Once he was in as far as she could take him, he began to move. Lights started to spin behind her lids as she tried to focus while she took up the rhythm with him. It was no use. Her analytical mind went out the window as she rocked and moved with him, gasping and moaning as her body suddenly started to shake and twitch. He thrust into her quickly and groaned, shuddering as he took his weight on his elbows.
Yr-el remained inside her, and he slowly looked up, smiling at her. “So, how long can we stay in here before Mbrak pulls the plug?”
“Two hours forty-six minutes.” Her projected form was catching its breath. She felt a random aftershock grip him, and he blinked.
There was a distinct stirring inside her, and she felt the slow twisting and plunging while the rest of Yr-el remained stationary.
She shivered and clutched his sides. “Two forty-five.”
He grinned and kissed her. They had time to kill.
* * * *
Mbrak saw the strange readings from Styra’s suit. He chuckled and summoned his current feed manager.
Abil came in. “What is it, boss?”
He sighed. “I keep telling you it is either grandfather or Mr. Blue.”
“Yes, boss.”
“There is going to be a new imperial service commander coming in tomorrow. I want you to make sure that the hotel is ready and that Styra is not to cross his path.”
“Sure, boss, but why? Styra does most of the meet and greets.”
“She is in heat and will be occupied with her new mate. It took me long enough to find the bastard; I am not letting him leave until she has what she needs.”
“She’s... right. Okay. That explains a bit.” Abil smiled and made a note. She liked her notes. They kept everything moving along.
“Had you noticed?”
“She has smelled a little floral for the last few days. I know she doesn’t use perfume, so it makes sense that she is going through a little something weird. When will she be back to normal duties?”
Mbrak smiled. “I think she will be leaving us soon.”
“Why?”
Mbrak turned to his second-eldest granddaughter. “When you meet your mate, you will know it. Distance is not an option. You have to be with him for a few years, at the very least.”
“Oh. So, why would she go with him, boss?”
“She has no choice. If she’s in heat, her drake is waking up, and he is encouraging it.”
“Whoa. She has a drake? Why hasn’t she shown it off?” Abil’s voice was vapid, but Mbrak knew she worked hard at it. She was keenly intelligent, but it made her life easier to pretend to be clueless.
“It isn’t awake yet. It would be extremely dangerous if it woke up on the station, so I am trying to get the good captain to take our Styra with him when he returns home.”
“Why would he leave her if he knows she is his mate?”
Mbrak chuckled. “Things are complicated. They will work it out.”
Abil asked, “Boss, what if they don’t?”
He grinned. “Her drake wakes and kills us all.”
“Oh. Shit. I am hoping they work it out then.”
Mbrak laughed and turned back to his screens.
* * * *
Styra woke in her chair with a gasp and answered the com request. “Styra, head to your quarters. You are having erratic life signs. Get some rest.”
She looked around. “I am fine.”
She was fine. Her knees were weak, her pulse was rapid, and her crotch was soaked, but she was fine.
Mr. Blue’s voice came through the speaker. “Take. The. Day. Off.”
She sighed. “Fine. I will take the day off.”
Styra headed for the change room and smiled at Abil.
Her friend smiled. “Heading out?”
“Yeah. Apparently, my stats were all over the place.”
Abil chuckled. “I looked up drakes in heat, and I think you should relax.”
Styra paused. “I am not in heat.”
“Boss said you were. He’s a drake. He would know.”
Styra blinked. “I... I don’t know. I don’t think I am.”
Abil patted her on the shoulder. “Take a day to unwind anyway. You work too hard.”
“Thanks.” Styra went to change and hung her sensor suit in the cleaning unit. The suit from the dispenser was hanging in her locker, but Styra had a change of clothing of the exercise vein. She thought about working out and smiled. That was just what she was up for.
She was setting up one of the lift machines when she noticed that Yr-el’s men were nearby. They hadn’t seen her, or she certainly wouldn’t have overheard one of them saying, “As soon as we finish delivering the captain to the woman his parents have picked out, we can relax.”
Styra froze in place for a moment, and then, she settled herself in the machine to begin doing a press. His family had chosen a bride for him. Of course, they had. She was a stupid, damaged nobody from the middle of the star system. Why would she end up with him? Another two days and he would be gone.
She used both arms on the press for the first time in her adult life, and when she had done a set of five, it increased the weight. She kept going.
* * * *
Yr-el looked at Mbrak. “What do you want? I was going to try and find Styra.”
Mbrak looked him over. “Is she yours?”
“Of course, she is. My parents are going to show off another fine lady, but it is Styra who is my mate. He won’t accept anything else.”
“Good. She kicked into heat with a vengeance this morning, and she will need to be removed from the station sooner rather than later.”
Yr-el felt his skin heat. “She’s in heat?”
“Yeah, it fired into full bloom while she was on shift. You wouldn’t know anything about that, now, would you?”
Yr-el shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
A beep got their attention, and Mbrak answered. “What?”
“Um, sir? There is an incident occurring in the gym. Weight section.”
Mbrak brought the displays up, and there was Styra, glowing white-hot with a grimace on her face. The unit she was working in displayed her pressing over one thousand kilos.
“She’s waking.” Mbrak’s voice was flat.
Yr-el spoke quickly. “Where is the nearest emergency hatch?”
Mbrak brought the map up and showed him.
“Tell them I am on my way.”
“Watch out, Yr-el, she looks mad. I will evacuate your path.”
Yr-el was on his way to the gym, wondering what the hell had set her off.
* * * *
She stepped out of the machine when Yr-el came toward her. “You have a fiancé. Your parents have chosen your mate.”
He slowed down, and he looked worried. “They have chosen a dozen so far. I reject them all.”