6. Alyssa

CHAPTER 6

ALYSSA

" A nd then the Odex fighters realized that their capital gunship wasn't giving backup anymore," Raaj says gesturing with his hands. "And they turned tail and ran. So fast that you'd have thought they had jetpacks!"

I clap my hands and laugh. Raaj laughs.

I haven't seen him loosen up like this since…well, ever.

He's made tremendous progress since he's been back.

I wipe tears of laughter from my eyes, savoring this moment of levity with Raaj. It's been so long since I've seen him this relaxed, this... human. The spark in his eyes reminds me of happier times, and suddenly I'm transported back to my childhood.

"You know, Raaj," I say, leaning back in my chair, "your story reminds me of growing up with the Admiral. Talk about high-pressure situations."

Raaj raises an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Oh? Do tell."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Picture this: I'm twelve years old, and Dad decides it's time for me to learn how to pilot a shuttle. Not a simulator, mind you. A real, honest-to-god shuttle."

"He didn't," Raaj says, eyes widening.

"Oh, he did. So there I am, barely tall enough to see over the controls, and he's barking orders like we're on the bridge of a battlecruiser. 'Check your altitude, Alyssa!' 'Mind that debris field!' As if I knew what half of it meant."

Raaj leans forward, clearly invested. "How'd you manage?"

"Well, let's just say the shuttle survived. Mostly." I grin, remembering the chaos. "I nearly clipped the docking bay on the way back in. Dad's face turned so red I thought he might pop a blood vessel. But you know what? The moment we were safely landed, he turned to me and said, 'Not bad for a first try, kiddo.'"

"Sounds like quite the character," Raaj muses.

I nod, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips. "That's the Admiral for you. Tough as nails, but... he has his moments. Like this one time, I must've been about fifteen..."

As I launch into another story, I can't help but notice how attentively Raaj listens. There's something in his eyes – a mix of fascination and... is that longing? It occurs to me that I know so little about his own childhood. I make a mental note to ask him about it someday, when he's ready.

For now, though, I'm just happy to see him engaged, present in the moment. It feels like a breakthrough, however small. And as I continue regaling him with tales of my unconventional upbringing, I can't shake the feeling that we're building something here – a connection, a friendship. Maybe even something more.

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of memories pressing down on me. "You know, Raaj, Horus IV wasn't my first brush with danger, but it was... different."

Raaj nods, his eyes focused on me with an intensity that both comforts and unnerves me.

"I had this friend, Kira. She was a journalist, fearless to a fault. Always chasing the next big story." I pause, swallowing hard. "She convinced me to go with her to Baragon. Said it'd be a quick in-and-out job."

"Let me guess," Raaj says softly, "it wasn't."

I shake my head. "Not even close. We were supposed to stay behind the front lines, but Kira... she couldn't resist getting closer. She said the real story was in the trenches."

My voice catches, and I feel Raaj's hand on mine. It's warm, comforting.

"We got separated in the chaos. By the time I found her..." I trail off, unable to finish.

"I'm so sorry, Alyssa," Raaj murmurs.

I squeeze his hand, grateful for the support. "It's why I do this now. Every life I can save, every person I can help recover... it's for her."

Raaj is quiet for a moment, then says, "I understand more than you know." He takes a shaky breath. "I had a brother once. He was... he was a good man."

I listen intently as Raaj tells me about his brother standing up to Odex raiders who were trying to assault a woman. The pain in his voice is raw, real.

"They killed him for it," Raaj finishes, his jaw clenched. "Just like that. One good deed, and..."

"I'm so sorry," I whisper, echoing his earlier words.

We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of our shared grief hanging between us.

"You know," I say finally, "sometimes I wonder if it'll ever end. All this killing, all this pain."

Raaj nods slowly. "The galaxy's seen too much of it, that's for sure."

"Yeah," I agree, feeling a strange mix of sadness and hope. "But maybe... maybe that's why what we do matters. Every life saved, every person helped..."

"It's a start," Raaj finishes for me.

I smile at him, feeling a connection I can't quite explain. "It's a start," I echo.

The cool metal of the door handle feels strangely comforting against my skin as Raaj and I walk back to my quarters in silence, the echo of our shared confessions still hanging in the air. There's a new intimacy between us now, a bond forged in the fires of our pasts.

Raaj stops at my door, his eyes lingering on mine for a moment longer than necessary. "Thank you, Alyssa," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "For sharing your stories with me. It... means a lot."

I smile, warmth spreading through my chest. "Anytime, Raaj. You're not alone anymore, you know."

He nods, a hint of vulnerability flashing across his face before he masks it with a small, appreciative smile. "Goodnight, Alyssa."

"Goodnight," I reply, and watch as he turns and walks away, his steps steady but his posture still betraying a hint of the burden he carries.

I enter my quarters and the door slides shut behind me with a soft hiss. The room is bathed in the soft glow of the ambient lighting, casting long shadows across the spartan furnishings. I kick off my boots and peel off my uniform, letting it pool around my ankles before stepping out of it. The cool air of the room raises goosebumps on my skin as I make my way to the bed.

Lying back on the firm mattress, I stare up at the ceiling, my mind replaying the events of the evening. Raaj's laughter, his attentive listening, the understanding in his eyes... it all makes my heart flutter with a mixture of admiration and desire. He's everything I didn't know I needed – strong, alpha, handsome, and with a depth to his soul that's captivating.

The sheets feel cool against my overheated skin as I let my thoughts drift to Raaj. I imagine the warmth of his touch, the strength in his arms, the way his eyes would darken with desire if he were here with me. A slow ache begins to build within me, a yearning that demands to be sated.

I slide my hand down my body, fingers tracing the contours of my curves. My breath hitches as I imagine it's Raaj's hand exploring me, caressing me with a tenderness that belies his rugged exterior. My nipples harden at the thought, and I cup my breast, teasing the sensitive peak with my thumb.

A soft moan escapes my lips as I slip my other hand between my thighs, finding the slick evidence of my arousal. I imagine Raaj's reaction, the groan of approval he'd let out upon discovering how much I want him. I circle my clit with my fingers, the rhythmic motion driving me closer to the edge.

"Raaj," I whisper into the empty room, the sound of his name on my lips sending a shiver down my spine. My hips buck as I increase the pressure, the pleasure building to a crescendo.

The first orgasm hits me hard and fast, my body tensing as waves of ecstasy crash over me. But it's not enough – I want more, need more. I continue to touch myself, each stroke of my fingers reigniting the fire within me.

I come again, and then again, each climax more intense than the last. My body is alive with sensation, every nerve ending singing with pleasure. And throughout it all, it's Raaj's face I see, his name I cry out, lost in the throes of passion.

Spent and sated, I finally still my hands, my breathing ragged as I come down from the high. I lie there in the quiet of my room, a small smile playing on my lips as I revel in the afterglow.

Raaj has no idea what he does to me, how he consumes my thoughts. But in this moment, none of that matters. All that matters is the connection we share, the unspoken promise of what could be if only we allow ourselves to reach for it.

With a contented sigh, I roll onto my side and close my eyes, the image of Raaj's smile the last thing I see before drifting off to sleep.