Chapter 4
Kim's fingers hovered over the console's keyboard. The data on Chimera filled the screen, a jumble of numbers and graphs that should have commanded her full attention. Her mind kept drifting back to the sensation that still lingered between her legs—a heat that refused to be ignored.
She shifted subtly in her seat, trying to relieve the pressure building within her. The movement only served to draw attention to her predicament, sending a jolt of pleasure through her as she inadvertently grazed her clit. A small gasp escaped her lips before she could stop it, the sound echoing through the otherwise silent room.
She felt a blush rush to her cheeks as she realized she had made a sound. She was alone now; there was no one to witness her loss of composure but herself. Still, the thought of losing control here at work was humiliating. She took a deep breath, steadying herself as she focused on the task at hand.
Professionalism above all else, she reminded herself. This was neither the time nor the place for such distractions; there was too much at stake, with Chimera's approach looming ever closer on the monitor.
She didn't even notice her hands tugging at her blouse as she stared at the image, wishing for its maddening secret to be revealed.
*
In the break room, Kent and Alicia took turns using the Keurig to make their coffee. The aroma of brewing coffee filled the air, a small comfort in the midst of their unusual morning. She reached for a mug on a high shelf, her shirt riding up as she stretched. His gaze was drawn to the strip of toned midriff that peeked out, the soft skin contrasting with the firm muscles beneath. His eyes traced the curve of her hips, lingering on the way her coat draped her shapely ass. He looked away quickly, feeling a flush of warmth rise to his cheeks as he busied himself stirring his coffee.
She turned, coffee now ready, and sat down across from him, crossing her long legs in a way that made his heart skip a beat. The memory of her earlier—pants down and hands busy with self-pleasure—played at the edge of his mind, stirring a passion that bordered on obsession.
He mustered the courage to broach a subject that had been nagging at him ever since he had walked in on her in such an intimate act. "So, uh, Alicia... that piercing of yours... what made you decide to get it?" He tried to keep his tone light, as if they were discussing something as mundane as the weather.
Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, her eyes darting away from his probing gaze. She fidgeted with her own coffee cup, her fingers nervously tracing the rim. "I've always been curious about it," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought it would be a secret thrill, you know? But it... it keeps me constantly aroused, even when I'm trying to work. It's maddening." Fuck, why did I say that?
He listened intently, his own heart racing at the raw honesty in her words. The idea of her going through her days with him constantly aroused was incredibly erotic. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he felt a stirring in his groin.
"Does anyone else here know about this?"
She shook her head vehemently, her red hair swaying with the movement. "No one knows," she said firmly. "And I'd like to keep it that way." Her green eyes met his with an intensity that caught him off guard; there was a silent plea for discretion and understanding between them now that their professional boundaries had blurred so unexpectedly this morning.
He nodded, feeling his own desire escalate as he contemplated the constant arousal she must be facing. "That must be quite a challenge to manage," he said, his voice deep and husky. The atmosphere between them seemed to grow heavy with unspoken longing, their professional dynamic now laced with an undercurrent of sexual tension.
She lowered her gaze to her coffee mug, clutching it tightly as if seeking comfort in its warmth. "It's more than just a challenge," she admitted in a murmur nearly lost over the hum of the break room fridge. "It's like this... need that I can't satisfy during work hours." Her eyes flitted back up to meet his, and he read in her gaze a silent plea for empathy—or perhaps something more?
He felt a surge of desire for Alicia, who looked so shy and embarrassed. He leaned forward across the table and replied in the same quiet tone. "I can't even begin to imagine how difficult this must be for you," he said sincerely, holding her gaze.
The silence stretched between them once more before Kent finally broke it, clearing his throat awkwardly as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
*
Kim's gaze was fixed on the monitor, the strange celestial object known as Chimera dominating the screen. Its blurry form seemed to pulse subtly, mirroring the persistent throbbing that had taken root between her legs. She shifted in her chair, the seam of her pants pressing against her clit, sending a jolt of pleasure through her. She bit her lip, a soft whimper escaping before she could stop it.
Her rational mind fought a fierce battle against her body's treacherous desires. Every part of her was screaming to stop, to maintain the professionalism that had been drilled into her since her first day at Deepwatch. But the throbbing between her legs was becoming impossible to ignore, a relentless demand for attention that drowned out all reason.
With a resigned sigh, she slipped her hand beneath the waistband of her pants. Her fingers brushed against the damp heat at the center of her underwear, and she moaned softly at the contact. She hesitated a moment longer before slipping under the fabric to touch herself properly.
The sensation of her fingers against her swollen clit was almost too much after her interrupted orgasm this morning. Her fingers moved in slow circles around the sensitive nub, each stroke sending waves of pleasure through her body. She couldn't remember ever being so turned on.
The thought of Kent or Alicia walking in on her and finding her in such a compromising position filled her with shame and excitement. It was wrong, so incredibly inappropriate, but the danger of being caught only increased her arousal. She could feel her face flushing with embarrassment and desire, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum.
Her fingers rubbed small circles around her clit, the rhythm steady and slow. Her hips rocked slightly in the chair, seeking more friction, more of the exquisite sensation that was building inside her. Each stroke of her fingers sent another wave of pleasure through her body, causing her to grit her teeth to keep from moaning aloud.
The monitor flickered in her peripheral vision, the image of Chimera strangely egging her on.
Her breath came in short, sharp gasps as she continued to touch herself, her movements becoming more frantic with each passing second. The need for release was overwhelming, but even as she chased her climax, the fear of discovery kept her from reaching it.
Her free hand gripped the armrest of her chair, her knuckles white with the effort of keeping silent. She could feel the orgasm building, an intense pressure that grew with each circle of her fingers. Her body was tense and she knew it wouldn't be long before she reached the point of no return.
Just as she was about to go over the edge, the sound of footsteps in the hallway sent a bolt of panic through her. Her eyes flew open and she yanked her hand out of her pants, her heart racing as she quickly tried to compose herself. The doorknob turned and she held her breath, her mind racing with the possibility of being caught in the act.
The door opened to reveal Kent and Alicia, their faces flushed and their eyes glazed with barely contained arousal. Her heart skipped a beat, her mind racing as she tried to school her features into an expression of calm professionalism. She could feel the heat of embarrassment creeping up her neck, the taste of guilt metallic on her tongue.
She swallowed hard, hoping they couldn't smell her arousal or see the guilt written across her face. Her hand still tingled from where she'd been touching herself just moments ago, the echoes of pleasure still reverberating through her body. She shifted in her seat, trying to subtly adjust her pants without drawing attention to herself.
"Kim," Alicia began, her voice slightly breathless, "we were just discussing... um, Chimera's trajectory." She gestured vaguely at the monitor Kim had been so intently focused on a moment ago.
Kim noticed that Alicia's eyes kept darting to Kent and then quickly away again, as if she couldn't bring herself to look at him directly for more than a second or two at a time.
He cleared his throat awkwardly beside Alicia before adding in his own low rumbling voice, "Yeah... if it's still headed this way, we're going to have to do something about it." His words hung heavy in the air between them; there was an unspoken understanding that this situation was quickly spiraling beyond their ability to handle on their own—both professionally and personally, it seemed, judging by their disheveled appearance and the lingering glances they exchanged when they thought no one else was looking (which thankfully gave Kim enough cover for now).
She nodded silently in agreement.
Chapter 5
Kent pulled up the tracking data. The numbers on the screen swam before his eyes, blurring with the lingering image of Alicia's exposed body. He shook his head, trying to clear it. Focus, he told himself. He had to focus.
The moment he looked at the data, a jolt went through him, erasing all thoughts of coffee and curves. The object was closer than he'd expected. Much closer. He checked the tracking data again, his fingers flying over the keyboard. It couldn't be right. Could it be?
His stomach twisted into a knot. It was still on a direct collision course with Earth and had just passed the orbit of Mars.
"Alicia," he began, his voice steady despite the uneasiness swirling within him, "where is Susan? If she's not here soon, we may have to decide for ourselves..." His words trailed off as the gravity of their situation sank in. The Orbital Strike System was a last resort, a failsafe against cosmic threats that now seemed all too real.
He waited for an answer, but none came. As he turned to face Alicia, his mind emptied in shock. There, on the floor, was Kim, her dark ponytail swaying gently as she knelt between Alicia's spread legs. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight of Kim's head bobbing slightly, her lips pressed against Alicia's sex, her tongue delicately teasing the piercing that had been the source of so much distraction.
Alicia's face was flushed, her eyes closed and her lips parted in a soft moan of pleasure. Her hands were tangled in Kim's hair, guiding the rhythm of her younger colleague.
He stood frozen, his own arousal straining against the fabric of his pants. The scene before him was surreal, yet here they were, two of his colleagues cavorting on the hard floor like a couple of sorority girls who had too much to drink.
He knew they should be concentrating on the imminent threat, the safety of the planet and its inhabitants. But at that moment, all he could think about was joining them, feeling Alicia's piercing against his own tongue, experiencing the forbidden pleasure that consumed them both.
He watched, transfixed, as Kim's head moved with practiced skill between Alicia's thighs. Alicia's eyes fluttered open and her gaze locked with his. Her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of crimson as she remembered they had an audience. She tried to sit up, to push Kim away, but her body betrayed her, arching into the younger woman's touch instead.
"Kent, please," she begged, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don't look."
But he couldn't look away. The sight of Alicia, vulnerable and exposed, was too irresistible. Her embarrassment only heightened his own arousal, the forbidden nature of the scene unfolding before him pushing him to the brink.
Her hips began to buck and her pleas turned to moans. "I'm... I'm going to cum," she gasped, her fingers tangling tighter in Kim's hair. Her body tensed, every muscle straining for release as Kim's tongue continued its relentless assault on her sensitive piercing.
As the initial shock wore off, his training kicked in. There were protocols to follow, decisions to be made. He stepped forward, breaking the spell that held him captive. He reached out, his hand closing around Kim's upper arm, pulling her gently but firmly away from Alicia. Kim's eyes opened, dazed and glazed with lust, her lips glistening with Alicia's wetness.
"Kent?" Kim murmured, her voice husky as she struggled to regain her footing.
He gave her a brief, reassuring nod before turning his attention to Alicia. She was sprawled on the floor, her chest heaving, her pants still bunched around her ankles. Her flushed cheeks and swollen pussy lips testified to the nearness of her climax.
"Alicia," he said softly, holding out his hand to her. His voice seemed to bring her out of her daze. She looked up at him, her green eyes wide and filled with embarrassment.
With as much dignity as she could muster, she took his hand. He helped her to her feet, neither of them noticing as she stepped out of her pants, leaving them on the floor behind her.
Kim, who was now sitting on the floor, watched him pull her out of the room with a look of shame on her face.
*
In the hallway, Kent started to ask Alicia what she was thinking, but before he could finish his sentence, Susan's authoritative voice cut through the air. Kent looked up to see Susan striding toward them, her sharp, hawk-like eyes fixed on Alicia's partially naked form.
"What the hell is going on?" Susan demanded, her voice echoing off the sterile walls of the Deepwatch facility. "Why are you naked, Alicia?"
Alicia's face burned with humiliation as she realized she was still naked from the waist down, her sweats nowhere to be seen. She had been so caught up in the moment with Kim, and then with Kent's sudden interruption, that she had completely forgotten about her state of undress. She quickly covered her glistening slit, her hands shaking with embarrassment.
"I... I don't know," Alicia finally stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I couldn't help myself."
Susan's gaze hardened as she took in her flushed face and disheveled appearance. "This is completely unacceptable, Alicia," she said, her voice cold and stern. "You are a researcher at this facility, not some... some sex-crazed teenager. You need to control yourself and focus on your work."
She nodded, her cheeks still burning with shame. She knew Susan was right, but she couldn't help the way her body was reacting. Some primal instinct had taken over, making her feel constantly aroused and needy.
"I'm sorry, Susan," she said, her voice still shaking. "It won't happen again."
Susan let out a sigh, her expression softening slightly. "I hope not, Alicia," she said. "We have a potential crisis on our hands, and we need everyone on their A-game. Now get back to work and try to stay focused."
"I'm sorry, Kent," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what came over me."
She and Kent hurried back to the control room, Susan trailing behind. She reached out and turned the handle, only to find it wouldn't turn. Alicia's stomach sank and she felt a shiver of fear run down her spine. She tried the handle again, but it was no use. The door was definitely locked.
As they stood there, trying to figure out what to do, the screens up and down the hallway flickered to life, showing Chimera. The images were much clearer now, and Alicia could see that the object had a solid, purple, cigar-shaped core pointing in its direction of travel. Surrounding the core were shimmering, color-shifting tendrils that made up most of its bulk.
Alicia couldn't tear her eyes away from the screens.
She knew she should be concentrating on getting back to the control room, but she couldn't help but be drawn in by the sight of Chimera.
She could hear Kent and Susan murmuring behind her, but she couldn't make out what they were saying. She was too focused on the screens and the Chimera. She felt a strange sense of detachment, as if she were watching the events from a distance.
As she watched, she realized that her bare ass was on display to the pair behind her. Thinking about Kent and Susan looking at her round flesh made her nipples tingle. She felt a throbbing between her legs and resisted the urge to touch herself right there. She knew she should be embarrassed, but she couldn't help it.
*
Susan's eyes snapped to Alicia, her expression stern.
"What's going on here? You're supposed to be professionals, not..." She pushed past Kent, intent on trying the door herself, when her gaze drifted to the screen behind Alicia, where Chimera's image was still showing. The purple core pulsed with otherworldly energy, surrounded by shimmering tendrils that danced like fingers.
Susan's mind went blank, her thoughts replaced by a sudden, intense arousal. She felt her nipples harden achingly. Her eyes glazed over, fixed on the hypnotic image of Chimera.
"Alicia, find something to cover yourself with," she murmured, her voice distracted. But she didn't wait for an answer, her attention consumed by the screen.
Kent's hand slipped around her waist, his fingers creeping down her backside. Susan barely registered the touch, too transfixed by Chimera's image. But as Kent's hand pushed further, his fingers probing the curve of her ass, Susan's body responded on autopilot.