Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 36684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“Captain Keernacopia. I mean, Captain Kekaclovilish. I mean, Captain Keernivashit,” she stuttered, realizing she was digging herself in deeper with each mispronunciation. What the hell was wrong with her? She had practiced the stupid Zentorian name over and over until she could say it backward in her sleep and now she was tongue tied. Well, possibly it had to do with the fact that she was standing naked and dripping in front of him instead of just saying his name over and over to herself. Shit, she was naked!
Tabitha was torn between reaching for the dropped hand towel and remaining at attention. In the end she held her pose even as she felt her cheeks growing hot with a miserable, embarrassed blush. Dark blue eyes ringed in gold raked over her naked body but the captain’s face never changed expression.
“I think you’d better stick with Captain Keer, like the rest of the crew, Sergeant Bryce,” he rumbled at last. “I came to welcome you aboard, but I see you’ve already made yourself at home.”
“Yes, Sir, I’m sorry, Sir,” Tabitha babbled. “But you see, I thought I was supposed to go see you instead of you coming to see me. So I thought I had enough time and I wanted to look my best and show you my assets…I mean, show you what assets I bring to your crew…I mean—”
“Your assets are well and truly on display at the moment, Sergeant, but I have to tell you this isn’t the kind of display I’m looking for aboard Pride of Justice.” Captain Keer frowned and Tabitha’s cheeks got so hot she thought her hair was about to catch fire. “I know your reputation—that you happened to be in the right place at the right time in that well-publicized vice sting on Mars.”
“Right place at the right time?” Tabitha stuttered, forgetting to be embarrassed. “I’ll have you know, Sir, that I put myself on the line for that sting and I—”
“Don’t interrupt when I’m speaking.” The gold-ringed eyes flashed and Tabitha bit her tongue. He took a step forward, glaring down at her, and his scent suddenly filled her nostrils—something dark and spicy and completely masculine that easily overpowered the ghost of her own lavender bubbles. “I want you to further know that your assignment here is a direct result of my own commanding officer and I don’t agree with it in the least,” he said.
“What? Why not…Sir?” Tabitha remembered to add just in time. The rich masculine scent in the air was making her dizzy somehow and he was so close she could feel the heat from his big body against her naked skin. For a moment she wondered if he was going to touch her, maybe reach out and cup one of her breasts or even part the vulnerable lips of her pussy with his fingers and stroke her clit. Her breath caught in her throat at the thought and she wondered what she would do if he did. Submit, she supposed, even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to.
It was not unheard of for a commanding officer in Intergal to make an intimate inspection of his or her subordinates. It was a fact that some of the rules that applied to other agencies were relaxed in their case. The Intergal officers were in deep space for long periods of time and relationships that might normally have been frowned on weren’t forbidden. Tabitha had known when she signed on that she might have to service her captain in ways that went beyond her normal duties and her current state of nudity was practically inviting him to help himself. So she lifted her chin and thrust out her breasts, ready to take whatever was coming to her.
But despite her nervous thoughts, her new captain seemed content to give her a withering stare and kept his hands to himself. Oh right, Zentorians—no emotions, Tabitha reminded herself. Probably her nudity didn’t affect him in the least.
“I’m of the opinion that you’re too young and immature for the work we’re doing here,” Captain Keer said, drawing her thoughts back to their conversation. “And from what I’ve seen so far, I find my opinion to be completely justified.” His eyes raked over her nudity again and Tabitha felt a wave of heat encompass her entire body. Her bare nipples were so stiff they ached and her thighs trembled with the desire to cross her legs and hide the slit of her pussy. God, what must he think of her? Oh wait, she knew what he thought of her—he’d already told her.
“I’m sorry to disappoint, Sir,” she said stiffly, trying to keep her dignity intact under his burning gaze. “I hope in the future I can demonstrate that I belong here and prove my worth to you as a crew member and an Intergal officer.”