He wanted to put down his project and eat, but he wasn't sure how close the pirates were. It was safer to keep working.
Maya chuckled. “I see the indecision in your eyes. Keep working. Your hands are covered in grease anyway. I’ll feed you.” She went into the package with the tongs, brought out a warmed and reconstituted morsel of food, and brought it to his lips.
Something that wasn’t hunger made his chest tighten. Did she know feeding each other was not only extremely intimate but also a part of their courtship? She must, because she seemed sofamiliar with his customs. And she’d mentioned living at Reka 5, which meant she lived with Talleans.
Reka 5 culture was different from the inner planets where he came from. They were a colony made up mostly of escaped Dominion slaves and rebels, heathens who did not believe in the Goddess and instead prayed to the Stars. He recalled Maya’s reaction at his mention of the Goddess.
Of course she had been disgusted. The Dominion conquered and enslaved entire planets, including her own, in the name of the Goddess.
“When I met you, did I pray to the Goddess?” he asked, hoping it wouldn’t upset her. But he needed to know.
“If you’re asking if you did your daily prayers, no. You didn’t even mention the Goddess once until you hit your head. You did call to the Stars a few times.”
“When?”
Maya cleared her throat, looking amused, then said, “When you were balls deep in me.”
Oh! Well, of course he had.
“I hate that I have no recollection of such wondrous pleasure. When we are safe again, my love, I would like to make new memories. Many of them.”
Redness tinged the warm earth tones of her skin for a fraction of a second.
He focused back on his work even as he searched his brain for the past. If she hadn’t changed his beliefs, then something else had. When he looked inside, he saw no love for the deity he’d once devoted his life to. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not remember it.
Maybe when they found his brother, he would tell him.
They continued this way, finishing their food as he put the final touches on the vehicle. Maya and Commander Chaos stood back as he tested the vehicle. It surged to life, and he did a quick drive around to test it before proclaiming it done. The tracks on them were already the kind that could traverse rough terrain.
If they brought the tools along and an extra change of batteries, it would get them to their station in no time. Especially since in the process of changing the belt, he had also removed the regulator that had kept these from going too fast.
“Come on, my love. Let’s get back to our ship.”
Chapter 19
Maya
Maya hung on tight as the alien work vehicle sped across the forest floor. It was a bumpy ride, but they were making good time. She was glad Ranek had insisted she sit between his legs with her back up against his broad chest. Because if she had been behind him, she was sure she would have already ended up as a pile on the ground. She could only hold on for so long before her arms gave out. Even now, she was having difficulty keeping Commander Chaos on her lap.
Ranek must have felt her struggling because the vehicle slowed. “Do you need a rest?” he asked as they passed a rock wall, which blocked the intense midday sun. Ugh! Why was it so damn sunny and hot on this planet?
“Yeah, my arm hurts. I’m tired, and Commander Chaos is getting lazy and leaning his whole weight on me. I don’t want to drop him. At least he seems to be okay with this novel way of traveling. I had no idea these work vehicles could go so fast.”
“They normally wouldn’t. But I removed the regulator. And I’m pushing this vehicle as hard as I can so we make good time.”
They settled by the rock wall, and Maya was glad for the shade it provided. If she recalled correctly, they were close to the mining station. The map had shown a rock formation leading right up to it. This large ledge must be it.
They shared some food and several packages of water. They were already climbing back into the vehicle when a sound had Maya whipping around, goosebumps tickling up her arm. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up at attention.
“Do you feel that?”
In her arms, Commander Chaos started to struggle, and this time, it wasn't out of curiosity. He was in full-on defense mode. But he was also terrified. He clung to Maya, his little claws digging painfully into her skin, but also growled, trying to sound as menacing as possible.
“Yes. We must go.”
Ranek helped her up, then got on behind her, legs astride the vehicle. Then they were off, pushing the poor work vehicle as fast as they could. The feeling of being watched followed her for a while, but no attacks came, and she soon relaxed.
Her heart rate never returned to normal, however, because pressed up to him, she could feel how the adrenaline had affected his body. His cock was a hard bar behind her back, and every fallen branch and rock they traversed had them bumping together. Her pussy also bumped up against the seat every so often, making it worse.
