Love

Chapter 18

By the time Kate was back on the bridge she could see out one of the windows and saw a few of the sails stating to deploy. They were red with gold stitching. "Those are gorgeous." She had never seen them before. She looked at him with concern. "Castle, how are we going to get out?"

"The only way I know how. The same way I got it in here." Rick then took his ring off and set it on the pedestal. "In case we get hit."

"Where do you want me?" They had an entire ship and there were only two of them.

"For now, take the rearmost ballista. Load it and get ready to shoot it at someone," he suggested.

"Got it." Kate began to leave only to have him stop her.

"Remember, there's no gravity. Gravity's only in your mind. How fast you move and how well you shoot is a matter of the mind. The smarter you are the better you are," Rick reminded her.

"No gravity, got it." Kate started for the stairs only to stop. "Acid or fire?" They had both.

"Your choice, you're the one doing the shooting. The same applies for that weapon of yours." He didn't care which one she shot, only that she was successful.

Kate ran down the stairs, over to the aftmost ballista, and chose an arrow to load. It was simple enough: place the arrow on it and wind it back until she could lock it in place. It was on a center pedestal so she could spin it any direction she chose. She could even go up and down a little.

The only thing was she couldn't see them from here. She didn't have a window with zoom to look through, so she was forced to wait.

While Rick could see both of them, he soon found that to keep them in sight and see where he was going was no easy task. So he decided to pay more attention to where he was going so that he didn't hit anything and take an occasional peek at where they were now. As they got closer and closer he could see that each ship was easily less than half their size. It told him that if this ship held fourteen crewmen, then those two likely held four each. Meaning one to sail and three to board his ship.

Rick had an opening so he stepped to the window that looked out on Kate. "They're getting closer. I estimate four per ship. Only three will be able to leave and try and board us. They're too small to have a weapon." He didn't wait for a reply and went back to sailing.

Kate had heard him; she waved and went back to actively looking. Then she had an idea. It meant changing from an acid arrow to a fire arrow. It cost her a little time but she had a plan. It only took a couple of minutes. However, those two minutes meant when she looked next she saw both of them with ease. "Smaller than I thought." She wanted them a little closer so she waited.

"Come on, come on. Move just a little. That's right, just a little more. …SUCKER!" Kate activated the weapon and didn't wait for the result; she started winding for the next one.

Rick had heard her yell and turned his head around to take a peek. "SHIT, she's off by a mile." He was hoping to at least slow one of them down. He couldn't afford to keep watching, though. He had to watch where he was going.

Kate was still winding when she heard the explosion and saw a sudden bright glow. She stopping to look. As she watched she liked what she saw – a lot. She watched instead of winding. Her arrow was going to miss the ship, all right. As she had planned it hit an asteroid, exploded, and sent it hurtling straight into the ship where to embedded itself. It also sheared its lone mast off the ship causing it to lose half their sails.

"YES!" She celebrated for a moment then started winding. "One down, one to go. That'll teach them to mess with us." She was pretty sure they wouldn't fall for that again so she selected an acid arrow this time.

Hearing Kate yell had Rick taking a quick peek. "I'll be damned." He saw an asteroid embedded in its side and its main upper mast was down. It was out of the fight. She was smarter than he thought, which in the Astral Plane was a good thing.

He went back to looking where he was going. He wanted to add more sails but they still had asteroids to dodge first.

Kate was setting the arrow in place and looked up. "What the hell are those?" There were three of them and they were headed her way. "CASTLE! What are those?" He had zoom and she didn't.

Rick didn't want to look but she was yelling for help. A quick peek told him. "BOARDERS!" He turned back to where they were going.

"Shit!" Not what she needed. It meant the ballista was useless. She abandoned it and hopped up onto the rearmost clerestory so she could get higher up. Once up she drew her weapon and lined up on the first one. "No gravity, no gravity." She just had to shoot straight and she was really good at that.

Kate gave the one farthest to the left three rounds and moved to line up on the guy next to him. She gave him her last three rounds then clicked the cylinder out and ejected the spent rounds. She got out a speed loader, reloaded her revolver, and slapped the cylinder back in place. She looked up again. "OH, CRAP!" The third one was almost to their ship. She fired three quick rounds into him and watched him suddenly fall away. She looked for the other two but didn't see anyone.

"DID I GET THEM ALL!?" She couldn't see anyone but maybe Castle could.

Rick turned his head and gave the area a quick scan. "I just see the ship!" He turned back around and kept his eyes open.

Kate decided she couldn't risk it. Opening her cylinder again, she yanked out her three spent rounds one at a time then pulled out three new rounds and replaced them.

A noise had her looking and she saw someone coming up over the side of the ship. She lined up her shot, put three rounds into him, and watched him spin away into the distance. She felt more than heard a second one; she spun the opposite direction and saw another. Three rounds into him had him spinning away into the distance as well.

Kate couldn't afford to keep looking as she needed to reload. Ejecting the cylinder she ejected the spent rounds, grabbed her second speed loader, and reloaded. Snapping the cylinder back into place, she spun around to look for someone, anyone.

"HANG ON, I'M ADDING SAILS!" Rick thought they were clear enough that he could add the remaining sails and gain some speed.

Kate hopped off the clerestory and grabbed hold of it. She could feel their speed suddenly increasing. They she heard the bad news.

"FORWARD BALLISTA! NOW!" They weren't alone. What Rick was afraid of had come to pass. The only bright spot he saw was that there was just the one and it was another scout ship.

"SHIT!" Kate cursed, sprinting flat out. She took the staircase down to the main deck three steps at a time. She blew past the tree and brushed her hand across it. "Stand strong, big guy." Rick had teased her about talking to it, but she didn't see the harm.

She skidded to a stop and saw the problem easily enough. It had her winding as fast as she could. "Acid or fire?" The fire had worked out perfectly, but the asteroids were behind them making them useless. That being the case the best choice was… "Fire." Kate put it in place and spun it to line up on the ship. It was at that moment she saw three specks just leaving the ship. "Great, more boarders." This was getting really old fast.

She aimed at the ship and fired. Then she abandoned the ballista and moved farther forward and aimed her weapon. Kate and Rick watched as her shot headed for the scout ship. He didn't know which she had used, he just wanted that ship taken out of their way. Kate did know and suddenly had high hopes. "How do you guys like fire?" Her shot was headed right for the bow. She saw the ship suddenly start to turn but it was too late. Her shot hit amidships and blew up spectacularly. It engulfed the ship and the three boarders.

Once it faded Kate and Rick saw three bodies still headed their way. "Let's see just how fast you guys are." He left his spot and searched for the scroll he wanted. Then he picked up his ring, put it on, and laid the scroll in its place.

The result was instantaneous. Rick fell back into the window behind him. Kate tumbled backwards until she hit the ballista. "WHAT THE HELL!" She got up and groaned; her back was killing her. "SHIT!" Gritting her teeth against the pain, she scrambled to the front and looked. She didn't see anything. Literally nothing. A light had her looking to her right and behind her. There she saw the burning wreck of the scout ship. She also saw three specks falling farther and farther behind them.

"What happened? Are we really that fast?" If they were, that was really cool. Kate stood up straighter and felt her back scream at her. "I hope I haven't broken anything." She moved over to the port side, trying to see everything and everyone being left behind. Then she looked back at the bridge and waved.

"Interesting weapon." She had a new appreciation for the ancient ballista. Even if it was the arrow tips that did all the damage.

.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.

Rick was still sailing as Kate found her way all the way back to the bridge. "Nice work, big guy." She patted the tree along the way.

"What happened?" She reached behind her to rub her lower back which was hurting something fierce. "Suddenly I went flying backwards." Not that she was complaining much. Whatever it was had obviously helped them.

He pointed to the scroll laying on the pedestal. "Scroll of Wind. It added wind to the sails."

"More magic." She wasn't sure if she was ever going to adapt to that much magic. "Nice work, babe." Kate started to reach up to kiss him, however, her back protested mightily and she groaned.

"What's wrong?" Rick had heard that and was immediately concerned.

"I hit my back against the ballista with that sudden burst of speed. My lower back's killing me." She rubbed her back yet again.

He took his ring off and handed it to her. "Put this on. You should be healed by morning."

She slipped it on her finger. "Thanks, babe."

He looked confused. "Babe?" She was beginning to say that more and more.

"It's a term of endearment. It means I love you." This time Kate ignored her back and reached up to give him a quick kiss.

Rick needed to think. He had heard that term, I love you, a few times now. It was just that before it hadn't had much meaning for him. Was that what he thought about Kate? He thought he was ready to say it back, but nothing came out.

"Your weapon appears to be useful. Can it pierce armor?" Those guys were likely wearing simple leather if they were wearing anything.

"Depends on how thick and how close they are. So…maybe." She had regular rounds, nothing special. "Where are we going?" Did he have a destination in mind?

Rick pointed. "That way, far away from that Mind Flayer ship."

Kate hummed her agreement at that idea. "So we just sail until we find something?"

"I don't have much knowledge of this area. I mostly came here just to get away and find some peace from my life. I know a little, but that isn't really all that much." He felt kind of sorry about that.

She shrugged. "So we learn together. It's okay, babe, we'll figure it out. …I need some coffee and maybe a little something extra. Are you good here?" She was ready for a break.

"Give me a minute." Rick left the controls and started a search using each window and zooming way out. "We're clear. Bring me some water when you can, please."

"Be right back." Kate gave him a quick kiss again and headed down all the stairs, carefully, very carefully.

She tapped the cooktop. "Warm up some water for me, would you please, Hot Stuff?"

With coffee that had a touch of whiskey in it and a large glass of water with a little ice in it, she went back up all the stairs. Very carefully.

.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.

They saw nothing and still more nothing until they both needed sleep. Rick retracted all but two of the sails, meaning they slowed way down after the scroll was used up.

He picked up the now blank scroll since its magic had been drained and replaced it with what looked like a bell. "What's that do?" Kate inquired curiously.

"It's an alarm. If anyone but us sets foot on the ship an alarm will sound." It was the best they had. It would mean they had already been boarded, but at least they wouldn't be caught sleeping and be captured.

Rick made it to their cabin first because Kate took all of the steps slowly, not wanting to aggravate her back any more than it already had been.

She went through her nightly routine and wearing her nightshirt, carefully slid onto the bed and snuggled up close to Castle, willing herself to sleep. It had been a very long, very exciting, and very dangerous day.

.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.

Kate woke up and found the bed empty. A sweep of her arm told her the bed was still warm so he hadn't been gone long. She stretched her muscles and quickly noticed that her back felt great. Swinging her legs over the side, she stood up with ease.

"Magic." She held up her hand to look at Castle's ring and shook her head. She headed out of the room, chose the bathroom on the left, and found it empty. The room was only big enough for the toilet (waste was sent to the bilge), a sink inset in a real wood counter, along with a tub that doubled as a shower. Her personal items littered the counter.

Kate washed her face and was drying it when Castle showed up behind her. "How's the back?" She had worn his ring all night so she should be fine again.

"Perfect, thank you." She spun around to face him and found him naked with a huge erection. She didn't know if it was because of her addiction or because she wanted to, but she was soon stroking his cock followed by licking it until it was nice and wet.

Kate took his cock in her mouth and pushed it down her open throat. She didn't care if it was magic or not. His cock was delicious and she knew his come was even more so. "Come for me, Castle. I want to taste you." She took his cock back in her mouth and worked her tongue all over his head. She was soon rewarded with the taste of his come that had her swirling her tongue all through it before finally swallowing all of it. She then stood up, sat on the counter, and spread her legs. "Eat me, lover. Make me come all over your face." She moaned the second his tongue found her outer lips. He really was good at eating her pussy. "Right there. Don't stop, don't ever stop." She could feel her orgasm building. Then suddenly she felt two of his fingers slip inside her just as his tongue started hitting her clit over and over as fast as he could. It had her screaming out her first orgasm.

Castle was slowly licking her lips as she came down from her orgasm. He was a terrific lover. The best she'd ever had. Then she found herself being pulled off the counter, spun around, and made to bend over. Kate knew what was coming and couldn't wait for him to fuck her. "I want you," Rick said and his words went straight to her heart. Thanks to her addiction she had always started their lovemaking. Much like this time. However, him telling her that he wanted her? That was a first. It made her love him more. Castle really wanted her.

She turned her head to watch. His massive cock found her entrance and she moaned as the head of his cock slipped inside her. She could feel herself being filled up totally as he kept pushing. It was magic, but that didn't lessen what she was feeling.

She was already wet and Castle was soon slamming his cock deep inside her and she could hear and feel his body slapping against hers. She could feel her breasts swaying with each stroke. "GOD YES, RICK! FUCK ME!" Kate squeezed her eyes closed as she felt herself building up to her second orgasm of the morning.

.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.=.o[X]o.=.x{O}x.

Kate could feel his come leaking out of her pussy and trailing down her leg. She presently had her arms around his neck and was kissing him as she searched his mouth with her tongue.

"You're the best, Castle." She looked into his eyes and saw tears. "What's wrong?" It had been great, but had she some how hurt him?

"I can't afford to lose you." He didn't have a word for it, but what he felt for Kate was something he had never felt before in his life. She meant everything to him.

Now Kate felt tears welling up. "You love me. That's what you're feeling." She loved him so very much.

Rick thought about it. He'd heard women tell him that they loved him before. Feeling it himself was something new. He spoke the words for the first time. "I love you." Then Kate reached up to kiss him soundly. She kissed him with all the passion she could muster. She loved him and now he'd told her that he loved her. It was just what she had always wanted. To find someone she could jump into with and love with all of her heart and be loved back with an equal amount of passion. She'd never dreamed it would be a demon and that they would be living on a Githyanki ship on the Astral Plane.

"I love you, babe. I love you so very much." She stared at his entrancing blue eyes for a moment then went back to kissing him.