by Anna Hackett
He shot a glance back at her. “But what if you like it?”
***
Dare stepped out into the bright Sullan sunshine. “Vero. It’s been a long time.”
The Sullan man walked forward, his hand outstretched in the common Sullan greeting. He was a hawkish man, and like all Sullans, had dark-blue hair that was long enough to brush his shoulders. “So very true. Welcome back to Sulla, Dare.”
They rested their wrists together and clasped each other’s forearms.
Vero’s gaze moved over Dare’s shoulder to Dakota. His lips turned up in a smile. “You’ve brought me a pretty flower.”
Dare barely controlled the ugly claw of emotion in his gut. “She’s not for you, my friend. And be warned, she’s hiding her thorns for this trip.” Dare hated the way the man looked at her.
Vero raised a brow. “I thought you liked them obedient to your desires.”
Dare heard Dakota make a small sound, but didn’t look at her. “I like them to want my desires.”
Vero cast one more appreciative gaze at Dakota. “My current batch of girls will be sorry that you are not alone.” He inclined his head. “It’s been a long time since you last visited.”
It had been. On purpose. Dare felt Dakota’s gaze drilling into his back. Dare knew giving in to your desires without control, pushing your boundaries, could sometimes lead to dark places. Addiction was a slippery slope. It was so easy to slide down, and so very hard to claw your way back up. He’d seen that in his stepfather’s obsession with his mother, and his jealousy that her sons took up any of her time.
Sulla had offered Dare all kinds of dark vices.
Here on Sulla, a man could indulge all his darkest desires of control and submission. He had seen—and experienced—some himself. Some of them had been wonderful and some had crossed a line. He found that Vero had continually pushed their interactions to places Dare hadn’t been interested in going. It hadn’t taken him long to realize that Vero was all about his own pleasure. That the man hadn’t shared Dare’s need to protect a female partner and to give her pleasure.
“Dakota, this is Vero.” Dare glanced back at her. “Don’t speak unless he speaks to you.”
Her face didn’t change but he was pretty sure she was grinding her teeth.
Two women moved from behind Vero, their heads bowed and their hands clasped in front of them. They wore outfits very similar to Dakota’s, but with silver metal, and fabric of emerald green. Instead of metal tops like Dakota, they both wore gauzy twists of fabric. One had pale skin and an abundance of curves and her blue hair swept up and clipped behind her head. The other was taller, willowy, with glossy dark skin and short, feathery blue hair.
As always, Vero also had two of his burly security guards with him.
“Come.” Vero waved them onward. “Let’s get back to my residence and have a drink. Talk.” He smiled. “Have some fun.”
They walked off the landing pads and into the city streets. There were a few people around, men walking with women a few steps behind them. Dare saw Dakota taking it all in—the gleaming buildings and lush greenery. As they walked along a narrow waterway, an elegant boat sailed through the water.
Soon, Vero led them over a bridge and to his beautiful house. The entire front wall was covered in a metallic latticework intertwined with plants. Their group moved through a wide, arched doorway, and into the cool interior of the airy house.
Vero led them into a reception room filled with circular couches in a deep green, and tables made from a glossy, brown wood. He sank into a chair, and instantly, the taller woman dropped to her knees beside his feet. The curvy woman slipped into his lap.
Dare selected a couch and sat down. Without him having to tell her, Dakota fell to her knees, sitting close beside him, pressing her body against his legs. Hell, watching her like this made him hard.
“So, my friend, what brings you to Sulla?” Vero smiled. “Apart from our obvious pleasures.” He stroked a hand down the arm of the woman in his lap.
Dare pressed a hand to Dakota’s shoulder. “Two things. First, we need a part for my ship. My engineer tells me we have a problem with our power distributor, and word is, you have one available here.”
“I think that can be arranged.” Vero nodded. “I’ll have my man take care of it.” He waved one of the security guards from the door over.
Just then, another woman walked in, her head bowed over the tray she was carrying. It held two long-stemmed glasses filled with an orange drink that was letting off a small waft of steam.
She handed Dare the drink, never lifting her eyes to meet his. He sipped the sweet liquid. It wasn’t to his taste, but he knew it was a traditional welcome drink made from some delicious fruit that grew on Sulla. The Sullans loved their rituals. It would be rude not to drink.
He reached down and tipped Dakota’s head back. He pressed the glass to her lips. Her gaze locked with his and she took a sip of the drink.
Vero laughed and when Dare looked over, he saw the man was watching them.
“You’re in luck, Dare. We have the part you need.” His smile widened and he swirled the last of the drink in his glass. “But it will cost you.”
“Of course.” Dare hadn’t expected any different.
“How about you share your pretty Dakota with me this evening?”
Dare felt Dakota go stiff. He squeezed her shoulder. “No.”
“Oh?” Vero leaned back into his couch, idly stroking the curvy woman’s ear. “There are always more beautiful flowers, Dare. You should never get attached.”
Dare slid his hand into Dakota’s hair. It was a sentiment he’d always agreed with…that there were always more pretty women, more willing bed partners. But somehow, that view didn’t seem quite as attractive with Dakota beside him and Vero grinning at him from across the room.
“How much for the part?” Dare asked.
Vero’s eyes lit. “Very well.” He named a staggeringly large number of e-creds. Dare smiled, and they started negotiating.
“Agreed,” Vero finally said.
Dare nodded. They’d agreed to an exosuit—Ry wouldn’t be happy about that—and a reasonable number of e-creds. Sulla might be out in uncharted space, but they understood the value of having a substantial amount of the galaxy’s preferred currency.
Vero sipped his drink again, and then he idly slid his hand under his woman’s gauzy shirt. As he started to play with her breasts, color filled her cheeks, and the woman valiantly tried to control her response.
“We should make use of my playroom,” Vero said. “I’m sure your Dakota would look lovely with her bottom red from your smacks.”
Dakota jerked a little and Dare squeezed her shoulder again. “Maybe later. I have another question for you. We are following the trail of a traveler from Earth. He passed this way hundreds of years ago and in his records described a beautiful planet very similar to yours.”
Vero leaned back. He lowered his hand, circling the woman’s belly. “That’s a long time ago.”
“His name was Caleb Stock. Any mention of that name in your history?”
“Hmm, we have several stories in our history that talk of travelers who have stopped here, but I’ve no recollection of that particular name. If there is a record, it would be in the Great Library.”
Now, Dakota straightened.
“May we see the library?” Dare asked.
The tiniest flash of a smile. “Possibly.” His hand slid down under the woman’s skirt, delving between her legs. “We don’t usually let outsiders into the Great Library. It contains some of our greatest treasures and, of course, the original copies of our most sacred works. What our entire life is based on. The works of Hugo, the original master, who decreed that women must always obey a man’s command.”
The woman let out a small cry, her face flushed. She was writhing on Vero’s lap.
Dare looked down and saw that Dakota was staring at the woman through her eyelashes. Her breathing had increased.
Vero pulled his hand away from the woman and she made a small mewling sound of discontent.
“I can arrange a visit. But I want payment.”
This time it was Dare who tensed. He knew Vero well enough to understand the tone. “I’m listening.”
“I want to see what your new female can do. And since you won’t share her, I want to see you make her come.”
“She is…in training.”
“She is not broken in?” Vero shook his head. “I cannot understand why outsiders let their women run wild.”
Dare saw the dark beauty at Vero’s feet move minutely, before settling again. He knew that for women here, submission was a fact of life, but how many of them strained against the restrictions? He looked down at Dakota, a woman who’d started life with nothing. A woman with a fierce pride and a need to run her own life.
“Fine,” Vero said. “If that is not suitable for you, I can make another offer. I still want to see a woman come. Either you make her come or you make one of my girls come.”
Dakota hissed out a breath. She leaned in closer, her voice quiet. “Touch one of them and I’ll gut you.”
When she pushed to her feet, every muscle in Dare’s body tensed. One wrong move from her, and she’d blow this. If she gave Vero a real piece of her mind, he could kick them off the planet.
Instead, she slid onto Dare’s lap.
Damn, she fit there perfectly. She moved until she was comfortable, her legs draped over to the side.
“Touch me,” she whispered.
He searched her face. He knew she wanted the treasure and was willing to do what she had to do to find it, but a part of him balked. He wanted her to want his touch, not to allow it for the damn treasure.
“Dakota—”
She pressed her finger to his lips. “Touch me. I want you to.” His gaze locked with hers and he saw desire burning in her eyes. He sucked in a breath.
He started by stroking her arm with the backs of his fingertips. Her skin was so smooth. He moved down over her bare belly, and the toned muscles that he found there. Next, he stroked her thighs through the silky fabric. When he touched a small knife sheath strapped to her thigh, he hid his smile. Trust Dakota to hide a weapon in this barely-there outfit. Her breath hitched, and she shifted against him. He knew she must feel his hard cock pressing against her.
He kept his touches small, but her shivers grew. He saw something dawning in her eyes. Had Dakota never allowed herself to be petted or stroked?
She started trembling, her breathing even faster. Carefully, Dare slid his hand up her thigh and under the fabric. Her skin was soft, but the strength he felt beneath it was something he found irresistible.
He reached the shiny silk of her panties and teased the edge.
“Dare.” A soft murmur. She leaned her head back against his shoulder, her gaze locked on his face.
He studied every inch of her features—the curve of her sexy lips, the stubborn jut of her jaw, those sharp cheekbones. All of her tempted him, but he couldn’t afford to lose control.
He slid his fingers just an inch under her panties. His cock hardened like steel and throbbed. When had such an innocent thing brought him to the edge like this?
“Do it,” she hissed.
“I’m in control here.” He slid a finger under the silk. He touched her warm folds, stroking. She gasped, her hips lifting. He moved his finger up until he found the tiny little bundle of nerves. She jerked and with his other hand he grabbed her thigh and held her down.
“I can’t wait for her to come. Look at that face.”
Vero’s voice snapped Dare out of the sensual haze. He stopped his hand. Dakota’s release, all those emotions, were for his eyes only.
Vero laughed. “I really do think her release will be a sight to behold. Remember, no payment, no library.”
“Dare.”
Her urgent voice brought his gaze back to her. She licked her lips. “Please.”
He saw the want, the need. He turned, blocking Vero’s view and focused on Dakota. On the confused desire in her eyes. His fingers moved, gripping that tiny nub and rolling it under his touch.
She made a choked cry.
“I don’t want him to watch you,” Dare growled.
“I don’t care about him. I’m burning up.” She moved against his hand. “Help me, Dare.”
“You are so sexy.”
“Make me come.” Her blue gaze was on his. “No man ever has.”
That was his Dakota. Focused on finding what she wanted, what she needed, and letting nothing get in her way.
Dare rolled her clit, pushing his thumb down on it. He watched her teeth sink down into her lip.
“Yes,” she murmured.
“Just let go. I’ve got you.”
“I know.”
When he felt her body tense, he pressed his mouth against hers. As she splintered apart, he denied Vero her cries by swallowing them. No one else would hear them but him. No one would see the wild emotion on her face, but him.
When he sat back, he pulled her face into his chest, holding her tight.
“I should have known you’d be greedy, Dare.” Vero shook his head. “But it was still very pretty. One day, I’d like to watch her really submit and suck cock.” He stood. “Come. We’ll visit the Great Library, and while we’re there, my man will ensure the part is loaded onto your shuttle.”
Dare sucked in a breath, trying to calm his raging desire and get his stiff cock under control. He pulled Dakota to stand in front of him, and kept an arm wrapped around her. She was still trembling.
“Okay?” he asked quietly.
“No.” Her eyes were blazing. “Later, you’re going to make me come properly. That barely took the edge off.”
Damn. Desire was a hard knock to his gut. He wanted this woman more than anything he’d coveted in his life.
She leaned in. “Oh, and when I get on my knees and suck your cock, Dare, believe me, it won’t have anything to do with submission.”
He sucked in a sharp breath.
She winked at him, then bowed her head and clasped her hands together. “We’d better get going.”
Chapter Eight
Dakota sat in the bottom of the narrow boat, her body still humming. The boat was carved from a pretty wood but had some high-tech controls embedded in the side and its hidden engine propelled them through the water with a gentle hum.
Despite the desire still rolling around inside her, she enjoyed the beauty of the city. Everywhere, she saw greenery draped over gleaming-white buildings and archways. Sion had an elegant, beautiful feel.
Shame its men were boneheaded imbeciles.
She glanced over at the second boat beside them, where Vero lounged like a sultan with his women draped over him. Dakota watched them, trying to tell if they truly enjoyed their lives or not. She couldn’t really tell, but on closer scrutiny, the paler, curvy woman—the one Vero had caressed on his lap—looked unwell. She looked even paler than before, and shaky. Maybe she didn’t like the water?
Dare’s hand moved along Dakota’s thigh in an idle caress. But it was enough to almost make her moan. She shifted against him, and she was gratified to feel that he did have a very hard erection. She moved again, deliberately rubbing her buttocks against him. His hands clamped down on her hips.
“Around here, bad girls get punished.”
She rolled her eyes. “Around here, any girl gets punished.”
He gripped her jaw, tilting her head back.
“Don’t think you frighten me.” She shifted against that hard cock again, enjoying the hiss of his breath.
“I can find some very pleasurable ways to punish you.”
She shivered.
“There’s the Great Library,” Vero called out to them.
At the end of the waterway ahead, Dakota saw a large cylindrical building rising up. The tower was several stories high, with long, narrow windows. Plants tumbled down the sides of it like a waterfall of green.
<
br /> Dare helped Dakota climb out of the boat and onto a small dock. They walked down the path toward the main arched entrance of the library. She saw a few people moving in and out. Men in similar outfits to Dare and Vero, all of them with at least one or two women walking silently behind them.
Dakota decided she hated Sulla.
They walked inside, and it took her a second to adjust to the dim light. Like every library in the galaxy, there was a hushed, deferential feel. You knew you were surrounded by knowledge. And here, it felt like knowledge so old it made her bones ache. The place reminded her of the Institute museums she’d worked in. She might have been banned from visiting them, but she still snuck in from time to time.
In the Sullan Great Library, circular shelves rose high up to the domed roof above in concentric circles. The shelves were filled with books and glowing data crystals in the shape of cubes and pyramids. As she looked upward, she wondered how anyone reached the books at the top of the shelves. She didn’t see any ladders.
Then she saw something small whizzing along the outside of the shelves. She moved closer and saw a retrieval system that ran along the shelves. A small metal basket zoomed along an embedded track, stopped at the book or crystal it needed, the item was knocked into the basket, and then it whizzed its contents down to the ground.
“Welcome to the Great Library of Sulla,” Vero said. “Dare, come with me and we’ll talk with the head librarian. He can help us find the information you’re looking for.” He glanced at Dakota and the women. “Stay here, and remember not to touch anything.” A small smile at Dare. “Women are forbidden from touching books and data storage crystals.”
Dakota’s jaw clenched. No, they couldn’t risk the dangerous situation of letting women read, learn and possess knowledge.
As Vero strode toward some nearby desks, she couldn’t resist raising her finger in a universal sign of displeasure. She glanced up and saw Dare looking at her with a faint smile. As he moved to join Vero, Dakota turned and saw the two women watching her, wide-eyed. Something told her they’d never flipped their master off before.
Dakota wandered closer to the shelves, looking at all the fabulous books on them. She tilted her head back, taking in the extent of the towering shelves. It made her wonder just what kind of things were stored here, and how the planet could be so ignorant as to enslave one half of their species and take their choices away.
