Galactic Bride (3 page)

She stepped into the room, quiet like but not timid.

"Would you like to eat first?"

Jase had a short argument with his cock and stomach. "No. I'll shower first, then we'll eat." Where that impulse came from he didn't know. It seemed like the thing to do. He'd drag her to the nearest flat surface later.
 

When he finished cleaning up, she had food on the table and music playing from a popular spacenet station. Quiet and peaceful.

She asked him how his day went, told him about the latest news on the net. Titan colony pilots threatened to go on strike again, what a surprise. A real conversation. Nice. Of course what came later was even better. Damn, he loved the taste of her pussy.

Things started to fall into a pattern. Every night when Jase came home, she'd made some new change. Always a little thing. Furniture rearranged. New prints. Just cheap printouts from the computer but they added color to the walls. And none of her 'nesting' made him feel like raising a fuss about it. Little stuff, nothing major.

She offered to bring him lunch at the mine but he nixed that idea fast. He told her it wasn't safe for amateurs and swore he'd tan her ass if she ever tried it. Even the idea she might try, scared the shit out of him. She didn't argue, just started packing him a lunch instead. He felt a little silly taking it with him. He'd always sucked down power bars and protein drinks during the day. Apparently, she didn't think that was good enough. So what the hell, he'd humor her.

She made breakfast and dinner now an occasion instead of a fueling stop. He even caught himself wasting a whole hour after they finished eating one night just talking - before having sex. Crazy.

Everything was so good, he started to worry. From the first, he'd never thought she'd want to stay. Not a delicate thing like her, with her soft hands and big, doe eyes. It should have been fine. After she left, he'd just ask for another female. He wouldn't end up with anything that special again but hey, as long as he had a warm body to sink into. It should be enough. But it wouldn't. Not after Danae.

After a quick lunch, Danae decided to take a walk around outside. She didn’t go outside often, there wasn’t much of a view and Jase didn’t want her to go into the mine at all. She hiked up to the top of a small hill. She had the water bottle and locater with her - because likely Jase would fuss if she didn’t take it. But it was hardly necessary. The only objects in view at all were the house and the mine entrance. She couldn’t miss them.
 

The land was a dry rust red. Baking hot and almost pancake flat. Ghost quiet. There must be some small creatures around somewhere, insects or lizards or snakes. She couldn’t see anything moving.

If all mining planetoids looked this barren, she understood why miners had trouble sticking it out. Once the veins played out, UFXP could probably use the place for a prison planet. Then again, maybe not. They’d have to drop in too many supplies.

She heard a distinctive whirring sound and turned. A single pilot hopper craft coming in to land. Jase didn’t mention expecting any visitors. Her lungs squeezed tight. It had to be someone after her. The house or the mine? The house didn’t have any weapons in it. She didn’t want to get Jase killed but he was her only chance. She started running for the mine. Please let her reach him in time.

The craft’s autopilot settled it into a perfect landing. But Ardel cursed as he spotted Danae running towards the mine. He’d chosen a daylight landing figuring he’d more likely catch her alone.
 

Well that miner would either be sensible - or he’d be dead. His choice. Stupid bitch didn’t know what she was messing with if she really thought a rock brained miner could save her.

He swung open the hatch, grabbed his gun and headed after her. He always kept his knife, a long, thin stiletto strapped to his thigh. He didn’t need anything else. Not for this job. They were just amateurs.

Danae stood just inside the entrance. The main mine shaft seemed to go straight down into the center of the planetoid. Only the first few feet in front of her were lit, then it became a black hole. How would she ever find Jase?

She had no choice, she had to go in or that assassin would kill her. Please let Jase find her. She took a few hesitant steps in. A few more and she was already moving blind. Her hands shook as she dragged them along the side of the shaft. If there was any other lighting further in, it didn’t turn on as she passed by. Keep moving, got to keep moving.

Was it getter hotter? Less air? Had it been just a few minutes? No, no it’s been… She finally broke and screamed. “Jase! Jase, please help me! Please. I need you.”

As Dane sank to the ground a pair of hands came at her out of the dark and gripped her shoulders. She gasped so hard she could hardly say his name.
 

“Jase.”

“I’m here baby. What’s wrong?”

“Someone’s landed. A single pilot craft. I think… No, I’m sure he was sent after me. To kill me.”

“Because of something you did?”

“No, something I saw.”

He growled low.

“We can talk about it later. I’ll take care of him. Come on.” He took her by the hand and started back up towards the entrance. She realized he had a laser rifle in his other hand, as well as an assortment of knives and other tools in his belt and work jacket.
 

“How did you find me so quickly?”

“The minute someone comes into the mine, the sensors tell me. I knew you wouldn’t run in here unless it was real trouble.” He stopped just at the edge of the darkness and moved her behind him.

“Stay here and stay quiet.”

A loud voice came through from outside. “You there! I know you’re in there. I don’t have any problem with you. I don’t want your mine or any of your damn crystals. I’m just here for the woman.”

Jase grinned in the dark.
 

“Sorry, you can’t have her.”

“You can’t stay down there forever. Send her on out and I won’t bother you. I have nothing against you.”

Sure you don’t.

“What’s your problem with her?”

“She’s inconvenienced some people.”

“Is that so? Well, you’re inconveniencing me.”

“Don’t be stupid, miner.”

Dane put her hand on Jase’s back. “Jase? I don’t want to get you killed too.”

He chuckled. “Don’t start trying to turn martyr on me, baby. It don’t suit you. Besides, I told you I’d take care of it. Remember about the sensors?”

“Yes?”

“That’s not all I put in around the doorway.” He pulled a remote out of his pocket and punched in a code.
 

An explosion outside threw a shower of dust inside, as the voice changed from taunts to screams.
 

“Some might call it a booby trap. I call it pest control.”

He raced forward.

He found the bastard rolling around in the dirt. Jase didn’t give him time to recover, he kicked him in the the gut, then pinned him down with one foot while he pointed his rifle in the scumbag’s face, real up close and personal.

“Who sent you?”

Unbelievably, the asshole tried to sit up. Jase shoved him back down.

“Who sent you?”

“The bitch knows. Senator Helom. Wants to keep the memory of his baby boy clean. Can’t do that if too many people know what he was up to before the fool got himself killed.”

“So you’re the clean up man.”

“Yeah.” Ardel tried to smile. Maybe he could still make this guy see reason.

“Look she can’t be that important to you. She’s just a piece of fluff. I’ll split the bounty with you. It’ll be more than enough to make it worth the wait for another supply drop girl.”

“Wrong, again asshole.” He stepped back a couple paces. As Ardel sat up, Jase raised his rifle and blasted. One shot, right through the head. Of course at that range, a blind man couldn’t miss.

Danae ran up to him.

“Jase, are you all right?” She shuddered when she saw the body. Jase wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in tight, turning her away from the corpse.
 

“”The senator sent him to do some clean up for him. But I cleaned up for you instead.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “It’ll be ok now.”

“But, when he doesn’t come back…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll fix it.”

It wasn’t hard. He might not be a space jockey but he knew how to set up an autopilot program. And as for explosives, well that was a miner’s area of expertise. It took him a little longer to hack into Ardel’s email & find the right address. “Ardel” then informed the client that he was on his way back - with the package already in cold storage.

So the senator would be satisfied his problem was solved. Even if the craft did run into mechanical difficulties and explode a few light years from landing.

Danae shook her head when Jase explained it to her. “I never would have been able to pull that off.”

“It should work. If someone really professional looked into it, he might smell a fake. But that guy was just a space rat. If that’s what Helom sent after you, he probably won’t have anyone thorough enough to check into the wreck. He’s dumb enough to just take it as finished and done.”

Jase pulled her in close and wrapped his arms around her tight. “You’re safe now.”

“Thanks to you.” She stood up on her toes so she could kiss his cheek.

“Well, hell if you want to thank me, do it right.” He tossed her over his shoulder as she shrieked with laughter.

He made it to the bedroom in record time. But then, to Danae’s surprise, he gently set her down by the bed. She watched bemused as he stripped then lay down with his hands behind his head. Well, this was going to be different.

He grinned at her. “Since you’re supposed to be thanking me, I thought you should take charge this time. If you know how.”

Danae just snorted. That smirk on his face is going to disappear real fast.

“Oh, I think I can manage something.”

She slowly started to unfasten her blouse. Each item of clothing was oh so carefully removed, folded and put aside. Glaciers moved faster. By the time she was done, the smirk was long gone and a bead or two of sweat trickled down his forehead.
 

“You going to get in this bed sometime this year?”
 

Oh now the poor baby is starting to growl.

“You did say I was in charge.” And you’re not going to forget it.

As he sat up, she put her hands on his chest. “No, stay just like you were.” He grumbled but lay back down again. She settled in on his body, her ass sitting over his legs, low enough that his cock rested just above where it most wanted to be.

Danae ran her hands over the heavy muscles on his chest, circling his nipples. It occurred to her that she’d never had a chance to savor this magnificent body of his - or what she could do to it. She gloried in every hitch in his breath as she teased him with her hands, mouth and strands of her hair. Just you wait, tough guy, I’ll have you begging yet.

Every salty taste, every stroke, she thought, mine. You are mine. I’m not letting go. You’ll have to tie me up and throw me on that supply craft. She didn’t have the nerve to say the words aloud. Not yet. But she swore to herself, she would when the supply ship came. He was stuck with her. He just didn’t know it yet.

Finally, Danae rose up and took his cock in her hands. She guided him to her entrance as Jase gasped in relief, then bore down. Slowly. As each inch eased it’s way inside her, Jase began swearing.
 

“Are you trying to kill me?”

“Maybe.”

Eventually, her curls nestled against the base of his cock. She rode him gently at first, then harder and faster. Jase kept his hands behind his head, like she wanted but his arms trembled with the strain. She decided to show a little mercy.
 

“Jase, touch me.” She didn’t have to say anything else. He rose up, thrusting inside her, while his hands stroked her breasts and his mouth devoured hers in a kiss. They kept moving together in rhythm, pumping harder and harder.

Jase snaked one arm around her ass, holding her tight against him. Then he reached down and gently touched her clit. Yes, oh yes. That’s what she needed, his touch.

Danae broke, screaming his name as the waves of pleasure crashed over and drowned her. Jase held her even more tightly as he rolled her over so he was on top. Only then did he let himself go, thrusting into her hard enough to shake the bed as he roared out her name with his own release.

After he collapsed, Jase moved just enough to take his weight off her, tucking her into his side, with his arms still wrapped around her. He didn’t speak, only nuzzling her as his breathing eased back to normal.

Yes, she thought as she faded into the dark. He said my name. He said my name.

Jase spent a few days carefully monitoring the space chatter. It looked like the officials bought his story of a bounty hunter wrecking his craft. No mention of Danae but there wouldn’t be. He knew he could count on the senator to shut it down fast. Dane was safe. Everything should have been perfect.
 

But two days before the next drop, his mood went south. Jase couldn't ignore the calendar any more. He damn near broke his jaw trying not to growl at her over stupid stuff. She got quieter. Neither of them spoke about it.

Down in the mine, crazy thoughts kept circling around. Maybe if he asked her. No way, she'd never. Can't you even try?

His argument with himself got so involved, he almost missed the sensor droid's warning buzz. Fucking gas leak. He dropped the drill as it sparked and dove away from the seam. Not far enough. The explosion hit hard. The fire spurting out of the seam missed him, the falling rocks did not.

Jase woke amazed to find himself still alive. His head ached but he had a clear space to breathe. Rocks and dirt buried the rest of his body. He didn't try to move; he already knew he had broken his legs and a few ribs too. If the explosions hadn't destroyed the droids, they should dig themselves out and then start looking for him. If, if, if. 'Til then, all he could do was lie there in the dark and try not to think of all the nasty ways he could end up dead.