Hybrid 1: Savannah
Ruth D. Kerce

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2010 Ruth D. Kerce

ISBN: 978-1-59596-804-3
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Editor: Chrissie Henderson
Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

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Hybrid 1: Savannah

Ruth D. Kerce

Jared Duncan is a scientist, stuck in space in a pod with a cat. The sexual software programs aren’t enough to satisfy his passionate appetites. What’s a man to do?

Savannah isn’t an ordinary cat. She’s a Hybrid, a shapeshifter, a quasi-human, and an expert navigator. She’s happy to provide Jared with whatever he needs – as long as he returns the favor.

When an explosion threatens their lives, they work together to survive, refusing to let anything tear them apart.

Chapter One

Savannah put on the holo-helmet and started up the program as instructed earlier by her mission commander. She wasn’t much of a voyeur, but Jared loved to tinker with the software on board and often came up with special creations for her to experience.

The virtual location slowly came into focus, and she immediately felt restricted. As best as she could, she looked around InterGalactic Diversion -- a sexual entertainment station, according to the sign on the far wall -- but she was unable to move enough to see much. Her wrists appeared to be tied to a pair of planks. Sex planks? Her ankles were tied too. Just slightly off the ground, she hung on exhibit, naked and spread-eagle.

What had Jared done this time? The program allowed her to see herself, viewing the scene as if separate from it, but at the same time feeling everything that was happening, which made for an intense sensory experience.

A tall, strong man stood behind her with a multi-lashed whip. Even with the black mask covering his eyes, she recognized it was Jared. Her heart pounded against her ribs. She knew her fate.

With a smile of satisfaction, he wielded the whip like an expert, landing blow after blow to her back, butt and thighs. Her body jerked, not in pain, but surprise at how real it felt. The soft lashes didn’t hurt her skin, only made her very aware of her body. The sound of leather against flesh echoed throughout the station as their images projected off the reflective walls.

The stimulation of her senses affected her mind and her body. She craved sex. Sex with Jared. “Yes, yes, yes.”

As the whipping continued, spectators began to gather, mostly men, but a sprinkling of women, as well. “Fuck her!” a man in a full head mask yelled. Others nodded, and many voiced their encouragement.

Savannah had never experienced anything like this in her life. Because it was a program, she felt safe and eager for more.

After a glance at the crowd, Jared dropped the whip and unlaced the front of his leather pants. When he pulled out his cock, both women and men alike gasped. His boots sounded heavy on the flooring as he approached her from behind. “You ready?” he asked, loud enough for everyone to hear. He nudged her ass with his cock.

Her moan of anticipation didn’t go unnoticed by the crowd, who fell silent. She raised her butt as much as she could. With one hard thrust, he impaled her cunt with his cock. “Oh, yes, Jared!”

The crowd cheered their approval while he fucked her wildly. Chants of “Go, go, go!” filled the station as the spectators clapped enthusiastically.

Her fingers curled into fists, and she screamed, “I’m coming!” She twitched and squirmed.

The crowd roared. They shouted encouragement and chanted in a variety of languages until she finally stilled.

Not yet done with her, Jared continued to fuck her hard. She lay limp on the sex planks, no longer responding to his aggressive thrusts. With a grunt and a roar of his own, he finally came and relaxed against her back. “Did you like that, Savannah?” he whispered in her ear.

Savannah wasn’t sure if he was referring to the sex or the program itself. Either way, her answer would have been the same. She pulled off the holo-helmet and hung it back on its wall hook. Then she shut off the program.

She took in a deep breath and let it slowly ease out of her, calming her racing heart. “Wow.”

After watching and experiencing Jared’s sexual fantasy, she was in need of some major physical contact. The real kind. She fluffed her hair, shifted into her feline form, and went in search of Jared.

* * *

Jared Duncan stared out the pod’s main portal into the vast emptiness of space. Area 6 of Sector G4 looked clean. He swiveled his chair toward the control panel to confirm his assessment with the computer. When he activated the touch screen, the display flickered and the system froze. “Damn it.”

He slapped the top of the monitor. Nothing happened, so he smacked the side of the control desk that held the main processing unit. “Engage, you piece of shit!”

The computer beeped and finally confirmed his area assessment as it displayed a chart of the current mapping results. He grumbled under his breath, cursing the outdated equipment. “This pod is way past due a systems upgrade. I requested that upgrade three missions ago.”

A tall, thin feline rubbed against his leg and purred. At her touch, Jared immediately calmed. He reached down and scratched her head. “I’ll be another few minutes, Savannah.”

She swished her tail and padded across the pod’s control room. With a slight sway of her butt and a low meow, she strolled out into the corridor.

Savannah. If not for the Hybrid Project, his time up here would have been unbearable. The Hybrid Project -- a scientific experiment involving accelerated evolution to create a new species of quasi-humans -- had turned out to be one of mankind’s greatest successes.

The second-generation Hybrids in particular were exceptionally intelligent. Accepted by society as a new shape-shifting form of life, they enjoyed all the privileges of civilized living. Savannah was a second generation and his companion.

“Pod S132-N48 switching to a new area orbit.”

“New orbit approved,” a ground controller answered back, his voice crackling over the speaker system. “Auto-tracking authorized upon stabilization.”

“Copy.” Jared was one of many scientists stationed on pods orbiting Earth. Outsourcing work off-planet had become common practice in the last few decades. Pod stations monitored space chatter, surveyed asteroid movements and coordinated satellite repairs. A variety of assignments existed. His job wasn’t quite as glamorous as most.

“Engaging sector probes.” He was a particle sweeper, basically a galactic garbage man, which sounded less important than the job actually was, but it described his responsibilities well.

Garbage left over from launches and other space activities throughout the years flew through space at high speeds, just looking for something to hit. The particles, even when miniscule in size, were dangerous to ships and especially dangerous for astronauts who worked outside on repair or collection missions. At the rate of speed the particles traveled, even one sliver could disable a ship or kill a man. Particle sweepers found and destroyed all such dangers in their assigned sector.

“Pod sensors are transmitting data,” the ground controller informed him.

“Copy, Control.”

All was working as programmed. Time to let the PS-G3 software take over. When particles were detected in the area, lasers and filtration devices would auto-engage to break up and absorb the debris. The absorbed debris was converted into energy and utilized to operate the pod.

Years ago, he would have had to manually engage the systems, so he was grateful for the still relatively new software. He wished the pod’s hardware could have been equally new.

Even with the advanced software programs though, ground control couldn’t handle these missions solely by remote. Someone needed to monitor the equipment and navigation changes on-site because pod damage occurred often on sweepers. Repairs needed to be taken care of quickly to avoid total malfunction of an orbiter.

“Pod S132-N48 out.” He flipped off the communication channel and relaxed in the chair, listening for any abnormalities. The only sound remaining since the booster burn died was the low, soothing thump, thump, thump of the pod’s engines. With one last check of the controls, he felt satisfied. All looked secure. The end of another busy day.

A cat’s cry drew his attention. He smiled, pushed out his chair and rose to his feet. “On my way.” With a groan, he stretched his back, which cracked in response. Now in his thirties, he was getting too old for such long assignments. Soon, he’d have to find work on-planet and forgo these missions.

Life in a pod wasn’t easy. The pods only held two to four people maximum, depending on the model, which cut costs tremendously. But because of the cramped quarters, comforts were at a minimum.

Matching up humans who could withstand such conditions as well as each other in space had become a major problem. The solution? Each scientist was now accompanied by a carefully selected Hybrid match. The fact that a Hybrid could shift into an animal form had proven to be calming for both species. As such, longer missions were possible.

Looking forward to a few hours off, he strolled out of the control room and crossed the narrow corridor into the small bedchamber, which held a surprisingly good-sized mattress attached to a low frame. The bed and some built-in storage drawers were the only things in the room. No space existed for anything else.

Savannah lay on the bed. She had shifted into her quasi-human form. “Sweet,” he whispered. The sight of her as a non-feline always made his cock hard.

Her long blonde hair, with patches of light brown, covered her bare breasts. Her toned legs seemed to go on forever. As she fingered her pussy, she stared up at him with her golden orbs. “I started without you.” She practically purred the words. Intelligence and deep emotion shone in her bright, gorgeous eyes.

He smiled slightly. “So I see.” Savannah was the perfect companion. More than an assistant. She kept him grounded. Satisfied. Sane.

“Computer problems again?”

He unbuckled his belt. “I fixed it.”

“Slapping the system’s ass doesn’t really make it cooperate.”

“Works on you.”

Her eyes dilated, and a slight flush covered her skin. She moved her fingers faster, rubbing her clit.

“That’s sexy as hell.” He opened the top button of his white pants. After he toed off his boots, he headed for the bed. “Did you watch the sex program?”

“Tying me up and whipping me while others watch… Is that what you really fantasize about?”

“I fantasize more about the fucking. Did you like it?”

“Maybe.”

“You liked it.” When she slowed her hand, he shook his head. “No. Keep going. Make yourself come. I want to watch. It gets me hard.”

“You’re already hard. Your pants can barely contain your cock now. Besides, I’d rather you make me come than watch me do it to myself.”

He chuckled. He’d been up here for months with Savannah, but he still craved her like it was the first time for them. In the beginning, he’d been wary of the arrangement, but she had won him over quickly with her humanness, as strange as that sounded. “Consider it an order.”

“An order?” She arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow above a very pointed stare.

He smiled. “An earnest request then.” He outranked her on this mission, but he respected her too much to treat her like a subordinate. She pulled her weight as an expert navigator and had gotten them out of more than one jam with her quick thinking. Particle sweeping had its hazards and wasn’t for the meek at heart.

“I like the sound of an earnest request much better.” She stroked her clit faster.

Jared rubbed his crotch in anticipation. He’d had to make adjustments with Savannah. He was a man who liked being in control. Of his ship. Of his body. And of his woman. But Savannah demanded equality… in all things. He respected her for that, so he wasn’t about to complain. Giving up a small portion of control in return for her companionship, loyalty and the most passionate sex he’d ever experienced in his life seemed a small price to pay.

When he recognized that she was close to climaxing, his gaze switched from her pussy to her face, not wanting to miss a moment of her orgasm. “You know I’ll be sucking that juicy clit of yours later, right?” Sensual words always helped her come, so he rumbled them in his sexiest voice.

“Yes.” Her breathing grew heavy. She reached up and played with one of her nipples. “Please, Jared. Don’t torture me like this. Touch me. Now.”

The desire in her eyes sent an equal desire racing through him. He sat down on the mattress and stroked her inner thigh, teasing her as he edged closer to her pussy. With his free hand, he lightly traced her other nipple with his fingers. “I love to watch you when you’re aroused.”

Their gazes locked. He saw a vulnerability in her eyes that touched him deep down. He cleared his suddenly scratchy throat, working hard to contain his own needs. “Come for me, Savannah.”

A gasp escaped her lips and, after a moment, her limbs stiffened. “Oh, yes!” Her whole body flushed a deep pink. The deeper the color, the stronger her orgasm. Since he’d learned that, making her flush pleased him almost as much as taking his own pleasure. He looked upon it as a challenge. And a victory.

As he took in the image of her, all pink and tense with her lips slightly parted, he swallowed hard. “Jeez, you’re beautiful.” He’d never said the words to her, but she held a very special place in his heart.

Gradually, her breathing returned to normal. After she relaxed, he gently removed her hand from her pussy and, with deliberate slowness, sucked the moisture from her fingers.

A smile graced her lips, and she stared up at him with sleepy eyes. “That was a really nice appetizer. Makes me crave much more.”

He was just thinking the same thing. “You’re not too tired? It’s been a long day.” He laced his fingers through hers.

“I’m never too tired to be with you.”

That answer sent another wave of desire rushing through him, making him want her with a need almost too strong to control. “Good. Because I’m about to burst.”

He reached out and cupped the back of her neck, bringing her closer. Another thing he’d learned quickly about Savannah was that she loved to use her tongue and mouth. And he loved to indulge that need.

Jared kissed her deeply, sliding his tongue along hers. She tasted wild, like the sweetest of jungle fruits and earthy spices all wrapped into one. Slowly, he pulled back and licked her lips. “Suck my cock,” he whispered against her mouth. “Now.”

She hesitated before responding. “Another earnest request?”

“That one was an order.”

She stuck out her tongue at him and made a very wet raspberry sound.

“Sexy.”

With a small laugh and a shake of her head, she looked down. She pulled open his pants and firmly wrapped her fingers around his engorged shaft. “You’re lucky I love to suck cock.” With an eager look, she leaned over him and lapped wildly at the tip.

“Ah.” He groaned. “Yeah.” He was indeed lucky, and he knew it. Her tongue, slightly rough when she licked, drove him crazy. She bathed the head of his cock, then the length of his shaft, tasting every inch. Applying light pressure on the back of her neck, he urged her to take him fully into her mouth.

Without hesitation, she complied. She sucked hungrily on the tip before sliding her lips over the entire head of his cock. While she sucked, she made a purring noise, which vibrated his cock and traveled right to his balls.

Jolts of sexual pleasure shot through his body. “Ah, hell, that’s good.” He’d never experienced this level of pleasure with any other woman. Watching Savannah suck his cock made him want to come long and hard, until he had nothing left in his body to give.

He eased his fingers into her hair. When his body began to tighten, he forced himself to stay in control, wanting the ecstasy to last, even though he knew he couldn’t hold out much longer. Before he lost that control and came, he groaned and pulled her off him.

She glanced up. “What?”

Needing to plunge his cock into her pussy until he was buried as deeply as he could get, he released her hair. “Lie back.”

“Wait.” Her fingers tightened around his shaft. “Don’t I get the prize?” He didn’t immediately respond, and a look of earnestness crossed her face. “Jared? Let me.”

“You really want my come in your mouth? Down your throat?” His heart pounded crazily. He would love for her to suck him dry, but he always left that choice up to her.

“You know I do.”

He hesitated only a moment before a low growl rumbled up from the back of his throat. She drove him completely insane with an almost savage need. He wondered if she even realized how much she affected him. He grabbed her hair again, forcefully this time, but he was careful not to hurt her. “Take it. Take it all.”

Like a starving woman, she quickly took him back into her mouth and sucked him deeply, bobbing her head as she consumed every inch of his cock. Sucking. Licking. Demanding.

As the pleasure grew, his control began to slip. “Ah!” She tickled his balls, and he almost jumped out of his skin -- the sensation was so intense. “Oh, fuck!” He tightened his fingers in her hair and came hard. “Damn!” As he pumped his come down her throat, she took every drop. “Yeah! Swallow all of it.” He fucked her mouth like a man possessed until, finally, he had nothing left to give her. “Oh, hell, Savannah.” He groaned and relaxed. “That was fucking amazing.”

Moving as if in slow motion, she slid her mouth off him. “My pleasure.”

He watched her lick her lips, her tongue collecting every bit of come that had escaped her mouth. Drained of energy, he collapsed to the mattress. Savannah was the best.

Chapter Two

As she licked her lips, Savannah stared down at Jared. His black hair was a mess, his clothes were rumpled, and he looked just as delicious as he’d tasted. The unique flavor of his come remained strong in her mouth. Not sweet. Not bitter. Just… decadent.

They should have a while yet before she would need to program in the next navigation change, which would give them plenty of time for some proper fucking. Or some not-so-proper fucking.

A smile tugged at her lips. She liked having Jared all to herself up here. She snuggled next to him, knowing it wouldn’t take him long to recover. She’d lucked out being paired with Jared. Sex was not a requirement in a Hybrid match, though it was a nice bonus if you were matched with someone not only emotionally, but physically compatible as well.

“Savannah,” Jared mumbled, his eyes closed.

Her name sounded so sexy on his lips. Savannah actually wasn’t her real name. But Jared never had been able to get his tongue around the Hybrid language. That was all right. She liked her feline side and the name that went with it.

Hybrids came in many forms. All originated from a mammal species of some sort. Hers was a Savannah cat -- a cross between a domestic cat and a wild Serval cat. She still retained a lot of her wildness, even when in human form, though with practice, she had learned to control her baser instincts.

Some Hybrids were more advanced than others. All spoke a common language, which seemed to come naturally, regardless of their original animal form. The first-generation shifters were more animal than human. As such, their breeding was closely monitored. The second-generation shifters, her generation, were the coveted form. The third generation and beyond no longer retained the ability to shift.

Some underground resistance existed within their kind -- in the first-generation Hybrid colonies mostly. The secret Hybrid organizations were unknown to the humans as of now. And she was not a supporter, for she and the other higher Hybrid generations were content, for the most part, and treated as equals.

Jared reached over and caressed her hip. “I swear, you have the sexiest mouth. Your enthusiasm while eating cock is a man’s fantasy. You sucked every ounce of energy out of me.”

“Energy.” She smiled. “Is that what your come is and why I love swallowing every drop? No wonder I’m bouncing off the walls most of the time.”

He made a low sound between a groan and a chuckle. “You’re getting claustrophobic, I think.”

“You’d better hope not. Not up here.”

“You’re a wild creature at heart, Savannah. Even though I know you won’t admit it.”

“Lucky you,” she whispered in his ear.

“You’re changing the subject.”

“Am I?”

“Wild cats need to roam. Explore. It’s the only way you’ll be truly happy. Don’t you miss your home in the jungle?”

His concern softened her heart. Jared knew her better than anyone else. She felt a deep connection to him that went way beyond duty. Still, she never had felt comfortable discussing her emotions. Or the details of her origins. Not even with him.

“What I miss is your touch.” She pulled at his clothes, quickly removing them and letting them fall to the floor. When she was in his arms, nothing else mattered. And that’s how she liked it. She traced her fingers down his bare torso. “How about I explore your body and you repay the favor?” She reached down and massaged his balls.

“Ah…” He bent his knees. “Yeah. Works for me.” She moved to suck on one of his flat, hard nipples. He groaned and shifted his hand to rest on her ass. When she bit lightly on the small nub, he jerked and dug his fingers into her skin. “Damn! You know that drives me crazy.”

Yes, she did. She also knew it got him super hard. She bit down on his nipple again, making him growl. He growled a lot, and she often wondered if he might have some latent Hybrid DNA in his system. As soon as she eased up and dragged her tongue across the brown nub to soothe it, he scrambled to his knees and grabbed her around the waist. She squealed and giggled.

Jared wrestled her into submission. Not that she was fighting him. She would never fight him. “Get on all fours.” He lightly swatted her butt as he got behind her.

She glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled. No man had ever made her smile as much as he did. Or crave sex as much. “Give me your cock,” she demanded, needing him desperately. Thick and long, Jared’s cock always satisfied her. Every time.

He curled his fingers around her hips and entered her from behind with one forceful stroke. He embedded his cock in her pussy, all the way to the hilt.

“Oh!” A shock of sexual intensity shot through her as an image of Jared’s virtual fantasy filled her head. She saw herself tied to the sex planks, on display, at his mercy. She wondered what it would feel like to have others really watching her and Jared fuck. Just the thought made her hot. She contracted the muscles of her pussy, squeezing and releasing his cock, wanting to give him the same amount of pleasure he was giving her.

“Yeah. Keep doing that.” His breathing turned heavy. He pulled halfway out of her and, after a moment’s pause, slowly pushed his cock deep.

“Oh, Jared. Yes. Again,” she whispered. “Faster.”

He pulled almost all the way out of her this time and hesitated only briefly before thrusting back in. Over and over he entered her, increasing his speed and intensity each time, until he was fucking her hard and fast, racing them both toward what she knew would be an explosive orgasm. Then suddenly, he stopped.

No! She’d been so close. She looked over her shoulder. “Don’t stop.” Jared’s jaw appeared clenched, and his eyes were tightly shut. She could tell he was trying hard to hold out. To extend the pleasure for both of them. “Jared?”

He opened his eyes and his stare locked with hers. A soulful connection, one she hadn’t experienced before, moved between them. Something almost primal in nature joined them as one. “I need to feel your cock ramming into me, Jared. Don’t hold back. Fuck me. Hard.”

Jared’s gaze grew intense, and he muttered something she couldn’t hear. He slapped her ass cheeks until she whimpered and hung her head. “Oh, more! I love that! Make it sting.”

“Hell, woman.” He went wild, smacking her butt repeatedly. When she mewled, he grabbed her hips and plunged into her pussy, fucking her with abandon.

She moaned and squirmed as a massive orgasm built inside her. She felt herself climbing higher and higher. Her muscles tightened, and an explosion of pleasure shot through every cell in her body. “Yes! Yes!”

Before the orgasm waned, he pulled out of her pussy, spread her cheeks, and shoved his cock right into her ass.

“Jared!” she screeched, her voice high and sharp. Her asshole, naturally lubed when she was sexually excited, accepted almost his entire cock. “Yes! Take my ass!” She pushed back against him, rotating her hips, wanting more.

“Fuck, Savannah! You drive me insane.” He stiffened and came inside her. “Ah! Oh, hell, yeah!”

The ecstasy seemed to go on forever. They both remained locked together as the pleasure totally engulfed them. Finally, out of breath, they sank to the mattress in exhaustion.

Jared gathered her into his arms and held her tenderly. That was the last thing she remembered before the room grew dark and she fell asleep.

* * *

A loud yowl echoed off the walls.

Jared snapped awake just in time to see Savannah’s long tail disappear out the door. An alarm blared, the sound echoing in the room. “What the shit?”

His heart leapt in his chest, and he jumped up. After scrambling into his pants, he rushed into the control room. “What’s going on?”

Savannah shifted into her human form as she stared at a computer screen. “I don’t know… yet.”

Jared shuddered slightly. He never had gotten used to the sight of a Hybrid shift. Before he could react to Savannah’s words, the communication panel beeped. He flipped the switch. “What’s happening, Control?”

“Jared, we’re registering a pod explosion in Sector G3,” the ground controller transmitted, his voice holding a tone of urgency. “A large amount of debris is headed your way and on a direct path into Satellite X34’s orbit. We can’t lose that satellite. It controls an international communications grid.”

“I’ve got the debris on tracking,” Savannah told him. “It’s coming fast.”

“Switch to manual,” Jared ordered as he slid into the seat beside her. He took control of the lasers and checked the computer. “I see it.”

The computer had picked up the location of the debris and registered several large particle fields coming right at them. Whatever happened in Sector G3 hadn’t been pretty. He didn’t know the crew of the pod where the explosion took place but felt a pang of regret and sorrow at their probable loss.

“We’re going to need help.” Savannah pulled up the tracking charts. “There’s too much.”

Jared engaged the lasers and set up a crisscross pattern for the bottom lasers to destroy the debris and protect the pod at the same time. With the front and rear lasers, he would try to take out the most dangerous chunks as they passed. “Can we get backup?” he asked base control.

“Two sweeper pods are on their way to your location. We’re getting data that the pod explosion was caused by an asteroid hit. Be careful up there.”

“Copy.” Jared spotted the first wave of debris heading their way. “Stay sharp, Savannah. Keep us high.”

“On it.”

Debris shot under the pod. He took out what he could, zapping the larger pieces into miniscule particles that were sucked up by the absorbers. The bottom lasers disintegrated sections of the remaining particles. “We’re missing at least fifty percent up here, Control. They’re really moving fast. The force of the explosion must have been massive.”

“Forty percent,” Savannah corrected him. “We’re getting the big chunks. And we’ve taken out quite a bit of the fastest moving smaller ones.”

“Backup pods are closing,” ground control replied.

“Speed us up, Savannah.”

“We’re at max now.”

“Burn a booster.”

“It’s too dangerous, given the asteroid out there and the way those particles are flying. I can’t maneuver manually during a burn. Not safely. I’ll increase the range of the lasers to compensate for our speed.”

“Good idea. Do it.” The pod shuddered, and another alarm went off. “We’re hit!” Jared checked the readings. Damage could take them out of the game permanently.

“It’s not bad,” Savannah assured him. “I can still navigate, but we’re running hot. We have to slow down or we’ll blow our main engine.”

“Damn it!” He punched the button on the communication panel. “The debris is moving out of our range, Control. We can’t keep up. With the additional waves and the asteroid out here, we’ll maintain manual control until the danger has passed.”

“Copy, Jared,” the ground controller crackled over the speakers. “The backup pods are in position to handle the wave that’s moved beyond your location. The remaining waves of particles are still headed your way, but we’re showing they’re not on as dangerous a path. It looks like the satellite is out of danger now. Good job, you two. We’re tracking the asteroid and have transmitted size, composition, trajectory and other pertinent data to your computer system. You’ll be able to avoid contact. We’re registering slight damage to your primary engine. Do you need assistance?”

Jared looked over at Savannah, who shook her head. “Negative, Control. We can repair.”

“Copy.”

Chapter Three

At the end of the day, Savannah crawled into bed next to Jared. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck. “Mmm. That’s nice,” she whispered, feeling warm and content.

It had been a hard day. Between the two of them, they’d fixed the engine and stabilized the pod. After the repairs, they’d returned to their previous coordinates and their normal duties. Losing a pod had shaken them both, but they had a job to complete. This wasn’t the first emergency they’d been thrust into, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last.

Still, after the events of the day, neither of them would be getting sleep anytime soon. They were too worked up.

When Jared traced her ear with his tongue, she shivered in delight. He began massaging one of her breasts and teasing the nipple, causing a thrill to race down her body. She scooted around in his arms. “Make me forget about today.”

That was all the encouragement he seemed to need. He leaned down and lapped at her nipple, then sucked the fleshy bud into his mouth. She felt the tug of his lips all the way down to her clit. She could enjoy his sucking all night long. It felt that good. When he released her nipple, she sighed.

Jared moved his hands down to her ribs and tickled her briefly before continuing to her hips and thighs. She squirmed and giggled. He always let her know, in some little way, that their time together was about more than just sex.

Watching how gently he touched her turned her feelings all soft inside. She cared about this man so much. He rained kisses along her body, working his way down to her pussy. He lapped at the skin of her inner thigh, driving her crazy with need. A purr vibrated up from her throat.

“Damn, that’s the sexiest sound,” he said, breaking his silence. As he looked up and his gaze locked with hers, his voice came out low and full of passion. “Savannah, you are… a wonder.”

She swallowed hard, not knowing how to respond to his words. He looked and sounded so serious. When she remained silent, a new look, one she couldn’t discern, crossed his face. With a slight smile, he turned his attention back to her body.

Tenderly, he spread her pussy with his thumbs. “I’ve been thinking about licking your luscious cunt all day,” he murmured, loud enough for her to hear. He lowered his head and circled her clit with his tongue.

Savannah arched and moaned. When he sucked the bud of nerves into his mouth, she gasped at the intensity of the feeling. She curled her fingers into the sheets beneath her. A variety of emotions, many of which went beyond the physical, weaved their way through her.

Jared slid his hands under her butt as he nibbled on her clit. “Uh, uh…” She needed to come so badly that she almost sobbed. He swirled his tongue around her bud and returned to sucking with long, deep draws.

Savannah’s body grew warm. Her limbs began to tremble. A ball of pleasure centered around her clit and grew outward. Jared pushed one finger up inside her. He forced a second and finally a third into her pussy. In an instant, a wave of ecstasy washed over her. “Oh, yes! Oh! Jared!”

The orgasm consumed her, and she felt on the verge of passing out. Nothing existed except the pleasure coursing through her. “Ah, oh! Yes!” She could barely breathe from the explosion of sensations. As he sucked her clit, he slowly finger-fucked her. Nothing had ever felt so good. “Oh, oh, oh! Y-Yes.” When the ecstasy did finally begin to wane, she just lay there, unable to move or even speak.

Jared pulled out his fingers and kissed his way back up her body. He didn’t say anything. He just held her.

As her senses returned to normal, she turned her head and kissed him softly on the lips. He returned the kiss, brushing her lips delicately.

He shifted, and she felt the hardness of his cock. She opened her arms, and he covered her body with his own. He eased into her pussy with exquisite slowness. She sighed, spreading her legs as she closed her eyes. She lightly raked her fingernails down his back. When he shivered in response, she lifted her hips to meet his thrusts. She felt as if they’d been made to fuck each other. That’s how incredible it felt every time they were together.

“Savannah. Open your eyes. Look at me.”

She opened her eyes and felt as if she were drowning in Jared’s dark blue gaze. He moved his hips more forcefully, fucking her deeply now. She curled her fingers around his biceps, holding on to him as her breath came faster. “Oh, Jared. I-I…”

“What, Savannah?” he whispered. “Tell me.”

“Oh!” An orgasm shattered her control. Her muscles tensed and she cried out, amazed at how easily, and how hard, she was coming after just climaxing.

“Yeah. Come on.”

“Jared!” Orgasm on top of orgasm fluttered through her. “You too. Now!”

“Ah! I’m there.” He stiffened, and in a matter of seconds, he came, joining her in pleasure. “Damn!”

After several moments of sheer ecstasy, they both collapsed, lying content in each others’ arms. Savannah felt a tear slide down the side of her face. As her eyelids grew heavy, she stroked Jared’s sides. “We’re so perfect together. So purrfect.” Her words vibrated lightly in her throat. “I love you,” she whispered.

* * *

Jared lay propped on one hand, looking down at Savannah as she slept. She’d shifted back into her cat form and was curled up on the pillow.

“I love you,” she’d said to him last night.

He hadn’t known how to respond. Not because he didn’t know how he felt, but because she’d stiffened after saying the words and turned away from him. He’d stroked her back, but she’d remained silent, and he’d been afraid to say anything or ask about her actions.

Had her words simply been spoken in a moment of passion? Was that why she’d turned away, because she’d regretted saying them? Or had she feared that he didn’t feel the same about her and didn’t want to hear him try to let her down easily?

Savannah never had liked talking about her feelings. She’d told him that point-blank once. She had no problem showing how she felt though. Gently, he stroked her fur, which felt incredibly soft. Stroking her, whether in her human or feline form, always soothed him.

A small beep drew his attention. He glanced toward the corridor. With reluctance, he slipped out of bed and into his pants.

He padded into the control room and flipped on the communication channel. “Pod S132-N48.”

“Jared, I’ve got a message from the head controller’s office. Your pod assignment is being terminated immediately. You need to start wrapping up your area probes and prepare for reentry.”

Stunned, it took him a moment to respond. “Terminated. Why?”

“Your pod has come up for a systems upgrade. It’s way past due. I’m sure you’ll agree. You put in for one quite a while back.”

“Yes. I remember.” He hadn’t believed they’d ever really spend the funds. He’d heard too many rumors of a new design being considered. Those plans must have fallen through. “How long until reentry?”

“Six hours to make the next window.”

“Copy.” Jared flipped off the channel. When he turned, Savannah stood not five feet away. Her face looked pale, and her eyes seemed slightly red-rimmed.

“So that’s it?”

He barely heard the question. She’d spoken that low. “I guess so.” He’d thought they would have at least another three months up here together to work through their relationship.

“We’ll be reassigned. Separately.”

Yeah, that’s generally how it worked. Jared couldn’t bear the thought. As they stood there looking at one another, he made a decision. No matter the outcome, he couldn’t leave things this way. She was too important to him. “Did you mean what you said to me last night, Savannah? Be honest, because we’re out of time.”

After a slight hesitation, she whispered, “Yes. I meant it.” She avoided direct eye contact. “I probably shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t want you to feel obligated.”

Obligated? Shit! He rushed forward and cupped her cheeks.

With a startled look on her face, her gaze snapped up to lock with his. “Jared?”

He lowered his head and kissed her like his life depended on tasting her lips. And maybe it did. When he finally pulled away, they were both breathless. He took a step back from her and looked deeply into her eyes.

“I love you, Savannah.” When she started to respond, he held up a hand, stopping her. “Listen to me. I’m getting close to the end of my mission eligibility. Let’s quit Pod International and accept a land assignment. I know you’d like to go back to your home for a visit. We can go together if you’ll have me in your life.” His heart pounded furiously as he waited for her response.

“Have you?” She sniffled. “Of course I’ll have you.”

“Are you sure, Savannah? Really sure?”

“Yes, Jared. I’m sure.” A wide smile crossed her face. “I love you.”

He whooped and grabbed her around the waist. They both laughed as he twirled her around. But in an instant, he sobered and pushed her up against the wall of the pod.

Jared ripped open his pants. He pushed up the shirt Savannah had donned over her bare body.

She dug her fingers into his arms. When he hesitated, she held on to him tighter. “Do it! Fuck me. I’m so wet for you right now.”

“Ah, hell, Savannah. I’ll never get enough of you.” He shoved his cock into her pussy.

She screeched and wrapped one leg around his hip as he began fucking her hard. She grabbed the back of his head and kissed him passionately, forcing her tongue into his mouth.

As they kissed, he plunged into her, over and over, trying to get deeper. Needing to watch, Jared tore his mouth from hers and took in her image. With each thrust of his cock, her skin flushed deeper. The redder her skin became, the more feral and aggressive he became.

She sobbed and pumped her hips. “Yes! Fuck me! Faster! Faster!”

“Oh yeah!” He slammed into her, unable to stop himself or even slow down. A wave of erotic pleasure swept over him, and a wildness he’d never before experienced rose up to consume his senses.

“Yes, Jared! Do it! Ah, fuck! Yes!” Savannah screamed and came, over and over.

Jared’s cock, hard as steel, was ready to burst. He continued plunging into her pussy, fucking her with near desperation, until finally he shouted and came so massively that his legs buckled. They both slid down the wall to their knees, breathing heavily. “You’re amazing, Savannah.”

She caressed his cheek. “You are too.”

Beeping drew their attention. Jared turned his head briefly to look at the computer screen. When he turned back to look at Savannah, happiness like he’d never felt before raced through him. “Let’s shut down the probes and go home.”

“Yes.” She nodded, her love for him obvious in her gaze and smile. “Let’s go home.”

Ruth D. Kerce

Ruth D. Kerce loves to write and has been writing since she won a fiction contest in school for best story in the class -- a romance, of course. She’s published erotic and non-erotic romances, but now she strictly concentrates on the spicy stories.

Her first erotic romance was published in 2004. She writes in a variety of sub-genres of erotic romance -- contemporary, suspense, light BDSM, futuristic/sci-fi, historical, paranormal, and more. Her books are available in both electronic and print formats.

Ruth loves fan mail, and you can reach her at RDKerce@aol.com or visit her on the Web at either www.ruthkerce.com or www.myspace.com/ruthkerce.