XXXIV.
Cora sighs to herself when the now familiar red error message appears again on the many screens, informing her that she doesn't have access to that part of SAM or Alec's data and that she will soon be locked out. She pauses for a moment, trying to come up with another password that she can try, even though she knows she has been trying for the last hour to get in and has so far been unsuccessful. She quickly lets her fingers move over the panel and begins trying what must be the hundredth password she has tried. With no Alec to provide his biometric data and DNA to unlock it, she was doing it the old fashioned way.
She lets out a frustrated sigh when the screen flashes red again, leaning back in the chair and placing her hands on the edge of the desk to push herself back from it. Cora sighs and lowers her eyes from the screens, feeling upset and disappointed that she still can't access anything and that all of the former Pathfinders information has been locked away from her. She glances over her shoulder towards the bed, letting her eyes settle on Scott who is sleeping soundly and who she's very happily been sleeping with every night for the last few weeks and now they were officially back together. Cora can't help but smile when she watches him sleep, knowing they'd be spending every night together from now on and hoping nothing would ever come between them again. They'd become so used to sharing a bed and had struggled without each other; waking up with him every morning had felt so good and it had started to feel like they were now healing together.
"One more try." Cora sighs and turns her attention back to the screens, using her feet to wheel the chair closer to the desk. She lets her fingers move over the letters and numbers again, biting her bottom lip as she waits for it to turn green. "Come on!" She lets out an angry cry when it flashes red, banging her hands against the desk in frustration.
"Baby.." She hears Scott's sleepy voice behind her and she realises she has woken him up. "Some of us are trying to sleep here." He mumbles and she glances over her shoulder and watches him sliding his arms beneath his pillow and burying his head into it.
"Sorry.." Cora whispers and she is sure she hears his breathing start to even out again. She turns her eyes back to the screen, feeling like they are taunting her with every flash of the words so she lifts her hand to dismiss them and turning them all to black.
Cora stands from the chair, letting her bare feet come into contact with the plush carpet as she crosses the short distance from the desk and back to the bed. She moves around to Scott's side and carefully kneels onto the mattress and slowly crawls over his body, lifting her leg so she can straddle the back of his thighs and press her chest against his naked back. Cora hears him sigh when she places a hand on either side of his head and dips hers to press a gentle kiss against his cheek, brushing his hair back from his face so she can press another against his temple.
"Mmm good morning." Scott mumbles making her smile to herself when she hears his voice, she watches him opening his eyes and sees him smile sleepily. "I'm awake." He smiles when she kisses the edge of his mouth.
"Good morning," Cora whispers as she bends to press a soft kiss against his neck and then his shoulder. "I'm sorry I woke you." She adds and hears him sigh when she strokes her fingers through his hair.
"Don't be sorry." Scott smiles and she watches as he lifts his head from his pillow so she kisses his cheek again. "This is the best way to wake up." He laughs quietly and she feels his body move beneath her.
"I'm just showing you how glad I am you're here." Cora smiles as she sits up on his thighs and places her hands on his back, smoothing his muscles beneath her palms and hearing him sigh. "That's a good noise." She giggles when he lets out a soft groan when she rubs his shoulders.
"It feels so good." Scott sighs making her smile so she leans down and kisses his cheek again, letting her mouth nuzzle against his skin. Cora slowly kisses down to his neck before she gently lets her teeth graze against his throat. "Are you trying to work me up?" He groans making her giggle.
"Sorry, I'll stop." Cora giggles with a last soft kiss against his throat. "Last night was really nice." She smiles as she carefully climbs off of him and rolls onto her back beside him. "Just you, me, and those pretend stars." She whispers and sees him nod, his eyes meeting hers and that he smiles. "It felt like us again." Cora adds and feels him moving and notices he leans towards her so she cuddles against him.
"It was nice." Scott nods. "It always is when I'm with you." Scott smiles and she watches him lift his hand to her cheek and draw her closer so he can kiss her, his lips gentle against hers. "I've got to say making love to you was a highlight." Scott grins and she feels him lift his hand to stroke her hair.
"It was for me too.." Cora smiles, biting her bottom lip when she sees Scott's eyes on her. "I'm so happy, Scott." She whispers and he smiles. "Everything just feels perfect now." She adds and hears him sigh.
"You're perfect, Cora." Scott gives her a flirtatious smile and leans towards her again and kisses her softly. "I'm happy too." He nods. "I'm not just saying that to get you into bed." He grins against her mouth before leaning back from her.
"But here we are, in bed…" Cora giggles as she slides her arms around him and lets him pull her against his chest, feeling his mouth against hers again in a deep and slow kiss that makes her sigh. She moves her hands onto his back and feels his muscles move beneath her fingertips when she grips him tightly.
"Here we are." Scott sighs when he breaks their kiss. "In love.." He grins and she feels him kiss her again and wrap his arms around her, his hands sliding onto her lower back. "Stronger than ever." He whispers making her giggle as she feels his hands slide lower.
"Ridiculously in love," Cora whispers and sees him grin; she places her hand over his when she feels him slide it onto her thigh. "God, Scott.." Cora begins but Scott presses his mouth against hers silencing her, his hand on her cheek and drawing her into another deep kiss.
"I want to make you feel good." Scott whispers against her lips making her smile when she hears it. "I want you." He grins and she sighs when he moves his mouth to her neck, making every nerve in her body throb when he bites her skin. Cora places her fingers on his mouth and leans back from him. "But you want to get into Alec's computer, right?" He sighs dramatically and grins making her giggles and she feels his eyes on her.
"I want you, too." Cora sighs and sees him smile. "I really do need to go back to trying to get in though." She adds and sees him nod lightly. "And remove myself from this temptation." Cora adds and rests her head against his. "Because I'm so close to pinning you to this bed." She adds and sees him grin at her suggestion.
"Feel free." Scott laughs and she feels him stroking her back and that he kisses her gently, making her sigh when she feels him deepen their kiss.
"You are just so distracting." Cora begins and notices that he chuckles at her words. "Especially when you're naked." Cora adds and hears his laugh as she pulls him into another kiss, feeling him wrap himself around her again.
"I know." Scott smiles. "You distract me too." He adds and she leans towards him and rests her head against his.
"I know your feeling frustrated this morning.." Cora whispers and she sees his eyes meet hers and that he grins again. "I am too." She giggles and hears him sigh again. "Believe me.. the things I'd like you to do." She adds hearing him chuckle.
"That doesn't help." Scott grins and she can't help but laugh when she thinks she sees him blush. "Just go get the computer ready." He huffs making her giggle. "I'll see if I can unlock it for you." He adds and she sees him nod.
Cora places her hands on his cheeks and pulls him closer again, letting her lips press against his gently as she strokes her hand through the front of his hair. She sighs when she feels him cuddling her closer to him, making her relax so she can spend a few more seconds in his embrace. Cora feels him loosen his hold on her so she can wriggle out of his arms and towards the edge of the bed, she glances over her shoulder at him and sees him lay back against the pillows again and lift his hands to rub his fingertips against his face.
"Thank you, sweetheart." Cora smiles at him and feels his blue eyes on her when he lowers his hands from his face. "You are the best." She adds and sees him grin and nod.
"Yeah, I know." He smiles as she climbs off of the bed and carefully moves back towards the desk, taking hold of the back of the chair in her hand and holding it still so she can lower herself onto it.
"Please let me in SAM." Cora sighs as she raises her arm to activate the screens, seeing immediately that it is flashing and awaiting a password to unlock and that is even more mocking than the red ones had been. She sets her eyes on the screen, wondering if it is even worth her keep trying without Scott's help.
"Have you tried my birthday?" Scott asks from behind her, drawing her attention away from the screens and over her shoulder to him. She notices that he is now out of bed too and is searching for his clothes on the floor.
"Obviously I've tried your birthday." Cora sighs and hears him laugh at her response. "I've even tried mine. Which he didn't even know." She adds as she watches him pulling on his jeans and then notices his eyes on her. "I've tried a few variations of yours and Sara's names.." She huffs quietly and turns her attention back to the screens.
"What about mum?" Scott asks and she hears him approach and knows he is behind her chair so she just nods. Cora smiles to herself when she feels his hands on her shoulders. "Want me to try?" He whispers and she feels him bend and press a soft kiss against her cheek.
"Sure." Cora nods and moves out of the way so Scott can sit on the chair in front of the screens. "Just don't get us locked out forever." She laughs quietly and sees him take her place and begin tapping his fingers against the panel.
"No promises." Scott smiles and she hears him sigh lightly when she places her hands on his shoulders and begins rubbing them beneath her fingers, pressing gently at the base of his neck and feeling his skin warm where she touches him. "Did you try your name?" He asks and she can hear the smile in his voice and that he glances at her.
"I didn't think that was necessary." Cora giggles and leans over him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and resting her cheek against his. "But go ahead." She sighs and feels him smile.
"Let's try anyway.." Scott laughs and she watches him begin typing, and trying a few versions of her name, all coming up incorrect. She sees him then starting with the H and all the way through to R. Cora lifts her eyes to the screen and waits for it to turn red as it had done for her. "Well look at that.." Scott whispers as they both watch the screen turn green and all of Alec's information fills them.
"I can't believe that worked." Cora sighs and she feels Scott nod lightly and lower his eyes from the screen. "It's probably just because you're authorised as Pathfinder." She adds, trying to reassure him so she gently kisses his cheek again and squeezes him tightly.
"Or you were clearly more important to him than you thought." Scott smiles and she watches him begin swiping through information. "Now what are we looking for? Anything on SAM-E right?" He asks and she sees him glance at her so she nods.
"Yes, anything." Cora nods letting her eyes focus on the documents that he scrolls through. "There must be something.." She whispers and watches as Scott begins trying to search. "He wouldn't have deleted it all." She adds and hears him sigh.
"There's nothing here." Scott sighs and shakes his head, but she notices he keeps trying. "Even if I go in and authorise unlimited access as Pathfinder," Scott adds and she watches an error message fill the screens. "Nothing." Scott huffs quietly.
"But it was here." Cora nods, feeling the same small pang of disappointment inside her when she realises her last hope of SAM-E and keeping part of Alec with her is gone. "I know I saw it." She whispers, lowering her eyes from the screen not wanting to look at it any longer.
"Were there any other names for the project?" Scott asks, making her pause for a moment and try to remember. "A code word, or nickname?" He asks again and she can see he is waiting to keep searching for her.
"Maybe.." Cora nods and she unwraps her arms from around him and stands, she carefully steps around him on the chair and backs herself until she is in front of him and lowers herself onto his lap. "Let me try again." Cora smiles and glances at him when she feels him wrap an arm around her waist to keep her on his knees.
"Make yourself comfortable, Miss Harper." Scott laughs and she feels him rest his hand on her thigh, squeezing her gently beneath his palm. "He wanted to keep it away from prying eyes." Scott begins and she nods in agreement and she feels him move beneath her to get comfortable.
"Especially when it got him in so much trouble." Cora nods and lets her fingers move over the panels, trying a few keywords that Alec might have used to describe his SAM-E project. "So it makes sense that he'd hide it. If you were Alec, what would you call it?" Cora sighs and feels rest his head against hers.
"I think you knew him better than me." Scott whispers and she glances at him, noticing that he has lowered his eyes. "But I guess I'd name it something only you both knew about." Scott nods and then she feels him stroke her leg again. "Seeing as you were supposed to be Pathfinder." He nods again.
"You're right," Cora whispers letting her eyes travel over the screen. "If it was me he was expecting to have access.." She nods. "He would have made sure I could find it. Maybe he wasn't trying to lock me out." She smiles lightly, feeling better when she lets herself believe that Alec wouldn't purposefully close everything off to her.
"You've just got to take some time to figure it out." Scott nods and she feels him lift his other hand and uses it to turn her face to him. "I know you will." He smiles and draws her mouth to his.
"You are the genius, Ryder." Cora smiles against his mouth before kissing him hard, lifting her arm to wrap around his shoulders and feeling his grip tighten on her leg and then he moves his hand to her cheek and holds her into their kiss.
"I don't know about that." Scott laughs when he leans back from her. "Shall we keep trying now?" He asks and she feels his eyes on her so shakes her head and looks into his face.
"I'll need to think about it." Cora nods and smiles at him. "Thank you for helping me." She smiles and kisses his cheek again before unwrapping her arms from around him and climbing off of his lap.
"Where are you going?" Scott laughs and she hears the sound of him turning the chair with his feet and following her when she steps around him. "We haven't finished yet." He smiles and she watches him hold his arms out to her.
"No?" Cora smiles when she sees him beckoning her to him and to sit on him again, making her bite her bottom lip and eye him when she sees his grin. She moves closer to him and places her hands on his shoulders, using him to carefully lower herself to straddle his lap. "What else did you want to show me?" She whispers and leans forward to rest her forehead against his, feeling him place his hands on her back and slide them down onto her waist as she settles with him between her thighs.
"Nothing, I just wanted to get you close again." Scott grins and she feels him moving his hands slowly onto her behind, her body warming where he touches her and her body ache for him to keep touching her.
"Well, here I am." Cora whispers and wraps her arms around his neck. "What are you going to do about it?" She smiles feeling him leaning back into the chair when she presses her mouth against his, kissing him hard. She feels his fingers gripping her and trying to get their bodies closer so she moves on top of him until she can feel the warmth of him through his jeans.
"How long till we're due on The Tempest?" Scott whispers making her smile and breaks their kiss, lifting her arm to check the time. Cora closes her eyes for a moment when she feels him moving beneath her so she squeezes her thighs together and hears him groan quietly.
"Hmm.." Cora hums as she opens her eyes turns her attention back to him. "About two hours." She nods letting her hands rest on his chest and letting her fingers stroke his skin, and then up to his neck. "Enough time." Cora grins when she hears him sigh when she leans closer and kisses him gently.
"For what?" Scott grins and she can already see the familiar look of arousal in his eyes so she grinds herself against him, feeling him continue to harden beneath her. "Cora.." Scott huffs and she feels him stretching his legs out in front of him, making her let out her own light moan when it causes even more friction between their bodies.
"Do that again." Cora whispers hearing him laugh quietly at her request and take hold of her hips in his hands, rocking her on top of him again and lifting his hips to rub his material covered erection against her. "That feels so good." Cora sighs and wraps her arms around his neck, taking over his moving of her hips and grinding against him.
Cora sighs when she watches as he leans closer and presses his mouth against hers, kissing her and teasing her with his tongue until she whimpers against his lips. She feels him lift his hand and place it on the back of her head; his fingertips stroking her neck and making her skin flush where he touches her. She hears him groan quietly when she presses her tongue between his lips and against his, the sound making her notice the warmth spreading through her when his hands direct her to rock harder on top of him. Cora moans when she feels his hardness making the fastening on his jeans press against her so she grinds against him faster.
"Fuck.." Scott groans quietly when she lifts her hand to take hold of the back of the chair so she can drag her body harder against his length, noticing that he leans his head back so she presses her forehead against his. "You're going to make me come at this rate." Scott whispers making her grin at him and kiss him again.
"That's the idea." Cora giggles and continues moving her body on top of his, tilting her hips to get closer to him. "Why don't you touch me, Ryder?" Cora whispers and feels his eyes meet hers when she rocks her hips on top of him, squeezing him tightly between her legs.
"Yes, Miss Harper." Scott whispers before she hears him groan again when he bucks his hips, which sends a jolt of electricity through her nerves when he hits her most sensitive spot with the buttons on his jeans.
Cora continues to grind against him, letting her head roll back when he lifts his hand to her neck and begins stroking his hand down her body, making her moan when his palm cups her breast through her top and his thumb presses against her already hard nipples. She rocks her hips faster when he slides his hand lower and she feels him dragging her top up her body until he can reach her skin, his hand holding it up above her chest and making her gasp when he dips his head and takes her nipple into his mouth.
"Scott." Cora moans and takes hold of handfuls of his hair when he begins sucking and biting her breast; his other hand kneading the other one before it receives the same treatment making her body arch into his touch. "Harder." Cora whimpers when she feels him stop her movements on top of him so he can concentrate on her body.
"You taste so good, too." Scott mumbles against her skin, making her moan and her body shudder when he swirls his tongue around her. She feels her biotics transferring from her body and into his and how much her nerves are entwining with his.
Cora moans when she feels his hand slide down her body and in between them, his fingertips brushing against the thin layer of her underwear that is between them and she hears his quiet chuckle and knows he can feel what he's done to her. She arches her back, lifting her hips to meet his fingers desperate to have him touch her and send her over the edge.
"Please," Cora whispers and grinds against his lap again, feeling him bite gently onto her nipple when she does and move his fingers against her underwear again. "Please, Scott." Cora whimpers when she feels him pulling the fabric aside and pressing his fingers into her, making her gasp and throw her head back again.
"Your so wet.." Scott whispers, making her nod when she hears his words and moans again when he begins moving his fingers deep into her until she can feel her body begin to tighten and beg for release. "And so tight." He mumbles and she feels him kissing and sucking her breasts, his hand tugging her nipple between his fingers.
"I want you to fuck me." Cora pants, feeling his fingers and mouth pulling her quickly towards her release. "I need you inside me." She moans and feels him smile against her skin before he removes his fingers from her, making her let out a deep sigh when she feels him wrap his arms around her and pull her into a kiss.
"Your very demanding this morning." Scott smiles against her lips and she feels him reaching between them and quickly pushing his jeans down with his hand enough to free himself. "I like it." He huffs and she watches him glance down and wrap his hand around his length and quickly press himself into her.
"Oh god." Cora moans when she feels him fill her and pause beneath her and can feel his trousers bunched under her. "I needed this." She sighs and bites her bottom lip, closing her eyes when she hears a chuckle from deep in Scott's chest and knows he needed it too. "You feel so good." Cora moans and wraps her arms around his neck as he begins lifting his hips and thrusting into her.
"So do you." Scott pants and she feels his hands moving down her back and he takes hold of her top and helps her out of it, throwing it onto the floor so he can touch bare skin. "Fuck Cora." Scott sighs and she feels his movements increase when she rocks her hips to meet him, and he goes back to twirling his thumbs against her nipples.
She grinds against him with long hard movements, hearing him groaning when she does and can feel his legs stretch beneath her and knows he's close if he lets himself go. Cora presses her mouth against his, sliding her tongue between his lips and kissing him until she hears him panting and he wraps his arms tightly around her. She lets the charge pulse through him where their bodies' meet, hearing his deep groan when her biotics wrap around him and drag him towards his own release when her body tightens around him.
"I want to hear you." Cora whispers letting her forehead rest against his and feeling his eyes on hers as she feels him thrust harder so she tilts her hips to meet his. "I want you to come." Cora moans before closing her eyes when she feels the tight throbbing of pleasure in her body close to taking her.
"I don't want it to end." Scott pants so she meets his thrusts again. "Cora.." Scott groans and she feels his hold on her tighten and his hands move to her hips and move their bodies faster until they are both panting and unable to speak but their breathless moans. She lets the charge pulse through their veins hears him groan loudly as their bodies join.
Cora lets her head roll back and moans when she feels her body shake and the pleasure surround her, feeling him thrusting hard and only intensifying her orgasm when she feels him find his release inside her. She feels him relax his hold on her, letting his head rest against the back of the chair as he pants. Cora feels him wrap his arms around her again and draw her against his chest, his lips pressing against her forehead until she hears him let out a long breath.
"You're going to be the death of me." Scott smiles making her do the same and relax against his chest. "But what a way to go.." He sighs and she feels him draw her to his mouth and kiss her gently.
"Is that a complaint?" Cora smiles and kisses him again, wrapping her arms around his neck and letting her chest press against his. "I was just about to ask if you are ready to go again." She giggles and hears him sigh when she bites his bottom lip.
"Not a complaint." Scott grins beneath her mouth. "I love how insatiable you are." He smiles and she feels his eyes on her and that he lifts his hand to her cheek. "I'm always ready to go again." He laughs and leans forward to capture her mouth again, letting his tongue meet hers making her sigh as he continues to kiss her and tangles his fingers in her hair.
"One of the things that I love about you." Cora whispers when he breaks their kiss and sees him nod and grin. "I could show you what else I love" She giggles and feels his eyes on her before she notices that he lowers his hand to his jeans and pull them up onto his hips again.
"I think I've got some ideas." Scott grins and she giggles when he wraps his arms around her and stands up from the chair, taking her with him and wrapping her legs around his waist. "I'm going to make you feel good for the next two hours." Scott smiles.
She laughs quietly when she feels his eyes on her and holds tightly around his neck when he kisses her, lifting her hand to the back of his head and deepening it. She feels him step around the chair and floor covered in her clothes, and around a box she'd been packing and carefully lowers her back onto the bed. Cora doesn't let go of him and drags him down with her, wrapping her arms and legs around him when he lets his body surround hers.