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He knocked me over! If it weren’t for Fynn’s quick moving, I would have hit my head on the window. From experience, I can say that hurts like the devil. Looking up, Fynn’s face above me is filled with concern. He opens his mouth to speak, but I put my finger to my lips, then mime helping me to sit on Sawyr’s back. He nods his head and helps me to readjust my position.
“Ya! Giddyup, studmuffin.” I hold onto the back of Sawyr’s shirt.
“Uh uh, Akiyra,” Sawyr suddenly stands, pulling me around so that he is holding me by legs around his waist. “Only way I am ridden is just like this.”
He walks us toward the pit and I can feel the space missiles panicking as they try to beat their way out of my stomach. His eyes never leave my face, and then he smiles. One of those smiles that have you saying, “Oh shit, what did I get myself into?” The arms that were supporting me suddenly let go, his arms raising towards the ceiling as I fall back into the pit.
I want to be mad, to yell at him but I can’t. Laughter bubbles up out of me until tears are running down my face.
“God! I didn’t hurt you did I?” He jumps into the pit after me.
I shake my head, still unable to speak from the laughter.
“Don’t be a sumph!” Roberd smirks, “Your always the serious one, never relaxing enough. She thought it was funny.”
Sawyr looks from Roberd to me. Gasping, I nod my head. “I’m fine. It surprised me but was well played.”
The look of relief on his face is almost cute enough to kiss. Instead, I stand and rub my fisted hand over his hair, ruffling it up. “Let’s go see those rooms, then how about food?”
Agreeing, the men follow me back onto the bridge. I stop at a door that we had passed on our way to the viewing room. “This is Tiri’s room. I suggest leaving it alone, not even I go in there unless I have to. It’s all wires and chips, and other things that only a databrain can understand.”
“Where does that door go?” Jax asks, pointing towards the door opposite us.
“That’s the captain’s room. Once upon a time, it had a desk and all the proper trappings for a captain. I tore it all out and that is where I hide.” I turn to glare at them. “Unless I am on my deathbed or invite you in, do not enter. Same goes for my room.”
Jax holds his hands up, “Okay. Lady gets scary when she thinks her space is going to be invaded.”
I smile sheepishly at him, “sorry, that was a bit dramatic, but I do like my privacy.”
“She really does,” the crisp voice of Tiri has us all looking up. “She has been known to turn my circuits to off so that she can shower in peace.”
“Tiri, do you hear and see everything that happens on this ship?” Roberd queries.
“Unless Akiyra requests privacy or forces me to turn off, then yes. Is there a problem?”
I watch the guys look at each other wondering what they are thinking.
“Uh, no problem. Nope.” Fynn says, his face turning red.
“Fynn, are you sure? Your blood pressure is rising and the heat signatures on your face have gone up.” Tiri asks, a hint of mischief in his voice.
The look that Fynn aims at the ceiling has me giggling. “Tiri, leave the boys alone, and that includes when they are indisposed.” Walking towards the stairs, I pull a face at Tiri.
“I saw that,” Tiri says in a flat tone, making everyone laugh. “Akiyra, would you please define indisposed? I want to make sure I know when to inconvenience them.”
I glare at the ceiling, “TIIIRRRIII! Indisposed would be using the facilities, sleeping, and whenever they are engaged in...” I stop speaking feeling my face blush.
“When they are engaged in what?” Tiri asks, his voice all innocent.
“Tiri, I am going to take a hammer to your circuits!” By now the guys are snickering at me. “You know perfectly well what I am saying.”
“Yes, ma'am. When the men are engaged in acts of an amorous nature, I should be sure to interrupt them. Got it.”
Throwing my hands in the air I scream and walk down the stairs, followed by five laughing men.
“Okay, guys! Here are the rooms.” I stand at the bottom of the stairs. “The room directly under the bridge is mine”, I point to the door behind us. “There are six other rooms. You can each pick the one you want. Like I said before, I didn’t decorate them.”
I stand back, watching as the guys go room to room. The only difference in the rooms is the color palette. All are in cool neutrals, pale green, pale blue, pale gray, a light beige... The only real difference is how the furniture and facilities are set up. They can’t rearrange the furniture as it is bolted to the floor.
They all come out of the last room. “Well?”
“I think we all know which rooms we want. But we wanted to know if you had any preferences as to which we take?” Fynn asks.
The question feels loaded to me and I am unsure as to what he wants me to say. Chewing my bottom lip, I look at him, shaking my head. “No, you guys can decide between you.”
The emotions that flit over Fynn’s face confuse me, almost as if I said the wrong thing. “Um, I need to go change and then run up to the bridge.”
I quickly turn, running into my room. The door shuts behind me, locking me into my space. Too bad I can’t stay here. I don’t do relationships. I don’t have travelers. It is me and Tiri, all it has been and all it will be. Then why do I feel like crying? Like I let Fynn down. What did he want me to say?
Throwing myself on to the bed, my thoughts swirl. Should I have begged him to share my room? The idea of him in my room, seeing part of me that no one has, fills me with equal parts dread and desire. Reaching up to wipe my tired eyes, I feel moisture on my face. When did I start crying? What am I crying over?
Knock, knock, knock
“Akiyra?” Fynn calls through the door.
Quickly I swipe my tears, not wanting Fynn to see them. I move to sit on the edge of the bed before calling for him to come in.