Pet Problems

Posted on Tue Oct 21st, 2025 @ 6:52am by Lieutenant Commander Lyra Cassiel & Lieutenant Harper Bennett & Lieutenant Commander Andrei Petrov
Edited on on Tue Oct 21st, 2025 @ 7:02am

Mission: S1 Episode 9: Annihilation Protocol
Location: XO's Quarters
Timeline: Date 2372-02-18 at 1900
9697 words - 19.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Andrei Petrov had spent years doing business a certain way. It had been entertaining and extremely effective, but it had left a certain brand of collateral damage in its wake. Certain women who were still very useful for him were becoming difficult to control. That was dangerous..for them.

The Vengeance’s XO materialized on the transporter pad aboard the Lovarr, greeted by familiar Kazon faces. He scowled at them, a moment of red hot hatred flashing in his mismatched eyes. Their like had wounded him once, and he hadn’t forgotten, even with every additional domination.

It was a familiar trip to the commander’s quarters; the place he had once called home. He stood tall, proud, and strong before the door and pressed the chime. He hoped Harper would make this easy on herself.

“Come in!” Came the woman’s voice from inside.

Harper felt terrible. Even after taking a visit to the medical bay, she still had a dull, nagging headache that was lingering and making her feel miserable. She had drank way too much last night and she knew it, because everything was rather hazy and there were some things she simply couldn’t remember. Like the headache though, she had a nagging feeling something wasn’t quite right. She was dressed in her uniform and had just finished putting the last of the pins in her hair when the door opened. Turning, she saw Andrei there, and immediately there was this mixed look of confusion and some sort of undercurrent of hopefulness.

“Andrei… hey. Do you need something?”

Andrei entered, his visible eye finding hers right away. He didn’t linger in the doorway for a second, but moved directly to her sitting area and lowered his body into the large chair. He looked at her with an inscrutable expression, her eyes the focus of his observation. he stapled his long fingers, but said nothing.

She watched him move over to the chair, her expression neutral at first, but then faltering with concern in the face of his silence. She stepped closer to him, trying to get a read on what he was feeling or to anticipate what he was about to ask her. “What is it?”

“How’s your head?” he asked, unblinkingly.

“I have a headache.” She replied with a simple shrug, moving a bit closer while watching him. “I’m glad to see you.”

“That’s really no surprise. You drank like a fish last night.” He said, still giving her no sign of his feelings. “I suppose there’s a first for everything, isn’t there?”

“Ah, yeah, I did.” She giggled and smiled at him. “It was a really fun party though.”

Reaching out, she put her hand on his arm. “Thanks for hosting it, if I didn’t get a chance to say that last night.”

“You said quite a lot last night, and in front of everyone, no less. You said a lot about your love of cock. Big, thick cock, if my memory serves.” He said, not reacting to her touch or giving her an ounce of expression. His words were matter-of-fact, his tone was inviting, but his manner and face told a more stern and deadly tale. “Everyone there was shocked, darling. It was clear whose you meant.”

“Oh.” Harper faltered and considered what he had said for a moment, then a small hopeful smile dared to tug at the corners of her mouth. Her hand started to rub his arm in a small area. “Well… I feel like that’s an opinion shared by many anyways and it isn’t exactly subtle.”

She made a move to slide into his lap. “Did you come to visit me so I can show you just how much I do?”

As soon as she was in his lap, his arm moved around her middle and held her in place snuggly; a bit too snugly. His hand found hers and held it tightly; a little too tightly.

“I came to punish you for being so naughty yesterday.” He said, looking at her with cold eyes.

“Oh did you?” She giggled, slightly oblivious. She could feel he was holding her too tightly, but she simply figured his desire was up - it wasn’t the first time he was too rough with her, and the thought of being with him again overrode and discomfort. She rolled her hips, leaning closer to him. “I’m so glad.”

“Do you think you can keep what happens here between you and me?” He asked her in a near whisper.

“Of course I can.” She smiled and leaned in, touching her lips to his jaw and starting to deliver a line of kisses there.

He stood then, scooping her into his arms and then depositing her roughly onto the couch in front of him. As she giggled, he started unclasping his belt buckle. Moving fast, he pulled it free and then allowed the black uniform pants to fall around his ankles.

“Get on your knees and show me how much you like big thick cock, Harp.” He said, licking his lips as his hands worked the belt into a loop silently.

Harper noticed the belt and it gave her pause. Frowning, she looked up at Andrei. “What are you doing?”

“Are you deaf?” He asked, his tone sudden and sharp. “Get over here now.”

She hesitated a moment again, then shifted forward on the couch to reach out for his underwear that were still on. Her eyes darted toward the belt now and then, unsure of what he was planning with that, but perhaps it was innocuous. Her fingers found the waistband of the fabric and she began to pull down.

Andrew watched silently as she unveiled him, the belt still resting at his side even as he was exposed to her.

“You’ve been wanting this for month’s, haven’t you?” He asked. It was rhetorical. He knew it was the case. “Yet now you seem hesitant.”

“No, no I’m not.” She assured him hastily and leaned in. Her hands came up and she cradled his manhood in them, beginning to stroke him slowly. There was a familiarity to her touch of course, but it was a distant familiarity, having long been replaced by even more enthusiastic hands who had taken the time to learn exactly how to touch him.

Andrei stiffened quickly under her touch, and though a moment of conflict appeared on his features, he powered through and maintained the deadness in his eyes.

“Well, you really should be. I’m not exactly the most predictable man, am I? I mean…flirting with me in front of my girlfriend after you’ve seen the way we treat our enemies first hand…and you’ve kept our dirty little secrets here so well..”

Harper continued to handle him, but her hands slowed and she frowned. “I’m not your enemy, Andrei, you know that.”

“I know one thing..” Andrei said, and before his words were finished, the belt was around her neck. He pulled it until the loop closed right around her throat, and then he yanked it forward, traveling so that she fell hard over the back of the couch, clutching at her throat for air. “I know you embarrassed me…shamed yourself…and humiliated my woman.”

Andrei moved away from her so that the belt grew tighter around her neck unless she crawled backward.

Harper squealed out, her hands leaving Andrei’s length and instead going to the belt around her neck which she started to claw. She moved with the direction he was dragging her, whimpering and gasping in panic. “Andrei, stop!”

“Is that what you want right now, Harper? Or would you rather have big, thick cock?” He asked, grinning at her struggling. His pantsless state was notable, but if anything, his erection only seemed stronger than before. “That doesn’t sound like an apology to me, Puppet.”

Any arousal Harper may have had had given away to confusion and fear. Her fingers still pulled at the belt as it bit into her neck, and tears sprang to her eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I love you…”

“That wasn’t love, Harp. And you did hurt me.” He said, his tone cold. He advanced on her and knelt down behind her, holding the belt tightly in his strong fist. His lips found her ear. “Now, how would you like to die tonight, Lieutenant Bennet?”

“Andrei…” She whimpered out to him again. “I’m sorry. I was just drunk and I wasn’t thinking. I thought people knew we had a past anyways.”

“I can’t believe how fucking stupid it was.” He said into her ear through his teeth. “How could you do that to us? How could you do that to me if you say you love me?”

“Wh-what did I do that was so wrong? Why is it so bad for people to know?” Harper asked, tears rolling down her cheeks slowly. “It was just in the past…”

Andrei pulled the belt hard enough to choke off her air supply completely. As she tensed up, he restrained her flailing with his hand.

“That’s the wrong answer, Harper..” he said, knowing she wouldn’t be able to respond. “I thought you cared about me..”

Harper looked at him with tears still rolling down her cheeks, her face turning red as she struggled to breathe. She moved her mouth and made sounds like she was trying to speak, but she couldn’t with his hold on her. Instead of clawing at the belt, she reached out and started hitting his shoulder, trying to get him to let her go.

Her strikes were completely ineffective. He watched her, and when she seemed to be losing consciousness, he released the belt and allowed it to loosen around her throat. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her warmly as she gasped for breath. Her chest heaved as his hand went to her head, moving through her hair.

Harper heaved in breaths, and once his hands had released the pressure of the belt and she had some air, her hands came up and she pulled the belt off from around her neck and moved to scramble out of Andrei’s arms. She looked absolutely terrified, and ended up getting caught in her own legs and falling forward on the floor.

Andrei lunged forward and grabbed the base of her hair, preventing her from moving further.

“You don’t know what you did? I have a girlfriend and you know that.” He said, pulling her up with his free arm until she was standing. She wobbled weakly and looked at her darkly. “You know that. You brought our special thing out into the public eye and you made me look ridiculous. Don’t ever do that again.”

“What does she matter?” Harper asked, hate dripping from her words. Obviously, she felt comfortable being open with Andrei still. She didn’t try to get away from him, and instead steadied herself using his arms. “It isn’t like she matters. How did that make you look ridiculous? Isn’t that always how you’ve been? Women fawn over you and you love it. What changed?”

“My plans changed. She’s in her place and so are you.” He said, leaning in and looking into her eyes. “And if you care about me, that will be enough for you.”

“What does that mean?” Harper frowned. “What does that mean for us?”

“It means you’re on my team..At my side. And I’ll never forget that.” He said, putting a hand to her cheek. The touch was tender and warm, but his face was lined with concern. “Ever. But if you behave that way again, I won’t be able to keep you drawing breath. If I don’t kill you, she will.”

He turned them and started pulling her toward the bathroom. He scooped up his pants as they moved. He took them into the bathroom and turned on the installed sonic shower.

Turning to her, smiled.

“You’re going to have bruises, you know. Do you have a dermal regenerator?”

“No… I don’t.” She reached up to touch her neck, her voice hoarse and barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry, Andrei. I really didn’t mean to upset you. I’m not really afraid of your girlfriend though when you’re watching over me. What is she going to do?”

Harper truly didn’t understand. She was blinded by her feelings, and he knew that. She thought he felt something for her, but she was little more than a pet. He touched her neck as well, gently.

“You at least need to pretend to respect her, or else you’ll make things very difficult for me.” He said, looking into her eyes again. She was pretty and, more importantly, would do anything at all for him. She would even allow him to kill her if he wanted. That suited him. He started unzipping her uniform jacket slowly and carefully. “Is that what you want? To force me to choose between you?”

Harper was quiet for a moment and seemed to be seriously considering his question. Obviously the answer was yes, and she wanted to be the one who was chosen. As he began to undo her jacket though, her face softened. “I don’t know what you see in her. She isn’t nearly as devoted to you as I would be and you know that.”

“What makes you say that, Harp?” He asked, stripping off the jacket before starting to lift her red shirt slowly. Several bruises appeared on her torso as she took it off. “What do you see in her?”

“She’s just using you. What can she do on her own?” Harper seemed to grumble, moving so he could undress her and her hands moved to his body. “She’s also not very intelligent if she actually thinks you belong to her.”

“Especially if you keep reminding her.” Andrei said, allowing her to think whatever she needed to think to rationalize serving him. “She does have a fantastic ass though. You have to admit that, right?”

He unbuttoned her pants and left the rest to her as leaned on the sonic shower and folded his strong arms over his chest.

“I’ve seen better.” Harper shrugged and then looked down at her half dressed form, then moved toward Andrei. “She doesn’t matter. I’ve really missed you coming to visit me.”

“I know you have.” Andrei said with a chuckle. “But what I need you to do now is take a shower, put on a fresh uniform, and then come with me. You’re going to apologize to Lyra for your behavior yesterday and clean up the mess you made.”

“What?” Harper looked up at him incredulously. “Why? Why does it matter? She can die mad for all I care.”

It seemed Harper wasnt just in love; she really didn’t understand the danger she was in. If she couldn’t be controlled, she was a liability and nothing else. His hands were around the near naked woman’s throat and he pushed her back hard against the wall behind her. As the brown bulkhead actually rattled, he compressed her windpipe, his visible eye flashing with rage.

“It seems you’re too thick to get the message with the belt, so let’s try my bare hands. You are going to do what I tell you when I tell you, or you are going to die. Nod if you understand.”

Harper let out a distressed cry which ended in a suffocated whimper as he pushed her against the bulkhead. She immediately started crying again, looking at his face with fear and hurt in her eyes. Why was this woman so important to him? She didn’t understand, nevertheless she nodded while she clawed ineffectually at Andrei’s hands, though her nails were leaving marks on his pale skin.

Andrei let the hold linger for a moment before finally releasing her again. He looked at her, face and body, and licked his lips.

“Good girl. Now get those clothes off and hop in the shower.” He said, his tone positively friendly.

Harper, coughing and sobbing, got into the sonic shower while still clothed and only once she was inside with the door closed as a physical barrier did she take off the rest of her clothes. She activated the shower, the low hum of the device contrasting with her crying.

“What do you even see in her?” She half choked, half wailed.

He looked around her bathroom, noting the decorative changes she’d made since he’d last been there. He noticed that a toothbrush she had set aside for him was still there, waiting. He hadn’t used it in many months. Smiling. He licked it up, applied paste to it, and started to brush.

“An Empress.” He said in a pause, then looked back at the glass of the shower. “Don’t you?”

“Empress?” Harper questioned looking down at her feet as she listened to Andrei brushing his teeth.

“Of course, Harp. She’s cousin to the Emperor; an ounce of legitimacy I could use when I come into my throne.” He said, then concluded his brushing. “Do you think you’d make a better Empress?”

Silence met him for a long moment, but eventually Harper spoke again quietly. “Is that all she is to you then?”

The shower finished and she bent down to scoop up her clothes which she held in front of her while exiting the stall and obscuring her body, whether it was intentional or simply natural wasn’t immediately clear. Her pretty eyes rested on Andrei’s face. There was fear there, but she was searching his expression with her own eyes holding a bit of hope that this other woman was nothing more than just that to Andrei.

If Andrei was honest, he hated this way of doing business. He preferred the carrot rather than the stick with women, and the part of him that really loved them..the best part of him, wondered if his relationship was completely worth the cost. He didn’t like hurting Harper. The sentiment could be seen in his eyes, but he pushed it away.

“It’s what I see in her.” He said, not really answering the question. “Get dressed.”

With that, he turned and left the bathroom, returning to the living room and sitting back down in the chair he’d first occupied.

It took Harper a fair amount of time to get ready, but eventually she stepped out from the bedroom area in a clean uniform with her hair put back into place, and a plastering of makeup around her neck to cover up the bruises there which she was mostly successful in doing. She looked at Andrei sitting there, and then looked away from him. “What do you want me to say to her?”

“What would you want to hear if you were her?” He asked, looking up at her. She wasn’t stupid. In fact, she was one of the smartest officers in their fleet. She knew what to say without him spoon-feeding her.

Harper frowned, frustrated. “I just want to make sure I do it right for you so I don’t upset you again.”

“Answer my question.” Andrei said to her, giving her a warning look. She was manipulating him, and he could tell. That was his job.

“How shou-“ As she began, her pretty face was twisted up in irritation and it was obvious she was about to say something, but the pain in her neck had her thinking better of it and she stopped. Frowning, her expression evened out again. “That I was very sorry for how I acted and that it was very inappropriate of me.”

“And what else? Clearly you weren’t lying about how you feel. What else would you want to hear?” He asked, his visible eye on her.

“That I was stupidly drunk and caught up in my head about old memories that aren’t relevant anymore.” Harper offered up half heartedly. She had never been in Lyra’s position and had trouble picturing herself being foolish enough to be in that position, so despite her intelligence this was a struggle.

“That sounds good enough to. She is, of course, insanely jealous. Try to seem sincere, and I’ll protect you.” He said, then stood up. “Let’s go.”

—-

Lyra sat stretched out on the couch of what had effectively become her shared quarters with Andrei. Though they had previously spent more time in their own spaces, Andrei’s nightmares during the time his family was exiled to Gamma Erendine had brought them closer through his desire to have her near. Her presence was a comfort to him, and she herself couldn’t deny that she slept easier in bed with him than she did alone. In her hand was a PADD containing a string of reports from her department, and she had put on Scarlatti as background music while she read. She wasn’t particularly concerned about where Andrei was; she knew he would come back “home” eventually. They were busy people after all.

It was a few minutes before the doors to their quarters swished open and Andrei strolled in whistling, Harper in tow behind him. He seemed happy and unworried by the situation, and when he saw Lyra on the couch, he offered her a smile.

“Hello, Love.” He said, approaching her and sitting next to her on the couch. He turned his eyes to the speakers and nodded. “Scarlatti Somata in D Minor.”

“Right as always, Darling.” Lyra smiled, her voice holding a note of pride. Andrei’s love of music warmed her, and even small moments of engagement with it from him made her smile. She saw Harper, of course, but her focus was on Andrei. She leaned in to give him a quick kiss - there was nothing unusual or territorial about it, they always naturally kissed when greeting the other. Naturally, she could immediately taste and smell the fresh mint on his mouth which signaled freshly brushed teeth. Naturally, immediately, she was incensed, but that beautiful face and those dark eyes betrayed not a drop of her rage; what had he been doing that he had need to brush his teeth? She touched his cheek just briefly, then turned her attention to Harper.

“Harper. How are you feeling?”

“I’m alright… recovering from last night.” Harper replied, her voice hoarse and strained from the trauma to her neck. Lyra’s brows went up just slightly on hearing the other woman’s voice far from its natural tone, but Harper continued. “I… wanted to come by and apologize for last night. Andrei told me what happened because I… really didn’t remember any of it.”

Harper didn’t meet Lyra’s eyes, her eyes were downcast roaming over the floor. Her strained voice lended toward some tone of contriteness, but truthfully Harper wasn’t very good at lying despite all her intelligence. “I was way too drunk and got caught up in the past with all the fun and games going on, and it went too far and became very inappropriate, and I am very sorry for that.”

Lyra listened as she sat there next to Andrei, her expression completely unreadable until she wanted it to be read, and when she did so, she looked mildly confused for a moment and then the realization seemed to hit her as to what Harper was talking about. She laughed, feminine, soft, sweet, “Oh that. Well, you’re right it was inappropriate.”

She stood then and walked toward Harper, towering over the slight woman herself. Her hands moved to Harper’s shoulders, and she gave a warm smile while looking down at her with a smoldering gaze. “But we’ve all made mistakes and gotten a bit too drunk for our own good before, hm?”

Andrei smiled, stepping a bit closer to remain beside Lyra. They both knew that Harper wasn't sorry, but she was paying her dues and kissing hands as she should. He remained silent and observed. He hoped this interaction would cool things down for a bit.

Lyra noticed Andrei come up behind her and was immediately annoyed by it. Harper’s apology wasn’t real, but that wasn’t the point in all of this. He’d brought Harper here to show her that he had indeed gone to speak to her about the interaction being unacceptable, but she was quite sure that the “conversation” had been something along the lines of “just tell her what she wants to hear”. Had that conversation occurred with legs and bodies entwined? She seethed while she smiled, and her hands slid along Harper’s shoulders as if she were going to the woman’s neck. Would Andrei protect her, she wondered?

Not that she would be so foolish as to kill Harper in this way, but the woman would certainly have to die at some point.

Harper flinched slightly, and Lyra immediately noticed it, her eyes went down to Harper’s neck, and she observed makeup on the inner collar of her shirt and jacket. “Harper, dear, you have make-up all over your clothes.”

Lyra hooked a finger into Harper’s collar and pulled it away, seeing clear evidence of the bruising there from where the makeup had rubbed away. Her brows lifted higher with mock concern. “Oh gods. What happened to you?”

Harper, instinctively, looked over at Andrei and Lyra’s urge to kill her grew.

Andrei stepped beside the two of them, his gaze set on Harper. When he spoke his voice was low and calm, a hint of concern in it as well.

“Gods, you’re right. It looks like you’ve been through quite the ordeal. What happened, Harp?”

“Take off your jacket and let me see.” Lyra spoke with a gentle voice. She seemed outwardly completely at ease and genuinely concerned as if she were unbothered by the whole incident from the previous evening; so convincing it was that had she not threatened to gouge out Harper’s eyes the night before, even Andrei might have believed it for a moment. “Darling, will you grab the dermal regenerator?”

Harper was nervous now, looking between Lyra and Andrei. What was she supposed to do here? Her hands went up to her jacket and she unzipped it, pulling it off her body slowly. Lyra immediately took it from her and tossed it on a nearby chair, then invaded into Harpers space to get a closer look at her neck.

Andrei frowned a concerned frown and departed to the medical drawer near his desk. He returned with it in under ten seconds.

“Here you are. They look terrible.”

“Don’t they?” Lyra took the device from Andrei, then moved to grab a towel from the small kitchen area and wet it in the sink. “Shirt too, Harper, come on.”

“O-okay.” Harper obeyed meekly and pulled off her shirt, leaving in her shell tank top and bra so her entire neck was exposed.

Truth be told, it annoyed Andrei to see Lyra handling one of his pawns this was, considering the anger he knew she felt for Harper and, quite possibly, suspicion of him. He never put her toys through their paces, but he was starting to consider it. Still, the fact that Harper had been so disrespectful had given her license. He would allow it to a point. Despite what he said, Harper was difficult to replace as a devotee in high places.

If Lyra noticed Andrei’s annoyance, she certainly didn’t seem to care. She returned with the towel and began to wipe off Harper’s neck. She held the woman by the chin, and the way she was touching her was surreal in its gentleness and motherly. “Did someone do this to you?”

“I don’t really remember.” Harper lied. Badly.

“Mm…” Lyra pursed her lips and once the makeup was off she activated the dermal regenerator. Her thumb rested in the large dimple on Harper’s chin and she used that to turn the woman’s head when needed. When Harper whimpered, Lyra frowned.

“I’m sorry, I know it hurts. Almost done though.”

“Thanks.” Harper closed her eyes slowly.

“Perhaps you made more poor decisions than you thought last night.” Lyra began again, “You should be more careful, Harp. I don’t know if this is a… thing you enjoy in the bedroom, but it is certainly not safe to do when so inebriated. I’d hate to see anything happen to you.”

Andrei brushed a strand of the woman’s hair out of her pretty, innocent face. Frowning, he came in closer.

“Harper, tell us who did this to you. Whoever it is, I will make them pay.” Andrei said, his eyes like glass.

“I really don’t remember.” Harper insisted, looking at Andrei with confusion in her eyes. Why was he doing this?

Lyra’s dark eyes watched Andrei’s hand as it moved to offer a touch of affection to another woman, and she took a slow, deep breath. Why was he doing this? Was he trying to purposefully antagonize her? Did he want to see how far he could push before she reacted? She finished moving the device around Harper’s neck, the vicious bruises finally gone.

“Well, love, if you do remember you should say something. If you think it wasn’t consensual, of course.” Lyra picked up Harper’s shirt and jacket and gave them back to her. “Here you go.”

“No one can do something to you like this without consequences, right?” Andrei asked. He’d noticed Lyra’s deep breath. She was angry. He hadn’t slept with another woman in ages. What more did she want? She wasn’t naive enough to think he had sworn off all interaction, was she?

He pulled the regenerator out of her hand a bit more roughly than was typical, bordering on snatching it. If this display wasn't enough to show her he was dedicated to her above all others, then what was the point? Could she see nothing but insult In this flattery?

“Right.” Harper agreed and stood, hastily pulling her clothes back on. She looked at Lyra again and licked her lips. “Sorry again.”

This time, she actually seemed to mean it a bit more.

“It’s alright, Harper.” Lyra assured the other woman kindly. “Just take care of yourself.”

“I will.” Harper nodded, looking from Lyra to Andrei. “I’ll go now.”

“Will you?” Andrei asked, his kind tone slipping for an instant. He watched as she angled her body for the door. Of course, he wasn’t angry at Harper, but he had to know where her mind was. Affection and sex were off the table, but he was less sure why now than he had been in a long time.

Harper stopped immediately and frowned. “I just didn’t want to intrude on your time anymore…”

“That’s very considerate.” Andrei said, his features neutral. He stared at her for several tense seconds before he smiled, finally. “Goodnight then, Harp. Stay safe.”

“Goodnight.” Harper nodded respectfully and bid a hasty retreat.

Lyra watched Harper go and knew she had a decision to make immediately. She wasn’t happy, but what did that matter? He didn’t care. She also knew the action at its core had been meant to be a positive one. She wasn’t sure if he had slept with Harper, the freshly brushed teeth was extremely suspicious; she could find out though. She turned to face her lover and her hand reached out to touch his, her expression softening for him.

“Thank you, Darling. I know that wasn’t easy for you.”

He knew she was angry, and this act wouldn’t do anything to change his mind on that fact. He looked into Lyra’s dark, mysterious eyes, and found himself wondering for the first time if all of this was worth it. It was a quiet thought that he kept off of his face completely. She was quite the actress, and he was wondering if he had ever really met her.

“I’m glad you appreciate it. She was unwilling at first.” He said.

“I could tell.” Her lips twitched slightly, and she laced her fingers into his, leaning her body into his slightly. She enjoyed the thought immensely of him bringing his pet bitch to heel, but she knew he likely hadn’t. Her other hand moved to his side, and she kissed his jaw near his chin.

“I really do appreciate it.” She meant it, and it showed in her dark eyes. She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed his fingers, but as she did so she noticed the scratches on his hand and frowned.

Andrei wasn’t sure if she meant it, but he would just have to wait until she was good and ready to tell him to be certain.

“You seemed irritated at me. It was hard to tell.” He admitted.

Lyra reached with her other hand and coaxed the dermal regenerator out of it in a much more gentle fashion than he had taken it from her. She activated it and began to run it over Andrei’s fingers while she considered what to say. She didn’t want to outright lie to him, but figuring out what exactly to reveal could be difficult at times. He never reacted well, so it was a matter of what would be the easiest to repair. It was an exhausting task.

“I didn’t like watching you touch her like that in front of me. I know what you have to do with these women to keep them as your pets, but I don’t need to see it. You wouldn’t like to watch me playing with my pets like that either.”

“I moved hair from her face. It wasn’t as if I was cradling and caressing the woman.” Andrei said calmly. “I meant no offense.”

“It’s a gesture of affection, and then threatening to make whoever did that to her pay while you look at her with all the concern in the world…” She paused and reached up to brush a strand of hair from his face. “Wouldn't you be a bit irritated with me if I did that to Corvin while you were standing right next to me?” Her tone remained calm, matching his.

“It’s fine, I’ve moved on, but yes, it irritated me in the moment.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I dragged her through her living room by the throat with my belt and used my hands for good measure. If you did that to Corvin, I would be quite surprised.” He said, recalling his brutal attack on Harper. “But fine, I take your point. I’ll try not to touch other women in your presence.”

“If Corvin did anything like what Harper did, I’d string him up by his toes until his eyes popped out of his head.” Lyra shrugged as if that were obvious. “It does make me feel better though.”

She paused then, and decided to just ask the burning question - more to see his reaction than anything else. “Why did you brush your teeth while you were there?”

He raised his brows in surprise, then realized it would t be a difficult thing to notice.

“I saw an old toothbrush of mine and decided I wanted fresher breath. It’s really no more complicated than that.” He said, and smiled at the humor in the situation. He understood a bit better now why she seemed irritated earlier.

Lyra just looked at him for a moment. It was so ridiculous of a statement that she actually believed him.

“Alright then.” She said simply, unsure what else to do with that. She finished fixing the cuts on his hands and withdrew from him to put the regenerator back in his desk. “Have you eaten?”

“I had a late lunch, so I’m not hungry yet.” Andrei answered as he examined his hand where the scratches once were. He hadn’t even noticed them being given to him in the heat of the moment.

She looked at him again from across the room and she simply watched him as he examined his hands. Her dark eyes began to roam over him, taking in the details of his face and body; the way his hair hit his shoulders, the shape of his nose, the creases between his eyes as he focused on the now repaired skin, his lips, the shape and strength of his hands and fingers, the glint in his visible eye, and the patch that covered the one taken from him. He truly was very handsome in her eyes. She licked her lips and moved back to him, her hand closed around his and she kissed his fingers, those dark eyes finding his again.

“So… you had to use your belt, did you?” Her voice was low and her interest was clear. Her hand left his and instead went to his chest where she found the zipper of his jacket and began to pull it down. She craved connection with him.

“That’s what I decided to use, anyway.” He said, eyeing her with an expression that only made his curiosity more clear while leaving the skepticism a secret. He looked at her radiant face with silent appraisal. “I dragged her across the floor…watched the light start to leave her eyes..I’m sure you would have enjoyed the entire thing.”

“Of course I would have.” The confirmation was simple. She noticed she wasn’t receiving the enthusiastic response she had been hoping for, and when her eyes found his she quickly identified the way he was looking at her. Why? What was he trying to figure out? She finished unzipping his jacket and moved to push it off his shoulders, taking a step to close the distance between their bodies as she did so. Was he so upset by having to put Harper in her place that he didn’t want her?

Andrei let the jacket slip from his shoulders, but his gaze stayed locked on Lyra’s face, soft and analytical. He knew her moves, her subtle cues, and the deliberate way she tested him. This wasn’t entirely about desire; it was about control. She was trying to reclaim the dynamic after feeling slighted earlier, and he was debating whether to let her have it. After all, Lyra wasn't one for insecurity, but pride.

His hands slid to her waist, his grip firm but not rough. His body moved toward hers and his expression resumed something much more typical. Though she wouldn’t be able to tell, his mind flirted over the push and pull he felt from her; the manipulation. She wanted him strong and unapologetic, except toward her. For the first time, he wondered if she was coming on to him now out of genuine interest or as a tool to secure his attention. Yet, of course, he wanted her.

“It’s a very versatile tool, Love.” His voice low with a dangerous amusement. “Shall I show you what I can do with it?”

Though she didn’t know what exactly it was, something was off and Lyra could feel it. Andrei’s reception to her attention was absolutely glacial; it was a far cry from the fiery passion the two usually engaged in after committing acts of violence. Immediately, she felt the desire to withdraw; he didn’t feel a hunger to connect with her as she did with him, that much was quite obvious. Still, she knew that pulling back from him now would only be disastrous. It was about power for him and taking it away by withdrawing would enrage him; she simply had to allow him to do whatever he was going to do despite how it was going to affect her.

Like him, her face betrayed nothing of her inner thoughts, and she simply chuckled while looking up into his eyes. Her hands found his belt, and almost as soon as they were there, it was off of his waist and dangling from one of her hands; she was fascinatingly good at it. She dropped it on the floor and brought her lips close to his. When she spoke, it was an intimate, low whisper.

“You have another tool I am much more interested in seeing you utilize, Darling.”

This time Andrei smiled, leaning forward and quickly stealing a kiss from her at the nearest opportunity.

“You must mean my sword.” He said, and stole another. She was beautiful and, though he felt there was something afoot, not having sex certainly wasn’t a solution he was interested in.

“Well I certainly wouldn’t call what you wield a dagger.” Lyra grinned genuinely this time as she was immediately engaged by his energy. His shirt came off next, and she leaned in to kiss the pale skin of his neck, shoulder, and chest. She knew how to communicate her appreciation that he had actually taken action against his pet for stepping out of line. As she kissed him, she also naturally breathed him in, and the lingering scent of his cologne from that day confirmed his story that he hadn’t done anything more than brush his teeth for whatever random reason that had gotten into his head. Her warm hands slid down his sides and back to his pants which she undid and pushed down along with his underwear to his hips, but not all the way.

Andrei watched her quick work, licking his lips in anticipation of what would follow. Everything he had done with Harper had been done for Lyra, truly, and he felt confirmed in that decision for the first time. His own hands moved down her sides to her hips where he grabbed her possessively.

When he grabbed her hips in that possessive way, Lyra smiled, undeniably enjoying his touch. Her hands left him to instead go to her own shirt which she pulled off and cast down next to the growing pile of clothing on the floor. Since she had been “home” for a while beforehand, she had very little in the way of clothes on as was her usual custom when she had no plans - a shirt and shorts. Bare chested she pressed into Andrei, the softness of her large, full breasts contrasting in the naturally pleasant way with the hard plane of his chest. Her arms slid around his shoulders and she kissed his lips gently at first, but each subsequent kiss became more heated.

After a passionate moment, her lips left his, and she trailed kisses down his neck, chest, abdomen and hips as she lowered herself down to the floor in front of him. While she delighted in serving Andrei in this way, it was still a rarity for her to do so in this particular way - on her knees while he stood over her. As she hit the floor, she brought his pants and underwear the rest of the way down with her. With him now naked, her hands slid back up his legs, and she wasted no more time in showing him exactly how grateful she was for his efforts.

Andrei watched the hypnotic bobbing of her head, his eyes moving sporadically between her full lips wide around him and her dark, dangerous eyes. He caught a shiver looking at her, and his hand moved confidently into her dark hair. She wasn’t quiet or shy in her devotion, nor was he shy in giving her the responses she loved to hear. The tension of earlier was forgotten at that moment.

She didn’t rush the moment, seeming thoroughly determined to have Andrei enjoy himself to the fullest. She pulled back, switching from outright service with her mouth to simple teasing with her tongue, her eyes glinting with a playful, mischievous energy. After so many months and how often they engaged in this activity, they had both learned to play each other's bodies like virtuosos of an instrument. She never took her teasing so far as to let it morph into frustration for him, and only let it serve to heighten both his desire and pleasure. Her hands moved over his body, massaging his thighs and hips between fondling his pair. She knew he loved it when she looked into his eyes, and so she did; her gaze was dark, passionate, but also full of her genuine love for him.

Andrei watched with the same interest he always showed her. She never left him wanting, both out of desire and, perhaps, concern about what such a thing would mean. He spoke to her with gentle words of encouragement between his moans, and then when he wanted her more fully, he coaxed her up from her knees. Her own hands went to free her from her comfortable pants and he kissed her muscular legs slowly on his way back up.

Leaning in, he kissed her on the lips, undisturbed, it seemed, by where they had been. He grabbed her with both hands and lifted her up into his arms.

He lifted her easily and without any resistance. Lyra was by no means a small woman - even when she had been Madeline, she had been tall though not nearly as filled out. Her stature tended to make things complicated with men at times and her own feelings of femininity, but with Andrei it had never been an issue, and it made him all the more attractive to her. Her long, muscular legs wrapped around his body, her thin fingers slid into his thick black hair, and her soft, full lips found his in slow, passionate kisses.

Andrei walked over to the door that marked the entrance between their private space and the rest of the ship and placed her smooth back against it. Kissing her, his hands remained to support her as his manhood bobbed, unguided, between her legs. He could manage, he was sure, but he planned to leave the work of joining them to her while he focused on kissing her jaw and neck slowly.

Lyra needed no guidance to know what he wanted, and once he had her against the door, she immediately shifted her body and hands to make the desire a reality. She moaned quietly into his ear, the intimate sound meant only for him. Her arms went around his shoulders, and she braced her back against the door. “I love you.”

As he entered her, the last of his tension and hesitancy left his body. He moaned with her, feeling her warmth and wetness tight around him as he eased into her secret places, careful not to go too far too fast. His hands grasped her muscular thighs more tightly as he moved his slender hips with expert smoothness.

“I love you too.” He said in her ear shakily, his voice warm and low.

Everything else set aside, they were completely enraptured in each other in the moment. Lyra wasn’t shy with her praise of his efforts and only seemed to respond with more enthusiasm as he escalated in his intensity. Their physical compatibility was undeniable, and they had never left each other wanting in bed. He was able to exert himself with as much force as he desired into his beloved’s amazonian body, and she found herself undeniably satisfied by the way he was able to move and handle her in whatever way he wanted. Her sounds weren’t loud and lewd, they were quiet in his ear and full of her need and desire for him, sounds meant only for him, as she was his. Her nails dug into his back and shoulders, her lips met his in heated kisses and caresses of his neck and shoulder. Her arms and legs squeezed him, and eventually he could feel her thighs quake under his hands and the corresponding sound that came with that.

Andrei pressed into her, allowing one of her legs to fall slightly and massaging her breast softly with the hand that had held it. He kept her in place with his strength and the momentum of his movements which were now decisive and hungry. His teeth met her neck sharply, and though he didn’t draw blood, he made his presence known. Their moans were becoming a symphony together and it was growing more obvious that he was reaching his fever pitch.

Lyra kept herself in the exact same position despite Andrei moving his hand to her full, warm breast; the strength she had made it quite easy and they didn’t miss a beat. When he bit her, she moaned, but responded in kind by digging her nails into his back to produce the same effect with the same clear message of possession communicated. As he moved within her, she found a strange sort of primal anticipation for what would soon follow judging by the sounds he was making. Her lips drew closer to his ear, and she spoke one word in a submissive whimper. “Please.”

Andrei groaned into her neck, his hips delivering a dozen more fiery thrusts into her center before he began to shake and had his release deep in her core. He held her, his long hair dropping down his back as he rode the wave of their pleasure. The hand that was on her breast danced and teased and, for a space all time and memory escaped him.

A low, satisfied groan escaped her lips as she felt the subtle warmth settling in her. Her lips moved to Andrei’s neck, offering tender kisses and gentle nips, and one hand left his back to move into his hair. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, content to simply remain exactly how she was in his arms. She did love this man, and part of her dreaded that it would be a mistake in the end; she had always been warned it would be such.

Andrei had been with many women in his life, that was well known, but none had ever made him weak as this woman that surrounded him. He loved her, but he didn’t love being weak. The post-sex clarity that came to him made him aware of how gentle he was with her, and how much he had come to need her in all ways. He held her, kissing her as she kissed him, not knowing if he had a blessing or a danger before him.

Soft. So soft. Her hands so suited for killing and violence were always so soft with him. In their moments of passion, she could inflict pain in just the ways he liked, but truly, she was soft with him. A deep part of her hated it, but at the same time it felt right; it felt safe. The fiery passion gave way to softness in her lips, love. She played with his hair, and after a moment, she gave a soft, feminine giggle. “Wonder if Kit is going to show up and complain again…”

“I don’t know why she wastes her breath, honestly.” He said with a smile, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t stop making love to you for any reason in the Galaxy. And I would know; I’ve seen parts of it few Terrans have.”

Lyra smirked and kissed him again. “Truth be told, I think she does it just to make sure we are even louder next time so she can listen in better.”

She remained on top of him with her arms and legs wrapped around him until he gave some indication of his desire for her to do otherwise.

“Perhaps we should break into her quarters while she sleeps and see if it’s any quieter when we’re in her living room.” He suggested, his heartbeat slowing gradually.

“That could be fun.” She chuckled with an energy of mild interest in doing so. Kit was an ally and she was fun, it wouldn’t be something weaponized like it had been against Orion to put him in his place.

Instead of letting Lyra go, Andrei merely lifted her against him again and walked her slowly into the bedroom, and then into the bathroom. The pattern between them was clear and he knew what to expect.

“She might be bold enough to try and get back at us.”

“She might, it could be fun.” Lyra chuckled, allowing herself to be carried without any sort of protest. When he finally slid naturally from inside of her, she made a slight sound and then gave a sigh. “I’m looking forward to the attack… do you think they will be smart and submit to us?”

“Can I let you in on a little secret, Love?” He asked, reaching to turn on the water in the shower. “I desperately hope they don’t. They should die like they lived. Ignorant of the danger we pose.”

“I do love your secrets, Darling.” She purred to him, kissing along his jaw and then giving another to his lips while they waited for the water to heat up over the next few seconds. “It would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?”

“To lay waste to their fleet and stand in the blood of their soldiers; to hear the screaming of their weak.” Andrei said with a grin. “I can’t think of anything funnier right now. It’s exactly what they deserve.”

“Yes… yes they do, and so much more.” Truthfully the only thing that would have made it better is if it had been the Kazon. Her hand slid down his chest, her thumb teasing over his nipple. “We will make them regret every moment they have breathed.”

“And they’ll wall on their knees and worship us.” He said, chuckling as he raised her hand to his lips. “Now, we’d best change the subject before I'm forced to really have my way with you this time, hmm?”

“Forced, mm?” Lyra challenged mildly as she brought her other hand around to tease in the same way as the first, knowing that the small protrusions were quite sensitive and an easy way to inflame his desire for her.

He leaned in and looked at her with narrowed, threatening eyes. His lips, however, were a smile. He responded in deep tones. “Forced.”

“Well… that would be unfortunate wouldn’t it?” Lyra frowned sympathetically, but at the same time squeezed his nipples between her fingers, not enough to hurt him but certainly enough to get his full attention.

“Yes, who knows what the collateral damage would be.” He said, his hand going to her wrist and squeezing it securely. He moved it over her head and used it to turn her around. Pressing himself between her, his manhood found its place against her plump bottom and his other hand went to her own nipple.

“Devastating, I’m sure.” Lyra replied, swaying her hips to rub herself against his length. They could be soft and gentle with each other, but just as readily they could be rough, almost punishing to each others bodies. Their builds and fitness allowed it, and it was something they had both come to enjoy from time to time; Andrei especially seemed to delight in being able to let himself loose with very little fear of hurting her, and Lyra trusted him to be able to toe that line. Her still free hand moved to his currently playing with her nipple and she squeezed his wrist.

He leaned her over the counter near the sink, his eyes naturally going to their beautiful reflections In the mirror. With the hand that wasn't circling her nipple teasingly, he grabbed her hair and roughly moved her head up so that she was looking in the mirror as well. Then, leaning forward, he whispered in her ear. “It’s a shame we don’t charge a viewing fee. We’d make a killing.”

His manhood hardened again between her thighs and he bit his lip.

Lyra gave a soft chuckle at his words, looking at him through the reflection of the mirror. She rolled her hips again and shifted her legs to rub the soft skin of her toned thighs against his intruding length. “Rich beyond our wildest dreams, Darling.”

Andrei wasn't interested in more games before he opened his prize again. He moved his hand from her nipple and entered her roughly from behind. For the next several minutes, the two of them had a louder, more aggressive form of sex than they had out in the living room. They locked eyes in the mirror and thrilled each other with their hands.

It was not uncommon for the couple to go more than one round, especially when they were working off tension of any sort. The sounds that filled the bathroom were harsh and lewd, providing a stark contrast to the steady sound of the water falling in the shower. It was intense, feral, passionate; they left bruises and marks on each other's bodies. Only when they were both spent did they stop and naturally drifted into the shower. Harsh hands became gentle once again, and it seemed the whole situation with Harper was completely forgotten. Having worked up their appetite, they shared dinner and then found themselves on the couch to watch one of the old movies Andrei picked out. Sitting eventually became cuddling, and once the movie was over they retired to bed to sleep, safe and comfortable in each other's arms.

END