Chapter 23
Brook was a second away from slapping at random buttons on the console, or what passed for buttons. There were all manner of controls: switches, toggles, levers, rolling balls, and several kinds she'd never seen before. Lights flashed here and there on every surface. She thought the floor might even have control panels installed.
Panic jumped into her throat and lodged itself there. She was thankful, since the constriction made it so she couldn't scream. First her crew had been taken from her, now her ship, and to drop a cherry on the shit sundae, she was a captive on the enemy’s ship and headed into the unknown.
Brook wanted to tear her hair out in frustration. Instead, she forced herself to try and figure out the controls, attempting to ignore the very large and very agitated male by her side.
His skin was so dark it shone in the myriad lights of the craft. His face was contorted into a mask of rage, his eyes slits, his smile a rictus of clenched teeth and tightened musculature. He looked ready to explode.
She only prayed she wasn't in the area when it happened.
Unfortunately, it didn't look like she'd be leaving the area anytime soon to get to safety. Brook needed to calm him down. It was a matter of self-preservation.
First, she took a few deep breaths of her own. They'd never be able to figure out the controls if they couldn't think straight. She concentrated on her breathing. In. Out.
She circled around Ontarii so that she came up from behind him. Taking a risk, she pressed her front to his back, enjoying the feel of his smooth skin pressed against her cheek.
Her arms wrapped around his chest and she held him tight. "Breathe with me," she said, couching her voice low. Then she took a deep breath. In. Out.
He stiffened when she'd first touched him, but after a few breaths she could feel his muscles unclench. He relaxed by degrees, his breathing coming into sync with hers. She held him, breathing in, breathing out, calming him, soothing him.
She began to remove her arms after several moments, but his hands came up and held them in place. Brook smiled against his back, happy to be touching him, to be holding him. They stood there, arms entwined, as the minutes passed slowly.
"Do you think there is any way to determine which of these controls is the navigation?" She tried to keep her voice calm and low.
"I've tried to find a display with coordinates, but I don't see anything familiar. We've never captured any Hareema technology. Your Earth controls are accessible to us because we'd had schematics of your ships, and besides, they aren't anywhere near as advanced as our own vessels."
He pointed out a few controls that loomed above his head. "That could be some kind of navigational display, but for all I know it could operate the waste disposal unit. Either way, it doesn't matter because I'd need to grow another two feet to be able to reach it."
His face began to tighten again as the futility of their efforts overwhelmed him. In a minute, all her work would be undone if he became agitated again. She had to do something fast to distract him from his rage.
But what? She didn't have time to think of anything that wasn't another useless question that would only further upset him.
So she did the only thing she could think of to do.
She kissed him.
Brook grabbed his head, burying her fingers in his soft tendrils, and pulling his head down to her. She pressed her lips against his, hard, holding tightly to him.
He growled against her mouth, but gave in readily to her advancement. One moment he was stone, the next second he was molding her against his hot skin. Not wasting a moment, Brook wrapped her arms around his neck and hopped upward, wrapping her legs around his waist. It was the only way to get close enough to him, to be on his level.
He slid his hands down her back, cupping her butt tightly as he licked at her mouth. The deep grunts that left him were beyond sensual. She just needed a momentary way to calm him down, but now that she was latched to the front of him, she didn’t want to let go.
His teeth nipped at her bottom lip, and she moaned. He teased her with his warm tongue, licking her full bottom lip, then around her top, then back to her bottom before sliding deep inside of her, staking his claim on her.
His cock pressed against her, the thick shape under his sarong so prominent and stunning. Almost deserving of worship.
Brook lowered her feet to the floor as Ontarii let out a groan of frustration and tried to follow her with his lips. She deflected, giving him a kiss on the cheek before dropping to her knees.
With his assistance, she was able to pull off his sarong, baring his majestic body. She couldn't get enough of him, and though it wasn’t the right time, it never would be.
He was onyx perfection, his well-formed muscles flexing, his flawless skin shining. His erection twitched as she ran her hands up his thick thighs and let out a content sound. He was beautiful and she wanted him to be hers in a way that didn’t make much sense.
His fingers slid into her hair as he watched her intently from above her. “Taste me, Jennifer.”
Warmth buzzed through her and she nodded before leaning in and kissing the thick head of his cock. “Yeah. I want to.”
Ontarii let out a groan that echoed around the small confines of the ship. Brook's eyes moved from his body to his face, making sure that she hadn’t somehow hurt him. His gaze met hers and she found intense hunger there. Without hesitation she returned her mouth to his magnificent cock, running her tongue up the length of him.
