“You are awfully dramatic,” said Iylene.
“You would be too if you were in my position. I have done more these past few days than in my entire life combined.” Zavir stood, two hands on his hips and two in his hair. “I thought the captain would run me ragged until the end of the tour, if I survived that long.”
“I could always change my mind,” came Roys’ voice from behind us.
Our captain had us all decked out, exoskin’s on with an extra pack of essentials per person. The shuttle hummed to life.
“No, sir, I understand the wrong I have done and greatly appreciate you disciplining me properly,” said Zavir.
Excuse me, the only person who got proper discipline here was me, thank you very much.
Roys had his visor on and darkened; otherwise, we probably would have seen him smiling. “Good. I'd better not have to do this again.”
“Absolutely not. The lesson has been learned.”
“Get on the shuttle. We’re heading out,” Roys ordered, and the three of us followed.
Korb and one mineralogist wanted to see the mountain they believed to be volcanic, most likely dormant. That meant I got to fly the shuttle, or rather, sit in the pilot seat because they usually had them on autopilot, but I couldpretendto fly the shuttle.
The cockpit door opened after Roys made sure everyone was settled. The door shut when he crashed into the copilot seat. He tugged off his visor to sit on the middle console next to mine. The exoskin hugged him in all the right ways, accentuating the muscles in his legs and thighs most of all.
“We’re good to go,” he said. “Keep autopilot on.”
"I thought watching me fly got you all hot and bothered." I double-checked the landing gear, then flipped on the holo screen to check the cabin and exterior. The engine lights blinked green, and the perimeter was safe for takeoff.
"It does." He gave me a slow once over that made me seriously question sucking him off on the ride there. "But that doesn't mean I trust you to fly, although seeing you going through all the checks is making me feel better."
“I am not interested in getting blown up. Seatbelt.”
“I am still shocked you wear a seatbelt.” Roys hit the button on the middle console. His seatbelt rolled out to lock him in place.
“It’s protocol,” I mocked, catching his small smile out of the corner of my eye.
He settled his elbow against the windowsill and leaned his temple against it. The shuttle shakily rose before taking off far too slowlyfor my liking. We should have been given a speeder. Alas, Corporate didn’t want us risking crashing one by flying haphazardly near the ground.
“Tell me about your first time in a speeder,” Roys said with a finger against his full lips where he nipped at his nail.
“Why?”
“Making chit-chat while we wait.”
Humming, I said in a singsong voice, “I don’t think I want to chit-chat, Captain.”
“I passed out and, when we landed, I threw up on myself.”
I burst out laughing, causing Roys to do the same. He bit his bottom lip in a way that tested my will because all I wanted was to lean over and kiss him. We were alone in the cabin. With the door shut, no one would know…
But it was cheesy, and too much, and I wouldn’t give in to foolish thoughts.
“I didn’t expect the G’s to affect you so badly in a speeder cockpit.” Roys tapped a finger against his cheek. “I expected to be protected from it, but it was rough.”
“I passed out too, but I didn’t puke until I was out of the speeder. The second go went the same. The third time I stayed awake, but I sat in front of a toilet for hours. On the fourth though, it was like everything changed.”
“Really?” He gave a disbelieving look while rubbing the crook of his arm.
“Why? How long did it take you to get used to it?”
Based on those pursed lips, he didn’t want to answer. That made me even more curious. I tugged on his gloriously muscled thigh. He didn’t answer. I tugged on his knee. No answer. I grabbed his firm chest andsqueezed. He shoved me off. I leaned over to grab between his legs, and he swatted at me, chuckling.
