A few days later they arrived at Alpha Centauri. They started the work of loading the new sensor and a wide variety of supplies that was bound for the Ziota colony. After a long day of hard work, most of the men took advantage of their evening off and went in search for good drinks and willing women.
Morgan stayed behind to look over the papers he had just received from the council. There were some news about the rebels and he wanted to be as well prepared as he possibly could. Being Captain had some advantages he enjoyed but also some duties he was not so happy about. Before, he would gladly join the rest of the men in search for entertainment and good company, but his new duties prevented him from having too much spare time on his hands.
He even had a meeting with Master Kane, but what the leader of the High Council wanted with him, he had no idea. But Kane was always a secretive fellow who didn't want to reveal any more than he deemed necessary. He had learned that from past experiences with the man.
Turing toward his cabin he collided with something soft and screechy. He reached out and held on to her before she fell backwards. A firm breast was felt against his hand and he had to shake himself awake from the wonderful feeling. A flowery scent that felt somewhat familiar was teasing his nostrils, but he couldn't quite place where he had encountered it before.
"Sorry," Morgan replied automatically, not having seen where he went. He looked at the person he had collided with and released his hold on her in an instant when recognizing her. "Kendrick?" He said smilingly. "What are you doing here? You're on leave this evening, you know, so get out and have some fun! The others have just left, but you'll catch them rather quickly if you make a run for it."
"I'm not going out, Captain," she replied quickly.
"Not going? Why not? Don't know how to have a good time, is that it? Everyone needs to get their feathers ruffled once in a while, and you're no exception to the rule." He laughed heartily while imagining his female navigator with ruffled hair and sleepy eyes, as she rose from his bed. He mentally shook himself. It was no use thinking about her in such a scenario. He had to maintain his ordinary attitude and treat her as if she was just another of his crewmembers.
"I don't think so, Captain. I have too much to do as it is."
"Well, then why don't you do your work tomorrow and I'll promise not to get mad? What do you say? You can have a drink on my behalf as well."
"You're not going out either, Captain?"
"Nope, I've got some work to do," he admitted.
"Maybe I can help you out?"
"Thanks for the offer, Kendrick, but no thanks. It's so secretive I would have to kill you if you saw it, so you're off the hook," Morgan said laughingly and hoped she was more convinced by his casual attitude than he was. He had to control himself to keep his eyes at her face, and never stride beneath her shin and take in another sight of her tempting cleavage. He wondered if he was just imaging it, but her cleavage seemed to be more and more on display as the days went by.
"Well, if I promised never to tell anyone about it...,"she let the question hang in the air between them.
"Still can't do it. I'll see you later, Kendrick," Morgan smiled as he walked quickly away from the tempting navigator.
He had managed to stay away from her for the last few days now, ever since that stupid kiss he had bestowed on her. Well, to call it a 'kiss' was perhaps to put it lightly. He had practically stamped her with his needs, as he felt a strong urge to conquer and dominate her into submission. The idea scared him slightly. He had always been the carefree and light-hearted fellow that flirted and enjoyed the company of women. Never before had he felt the need to own a woman so completely she wouldn't even want to look at another man, and the thought about him turning into that sort of man was hard to stomach.
What was it about this woman that made him change so completely? It felt as if she held some sort of spell on him. Making him respond so completely to her he almost lost himself in the process. No, this wasn't happening. She was just another woman and he hadn't had a woman for a long time. That had to be the reason. It was just pure and simple lust, and any woman would have caused that, he was sure. It was simply because she was the only woman around.
So, he had tried to wipe her from his mind and stay away from her. In fact, it had worked to some extent as he hadn't thought much of her. Apart from the wet dreams he had been plagued with recently. And now, just a few minutes talking to her and he already contemplated doing all the pleasant things he could do to a woman - and she was staying on the ship.
God help him if he came across her, alone, during the evening. He had to maintain his authority on the ship, and he didn't achieve that by fucking a senior officer against the steering stick – or any other places either. Good thing he had a few guards posted as well. They would hopefully keep him from doing something he would regret for the rest of his life.
***
"Master Kane. How nice to see you again," Morgan greeted the older man. He hadn't met him since he presided over the mating ceremony of his friend Connor, but he had always had great respect for the members of the council of elders that ruled Alpha Centauri.
"Yes, good to see you too, Captain Morgan. How is it to have your own ship for once?" Master Kane asked good humorously.
"Never a boring moment," Morgan chuckled. "Although I had imagined the benefits would have been greater."
"And they aren't?"
"Nope, the women aren't as hot for a Captain title as I thought they would be," Morgan said humorously, and they both laughed heartily.
"What a pity," Master Kane finally replied. "But I'm sure you haven't lost your appeal completely. Now, what is this I hear you have a female navigator of all things?"
"Sure we have. And she's good at it as well."
"Any chance of meeting this enigma, perhaps?"
Morgan was perplexed. "Yes, of course. You're lucky. She has stayed behind this evening so I think we will find her in the control room."
"Not much of a partygoer, is she?" Master Kane asked in an interested tone.
"Not yet, she is. But, we've all been young and eager so it will probably pass in a very short time," Morgan chuckled as he walked Master Kane to the control room.
As they arrived, Morgan glanced around the room and noticed straight away a delectable figure standing bent over the monitor by the command post. Her tight skin suit made every detail of her body stand out, and he particularly noticed the fullness of her breasts, as her cleavage was more pronounced than ever. He swallowed hard and tried in vain to put her in the category of just-one-of-his-crewmen.
"Dear me," he heard Master Kane exhale beside him and then he thought he heard a faint chuckle. "No wonder you needed a new navigator," he continued and sent Morgan a sidelong glance. Morgan tried to ignore the bait.
"She's the best of her class and an excellent workmate," he said between clenched teethes.
"Oh, I've no doubt about that," Master Kane chuckled and stepped toward Eva. "Hello there," he exclaimed.
Eva jumped up and sent them both a heartfelt smile that made Morgan's heart make an extra leap in his chest. He stepped forward and introduced them to each other. All the time he noticed Master Kane sending him some strange looks while he interrogated Kendrick about her family and connections. It turned out she didn't have any family left, but a family friend had gotten her interested in flying and paid for her education. Morgan already knew all this after having read her papers before hiring her.
"And what is it like to be the only woman among this group of scoundrels, then?" Master Kane asked humorously.
"I like it very much," Kendrick replied sweetly. "Everyone has been so nice to me, and especially Captain Taylor here."
"Oh? You mean he can actually behave himself with a woman present? Now that's a surprise," Master Kane said teasingly.
"Oh yes. He treats me as one of his crew and I appreciate that very much."
"Does he now?" Master Kane said conspiratorially as if he was contemplating something really unpleasant based on Morgan's point of view.
Morgan had had enough and tried to interrupt. "Maybe we should start our meeting, Master Kane?"
"Yes, of course," Master Kane said thoughtfully, but continued looking at Kendrick in a strange manner.
Eva blushed slightly but held her head up as she always did. That woman didn't know the meaning of backing off, Morgan thought glumly. Well, this time she had met a superior brain. That absent-minded look of the council member wasn't fooling Morgan any longer. The man was as sharp as a knife and it was just a matter of time before he got to the point, Morgan imagined.
"Tell me, dear," Master Kane started in a friendly voice. "Have me met before, perhaps? There is something remotely familiar about you. Is 'Kendrick' your family name?"
"Yes, it is."
"Hm, can't say I know any Kendrick's, but I'm sure I have you from somewhere. Oh well, it will probably come to me in time," he mumbled to himself.
Morgan had no doubt it would, but Kendrick seemed a little put out by the statement nonetheless.
"Oh well, it was nice meeting you, navigator Kendrick," Master Kane continued before turning halfway toward Morgan as they prepared to depart. At the last moment, Master Kane turned around again and exclaimed. "Oh by the way, have the stars selected a mate for you, Miss Kendrick?"
