Mirror Space - Marianne de Pierres [99]
Fariss must have sensed his turmoil, his softening. She put her lips to his and filled his mouth with her tongue. With unreasonably strong arms and legs, she crushed him against her.
He felt helpless in her grip and with that came a surge of desire. He hardened again and began to strain. She loosened her hold, enough for him to move. Within moments he climaxed, unable to stifle the sounds.
In the bunk above them Macken rolled over and grunted.
Thales lay on top of her panting and embarrassed, hoping that the mercenary was asleep.
Fariss shrugged Thales off her and grabbed his hand. Without a qualm she placed it between her legs. ‘Don’t think you get to have all the fun,’ she whispered.
She guided him then, showing him how and where to stimulate her, forcing his fingers to slide swiftly against the wet nub of her clitoris.
She orgasmed easily, giving loud, unguarded cries.
When she’d finished, she crooked an arm around him and drew him against her chest. Thales felt peculiar in that position - not a man’s position - although Rene had often liked him to put his head on her lap. But that had been comforting, like a parent tending her child. Nothing about Fariss was motherly. And yet, as she fell into a quick and deep sleep, he felt protected and for the briefest moment - content.
The contentment disappeared when he woke to Fariss rolling out of bed. Macken was already on the floor next to her, swearing and pulling on his pants.
‘We’re shifting early,’ Fariss explained. ‘Gotta get into the cans.’ She hooked Thales’s clothes up with her foot and flicked them at him. ‘I need to check in on Sammy. Wait here for me.’
‘I’ll take him to the cans if you want,’ Macken offered.
Fariss leant over to the wall and palmed on the lights. She stared hard at the mere. ‘That a straight-up offer?’
Macken shrugged. ‘Sure thing. I’m goin’ there, ain’t I? Not planning to stay here and rattle to death.’
She nodded slowly. ‘All right, but don’t mess with my booty, Macken. I’ll come after you.’ She looked down at Thales.
‘Sh-shouldn’t I stay with you?’ he asked.
‘Sammy’s up a few levels. Don’t want to run out of time getting back and have to leave you here during shift.’
Thales licked dry lips. He didn’t want that either.
‘F-fine.’ He got up and began pulling on his borrowed clothes.
Fariss dragged her weapons case out from under the bunk and removed something - a rifle, he thought. She closed the lid and keyed the lock. Then, to his surprise, she dropped a light kiss on his head as she bent to pull on her boots. ‘See you soon.’ With the hand Macken couldn’t see she pushed something small and hard into the pocket of Thales’s pants.
She was gone then, leaving him alone with the mercenary and his stale sweat smell.
Thales straightened up. He was shorter and much slimmer than the man, but he squared his shoulders.
‘What’s yer rush, booty?’ Macken slouched over between Thales and the door. ‘Siren gives us the final call. Wouldn’t want to get you in there too soon ‘mong all those wantin’ types. Not without yer missus. Tho’ can’t see what’s drawing her fanny to the likes of you. Bit fuckin’ scrawny I woulda thought.’
Thales stayed quiet, containing his anger and chagrin. The man was as uncouth and vulgar as any he’d met - and pleased with himself, as well. Not in a harmless, boastful manner either. Macken’s ego made him dangerous.
‘Yer don’t say much tho’. Mebbe that’s why she likes you. Something to be said for booty that doesn’t gab. I’m more partial to wimmen in the sack meself, but they c’n bend yer ear so fierce you wanna snap their damn necks.’
Thales backed away until he felt the opposite wall against his shoulder blades. He prayed for the siren to sound, calling them to the vibration buffer. ‘What do you think will happen when we reach Intel?’ he asked, seeking distraction.
Macken stiffened for an instant then his mouth split into a less than pleasant smile.