His eyes drifted shut for just a moment as she started the string of kisses against his neck. It was such a simple thing, but to Calen, it was somehow intoxicating. He imagined it was in no small part because of the feeling of power that was associated with the gesture. He had had considerable power, but had surrendered it to him. Somehow, that made all of this a great deal more exciting.<br/><br/>Without realizing he was doing anything, he let his hand drift up and down her back, absently tracing her spine, as much as her bound hands would allow. Her skin was warm and soft, and he found himself wishing that he were wearing less, in order to fully appreciate it. Once things were settled a bit, he would make it a point to do exactly that.<br/><br/>For the moment, there were still other issues to consider. Even as his eyes drifted shut, he found himself thinking about her talents beyond pleasure. "For the moment, you can speak freely, but only so long as you keep doing what you are doing." He was vaguely aware of the fact that his breathing was starting to slow and grow deeper as his arousal built, and wondered if she could sense the change as she kissed his pulse. "Your first officer seems competent, though I haven't had a chance to go over his record. I've found that it is often preferable to promote an insider, rather than bring in someone who doesn't understand how the ship functions. Would you recommend promoting him to the new captain of the Hydra?"<br/><br/>As he spoke, he slowly opened his eyes to study her as best he could, given how she was buried in his neck. Calen couldn't help but wonder if she understood the honor she was being offered. It was a rare thing to have the ear of a member of the sith order. Usually, they considered themselves too wise and powerful request input from anyone but their most trusted advisers. Calen could only imagine how his master would react if he knew Calen was asking his newest possession for input on how to handle fleet operations, even something as comparatively mundane as the chain of command on a small ship.