Love at First Bight

Chapter Eleven

Aaron didn’t put in an appearance while they got ready. Emi donned her casual uniform, matching the twins. All the cars were checked out from the motor pool, so Ford requisitioned one of the pick-up trucks. With all three of them riding in the front seat, Ford drove them five miles into New Phoenix.

She’d spent plenty of time at school in Tempe and Old Phoenix, but had never really explored New Phoenix. They pulled up to a bar with a nearly full parking lot. An old-fashioned blinking neon sign in the window identified the bar as the Dry Port.

“Dry Port?” she asked, an unsettled, nervous feeling overtaking her.

Caph grinned. “Yeah, it’s a little irony. This place has been here for years. It’s a regular watering hole for crews.” Sure enough, when she looked closer she realized several of the vehicles in the lot bore DSMC, MM, and ISNC motor pool license plates on the back.

Ford grabbed her arm. “C’mon, sugar. Another crew experience for you.”

She balked, holding out her palm. He laughed and dropped the keys into her waiting hand. “You drive one of those things before?”

“Enough to get a license and know I won’t kill us on the way back to base.” She pocketed the keys and let the men lead her inside.

Inside was crowded and noisy. Over half of the patrons were dressed in crew uniforms. With Ford in the lead, they snaked their way through the throng to a table near the back where three of the six chairs were already occupied by crew from another ship. They wore casual uniforms similar to theirs, only in different colors, with a different ship’s crest on the shirt.

The largest of the three men looked up, his momentary surprise immediately concealed behind a calculating mask.

“Hey, Ford, Caph. Where’s Aaron?” His question really was,

“Who’s the chick?” but he didn’t voice it.

Ford held Emi’s chair for her, and the twins sat, flanking her. “He wasn’t up for a night out. This is Dr. Emilia Hypatia, our med officer.

Captain Rick Garcia of the Angor Bay, his first, John McReiny, and mate William Baxter.”

The men nodded in turn and shook hands, still eying her.

“You get a med officer yet, Rick?” Caph asked.

He shook his head. They’re setting us up as an eight-pack this time, detailed explores. Cleaning up y’all’s messes.” He grinned, then took a swig of his beer. “Said it’ll probably be another six to eight months at least before we ship out.” A waitress took their order, Ford and Caph both getting beer and Emi sticking to soda water. She felt Rick’s eyes on her, and not in a comfortable way.

“When you guys shipping out?” Rick asked.

Ford shrugged. “Still going through final retrofits, training, all that. Emi’s got another weaponry simulation on Friday. She could blow your balls off from here to Flagstaff,” he proudly boasted.

She blushed, wishing the boys wouldn’t engage in a pissing contest. Not with these three men, at least.

“I bet she can,” McReiny said, his eyes never wavering from her.

She blushed again. He meant that in a way totally different than the twins took it. Sometimes it sucked being a trained empath.

Emi sat back and tried not to pay attention to the conversation, preferring to keep her mind on the twins and how drunk they were getting. They quickly finished their first beers and, knowing Emi would safely drive them home, ordered another round.

The more they drank, the more the twins loosened up, and the more she tensed. The Angor Bay crew rarely took their eyes off her.

She hoped they weren’t drunk enough to try something stupid.

After an hour she had to use the bathroom. When she stood, she uncomfortably realized she was the only female patron in the bar.

How had that fact escaped her earlier?

Keeping her gaze down, she carefully worked her way to the hallway leading to the restrooms, doing her best not to brush against anyone. She needed to get the boys out of here asap. She could claim she was sick. Even drunk, that would motivate them to leave. She hated to ruin their evening, but the rock hard feeling in her gut was quickly swelling to the size of a boulder, and she knew until they were safely back at the ship the feeling wouldn’t dissipate.

When she left the bathroom, McReiny was making his way down the hall toward her. The hall was barely wide enough for two people, and when she turned to let him pass, he stepped into her, pressing her against the wall.

From his eyes and breath, she knew the whiskey he’d been drinking was overriding his common sense.

“Well, hello, Doc,” he slurred.

The hallway wasn’t visible from their table. Emi tried to read McReiny, to find anything she could use against him short of physical force.

Considering he was nearly a head taller than her and outweighed her by at least fifty pounds, she didn’t know how practical that option was.

Mustering her cool, professional voice, she threw up a wall around her nerves. “Hello, Officer McReiny.” Now she had to meet his eyes, stare him down.

He hesitated, perhaps rethinking his evaluation of her weaker personality.

“Why don’t you come crew with us?” He flicked a lock of hair off her shoulder. “I bet you’d have more fun with us.” She slid her hand down to her pocket and found her cell phone, then wrapped her fingers around it. It wasn’t a weapon, but she knew enough to know she could smash it in his face to buy a second or two if she needed it. “I’m perfectly happy on the Tamora Bight, McReiny.”

He stared her down for a moment. When she thought he was going to back up, he pressed harder against her. His erection dug into her hip. Emi realized if she didn’t do something fast, she was going to have a serious problem.

He wasn’t chipped.

“We transferred over from the Merchants a few weeks ago,” he said, smiling. “I’m not a healer, but I had plenty of training in negotiation science.”

Fuck. He was an empath too. Apparently stronger than her, because he’d hid it well despite being drunk.

He bent his face to her ear and whispered, “We know how to take care of a lady better than those guys do, I guarantee you.” From somewhere, she summoned her strength and pushed him back. He staggered, allowing her to bolt, right into another man.

Baxter.

He grinned, grabbing her wrist. “What are you doing, Mac?

Starting without me?”

She twisted, trying to pull away, and knew she had a very limited window to make a decision. Try to fight and risk getting raped, or scream her head off and trigger a bar fight when the twins waded in?

The twins were drunk, drunker than these two assholes. Praying for a miracle, Emi fell against McReiny, surprising him. She kicked out, nailing Baxter squarely in the nuts.

He fell to his knees with an agonized groan, and McReiny loosened his grip on her long enough for her to stomp his foot and break free. She dodged Baxter’s hand and ran down the hall and into the barroom. For a second she panicked when she didn’t see the twins at the table, then spotted them at the bar talking to another crew.

She raced to them and grabbed their hands. “Come on. We’re leaving. Now.” She’d call Graymard from the truck and file charges against the other two, but she had to get the twins out of the bar.

Ford’s eyes gleamed. He was wasted. “What’s wrong¯”

“Officer Caliban, that’s an order,” she barked, hoping to shock him through his alcohol haze.

She pulled them toward the door, but the men balked. “Emi, what’s going on?” Caph asked.

“Officer Bates, we are leaving. Now.” It was her bad luck that he wasn’t quite as drunk as Ford. He was larger, meaning it took more to put him in the tank. And it was also her bad luck that he turned at that moment and spotted McReiny and Baxter at the hallway entrance, both obviously in pain and sending murderous looks her way.

Caph pulled free from her desperate grasp. “Oh, fuck no!” he growled. “What the hell did they try, babe? Did they hurt you?” Bad luck seemed to flow as freely as beer tonight. Ford immediately picked up the source of Caph’s outrage and realized how upset Emi was. “Fucking bastards!”

“Guys, I’m okay,” she pleaded, frantic. “They’re not chipped.

Let’s get the hell out of here, we can handle this¯” The twins moved as one away from her, pushing through the crowd toward where the Angor Bay crewmen stood. She didn’t see Garcia and suspected he wasn’t in on his crew’s plan. No captain was that dense, to risk death and a ten million dollar return bonus over an unwilling piece of ass.

Was he?

Caph was taller and outweighed the other two men. Baxter was approximately Ford’s size. As the patrons realized a fight was brewing, they cheered and formed a circle around the men.

“No! Caph, Ford, no!” Emi screamed, trying to push after them. It was useless because, sensing blood in the water, the other customers were eager to see a fight.

From the sounds of the cheers and impromptu betting she heard, apparently her boys had quite a reputation in bar fights.

The four men faced off, circling. She finally spotted Garcia sitting at a nearby table, his arms crossed, an amused expression on his face.

She ran over to him. “Captain, go get your men!” He shook his head. “I’m not fucking stupid. They’ll blow it off in a few minutes and be laughing and joking and friends again.” Barely controlled rage shook her body. “Your men nearly raped me!”

He looked at her and rolled his eyes. “If you’re gonna play with the men, girl, you need to learn to take care of yourself. This isn’t the kiddy pool. You’re not even off-Earth yet. This is a church compared to some of the spaceport bars.”

“Captain Garcia, go get your fucking crew, and that’s an order!” Emi didn’t know where the depth and force of her voice came from, but even Garcia reappraised her.

“You aren’t in a position to order me around¯”

“I am a ranking DSMC fleet medical officer, and I can have your license pulled for dereliction of duty and medical soundness. How would you like to spend the rest of your life driving a taxi in New Phoenix? Get your men¯now¯or tomorrow morning you will find yourself in front of a duty fitness board. When I’m finished with you, your next view of space will be through a telescope. And get your goddamn crew chipped first thing in the morning, or I’ll get them neutered by lunch!”

He glared, but reluctantly stood and headed for the crowd. “Fine!” he spat.

She trembled, following him, afraid once she did make it back to the truck that she wouldn’t be able to drive. It was adrenaline and shock combined, she knew, but she had to hang on, had to get her boys out of there.

Caph pounded on McReiny, and Ford looked like he was holding his own against Baxter. Every time one of Garcia’s men landed a punch on her boys, Emi felt it as if they’d hit her. She followed Garcia, trying to get in there. If she could get the twins out¯

A loud shout, and Caph went down. Emi screamed, trying to force her way through the gathered mass of drunks. The crowd flowed closed behind Garcia as he pushed through, leaving her to find her own way to her men. Finally, she managed to shove her way through to them. Garcia was trying to pull McReiny off Caph, who had his hands wrapped around the other man’s throat.

She started toward Ford and Baxter, with every intention of forcing herself between them despite the risk of personal injury, when a firm hand clamped onto her shoulder and dragged her back.

Spinning around, prepared to fight, she stared into Aaron’s iron glare.

“Go grab Caph as soon as Rick gets Mac off him,” he ordered, his voice soft, firm, calm, all business. “He’ll still be able to walk. I’ll meet you with Ford at the truck.”

She didn’t have time to express her shock, disbelief¯and relief.

She nodded. Garcia pinned McReiny’s arms behind him and slung him off Caph. Emi immediately jumped on Caph, grabbing his face in her hands and locking onto his green eyes.

“We’re going. Now,” she ordered, pouring as much mental force into her words as she could.

He hesitated, then nodded. She stood and grabbed his wrist with a death grip. Instead of trying to get through the crowd, she pulled him down the hallway to the back door. He followed, nearly docile. She prayed this entrance led to the parking lot.

Thank the gods, it did. She had the keys in her hand and nearly dropped them as the shakes threatened. She didn’t know how Aaron got to the bar, and she didn’t care, but it was easier to shove Caph into the truck bed. She opened the tailgate and pushed him toward it.

“Get in. Now.” He did after stumbling and staggering around the back of the truck. Emi turned to see Aaron carrying a nearly-unconscious Ford, slung across Aaron’s shoulders in a fireman’s carry. Apparently Baxter got in a few last punches. Aaron unceremoniously dumped a groaning Ford into the bed next to Caph and closed the tailgate.

Then Aaron turned to her. “You okay, Em?” he asked, his eyes burning, searching for any injury, his hands on her shoulders. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m okay,” she said. She started to walk toward the driver door when her knees unhinged. Aaron caught her, scooping her into his arms as she sobbed against his shoulder.

“Shh, it’s okay, babe,” he soothed. “I’ve got you, honey. You’re safe.” Holding her tightly against his chest, he carried her to the passenger side and gently placed her in the seat.

Medical diagnoses floated through her mind. Shock was the main one, and Aaron seemed to sense it. He buckled the seat belt around her and jogged to the driver side, turning up the heat for her as he peeled out of the parking lot.

Her teeth chattered. He grabbed her hand, holding it, his flesh hot against hers. “You’re not hurt?” he asked again.

She shook her head, unable to talk. She slumped against him as much as the seat belt would allow, sobbing, and he put his arm around her and gently rubbed her shoulder. They quickly made it back to the dry dock where he backed the truck into the loading bay slot near their cargo hatch.

He left it running and put it in park. “Stay here,” he ordered, turning up the heat full blast for her. “Don’t move.” She watched as he walked around to the tailgate and dropped it. Both Caph and Ford stirred, but neither made any obvious moves to get out.

Aaron uncoiled the fire hose and opened the valve, then stood by the cab and blasted Caph and Ford with the full force of the water.

The men yelled, floundered, and fell out of the back of the truck.

From the look on Aaron’s face, she knew he was beyond pissed. She didn’t bother trying to intercede on the twins’ behalf. It would only make matters worse at that point.

He hosed them down until they were standing, yelling, trying to hold their hands in front of their faces to block the spray. Convinced they were conscious enough to walk, Aaron hosed out the truck bed.

Apparently one or both of them had puked.

He shut the hose nozzle off, his barely restrained rage clearly evident in his deceptively calm voice. “Get your asses in the ship. I’ll deal with you later, goddammit. Don’t show your fucking faces until you’re sober tomorrow morning.” The twins stumbled toward the cargo hatch.

Aaron turned his back on them and shut the water off, coiled the hose, and returned to the truck.

He looked at her again, his firm mask slipping to concern. “Are you sure you’re okay, sweetie?”

She nodded. How could she have ever doubted how much he loved her?

Ford was right. She didn’t need to hear it. What good was hearing it if he didn’t show her? Tonight he’d shown her. It’d washed off him in nearly panicked waves when he grabbed her shoulder in the bar.

He drove around the dry dock facility to the motor pool office and left her waiting in the truck while he turned the keys in. Then he opened her door for her and helped her out. She tried to walk, but her legs gave way again. She didn’t object when he scooped her into his arms and carried her back to the main hatch and all the way to their quarters.

He gently laid her on their bed, and that’s when she felt his sad but determined thought.

“No!” she gasped. “You can’t cancel my assignment!” He closed his eyes and knelt beside her, holding her hands. “I can’t risk you getting hurt.”

“Please, no!” she begged. “Aaron, I’m okay. It was stupid, I should have made them leave sooner.” He shook his head, his eyes sad and heart heavy. “Em, I couldn’t live with myself if you got hurt.”

“I didn’t get hurt.” She sobbed, clinging to him, resisting his attempts to peel her off him. “Please don’t make me go. I love you, I love all of you, you’re all I’ve got…you’re my family!”

After a minute he relaxed and finally enveloped her, his face buried in her hair. “We’ve got to sit down and talk about this. I can’t focus on my job if I’m worried every second you’re out of my sight that something’s going to happen to you.” Relief flooded her, nearly as strong as her adrenaline shock. He wouldn’t send her away. He’d already changed his mind back. He didn’t want to lose her any more than she wanted to lose them.

Because he loved her.

“How did you get there?” she asked.

“I changed my mind and went down to the motor pool to check out a car. Thought maybe I could apologize to you. Ford told him they were taking you to the Dry Port for the first time, and that over half the crews including Rick’s were there. I also remembered overhearing Rick saying that they weren’t chipped yet, so I grabbed a cab.” She clung to him, relaxing as he soothed her.

“What happened, Em?”

She shivered, and he pulled a blanket around them both as she told the story.

His voice hardened. “I’ll call Graymard myself, have him haul Rick and his gorillas in for disciplinary action.” Then his voice lifted, amused. “You really threatened to yank his license?”

“And get them neutered.”

He laughed and her last bit of worry drained from her. She closed her eyes. “Where’s the twins?” She was too tired to try to find them.

“They’ll sleep it off in cargo. Even as drunk as they were, they won’t dare come up here until morning.” He hesitated. “I’m sorry about earlier.”

“Me too.”

“I didn’t mean for you to think¯”

She kissed him, surprised that after the evening’s events she could feel even remotely romantic. They weren’t together alone very often, and any solo time she got to spend with one of the men was time she treasured. Through the scorching touch of his lips, she felt his easing desperation and fear, residual effects of his worry. He took his time, slowly, gently caressing her skin as he cupped her breasts and went from one to the other, circling her taut nipples with his tongue and making her moan.

“I almost left them there,” he whispered against her neck. “I saw the fight, and I panicked when I didn’t see you. Then I realized you were about to get between Ford and Baxter, and I was afraid I wouldn’t reach you in time.”

“You would have left them?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time the MPs brought them back drunk and disorderly,” he laughed. “Would have scared the crap out of them when they sobered up enough to realize you were missing.”

“I don’t think I could have done that. I don’t think I could have left them there.”

“I know.” He nuzzled her ear, sending another dizzying wave of sensation through her body. “That’s why I didn’t. I didn’t think you would let me.”

“You’re the captain,” she teased. “Don’t you get to make that call?”

Aaron raised up on one arm to meet her eyes, now serious. “Yes.

But smart captains also know when to weigh what’s in the best interest of their crew before making a decision. I knew if I did that, you’d be fighting me and screaming to get back in there to protect them, then you’d be pissed at me. I pick my battles carefully.” His hand drifted between her legs, his fingers knowing exactly what to do to bring her close to release. He stopped short before she came, entering her and taking long, sweet strokes that kept her breathless and wanting more.

Then he sat up, still deep inside her. His thumb found her clit, tracing little circles around it. “The only screaming I want to hear from you right now is when I make you come for me. I’ve got you all to myself, and I want you to scream for me.” His deep, growling voice triggered a waterfall inside her. She closed her eyes, her muscles squeezing him as she climaxed, crying out his name.

“That’s it,” he said, slowly fucking her. “Let me hear what I do to you.”

The last spasm left her gasping for breath and he thrust hard, his release not far behind. When he recovered, he rolled to his side and pulled her tight against him, spooned together.

He kissed her shoulder. “Extra training for you,” he mumbled.

“You’re going to be a kick-ass fighter before we leave here.”

“Okay,” she sighed. She would do it for him. “Did you mean it earlier, that we could all stay together after this mission is over?” He hugged her tighter. “Of course I did. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, baby girl. I can’t lose you any more than I can lose those two assholes sleeping it off downstairs.” More than relief¯satisfaction¯washed over her. Wanting to spend his life with her was as good as telling her he loved her, right?

Maybe better. You could love someone and not want to spend your whole life with them.

“Good. Because I want to spend the rest of my life with you, too.”

Ford and Caph weren’t in the crew area the next morning. Aaron wasn’t in bed, and she found him in the shower. He pulled her in with him and held her.

“I already talked to Graymard. We meet in his office in an hour.” Fear coursed through her. He smiled, touching her cheek.

“Disciplinary action, Em. I won’t cancel your assignment, quit worrying. You’re here to stay. You have to tell them what happened, though.” He smirked. “Personally, I’d like to push for letting you get to neuter those two assholes.”

“What’ll happen to them?”

He shrugged. “Hard to say. They’ll have to go through extra psychological checks at the very least. That alone will cost them time and assignments, not to mention bonuses. And they probably won’t get assigned female crew.”

She snickered. “So what does that mean?” He laughed. “Either they bend over and take it like men, or they get well-acquainted with their hands.” Emi toasted them bagels while Aaron dictated a preliminary report for Graymard. Caph and Ford still hadn’t appeared.

Emi worried. “Don’t we need to get them up here? I should check them over.”

He shook his head. “They cleaned up downstairs, I’m sure. They were howling last night when I hosed them off. They couldn’t have been too fucking hurt. I’m sure they dug into the spare lockers down there for uniforms.” He reached across her and hit the intercom button, flicking the volume up full blast. His voice loudly echoed through the ship, and she winced.

“Gangway, ten minutes, in uniform.” He turned it off and smiled, taking her hands. “Look, Em, I know you’re worried about them.

Chances are they’ll have some pretty good war wounds from what little I saw when I got there. But don’t you dare baby them before we get back, okay?”

“Why?”

His face had transformed to captain firm again. “They put you at risk. I know it wasn’t intentional, and I know it wasn’t their fault what happened. I’m not blaming them. But they are experienced officers.

They should have damn well remembered that one of them needed to stay sober to keep an eye on you. They should have been protecting you. I want you to be very angry and quiet with them this morning, promise?”

Reluctantly, she nodded. “It’ll hurt them.” That’s the last thing she wanted to do to the twins.

“Yeah, but it’ll hammer home the lesson, and they won’t forget it anytime soon.” He touched her chin and turned her lips to his, brushing them with a gentle kiss. “Trust me. This is far kinder for them in the long run. Better they feel horrible for a couple of hours than to feel horrible forever because they fucked up and cost you your life. You need to be the ballsy bitch who stood up to Rick last night.” That made her laugh. “I didn’t feel very ballsy.” Emi couldn’t read his glare. “Trust me, it was. Seriously, please do this for me. Practically ignore them. Don’t break down and hug them. Be very cool and professional toward them. Let them think you’re really pissed.”

“Is this a captain thing?”

He hugged her. “They have to learn it now, Em. They can’t ever forget again. Next time we might not be so lucky.”

After emerging from the hatch, Aaron spoke before the twins could say anything. “Keep your goddamn mouths shut. We’ll deal with this as a crew when we get back. Not a word out of either of you assholes. She’s fine, no thanks to you two.” It was hard to keep her promise. Ford and Caph looked miserable, and not just because of their injuries and hangovers. Both had black eyes, Ford’s upper lip was split, and Caph had several bruises on his face. They looked hopeful when they saw her. Then she felt both of them sink into despair when they thought she was angry. She wanted to reassure them that she still loved them and didn’t blame them, but she’d promised Aaron.

She had to listen to her captain.

Emi pulled it off, glaring at them, letting Aaron take her hand and silently lead them across the facility to Graymard’s office.

Garcia and his men were already there. She noticed with smug satisfaction that both Baxter and McReiny looked worse than the twins. Her boys had done good.

Aaron pointed to two chairs along the wall, and Ford and Caph sat, their eyes on the floor. Aaron held a chair at the table for Emi and sat next to her, across from the Angor Bay’s crew.

Furious, Graymard directed his ire at Garcia. “Well, Captain, tell me why I shouldn’t yank your commission?” Garcia paled, and the other two fidgeted. “Look, I didn’t know they were going to do that. Believe me, if I’d known, I would have stopped them.”

“They shouldn’t need chips to not rape a woman,” Aaron growled, finding Emi’s hand under the table, his thumb stroking her. “They’d be dead right now if it wasn’t for her getting away from them.” Rape by commissioned officers was an immediate executable capital offense if the victim demanded that punishment. “What kind of men are they if they think it’s okay to go after a woman like that? They’re a couple of fucking animals.”

Both men reddened, looking at their hands. Garcia glared at them.

“Well? You tell them.”

“We’re sorry,” the men mumbled.

Under the table, Aaron squeezed Emi’s hand. She briefly met his glance.

Knowing what he wanted, she looked across the table. “Why should I forgive you? Why shouldn’t I demand they pull your rank and toss you on your ass?” She pointed at Garcia. “And you weren’t going to do anything about it until I threatened you, asshole.” If Aaron could swear in here, so could she. “You’re responsible for your fucking crew, Captain.”

Graymard nodded. “She’s right. Captain Garcia, I took a risk allowing you and your boys into the program based on your psych evals, and frankly, I’m disappointed but not too surprised.” He looked at Emi. “It’s your call, Dr. Hypatia. What do we do with them?” She took her time, knowing they grew more worried with every passing minute. Now knowing McReiny was an empath, she held a strong block against him so he couldn’t read her.

“For starters, they get chipped immediately. And I want it set so at least for the next six months, every time they get the urge at all, even to masturbate, they get zapped.” She glared at them. “All three of them, including the captain. Depending on their behavior, maybe if they’re good I’ll consider rescinding that.” Aaron’s hand tightened around hers slightly. She knew he was trying to contain his laughter, not shut her up.

Graymard leaned back, considering it. “It’s unusual. But I like it.

That, and twenty-five demerits.”

The Angor Bay men looked horrified. “But¯”

“Take it or leave it, gentlemen,” Graymard said. “I think she’s being very generous. By statute she has the right to demand permanent chemical castration. It was attempted rape by commissioned officers. Consider yourselves lucky.”

“Maybe next time they’ll think twice about trying to rape someone,” Emi spat.

“I’m sorry,” Baxter pleaded. “We were drunk! It won’t happen again.”

“Oh, thanks for reminding me.” She looked at Graymard. “Also an alcohol restriction. The chips can handle that too, right?” He smiled. “Dr. Hypatia, I’m glad you’re not mad at me.” He looked at Garcia. “Well?”

The three men deflated. “All right.” Graymard called in a technician, gave him the orders, and the men were escorted out of the room. Then he turned to Emi. “Are you still sure you want to stay assigned to this crew?” She looked at Aaron. “I like working with Captain Lucio.” She specifically didn’t mention the twins and felt their remorseful pang from behind her. It took every ounce of will she had to keep her promise. “He’s going to get me extra personal combat training before we leave.”

“Very well. Then we’re done. No demerits for your crew, of course.”

Aaron led her by the hand. Caph and Ford silently fell in behind them. She wanted to throw her arms around them and cry, kiss their wounds, love them. They’d stood up for her, belatedly, but they’d been willing to fight the men who tried to hurt her. She hated doing this to them but understood why. Aaron was right.

She had to trust her captain.

Aaron forced her to keep up the silent treatment all the way to the ship. Once in the crew area, he ordered the twins to sick bay. “Get your asses in there and wait for her to come check you out.” When they were out of sight, Aaron pulled Emi to him, tightly hugging her. “You did great, Em,” he whispered. “Now when you go in there, don’t fall all over them. Make them work their asses off to get back in your good graces. It’s the only way they’ll remember.”

“Okay. Where are you going?”

“To the bridge to work on my logs. They’ll come sucking up to me after you’re done with them, and I’ll make them pay big time.

Remember, make them work for it.” He kissed her one more time and left for the bridge.

She forced herself to wait another five minutes, brewing a cup of coffee before going to sick bay. Ford and Caph looked even more miserable, but Aaron’s words echoed in her brain.

She examined them, silent except to ask about their symptoms and injuries, checking for concussion even though she didn’t suspect it, refusing to meet their eyes. After twenty minutes of cold professional treatment, Caph grabbed her hand.

“Emi, please, baby. We’re sorry,” he said, his green eyes near tears.

She wanted to hold him, rock him, comfort him. Instead, she pulled her hand free. “That’s very comforting, Bates.” He recoiled as if slapped. It hurt her as much to say it as it did him to hear it.

Ford tried next. “Please, honey. How can we make it up to you?” This was so hard, his aching voice shattering her heart. “Caliban, to be honest, I’m not sure.”

They silently watched her. She gave them both medicine for their hangovers and pain from their beatings. When she dismissed them, instead of leaving they sat and watched while she filled out her log reports and their medical charts.

Aaron made this cold and calculating attitude look easy, but then again, he’d had nearly twenty years with these men.

Maybe this was why he never “bottomed.” He needed the extra emotional advantage over them to hold onto his professional veneer.

They had to listen to him, not question him, to keep them all alive.

“Was there something else, gentlemen? You’re dismissed.” They looked practically broken. Both men stared at the floor and shook their heads. How long and hard did she make them work for this?

After another couple of minutes, they filed out, looking dejected.

Once the door slid shut behind them, Emi paged Aaron on the private bridge com and told him what happened.

“Good,” he said. “They’ll come here next. That was perfect.” Emi hated herself for adding to the twin’s pain. “It didn’t feel perfect, Aaron.”

“I know, honey. I’ll lay into them, and then they’ll come back to you and you can give in. Just play along a little bit longer.” She fought her tears, wanting to race after them and hold them. “I don’t know how you do this.”

He hesitated. “I don’t enjoy it. It sucks. I fucking hate times like this because you know how I feel about those two assholes, they’re my life. I hate having to be like this. But it’s better they get this lesson now than in the middle of the mission in a spaceport where I don’t have the DSMC honchos to help me deal with crap. You might not like hearing this, but we have to protect you. All of us. They forgot that last night. They can’t ever forget again. Remember to play along when they come back.”

“Okay.” He hung up, and she waited.

And waited.

Nearly an hour later, she was going over her inventory when the sick bay door slid open. She knew it was the twins, but didn’t turn.

“Yes, gentlemen?”

They walked in together. She let them stand there in silence for a few minutes before she faced them. They looked even worse than before, even though they’d changed clothes. Whatever ass-chewing Aaron gave them had the desired effect. They approached her, stopping a few feet away.

Ford spoke first, his voice ragged, choked. “Emi, please, don’t leave us.”

She hoped she masked her surprise and didn’t say anything, unsure what response was appropriate. What had Aaron told them?

Caph nodded, reaching for her hand. “We love you, sweetie.

Please, whatever we’ve got to do, please don’t leave us. We need you.”

Settling for what she hoped was a cold, appraising mask, she studied them. “I don’t want to leave you.” She hoped it came out the way she meant to say it, so they’d think that was what she was going to do anyway, even though it was the truth.

She didn’t want to leave them.

Ever.

The men looked horrified. Ford took her other hand, desperate.

“Emi, babe, please. Tell us. Whatever you want, we swear, we’ll do it.

We were assholes—we never should have taken you out there. It would serve us right if you left us…” His voice broke. “Honey, we’re so sorry. We never thought you could get hurt, not there.” Caph looked near tears. “Please, Emi.” He kissed her hand, holding it to his cheek. “We’re begging you, please don’t leave us.” What was the right thing to do—to give in immediately, or to gradually relent?

The door slid open. Aaron strode in, looking upset and miserable.

He pushed in between her and the twins, and she had to fight to stifle her nervous giggle when he winked at her.

“Look, Em, please, listen to me,” he said, pulling her hand from Ford’s grasp. “I know you said you’d pretty much made up your mind, but can I talk you into staying? Can I talk to you one more time?”

Wow. He’d really pulled a mind fuck on the twins. He wasn’t kidding when he said he would make them pay for this.

She glanced over his shoulder at the twins, who looked like they didn’t dare hope.

Emi made a show of sighing. “I don’t know what to say, Aaron.” That was the truth. She searched his eyes, trying to feel for his guidance.

He winked again. The twins couldn’t see from where they stood behind him. “I think they understand, Em. And I don’t think they’ll ever repeat last night’s incident.”

The twins frantically nodded behind him. She fought the urge to giggle. They were so cute, bless their hearts.

Emi rolled her eyes to the ceiling as if trying to make up her mind.

In reality, she was trying not to laugh.

After a long minute she sighed, as if resigned. “All right. I’ll stay.”

The twins swooped, hugging her desperately, relieved, almost overwhelming her with the force of their gratitude. Aaron stepped out of the way and winked at her again, nodding slightly.

“Good job,” he silently mouthed, turning to leave her alone with them.

She nodded, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around the twins.

After a few minutes, she patted them on the backs. “Let’s go to the cabin and you can show me how sorry you are.” She thought Caph would toss her over his shoulder, he was in such a hurry to go. Desperate to make her happy, the men held her between them in their bed, covering her body with kisses, apologizing, murmuring to her, wanting to make amends. She felt guilty she’d deceived them, but she would trust Aaron’s judgment and sensed the twins would not only guard her with their lives from that moment on, but they would most likely never willingly expose her to anything more dangerous than a sunburn.

Emi lay cradled in Caph’s arms as Ford kissed his way down her body. He slowly laved his tongue over her clit while Caph kissed her and played with her nipples. It was heaven letting these men have her, and while she wished Aaron were here, too, she understood why he stayed away for now.

It didn’t take long for Ford to make her climax, reading her body and drawing the sensation out as long as he could for her. When she lay, spent, in Caph’s lap, the men smiled at her.

“How was that, sweetie?” Caph asked.

Emi smiled. “As wonderful as always.” She crooked her finger at Ford and he leaned in, kissing her, then Caph. She loved watching them play together almost as much as she enjoyed what they did to her.

Which gave her an idea. She sat up and grinned.

“Uh oh,” Caph said. “She’s planning something. I know that look.”

Waggling her eyebrows at him, she pushed him down to the bed.

He was hard and ready and felt good as she lowered herself onto him.

Pulling Ford close, she whispered in his ear and he grinned.

“Anything you want, babe.”

Caph’s large hands rested on her hips. “What?” Ford leaned over and kissed Caph again. “She wants a little show.”

Comprehending, Caph grinned. “Well, get over here then.” Ford knelt beside him. Caph wrapped his lips around Ford’s cock.

Both men let out content groans.

Emi had to remember what she was doing, because the sight was so hot. She resumed her sultry bump and grind on Caph. “That’s it,” she whispered. “Show me what you can do to him.” She stroked Caph’s chest, playing with his nipples, then leaned over and kissed Ford.

Ford’s eyes squeezed shut as he lost himself in the feeling. “He’s so fucking good,” he moaned.

Emi’s hand drifted down Ford’s back, between his legs, stroking his sac. “Well, show me how good he is. You know I love hearing you come, baby.”

Caph’s hips bucked under her. He was loving every second of this, his fingers tightening on her.

Emi smiled, gently brushing her nails against Ford’s balls, making him moan again. “He’s going to swallow every drop, isn’t he? I bet you’re about ready to explode for me right now.” His forehead was damp, his body tense and trembling. He was damn close.

“Suck him deep, Caph,” she purred. “I want to hear you make him come for me¯”

Ford cried out, his body tensing as his hips bucked against Caph’s face. She slipped her arm around his waist as he came. Then he carefully collapsed next to them.

“Damn!” he whispered.

Caph kissed him. “Good?”

“Yeah. Your turn.” They kissed, and again Emi almost forgot what she was doing. Caph grabbed her hips and thrust into her, hard, lifting her body with his larger frame.

“Yes,” she said, leaning forward to suck his nipples. “It’s your turn now, baby. I want to feel what we do to you.” He was caught in his passion, quickly rolling toward release, and his loud moan was muffled by Ford’s mouth. But she felt him as he pulled her hips tight against his pelvis, his entire body tensing as he climaxed.

When he finished, he pulled her down on top of him, his arms around her, kissing her. Then he wrapped an arm around Ford and held him against his side as they all napped.

She wasn’t sure how long they laid there when she felt Aaron’s presence. The twins were asleep, and Aaron’s playful smirk lit her heart. He leaned in the open doorway, arms crossed, taking in the scene.

Emi lifted her head and crooked her finger at him. He silently crossed the room and knelt on the floor close to her, leaning over and kissing her.

She raised an eyebrow at him, an invitation to play. Sensing her meaning he smiled again and shook his head, then pressed his lips against her ear and breathed, “Later. Take care of them for now. They need you.”

He kissed her again before leaving, shaking his head in amusement.

When the twins awoke, she led them to the shower and enjoyed the royal treatment of the two men soaping her up. Once they’d been reassured she wasn’t leaving them their tension had dissipated, although she still sensed their guilt. She suspected they would deal with that for weeks, if not months.

The twins spent the day catering to her, doting on her, including cooking her favorite foods for dinner. When Aaron joined them in the galley, the twins looked at his stern face and apologized again.

He nodded. “Don’t ever forget again, guys.” He leaned over and kissed Emi’s cheek, whispering, “Well done, baby girl,” in her ear.

She barely concealed her smile. Emi had a feeling she’d share many moments like this with Aaron over their hopefully many years together. While still crew, he saw her in a different light than the twins, would count on her to be his eyes and ears and a good influence on them in his absence.

Aaron sat at the table. “So what’s for dinner, guys?” The rest of the meal passed in a lighter mood, and by the time they went to bed later, Aaron curling up with Emi while Caph and Ford snuggled close, they were back to whatever passed for normal between them.