Ana let out a soft moan as she leaned back against Nate's chest, luxuriating in the hot water soothing her aching muscles. The burning hot sexual tension had dissipated a little as they relaxed, but there was an undercurrent still in the air — both of them know that once they left the bath and dried off, they were going to the bed and not leaving it for a long time. She was going to lose her maidenhood.
No, she smiled to herself. Not lose it. Gift it.
"Ana?" Nate said hesitantly. Her eyes popped open. That was a tone she hadn't from him before.
"Nate?"
She turned in his grasp so she could see his face, sit between his knees. The water swished, a little toppling over the tub's side.
"What's wrong?"
"This Taranasar you told me about, did he ever...have any powers?"
She favored him with her warmest smile. "The Taranasar held power over every Lunari, but particularly its women. He changed them to his ideal, made them into his army. Tall, strong and fast—"
"But what about him? Did he have anything
within
him?"
She wrinkled her nose. "Nate, where's this coming from?"
He sighed and leaned back, looking up at the metal ceiling, pipes routing to more pipes. What did they all do, he wondered idly.
"Nate." Ana prompted, hands running up his legs soothingly.
"Those things I did in the arena fight, I don't know. Should be dead a dozen times over."
"But you didn't. We didn't."
"But how did I do them? Is it because I have something inside of me? Am I different?" He swallowed a lump in his throat.
"Nate, there's nothing wrong with being different." Ana leaned forward to caress his cheek. "You don't think less of me because I'm a Lunari, do you?"
"Of course not." Nate dismissed. "But, I don't know. I like being who I am. Like knowing who I am. Whenever we come back from a big battle, we debrief and the fancy docs with their psych degrees schedule one on one chats. And they ask me who in my squad needs 'em, and I make sure my boys get the help they need."
"But you never do." Ana prompted.
"No, not because I think they are charlatans or anything. It's just," He drew circles on her hip. "I've always known who I am, from a really early age. I joined the military because the bugs killed the people I loved most and I've spent my whole life making sure I kill as many of them as I can. I didn't have any creds for university, wasn't able to take advantage of any of the Fed courses they offer. Advanced tactics, universal ship piloting, advanced navigation, advanced command, stealth and infiltration. Any of the avenues into being more than a grunt."
He let out a slightly bitter laugh. "I've been damn good at killing bugs and keeping my boys alive, so the suits keep me where I am. And I'm happy."
"Are you?" Ana just looked at him, meeting him eye for him. "
Were
you?"
"Content, at least." He amended. "I...there's a purpose that comes from just doing your job and doing it well."
"I understand. You do your duty, Nate, and you excelled beyond your peers." Her hands slid up his chest as she leaned to lie on his chest, nestling on his collarbone, speaking into his heart so her voice reverberated through his bones. "You worked hard to excel, to make your background not matter. And you don't like the thought that you had an advantage that the others didn't."
"Do I?" He said plainly.
"The Taranasar never showed any powers within." Ana looked thoughtful. "But he was a mighty warrior. He was a leader though and it was his actions, his leadership that brought the tribes together under him." She shivered.
"For what's it worth," Isabelle said from her place on the side of the tub, her miniature figure projecting from the armguard in a skimpy red lifeguard swimsuit. Across her chest, in blocky white letters, it read 'AI: Arousing Intellect'. "My analysis indicates that nothing about your heroics was beyond human capability. I think it's all you, Nate."
"As do I." Ana added. "It was the same heroics you did when you rescued me on Tallaris. When I realized how special you are. Special, but still," She reached down to lightly grasp his cock. "Human." She teased.
Nate squeezed her tight and she was relieved to see the light in his eyes. "You did some of your own heroics down there, honey. I would be dead without you jumping on the lizard."
Ana turned her head so she could listen to his heartbeat. It was comforting. "We look out for each other." She mumbled.
Nate held her tight as he listened to her breath still, trying not to chuckle as she fell asleep. It had been a long day and once the thrill of their escape had dissipated, so did their rampant horniness. That was good; he wanted them both to be at their best, he didn't want to hurt her in the heat of the moment.
And, he admitted to himself, he was exhausted himself. Not just the physical aches and exertions, his complaining spine but mentally. He'd put on a brave face for Ana but he really thought they were going to die, that he'd led the Lunari Princess to the universe's backwater and got her killed, all because she trusted him.
He rose up out of the water, carrying her with him. She wasn't light anymore — taller, thicker, full figured. Out of the bathroom, he dried her off carefully, thankful for the thick plush towels the ship was decked with. Ana woke intermittently, murmuring nonsense until she drifted off again.
"Gonna sex you so hard, just give me a sec..." She yawned, eyes closed. Nate held his laughter in check. He laid her in bed and covered her up, unable to hide his smile as she wrinkled her nose, nose tickled by one of her errant hairs. He stroked her hair over her pointed ear and watched her expression straighten.
She was adorable.
He wanted to join her in dreamland but first he had some business to attend to.
Nate took his armguard to the bridge — it had been flashing with a notification for a while. The message was from an unknown sender, but he knew who it was from.
Isabelle projected the image onto the bridge's window.
The Lady.
"Good work out there, Captain. Sorry I was a little late, their security was tighter than expected and finding the right explosive was tricky." She smiled thinly and leaned back, revealing the slightly dipped zipper on the catsuit. Nate shook himself to stop himself staring at her chest.
"Caught some of your heroics in the arena though — damn fine work. But if what you said in your jail cell was true, you're going to have to be smarter than this Acropolis escapade. It's stupidity of the highest order to be out here, hunch or no hunch."
Nate grimaced. She wasn't wrong.
"By now you should be heading for Orbis. I've arranged a meeting with the Council. Stick to what you know, keep speculation out of it. Be honest but firm. Will they believe you? I don't know. But believe this;
I do.
"
She shot the camera an elegant raised eyebrow. "And you might not expect that. But I've had thoughts on Jarek for a while. Knew he did things out of regulation, but Judge's have that discretion. Because Judge's get results and Jarek always has. But if he's consorting with Mayko and the bugs, if he's involved with this attack on the Lunari, then," She bit her lip. "We could be in for a world of trouble."
She signed off, leaving Nate staring out at the black canvas of space, the console's blue light barely illuminating the bridge.
"Nate?" Isabelle's hesitant voice came from the console.
He grunted.
"You okay?"
"Trying to figure out Jarek's angle. Nobody works with the bugs because bug victory means death to everyone. There's no wealth angle, no moral angle. So what's left?"
"Power?"
"Power over what? Even if the bugs left him a little kingdom to rule, the Federation will be left in ruins, if it exists at all. Does he really want to rule over a people struggling to get enough food and water for everyone? Does he want to do a re-run of pre-expansion Earth?"
"There's no answers here, Nate. Go to sleep. You're tired. You have a cuddly sexy Lunari in your bed." Isabelle said softly.
"Yeah." Nate took to his feet slowly. "That's where I want her. That's where she wants to be. But is that where she should be?" He shook his head. "Stupid thoughts. Goodnight, Isabelle."
"Goodnight, Nate. You'll feel better in the morning."
***
Ana awoke slowly, stretching slowly, keeping her eyes closed and burrowing closer to that delicious warmth.
"Mmmff." She murmured, snuggling as tight as she could. Nate.
Her Nate.
Her eyes snapped open.
"Noo!" Ana gasped. She was holding onto a pillow — Nate's spot was empty, but still warm. She let her head thunk back into her pillow.
She'd fallen asleep.
Fuuuuck.
She'd ruined everything.
She had it all planned out. She was going to bathe, ask Nate to help her dress into her lingerie, a slow seduction. She'd lie back on the bed and draw him into her, while staring up at his beautiful eyes. He'd take her maidenhood. It would be so romantic. Then he'd fuck her senseless.
Ana rolled out of bed, slipped her into her robe and stomped out of the bedroom. From the kitchen, delicious smells wafted through, but she paid them no mind.
She marched in. "You let me fall asleep!" She pointed accusingly.
Nate gave her that special smile. "Good morning, Princess."
"Don't 'Good Morning' me, Nate!" Ana pouted. "We were going to have sex. Hot, sweaty virginity-destroying maidenhood-taking sex. You were looking forward to it — you were trying to f-f-fu—penetrate me on the Unifek!"
"I was." He jerked the frying pan up, flipping the pancakes casually. "C'mere." In the morning, Nate's voice was even deeper, sending a little thrill through her.
"No." She crossed her arms.
"No?" He raised his eyebrow, smirking.
