Fly Me to the Moon

That helped Paul's pain to subside, allowing him to be more coherent.

"So, what exactly happened?" Cassie had to ask.

"The rod was a brace for the metal that is the outer layer of the ship."

"Were you able to clear the blockage?"

He shot her a strange look. "Uh, yeah, you just removed it from me."

Cassie wanted to giggle but thought better of it.

"You're going to have to fly us out of here," he told her.

"What? How?"

"Help me get to the cockpit. I'll talk you through it."

Between using the seatbacks for support and Cassie's assistance, they made it to the co-pilot's seat where Paul plopped down, wincing in pain from the jolt of sitting.

"You should probably slip into a flight suit," Paul suggested. She was wearing the same skimpy, button-up-the-front dress she was wearing when they departed. Once again, with nothing on underneath.

Paul was able to relax for a bit as Cassie trotted into the passenger cabin to change. Painful though it was, he leaned forward to watch her undress. It was worth the hurting to glimpse her beautiful nude body, even if only for the few seconds it took her to slip the flight suit on, still with nothing underneath. She returned to the cockpit right away, stopping to pose for him before taking the pilot's seat. But she still only had the flight suit zipped to between her breasts. He had to smirk.

"So, what do I do?" Cassie nervously asked.

He told her what buttons to press, and they both smiled when the ship lifted off.

"Moon Base should still be programmed into the nav system," Paul said as the ship headed toward the near side.

Cassie sat back to relax. "This thing really does fly itself."

They settled in for a short, comfortable flight for the last leg of their journey. They barely made it to the near side before a warning buzzer sounded. Paul had nearly drifted off to sleep. The harsh noise was like a slap in the face. He instantly and painfully leaned forward to see what the problem was. Engine overheating again.

"I thought you fixed it," a frightened Cassie said.

"I thought I did."

"It feels like we're slowing down," Cassie noted.

"Fly it manually," Paul ordered.

"I don't know how," she responded frantically.

"That joystick," Paul said, pointing in pain. "Push it forward to go forward, left to go left, right to--"

"Got it."

"Push that lever all the way forward. Maybe if we give full power to the engine, it'll be enough to get us there."

Cassie complied. It worked initially. It got them over to the near side where Paul directed her to steer toward the Moon Base. He then instructed her how to use the radio to alert the base of their condition. However, as he told her which direction to fly the spaceliner, it became quickly evident that manual steering was failing.

"Quick! Reset the auto pilot!"

The Moon Base was attempting to contact them.

But Cassie had to ignore them. "How?" she shouted back at Paul in aggravation.

"That button there," Paul pointed, extending his arm and grimacing in pain. "Hopefully, that will compensate." He fell back in his seat, spent.

Cassie activated the control. It seemed to work. The Moon Base was in sight. With her hopes up, she glanced at Paul, but he had lost consciousness. Unfortunately, she couldn't be concerned about that right now. If they made it to the base, he'd be taken care of.

It was growing larger in the front window. The base was still hailing them. Sitting back to breath her relief, Cassie finally responded to the base, somewhat calmly and briefly describing their situation.

And just as she saw the hangar bay roof panels opening for their approach, without warning, the engine shut down. The little momentum the ship had quickly dissipated, and it nearly took a nosedive into the soft moon dust.

Cassie braced for impact. Then she heard the roar of the engine and optimistically thought it was coming back to life. However, she felt the ship gently right itself as the ascent/descent thrusters automatically lit up and slowly descended to the surface. A second later, there was silence.

* * *

The sex was so good, all else was momentarily forgotten. That is, until the harsh buzz of the wall panel brought them shockingly back to reality. With cum dripping down her leg, Allie jogged to the panel to answer it.

"It's Chet, Allie. We just received word that Paul's ship finally arrived. There was damage. Apparently, it was hit by a small piece of an asteroid. They were forced to land on the far side so Paul could fix it. He was hurt in the process."

"Is he okay?"

"In surgery in the infirmary, but apparently not life-threatening."

"What about Cassie?" Allie asked because of the eager expression on Rodney's face.

"She's fine."

"When's the next flight to the moon?"

"A supply ship is leaving tomorrow morning," Chet told her.

* * *

The six-bed infirmary only had one patient. Cassie saw Paul sitting up in a bed, his left shoulder and arm heavily bandaged, the arm fixed to the side of his body to keep it immobile. The bored look on his face instantly brightened when he saw her approach.

"How are you?" she asked as though she should.

"They said your first aid was excellent. Probably saved me from bleeding out," Paul reported.

"Glad I was there."

"So do I."

She was still in her flight suit, which she made look sexy.

"Did you get to cover the King of England?"

"No. He'd already left. No big deal that I missed him," Cassie said.

"So, what's next for you? Back to Mars to do that story?"

"No. They've tabled that for a while and given me some time off to 'recover from my ordeal.'"

"Does that mean you're headed back to Earth?"

"I guess. Rodney is on a cargo ship back to the moon. Once he arrives, we'll catch the first flight back to Earth."

"You don't sound too excited," Paul noted.

Cassie shrugged. "I enjoyed our time together." She grimaced. "Now, it's back to Rodney. What about you?"

What was she trying to say? Paul wasn't certain how to take that statement, so he let it go. "Well, I've never had an injury that required the use of one of those wound healing devices, but it was remarkable. These bandages should come off in an hour or two."

"Yeah, I did a story on them a few years ago. A real medical breakthrough."

"They still want to keep me here a couple more days--for observation. Then it's back to Earth for some R & R. Probably be a few weeks before they let me fly again."

"Likewise for me. There'll be an assignment waiting for me before long. Before I'm ready, if I know my bosses." After a few seconds of awkward silence, Cassie said, "Wish I could get in there with you."

Paul turned his mouth up in an almost smile and attempted to lift his injured arm. "That would be nice, but I don't think I'd be much good." Was it just all about the sex with her?

"Do you have someone on Earth like you have Allie on Mars?" Cassie hesitantly asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You know. A friend with benefits."

With a chuckle, Paul answered, "No."

She shrugged. "Well, if you're ever looking to kill some time, give me a call."

He hadn't expected that. "Oh. Okay."

"Maybe you could eventually replace Rodney."

He really hadn't expected that. "So, you're interested in some kind of relationship?"

"I'm interested in the possibility."

Paul nodded and thought about it for a quick second. She was an exciting woman, but he had to wonder. "So, how would that work? By the time I've completely healed you'll be back on assignment, and then it won't be long before I'm back in space. We'd never be in the same place at the same time."

"Guess you're right." There was obvious disappointment in her voice. He obviously wasn't interested in anything but sex with her. "Maybe we'll run into each other on Earth."

"Yeah, maybe."

Cassie leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks for everything." With that, she left. She returned to the meager quarters she had been assigned to await Rodney's arrival. There was actually a flight to Earth shortly after he landed. She was not particularly excited to see him. She was actually tired of him. But he was reliable--and safe. But she always longed for a man she could have a real relationship with. Not just one of convenience. She thought Paul could be that man. But he obviously didn't seem interested.

Shrugging it off, Cassie's occupation had taught her to take things as they came, and not be too disappointed when she didn't get the story she had been chasing, or when the guy was too good to be true.

It had been a long night and day. She had some time, so she took a short nap until she had to meet Rodney for their flight back home.

* * *

As he stepped off the cargo ship, Rodney was not as eager to see Cassie as he should be, but thrilled that she had not been harmed. He was disappointed that Allie had not come with him to the moon. He had enjoyed his time with her immensely. Not just because of the great sex, she was a genuinely warm person. He felt a closeness with her--even considering that he'd just met her--that he didn't feel even after years with Cassie. But Allie couldn't leave Mars because of her job, particularly since Paul was not a family member.

Cassie was waiting for him, and their hug was more casual than romantic. She didn't have much to say, instead leading him out of the cargo hangar and into the passenger hangar where a spaceliner from Earth had just arrived. There were no passengers going on to Mars, so the ship would return to Earth, which was why Cassie and Rodney were able to get a flight so quickly.

In the passenger hangar was also Paul's disabled spaceliner. Cassie stopped to observe it.

"It's amazing that you made it back," Rodney commented, studying the wreckage.

"Now, that I see it, I agree," Cassie said.

"This is the first time you've seen it?"

"Yeah. We crashed just outside, and they had to create an airlock to get us off and into a safety vehicle," Cassie explained. "We didn't ride around the rear of the ship."

"How is Paul?"

"Apparently doing well. I only saw him briefly after they patched him up."

There was a small waiting area where they sat.

"So, what did you do on Mars?" Cassie asked.

"I was asleep. I awoke and realized I hadn't received a message from you saying you had arrived on the moon. I waited awhile, and then went to the restaurant to see if Allie could help."

"Allie?"

"She was the only person I sort of knew. Thought maybe she had heard from Paul. She was off, but they told me where to find her quarters, so I went to see her."

"You went to her quarters?"

"Yeah. She contacted flight control who confirmed that your flight had not yet arrived. But neither flight control nor Allie thought it was time to worry yet, that the flight was still within the arrival window."

"So, then what did you do?"

"Allie offered me some brandy and said I could wait with her a while."

"Wow. That was nice that you had someone to wait with. How long before you heard anything?"

"A while." Rodney hesitated. "In fact, we didn't hear anything until they rescued you."

Carrie was surprised. "Oh. So, all night. What did you do all night?"

"Uh, we, uh, we... we just waited."

The journalist in her found that response odd. And oddly suspicious. Rodney spent the night with a beautiful woman... just waiting? Then why had he been so hesitant to say that? What had he done...? "Did you sleep with her?"

"Did I sleep with her."

Even more curious was that he repeated her question, but not as a question. "I don't mean the slumber kind."

Now he let out a nervous chuckle.

In a tone of annoyance, Cassie asked, "Did you fuck her, Rodney?"

After a few seconds hesitation, Rodney said, "More like she fucked me."

"And you let her."

Rodney had spent enough time in Cassie's shadow. He'd grown a set with Allie. "Before you get indignant, I've seen the way you look at Paul--and flirt with him. Did you do him?"

"I've been thinking," Cassie revealed. "l think we've taken this relationship as far as it is going to go."

She didn't answer directly, but the answer she did give confirmed what he thought. Attempting to maintain his composure, Rodney forced a nod. "Yeah, well, I never really thought we would be together forever."

"Good. I'm glad you understand."

He shot her a look of preposterousness. "Right."

"So, what are you going to do?"

He shrugged. "Why do you care?"

There was an obvious bitterness in his voice. "Well, good luck."

* * *

Cassie had already decided to revisit Paul and be more direct. Perhaps she'd been a little too subtle before. She needed to tell him how she really felt. She stepped up her pace and burst into the infirmary. Her big smile instantly faded when she found his bed empty and made up just like all the other vacant beds. There were no medical technicians around.

Then she heard the rumble of the spaceliner taking off. Could Paul's situation and condition have changed so suddenly? Even though he was supposed to remain on the moon a few more days, was he on that ship to Earth? Had he expected her to be on it? Was he on it with Rodney? Cassie chuckled at that thought. But she really wasn't in a jovial mood. In fact, she was anything but. Sitting in a nearby chair in dismay, she rested her head in her hands.

"Are you okay, ma'am?"

The voice. Cassie looked up sharply. "Don't ma'am me!" she said with a happy grin.

"You missed your flight," Paul pointed out.

"Intentionally. I broke up with Rodney."

"Oh, really?" Paul was not entirely surprised. "Why?" he had to ask.

"Because I want to be with you."

"We talked about that," Paul reminded.

"You talked about it," Cassie corrected. "But you didn't ask me if I was willing to make changes so we could be together."

"Oh? That possibility never occurred to me."

"Well, I am." Cassie stood and stepped closer to Paul. "I've done about as much as I can do in my work. I've covered all the big stories. And now, I'm part of a big one. All that's left for me is chasing more stories about things I could care less about. But the one thing I've never done is to have a meaningful relationship with a man who could not only satisfy me, but one with whom I could have permanence. You've proven you can satisfy me, and I believe I have satisfied you. I think we are compatible enough to have a lasting relationship."

"Wow. I didn't see that coming."

"But you don't agree."

"After you visited me, I did some thinking, and, well, I was actually on my way to try to stop you from leaving," Paul revealed.

"Really? What changed your mind?"

"I started thinking the same thing you did. Piloting a spaceliner from Earth to the moon to Mars and back is a once in a lifetime opportunity. But it's also very boring. Fine for a guy with no other life, so I had no reason to want to give it up--until now. It's a great occupation for a single person, but I don't want to be that anymore."

With a big smile, Cassie said, "I'm glad." She thought for a second. "So, they just let you leave?"

"I was healed enough not to have to stay in the infirmary, but they still want me to remain on the moon for observation for a few days. They're arranging for quarters for me."

At that moment, a Space Force officer stepped up to them. "Ms. Nolan, there's a call from Earth for you." He handed her a device that resembled an old cell phone. "And Mr. Ward, your quarters are ready." He gave Paul the room number and the code to enter.

Into the phone device, Cassie said, "Hello?" She listened for a minute as the officer walked away. "It's the network," she whispered to Paul. Back into the device, she said, "Really? Oh, wow! What about my time off to recover from my ordeal?" As she listened, she looked at Paul, and then she covered the mouthpiece and whispered, "Big story they want me to cover."

"And you're going to do it?"

She held up a finger and spoke into the device. "Is that right?"

The fact that Cassie was still talking to the network did not bode well for Paul. "So much for having covered all the big stories," he remarked. "I'm tired. Going to go lie down."

* * *

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Paul had thought it was too good to be true that Cassie would give up her celebrity lifestyle for him. Seems he had been right. He shrugged. Oh, well. There was always Allie on Mars, and if he returned to the Earth/moon/Mars run, who knows, maybe another hottie like Cassie would be on one of his flights.

The problem was, he really liked her; not just because she was a good--make that great--fuck, but he liked her as a person, and he really could have seen some permanence with her.

As he wallowed in disappointment, he heard the door to his quarters open. She was returning, obviously with the unwelcome news. There was no door between the tiny sitting room/entrance and the bedroom of these rooms, but next to the opening to the bedroom, was a wall that was half glass. It was just for decoration to make these otherwise drab accommodations a bit more appealing--operative words "a bit more."

Cassie looked through the glass and made a funny face. Paul forced a smile, thinking she was trying to let him down easy. She swayed her hips in a dancing motion, and then unzipped the flight suit she was still wearing to expose some of her bountiful breasts. Continuing her teasing little dance, she pulled her top down slowly, tantalizing him until her tits were completely exposed. She shook them gently from side to side, and then pinched and twisted her nipples.

Regardless how he felt, Paul had to admit to himself, that even in his downcast mood, her boobs were a beautiful sight.

Cassie then pressed her breasts against the glass, flattening them. Stepping back, she peeled the flight suit down below the level of the glass, so that all he could see was her naked upper body.

Paul felt a slight stirring in his groin.

Finally, she moved around the glass into the bedroom where she sensually pushed the flight suit down until she could step out of it. But she did not remove her bikini panties. Stepping over to him, she leaned over to press her lips against his.

However, this was where he had to stop her. "So, what? You want to fuck me and then leave me?"

With a feigned frown, she said, "I'm not going anywhere. Unless you want me to."

"I heard your end of the conversation with the network."

"I told them no," Cassie reported. "I said I didn't want to chase stories anymore, and if they were interested, when I returned to Earth, we could have a conversation about other things I might be interested in doing. But no more traveling."

Completely surprised, Paul had to ask, "So, what did they say?"

"They said we could talk," Cassie advised, again swooping in for a kiss.

This time, Paul engaged her. She did have the sweetest lips. As they kissed, Cassie carefully climbed on top of him, making sure not to put any pressure on the remains of his wound, which the medical regeneration device had all but healed. He didn't seem to mind her naked breasts against his chest.

She felt his cock growing in his pants against her, and she couldn't help but reach down and rub it through material. Likewise, he couldn't help but paw her magnificent tits.

Slowly, Cassie slid down his trunk to a position in which she could undo his trousers and pull them and his underwear down and off. Moving back up, she gently grasped his erect cock and aimed it at her mouth. An instant later, half of it was in. She sucked him tenderly with no urgency. He liked it like that. But then she gradually picked up her pace until much of it was down her throat. Pulling him completely out, she swirled her tongue around the head.