In the bedroom,” she added quickly.
His dark golden eyes were bright with tender amusement. “Is that so?”
She nodded. “I especially like the spanking.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before he flipped her over, lifted her tunic, and his hand descended. The sharp sting sent a wave of heat straight to her sensitive pussy, and he growled appreciatively as he ran a finger through her dampening folds.
“You will tell me if you change your mind,” he ordered.
“I will,” she promised, then wiggled her bottom teasingly. “That is, if you ever get started.”
His hand descended again, and she sighed contentedly as her body responded, happier than she had ever been.
Chapter Twenty
After a long, delicious time with Varga, Joan decided they needed to rejoin the others. He grumbled but agreed and together they went to check on George. The system readout said that the treatment was complete, and when Joan released her, the small lizard hopped eagerly into her arms, chirping happily. There was no sign of damage to her rear leg.
“This is wonderful.” Joan hugged George and smiled up at Varga. “I’m so glad you have this on board.”
“It came with the ship,” he said with a shrug. “I never expected that I would have need of it.”
“It’s a very… fancy ship.” She remembered her earlier concerns. “It doesn’t really seem like you.”
“You don’t think I am a fancy male? I’m shocked.”
“You know what I mean.”
He laughed. “I do. Although it is beautiful, it is perhaps more elaborate than I would have chosen, but it is fast, comfortable, and well-equipped. By purchasing the Aerie, I knew I would always have a space that was mine—that is now ours. If you don’t like the decor, feel free to change it anyway you wish.”
His words only reinforced her earlier realization that he was nothing like Kevin, and she smiled up at him. “It’s fine. I like the idea that we will always have a home here.”
“Good.” He bent down and kissed her, and it wasn’t until George squeaked that she realized that she was leaning into him.
“You are far too tempting, sweetheart,” he said ruefully as he gave George an apologetic pat.
“Then I will remove my tempting presence and go start on lunch. Plus I’m sure George is hungry.”
The lizard’s head bobbed eagerly, and they both laughed.
“I wish to help,” Saka announced a short time later. Joan looked up and saw the other female standing at the entrance to the kitchen, her expression masked.
“You don’t have to,” Joan said quickly, suspecting that Saka still felt guilty about the previous night. “I can handle it.”
Saka shifted uncomfortably, her eyes not meeting Joan’s. “I wish to help,” she repeated stiffly. “I wish to… learn.”
“You want to learn to cook?”
“It is a skill that I do not possess.”
Saka still wasn’t looking at her, but Joan suddenly thought she understood why the other female wanted to learn. Her own anxiety about being dependent on another was still fresh in her mind.
“Of course,” she said quickly. “I would enjoy the company.”
Saka flashed her a quick, shaky smile, and Joan had to bite back the urge to cry.
“Since the sweet pastries were so successful yesterday, I thought I would try some savory ones today. You can help me make the dough.”
Saka proved not only surprisingly quick to pick up the basics, but to be an entertaining companion. She had a dry, cynical wit that Joan appreciated.
“He looks so harmless,” Saka said thoughtfully, looking at George. The lizard had eaten until her stomach was a small, round ball, then curled up and gone to sleep in a storage container.
“She,” Joan corrected. “According to the medical bed, George is a she.”
“Somehow, that just makes it even better that she was the one to take down Baahy.”
“I know.” Joan flashed her a smile. “We females have our resources.”
A shadow crossed Saka’s face, and Joan squeezed her hand. “You were resourceful enough to stay alive. That’s what matters. And soon you will be able to dazzle everyone with your cooking as well as your beauty.”
Saka doubtfully regarded the misshapen pastry she had just created. “I hope my looks are not as crooked as this dough.”
Joan laughed. “It’s what’s on the inside that counts. Do you want to try another?”
After lunch, Joan returned to the cabin to collect a pillow for George. A soft knock sounded, and she looked up to see Issar standing there.
“Varga went down to change a filter in the engine room,” she said.
“I wasn’t looking for him. I was