Sabotaged Desires Page 6

  “They’ve had us on power conserving mode nearly the entire time. And I discovered an extra oxygen generator and scrubber hidden at the back of the parts room when I went to check for replacement filters.” Suz exhaled slowly. The implications of the extra generator and scrubber were what gave her a few qualms even as it reassured her a little. She’d had nightmares about crashing into something or running out of oxygen.

  “I realize there should be parts and maybe extra filters, but why another scrubber?” Robert asked. “Why do you think they’ve put us on a setting to conserve power?”

  “Because we only have so much fuel in the cells until we can get to a planet and find the right materials. Conserving power with everything from lower light levels to nonessential system shutdowns enables us to travel farther than was calculated in the original plan. We’d need more oxygen as well as energy. The oxygen generator can break down or simply not generate clean oxygen if it’s run too long. We had enough parts for a complete rebuild, but they obviously didn’t feel like taking chances,” Susanne said and leaned back in her chair.

  “I can tell you why they’d be conserving energy. They altered our course.” Josh sat forward. “We are not on course for Ahbell. The trajectory takes us through systems not even close to where we should be. We’re traveling somewhere more distant, although we’ll have to study the course and program to figure out where.”

  “But why alter our course? If they are so against us forming a colony, why not crash us into a moon, send the ship into a star while everyone is unaware of what’s happening?” Monica, one of the systems technicians, leaned forward. “They could just as easily have mapped a path that will leave us adrift to die.”

  “The One Planet people have never killed for their cause. Doing anything which caused our deaths and might be discovered by those on Earth would swing public opinion of them to fully negative instead of the mostly tolerant amusement at their beliefs.” David eased closer to Susanne and brushed his hand over her thigh.

  “So what? They arrange to send us somewhere we’ll probably find a suitable planet and do what? Do you think they’ll take credit for it?” Monica threw her hands up.

  “Probably not. They probably hope to keep anyone from knowing they are behind the disappearance. Once the loss of the ship is announced, they’ll probably start with the whole exploration is against the One. He doesn’t want us to leave Earth. We should keep our line pure and on planet rhetoric.” David shrugged. “It most likely won’t work because the government will thoroughly investigate and find traces of what they did.”

  “The One Planet whackos beliefs are extreme, but as a group, they usually don’t go to the extreme. They won’t take the chance of being held publicly responsible for our deaths. They would try to ensure we’d have good chances of finding a livable planet.” Tye, a data technician, braced his arms on the table.

  “We’ll probably find habitable planets nearby.” Robert nodded.

  The scenario fit with the group’s activities. The fanatics had always taken actions meant to destroy things, not people, although there had been a few radicals among them who didn’t care if innocents were hurt. She knew that the group’s actions wouldn’t change the government’s intention to colonize other worlds. Most people were ready to discover what existed outside of their little corner of the galaxy.

  “What about changing our course? Can’t we simply turn and head home or to the colony planet?” Jenny asked.

  “Not enough fuel in the cells to try it if we could.” Josh shook his head. “There’s too much distance and too many things which could go wrong. We’ve traveled farther than you probably think.”

  “What do you mean? We know exactly how many rotations of the crew we’ve been through and we were told how far we should travel for each cycle.” Jenny frowned.

  “The One Planet fanatics did way more than simply mess with a few systems. You name it, they messed with it. That includes the ships clocks. They lengthened the days and have even thrown in an extra day on duty here and there. With only the programmed dimming and brightening of the lights, not to mention the monotony of normal duty, it was an easy adjustment. No one would notice the change unless they suspected something.” Josh shrugged.

  “I’ve been relying on the alarm to know when it’s time for the crew change out,” Suz offered.

  “What did you mean if we could change our course?” Robert’s voice became quieter, but his eyes blazed with intensity.

  “The course is locked at this point. We can’t change it even if we weren’t beyond the point of no return.” Josh grimaced.

  Robert took a deep breath. “Alright, we know the situation. Now, we have to adapt and find a way to overcome our problems. Find out what system we’re headed to and any information about the possible life sustaining planets located there. Keep studying the program. I don’t want to be surprised again. We have to build probes to study our possible homes. We can’t simply land on one blind.”

  Suz’s mind spun. She had to find materials to make probes or at least start one. The coding, she couldn’t do that all by herself. Engineering was her ship specialty, so she’d have to work with someone. She might not get through the work before she had to go back into stasis. As she went along, she’d make notes, so that another crewman would continue the project.

  “How are we supposed to overcome this? We don’t even know where we’re going?” Jenny’s voice rose.

  Suz didn’t fault the woman’s reaction. Her own heartbeat raced and her skin felt clammy. Thoughts whirled through her mind and her emotions swung from anger to fear and sadness. It was a toss-up which wild emotion would win.

  She’d expected to face adversity on the planet, but she hadn’t thought they’d find trouble before they even arrived at the planet. The unknown future only ratcheted up the tension. She didn’t have time to give into the fear and sit here screaming or crying. She had too many things to do.

  “We press on and we survive, because I won’t give up and neither will you. We were all chosen because we can survive. Take each problem one at a time and breathe.” Robert smiled at Jenny. “We’re all feeling a little lost, and remember, we rely on each other.”

  Suz’s lips lifted as she watched the other woman straighten and nod. Suz understood the reason for the speech, but her mind raced with what she had to do and explain so that the next rotation could carry on the work.

  “Let’s get started. We have a few days before our rotation ends and we have to hand this mess off to someone else. Let’s, at least, start cleaning it up.” Robert stood. “Suz, can you stay for a moment?”

  She nodded and lingered as the others filed out. David came to stand beside her. She didn’t know what Robert planned to ask, but waited and thought about it. Maybe he had something else he needed her to do.

  Robert walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m…” Her voice trailed off. She just couldn’t say “okay.” She wasn’t. “I can’t even say that I’m fine. Scared, angry, confused. I don’t know.”

  Robert pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her. “We’ll find a way to make this situation work for us. I will do my best to keep us all safe.”

  She leaned against him. Before she’d been paired with him and David, she hadn’t had much in the way of hugs or hand holding. That simply hadn’t been the way her uncle or aunt had been, even with their own children. When David and Robert held her, though, she couldn’t get enough of the contact and found it reassuring on a level she’d never imagined.

  “I know you will.” She burrowed her head against his chest.

  She hugged him back and nodded her head. She knew he wouldn’t give up. She nestled her head against his shirt. Warmth pressed against her back and she found herself folded between two large men. She smiled and relaxed in their embrace. Damn. That felt good.

  “We’ll do everything to keep you safe,” David murmured. His hand settled on her back and b
egan a slow stroke.

  “We work together,” she said and met David’s eyes as he looked down at her. “We’ll be fine.”

  “Good. I could see you were upset during the discussion, but you kept your emotions in check.” David ran his hand over her arm.

  “What would be the use of freaking out and screaming with the rage? It might be unfair, unexpected and just plain wrong, but panicking won’t help anyone.” She tightened her arms around Robert. She couldn’t see many alternatives to accepting the situation and working to overcome it. Not to mention it was almost an ingrained tendency now. Her uncle hadn’t accepted any other kind of behavior. He frowned upon any overt display of emotion. “As long as we keep our wits and don’t do anything stupid, we’ll survive this and start a colony, even if it’s not where we expected to begin a new life.”

  “I wanted to do more than scream with rage, but you’re right. There’s nothing it will do except provide a little emotional release. There are much more pleasurable ways to get that.” David dropped a kiss on her head.

  “Unfortunately, we all have work to do. We can’t indulge in that release just yet. David and I will be helping where we can since there’s no medical emergency and the course is locked. We both have experience in some of the other areas. We’ll even swing by the engineering room to see you.” Robert stepped back.

  “I’ll look forward to it. I’ll be busy scrounging up parts for the probes. I don’t know how many we’ll have to build since our eventual destination is unknown, but I’ll start with one and the breakaway drone.” She reluctantly released him and let her arms fall to her side.

  “By the time we get close to the system, we’ll know the number.” David turned her in his arms and held her. “I needed this.”

  She hugged him back and smiled. “I did too.”

  Chapter Seven

  Susanne knelt beside the probe she was building. The circuits and machinery rested in the bottom of a dark gray, metal casing. Again, the One Planet people seemed to have taken a little mercy on them. While they hadn’t left fully built probes or drones, she found parts and metal casing.

  She guessed the One Planet terrorists thought they couldn’t sneak on an entire probe or drone, and it would have been difficult. The parts had been among the replacement and repair equipment. Far more parts rested on the shelves in the supply rooms than the inventory said there should be.

  The parts and circuit panels must have been scrounged from a mish mash of technology; although, some of them seemed to have been deliberately broken. That had taken her aback a little, but she couldn’t waste the time thinking about why they’d do that. She had enough problems right in front of her.

  Most of the broken parts, she could repair. At least, she hadn’t had to cannibalize parts out of other machines yet. She could work with what she found, but would sacrifice a few of the nonessential machines if necessary. They had no other choice, even if she wished she had more options. The system they were approaching, KC-182, had three suitable planets that they needed to investigate. She had to make this work.

  She heard the door swoosh open and saw movement from the corner of her eyes, but ignored it as she focused on securing the machinery into the housing. The last thing they wanted was to lose a piece of crucial machinery because the intricate electronics smashed against inner walls.

  “Hi, baby.” David’s voice reached her ears just as she pulled the tool free.

  She jumped. Her hand hit the edge of the casing, sending pain rocketing up her arm. She dropped the tool and it hit the bottom edge of the casing and fell to the floor. She watched and let out a relieved breath when it didn’t slide into the probe. That would have been a bitch to get out of there.

  “Don’t startle me while I’m working on this.” She glared over her shoulder at him.

  He smiled. “You looked almost finished to me. What, no hello?”

  A small smile kicked up her lips as she shook her head at him. “Hello, David. Not quite finished, but this one is to the point where the programming can be installed. I plan to start on the drone next.”

  “But you’re finished with this one.” David drew her to her feet and gently turned her to face him.

  “I have to contact Brad to see if the programs are ready yet and find out when he can come down here to upload them onto the probe.” She walked over to the wall, but before she touched the button, David grabbed her hips, pulling her back. She could have activated it vocally, but wanted to see what David planned.

  “Not just yet.” David picked her up and moved her to the side. He grabbed one of her arms and lifted it high before pressing her hand to the cool, metal wall.

  Excitement fluttered through her and she could feel moisture begin to slide from her pussy. Damn, she loved it when he became demanding. She licked her lips and glanced at the door which wasn’t locked. Anyone could come into the room. The idea of someone seeing them heightened the arousal beginning to build inside of her.

  “David, someone might come in.” She tried to straighten. Part of her wanted to let him do whatever he wanted, but the other half remembered all of the work ahead of her.

  “Does that make you wet, baby?” David asked as his hand eased down her side and over her belly.

  His fingers teased along the waistband of her pants. She wondered if he would slip his hand inside her pants to find out. Her hips wriggled. She didn’t know if she should encourage him or dissuade him. Desire flared, pushing the thought of stopping him a little farther away. She hoped he didn’t know that, but thought he might. The man was wickedly perceptive.

  “David, we can’t. Not here.” She gripped his hand. As much as she ached to make love with him, and damn, he tempted her to simply let go and enjoy the moment, she had to remember that they had work to do.

  “Yes, we can here. The only thing that will stop me is if you say you don’t want this. Do you want this?” His hand eased down her belly and cupped her pussy.

  She bit her lip as his fingers brushed back and forth over the white cloth covering her pussy. Damn, she craved his touch. She ached to feel his fingers stroking over her clit and his cock driving into her. The position didn’t make resistance easier, either. Her mind immediately locked on the thought of him pushing her pants down her legs and his dick filling her.

  He eased his fingers back and forth over the seam of her pants. “Do you need this?”

  The light touch pressed the fabric against her clit as the digit moved back and forth in a frustratingly slow movement. Heat bubbled through her body and she struggled to find a way to resist the desire pulsing through her. She wished they had the time to steal back to their room and fuck until they fell asleep from exhaustion, but simply finding the time to eat meals together and talk a little each day was hard.

  Her hips rocked forward and she couldn’t stop herself from rubbing against his fingers. She clenched her jaw. Her nipples hardened into aching points and she wished he’d put his hand over the stiff peak.

  “Tell me, baby. I can feel you trembling. You’re body’s showing me, but you have to say the words.” His finger pushed the fabric between her lips and stroked over her clit.

  “I ache for this so much.” She exhaled as she gave in to the desire. “But I should be working.”

  “You’ve worked and I’ll help you get the materials for the drone ready after we have a few moments to enjoy ourselves.” David drew her hair way from her neck and dropped a kiss there.

  His finger curled and drew across her clit, but he didn’t make any further move to undress her. The digits remained still, touching her clit, but not moving. It was then that she realized he waited for a response from her.

  “You can help me set up the shell mold after this, but if someone walks in expecting to talk to me and sees us, I’ll be one angry woman at the interruption and embarrassment.” She turned enough so that she could look at him.

  He smiled. “I bet if someone walks in, you come hard. I can feel your juices already. Your kink
y side is part of the reason I love you.”

  She blinked and bit her lip. Did he mean love as “in love” or as in “you make me hot and I like it?” Uncertainty flashed through her.

  “I love you, too.” She leaned back against him. She hoped he meant the first, but could work with the latter. They had time and she was determined to make him feel the emotion as she did.

  “I started falling for you a few days after I met you. The feelings only become deeper the more time we spend together.” David pressed his lips to her shoulder.

  Relief and joy washed through her, leaving her feeling almost weak. He loved her. If she could, she would have thrown her arms around him.

  “Are you waiting for someone to walk in on us? Or do you intend to fuck me?” She eased her hips back until the ridge of his cock pressed against her buttocks. Her hips began rocking. She hoped to tear away any desire for an extended tease.

  “I definitely plan to fuck you. You have to be as close to ready as I can make you before I push these pants down though. I want to fuck you fast and hard. Not being able to hold you these past few days has been frustrating as hell. You’ve even been working later at night and leaving early in the morning.” David’s other hand swept up and cupped her breast.

  “I’ve missed you, too.” She deliberately wriggled her ass. “The past few days have been stressful for everyone.”

  “And it won’t get easier, but we have to find times just for us, to talk, to touch as well as to sate the desire that flares so hot when we’re together.” His teeth scraped across the side of her neck.

  “I hope so, but it’s hard to find time to even eat together or fall into bed and sleep.” She moaned as his fingers pressed against her clit.

  “Baby, I know Robert plans to find you later today. He’ll get you alone, Suz, and make you scream.” David’s hips rocked forward. “I knew I had to make a little time with you myself, because I’ve missed my woman over the last few days.”

  “Oh…” She had no idea what she was meant to say after that because her mind simply locked as he tugged her nipple at the same moment that he rubbed her clit.