Protector of the Realm (26 page)

“It’s starting to make sense, isn’t it,” the admiral said. “The ambassador’s perseverance, the backing he receives from the Onotharian government…for a mere boy, we thought.” He stared at Rae, shaking his head. “Not a mere boy at all, but a prince of two kingdoms.”

Thoughts whirled in Rae’s head while she watched the sleeping boy. His tangled hair framed a face totally relaxed, as he had finally fallen asleep after Kellen had sat with him for over an hour.

“Was he very upset? I tried not to frighten him when he asked for you and you weren’t here.”

“He was angry at me for not telling him before I went to perform the test flight,” Kellen admitted. “He can be quite protective.”

Rae motioned for Kellen to join her in the living room. It had been a long day, and only when she was certain the security detail was in control of the alien ships did she leave the mission room in Jeremiah’s capable hands. She was going to relieve him early in the morning.

Backup forces were on their way from the
Gamma V
and
Gamma VII
stations. The SC Council had deployed military as well as diplomatic vessels. They would reach
Gamma VI
within three days, and it would be up to Rae to hold the fort until then.

The ambassador was under house arrest aboard his own vessel. Apparently called the
Kester
, but still officially referred to as
Onotharian 1
, the ship had a seriously damaged weapons array and shield emitter. Rae had informed the ambassador that one well-aimed torpedo would blow him and his flagship off the space chart, which she would not hesitate to do unless he fully cooperated.

Now she turned to her wife, mixed feelings fighting for control. She sensed barely harnessed turmoil behind Kellen’s blue eyes. “Let’s sit down and talk,” she said. “I’ve been on my feet all day.”

Kellen sat down, ramrod straight and by no means relaxed. She was still dressed in the flight suit and looked every bit the toughened space pilot.

“I believe your initiative saved the station,” Rae said quietly, “and the life of many of my crew members. Thank you.”

“I went against your orders.” Raw emotion pervaded Kellen’s voice.

And this bothers her all of a sudden?
“Yes, but Lieutenant D’Artansis made the call to go along with your plan. She, as a senior officer, is supposed to use any advantage while engaged in battle. Her decision was controversial, but still by the book.”

Kellen squinted, fatigue making her pale, her skin shimmering a faint blue. “You’re not angry anymore?”

Rae paused to study the strong features of the woman next to her. Kellen looked as if she was reluctant to exhale. “From a professional standpoint, no. I’m in awe of your courage and grateful for the outcome. On a personal level…” She searched for the right words. “You scared me, Kellen. You vowed to obey orders and to stay safe. When you went ahead and did exactly the opposite, I had no idea witnessing you risk your life would be so hard.”

“I had to do everything I could to save the station. I have a duty toward Armeo, but it was more than that. I saw the frigate implode and knew people were dying. Leanne was very brave to take a chance on my plan. It was a split-second decision for her. And yes, we could have been killed.” Kellen bowed her head for a moment.

“So you can understand why I was upset?”

“You counted on me to obey orders.”

“That’s the technical part of it.” Rae gave a wry smile. “And yes, I did, against my better judgment, since I’m slowly getting to know you.” She hesitated but then reached for Kellen’s hand. “It was gut-wrenching to watch you out there, but I’m proud of you.”

Kellen clenched her teeth, her jaws working as her eyes filled with blue tears. “You are?”

“Yes.”

“I…” Kellen’s tears spilled over, running down pale, blue-tinged cheeks.

“Damn, you must be exhausted.”
I’ve never seen her cry like this from anything else but fury. This is different. Very different.
Rae raised her free hand and wiped them away. “Don’t cry. You’re safe and so is Armeo, thanks to you. Relax. Right now, this minute, everything is okay.”

“You don’t understand. Eight people from this station are dead because of Armeo’s presence. If I hadn’t brought him here…”

“Shh, don’t. You didn’t bring him here, remember. I did.” Rae scooted closer, framing her wife’s face with her hands. “Tomorrow I’ll be busy all day, taking care of this mess, but right now everything is fine.” Acting on impulse, Rae leaned in and kissed Kellen’s trembling lips gently. “Trust me.” She brushed her lips over Kellen’s mouth again.

Suddenly limp, Kellen let her head fall onto Rae’s shoulder, and she buried her face against her neck. “I trust you,” she sobbed quietly. “I do.”

Rae ached inside at the pained tone, and she understood it had taken all of Kellen’s courage to say the words.
Is it fatigue speaking, or does she mean it?
Rae detected something raw and true in Kellen’s choked voice. “Tomorrow we’ll talk more about your past and Armeo’s heritage. My father briefed me about some of it, but you’ll have to fill in the blanks. Right now we need to go to bed. Come on.” Rae circled Kellen’s waist, frowning when her spouse flinched. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“Just sore,” Kellen admitted. “The G-forces from the shock wave were really heavy.”

“Did you see Gemma?”

“No, the physician aboard the
Ajax
scanned me and gave me a…a fresh ticket?”

Rae couldn’t resist smiling. “A clean bill of health. I think you need a hot, soothing aqua shower.” Rae helped her stand up. Walking into the bathroom, she punched in commands for hot water, setting it to waterfall mode, and then turned to Kellen. “There you go. I’ll have a shower in the guest bathroom while you enjoy this one.” A shadow flickering across Kellen’s face made her hesitate. “Yes?”

“Would it be presumptuous if I asked you to stay?” Kellen blushed faintly. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“No, not presumptuous at all. Need some help?”

Kellen nodded. “If you don’t mind.”

“Here. Let me do this, then.” Her breath catching in her throat, Rae reached for the locking mechanism on Kellen’s collar. Without hesitation, she tugged at the fastener at the front of the flight suit. She pushed her hands inside and eased it down, sliding it off her wife’s shoulders.

Rae was secretly appalled when she saw the bruises where the safety straps had dug into the flesh. “Oh, God, Kellen.” Going down on her knees, she pushed the flight suit down slender legs, glancing at the scar from Kellen’s previous injury. To her relief, it looked no worse than it had that morning. As she unbuckled the soft velver-hempen pilots’ boots, Rae spoke gently. “Here, step out of them. That’s it, and then the suit.” She pushed it off Kellen’s feet. Looking up, she saw how her spouse shivered in her underwear. “Into the shower you go.”

Kellen reached to pull the gray thinlinnen top over her head. She managed to lift the fabric halfway, only to stop, moan, and lower her arms. “I’m too sore.” She tried again and failed, looking utterly dismayed.

She’s like me. Hates needing help…or someone.
“Let me do it.” Rae stood up and eased first Kellen’s right arm inside the thinlinnen top and then the left. She tugged it over her head and ripped it off, tossing it toward the recycling hamper, where it would enter the station’s elaborate system of reprocessing.

Distinct blue-black bruises marred the lean-muscled body, drawing exact lines where the straps had pressed into the pale bluish skin. Disregarding any signs of embarrassment on her part, Rae tugged down Kellen’s SC fleet-issued disposable briefs, throwing them the same way as the shirt with a flick of her wrist. She nudged Kellen toward the shower.

“Stay in there as long as you need. I’ll be here when you come out.”

Kellen nodded and stepped into the shower stall. Hot water sprayed over her muscles, and her facial expression changed into one of bliss as she closed her eyes.

Rae found it impossible to move. Watching through the glass wall, she saw Kellen merely stand there, her face turned up into the streaming water that cascaded down strong, feminine curves. Her eyes feasting on the breathtaking sight, Rae began to undress. She shivered when cool air reached every part of her. Carefully, Rae entered the shower stall and stood close to Kellen, without touching her. “You’re so sore. Let me help you wash your hair.”

Blue eyes snapped open. “Rae?”

“Expecting someone else?” Rae removed the hair clips from Kellen’s strict twist. Placing them on the narrow shelf to her right, she untangled the long tresses and let them fall onto Kellen’s shoulders. She filled her palm with shampoo before returning it to Kellen’s head, where she worked up lather, then rubbed her wife’s scalp gently and watched the brilliant eyes close in pleasure. “How does that feel? Good?”

“Yes.”

Taking some body soap from another dispenser, Rae slipped her hands down to Kellen’s shoulders, mindful of the bruises. She slid the silky soap along Kellen’s arms, and slowly the wiry muscles relaxed. “That’s it.” Rae traced the shoulders again, stepping closer to reach her back. “You better turn around.”

Kellen complied wordlessly, as if she put all her trust in Rae. She rested her palms against the wall while Rae soaped and massaged every inch of her back. Moving her hands to Kellen’s hips, she had to bite her lower lip to not moan out loud as she inadvertently brushed against the rounded bottom before her. Rae slowed her motions and allowed her hands to spread the foam over the generous curves. Unable to resist, she squeezed the cheeks while pretending to wash them thoroughly, her hands becoming more insistent than she intended.

Kellen gasped and surprised Rae by turning into the touch. She pushed herself off the wall and ended up with her back fully pressed against Rae.

Moving by their own volition, Rae’s hands circled Kellen’s waist. Rae needed more soap and allowed one hand to quickly reach for the dispenser, returning with some, which she spread over a taut stomach.

Rae buried her face into wet hair where the water had rinsed out most of the shampoo and unabashedly rubbed herself against Kellen while she reached up to cup her full breasts. The soap made her touch slippery, but she still felt the hard, blue-red nipples prod her palms. When her fingertips closed around them, rolling them into even firmer peaks, Kellen gave a strangled whimper and began to tremble.

“Like this?” Rae breathed, tugging gently at the pebbled surface. “Like this, Kellen?”

“Yes…”

Kellen arched into the touch and pressed her bottom against Rae, who struggled to ignore her own sudden stab of pleasure, instead focusing on Kellen. “You feel so good,” she managed, and took a handful of soft flesh, massaging it before she returned to the nipples.

Only when Kellen moaned and shifted restlessly against her did she continue to spread the soap again. As she moved past Kellen’s stomach and reached her hips, she shifted and placed herself on her wife’s right side. Kellen fumbled for support, holding on to her with one arm.

“That’s right,” Rae murmured. “Hold on to me. I won’t let you fall.”

Kellen looked at her with eyes displaying equal parts of desire and alarm. “Rae?”

“Kiss me.”

Kellen lowered her head and brushed her lips against Rae’s. Opening her mouth, Rae let her tongue enter and caressed its counterpart. Her heart raced, forcing her heated blood to rush through wide-open veins, and all Rae could think was how utterly delicious her wife tasted. Barely able to breathe, she slid her right hand down, cupping wiry curls at the apex of Kellen’s thighs. She felt, rather than heard, her groan. Rae’s fingers had begun to move and softly massage the quivering woman in her arms, when suddenly Kellen pushed her head back over her arm and devoured her mouth, examining every part of it with her tongue.

As the water rinsed the soap from their bodies, Rae felt closer to Kellen than anyone else in her life and was eager to explore every one of her wife’s secrets. Gently moving her fingers in between the swollen folds, she felt the breathless woman flinch as she reached an erect bud just inside. Rae circled it carefully, avoiding direct touch. Still Kellen whimpered and began to shiver.

“Too much?” Rae whispered. “Am I…hurting you? Tell me. I’ll do anything you want.” It was true. Rae couldn’t think of anything she wouldn’t do for Kellen right now.
I want to make her feel so good. She’s so damn beautiful. So sexy, it kills me.

“No,” Kellen groaned. “You’re not hurting me…it’s just been so long and I don’t know how to…”

“I’ll be careful.” Rae turned Kellen around and into an embrace with her free hand, kissing her between smiles as tenderness blended with desire. “I’ll be very careful.” She leaned down to kiss the large, puckered nipples, soothing them with her tongue. Not about to delay, she knelt before Kellen and nudged her legs apart. She nuzzled the damp curls and then turned her head, placing long kisses on Kellen’s thighs before she returned her attention to the sensitized area between them.

“Rae?” Kellen’s voice was shaking. “Please…”

Rae didn’t want the proud woman to beg. She parted the drenched folds, revealing the source of Kellen’s pleasure. She thought her tongue might be gentler than her fingers and wasn’t prepared for Kellen’s violent reaction. As Rae leaned forward to flick her tongue over her sex, Kellen gave a loud cry, tossed her head back, and spread her legs farther apart. Grabbing the bar next to her, she leaned against the wall, her eyes closed. Rae had stopped the intimate caress but now returned, pressing her mouth fully onto the engorged ridge of nerves. She held on to Kellen’s hips and let her tongue work around it, sensing small tremors begin deep inside Kellen and increase as she continued her caresses. Rae explored with sensitive fingers, circling Kellen’s entrance, and heard yet another tormented cry from her.