“It’s nice to know we rank higher than pizza.” Xaber kissed her cheek and then stood.
“I need to find an injector, and you should hop back in the shower. Unless that fruity-smelling goop in your hair is supposed to be there?”
“Veth!I forgot about that. I was rinsing my hair when someone started shouting my name and trampling around in the corridor.”
Mace gathered Tish into his arms and lifted her to his chest before rising to his feet. “Xay, you get the injector. The lady and I will meet you in the shower.”
“All three of us?”
“Mm hmm.” The thought of her, slick with water and pressed up against him, had him harder than hull plating.
“I won’t be long. Don’t start without me.” Xaber was out the door before he finished his sentence.
“Not that I’m complaining. But why will it take three of us to wash the conditioner out of my hair?”
“Because we want to take care of you.” He raised her higher in his arms and stopped any further questions with a kiss.
He carried her out of the smaller cabin and down the corridor to the larger one they all shared.
They’d all had a difficult day, but hers had been the worst. He wanted to pamper her and give her some time when she didn’t have to make any hard decisions.
“Livy, turn the shower on to Tish’s preferred setting.”
“Shower activated. You may enter when ready.”
“Thanks, Livy.” Mace carried Tish into the sanitation room. Like the rest of the living space, it had been refitted to accommodate the former owners. That meant it was spacious by any standard he could think of.
“In you go.” He shooed her toward the stream of water already falling from the showerhead and then plucked the towel from her body as she moved away from him.
Damn, she was so beautiful. And she had chosen to stay with them. They were sofraxxinglucky.
He pulled off his boots and then stripped off his shirt without caring if he ripped anything. All he needed was to be with her.
She stepped into the shower, her body partially obscured by the first tendrils of steam. She glanced back at him, the tip of her tongue wetting her lips as she deliberately raised her hands to cup her breasts as the water flowed over her naked form.
“Careful, temptress. You keep that up and Xaber is going to be disappointed, because Iwillstart without him.”
She smirked. “You talk a good game, cyborg, but you’re still dry and I’m here, all…” She flickered her fingers, spraying water in his direction. “Wet.”
This was new. He’d seen many of Tish’s moods, but this was the first time she’d been so playful… and by the stars, he liked it.
“Challenge accepted.” He walked into the shower without bothering to finish undressing. He still wore his pants, though they were open and tugged down to his hips.
She laughed, her voice echoing off the tiled walls. She slipped her hand down the front of his pants and stroked his cock. “I’m not the only one who needs to be taken care of.”
“You first.” He caught her by the hips and pulled her in close. Then he let his hands glide up her body, caressing every part of her until he reached her hair. The water had already washed away some of the residue, but he set to work massaging the rest of it out of her hair.
Tish closed her eyes with a throaty groan and leaned into his touch. “That is good.” She almost purred the words.
Bootsteps rang on the tile floor as Xaber walked in. “I see how it is. What part of ‘don’t start without me’ did you not understand?”
“Your lack of urgency is not my problem.” Mace didn’t bother to look in his batch-brother’s direction. His focus was on Tish.
“Apparently, your problem is patience. You didn’t even pause long enough to finish undressing. Mace, why are you wearing a sock in the shower?”
“Because she was naked. Now shut up and get in here. I told Tishwe’dtake care of her. You’re making me look bad.”
Tish snickered. “I don’t think it’s possible for either of you to look bad.” She reached toward Xaber with one dripping hand. “Come here, Xay. I was promised the attention of both my lovers. I’m feeling…needy.”
