his larger frame dwarfing her.

Straddling his lap, she could feel his taut muscles beneath her. Ava leaned back, sitting up, and pushed down on the covering he wore over his shoulders. She wanted to see more of him.

He didn’t let her rear back to observe long, instead reaching forward and sliding his tongue between her neck and shoulders. An electric feeling followed where he moved.

Vox pulled at her jumpsuit, sliding the material down until her breasts were bare. He then gently pushed her back and cupped one with his hand, feeling the texture. Ava leaned in to the sensation as he got to her nipple and rolled it in his fingers. She felt a jolt from the pressure. He let go a second later.

Her hesitation returned as she watched him look at her body, forgetting her own curiosity toward his. “Am I that different from your females?”

Vox looked at her, eyes hungry and hooded. He flashed a deep purple before responding, “Different, but similar. And enticing in a way that is unexpected.” His eyes fixated on her breasts. “Our females do not have these.”

He leaned forward and placed his mouth over her nipple. Ava yelped and then groaned aloud at the flush that went through her from the sensation. When his tongue connected with her nipple, the electric feeling happened again.

Vox kept pressure on the one side he already tasted with his hand and moved his mouth over to the other, repeating the action. Ava shuddered, pressing her body into his mouth while he explored with his tongue.

He broke away, breathing heavily himself, and kissed her on the forehead gently.

She felt a pressure under her bottom that was not there before and looked down at it in question, scooting back.

“Yes, I wish to mate with you, Ava. But not here. And not with my brethren across the hall able to listen in. Since you are not leaving, then I do not want to wait any longer. It will bind me to you and give us both more strength on Torga.”

Ava didn’t know what to make of that but flushed at the thought of the others potentially listening in.

“Can we go back to the room I was staying in?”

Vox nodded, pulling up her jumpsuit to cover her breasts once more, closing it in a brisk fashion. “Yes. Let’s satiate this need between us.”

Halfway through the walk, Vox gathered her in his arms to move faster. Ava let out a yelp when he picked her up, but didn’t resist, hugging him around his shoulders. When they made it to the room, he put her down and Ava hurriedly closed the door behind her. Vox picked her up again and turned her around, pressing her against the wall and kissing her. Ava’s mind blotted everything else out until that was all that mattered. She let the heat between them lead the way, pulling on his jumpsuit, pressing herself into him.

Vox angled his head down to look in her eyes. “You do want this, Ava?” he confirmed.

Ava nodded and kissed him in reply. That was all the confirmation Vox seemed to need as he pushed into her kiss, deepening it.

He stroked down her torso, lingering over the curve of her hips before he growled at the fabric separating them, quickly pushing it down. He was not gentle with the jumpsuit like he was earlier in the mess hall. His hands traveled up to her exposed breasts, and Ava’s back arched instinctively. His hands grew possessive on her body.

Ava matched his passion, tugging upon the rough material covering him. Vox took his hands away from her bare chest and quickly complied, pulling his jumpsuit down in one motion, discarding it on the floor.

A vast expanse of blue with golden lines intersecting on his chest met her eyes. She only caught a glimpse as Vox crowded into her space and ran his hands down the length of her body, skin on skin, pushing down her jumpsuit the rest of the way. She stepped out of it and stood fully exposed before him, backing up.

He studied her a moment, smile on his lips. A fluttering sensation flowed across her chest. Vox stepped forward and traced the line of her breast down to her hip bone, lingering on her belly button. It matched one on his own abdomen. Ava’s gaze went lower to see his shaft extended toward her. She swallowed, feeling her body heat as she examined it.

“In one area we match,” Vox said teasingly as he placed his hand over her belly button. Ava looked where he was pointing, above his shaft, and placed her hand a second later in the same place on his abdomen.

He took her hand off his stomach and pushed it lower until she was able to grasp his penis in her hand; it was soft and pliable, but also so very hard. Ava suddenly felt shy and hesitant, holding that part of him in her hand.

She explored it curiously while he allowed the contact, his gaze becoming more and more heated until he stepped out of her hand and nudged her backward until the back of her knees hit the bed. Ava watched as his gaze traveled between her peaked breasts and down to where her sex lay exposed to the chilled air.

He gently pressed on her shoulders until she leaned back on her elbows on the bed, then joined her, lying next to her. He slid his hand between her legs, his soft fingertips digging into her warmth and stroking her sex up and down, before removing his hand and looking at his wet fingers. “This is different,” he said, examining his fingers.

Ava leaned on him, panting from his attention. She watched as he sampled her, long blue tongue coming out to lick his fingers, reminding her of the same way he’d tried her tears a few cycles ago.

Vox flashed purple briefly after tasting, then dragged his hand down to finger her once more, growling a guttural sound, eyes flashing. Ava threw her head back, feeling sensations she never had before. He made her feel desired. Like she was important. Like . . . Ava looked at him, his eyes gentle as they looked back . . . like she was loved.

His gaze bore into her, restating that truth without words. She reached up with her hand and ran her fingers lightly over the frills on his head. He leaned in to her touch before bending forward to push her back on the bed.

Ava had nothing to compare this to. It was not like the exploring she’d done with the other Human males. That was heated kisses and a few pets, unlike the want and need currently roiling through her. Nothing else mattered to her beyond this moment, beyond what she felt with him here right now. Ava closed her eyes and shuddered as he stroked between her legs. She focused on the sensation of his petting, longing for release, feeling a fire build within her.

“Vox . . .” she whispered, grinding down on his hand. He responded by growling her name out as well. She led his hand to where it felt the most intense, at the top of her sex, gasping when he connected with her clit. It was almost too much. Vox was a fast learner, recognizing where she was most sensitive and focusing his attention there. His other hand held her hip, keeping her in place as he explored.

He hummed and removed his hand from her clit before repositioning himself to kiss along her collarbone. She whimpered at the loss of contact from his hand. Ava placed her hands on his head as he trailed his kisses down lower.

“I will have you, Ava,” Vox said before nudging her so her legs spread wider.

Before she could speak in response, his head slipped between her legs and the electrical feeling connected directly to her clit. Several strokes later she felt herself come, her body shaking with unfamiliar sensations. Vox lapped it up, not stopping as Ava fell apart, her hands reaching around his frilled head, lightly scratching. She was unable to make sense of the ecstasy flowing through her.

She pushed back slightly, hands on his shoulders, feeling oversensitive. He flushed purple again, not allowing her out of his grasp. “That was . . .” she started, breathless. When she explored herself it never felt like this. Pleasurable, yes, but nowhere near this intensity.

Ava wet her lips, breath uneven. Vox stared down at her, savoring her reactions with a smug expression. She never knew she could feel like that. The Human information data did not have the reaction she just experienced in it. She understood the mechanics, but actually experiencing it? Her sex throbbed from the release.

Ava wanted him. Her mind was blank of any other thoughts. Her body was loose. She wanted all of him, her thoughts possessive. She reached down to grasp his shaft firmly, and Vox got up on the bed, moving closer to allow her access, smiling at her boldness.

He was shaped like the Human males she had seen before. The major difference was the loose skin surrounding his penis that was pulled back now to expose the head. The tip was also different, with a lubricant coming out from its sides instead of on top.

Vox groaned a guttural sound as she explored, rubbing him and watching the reactions it elicited.

He felt smooth in her palm, the lubricant coming off from the sides tinted blue like the rest of him. The excess skin at the base felt like silk balled up under her fingers. He shuddered as she rubbed her hands along it, feeling the texture. Ava smiled at his reaction, feeling powerful to evoke such a response.

“Your scent has changed again. You are ready now,” Vox said, softly. His eyes focused on her intently.

In response, Ava scooted up on the bed with Vox following, her hand taken off him to push herself back to make room for them both to stretch out. “Yes, Vox.” She made grasping motions with her hands, wanting him, but also unsure about how he would fit inside of her. Through her lust, she felt a touch of apprehension at the thought of them joining. He slid himself between her legs and lifted them higher.

“Vox . . . wait,” Ava said quickly. She placed her hand on his chest.

Vox held her legs, looking down at her. “Little bird, it is difficult to hold back now,” he said in a strained voice.

“There is a . . . I haven’t done this before. My mother told me it hurts the first time,” Ava stammered, suddenly shy. She wanted this, but also was afraid. He looked too large to be able to fit inside her completely.

Vox backed his body down from where his shaft was positioned at her entrance. He instead sat with her legs on either side of him and put his long fingers inside of her instead. He probed her entrance while Ava mewed from the intrusion. It felt so right as he curled his fingers deep inside.

“There is a barrier here,” he said softly. “I read about that as well. That must break when I enter.” He continued curling his fingers inside of her. “I do not want to hurt you.”

Ava nodded, trying to remember what else her mother said. “I want to try.”

“I will go slowly,” Vox stated, a bit uncertainly, rising to position himself at her entrance again. Ava grasped him firmly with her legs, wrapping them around his waist, his warmth heating the inside of her thighs.

Ava tensed up. Vox hummed to sooth her while pushing himself inside. His lubricant combined with hers to take the sting out, overfilling her. Her sex gripped him hard, closing around him. Unable to think coherently, she clenched the sheets in her fingers as he entered her.

He paused, but Ava pulled on him to continue. She felt the sting as he went until he was fully seated, but didn’t react besides a small whimper.

He slowly rutted into her, and the stinging feeling gave way to more heated pleasure. Ava let out more mewing sounds as the feelings took on a different intensity. The sensation built inside her again until Vox found his release and she felt a warmth bloom inside of her. His body shuddered, heavy on hers even though he had propped himself up on his elbows.

She could feel his twin hearts pounding into her chest. Only when he withdrew did Ava see that his seed was dripping from her. Ava watched his shaft enclose back in the loose skin that had surrounded it before. There was also some blood, bright red, from her left on the sheets. She leaned forward to inspect the area.

“I have hurt you,” he said, hesitantly. His voice sounded tired, spent. He leaned heavily on the bed with one arm, the other stroking up and down her side.

Ava shook her head. She felt the opposite of being in pain right now. “I am not hurt. Just a bit sore.”

Vox touched the blood that stained the sheet on the bed under her. “Our life. It is red as well,” he said, thoughtfulness on his face.

Ava ignored the blood, noticing instead that his shaft seemed to have completely disappeared. In her haze, she reached forward to cup his nether area to see how it was now smooth across the top and looked up at him in wonderment.

“It is silly for such a vital organ to be exposed all the time as it is on your males, isn’t it? In this way, I think Vorbax are superior.” He sounded smug.

Ava grinned, then laughed, feeling an ache between her legs at the movement. “I think you’re superior in a lot of ways.” She got closer to him. “I care about you, Vox . . .” She checked herself internally, feeling her emotions swirling inside. It would hurt to lose him, and she had no regrets over letting him in. She gripped his arms tight and buried her face in his chest.

Vox hummed, moving her to lay on his chest and shoulders and leisurely began to play with her hair. Ava relaxed, noting he was glowing and calming her again. They stayed that way, resting, taking a moment before duty and action would need to happen.

“As I do you, Ava.” He rested one arm under his head, the other abandoning her hair to stroke down her side.

In the calm, Ava explored his alien body, and Vox did the same to hers. They coupled again a second time before Ava felt truly exhausted, her body resting on Vox and falling into a haze. Her sex was sore, but she felt . . . satisfied.

Vox moved under her, moving her hair and speaking into her ear. “I won’t give you up, Ava. This mission . . . after it is done, we will not part again.”

Ava relaxed into his words, feeling the determination behind them. Suddenly, she remembered. “What about your contract? With the Vorbax female?”

“Another will fulfill it. I will take you as mine. We will see what compatibility truly means for our species.” Vox stroked her hair again, grabbing the silken strands between his fingers.

Ava nodded, unsure about the compatibility part but not wanting to be anywhere other than here. She snuggled up next to him, secure in his arms, and let herself rest. No sedative would be needed this cycle, not with her exhausted from their activities and him soothing her.

“While you sleep, may I see your dreams?” Vox questioned, stroking her hair.

“Lirell told you about that, didn’t he?”

“He shouldn’t know more about you than I do.”

Ava chuckled into his chest over his possessive tone, listening to his twin heartbeats drum under her cheek. Her legs entwined with his. “Yes you can. I hope they are as amusing to you as they were to him.”

“He found it more fascinating than amusing.”

Ava fell asleep that way, in Vox’s arms with him gently tugging on her hair, still sore between her legs. She felt truly seen and wanted for the first time. It was hard not to dream that, after they finished their mission, this could be what her life would be like going forward.