expression in the half-elf’s eyes. Crushed, she nodded and walked directly to the hold, with Dexter and a few others following behind.
It was several hours later when Jenna heard the door to her makeshift cell being opened. She stood away from it, waiting patiently. The door creaked open and Dexter stepped in, his pistol leading the way. “You itching to take a bite out of me yet?” he asked her.
She shook her head and fought the urge to run over to him. Dexter shut the door behind him and lowered the hammer on his pistol. Replacing it in his belt, he looked at her and sighed.
“We’re almost back in the void,” he explained to her. “We’ll do what we can for repairs up there, then head down to drop Aidan off and get off this cursed world.”
“Will they take him back?” Jenna asked, surprised at Dexter’s chosen topic.
Dexter shrugged. “I offered him a bunk,” he said. “He said he’s got some things to take care of down there. I’m for thinking he wants to see about changing the way things are done.”
“That’s a lot of work,” she opined.
Dexter nodded. “He might be the right man for it though.”
They lapsed into silence then Dexter looked at her and stepped closer. “How’s your leg?”
She looked down at her injury. She knew he had something else he wanted to say, but could not yet bring himself to it. “It’s all right. Stings a little, but I’ve had worse.”
Dexter nodded. “Well good,” he finally said. “I’m glad I didn’t shoot you.”
Jenna smiled and took a step closer to him. “Me too.”
“Almost did, you know.”
“I asked you too,” she laid her hand gently on his shoulder.
“You should be more careful,” he said, “I don’t want to lose another first mate.”
“Afraid you can’t get anybody else to take the position?” she asked with a smile.
They were close enough now that Dexter found himself leaning in and dropping the pretense. He kissed her and within half a heartbeat Jenna was returning his kiss. He wondered, briefly, if she had fooled him when he felt the strength of her arms pulling her against him. She slipped her leg between his and pulled, not letting him separate from her. When the dust settled they were on the floor and Dexter was snugly held against her.
Dexter opened his mouth to speak but Jenna pulled him down before he could do more than draw in a breath. When their lips parted she warned him, “Don’t you dare talk, Dexter Silvercloud!”
Her mouth found his again and she untied her leather vest. She grabbed his hand and pulled it to her breast, placing hers on top of his and offering encouragement. Jenna continued to slip out of her clothing beneath him, until she managed to lay nude on the wooden floor.
Her hands then turned to Dexter, roaming over his body and finding the laces, buttons, and clasps necessary to remove his clothing. With a silent acquiescence that surprised her, he let her have her way with him.
“Take me, Dexter,” she whispered to him. “Take me and make me yours!”
She positioned herself beneath him, breath held in anticipation and fear. When Dexter’s flesh met hers she gasped, a dam suddenly bursting within her. All the teasing, all the waiting, all the denial over their time together was over. She bit her lip to fight back the emotions that made her eyes blur and her throat tighten.
Dexter worked at it, rolling his hips and losing control of himself. He shook his head as he felt her wrap her self around him, accepting him fully and asking for more. Jenna looked up at him, confused for a moment. Understanding came as she felt his muscles stiffen against her. A tear slipped from the corner of her eye at the abrupt consummation. Dexter grimaced and grunted, burying his head in the crook of her neck.
She held him tight, her legs entwined around his trapping him inside of her. Her fingers ran in lazy circles over his back and shoulders, offering comfort. When Dexter looked up at her he had a sheepish expression on his face that turned to one of surprise at the tears in her eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but Jenna pulled him closer and kissed him instead.
“It’s been a long time,” she whispered when she broke the kiss. “And this just tells me how strongly you feel.”
Dexter smiled, his cheeks red from more than exertion. She winked at him and pulled herself up to kiss him again. “Besides, I’m not finished with you. Roll over.”
Eyes wide, the Captain obeyed his First Mate. What followed was far more satisfying for both of them.
It took a few days of rest for Bekka to reestablish contact with the helm. Though she hid it well, her anxiety over the disruption began to raise her doubts. Once she tried it and was successful, she felt the weight of fear rise from her shoulders. Bekka enjoyed many things in her life — in fact she made a point to enjoy as much as she could — but seldom was there anything that could compare with piloting a ship.
Now, less than a week later, Dexter was on the bridge with her, perusing star charts and trying to determine his next course of action. Bekka pulled her consciousness back from the ship somewhat and turned her head toward him.
“Dex, how are you?” she asked him.
Dexter jumped, startled a little to hear her ask such a thing. He turned and studied her for a moment, then shrugged. “I am well… shouldn’t you be paying more attention to the ‘Hawk?”
“Nothing but us and the void, Captain,” she answered.
“Well, all the same, keep an eye out.”
“Yes Sir.”
Dexter had just returned to his train of thought when she spoke again. “Back on Azmea, when we were trapped, Jenna told me how you filled her with hope even as you denied her.”
Dexter sighed and turned around. “Telling you to mind the ship’s not going to do me any good, is it?”
Bekka smiled.
“I’m thinking I know why they say women on a ship are bad luck,” he muttered to himself. Sighing in defeat, he asked her, “What about it? I did what any Captain ought to do.”
“You did,” she acknowledged. “But there’s more. Captain — Dexter, Jenna is special, very special. You do see that, don’t you?”
Dexter blinked. He hid the grin from his face and nodded. “Aye, she’s one of a kind.”
Bekka smiled again. “Good. If you didn’t, then you wouldn’t deserve her.”
Dexter’s laugh was hesitant. Did she know? Did the entire crew know? It had only been a couple of days and he’d had made himself scarce whenever Jenna was around. What they’d done was too complicated; the words they’d spoken too important. Involvement was dangerous, damn it! Why didn’t that fool woman understand? Had Kragor’s death taught her nothing?
“What do you mean?” he asked, catching himself before the silence dragged on too long.
Bekka shrugged and glanced away. “If you didn’t deserve her, then I’d have to convince her to find someone who did.”
Dexter stared at her with wide eyes. “Someone who did? Like who?”
She looked at him and shrugged again. “Not many elves can look beyond their race, she’s special. She had no kindness for me when we met, but she’s overcome that and even gone so far as to apologize for her kind.”
Dexter snorted. “Not her fault her kin are bastards.”
Bekka nodded. “True, but still she did it. She’s got a heart of gold, and only now learning it herself.”
“So you’d be one who deserves her then?” he asked, intrigued by the idea. He felt mildly threatened as well. He tried to stomp away the jealousy — after all, he knew better than to get involved with one of his crew. What happened must have been a mistake. Too many emotions lately: Kragor’s death, their narrow escape and Jenna’s near death.
“Only if her first choice fell short,” Bekka said.
A commotion in the companionway heralded the opening of the door. Rosh stuck his head through and looked around. He saw the two of them and shrugged, then pushed himself in.
“Hope I ain’t interruptin’ nothing,” he said, knowing he probably was but not caring. He had spent a fair bit of time screwing up the courage to have the talk he planned on having.
“Of course not,” Dexter said. “Just taking about Jenna’s brush with death.”
Rosh grunted, hardly caring. Bekka laughed lightly. “Among other things, like when the Captain will stop denying that he loves her.”
