Chapter Fourteen: It's a Bird!

--

Stripping off the layer of clothes she used as pajamas, Hoshi wadded them up in a ball and shoved them into a bag. It was laundry day and she was going to take her clothes to the river and relax.

At least that's what she was going to tell Malcolm.

He didn't need to know about her plan to continue searching for the phase pistol.

She'd been hoping to take off before he woke up, but that hadn't worked out. Aside from when he was newly injured, he was always awake before she was.

His final question haunted her even though she'd brushed it off last night with a laugh. "Don't be silly," she had said, telling him to go to sleep and making like she was going to do the same.

She had tossed and turned all night and in the twilight hours she had fallen asleep, dreaming of birds.

Now she was up and ready to go. If she left now, she'd be back before Malcolm got irritable. Her stomach growled in protest and she packed the fish he'd cooked for her last night.

Sticking her head out the shuttle hatchway, Hoshi looked around.

The coast was clear. Malcolm was nowhere in sight.

She climbed out of the shuttle and gently closed the hatch behind her.

"Where are you going?"

She jumped, dropping her bag and biting her tongue to keep from crying out. Trying to act nonchalant, she smiled. "Where were you?" she asked, barely keeping the annoyance out of her tone.

"I was around back scavenging for parts. Where are you going?" Malcolm asked, hobbling toward the center of camp.

"I, uh…" she stuttered. "I'm going to do laundry." There really wasn't much to doing laundry. Doing laundry consisted of getting the clothes wet and laying them out to dry. They didn't have any soap.

"Uh-hu," Malcolm replied, nodding his head up and down but focused on the mechanical parts in his hand.

Instead of skulking away, Hoshi straightened. "Actually, I'll be doing all of my laundry, including the clothes I'm wearing. So I would appreciate some privacy."

Setting the parts aside, he stared at her, his cerulean eyes challenging her to tell the truth.

"I'm sure my clothes will take all day to dry," she chattered, inwardly groaning as her lie grew more absurd.

He crossed his arms.

"I'll be back before the sun sets," Hoshi stated with finality, and started to walk toward their established path to the river.

"Stop." His command was firm.

"Damn it! We need that phase pistol!" she declared.

Saying nothing, Malcolm smirked.

God, she hated that self-satisfied, sexier-than-hell smirk. Just once, she'd like to knock it off his face. "Well, I'm going downriver to look for the blasted thing. And you can't stop me."

The argument was over before it had any chance to gather momentum as Malcolm lunged at her and pinned her to the ground. "Wanna bet," he said with effort as she struggled against him.

"What are you going to do? Tie me up? Hold me against my will?" She twisted underneath him. "Stun me?" she asked with a smirk. "Oh, wait! You can't stun me. We don't have the phase pistol. Do you plan on sitting on me all day long? Who's going to catch the fish? Who's going to pick the fruit? Who's going to clean and cook? What if the bear comes back or, better yet, she's got a den full of cubs who are now bigger than she is? Are you going to kick them off with your cast? Are you –"

The rest of her rant was cut off as Malcolm muzzled her, planting his lips gently against hers. "If you would just be quiet for one bloody moment and let me explain –"

"What?" she snapped, pouting and wanting him to continue the kiss.

"I've been modifying one of the PADDs," he stated, his voice thick with need. "I was having a problem with it, but I think I figured it out. At first I was focusing on tracking the power cell. Then I realized the cell is probably depleted. So I decided to focus on trying to locate the phase pistol by metallic compound. I've got a few more adjustments to go and we should be able to go in search of it once my ankle is healed." He started to relax his hold, letting go and sitting up.

His plan did have a hell of a lot more merit than hers did. Her plan was downright asinine now that she thought about it. Did she really give a damn right now? No, she admitted to herself. Heat had unfurled in the pit of her empty stomach, reminding her of a basic, overpowering need.

It was strange. She had never considered sex to be a need. But she did now. She had been turned off and on by this man so many times she'd lost count. It was time to stay on. "When will the scanner be ready?" she asked.

"Hopefully tomorrow," he stated, moving off her.

Pushing against him, she shoved him to the ground and straddled his hips. "I don't suppose you'd consider taking a break and indulging me," she suggested breathlessly before brushing her lips against his lips.

Groaning, Malcolm turned his head to the side. "I—I can't."

Rejection! The fatal wound to any already new, frail, and excitable sexual libido! Oh, no! How could she have been so stupid? Casual. Think casual. "N-no, problem," she chuckled mirthlessly, pushing against his chest.

His hands were still bands around her wrists, holding her in place. "I won't," he clarified.

Ok! Now she was frustrated and confused! Not a good combination.

"I don't want to take advantage of you," he mumbled softly.

"Uh," she stammered. Would you mind if I took advantage of you, she thought.

Malcolm sat up, shifting her in his lap as he did, making their position more intimate than it had been. He pulled her closer. "I want you too much to be gentle. After the last time, I –"

"Bugger the last time," Hoshi growled playfully. "Need I remind you that you are the last man on the planet and I'm the last woman?"

"Hoshi, I –"

"Just shut up and kiss me," she whispered against his cheek.

"I won't stop at just a kiss." His hands gripped her hips and pulled her to him in emphasis.

"Good." She smiled, rocking against him.

Their kiss was sloppy and awkward as though it were their first. When they broke away, she gasped for air and he groaned with need.

Trailing a dewy groove along her jaw, Malcolm suckled along her neck.

She panted, closing her eyes and losing herself in the sensation. This better not be a dream. This better not be a dream. Please, oh, please, don't let this be a dream.

Malcolm pulled away. "Are you certain, Hoshi? If I don't stop now, I won't be able to."

Her frustration mounted and her anger rose. "Have I asked you to stop? Does it sound like I'm asking you to stop? Does it feel like I want you to stop? How –"

He forced her lips open under his, silencing her with a punishing kiss as his hands slid under her tank top and ran his hands up her ribcage.

Gingerly running her palms over his shoulders, Hoshi broke the kiss. How should she touch him? Does he like to be touched?

"Yes," he hissed.

"Huh?"

"Touch me here," he pleaded, taking her hands in his and placing them against the cotton material covering his chest.

She didn't know she could blush anymore than she already was. She'd obviously asked the questions out loud. Her embarrassment faded as he did things to her she'd only ever read about. It was as if he knew every place she desired to be touched. Her dreams were nothing compared to… "Oh!" she gasped, arching in his embrace and closing her eyes.

He was so slow, every movement deliberate for her arousal.

Yearning for something more, something deeper, Hoshi rocked her hips. "Please," she whimpered.

With trembling hands, he gentled her actions. "Slow down, luv. We've got all day," he murmured against her neck.

Her stomach growled and they both chuckled.

"When was the last time you ate?" Malcolm asked, continuing his assault on her senses and pulling one side of her tank top down her arm to kiss her shoulder.

"Y-yesterday," she stuttered. "Break-breakfast." Pulling her arm out of the tank top sleeve, she gasped as he nipped her collarbone. "B-but, I'm fine. Really. I'll eat whatever you put in front of me. Just please don't stop."

Exposing one of her breasts, Malcolm kissed his way to her lips. "I couldn't stop now if you begged me to." He cupped her warmth in his hand and claimed her lips.

The searing kiss ended when Malcolm pulled away and grazed his way along her neck and shoulder toward her breast.

Grabbing a fistful of his hair, Hoshi tossed her head back, her heavy lids opening skyward. Delicious sensation strummed through her as she undulated her hips in his grasp. She was delirious, her eyes open wide and watching the blue-gray sky, so much like his eyes, as he pleasured her.

A misshapen cloud flowed through the air, its direction erratic yet smooth. She paid no attention to the sound, the steady thrum of blood deafening her ears. "Ah," she gasped, twitching on his lap.

Focusing on the cloud, she mewled as Malcolm nipped at her collarbone.

The cloud drew closer, the sound of it growing louder. Flapping wings and various tweets and honks.

"It's a bird," she sighed, her voice almost dreamlike.

"Huh?" Malcolm murmured, cupping her buttocks and pulling her closer.

Arching her back, her eyes opened wider. The fire within her smoldered as reality flew overhead.

A flock of birds!

"Chicken!" she exclaimed breathlessly, pushing her lover away.

He released her immediately. "What the hell?"

She could hear the frustration and anger in his voice. And, for once, she was at a loss for words. She jumped to her feet and pointed at the sky.

"Bloody hell!" he shouted, instinctively reaching for the phase pistol.

"You've got to finish that scanner, Malcolm. We need the phase pistol now more than ever."

--

TBC