Read Online Del's Pirates [Sequel to G'baena's Pirates] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Rachel Clark - Free Book Online

appreciate his hovering. They were grown adults, capable of doing their jobs, very aware now of the price they could pay, but still willing to do what they felt was right.
    Several tense minutes ticked by. Even after three cycles on this ship Del still couldn’t get used to the idea that the ship could be literally exploding around him but until the inertial compensators were damaged they wouldn’t feel a damn thing.
    “Stand down. Well done, crew.” Tee-ani smiled when Ben’s voice came over the loudspeaker. Within moments Trey’s voice came through the medical bay communicator.
    “There shouldn’t be any injuries, Tee. Get some rest.”
    “Are we safe?”
    “For now,” he answered honestly, “but Devlin’s getting tired of fixing the ship. He’s talking about landing somewhere.”
    “Landing?” Del asked before he could stop himself. The ship hadn’t landed in all the time he’d been onboard. He hadn’t even known it was possible.
    “Yes. Dev wants to drop down to a deserted part of a planet and get the rest of the repairs done without the constant interruptions. Jordan wants to evacuate nonessential crew to a safe location so we may be able to…What is the expression humans use, Tee?”
    “To kill two birds with one stone?”
    “That one, yes. Maybe one day you will explain to me what a bird is.” Tee-ani smiled but didn’t enlighten either Trey or Del. “Get some rest,” Trey said. “I will let you know what is happening when things are decided.”
    Del glanced at Tee-ani. “Just give me a moment to check on Avery and Cooper. Then I’ll take first shift.” She nodded and he headed out the door.
     
    * * * *
     
    Avery looked up just in time to see Del walk into the kitchen. She wanted to be mad at him for checking on her when he should be in the medical bay doing his job, but after the heart-pounding uncertainty of moments ago it was good to see him. It also meant that there weren’t any injuries in the latest attack. Del would never have left the medical bay otherwise.
    It felt a little weak to want to be held after what was essentially a minor, failed attack against the ship, but when Del held his arms open she couldn’t resist the need to step into his embrace.
    “Now that’s a beautiful sight,” Cooper said as he also walked through the doorway. He wrapped his arms tightly around them both and pressed a kiss to first Del’s lips and then Avery’s. “My two favorite people in the one place.”
    “Coop,” she said in exasperation, “you didn’t need to come all the way up from engineering to check on me.” The medical bay was only a hundred yards or so down the hallway. Engineering was on the other side of the damn ship. “You’re both too busy to be worrying about me.” God, even as she said the words she wanted to hold on to them and never let go. “Next time, just check on me via the intercom.”
    “Hey,” Cooper said as he broke the embrace and gave her a mischievous grin, “I only came for sandwiches. Being able to cop a feel was just an added bonus.” He smacked her bottom lightly, stepped away, and then grinned at someone over her shoulder. “Thanks, Ruth.” He reached over and lifted the tray of sandwiches big enough to feed everyone working in engineering and headed to the exit.
    “I have a break coming up in six hours. Any chance I can convince you both to meet me at my place?”
    Del laughed. “Absolutely,” he said as he let go of Avery and stepped away. “I better go relieve Tee-ani so I can get home on time.” He brushed past Cooper, mischievously running his hands over the guy’s flat belly. “Don’t start without me.”
    “Uh-uh,” Cooper said with a wide grin. “We’re starting whether you get home on time or not.”
    Home.
    It was amazing how one little four-letter word could mean so much. Avery hadn’t truly felt like the ship was home until Cooper said the word out loud. With the three of them together the way she’d always hoped, she