Before the ship left Earth’s system, Caleb and Nel spent a couple hours with Allie via Caleb’s display. As usual, after she climaxed inside Caleb, Nel left satisfied and aloof without anything that could be called post-coital bonding. Once she had slipped out, Caleb shifted on the couch to face Allie. She was working her way toward her usual extra orgasm.

“Thanks,” she said. “That was fun. Different, but fun.”

He sipped from a half full glass. “Yeah,” he said. “Connections won’t be as easy once we are a few light years away. I wanted to screw around one more time.”

Allie stopped playing with herself and stared through the display at him. She closed and crossed her legs and leaned forward on her couch.

Caleb froze like a rabbit under the shadow of a hawk, replaying what he had said in his head to discover where he had gone wrong. He was too slow.

Allie rolled her eyes, took a drink of her own, and threw herself back into her couch. “Whatever, Caleb,” she said. “I’m sure you won’t be at a loss for screwing on Alpha Centauri or wherever.”

“I just meant–”

“Don’t,” she warned. “I know what you meant, but fucking Christ, Caleb, could you at least pretend to have feelings every once in a while?” A tear escaped her eye and she nearly clawed it from her cheek.

Caleb’s chest hurt from the beating of his heart. “I have feelings,” he said quietly.

Allie’s expression went from one of irritation to frustration and finally to pity. “I know,” she said. “I know. It’s not your fault, but you fucking suck sometimes, Caleb.”

Caleb exhaled. The pounding in his chest lessened a little. He sat back with his own drink in hand and just stared at Allie in the display.

She cried a little and then smiled at him. They sat drinking together in silence for a long time.

Chapter 21

Chapter 23