The date
The shouting was getting louder. Even though she was practically on the other side of the building, she could hear the raised and angry voices. They sounded vaguely familiar through the walls but she could not be sure whom was arguing, so she put down her work and headed out of the room. In the hall, the voices were a little louder but still indistinguishable, so she headed down towards the sound. Many people stepped into the hall to see what was going on, including some of her crew. She beckoned to them and they fell in line behind her, following her towards the sound of the disturbance.
"What is going on?" She asked. A loud crashing sound stopped her crew's reply as they rushed into the shooting range. She followed close behind, just as Jaal had thrown Akksul into one of the windows, making it rattle violently.
Akksul roared, charging full force at Jaal, lifting him him up and throwing him back down. "You don't own her." He snarled.
Jaal moved swiftly, bringing Akksul down with a kick to the legs. "You don't deserve her." He bit back, leaping to his feet. Both men stood toe to toe, throwing heavy punches at each other, both already bloodied and bruised from earlier blows.
Ryder stepped in between them, frightened someone would be seriously injured, just as Evfra stepped in to yank them apart. In between the furious punching, yelling and spectators cheering, Ryder felt pain explode in her jaw, leaving her dazed and falling to the floor. Everyone in the room gasped and time seemed to stop as Liam and Gil helped her to her feet. She turned furious eyes on the three men. "Evfra!" She growled.
He stood, eyes fixed on the murderous looking human. "Yes, Ryder." He asked, very glad he wasn't Jaal or Akksul.
"Beat some sense into these skkuts. If I do it, I may never stop." She stalked up to Jaal, who was trying to back away. "If I see you on my ship in the next day or so, I'll drop kick you out of the airlock." She turned to Akksul. "I'll deal with you later." She growled quietly before she stormed out.
As she walked out, two angara males watched her. "Let's never make a human female angry."
The other nodded in a agreement. "I enjoyed it though." His friend and other nearby angara murmured in agreement.
Evfra dragged both men into his office, fulling intending to berate them and how pathetic they both looked. "Explain!" He demanded.
"I was just defending Ryder from this…..this alien hater." Jaal protested.
"You keep Lily out of this."Akksul said through gritted teeth.
"Enough!" Evfra shouted, slamming his fist down on his desk. "What will people think of you fighting over a human. Both of you will stop this disgraceful behaviour. I will not have you fawning over an alien.
Ryder stood by the door of the office, listening to Evfra, getting angrier. Not only did she now have a lovely fat lip, the grumpy shit was trying to interfere, all because she was alien. She stomped in his office, pushing a soldier out of the way. "Excuse me, Evfra. Do you want to say that to my face?"
He looked around to see others watching as the small human squared up to him, fire burning in her eyes. "I said nothing." He replied nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.
"Yes you did." She stepped closer, making him step back. "You have an issue with me, Evfra? Don't like me getting too close to your kind?" She angrily shoved at his chest. "Come on big man. What's the problem."
For the first time ever, he felt a little scared of Ryder. She was normally so bright and friendly. He had to admit, he liked this side of her. He looked at her, wondering what he should say to avoid her punching him. "Nothing against you Ryder. I don't want my soldiers fighting."
"Good." She huffed out. She walked out, stopping as she neared her crew. "Behave." She warned.
Liam waited for her to leave before turning to the three bewildered angara. "Ok, which one of you woke the kraken?" He quipped.
After a dressing down from Evfra, Akksul went home to his modest home on Aya. He felt like a fool for fighting with Jaal and even more awful because Ryder got injured in the process. All she tried to do was break up the fight and in the mayhem, either Jaal, Evfra or himself punched her. He prayed to the stars it wasn't him. He sat down at his desk, pondering what to write in a email to her. They had plans for dinner and he wanted to make up for his behaviour.
To: Ryder, L.
From: Taavaar, A.
Subject: Dinner?
Lily, I want to apologise for my disgraceful behaviour with Jaal. I feel ashamed of my actions and more so since you were hurt too. Join me for dinner in the Tavetaan so I can make it up to you.
I find myself thinking about our kiss. I can still taste you on my lips and the warmth of your body. Just one taste isn't enough. I need more. I need you.
He waited, hoping for a reply and luckily, he didn't have to wait long.
To: Taavaar, A.
From: Ryder, L.
Subject: Dessert?
Akki, I have to say, I've never had two men fight over me. It's not as flattering as people think, but since you're so cute, I'll forgive you.
I'll be there in two hours and if you are lucky, I'll stay for dessert.
Akksul's stomach flipped as he looked at the chrono. In two hours, he would be having dinner with her and the thought of getting close to her again, set his heart racing.
He waited for Ryder to arrive, sitting nervously, fiddling with his hands. He had planned over and over in his what he would say to her. Should he kiss her when she arrived or wait until later? He didn't want to be presumptuous but he wanted her to know just how much he wanted her. He saw the Moshae watching him from a distance, knowing she was spying for his nosy but well intentioned mother.
He swallowed hard when he saw Ryder appear at the bar, chatting to the Moshae. She was dressed in, according to his research, a blue dress, that stopped just above her knees, hugged her body and showed off her toned arms. Her hair was long and lose, falling in gentle waves and her face painted lightly with a little shine to her lips. She was getting appreciative looks from the other patrons and from the bartender Roaan.
As Ryder entered the Tavetaan, she couldn't help but feel so self conscious. Once some of the crew had found out she was going on a date with Akksul, they cornered her and convinced her to dress up for it. Suvi refused to let her off the ship in her civvies and the scientist had a huge amount of clothes. She asked SAM to remind to ask Suvi, how the hell she managed to drag so many clothes to Andromeda, although she suspected some of it came from Vetra's connections. Luckily, with help of Lexi and some medi gel, her lip was no longer twice the size it was usually, which was good, since her lips had plans with Akksul. She approached the Moshae at the bar when she noticed the woman smiling at her. "Hey Moshae. Have you seen, Akksul?" She asked, taking the drink that Roaan put on the bar for her.
"He's down there, my dear. Go easy on him, he's nervous."
"Why?"
"Falling in love for the first time is nerve racking experience."
Ryder's heart stopped, flipped and skipped a couple of beats. Was he really falling in love with her? If so, did she feel the same? She walked down the steps to were he was sat, blushing as he stood to greet her. "Hey handsome."
"Hello…..beautiful." He made himself blush at his boldness, but it soon faded when she kissed him gently on the lips. He caressed her cheek, stroking his thumb over her lips. "I'm glad my actions didn't leave you with a scar."
She sat down, placing her drink down on the table. "Lexi sorted it. Although, that is the last time I get in between two hot blooded angara males."
He chuckled, taking a seat opposite. "That is a wise choice."
"I think Roaan likes me. He's cooking up some human cuisine as we speak."
"How would he know what to cook for you?"
"I suspect Liam and Gil have been whinging at him. They get very stroppy if they get hungry and I refuse to cook for them any more."
"Can they not cook for themselves?"
"Mmmmm, that led to a fire in the galley so I banned that too."Roaan had placed the food in front of them, giving Ryder a quick wink. "I had a message from your true mother."
He groaned, shaking his head. His mother couldn't help herself and he dreaded to think what she was asking her. "What did she say?"
"She invited me to your cousins wedding." She took a few bites of food, keeping her smirk in as she knew he was mortified by his mother. "I said I would go, if we went together."
"You know I have a huge family and they will ask you the most awkward questions?"
"Don't worry, I can take it. Akki, can I ask a personal question?"
"Ask away."
"This morning, you said it was your first kiss. Does that mean you've never had sex?"
He choked on a mouthful of food, swallowing it down. He felt his cheeks burn, hoping no one around them heard. "I…..I haven't before."
She smiled, placing her hand on his. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's sweet."
He clutched her hand, pressing his lips against her knuckles. "So tell me about the Milky Way."
It was late by the time they finally left the Tavetaan. Akksul escorted Ryder back to the ship, an arm wrapped around her shoulders to protect her from the cool night air. They had a good time together, trading stories, good and bad, mixed in with some gentle flirting. When they got to the docks, his nervousness returned. He wanted to kiss her like they had in the shooting range. "I want to kiss you."
"So kiss me. I initiated the first one."
He pulled her body closer, taking in the sweet scent of her skin. He pressed his lips to hers, moaning slightly at the delightful taste. He could feel her tongue teasing his mouth open, to tease his tongue. Suddenly, as if something awoke in him, he pushed her backward against the railings, his body pressed against hers. They kissed eagerly, tongues battling for dominance over the other, kissing like there was no tomorrow. He pulled away breathless, holding her shaking form close to him. Pressing a kiss into her hair, moving to whisper into her ear. "I want to explore your body."
She groaned, resting her forehead on his chest. "I want to explore yours." She looked up at him, shivering with the thought of his lips on every inch of her. "But not tonight."
He tucked her hair behind her ear, kissing her nose. "Good night, Lily."
"Good night, Akki." She walked up the ramp, waving back down at him. Once she got on to the ship, she knew it was time to head to the showers. Otherwise she was going to drag Akksul back on to the ship and have her wicked way with him. She didn't want that yet.