Free Chevon's Mate by April Zyon

new tricks or cues but I plan on proving
the critics wrong. It may take me a while, and you may need to be less than
subtle, but I will get there in time.”
    She moved back to his side and
slipped her hand into his once the lift started. Pulling her in close, he wrapped his arms around her. “I am
never letting you go.”
    “Good, because I’m never letting you go either.”
    “ So, ” she told him several moments later as
they walked toward their quarters. “I’m shocked that we haven’t run into anyone. How did you manage for us
to be completely and fully alone?”
    He shot her a look and kept on going. “It’s good to be
the one in charge. Occasionally I like to flex those muscles as a reminder to
the crew. Actually, I have never done something like this before. But it seemed to be the way to
keep them all from learning something that may jeopardize their futures while
giving us some time alone. A hard thing to do on a vessel this size. It was
part of the reason we remained in certain sections for a set amount of time. I
couldn’t shut down the entire crew or sections of the cruiser. Everything had
to happen in a set pattern. I must admit it went better than I thought. I may
need to recommend a raise for my first. Malek really came through. He suggested some drills that would guarantee
certain sections were completely empty when I needed them to be.” Opening the
door to their rooms, he let her proceed ahead of him. Then he followed, pulling
the rack. “Did you enjoy our night out?”
    “I did. I think you owe Malek a
huge thank you for giving you this idea,” she said with a grin. “I know I’m
going to thank him for helping you plan this date.” Malek had quickly become a friend to her during her
time on the ship, but no one was better than Chevon and she knew it.
    “It was my idea, let us not
forget that detail. But you’re right. I do owe him a thank you. He might have
some additional time off shortly .
He’s been helping to carry a heavy load with these training runs, and I think
he deserves to know I would never survive without his assistance.” He brought
the rack into their bedroom and moved to the side opposite his own closet. A push to the panel and it slid
open to reveal a large space full of shelving and hanging bars at various
levels. Unlike his, she could walk into the space. “Your closet, little one.”
    “Thank you.” She began to pull
out the clothing and put it on the hanging bars. Once she was finished, she stepped back and to
Chevon’s side.
    He kissed her before taking the
rack back out to the main room. “I need to return this to the bay before I let
the crew get back to normal activities. Will you be all right while I take care
of this?”
    “I will. If you don’t mind, I’m going to take a sonic shower and
put on some of the night clothes we got from the bay.” She moved closer to him.
Her hand on his chest, she tilted her head back for his kiss.
    “Don’t bother with the
nightwear, Laura.” He left her standing there processing it while he headed out
with the rack in tow. Laughing, she locked the door behind him. Then she
stepped into the bathing room to take a sonic shower to fill the time while
Chevon was gone.
     

Chapter Eight
     
    When Chevon came back to their rooms she heard him moving
around in the outer room. Then the lights all dimmed and music began to play
from speakers she couldn’t even see. Wandering into the bedroom a moment later,
he stopped to look her up and down. Laura had wrapped herself up in a robe,
positioning it just so that sitting on the bed he wouldn’t know one way or
another if she had anything on underneath.
    Not that he said anything. He sat down in the chair to take
off his boots and socks before standing to begin removing his uniform.
Occasionally he threw her a look as if trying to figure out if she’d listened
to his advice on the nightwear or not.
    She leaned back slightly and tilted her head to the side,
her hair falling