She couldn't help admiring his backside though, as he sprinted ahead, looking for the ship.
Nearby, they found it secured. The landing gear had been attached to the hull by bars, probably so he couldn't just fly it away.
"Inhibitors are not good." He started to yank at the bars holding the fighter in position.
"What can I do?" she asked.
He glanced at the locking mechanisms, then at her. "Watch for more to come."
His eyes went back to the ship's landing gear and he held out his hand. A large blaster appeared, like the metal just poured out of him and manufactured it, and this one was bigger than what he'd had before.
He fired off two quick shots into each restraint on the ship.
It damaged the landing gear, and his ship teetered off balance. He held up his hand, and the weapon disappeared back into the metal around his gauntlet.
"What did you do?"
"What I had to." He started to climb up to the cockpit. "They will be here soon." He held out his hand to help her up.
She accepted his help and marveled at how his hand swallowed hers.
How secure it felt. And how trusting.
She brushed off the thought. She couldn't be worried about trust right now. She'll explain later about her identity. This wasn't the time.
He climbed into the ship, and she laid on top of him like before. It made her blush as she got back into position. His body felt so strong. She listened to his breathing and the beat of his heart.
The fact that she could feel his heart beating surprised her. The thin flight suit he wore allowed her to feel every bulging muscle. How that protected him, she couldn't imagine, exposing every bit of him like it did.
The ship sealed around them when more attackers came. Both Charro and Terrans yelled to stop them, to keep them in the Charro vessel.
Jedriek was even more determined to get out.
Blaster fire rained down on the ship from all sides. "Do you think you can negotiate through that kind of hostility?" Jedriek asked as he piloted the fighter toward the blast doors.
"I will do what I must," she replied.
* * *
Fortunately,the Charro ship had only been in orbit of Sol-2, so Jedriek started to head back down to the surface as soon as he broke free. As they flew away, he blasted the ship in a few spots from outside, claiming the shots would shut down their sensors so the two of them could get away clean.
"At least we can breathe now," Eleanor said. They had no communication with any of the other Rhimodians, so they were alone.
She was alone with this alien.
What was she going to do with him? As she ran her fisted hand down the curve of his side, she could think of things she might like to look into. She may not be able to stretch her fingers out, but she could still feel.
He tensed under her touch.
She pulled her hand back and tucked it behind her back. "Sorry," she whispered.
"Accepted," he replied, almost as quietly.
She hated that all she could think about though, as she laid against him, was what he might have been like as her first, and not that unimpressive experience with the guard, Colt. Why she found him so attractive, she wasn't sure.
Well, the size of him. That was one thing. He was thick and strong and large and made her feel very protected.
But was it the need for protection that made her so attracted to him?
