ily
asked Cade to get her a glass of water. He kissed lips, then her breast, and
then her thigh as he slid past her off the bed and stood up.
Saluting her, he said, "Yes, ma'am. One water coming up," and headed for the
bathroom, where he quickly drank several glasses himself before taking hers to
her.
Beth seemed barely awake enough to drink half the water, then she handed him
the glass and let her arm fall to the bed as she sighed deeply.
"I'm gonna take a nap," she said, almost slurring the words. "You?"
Cade's stomach rumbled at him, prompting him to say, "Can't. I'm starving.
How about I come back in an hour or so? Think you'll be up to another round by
then?"
Giggling softly, Beth nodded and said, "Sure. Maybe by then. Take my
keycard. If I'm asleep when you get back, just get into bed and snuggle up."
Leaning to kiss her, Cade said, "A lady with a plan. I like that. Yes'm.
I'll climb in and snuggle."
Beth giggled again, pulled the covers up, and mumbled, "I feel so
incredibly, absolutely used..."
"Excellent," said Cade, putting his pants on, "That's exactly what I was
shooting for, milady."
Laughing softly, Beth adjusted her pillow and said, "It felt like you were
shooting me. From the inside. We have these rooms all day, Ed. I have to catch a
nine o'clock flight, so hurry back. We aren't through yet."
"I'll bring you something from the restaurant."
Nodding, she said, "Thanks. Doesn't matter what it is. God, I haven't felt
like this in ages..."
He kissed her again and trailed his fingers down her blanketed form to her
knees, picked up the keycard, and buttoned his shirt on the way to the door.
Cade stepped out of Beth's room feeling as if he hadn't eaten in days.
Instead of waiting for an elevator, he took the stairs down two flights and
entered the con suite to see what was on the buffet.
The black guy who seemed to be in charge of the con suite every year saw him
coming and waved from behind a serving table as he picked up a large aluminum
tray that still held half a dozen sliced sandwiches.
"Hi, guy!" said Cade. "Still wearing red, huh? Don't you know that's an
unlucky color in Starfleet?"
"No sweat. Ever notice how they never send the cooks on away teams? Crucial
bridge personnel, medics, scientists, security types, and even family members
and practically any-damned-body else who wants to go, but never the cooks."
Grinn