Hey spacers, sexy time mature content dead ahead.

Chapter 41

0503, Ferry Road, Saganami Island

After they checked out with their advisor for the weekend, Matt, Rachel, Hipper and her armsman loaded into the car he hired for the weekend. The car hire, glad for the business, had left the car in one of the adjacent visitor's lot the night before. It was an older model, but the price was right, and Nate and Robert thoroughly checked the car for safety and mechanical issues. On the way to the ferry, they passed the small community of Hobb's Ferry that was located down the road from the academy.

"I saw the ad for this on the board at the rec hall," he said and patted the dash. "We've been here for a few years now, and I've never really seen the community. It has some shops, air bikes and cars for hire, camping stuff, and places to eat."

"Well, there are civilians that work at the academy, people to maintain and operate the ferry, the roads- things like that. We haven't seen it because we never go that way, we usually hop across the bay," she said.

Her uni-link buzzed, and she placed it in her ear. Angela's sleepy voice was heard. "I missed you when you left."

"I didn't want to wake you," Rachel replied.

"Will we be seeing you for lunch today… that is, if you can drag yourself away from the bed?"

"Umm… I'll let you know, okay?"

"Alright, have fun. Take care."

The call ended and she dropped her uni-link into her handbag.

#

Matt turned west from the Landing-Saganami Island main route toward Jason Bay, cruising their way down the two kilometer stretch to Harrington House. Along the way, Hipper alerted to things only he could see or hear in the dark.

"You can chase whatever to your heart's delight when we get there, alright?" Rachel assured him and gave him a gentle tug on the ear. He flitted his tail and bumped her chin with the top of his head.

They arrived at the parking area in front of the home to gently lit gardens, verandas, and walking paths. The front door opened, and Mrs. Hoskins stepped out. Matt parked the car and they all removed their belongings from the cargo hatch. Nat and Robert performed their obligatory security scan of the area and nodded in satisfaction. With an untold number of cameras, proximity detectors, motion detectors, and the best security personnel money could buy, they knew that this property was guarded as well as Palace back on Grayson. Honor Harrington was a wanted woman to many Solarians, and she took no chances with the safety of her family and guests.

"Mrs. Hoskins, it's good to see you again," Rachel said.

"And you, miss."

"Again, I'm sorry for arriving at such an early hour."

Mrs. Hoskins waved the concern away. "Duchess Harrington is on planet, so we're a 24-hour operation here."

She waved the five inside. "I've prepared the room you requested but left the gentlemen's room up to them."

Nate and Robert nodded in acknowledgment.

"Breakfast will be served at eight, and you can give me your lunch requests at that time. Additionally, the shipment of rabbit and chipmunk from Sphinx arrived three days ago, and the case of beer and tea from Grayson arrived last week."

And celery? Hipper signed.

"Yes, there's plenty of that as well," Mrs. Hoskins assured him. She didn't know how to sign, but she knew what Hipper had asked. Hipper flitted his tail and extended a true-hand to her. "Will there be anything else, miss?"

Rachel shook her head. "No, we're fine for now. Thank you."

She took Matt's hand and led him through the living room and the foyer where stairs led to the rest of the home. Motion-detecting lights gently illuminated their way as she led them up a set of stairs, and she stopped at the top of the stairwell.

"Nate, Robert, do you see that room with the beige door, the last on the left?" she asked and pointed to the eighth room at the end of the hallway.

"Yes, m'lady."

"That's our room. We're going there now. Enjoy the rest of your morning."

Hipper hopped off her shoulder and stood by Nate. "Yes, m'lady," he murmured as the couple walked away, hand-in-hand.

#

Once inside the well-appointed, comfortable room she tossed her overnight bag aside and slipped off her shoes. Matt took off his tie and tossed it aside. She flopped on the bed and sighed.

"Love, promise me that when we have our own home, that we'll have the biggest most comfortable bed on the planet."

He propped his arms on the bed and leaned over her. "I promise. Lovemaking requires big comfortable beds, doesn't it?"

She nodded and gave him the kind of kiss that would have been highly inappropriate at the academy.

"I've been wanting to do that for so long," she whispered.

"I can think of something else that I've wanted to do for so long," he replied in a tone of voice that was only for her.

"Oh?" she asked.

He nodded. "I want to pay homage to your beautiful body. Slowly, reverently, and thoroughly."

"I like the way you think," she said and started unbuttoning his shirt.

Clothing was slipped off and tossed aside among the whispered declarations of love (and lust), soft caresses, and impassioned kisses. He propped himself on his forearms and positioned himself between her welcoming legs.

"I love you, so very much," he whispered and slid inside. Her back arched at the glorious feeling of fullness she had missed, and he groaned and shuddered in pleasure. They found a rhythm and he started pumping faster and harder, signaling that he was reaching his peak. She was surprised it was happening so fast for him, but happy nonetheless that he was finding his pleasure. He gasped, shuddered, and called out her name as he climaxed. He pumped until he felt flaccid and collapsed on her chest, breathing heavily. She giggled and ran her hands through his hair.

"I know that was fast, but it's been a long time and you feel so good," he admitted and rubbed his cheeks against her breasts. "I'll make it up to you."

She kissed the top of his head. "I know you will."

They fell asleep to the sound of the Jason Bay waters crashing onto the beach that was almost directly under the bay window of their room.

#

Sometime later she woke and glanced around the room for a clock but not finding one. Oh well. She gazed at her bedmate and smiled. She loved watching him sleep. He looked so relaxed and occasionally, his nose would twitch, much like Hipper. She admired his fit form and stifled a giggle at his mussed hair, because he was picky when it came to his hair. She rested a hand on his chest and softly started tracing patterns across the smooth, warm expanse of skin.

"Enjoying yourself?" he mumbled.

She looked up and caught his sleepy, amused eyes.

"Do you hear that?" he asked, stretching and yawning.

"No?"

He pulled her close and placed a featherlight kiss on her shoulder. "Exactly. No sirens, no noise, nothing. It's fantastic."

He rose from the bed, uncaring of his nudity, and opened the drapes. "Amazing view!"

A wave of arousal washed over her when she watched his erection bobbing as he stretched his arms above his head and rolled his neck.

"Trying to scare the seagulls?" she asked.

He looked down at himself and sat on the window ledge. "I said I would make it up to you. Come here, sweetheart."

She raised a single eyebrow and left the bed. His eyes darkened as he gazed at her swaying hips and the way she ran her hands through her unruly hair. He patted his thighs and she sat down. He pulled her closer and she slowly, agonizingly slow to him, sank down on him. She gripped his shoulders and started rolling her hips, taking her time and pleasure of him. He caressed breasts that were bouncing in front of his face, so freely offered.

"I love this side of you… only I get to see it, to hear it, feel it," he breathed and took hold of her hips.

"All for you, the rest of my life," she uttered and stole his breath with a fevered kiss.

From that bay window, they didn't quite scare the seagulls.

#

Nate (using his rank has its privileges schtick) went to enjoy some breakfast while Robert watched the second floor. He had been at her door, but quickly decided to station himself a few doors down when heard the joyful racket from inside. Presently, the door opened, and the two lovebirds emerged.

"Robert, have you had any breakfast?" she asked.

"No, m'lady, I'll accompany you if that's where you're heading."

"It is," she said and glanced at her chrono. "It's only just past 8:30, maybe there's some left."

Following her nose, she entered the dining room and was surprised to see Honor, Hamish, their kids, and Honor's father at the table with their breakfasts. Matt was more surprised when bumped into her while looking at the people at the table.

"I see you had the same idea about coming out here," Honor said. "Come sit and eat, hungry?"

"Famished. We left as soon as we could sign out."

She and Matt sat at the empty chairs at the end of the table and served themselves from the serving platters. She gave Matt a subtle nudge and they dug in.

"Lt. Tucker has been telling us about your week," Honor said.

"Me ran ragged means they've ran ragged too," Rachel said, glancing at her armsmen. "It's been twice the workload this bizarre week. It should be better next week, at least I hope so. The flight squadron has to prep for the Queen's birthday air show."

"That reminds me, have you checked your mail yet? All of us have received mail from your father," Honor said.

"I'll do it as soon as I've finished stuffing my face," Rachel said and took a large bite of pancake.

"We haven't heard much from you, Mr. Goodson," Hamish said.

"I'm not a mentor, I missed out on the top third of the class by just this much," he said and held up his thumb and forefinger as a measurement. "But seeing what she and our other overachieving friends have went through this week has me glad I've just been busy in the sick bay."

"Are you pre-med?" Alfred Harrington asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Do you know what field you'll be specializing in?"

"Emergency medicine, like my father, sir."

"What's been happening in sick bay?" Hamish asked.

"An uptick in rolled ankles, pulled muscles, dehydration- things like that. I'm a certified paramedic, so instead of soccer or karate, my extracurricular time is sick bay watch."

"Good for you," Alfred said.

#

After breakfast, Rachel sat on the beach-side patio with her tablet and opened the e-link to her mail service. She swiped on the box marked Personal and her father's desktop background displayed for a few seconds before the message headers appeared. She pressed the tab for the first one, her father's smiling face appeared, and he began the video.

"I received word that the Ashford's voyage to Manticore went off without a hitch. I hope you've settled into your first week back at the academy, and please give your young man our best wishes as well. In a separate message, your mother will be sending you wedding catalogs and such. She's looking forward to helping you plan the biggest day of your life, the day you become a Grayson bride. If you and Matt could decide on the day for the wedding, it would be helpful. That's half the planning done, isn't it? Anyway, the I just wanted to let you know that I'll be visiting Manticore for the Queen's birthday, and we also plan to go over Grayson's treaty agreements. No, there's nothing wrong, but it's prudent for we planetary despots to revisit the terms every once in a while. See the next message about why I say planetary despots! I'm bringing along Kat and Jeanette along as well, and we'll be staying at Harrington House. We're expecting some mail from you, all right? Take care and remember how much you're missed, and how much you're loved.