Chapter Twenty-seven

MAIA LOOKED DOWN AT the book that lay open in front of her. The words slipped past her eyes, none of them making sense. She wished she had the time and the necessary tools to learn the language. The story was charming, even if it had been written hundreds of years ago by this Austen human. Maia had grown up with stories to read and watch, but there was something fascinating about discovering another species’ art. If she had been allowed, she might have taken to studying the major texts from other cultures as a child, though that would have ostracized her even further from her people, in addition to disappointing her mother. The ikthians never considered anything that came from other cultures to be useful.

With a sigh, Maia allowed her thoughts to float elsewhere. Where they wandered surprised her. She pictured Taylor, naked and well-muscled, pinning her down to the bed, and her body pulsed in response to the vivid mental image. She was somewhat ashamed by the swiftness and strength of her physical reaction. Taylor hadn’t tried to initiate anything more between them since the incident with Bower and the other humans. Instead, she had made an effort to be kind while maintaining distance.

Unfortunately, Maia's need had only grown worse since then. Though Bower’s attack had made her even more fearful than before, Taylor always made her feel safe. She blushed, shaking her head to dispel a particularly intense memory of Taylor’s lips meeting hers in a searing kiss beneath the spray of the shower. She missed the taste of Taylor’s mouth.

"Stop it," she murmured. Perhaps it was time for another shower, alone. It would offer her some privacy if she became desperate.

The sound of the door opening gave Maia an excuse to abandon her book. Taylor was back. Her heart rate spiked with anticipation. Taylor had asked for time after confessing her feelings, but Maia had been fighting off her pent-up need for nearly a week. She could do it no longer.

She met Taylor out in the living room. The human had slumped onto the couch, hunched over with her head in her hands. Maia resisted the urge to initiate physical contact. Obviously, something was wrong, and she had to be considerate of Taylor’s feelings. Not knowing where to begin, Maia sat down in the empty space next to her. "Hello."

Slowly, Taylor glanced up. "Hey."

They both stared awkwardly. Taylor was clearly waiting for her to say more, but Maia didn’t know how to continue. "Are you all right? You seem upset. Tense." She was worried first and foremost, but the greedy, amorous part of her couldn’t help hoping Taylor would allow her to help relieve some of that tension.

"Just a meeting with some people I really didn't want to talk to."

"Is there anything I can do?" Maia leaned forward slightly, shifting closer. She desperately hoped that Taylor would pick up on the hint, or at least react to their close proximity.

Unfortunately, Taylor was either oblivious, or not in the mood. "No, but thanks for asking. It was just hard to hear the generals talk about you like a bargaining chip. Guess it reminded me too much of my own behavior." She straightened, giving Maia a weak smile. "I asked them if we could use your research to undermine the Dominion. All of them except Roberts thought that was a terrible idea. I tried my best, but they don’t understand."

It was a surprising confession. Maia hadn’t expected Taylor to suggest her research as a potential tool for the Coalition, but it was somewhat flattering. "You honestly think my research would make a difference in this war?"

Taylor looked at her in disbelief. "Are you kidding? You’re brilliant. You know everything about the ikthians and their propaganda machine, and your research threatens to subvert their entire belief system. If you were human or even naledai, they wouldn’t hesitate to ask you for help."

Maia blushed. "You really believe that?"

"I do. And I haven’t given up hope of convincing them yet. It seems impossible right now, but I want to find a way. I think you should stay here and help us, as an ally instead of a prisoner."

She wishes for me to stay. Taylor wishes for me to stay, and not as a prisoner. Maia knew it was a pipe dream at best, something she shouldn’t dare to hope for, but simply hearing that Taylor wanted it filled her heart with joy.

Before she could stop herself, she leaned forward. When Taylor didn’t pull away, Maia kissed her. After a few seconds, Taylor began to kiss her back. Maia moaned at the warmth and softness of Taylor’s lips. Tasting them was like sinking into a warm, comforting pool of water, and it relaxed every inch of her body even as a more urgent heat churned low in her belly. She placed her hands on Taylor’s shoulders, whimpering when they broke contact.

"Hold on," Taylor muttered. Her breathing had grown heavy, and she stared at Maia with wide, dark eyes. Maia could read arousal there, but there was also hesitance, and hope. "I didn’t say any of this to just get you to sleep with me again."

"I know. I am doing this because I want to." Maia tipped Taylor backwards onto the couch, hovering over her to join their lips again.

Taylor cupped the side of Maia’s face, easing them out of the kiss and pushing her a few inches away. Maia withdrew, a small pout settling on her lips. She was about to protest, to counter any arguments Taylor made, but the human only smiled at her. "We should move to the bedroom," she whispered, and Maia felt the nervousness in her chest unravel. Taylor wasn’t rejecting her after all.

"I suppose this couch is not very comfortable," Maia agreed. Reluctantly, she climbed off of Taylor and stood on unsteady legs. Her hands trembled too, but with desire rather than nervousness. She wasn’t afraid of the way her body reacted to Taylor anymore, although the intensity was still overwhelming.

"Actually, I had other reasons for wanting to go back there."

Before Maia could ask Taylor to explain the cryptic comment, she found herself being scooped up in a pair of powerful arms and lifted off the floor. She let out a squeak of surprise, but Taylor only grinned. "Is this too Darcy for you?"

Maia laughed and placed a hand on Taylor’s chest, enjoying the rise and fall beneath her palm. She could feel Taylor’s heartbeat, and for some reason, the fast and steady thump aroused her even more. She hoped that it was beating quickly for her. "Pride & Prejudice would be another type of story entirely if Darcy carried Elizabeth away for activities like these."

Taylor shrugged Maia up higher into her arms as she carried her down the hall and across the threshold to the bedroom. Maia looped her arms around Taylor's neck, settling against the solid warmth of her chest. "I’m sure there’s a book like that somewhere in the library if you’re interested," Taylor whispered, pressing their foreheads together and stealing another kiss.

A groan broke in Maia's throat as they finally pulled apart. It took her a moment to find her words. "I think we can find better ways to occupy ourselves."

Taylor lowered Maia onto the mattress, but didn’t join her right away. Maia frowned and reached out, running her fingertips down Taylor’s arm. Even through the fabric of Taylor’s shirt, she could feel the strength there, the muscles that had so easily lifted her up. "Where are you going?" she asked, wanting to touch Taylor’s bare skin more than anything.

Taylor blushed, although she didn’t try and shrug off Maia’s touch. "I…uh…wanted to try something, actually? Something a little different. If you don’t mind, that is."

"Try something?" Maia had often heard jokes between her colleagues about sexual partners revealing their odd requests, but since she rarely joined in such conversations, she had no idea what her reaction was supposed to be. She wondered what Taylor could possibly ask of her, but hoped that it was a desire she could fulfill. Thinking back, she realized Taylor had always taken the initiative before, and she hadn’t made the same effort to reciprocate. It was a habit she wanted to change.

Taylor sighed. "Maybe it will be easier if I just show you." She turned away from the bed, hauling out the duffel bag tucked away next to the nightstand. Even though she’d been living in this suite with Maia for several weeks, she still hadn’t bothered to unpack everything.

Maia fidgeted, torn between impatience and curiosity as she watched Taylor rummage through the pack. After a few moments, she seemed to find what she was looking for. She stood back up and turned, holding something in her hands.

A soft gasp escaped from Maia before she could stifle it. The shape of the object was instantly familiar to her. Yet more proof of the genetic similarities between our species, her scientific mind couldn’t help adding as she tried to gather her thoughts. It had a thick, veined shaft and a flared head with a small dip at the very top. Although the color wasn’t silver like ikthian flesh, the shade was a perfect match for Taylor’s skin. Taylor cleared her throat, and Maia blinked, suddenly realizing that she was staring. "I…was not expecting this," she stammered.

Taylor’s face fell, and she moved to turn back around, the shaft of the toy still clutched in her hand. "It’s all right, we don’t have to—"

"No!" Maia interrupted. This was definitely a surprise, and a pleasant one. The more she thought about it, the more curious she became, and she felt the insistent pressure between her legs begin to rise again. "I mean, no…you do not have to put it away." She swallowed, her tongue thick in her mouth. "I…I think I would like to try."

Taylor broke into a smile. "Good," she said, radiating excitement. "This is something I love doing, but…"

"But?" Maia prompted as Taylor climbed onto the edge of the mattress, kneeling beside her.

"I guess it’s something I’m a little insecure about. Past girlfriends didn’t always react positively to my ‘gender stuff’."

Maia’s brow furrowed. "Why not? I admit that I am not, um, very experienced with such things, but would this toy not feel pleasurable to them?"

"Not just for them," Taylor said, turning it around in her hand.

Maia leaned in, curious to get a closer look. She noticed the shaft didn’t end the way typical ikthian anatomy did. Instead, it curved back up on itself, flaring into a short, round bulb. Positioned on the seat between the bulb and shaft were a few carefully-placed circles, and Maia’s eyes widened in understanding. "Does this transmit sensation?"

Taylor nodded. "Among other things."

"That would make it ideal to use. I do not understand why your previous partners objected."

"I guess it was too realistic for them. I don’t know what your culture thinks about gender, but…mine’s kind of complicated."

Maia sensed this was a very serious topic of discussion, but there would be time to ask questions later. She placed a reassuring hand on Taylor’s arm. "Well, I have no objections. I have been drawn to you from the beginning, and I feel no differently now. Will you show me how it works?"

Taylor bit her lip, but nodded, scooting back on the mattress and shucking her pants and underwear. "Just, uh, give me a second to put it in."

Maia’s eyes zeroed in between Taylor’s spread legs. The odd tuft of black hair there made her smile, but seeing the sheen of wetness that clung to Taylor’s lips excited her the most. She knew she was the cause of that wetness, and her fingers twitched with longing. She wanted to gather it up and spread it around the red bundle of Taylor’s clit, which was already prominent.

"Uh, Maia?"

Maia realized Taylor was looking at her worriedly. "Oh, I am sorry. Was I staring?"

"A little, yeah," Taylor said, and Maia couldn’t tell whether she was feeling sheepish or smug about it.

"You are very striking, Taylor. Please, keep going?"

Taylor exhaled and brought the toy between her legs, positioning the shorter end at her entrance. For a brief moment, Maia was jealous, remembering how good Taylor had felt around her fingers. But then, she forgot everything else as she watched Taylor press the toy into place, wincing a little as it slid inside of her. When she pulled her hands away, it remained where it was, jutting outward from between her thighs. Taylor seemed to radiate with newfound confidence.

"So…how do we begin?" Maia shifted even closer to Taylor on the mattress, stroking the top of her thigh

Taylor smiled, and though she was still blushing, Maia could tell she was swiftly regaining her courage. "We could always just start out slow." She tucked her fingers beneath Maia’s chin, tilting her face up to kiss her. Maia couldn’t resist sliding her tongue forward, flicking it into Taylor's mouth briefly before retreating. First, she wanted to become more familiar with Taylor's new, temporary anatomy. She had restrained herself from touching Taylor for long enough.

Maia reached down and wrapped a hand around the shaft, giving it a slow, gentle stroke. Taylor gasped, bucking up into her hand. "Oh God," she blurted out. "This…this isn’t slow…and it’s so much better…"

"Better than what?" Maia asked, giving the warm length another curious pump of her hand. She couldn’t help admiring how perfectly it matched Taylor’s skin. She could still see the outline of Taylor’s lips flared open around the base of the toy, but otherwise, it looked surprisingly realistic.

"Better than..." Taylor hesitated, as if she wasn’t sure whether to continue. Maia halted the motion of her hand so that Taylor could find her words. "Better than when I touch myself," she finished, torn between looking into Maia’s eyes and watching Maia’s hand as it began to move again.

"You mean, you use it when you are alone?" Emboldened by the confession, Maia tightened her grip around the shaft. Even though she had never done this before, Taylor’s reactions seemed more than promising. Her panting breaths came quicker with each passing second, and the blackness of her pupils blended with the dark, glossy brown of her eyes.

"I…uh…sometimes. It makes me feel…good?"

"Oh, does it?" Maia pumped her hand one more time before leaning in to give Taylor’s lower lip a teasing nip. She enjoyed having this kind of power, at least for the moment. Perhaps later, she would allow Taylor to pin her down and have her turn, but she had waited what felt like ages to be the one in charge.

"Yes," Taylor gasped. "Not just physically…like, emotionally. Fuck, I can’t do words right now."

The toy twitched in Maia’s hand as her fingers brushed the swollen head, and a glistening bead of wetness spilled from the tip, sliding against the pad of her thumb. "Taylor?" she asked, her voice rising with excitement. "Is this wetness from you?" She repeated the motion, and a low groan broke in Taylor’s throat. Maia instantly decided that she loved the sound, and wanted to hear it again.

Taylor could barely stammer out an answer. "Y…yes…"

Maia licked her lips. Taylor had tasted her during their second time together, but she’d never had an opportunity to return the favor. Even though this wasn’t the way she had planned on doing it, Maia’s heart pounded heavily in her chest at the thought. As Taylor had done earlier, she summoned her bravery and asked, "Would you like my mouth on it?" Judging from the whimper Taylor made, she would like it very much. "Lie back," she said with a gentle nudge.