CHAPTER 23

Nitiel accelerated to the maximum speed allowed upon takeoff. He couldn't wait to get out of the station and into open space. He always thought more clearly when surrounded by stars from all sides. And he needed to think clearly now more than ever, after what he had done.

He slowed down as he maneuvered around the station's maintenance shuttles, the vibrations of his fighter's powerful engines decreasing to a gentle purr. That was when he heard it.

Knocking. On the door behind him.

There was someone in the small storage space between the engines and the cockpit. Someone whose knocking turned into pounding when he didn't respond.

Nitiel turned on the autopilot, clear of the space station as he now was, and stood up to unlock the door. He was very confused: how could there be someone aboard? Who could it be?

"Loe?!"

The reason for his unauthorized flight stood on the other side of the door, hair sticking in odd directions, formal blue dress rumpled, and an expression more fiery than he had ever seen it. As he stood there, speechless and staring, Loe crossed her arms over chest and leveled him with her gaze.

"Told you you're not getting rid of me yet, Subcommander."

"Loe, what on Gaenthia are you doing here? How did you–"

"I could ask you the same thing, Nitiel. What are you doing here, when you were supposed to be resting in the medical bay?"

"I–I–"

"More importantly, how could you lie to me? You said you'd be sleeping, yet here you are!"

"I did not lie!" Nitiel's wings drew in at the preposterous claim. "I planned to get some more sleep, but I couldn't. Not in the medical bay, and not in my cabin. I was too restless to even stay in bed."

She did not look impressed. "So, you decided to fly to Earth?"

"What? I'm not going to Terra."

"Fine, you're going someplace else. That doesn't change the fact you're running away, Nitiel."

He scratched his horn nub, perplexed and growing nervous under her stormy gaze. "What are you talking about?"

She rolled her eyes. "Come on, cut the act. I caught you. I found the courage to slide down a dark chute, not knowing there would be an onboard jelly pad to catch me at the end, and you're too chicken to admit it."

He blinked. "Admit what?"

Loe threw her hands up. "That you were afraid to face me after the ball, so you ran to your ship the first chance you got! Still recovering from a dangerous wound, lacking the Commander's permission to leave, and yet headed who knows where so you wouldn't have to talk to me ever again!"

Nitiel was rendered speechless. By her accusation, by her sharp tone growing shakier by the second, and by the wetness pooling in her eyes.

"If I had left the ball mere seconds later, I would have missed you! You would have slipped away without a single word. I thought that after what we shared in the Arboretum – after everything we have shared since Earth – you would at least say goodbye to me. But no. I don't even get a goodbye note. A goodbye wave. Nothing!"

He balled his hands into fists, lest he reach for Loe and wrap her in his wings to comfort her. "If you believe me capable of such cowardice, why did you come after me?"

"What? Well…" She huffed. "Because unlike you, I don't run away from my feelings. I don't turn my back on what I want. On who I want."

Fire erupted in his groin. This female. So brave and bold… "I am not running away, Loe. Not to Terra or anywhere else."

"Um… Uh… You're not?"

"No. I got on the ship for a short flight. To clear my head."

"But–But your wound–Your leg–"

"I feel well. The doctor confirmed I could leave the bed. He said no flying with my wings, but I needed to be on my own and fly, so here I am."

"To clear your head?" she asked tentatively.

Nitiel nodded.

"Why?"

He took a deep breath. "Because I had to find the right words to say to you. And because I needed some time on my own to strengthen my resolve."

"Oh." She bit her bottom lip then laughed nervously. "Oops."

Oopswas right. Because now Loe was here, and his resolve was as weak as when he had last seen her.

No, it was even weaker, because he had her on his ship, where no one could see them. Or interrupt them.

Loe must have read something on his face, because she took a step back. Like a prey that had just sensed a predator closing in. "Maybe I should leave?"

"Too late."

She squeaked as he caught her by the waist and pulled her against him, his wings closing around her. Then he crashed his lips to hers.

Loe melted against him. Her surrender made him lose his last shred of control, the reasons why he had to stop himself scattered like dust in the vastness of space.

Nitiel devoured her mouth, greedy for her taste, and she sucked on his tongue just as hungrily. The little vixen bit his bottom lip, eliciting a growl out of him. His hands roaming her lithe figure gripped her ass and lifted her up until she straddled his waist. His bad hip protested but he paid it no mind. He could think only of Loe and making her scream his name as ecstasy swept over her.

He carried her into the storage space and laid her down onto the soft gel of the landing pad. Loe gasped as he covered her, his large body enveloping her small frame.

He had enough brains left to stop and pull back. "Did I hurt you?"

"No! I was simply surprised by how it feels to have you on top."

"Badly surprised?"

"No, you silly." She gripped him by the uniform and pulled him back down. "It's wonderful. You pin me down so good. Can't wait to feel your feathers against my skin–"

Nitiel stole her words with a hard kiss. If she kept talking like that, he would blow his load in his uniform. He could not disappoint her. Not now, not ever.

"I will kiss every inch of your soft skin, Loe," he whispered as he kissed and nipped his way down her neck. Her dress was on the verge of scandalous, the cleavage at least four fingers deeper than what was proper. Lady Trixie clearly liked breaking the rules of propriety, but right now Nitiel was grateful to her for the easy access the dress provided. He licked the line where Loe's breasts met, and she shivered under him. "I will rip this bodice off you and feast on your taut little nipples. They are taut for me, are they not?"

"Yes!"

"I'll suck them deep into my mouth, Loe." He nipped at the bouncy flesh just over the dress, and was awarded with a moan from his female. Her blunt claws dug into his biceps, spurring him on. "I'll lick and tease the little buds until you're begging me for release. And I'll give it to you." He locked eyes with her from over her cleavage. "I can deny you nothing, my Loe."

"Fuck." She cupped his face and tugged him up until their lips connected once more. Then she whispered, "I need you now, Nitiel. Please." She rubbed her lower body against his hardness. "Take me now."

He gritted his teeth. "I must prepare you first. I've read that wetness is needed."

A choked laugh escaped her. "There is much wetness, I assure you. Your words alone nearly undid me. Please, I want you inside me!"

Nitiel would not make her beg again. It took him some time to find the bottom layer of her puffy skirt as he lay on top of Loe, but once he did, he pushed the whole thing up until he touched the soft material keeping her sweetness from him.

"Don't rip them," she panted. "Here." She helped him push the scrap of fabric to the side without him having to move off her. Which was good, because he could not find the strength to part with her touch even for a second.

He reached between their bodies and dipped a finger inside his Loe. She was truly wet. For him. He groaned at the feel of how tight she was.

"Nitiel, enough teasing!"

He brought his wet finger to her clit and circled the little bundle of pleasure. Loe squirmed. "You're sure? I will not cause you pain? Should I not make you come with my tongue and fingers at least twice first?"

A cute growl came from his female. "Get that uniform off, or I will be doing some ripping!"

Nitiel chuckled. He would love to see that, but not now when they were both too desperate to become one. They had waited long enough.

He passed a hand over his groin and the fabric opened, letting his cock spring free. They both groaned as it came in contact with Loe's clit. He gave an experimental thrust.

"Oh, God!"

He thrust again, his cock sliding between Loe's pussy lips and rubbing against her clit. "Goddess… It feels so good…"

"My God, Nitiel, you're pierced?

He paused and looked up at her face. Loe was staring at his cock, wide-eyed. "Is that a problem? Every Gaenthian male gets pierced upon the start of adulthood… Loe?"

She gulped and looked away from his cock to meet his concerned gaze. "You mark the end of puberty by getting a Jacob's Ladder?!"

Goddess, he had ruined everything. He didn't know what a Jacob's Ladder was, but it was obvious Loe was in shock at the sight of the six piercings along the underside of his shaft. A male was supposed to bring his female bliss, not fear. Hot shame made his wings draw back. "Forgive me. I'll stop and–"

"No!" She caught him by the hand before he could pull back. "Don't you dare! I want to feel your pierced purple cock, Nitiel. On me, inside me, everywhere!"

"Truly?"

She looked at his cock again, determination in her eyes, and licked her lips. "Oh, yeah."

Both of his hearts soared. "Then I won't stop, Loe. Not until your wetness is coating every inch of my cock."

She still wrapped her thighs around him to lock their bodies together. As if he would try to leave now.

He began thrusting anew, making sure the metal balls along his shaft rubbed around Loe's clit at every move. She dug her fingers and heels into him, as if holding for dear life. Her mewls told him what he needed to know. He sped his thrusts up.

A moment later, his Loe came apart in his arms. The sight of her undone and his name a reverent whisper on her lips was his undoing.

Nitiel slid inside Loe with a hard thrust, sheeting himself fully. She was that wet for him. They both moaned.

The feel of her enveloping him was exquisite. Beyond his best wet dreams. A feeling he would never get enough of.

He gripped Loe's thighs and began moving like a Gaenthian possessed.

"Yes, just like that!" she urged him on. "The stretch–So good!"

He took her hard, like the beast that he truly was, and she met him every step of the way. His Loe.

"You're mine," he growled, and sat back on his heels so he could watch how she took his cock. Perfect. She was perfect. "Mine!"

"Only if you're mine too!" she panted, her eyes on their locked bodies.

"Then mark me!" Nitiel spoke between gritted teeth. He was very, very close, but he had to hold on. "Come all over my cock, Loe."

"Oh, fuck… I'm going to– Aaahh!"

She screamed as the ultimate pleasure overtook her. The look of rapture on her face and her pussy convulsing around him proved too much for Nitiel. He came with a roar, his wings opening wide as the ecstasy tore through him.

When he came about, he found himself on the pad next to Loe, an arm and wing wrapped around her instinctively. She was beaming at him.

He grinned back.

The onboard alarm blared.