“What?” Josselyn gasped. “We have to go back for her. We have to make sure she knows. If all you’ve said is true, then she might not know about me. She won’t know why I came after her father. Please, Evan, I have to tell her. She’s family.”
“She swore revenge on you, Josselyn.” He was amazed that she could so easily accept Jack’s daughter as family, without hesitation. “You don’t know her. She grew up as Jack’s daughter. Let it go for now. Give her time. I felt her anger. It’s too great a thing to face.”
“How much time?”
“As much as these things take. First, I think we should go to Quazer. Violette gave me a disc key to a safe there. We should go and see what he left for you. Then the past can finally be over.”
“It’s already over,” Josselyn said. “But I agree. I’ll see what’s in the safe, after...”
“After?” He grinned, feeling her desire feeding his own.
“After you ask me to no longer be your protected woman.”
That took him by surprise. He tried to speak, but nothing came out.
“I’d much rather you ask me to be your wife.”
Evan swept her into his arms, kissing her deeply. He still couldn’t speak as emotions choked him. Walking brusquely down the corridor to his room, he took her to their quarters. Their lips didn’t part as he laid her on the bed. Nothing needed to be said with words and Evan knew that this love he felt was his own and would last forever.
Chapter 30
Josselyn shivered, her body on fire. Part of her felt like this was a dream. The burden of her past left her and she was free. Someday, she’d see her family again and that gave her hope. Her only regret through all of it was Violette, but Evan was right. How could she go to her sister now? The woman would never believe anything she had to say.
“Don’t,” Evan whispered.
“What?” She arched her back as his lips trailed to her throat.
“Just give her time. Trust me. I know these things.” Evan pulled back, smiling.
She adored that smile. Her mouth became dry and she swallowed hard at his meaningful look. Slowly, he tugged at her shirt, peeling it from her flesh. After pulling it over her head, he licked a trail between her breasts, stopping to kiss her nipples. Confident fingers reached for her waistband, tugging her pants until they slid down around her thighs. A low moan sounded in the back of his throat. Josselyn arched and his kisses slid down to her stomach and hips.
Evan kept pulling, kissing as he stripped her of the pants. “You’re exquisite.”
“Take your clothes off.” She urged. Evan pushed up from the bed, easily stripping out of his shirt and pants. He stood naked, his eyes boldly on hers. The chocolate depths of his eyes bore into her, sweeping over her naked body.
Josselyn took in his naked form, the strong lines of his chest and arms, the trim tapering of his waist, his chiseled hips framing the full length of his erection. When he came forward, crawling like a stalking beast over her, she panted for breath. She saw the passion in him for her. It matched her own.
“Computer, dim lights,” Evan said. Instantly, the room darkened, casting them in shadows. He was so handsome, with his tanned flesh thrown into heavy contrast. He didn’t even have to touch her and her body lurched with desire.
His hand slid forward, pressing instantly to her heated center. The slick folds of her sex parted, damp and ready for him. With each pass of his fingers, moisture built to ease his way inside. Josselyn tilted her head back, moaning. His delicate touch centered on the tight buds of nerves. She closed her eyes, arching her hips for more.
“Evan,” she begged, maneuvering her legs along the outside of his. His arousal hit near her stomach. “Please.”
Evan drew her body to his, slipping his shaft against her opening, branding her with his touch. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer. Josselyn held onto his shoulders for support. Inside, she quivered and tensed.
His lips met hers, kissing gently as he entered her fully. Her muscles clenched, accepting him. Their soft moans intermingled and the intimate connection became dearer to her than anything else. Unhurriedly, he moved, taking his time as he made love to her. His finger found the sensitive nub guarding her entrance, circling it with fast strokes as he pushed her onward. The passion intensified between them, causing their pace to quicken. Suddenly, she could take no more. The tension built between them. Her toes curled as her legs fell to the side for leverage.
Evan lifted up on his hands, working harder. Josselyn’s body racked with tremors as she met her release, crying out softly. His thrust became more powerful and urgent in his search for climax. Soon, his cry joined hers. He jerked almost violently, then held frozen for a moment before his head dropped down. Pulling out, he stretched next to her on the bed, holding her naked back against his chest.
“I never want to let you go,” Evan said.
“Then, don’t.”
“This can be a hard life. When Gretori Zothos took my ship, he took all the money I had. I’m not a rich man. I can’t buy you a home on some planet. This ship and this crew as my family is all I have to offer.”
“Where would we go?” She turned in his arms to face him. “Both of our home worlds are dead. And I have plenty of money in gold and jewels in my castle. I know where it’s all hidden, a place where you’d never even dream to look. All we have to do is fly back and get it.”
“Are you sure it will be enough?”
“Are you going to ask me to marry you?” Josselyn giggled. “Because if you are, I’ve already said yes. I’m just waiting for your answer.”
“I’ll get Jarek.” Evan pushed up from the bed.
“Jarek?” She was slower to get up, watching as he pulled on a pair of tight black pants.
“Law of the sky. As captain of this ship, he can marry us. If you’re sure, I don’t want to wait another second.” Coming to her, he cupped her face. “I’m almost scared to leave you alone. Get dressed and come with me.”
Evan couldn’t stop smiling as he looked at his bride. Josselyn wore one of his old shirts and a pair of pants and he’d never seen a more beautiful woman. The entire crew was there, standing in the commons as witnesses. Mei and her son sat in a chair. Dev and Jackson stood near the door, arms crossed. Rick smirked, his expression indicating he was on the verge of a joke. Viktor, Lucien and Lochlann merely grinned. All were happy to see Josselyn well.
Jarek wasn’t exactly sure how to perform a marriage ceremony, so instead he improvised, keeping it short and to the point with two questions, ‘Will you be his wife?’ and ‘Will you be her husband?’.
“Yes,” they said in unison.
“Works for me. It’s done,” Jarek announced.
“Time to celebrate,” Rick announced, lifting up a bottle of Earth whiskey. “Who’s up for a drinking game?”
“Count us in,” Lucien answered, tugging on his brother’s arm.
“We must train,” Dev said. Then to the newlyweds, he added, “Happy future.”
“Dev,” Jackson began.
“Jackson, we must train,” Dev insisted.
“May you have a blessed marriage,” Jackson said, following Dev out of the room.
“You guys have fun,” Evan said.
“I am really happy for you,” Mei said, holding her son and bouncing him lightly as she stood. Josselyn nodded at her. Thiers wasn’t a deep friendship, but it was a start.
“Ah, come on, space cadet,” Rick said. Evan noticed that Rick seemed to be back to his old self with the easy smiles and quick-witted jokes. “You’re not going to turn into an old married man already, are you? It’s only been five minutes.”
“Enjoy your hand, Rick. I’ve got something much sweeter,” Evan answered, sweeping his wife into his arms.
“Hand?” Josselyn wrapped her arms about his neck.
“Don’t ask,” Jarek answered.
“His girlfriend,” Lucien said seconds later.
Evan saw the exact moment
Josselyn got the meaning. She turned red, giggling into his shoulder.
“Ah, get you two off,” Rick called. “We’ve plenty of time in space to test Josselyn’s stamina at cards.”
“I had three older brothers and a castle full of knights. I think I can hold my own,” Josselyn answered as Evan carried her into the hall. Laughter followed them. Josselyn ran her fingers into Evan’s short hair. “We could have stayed if you wanted to.”
“No. Tonight I want you all to myself.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Later we’ll celebrate this wedding properly when we can port somewhere befitting a lady.”
“Mm, I can think of one place befitting a lady like me.” She pressed her mouth to his as he came to their room, perfectly content to be in his arms. “And I’m already there.”
Chapter 31
Glamour District, Quazer, Two Months Later...
“The securities center is right down this street.” Josselyn smiled for her husband, despite the slight tightening in her stomach. She fingered the disc key snuggly rolled into the waistband of her skirt. The last few months with Evan had been perfect. She couldn’t hide herself from him and she found, for the most part, she didn’t mind how he sensed her moods. In many ways, it made him the perfect man. In a few ways, it made him irritating because he often sensed her moods before she was completely ready to face them.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look today?” Evan asked, kissing her head.
Josselyn glanced down at the lightweight pink two-piece dress she wore. Shorter than the gowns she had growing up, its skirt moved with the breeze. The tight bodice molded to her, forming a cocoon of hard material. Though gorgeous, it kept her from feeling Evan’s hands pressing into her sides when he touched her.
“Do you think Violette will be here?” she asked, again glancing around.
“The guys didn’t see her ship and it’s a hard one to miss. Lucien accessed the logs and she wasn’t registered. I think Rick’s erratic maneuvering through deep space lost their ship.” Evan slipped his arm around her shoulders as they walked.
The white streets shimmered in the bright sunlight as a tropical breeze filtered through the Glamour District. A planet completely dedicated to luxury and the rich, Quazer even had docking fees, security fees and a long list of other fees designed to ensure only those who could afford to be there actually landed. Smooth stone arches with crystal insets lined the sidewalks, creating colorful streaks of light on the ground.
“Besides,” Evan nodded to the side, “we’ve got plenty of backup.”
Josselyn saw a flash of Viktor and Lucien asking for directions from a local worker. On the other side, Mei and Jarek walked arm in arm. Further down the street, Jackson and Lochlann flirted with a group of women in formal silk gowns. Dev stayed on the ship, even though all manner of humanoids were welcome. The only person she didn’t see was Rick, but everyone had assured her they would be watching every step.
The securities building glistened like all the other shops. Laser protection bars striped the windows and encrusted silver lined the intricately carved signs. Josselyn imagined that this place looked like a gathering of nobles, rich and famous from around the galaxy. Their demeanor and actions bespoke of money and power.
Inside the securities building, Josselyn and Evan were met with gracious smiles. Saleswomen tried to beckon them to their counters by waving their arms over alluring rows of precious stones and minerals. For the not-so-human humanoids, there were jars of red slime and purple goo. A couple of pale yellow-skinned ladies used them to decorate their arms, the slime creating a chemical reaction with their flesh, making it bubble up in jewelry-like patterns.
“I wish to open a safe,” Josselyn said to a saleslady.
The woman’s jet-black hair wound high above her head in a large spiraling pattern, shaping into a cone. Small blue flecks decorated the hairstyle, centering around a blue disc.
Josselyn reached beneath the edge of the hard bodice to the rolled waistband. Tugging the material, she let the disc key drop into her palm. “I have a key.”
The woman glanced down at the disc key and her smile faltered some. “Of course, madam, you will please follow me.”
Josselyn took Evan’s arm, clutching it for support. The woman led them past all the displays toward a large oval protruding from the wall. They stepped over the ledge, walking into what looked to be wall. Instead, they passed through like air into a long, oval hallway with a flat, narrow strip of floor to stay level. A small platform screen on a long circular column sat at the end. Pulling the blue disc from her hair, she pressed it to the screen. It dangled on the end of a long, straight pin. After it scanned, she pushed the pin back into her hairstyle and turned to Josselyn.
“Place your disc on the screen and enter the code. When you are finished, remove the disc.” The woman nodded once at Evan and left.
“Code?” Josselyn frowned. “Did you know there was a code?”
“No,” Evan said. “Put the disc down and see what happens.”
“The others can’t see us in here.”
“This has to be one of the most secure facilities on the planet. I think we’ll be all right.” Evan nodded toward the screen.
Josselyn pressed the disc key inside the center ring. The gel inside the screen molded around it and held the disc inside. Over it, a delicately scrolled question appeared on the screen in black, “How should you live and die?”
“With honor,” Josselyn said. “Ago pugna quod intereo per veneration.”
A light whoosh sounded behind them and she turned to find a long table crossing the walkway, blocking the exit and held up on each end by the sides of the oval wall. Several small contents lay out on the table, including a holo-box and a soft, black bag. It was shinier than the one found on the ship, but just as old.
“What are all these things?” Josselyn asked, not recognizing any of the technological items.
Evan touched a thin square. An image of Josselyn’s face appeared in holographic perfection. The name Josse Lynne Stephans appeared beneath it with a number. “They're identification papers and a planetary ID number. Some of it is blank, like birth date and age, but Viktor can fill in for you.” Evan pointed at a few other items. “These are official birth records, a credit disc for money. Josselyn, this is a complete new identity. Jack gave you a means to hide.”
“You mean to cover up what he and the Federation had done.” She didn’t take them.
“Perhaps, but these documents are hard to forge.” Evan pushed the birth record.
“Daughter of Federation General Jack Stephans,” Josselyn read. She nearly gagged. “I don’t want this. I don’t want anything of his.”
“We can’t leave it here.” Evan picked it up and put it into his pocket. “We’ll take it back to the ship and then you can decide. I have a feeling it might be useful.”
“Fine.” Josselyn wasn’t happy with the idea, but her anger would have been misguided if she turned it on Evan. Jack was who she really was irritated with. Tapping her finger on the holo-box, she drew her hand back and laced it through her husband’s arm. An image of Jack appeared. He looked to be in his late forties and wore the shiny white she’d come to associate with him.
“Josselyn, I’m glad you are well.” Jack’s image said. “It’s what I’ve hoped for these last, long years. By this time and because you are still alive after the term of your imprisonment has ended, we have probably spoken. Knowing the temperament of your family, we have not spoken kindly. So much has happened and changed since that day long ago and I have to force myself to remember that you don’t know the good I’ve tried to do. All you know is my sins. I cannot take back that which was done, but I can give you a new life. With these papers, you will never have to explain your age or your past. As my daughter, a general’s daughter, you will have the freedom to pass by Federation ports unhampered. I cannot leave the life I have chosen. The Federation has granted me the home, which I so longed to be a part of in those year
s you knew me, as a reward for my services. I know it is not the land it once was, but all it is, I give to you.”
Josselyn held on to Evan as Jack continued to tell her how to use her space credits and the identification papers. One of the items was a key to a personal ship with navigational guides to help her fly it. On the ship, she’d find clothing and a machine to download knowledge into her brain to help her function in the new time. He’d thought of everything, even supplied her with a list of possible new home worlds and directions to them, should she decide to relocate. He even offered to let her live with him, though he knew she’d never take him up on it.
“If I am dead, I hope it was in atonement of my sins and that you will be able to forgive me now. I am truly sorry, Josselyn. All I ever wanted was to be a part of what you had. I never meant to destroy that which I loved so dearly.” Jack’s image sighed and he nodded once before the holo-box turned off.
“He must have sent this when he didn’t hear back from your pardon,” Evan said, “after they freed your mother from stone. He knew he could save you after you defrosted, but didn’t know about the prisoners being crushed.”
“I know he says he tried to atone for what happened, but I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive him.” Josselyn looked up at her husband. “Does that make me a bad person?”
“No, starbeam, it makes you an honest person.” He kissed her temple and she began gathering the safe’s contents, putting them into the black handbag. “Jarek has arranged lodgings for a few nights to get us all off the ship. It’s not often we get a spa holiday and since we’ve already paid for the landing, we might as well enjoy ourselves.”
Josselyn fingered the black bag as Evan pressed the disc key molded into the screen. Slowly, it was released and he handed it to his wife.
“With Quazer’s security, no one’s getting out of the docks with weapons. We’ll be safe here even if your sister finds us. I’m suddenly having the feeling that she might. She knows we’ll eventually come here if we want to open the safe.”
His Frost Maiden Page 19
