Tymber Dalton - Love at First Bight

“Do you have to know that right now?”

“I told you, you don’t have to tell me today. But if I’m trusting my life to you, then you’d better give a little trust in return.” Then she felt it, his pain. How he carefully concealed it she’d never know, but it was there, and deep. Grief. He’d lost someone. That meant she would need to do some digging.

“Not today, Emi. Please. One day, but not today.”

“Fair enough.” Emi wanted to test the lesson he’d just learned.

“You don’t want to fall in love with someone just to have them leave in a few years.”

“I don’t want my men hurt.”

“You feel responsible for them.”

“I am responsible for them.”

“And if I join your crew? Or will you decide to refuse my assignment?”

His hand tightened a little around hers. “I would be responsible for your life, too.”

“You didn’t answer my other question.” He studied her, apparently not used to dealing with someone who didn’t give a rat’s ass about their crew sleeping arrangements. “I wouldn’t refuse your assignment. Not right now, anyway.” He pulled her to him and kissed her again. This time she relaxed her body into his and enjoyed it. When he lifted his lips from hers, he didn’t release her. “I’m sorry,” he apologized.

She nodded. “It’s okay. I understand this has been rough on you guys. Just don’t lump me in with everyone else.”

“Okay.” He let her go and started to lead her from the room.

“Oh, sorry, was I supposed to ask for permission to come aboard or to kiss you or something?” she snarked.

When he turned and saw her smile, he finally smiled. It changed his brooding face into a very handsome sight. “Permission granted, Doc.”

Caph and Ford had frantically struggled to tidy the common room.

It looked marginally better, but the sheer amount of stuff all over the place meant it was simply neater piles, not necessarily neat.

Both men looked up, anxious, when Emi followed Aaron into the room.

Aaron pointed at the table. “Let’s all sit down and talk,” he suggested.

“She’s staying?” the twins parroted. Aaron grimaced, and the men said, “Sorry, Cap.”

Emi laughed as she sat. “That’s funny.”

“Tell me that after twenty years,” Aaron said. “You might have a different opinion then.”

When they were seated, Aaron across the table from Emi, he took over. “Do you have questions for us?” She studied their faces. “Yeah. Do any of you snore?” All three men looked startled. Ford finally laughed. “Did she just ask what I think she asked?”

“Yeah, I asked it. Anyone going to answer?” Aaron, relaxed and smiling, leaned back in his chair. “Caph sometimes talks in his sleep. They don’t snore and haven’t complained about me snoring, so I guess that’s a no.”

“Good. Before we go too much further, I wanted to tell you all I already know I’m not picking the Kendall Kant. Since your sleeping arrangements¯albeit unusual¯don’t shock me, I’d like to spend some time with you guys and get to know you better.” She met and held Aaron’s gaze.

Ford and Caph looked at each other. “Cool!” Aaron rolled his eyes.

“But I’ve got a few things of my own to get out there. The Kendall Kant guys seem to think I needed some physical conditioning.”

All three men immediately glared.

“Those assholes called you fat?” Ford asked.

They were mad for her, she felt it, their protectiveness washing off them. That was a good sign. “They didn’t call me fat, they said I am attractive but indicated I’m not their idea of prime physical shape.”

“They’re blind assholes,” Caph said, glaring. “Remind me to fucking punch their goddamn lights out next time I see them.”

“You’re beautiful, Emi,” Ford said, reaching for her hand. “No shit, you are.”

Emi had never considered herself beautiful, even though she knew she wasn’t ugly or fat. She didn’t like to exercise, and was a little more rounded in her hips and thighs than she’d like. She usually kept her dark brown hair pulled up in a twist on the back of her head.

Otherwise it fell just below her shoulders. She’d inherited her mother’s grey eyes and fair skin, and her father’s long hands and graceful, elegant fingers.

“What would you expect from me as a crew member?” Caph and Ford deferred to Aaron. He shrugged. “You’ll have duties, be on watches, and you’re the medical officer. We share galley and maintenance duties. Can you run a weapons system?” She shook her head.

“No problem, we can teach you that.” He paused, realized what he was saying, and his face shifted into a hard mask again. “Look, don’t get our hopes up, please. If you’re just fucking with us¯”

“I’m not fucking with you. I thought we’d already settled this.” Ford still held her hand. She tightened her grip on him. “I have to ask these questions. For all of us. Can I promise you right now I’m going to pick you guys? No, I can’t. I can tell you I didn’t sit down and have this kind of conversation with the Braynow Gaston crew.” Aaron relaxed. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have interrupted you.” She softened her voice. “You interrupted yourself, Aaron. You’d asked me if I could run a weapons system.” He smiled again. She loved it. She had a feeling he was a man who didn’t smile a lot. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” Caph let out a relieved sigh. She focused on him just long enough to wink. He grinned.

She returned her gaze to Aaron. “Back to crew duties. I can’t run a weapons system. But if I can treat a cranial hematoma, how hard can it be?”

Ford snickered. “It’s not brain surgery.” He must be the quick wit of the crew. “Let’s not beat around the bush, gentlemen.” Emi looked at each man in turn, then back to Aaron. “I’m assuming from the sleeping arrangement and from our discussion that things are pretty open between the three of you, and I would fit into that dynamic.”

Ford and Caph looked slightly puzzled, but Aaron nodded, not blushing, not looking away, unapologetic. “Even if we could force you, we wouldn’t. It’s probably safe to say if you were in the mood, at least one of us would be too. On the off chance we weren’t, trust me, someone would volunteer to give you a hand, so to speak.” He leaned forward, his arms crossed on the table in front of him. “It won’t bother you if someone’s in the mood and you’re not, and they’re in bed with you having sex with each other?” She released Ford’s hand and mirrored Aaron’s pose. “Frankly, the idea of watching two¯or three¯hot guys together would probably get me in the mood if I wasn’t already.” Ford’s jaw dropped. “Holy shit!” he whispered.

“She called us hot!” Caph said, stunned.

“You guys have really taken a beating on the self-esteem here lately, haven’t you?” she asked.

“Well, between the geeks and the grunts,” Ford admitted, “it’s been rough.”

She remembered her irritation at how the first two ships talked about these guys. If the other crews were just as disrespectful, it was no wonder they were having a hard time finding someone to sign on with them.

Emi sat back in her chair. Time for honesty on her part. “Look, I’ve only ever been with two guys in my life, and not at the same time, either. I’m not exactly a wild child. I am open-minded, and I might be willing to experiment to a certain degree, but I can’t promise you I’ll ever be in the mood to get…crazy. That won’t bore you guys?”

All three men shook their heads, not daring to speak.

“I guess if I’d be sleeping with all three of you anyway, it doesn’t matter if it’s with one of you at a time all together or as a group, so that’s kind of moot. But what if there are times I want or need to be alone?”