27. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Faelin

Nala wants to talk, which is probably wise, even though I’d much rather we had sex first. I can’t wait to be inside her again. To claim her body and soul over and over again, inside and out. Because Nala is mine. So is the little angel stuffing her mouth with a surprising amount of food. And by default, apparently, so too is the odd little animal Nala picked up on the Arcade.

While the three of them feast on the food that I’d brought, I activate the ship’s AI interface on the nearby screen in my room. “Cai? Can you identify the animal currently in my quarters?”

Pictures of several different animals pop up on the screen, but none of them are an exact match for Fluffy, as Ellen aptly named the creature. “I’m afraid this particular species isn’t in my database,” the AI responds, sounding almost apologetic. Its behavior is getting weirder by the day, but if D’Aakh says it’s fine, who am I to judge?

“Can you at least determine if it’s dangerous?” I ask, casting a nervous glance over my shoulder. Fluffy seems friendly and is clearly house-trained, doing his business in a box Nala assigned him in the bathroom. But I still worry, especially when he playfully nips at Ellen’s arms or legs.

“Since I’m unable to determine the creature’s exact species, I can’t say whether it’s dangerous with certainty,” Cai replies. “However, it displays behavioral patterns documented in domesticated felines, canines, and primates. It seems to have a good understanding of social structures and recognizes Nala and Ellen as a part of its pack. Therefore, I can only conclude that it’s unlikely to deliberately harm them.”

I rub my forehead, trying to extract anything remotely useful from Cai’s words. “So, you’re basically saying that they’re probably safe, but you’re only guessing based on a handful of traits exhibited by other species? Great.” I’d much rather get rid of the animal altogether and guarantee both of my females remain completely safe, not just “probably”, but seeing how attached Ellen is to the creature already, I immediately give up on the idea. I’ll just have to watch Fluffy closely and make sure he never hurts either of them.

“I am sorry that I cannot give you a more precise answer, Faelin. I do believe that the reason the animal isn’t in my database is that it’s an artificially created hybrid. The gene splicing technology—”

“Fluffy is a high bird too?” Ellen asks, smooching the poor animal. “Mama, look! The computer said Fluffy is a high bird!”

Nala smiles at her warmly. “I heard her, chipmunk. Now, please, stop squeezing Fluffy so hard. He doesn’t like it and you could hurt him.”

“Oh.” Ellen drops the animal like it’s a piece of hot metal. It bounces off the floor and jumps straight back into the girl’s arms. Even though it looks like a furry lizard with an extra set of short legs, it’s surprisingly agile. Ellen hugs him again. “See? He’s okay!”

A soft chime announces someone is at the door. I don’t miss how Nala tenses up and moves to sit closer to Ellen. “It’s alright,” I reassure her before opening the door.

Astra peeks inside, smiling at us. “Hey guys! Cai told me you were awake. I brought some extra clothes, a hairbrush, and some other things girls might need that Faelin probably doesn’t have in this lair of his.”

“Thank you. That’s incredibly kind of you,” Nala responds, her smile a little stiff. I wonder what she’s worried about?

“No problem.” Astra sets the package on the cabinet by the door and waves her hand dismissively. “As you’ve probably noticed, we don’t have any child-sized clothing, but we’ll get some the next time we stop at a station.”

Nala shifts uncomfortably, avoiding Astra’s look. “Thank you,” she repeats quietly.

“I was thinking I could show Ellen around the ship,” Astra says, then winks. “So you guys could…you know, ‘talk’. I’m sure we can find something fun to do.”

Nala puts her arm around Ellen’s shoulders and pulls the girl closer to her. “I…I’m not sure…”

Her panic tears at my heart. I crouch before her, taking her free hand into mine. “It’s alright, Nala. We can all just stay here until you feel more comfortable.”

“But I want to go,” Ellen says, trying to squirm out of Nala’s grip. “Can I, Mama? I want to see the ship! Pleaaase.”

Torn, Nala looks between Astra and I, tears welling in her eyes. “Ellen is safe here,” I reassure her.

“Yep,” Astra chimes in. “With six Voidstalkers on board, this ship is the safest place in the entire galaxy. And I did some babysitting in high school. I know how to keep a four-year-old alive.”

“I know, I know,” Nala whispers, squeezing her eyes shut. “I’m just…”

“Mama,” Ellen whines. “You’re squeezing me.”

With a grimace, Nala lets go of Ellen. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. You can go and have fun. Just please, be careful, okay?”

With a cheerful yippee, Ellen rushes toward the door wearing one of Lyriana’s spare shirts. It hangs off her body like an oversized sack but it was the best I could find on such short notice. I vow to buy her a whole wardrobe the next time we stop somewhere civilized.

Astra squeezes Nala’s hand. “She’ll be fine, I promise. I’ll take her to the infirmary so Nikolai can check everything is alright with her and then we’ll have some fun. I’ll have my comm with me. You can call whenever you want, okay?”

“Thank you.” This time, Nala’s smile is sincere, even if it is still teary. “I know I can’t keep her with me forever, but after everything…”

“I understand completely. Like I said, call me. Even if you just want to make sure she’s okay. I’m not trying to lure her away from you, I just figured you two might need some alone time. I’ll bring her back in a couple of hours, tops.”

The moment the door closes, Nala bursts into tears. I pull her into my arms, holding her trembling body close to mine. “Do you want me to call them back?” I ask, desperate to help but not knowing how.

“N-no. No. Ellen wanted to go and I know she’ll be safe, I’m just…” She wipes away her tears. “I’m sorry, I don’t normally cry this much. I just feel like…I don’t know. Stretched too thin? That doesn’t make sense, does it? It’s just too much. Overwhelming. Anyway.” She moves away and I let go of her, albeit reluctantly. “We do need to talk.”

I smile, mustering up every ounce of my confidence to remain calm. If Nala says she doesn’t want to be with me, I’ll respect her decision, even if it crushes my very soul. “Say what you need to say, Nala. Just know that I’m always here for you, no matter what.”

More tears roll down her cheeks. “You’re like a dream come true,” she chuckles through the tears. “I want to be with you, Faelin. I do.”

“But?” I ask, unsure whether I want to hear the rest.

“But I need you to know what you’re getting into,” Nala sighs. “I have a daughter and she will always come first. Always. I like you a lot, but you will never be the most important person in my life. Having a child is not easy. There will be more wet beds and sleepless nights and tantrums about food and clothes and toys and…well, pretty much about anything. It’s a responsibility that lasts an entire life.

“I don’t want to sound patronizing, I’m sure you already know all of this and so far, you’ve been nothing but amazing with Ellen. I just don’t want you to agree to anything without knowing all of the facts first.”

I huff out a laugh, pulling her back on my lap. “My dear Nala. I made that decision a long time ago and nothing will make me change my mind. I want to be with both of you, in the good times and the bad. Wet beds and sleepless nights don’t bother me. I just want to keep you both safe and happy. But…I don’t want you to be with me because you think you owe me. I know I said that you’re mine, but that doesn’t mean I’ll force you into a relationship. You don’t owe me anything and you are free to do whatever you want. If you wish to start over somewhere else, I’ll support you with all that I have.”

To my relief, Nala shakes her head. “I don’t want to leave. And not just because we have nowhere else to go. I want to stay with you. But Faelin, I don’t have anything. Even the clothes I’m wearing don’t belong to me and I have no way to pay for them. I can’t pay you back what I stole. I gave most of it to someone who was supposed to help us escape from Farpoint Gateway and the rest is still in Drayth’s house. I have no job, no qualifications. Are you sure you want to be tied to a loser like me?”

“Yes,” I whisper, silencing her protests with a kiss. “You are the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me, Nala. I will provide for all of us. If you want to work, we can find you something to do later, but it’s not necessary. Right now, I just need to be with you. Have we talked enough yet?”

“Yes,” Nala echoes, melting into my embrace. “I just needed to say those things before we take this further. But if you’re okay with everything, I’m more than ready for you to fuck my brains out.”

Nala’s brazenness shatters the last bit of my control. Pressing my mouth to hers, I start kissing her deeply, desperately, wanting to claim her body in every possible way. She welcomes my tongue with a moan that spurs me on.

As I ravage Nala’s mouth, my hands roam all over her delectable body, learning every single curve. She shifts to sit astride my lap, making me groan as she slides over my aching cock. I reach down to undo my pants, but Nala swats my hands away, eagerly freeing my cock herself.

Her small hands are like ice against my feverishly hot skin. Running them over my hard length, my eyes roll back into my head. If she continues like this, I’ll explode on her stomach in a matter of seconds and I don’t want that. I want to be deep inside Nala when I come. I want to hear her cries of ecstasy first.

I lay Nala down on the bed, carelessly shoving the remains of the food onto the floor. Cleaning up is the last thing on my mind. The only thing my mind can focus on is lying right in front of me, tantalizingly close, but still hidden behind the fabric of Nala’s borrowed pants.

“Take your clothes off,” I command, practically panting with need. The only reason I haven’t torn the fabric apart is that she doesn’t have anything else to wear, and she’s already feeling bad about having to borrow other people’s clothes. Getting desperate, I add, “Now.”

Nala’s smile is teasing me as she proceeds to undress. Slowly, inch by inch, she slides her pants down her long luscious thighs but by the time she has them gathered by her ankles I lose any semblance of patience and yank them off her feet. She giggles at my clear impatience but, as I slide my own body up between her legs, I discover she’s already wet for me.

Resting my body between Nala’s thighs, I’m eager for a taste of her again. Right before my tongue touches her beautiful pussy, I hesitate, remembering how she said she doesn’t like to be licked. “May I?” I ask, certain I will explode with need if she denies me.

“I’ll kill you if you don’t,” she rasps, grabbing my hair and pressing my face between her folds. Her thighs clench around my head as I lick, kiss and suck myself into a frenzy. The feeling is clearly mutual as Nala moans and whimpers along with me incoherently. I’m probably moaning too, I can’t even tell. I’m so lost in her scent and her taste has suddenly become my whole world.

I push a finger inside, curling to reach that sensitive spot that sent Nala spinning last time. Her moans grow louder, her body jerking under me. “Oh, Faelin… Oh god, please!”

I’m doubling my efforts, desperation building like an inferno with my sudden need to watch my perfection explode when Nala tugs my hair, forcing me away from my singular mission. “I need you inside,” she demands, panting. “Please, Faelin. I need to feel you deep inside. I need to feel your body on mine. To be surrounded by you. I need you.”

And in just those few words, my life’s mission has changed.

I may have wanted to make Nala come before entering her, but who am I to refuse my perfection? It would be criminal to ignore her desperate plea. Moving into a kneeling position, I push my aching cock inside just an inch, intending to take it slowly, but Nala is done waiting. Wrapping her legs around my waist, she raises her hips until she’s taking me in all at once.

“Oh, fuck, yes…” Nala moans, throwing her head back.

I lean down to her neck, gently nipping at the skin there to get her attention. “Look at me, Nala. I want to watch your eyes as you come. Keep looking at me.”

She obeys, her eyes finding mine and in them, I see everything. Her desire, her fear, her vulnerability. Her love.

As I begin to move my cock in and out, I slide one hand under Nala’s chest, pulling her closer. Holding her, surrounding her in my warmth, just like she asked. Just like she needs me to.

“Yes…please…” she whimpers desperately, her inner walls squeezing my cock harder and harder. “Faelin!”

Nala shouts my name like a prayer in the same way she often calls out to her deity. My chest swells with pride. “Yes, Nala. I’m here. I will always be here. You can let go.”

Overtaken by the need to pepper kisses all over my perfection’s neck, I adjust my position so that I can reach down to her shoulders, then back up under her ear without slowing my pace inside of her tight, wet pussy. Even when her core muscles squeeze my cock like a vise, I keep moving, making sure she rides her orgasm to the fullest before finally giving in to my own world shattering climax.

A lifetime later, as blood finally returns to my brain, I look down at the beautiful woman underneath me and I'm instantly smitten by her tender smile. “I love you,” she whispers, vulnerability in her eyes.

“I love you too, Nala. Never doubt it.”

Smiling, she cuddles into my chest as if she wants to crawl inside and become one with me. I wouldn’t stop her if she tried. “Thank you,” she whispers, “for not giving up on me. For being my sunshine. For existing.”

“I’ll never give up on you, my perfection. There’s no need to thank me for anything.” I wait for Nala to look at me before stealing a kiss, then I carefully roll us over so that she’s on top of me, my half-erect cock still nestled deep inside of her. “Do you want to check on Ellen now?”

Nala considers it for a moment, then shakes her head. “I love you for asking, but no. I’m sure she’s having fun and Astra would let us know if something happened, right?” she asks, her voice wavering a little at the last word.

“Yes, she would. Does it mean we have time for one more round?” My abdominal and ass muscles both clench at the thought of another round, making my cock jerk inside her.

“No.”

Nala savors my obvious disappointment before grinning devilishly. “We have time for several more rounds so we better use it to the fullest.”

Cheeky little minx. “You won’t hear me protesting,” I grin back at her.

“Obviously not, because I’ll be riding your face.”

Just the mental image of that has my cock hardening in record time. I pull Nala in for another kiss, then tell her, “I’m all yours, my perfection.”