"As first dates go, that was unique." Donovan grinned as they stepped into the hub connecting the passenger quarters. All six of them had taken a break for dinner before Zilaka, Syala, and Ayastal swapped places with Dylan's team. Kolya's team and the new arrivals had continued on for several more hours before they'd had enough.

"It sure was." For all sorts of reasons. Before that explosion had uglified her all those years ago, Kolya hadn't been interested enough in dating to bother trying it, and afterward, no one else had given her a chance. Until now, at least.

He's got to be up to something, she told herself again. But what if he isn't?

She turned and reached out to open her door. In the corner of her eye, Donovan cocked his head and raised an eyebrow.

"No goodnight kiss?"

She froze. Her pulse ramped up a notch as she faced him again. "Uh, well …" She motioned at the left half of her face. "You actually want to kiss this?"

"Why not?" He shook his head, walked up to her, and slipped his arms around her waist. "Like I said during lunch, I think you're awesome, and fun, and beautiful. I'm actually hoping to go a lot farther than just a kiss, but I'll settle for that. For now, at least."

Okay, so, maybe he's a little off. Scar fetishist, maybe. Everything else about him seems just about right. And he seems to be a genuinely nice guy. And we've just been having so much fun together. I'm actually glad he insisted on tagging along.

She took a step toward him and tried to keep her breathing steady.

He leaned closer, still smiling, and pulled her toward him. His breath caressed her mouth. Almost on their own, her arms slipped around him and she leaned forward, and their lips met. Her heart pounded and the whole world seemed to fade away. Full awareness returned only when they parted.

This is happening too fast. She sucked in a few deep breaths and clamped her hands onto his shoulders until she was sure she wouldn't topple over. But you may never meet someone like him again, so shut your sass-hole.

"Before we go any farther," Donovan said softly, "I have to ask … are you on birth control? I didn't think to take any suppressors before we left."

"N -- never expected I'd need it." She reached over to the comm panel beside her door and fumbled with the buttons. "Uh, Cora?"

"What can I do for you?"

"I don't want to impose, but would the medical bay be able to synthesize a birth control treatment for me? And some suppressors for Donovan?"

"I had a feeling you might be needing some. Sure, it shouldn't be a problem. Just go to the med-bay and get yourselves scanned, and I can synthesize anything you need."

Yes! Kolya took another breath. "Thanks. We're on our way."

She glanced at Donovan in time to catch him doing a fist-pump. She grinned, slipped her hand into his, and led him through the corridors. Cora's voice came from one of the comm panels along the wall after they'd passed through several hatches.

"The med-bay is the second door on your right."

"Thanks." Kolya stepped through and found herself in a large room with a dozen beds lining the wall on the left and an operating table, diagnostic bed, and an assortment of other equipment along the right. The walls had the same synthetic wood paneling as the rest of the ship. "Hmm. I should also be scanned for diseases and whatnot, just to show that I'm clean. I am, but I shouldn't expect Donny to just take my word for it."

"It's okay, I trust you, but if you're getting scanned, then I'll do the same."

"Not a problem at all." Cora had an audible smile in her voice.

"I hope I'm not being a bother." Kolya smiled.

"Not at all. I'm linked wirelessly with the ship's systems and can perform multiple tasks at once without working up a sweat, metaphorically speaking. For instance, I'm currently monitoring the reactors, jump engines, conventional thrusters, communications, and life support, making minute adjustments where they're needed, making periodic course corrections, scanning for nearby ships and debris to avoid collisions, and -- most important of all -- having mind-blowing sex with my husband and wives."

"Atta girl!" Kolya giggled.

Donovan whistled and then deadpanned, "I hope all that banging doesn't knock the ship off course."

Kolya barked out a deafening laugh, snorted, and laughed again.

"No need to worry. I already have safeguards on the navigation system to correct any thruster misfires that might happen if I come too hard."

Kolya had just managed to catch her breath, but now she broke into another giggling fit and had to slump against the nearest bed.

The consoles beside the diagnostic bed lit up.

"If you'll lay down and remain still, the scan will only take a few minutes. It's not necessary to remove your clothes, but you can if you want to."

Donovan fired another lascivious grin at Kolya. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

"I, uh -- well, I'm …"

"I'm hoping to see it all anyway. Why not get a head start?" His smile shifted into overdrive and he pulled his shirt off. Kolya froze and stared at him as he kicked his shoes off, unbuckled and unzipped his pants slowly, and let them fall to the floor.

She tried to say something witty. What came out of her mouth was, "Huhhhhh …"

Donovan's grin broadened even more. He tugged his socks off, tossed them aside, and then pulled his briefs down.

The breath caught in Kolya's throat. She stared for a few more seconds before shaking herself out of it. Oh, right, gotta show him mine now. She turned her back, pulled her shirt off, and fumbled with the fastening on her pants. Her hands trembled and she had to try four times before she managed to take them off. She took several ragged breaths and pointed a thumb at the clasp on her bra.

"Could you, uh …?"

"Sure." He unhooked the bra. She paused and then slipped it off. She let it fall to the floor, drew in a few more breaths, and pulled her panties off. Finally, she removed her socks and stood there, crossing her arms over her chest.

Oh, that's brilliant. I've taken my clothes off in front of him, and now I'm trying to hide my goods.

"Huh." Donovan brushed his fingers over her right ass cheek and she shivered. "Interesting. This row of puncture wounds looks different from your other scars."

"Yeah, I got those a couple of years ago. Everything else is from farther back than that."

"So, what happened to your ass?"

"Pitchfork."

He burst out laughing. "Seriously?"

"Yep."

"That must be a hell of a story."

She shrugged. "I'll tell you that one later. Don't want this to get derailed." She finally managed to drop her arms and turn to face him. He still had that brilliant smile and was already at half-mast.

"You're in really good shape. Work out a lot?"

"Not in a gym. I was a lot more slender before the accident. Once I started traveling, I found myself getting a lot of exercise. Hiking, climbing, jogging, that sort of thing. Running like hell, a few times. I guess it's buffed me up a little."

"I like it." He nodded at the bed. "It'll take a few minutes for the contraceptives to take hold. I'm not sure I can wait much longer."

She grinned and stretched out on the bed. "Better get on with it, then."

"Scan beginning," Cora said.

A ring-shaped apparatus detached from the wall at the head of the bed and traveled along a track in the ceiling, moving slowly from her head to her feet. Kolya kept still and the minutes dragged by. Probably only two or three, but it seemed much longer. Finally, the ring returned to the wall and Cora spoke again.

"Scan complete. Synthesizing contraceptives. Also, you're free of diseases and in excellent general health, though your heart rate is elevated."

"Can't imagine why," Kolya said under her breath, and flashed a saucy grin at Donovan. She sat up, hopped off the bed, and waved a hand at it. "It's all yours."

He took her place and waited.

"Scan beginning. Kolya, the medication will take a few more minutes to finish, and then you can find it in the dispenser at the far end of the room." In the corner, beside one of the consoles, a hard-light display appeared above a slot. "It's a fast-acting nanotech compound in a skin patch. Just peel the cover off and place it over your lower abdomen. Then give it ten to fifteen minutes to take effect."

"Sounds good. Thanks."

"Then we'll have to put our clothes back on just to walk back to one of our rooms and get undressed again." Donovan heaved an exaggerated sigh.

"If you can't wait that long," Cora said, "feel free to do it right here. I'll switch off the comm panel so you'll have privacy."

Kolya's pulse revved up again. Donovan beamed.

"That just made my entire night."

Kolya tried once again to rein herself in. "Mine, too." She let her gaze slide over every centimeter of his smooth skin while the scan continued.

Oh. Yeah.