Spider Bight Read online

  “You’ve got that right,” Ford grumbled. “Coffee is supposed to be sacrosanct. Messing with a person’s coffee is the equivalent of replacing a guy’s lube with glue. Might look funny at the time, but someone’s liable to get their ass kicked in retaliation.”

  Chapter Six

  With her own tasks complete, until they were underway again, Emi had nothing to do but watch her men do their jobs. She considered her eagerness to leave Mars a good sign. That and her steady stomach. Her horrible memories of the space sickness she’d suffered during her first lift from Earth were always close at hand.

  It wasn’t something she was eager to experience again.

  Ever.

  Aaron and the twins called system status and other readings back and forth to each other as Aaron ran down their pre-lift checklist. They still didn’t know their final destination, their orders held up at DSMC headquarters on Earth. Unless they received word to do otherwise, they would continue their normal routine and prepare to leave Mars as scheduled.

  Then the com link beeped. Aaron answered. “Tamora Bight.”

  “Captain, this is the dockmaster. We’ve just received your official downloads.”

  “About time,” he muttered low enough only Emi and the twins could hear. Aaron punched in his access code. “Send them.”

  “Roger.” A few moments later, they finished. “That’s it.”

  “Thanks. Tamora Bight out.” Aaron pulled them up and displayed them on the front vid screen so Emi and the twins could easily see them.

  Ford let out a low whistle. “Cool beans. Finally, we get to use this crate for what she was designed for.”

  Caph grinned. “That’s a long run. Man, they’ve got us heading out to the boondocks, don’t they?”

  “Well,” Ford said, “you did say you’d be happy with a nice, boring explore.”

  “I’m not complaining,” Caph answered. “Nice and boring sounds like a lot of fun.” He playfully waggled his shaggy blond eyebrows at Emi. “I’m sure I’ll figure out more than a few ways to stay amused.”

  Emi glanced at Aaron. While he was still in professional mode, she nevertheless felt his pleased satisfaction at the orders. “How long will this trip take?” she asked.

  Aaron scrolled through their nav computer. “Two months out, four weeks there doing a secondary explore, then two months to a neighboring star system for a two-month preliminary explore. A two-week jump to the nearest military outpost for resupply and R&R, and then we’ll get new orders there.” He looked at her. “Hope you don’t need to run out to the store any time soon.”

  She laughed. “No, I’m all set.” She walked over to Caph and playfully poked his shoulder. “I know we’ll have enough coffee.”

  * * * *

  Their scheduled lift would happen in six hours. After Emi fixed them all dinner, she tried to stay out of their way as she sat and watched them. She couldn’t help it, she loved seeing this side of them. Professional, all business. Even the twinspeak was kept to a minimum as the men followed their well-honed routine. She left the bridge to spend some of the time in a conference call with Sophie and Donna. It would be their last chance to do so for a while.

  “Going to miss you,” Donna said. “It was nice getting to spend time with you.”

  “Yeah,” Sophie agreed. “It was nice meeting both of you. I’m going to miss both of you.”

  “You’re heading back to Earth,” Emi countered. “You’ll be too busy with training to miss anyone.”

  “Oh, I talked to Graymard and warned him not to bother with the sim,” Sophie said.

  Both Emi and Donna laughed. “He didn’t want to die, I take it?” Donna asked.

  “Exactly. I told him I’d already talked to both of you, and that if he tried to get me into a sim, he’d better not bring me out. That, or he’d better not show his face near me when I got loose. He agreed that considering how well me and the guys get along, a sim would be ‘counterproductive,’ in his words.”

  “You scared him shitless,” Donna said.

  Emi giggled. “Between me and Donna cleaning his clock, you’d think he’d learn.”

  “Or at least hire a bodyguard,” Donna added.

  “I still want to thank both of you,” Sophie said.

  “We didn’t do anything,” Emi said. “You and your guys got along. All I did was perform the chip sync.”

  “No, and I don’t want this to sound wrong, but thank you for not picking the BG guys as your crew. I know they’re not everyone’s cuppa, but I really feel like I’ve found a home with them. I didn’t expect that.”

  Emi smiled. “Well, they’re nice guys. But I have to admit Graymard knew what he was doing, having me meet them and the K-2 guys before I met my guys. I wouldn’t have been a good fit for either of those two crews.”

  Donna spoke up. “Emi, you realize Rob feels bad about how they treated you in the sim, don’t you?”

  “He doesn’t need to. He apologized and all is forgiven. And besides, you’re happy, they’re happy, everything worked out the way it should.”

  “Unless Caph springs another one of those rubber spiders on you,” Sophie teased.

  Emi laughed and felt her pocket for Bucky. “Um, yeah. I warned him if he repeated that, I’d be spiking his food with something to prevent erections.”

  * * * *

  The docking crew disconnected their gangways and utility umbilicals before the hover lifts rolled them out of the protected hangar to the nearby lift pad. Logistically, lifting from Mars was much easier and took less time than from Earth because of the thinner atmosphere and no huge populated areas nearby. The men sat back as they completed the last of their pre-lift checks.

  “I need to get some sleep,” Aaron said. He looked exhausted, too. Emi realized he’d only had about two hours’ sleep in the last forty-eight hours during their lift preparations. “I’m about to drop. Who wants first watch?”

  “I’ll take it,” the twins parroted.

  Emi laughed as Aaron rolled his eyes. “I can see we’re starting off on a good foot already here, guys. Ford, you want it?”

  “Sure. I’m wired anyway. Too much coffee.” He snagged Emi’s hand and pulled her into his lap. “I’ll snuggle up with you tomorrow night.”

  Caph stood and stretched. “Then that means I get to hog her for a while.” She spotted the firm bulge tenting the front of his work pants. He might be tired, but he wasn’t too tired to fool around. He grabbed her before she knew it and slung her up and over his shoulder. He patted her on the butt as he turned and headed for the door. “Say good night to Ford, babe. I’ve got a hard-on with your name on it.”

  Laughing, she waved at Ford, who grinned. “I think I just received my orders,” she said.

  Aaron managed a tired smile. “Just don’t keep me awake, you two.”

  Aaron followed them to the cabin, where Caph unceremoniously dumped her onto their large shared bed. Aaron watched, amused, as he started pulling off his own clothes. She loved feeling amusement from Aaron almost as much as she enjoyed feeling his love. He was infinitely changed for the better from their first meeting in the sim, when he wore his grief and anger like a protective dark cloak around his soul, afraid to let anyone but the twins inside his fortress.

  He stretched out on the far side of the bed and tucked his pillow under his head. “Don’t mind me and don’t be offended when I fall asleep. You’re not boring, but I’m just that tired.”

  She leaned in and kissed him, as did Caph. “No worries,” she assured him. Then she kicked her shoes and socks off, followed by her shirt.

  Caph helped her with her trousers, pulling them and her underwear off and dropping them onto the floor. Caph sat on the bed and pulled her into his lap. His already stiff cock rubbed against her clit. Emi draped her arms over his shoulders as he kissed her, his arms settling around her waist.

  She loved all her men, but had something special with each of them as well, which made it that much better. With her big tedd
y bear, Caph, her playful, goofball buddy, they’d discovered his body had just the right shape to get her over unassisted.

  He helped her rise up, Emi sighing as his thick cock pressed deep inside her ready cunt. Her juices flowed as she kissed him. They started slowly rocking together without rush, no frantic need to hurry them.

  Engulfed in his embrace, she relaxed her body and her mind, basking in the warm, sensuous glow of his emotions. Caph let her set the pace and use his body for her pleasure. She slowly adjusted the angle until that blessed, magic sensation swept through her of his cock perfectly hitting her clit on every stroke inside her.

  “Yesss,” she breathed into his kiss.

  He did nothing to interrupt her. She felt the strain as he struggled to hold back, not wanting to disturb her climb.

  She felt the walls of her pussy grabbing at his shaft with every stroke, bottoming him out inside her as her clit tingled from the teasing contact. She rested her head against his shoulder with her face tucked into the crook of his neck, rocking against him. He nuzzled her forehead and she closed her eyes, willing it to happen.

  It did. With the head and ridge of his cock perfectly gliding against her G-spot with each stroke, combined with the way his body also hit her clit at the bottom of each thrust, it only took a few minutes for her to feel it start. She let out a cry, bouncing against him as her orgasm started, shuddering through her body, not harder than other climaxes she’d had but sweeter for the intimacy of it with Caph.

  When he felt her begin to slow, he laid her back on the bed and grabbed her legs behind her knees, pressing them up against her chest. He cocooned her in his arms. “Look at me, Emi,” he whispered.

  Forcing her eyes open, she stared up into his sweet green gaze. “I love you, babe,” he whispered.

  A wave of dizzying passion washed through her as he began pounding his cock into her. Another orgasm, smaller than the first but every bit as good, hit her. “I love you, too,” she managed before stifling her cry of pleasure against his arm.

  She heard him grunting, his breath coming harder and faster as he pistoned his hips into her, fucking her hard and fast. His back arched when he fell still. She felt his cock swell inside of her, warm heat flooding her as his balls emptied inside her.

  After a moment he lowered his body onto hers, his weight on his arms as he kissed her. A soft noise from next to them made them both look.

  Aaron had fallen asleep.

  With her lips pressed together to muffle her giggles, she closed her eyes and rested her face against Caph’s arm. He pulled her close and rolled over so she was draped over his chest. Then he placed a kiss on the top of her head.

  “Stay like this, babe. Please. I love falling asleep with you like this.”

  She snuggled against him. “Me, too, big guy.”

  Chapter Seven

  Emi awoke three hours later, still draped over Caph, although Aaron had rolled closer, almost touching them. Her body, used to the Martian base schedule, insisted it was morning. Carefully, she untangled herself and got out of bed without waking them. After she did, in sleep Caph rolled over and curled his body around Aaron. Emi watched, smiling at the sight of her men nestled together. She never grew tired of this, of watching them. Whether at work or play or sleep or loving, they were a perfect fit for each other, all of them, in every way.

  She grabbed a quick shower and dressed with Bucky safely tucked in her pants pocket before fixing Ford a cup of morning coffee. She carried it and her own to the bridge. He was stretched out in the command chair, his feet resting on the console. She sensed a pensive feeling in his soul.

  “What’s up?” she asked.

  He sat up as he took the coffee from her and gave her a good-morning kiss. “We just got a message alert from DSMC. Change of orders.”

  “What?”

  He nodded. “You heard correctly.”

  “But we just lifted from Mars. Is that bad?”

  “I hope not. They asked for our current and projected positions and told me to stand by for further details. I didn’t want to wake Aaron yet if I didn’t have to. Is he up?”

  “No. He and Caph are still sound asleep.”

  “All cuddled together?”

  She smiled. “You know it.”

  Ford returned her smile. “They’re so cute like that.”

  The com beeped again, signaling a message. Ford activated it and read it, frowning.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Nothing wrong, but you need to see this.” He stood and vacated his seat.

  Emi slid into the command chair and read the message.

  DSMC official order override 84-592. Tamora Bight to proceed immediately to the listed coordinates. Kal’moran passenger transport vessel d’Acklan propulsion engines disabled, 378 souls on board. Passengers not in immediate danger. Proceed at fastest possible speed to render assistance and tow via tractor beam to orbiting Kal’moran space station. Dr. Hypatia must take the lead role dealing with Kal’moran crew and any related diplomatic contact. For the duration of this mission override, Captain Lucio will be referred to as pilot and all male crew will defer to Dr. Hypatia as captain. Indulge diplomatic interaction with Kal’moran leader as necessary for successful mission completion. Once finished, depart Kal’moran station and report status to DSMC for updated orders.

  Emi sat back and stared at Ford. “What, exactly, does this mean?”

  He shook his head, a wry smile on his face. “It means we need to wake Cap, sugar.”

  Aaron didn’t look amused to be called to the bridge for anything less than a life-threatening emergency. Ford had already set their new course and engaged the jump engines. They would arrive there in two days.

  Fortunately for Emi, it was a short jump, meaning less time she had to suffer through the mild, creepy-crawly sensation activating the jump engines always gave her.

  Emi nervously stood by while Aaron read the message. After he finished, he sat back and scrubbed his face with his hands before looking at Emi.

  He smirked. “Well, after the Tay-Dax’n incident in the sim, you did ask us to break down near a planet that made guys run around naked.”

  “Huh?”

  Aaron stood. He stretched, exhaustion heavy on his face. “They’re a Class 2-A treaty race, babe. Go do a little research.” He leaned in and kissed her before he headed for the door. “I’m going back to bed. Let me know if you guys need me. Otherwise, I’m going to sleep for a while longer.”

  What happened in their initial sim pairing slammed back into her brain. She slid into her seat at the console and tapped into the ship’s computers while Ford looked on over her shoulders.

  She read, snickering, then nearly doubled over with laughter.

  Ford frowned as the meaning sank in. “Oh, hell no.”

  She laughed even harder at his consternated expression. “Oh, hell yes, honey.” She grinned. “Hey, you said you enjoyed being objectified.”

  “By you and the guys, sure. Not by a planet full of strange women.”

  She stood, laughing, and turned to him. “But you’ll look so cute.” She reached over and pinched his cheek. “All decked out in nothing but a collar and one of their little G-strings.”

  He looked positively mortified. “Babe, I might seem like a wild and crazy guy, but I am not an exhibitionist.”

  “Oh, relax. You probably won’t even have to go to the surface. If you don’t leave the ship, you won’t have to wear their getup.” She snickered again. “But maybe I’ll make you put it on just to prance around in.”

  He hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her tightly against his body. “The only woman I want seeing me like that is you,” he said, his voice practically a low growl. “Only you.”

  “You might not have a choice. Besides, according to the file, they have quite the reputation among the humanoid treaty races as being a top-class resort destination.”

  “If you don’t have testicles.”


  “Maybe I should spend a little time there. In the interest of research and diplomacy, of course,” she pressed, teasing.

  Mortification gave way to ire. “You are not going down to that fucking planet, babe. If you’ll recall, I didn’t want you going through with it during the Tay-Dax’n thing.”

  “That was a sim.”

  “But we didn’t know it was a sim then. Sorry, but I’m rather territorial of my wife. Feel free to look at our naked bodies all you want, but I’ll be damned I’ll let some other naked guy take care of you in any fucking way, even if it’s only to clean a hotel room.”

  “We might not have a choice. ‘Indulge diplomatic interaction’ means I might have to go down.”

  Kal’moran was a peaceful member of the Interstellar Treaty Coalition. A popular female resort destination because of their matriarchal society, they had made men into servants without rights. Unlike many patriarchal societies that had formed, the Kal’moran society wasn’t into abusing or mistreating their subservient male demographic. However, after eons of war and bloodshed between the men, the women had stepped in, taken over, and their society commenced to prosper. After a few generations passed, men no longer tried to change their lot in life back to the violent ways and now, over a hundred generations later, their current ruling leader had parlayed their temperate planet and beautiful scenery into a playground for rich women.

  Many different humanoid species could easily tolerate the planet’s almost Earthlike conditions. The air was slightly thinner, and the gravity a little less than on Earth, but still within fully tolerable levels. Rumors suggested they also had a behind-the-scenes trade in fulfilling the fantasies of men who wanted to experience the life of a full submissive servant for a set period of time. If they did, it wasn’t something they advertised in their tourist brochures, which promised women a worry-free chance to be totally pampered…in all ways.

  Ford frowned. “I don’t want you down there.”

  Emi pretended to pout. “So how am I supposed to see what life’s like on the planet if I can’t experience it firsthand?”