I want to apologize for this taking so long to get written…. My muse and I are having a disagreement about which way to write this chapter… Finally, I had Talia and Susan yelling at me that this was the right way…. I would appreciate any and all constructive criticism for this piece… It lets me know if I am going in a good direction…
SEE CHAPTER 1 FOR DISCLAIMER!
CHAPTER 7
Susan slowly awoke. At first she was unsure of where she was. In some part of her mind she began to smell something… It took her brain a few moments to recognize what it was… bacon… cooking. That was enough to startle her awake. Looking around, she made sure she was in her quarters, and found that her things surrounded her. Although she was alone in the bed, she could smell Talia's perfume on the sheets beside her. Glancing at the chrono-display, she noted it was 0900.
Grabbing her robe, she went in search of the missing telepath, and followed her nose to the delicious smells. She found Talia in the kitchen with a tray setting on the kitchen bar, and she was placing scrambled eggs on a plate that already had bacon and toast. 'She's fixing me breakfast… in bed,' Susan smiled at the thoughtfulness. She was so touched as tears burned in her eyes. No one had ever fixed her breakfast in the morning, let alone, fix it for her to eat in bed. Quietly, she backed out of the room, and crawled back in bed pulling her covers over her head.
Talia has sensed movement behind her, but decided to let Susan speak first. 'Damn, I wanted to surprise her.' Then, Susan surprised her by leaving without saying a word. The only stray thoughts she picked up were first surprise then pleasure. Talia felt her thoughts were getting distant. So, she doesn't want to spoil my surprise. Talia smiled at the gesture. One more reason why I love her so. It took her a few moments to get her emotions under control. When she did, she glanced over the tray to see if she missed anything.
It had taken some finessing and even more chits to get the food staples delivered to the Commander's quarters. She knew that if she left she wouldn't be able to get back in without waking Susan to open the door, or borrow Susan's Ident-card, but she didn't feel comfortable with either, so she bribed the store owner to deliver the things she wanted. He, also, had a good reputation for being discreet. She didn't want to start any rumors about the Commander. She had borrowed a white dress shirt and jeans from the Commander's closet. She had to roll up the sleeves because the cuffs hung well below her fingers. She had showered and dressed by the time the supplies arrived.
She had fixed simple things: bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast with butter spread and blackberry jam. She had poured the coffee in a carafe to keep it warm, and two cups for them. She had trimmed another of the roses, and placed it in a bud vase to top off her arrangement on the tray. Picking it up, Talia carried it to Susan's bed. "Good morning, sleepy head," Talia called.
Susan leisurely rolled towards the voice, and looked as surprised as she could. She was so pleased to see Talia standing there dressed in her clothes, and carrying a tray that had fabulous aromas coming from it. "Breakfast… for me?" She raised one eyebrow, and tried her best to look surprised.
Talia loved for this dark beauty filled her until she was glowing from it warmth. It touched her more than she could put in words how much she appreciated the fact that Susan was valiantly trying to pretend to be just waking up, but her smile gave her away. Talia teasingly laughed, "You know it's breakfast for you… You were checking it out just a few minutes ago." At Susan's shocked look, she said, "I heard you walk towards the kitchen, and then walked away after she saw what I was doing." She bent down, and placed the tray across Susan's lap. She kissed her lightly on the cheek before straightening. "Thank you for trying to not ruin my surprise…"
"You're welcome. But I should thank you, for all of this," Susan pointed at the tray. "But, how did you do it…. I know for a fact I didn't have any of this in my refrigerator."
"Isn't that the truth… I found a bottle of vodka in the freezer, and a few green things that I think at one time was food, but now looks like a mad scientist's experiments." Talia said with a laugh. Susan kept gazing at her as if she was waiting for an answer. Talia batted her eyes before saying, "But, a lady's allowed a few secrets," her eyes twinkled with mischievous. She could sense the pleasure that was radiating from Susan, and it was infectious.
Susan took a bite of the eggs. They were heavenly. "Mmmm, these are great. My compliments to the chef." Susan found she was very hungry. She noticed Talia was not joining her. She patted the bed beside her. "Come join me," she implored. She lightly brushed her lips over Talia's once she was close enough.
Once she was settled, Susan began to feed her part of the breakfast as well. Soon, the food was gone and the tray was set on the floor. Susan felt so sated. Susan leaned back against the headboard of the bed, and Talia laid her head on Susan's shoulder.
Quietly, they set this way in peaceful silence. Usually, silence with company was uncomfortable for Susan, but with Talia it was actually pleasurable. Sleepily, she asked, "Talia, what's your schedule for the day?"
"Actually…"Talia whispered as she ran her index finger along Susan's jaw before resting her head again against Susan's shoulder. "I… don't have any appointment scheduled for the day."
"Good," Susan replied, "Your day in now officially booked… with me!" Susan felt Talia smile against her shoulder. She raised her arm, and Talia snuggled closer wrapping her arms around Susan's waist.
Talia wanted to bottle this moment and keep it forever. She felt more contentment than she had ever in her life. It pleased her to know that Susan wanted to spend the day with her. "Sounds like the best day of appointments I've had since come to this station," Talia mumbled just before she drifted to sleep.
Susan scooted to a more comfortable position while maintaining her hold on Talia, and soon followed her to dreamland.
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'She hadn't left her quarters all day,' the hooded figure grumbled to himself. 'How am I going to get to her if I can't get her out of her cabin? He had to be more careful since the death of the other mercenary- Henri Mayweather. He had crossed past with Henri before and they had mutual respect for each other. He still hadn't found out who had taken murdered him. His death had also caused another problem. The Commander now had a security shadow wherever she went, and frequent security rounds past her quarters when she was in them. Henri's death was going to make this more difficult. A smirked crossed his face. But, of course, he liked difficult.
When he had been approached on Mars he had been down on his luck and his ship had many repairs that needed to be done before it was space-worthy once again. It was a "simple" request. Capture the Commander alive. Secure a place out of the way on the station where the Commander could be held without detection, and then contact his employer. His employer had assured him that he would take it from there. After all of the years of this job, he still hated killing a woman. But, he needed the money, and the Commander was a means to an end.
She had almost caught him last night. He had planned to tamper with her Starfury. Just enough to force her to stay behind when her patrol went out. He had secured an EarthForce mechanic uniform. He would subdue her, and take her to the out of the way place he found in an unused storage area in what they call DownBelow. Once she was secured, he would contact his employer and wait. That had been the plan, but she and that Psi Corp telepathic bitch had showed up, and he had to escape through the maintenance bay door he had entered thru before she found him, and before he could do the damage. He was sure she would go over the Starfury from stem to stern to be sure nothing was wrong with it before she flew it. Now, he needed a new plan.
This type of work taught him to be a patient man, or you end up dead. He would wait until she slipped up and she would slip up- they always slipped up-; then he would have her. He knew for a fact she was working third shift for the next week, and that would be an opportune time for him to strike.
He, also, needed time to research the telepath. All of his information had led him to believe that she and the Commander were bitter enemies, but they had spent the night together for the last two. One of his biggest mottos had always been: There are no such thing as too much information. Besides, it would take his mind off this damn, enclosed, and close-quartered station. It had started to make him feel claustrophobic. He craved to see a blue sky, to see a sunrise and sunset, and to breathe planet air, not this recycled stuff they called air. Turning to his computer, he began his work.
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Several hours later, Susan aroused, and found a warm presence resting on her lap. Looking down, she saw Talia curled on her side, and her head was using Susan's lap as a pillow. Her blonde hair had fallen to conceal her face. Reaching out, Susan smoothed her blonde hair out of her face, and tucked it behind her ear. She's absolutely beauty in the flesh. And she wants to be with me. It filled her with such joy; such comfort. A comfort she had not had since her mother died. But, Susan knew that the only way their relationship would grow was if she was totally honest with Talia, and she just wasn't ready for that. Not yet… but soon.
Susan lightly skimmed her index finger along Talia's jawline. Her skin felt like fine porcelain- cool, delicate, smooth-beneath Susan's touch. A precious treasure she wanted to never let go. She lightly stroked the skin from Talia's ear to the base of her neck. She could feel Talia's pulse beating under her fingertips.
Talia stirred. She rolled to her back, and her eyes opened to slits. After a few moments, her pupils focused on Susan. A lazy smile looked up at her, as Talia said, "Hello, beautiful."
"No, you're the beautiful one," Susan countered. She continued to tenderly stroke Talia's jawline from ear to back of her neck.
Talia reached for Susan's hand, and planted a kiss on the palm of the hand. She maintained eye contact as she saw desire flare in Susan's eyes. Reaching up, she returned the caress. She could feel Susan's pulse beat increased.
Susan bent forward, and captured Talia's lips in a deep, passionate kiss. The need for air forced them to part. "My God, Ms. Winters, you take my breath away."
Talia just smiled, and basked in the sensations she was feeling. In the past, she'd had both male and female sexual partners, but none of them had ever made her feel this way- this special. Unknowingly until now, Talia recognized she had spent her entire life looking for a part of herself that had been missing, and Susan was that missing part. She had felt it the first time they had met, and that feeling had grown every day since then.
Like Susan, Talia wanted to take this at a slow pace, and enjoy getting to know her as a friend. Then when the time was right, she knew they would take it farther, and she would enjoy getting to know her as a lover. The last thing she wanted to do was rush this relationship, and run the possible risk of destroying a precious part of herself. "Well, Commander, how do you want to spend your day?" She coyly asked.
Looking at the chrono-display, and it is 1300. She had no idea, they had slept that long. "Well, we could go for lunch…" her stomach growling interrupted the conversation.
Talia laughed at the sound, "Well, sounds like your stomach has made our decision." Realizing that Susan was still dressed in her sleepwear, Talia sat up. "Go get a shower, and I'll take you to lunch."
Susan's stomach growled again. Her cheeks blushed light pink. Talia had never seen the strong, 'always in control' Commander blush. She reached out and cupped Susan's chin, and said, "You are so cute when you blush."
"Commanders do not blush, Ms. Winters," Susan said as she felt the heat in her cheeks continue to increase. She couldn't believe she was blushing like a schoolgirl. Her stomach growled again.
"Poor baby… It sounds like I am starving you to death. " Talia rolled over Susan's legs, and levered herself out of the bed. Reaching out and taking Susan's hands, she tugged for her to get up. "Come on. Get up, go get ready, and we'll go get you something to eat. You will need your strength for your later shift."
Susan groaned. "But I don't want to get up? Can't we order in lunch?"
Talia was firm. "No. I want to get out, and get lunch. You're working nights for the next week, and I have a busy schedule for the rest of the week… So, it maybe the last time for a while that we can be together. Besides, we need to get you some food staples for your kitchen." She tugged again, and Susan stood moving close to her.
Susan bent to kiss her, and Talia moved her head. Susan complained. "Come on, I just wanted a small kiss."
"Susan, you keep this up, and I am not going to be able to keep that promise I made you." Talia smoothed over her words with one of her million-watt smile. She picked up the tray from the floor. "Shower, now," she ordered.
Susan knew from the tone she had lost this round. "Okay, I'm going… I'm going," she grumbled as she went towards ensuit.
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That's it for now and hopefully more soon……