Chapter 29- Morning After

I stirred to the faint hum of the ship’s systems, the ever-present white noise of our voyage. I saw a tangle of sheets and limbs, Emily’s warm body still curled beside me. Stark naked and radiating a soft contentment, she looked impossibly serene. God, she’s perfect. The reality of it all, of her being here, with me, settled over me like a warm blanket. I could get used to this.

I ran a hand through my hair, glancing around at the chaos of our impromptu night. The sheets were everywhere, barely covering either of us. The uniform I’d been so careful to fold was now crumpled on the floor, mingling with Emily’s discarded red lingerie. It was a scene so absurdly intimate that I let out a quiet laugh. We really made a mess of the place. I sat up, pulling the sheet with me and moved to sit on the edge of the bed, my back to Emily.

Emily stirred, her fingers brushing my chest before she opened her eyes. She blinked a few times, then a slow, sleepy smile spread across her face. "Morning, Luca,” she murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep. Her green eyes sparkled, though, and I found myself unable to look away.

I turned my head, smiling back at her. “Morning,” I said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. My lips quirked into a grin. “How are you feeling?”

Emily stretched lazily, her bare skin brushing against mine. “Amazing, actually,” she said, her smile widening. “Though a little… sore,” she added with a slight wince. She sat up and glanced around at the disheveled state of my quarters, then looked down at herself, then back at me, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink.

"It was wonderful, though," she said, her voice soft, meeting my eyes. "You were very... thorough." She stayed in bed, shifting closer, wrapping her arms around me from behind, her breasts pressing against my back. She rested her chin on my shoulder, her breath warm against my neck. "Thank you, Luca," she whispered.

I leaned back against her, closing my eyes, enjoying the feel of her body against mine. A warmth spread through me, and yeah, I definitely felt a stirring beneath the sheets, so much for a graceful exit. Her hand slipped down, her fingers teasingly brushing against my growing erection. "Someone's eager for round two," she murmured playfully.

She let me go and took a step toward the bathroom, then paused, glancing back at me over her shoulder. “Though, uh… I think I need to drain the main tank, if you know what I mean,” she said with a wink. “Like, really drain it.”

I blinked, caught between embarrassment and amusement. “Uh, that’s… uh…” Smooth, Luca. Real smooth.

“Don’t worry,” she cut in, stepping into the bathroom. “I think I can handle it.” The door clicked shut, leaving me sprawled in the chaos of our night, my face buried in my hands. I pressed my palms against my cheeks, the heat radiating through my skin. What the hell just happened? The contentment lingered, but so did the blush. I wasn’t used to this kind of openness, especially not with Emily. Yet, it didn’t feel wrong, it felt natural, easy, like a missing puzzle piece finally clicked into place.

The door creaked open a moment later, Emily’s voice drifting out. “So… do we tell the others?”

I straightened, still feeling a bit flushed, as I moved to the edge of the bed. "Do we have to? It's not like it's anyone's business."

Her laugh floated through the air, light and teasing. “Zoe already suspects it, you know. I’m surprised she hasn’t plastered it on the daily logs.”

“Zoe suspects everything,” I muttered, shaking my head. “Let’s just… keep it low-key for now. The last thing we need is Ryan taking bets or Joey making weird comments.”

Emily stepped out of the bathroom, the towel draped loosely around her like a toga. “Low-key? With this crew? Good luck, Captain.” She leaned in, kissing my cheek before heading toward her clothes. "I can't exactly walk around like this," she added, nudging her discarded uniform with her foot. "And there's no way I'm walking out there like this."

Still seated on the edge of the bed, I gestured vaguely toward her cabin door. “You’ll have to sneak back to your room for a fresh suit.”

Emily arched a brow. “Sneak back? What is this, high school?”

“Considering the alternative is running into Ryan or Joey dressed like that?” I grinned. “Yeah, sneaking sounds like the better option.”

Emily huffed but didn’t argue. Instead, she flopped onto the bed, clearly in no hurry. “Fine. You shower first. I need to plan my escape.”

I grabbed the other towel and headed for the bathroom, muttering something about how this situation was making my head spin. The sound of running water filled the cabin moments later. As the hot water cascaded over me, I leaned my head back against the cool tile, my mind replaying the events of the previous night. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered word.

Holy shit, that actually happened. I scrubbed at my face, then ran my hands through my hair, a nervous energy thrumming through me. I still couldn't quite believe it. Emily, the Emily, had just spent the night in my bed. My bed. With me. I closed my eyes, a goofy grin spreading across my face.

When I reemerged, my hair was damp and slicked back, the towel draped around my waist. The cramped quarters didn’t leave much room for modesty, and as I shuffled toward my drawer for a fresh bodysuit, Emily let out a low whistle.

***

“Well, Captain,” she teased, leaning back on the bed, her eyes raking over me. “I didn’t know you came with a six-pack.”

My ears tingled. I could feel the heat rising in my face. “Emily…” I warned, trying to ignore her mischievous grin as I grabbed my uniform. The bathroom was too small to get dressed in, so, awkwardly balancing the towel, I turned my back to her. “Just… don’t watch.”

“Oh, I’m absolutely watching,” Emily said, sitting up and folding her arms, clearly enjoying my embarrassment.

Grumbling under my breath, I dropped the towel, pulled on my boxer briefs, and started pulling the bodysuit up my legs. The fabric clung immediately, as bodysuits always did, and I fumbled with it, struggling to get the snug material past my thighs.

“You’re doing great,” Emily commented dryly, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

“I don’t need an audience,” I snapped, tugging the suit higher and nearly losing my balance in the process.

“Let me help,” Emily said, sliding off the bed. Before I could protest, she was at my side, tugging the suit upward. She was surprisingly strong for her size, and I couldn't help but let out a small grunt when she got the suit over my hips. "Easy there," I muttered, but she just smiled innocently.

“Just making sure it’s snug,” she said, her voice a little husky. Her hands moved from my back to my chest, fingers gliding across my skin, smoothing the material with deliberate slowness. Her fingers lingered longer than necessary, tracing the lines of my muscles. I could feel the heat of her touch right through the fabric.

As I struggled with the zipper, her hands slid lower, brushing against my abs, my sides, her fingers dancing just at the edge of my… well, you know. “Want a hand with that zipper?” she asked, her voice almost a purr.

I could feel the warmth creeping up my neck, a sure sign that my cheeks were burning. I zipped up the front as fast as I could, trying to ignore the fact that I was basically a blushing mess. “You’re impossible,” I muttered, avoiding her eyes as I grabbed a hoodie from my shelf. I tossed it to her. “Here. Put this on.”

Emily pulled the oversized hoodie over her head, the hem falling well past her thighs. Looking so goddamned cute. She buried her face in the fabric, inhaling deeply, then looked up at me, her eyes sparkling. "It smells like you," she said, her voice soft. A slow smile spread across her face as she snuggled into the hoodie. "You know," she said, her tone thoughtful, "it kinda sucks that we never got to do the whole high school graduation thing. Or college. I always imagined... I don't know... borrowing my boyfriend's hoodie. And I know it would have been your hoodie, Luca. I've always known. Guess this is close enough."

My heart did a flip at her words, and a warmth spread through my chest. She'd always known? Was she saying that... that she'd always seen me that way? It was like she'd just casually dropped a bomb, a wonderful, life-altering bomb. I'd been so oblivious, so sure that she was out of my league, that I never even considered the possibility that she might have felt the same way. All that time... wasted. But, no. We had this now. This moment. And that was all that mattered.

"Yeah," I said, a little breathless. "Close enough... Well, it’s better than a sheet. Now, let’s get you out of here before anyone sees.” I cracked the door open, peeking into the corridor. The coast was clear. “Okay, go,” I whispered, gesturing for her to move.

Emily darted past me, giggling as she made her way toward her cabin. “Thanks, Captain,” she called softly over her shoulder.

I sighed, shaking my head. “This is insane,” I muttered to myself. “I’m sneaking people around my own ship. What’s next?”

***

After Emily disappeared into her cabin, I snuck into the kitchen, grabbing a cup of what I hoped was coffee. Now, I leaned against the wall outside Emily’s cabin, my coffee cup in hand, staring at the swirling liquid. The thick sludge was direct proof that Ryan was already up. “How does he manage to brew tar every time?” I muttered, setting the cup down on a nearby ledge. I could almost hear Emily’s teasing voice in my head: Maybe you should make it next time, Captain.

The door to her cabin slid open, and my thoughts derailed. Emily stepped out, freshly showered and dressed. Her hair was damp, loose around her shoulders, and her skin seemed to have a glow to it that had nothing to do with the dim corridor lighting. The curve of her waist, the outline of her hips. I couldn’t stop checking her out. Focus, Luca.

Emily caught me staring and smirked, one eyebrow raising. “What, no good morning?”

I blinked, snapping out of it. “Good morning,” I managed, straightening and offering her my arm. I gestured down the hall. “Shall we?”

"Hmm, maybe," she said, stepping closer, a playful glint in her eyes. She tilted her head back, and before I knew it, she'd hooked her arm around my neck, pulling herself up to press a soft kiss on my cheek. "There," she said, her voice a soft murmur against my skin. "Now I'm ready." She slid her other arm through mine, and I could feel the warmth of her body against my side.

I smiled, trying to focus on the feel of her hand in mine and not the soft press of her side against mine. “I just can’t get past Ryan’s coffee. You’d think after four years he’d figure out how to brew something drinkable.”

Emily laughed, the sound warm and easy. “Maybe you should make the coffee next time, Captain Perfect.”