by Autumn Dawn
She looked at him angrily. “That’s not yours!”
He was unrepentant. “You’ve always gotten your way, Red. You’re going to put up with me until you’re sorted, and I’m not giving you a choice. When you’re done, I’ll still be here.”
Her eyes got misty with anger. “You’re always here! That’s my problem.” She yanked on her hand.
He yanked back until she was flush against his chest. For someone with the coloring of a cool leaf, he radiated a surprising amount of heat. He looked down at her sternly. “We can settle this now, or you can bite your tongue and let nature take its course. Either way, we’re going to have a truce.”
She growled at him. She wasn’t used to being handled, certainly not like this. She didn’t like it one bit. “Bite me.”
He looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Excellent idea.” Before she could ask what he meant, he marched her over to a flimsy stripped building that lay just off the path, ignoring her vigorous insults. The little square tent looked slightly bigger than a closet, but only just. He yanked the straps that held the door flap rolled up and stepped inside. A sensor was activated as they passed through the doorway and the special cloth stiffened, became solid enough to lean on. She knew, because before she could say another word, he backed her against the closed door and swallowed her startled gasp.
It was a relief to let go. She didn’t have to hide her passion if he took charge. Later, she could say it was his fault.
Besides, she didn’t have time to protest, forgot the need as his mouth slanted over hers. She forgot their differences, her reservations. He was pure heat, an uncomplicated pleasure they shared in the gentle shade.
Ah, and he was smooth. From his skillful kiss to the silky expanse of his back as her hands slipped hesitantly beneath his shirt. Her blissful sigh gave him deeper access, more control as he cradled her head and teased her mouth. She whimpered softly and moved closer, rising on her toes to rub against his inviting heat. Had she protested this? She couldn’t remember why.
He smiled against her mouth. “I promised Blue I’d behave, sweetheart. I never said you would. You can take this as far as you want.” He bit her earlobe and hummed approvingly when she gasped.
His warning brought her out of her daze—a little. Still, it felt so good. He felt so good. “I-I’m behaving,” she protested weakly. “You were the one…who….” She lost the thread of her argument as he suckled her neck. She really had tried to be good, but she’d known all along that the man could confuse her. She never had been rational around him, a fact that had always annoyed her. No wonder she’d been so prickly! This was what he did when she let her guard down.
She felt him smile against her cheek, but he kissed her again without comment or restraint. It was as if he were another man entirely, a bottle of charged lightning. He broke the kiss and swirled his tongue around her ear, rewarding her moan with another deep kiss. When he returned to her ear, he whispered regretfully, “I think we might be misbehaving a little.”
“No.” She shook her head to emphasize the point. She gulped as his tongue traced over her shoulder. He’d shoved the strap of her shirt down and tasted her skin. It made her shiver. “We’re just kissing.” Even in her present state she knew that was a lie, but she had no interest in stopping.
“Kissing can get pretty interesting,” he suggested as his fingers traced lightly over her ribs. “But I’m sure you wouldn’t tempt me to do anything…naughty.”
Her head fell back as his fingers coasted dangerously high. “H-how naughty?” she croaked. She knew, of course. His clever fingers were unbearably tempting. She was seconds from allowing him access to anything he wanted.
Something bumped against the door, knocking the back of her head.
“I suggest you open up,” a stern voice commanded.
CHAPTER 10
Azor glanced at the door. For a moment he didn’t say anything. Then he looked down at her dazed expression and gently slid the strap back up her shoulder. His fingers lingered, caressed the skin there. “Later,” he promised. He trigged the mechanism that caused the cloth to relax and opened the door.
Blue stood there, looking unsurprised as he took in their flushed appearance. “Hello. I do believe you’ve lost your way. Fortunately for you, I know the way to the beach.”
Brandy blushed. There wasn’t much she could say. She glanced at Azor. He didn’t look the least bit sorry for seducing her.
His green eyes skimmed over her, and he raked the hair off her face with his fingers, putting her to rights. His casual attention made her acutely self-conscious. He gestured for her to precede him out of the tent. Only once she’d left did she have time to figure out the structure was meant as a changing room.
Blue studied them as they exited. He did not seem pleased. “Actually, there was something I wanted to discuss with you, Azor. Would you excuse us?” he asked Brandy. “I left Gem alone with the kids….”
She gladly leapt on his suggestion. “Right! I’ll go give her a hand.” She hotfooted out of there like the sand had turned to burning coals, not even sparing her erstwhile lover a glance.
Blue waited until she was out of sight. He folded his arms and studied his friend. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Azor regarded him blandly. “Seducing my future wife.”
A faint smile tugged at Blue’s mouth. “Interesting. Just this morning she told us that she was taking a pleasure cruiser for the next leg of her journey. Gem’s been arguing with her ever since. Was this about changing her mind?”
Azor rubbed his jaw as he considered his strategy. “No, but it’s a good idea.”
Blue started walking slowly toward the beach. “When did you decide she was the one? I admit, despite my teasing, I didn’t see it coming.”
“But do I have your blessing?” Azor pushed. He didn’t want to talk about his feelings with Blue. He was a friend, but still.
“That depends. Let’s say you convince her to travel on your ship—are you still going to take her to Xera?”
“That’s the plan. She might need a long courtship. She’s stubborn.”
“Hm.” Blue paused in sight of the beach, just inside the tree line. He watched Gem and Brandy as they kept an eye on his children. “You know it’s immoral to seduce her.” He didn’t say what they both knew—women like Brandy were vulnerable, easy prey.
Azor matched his stance. “Yes, but I’m going to do it anyway.”
Blue regarded him thoughtfully. “And why would I allow that?”
“Because your wife would like to see her sister happily settled. She’s practical enough to forgive my technique, I think. Also, you know Xera will geld me herself if I made Brandy my lover and refused to marry her. You have insurance there.
“Besides, you know I take your wife’s feelings seriously; yours, too. I’m not going to hurt your ladies.”
Blue looked aside and drew a slow breath. “Since it’s you…. Very well. I’ll give you my blessing. Just remember, you asked for it.” He grinned.
Azor smiled as he looked back to the beach. “Yes, I did.”
Gem took one look at her sister’s flushed face and began interrogating her. “What happened?”
Brandy avoided her gaze by shading her eyes with her hand and peering at the children weaving in and out of the colorful coral “trees” that grew out of the sand. They were really very pretty, and they came in shades of salmon, berry, pale to deepest blue and yellow. The kids loved them. “I stopped to use the changing room. Quit fussing.” She didn’t feel the need to elaborate on what she did once she was inside. It was none of Gem’s business.
Unfortunately, Azor chose that moment to walk up to her and put his arm around her. When she stared at him, startled, he countered with a kiss. It wasn’t a chaste kiss, either.
“Hello,” he murmured. He glanced at the children as if his actions were in no way extraordinary. “Looks like they’re having fun.”
Brandy had a hard time breat
hing. She glanced almost apologetically at Gem.
Gem eyed them with deepest skepticism. “What did you say you were doing in the changing room, sis?”
Blue draped an arm across her shoulders. “It was only a kiss, love, and Azor is an honorable man. I don’t think we have to worry.”
She frowned at him. “It’s my job to worry.”
“Sure, but your sister is twenty-six. She’s old enough to court whoever she likes without your permission.”
Gem’s eyes settled on Brandy, causing her sister to stiffen in instant alarm. She was sure Blue had deliberately referred to a courtship. It wasn’t a word she was ready to associate with Azor. “Hey,” she began, warily. It was tricky coming up with a protest that didn’t make her look easy, however. It wasn’t a situation she had much practice with.
Azor met Blue’s eyes. They exchanged a look; challenge and male understanding. “I’m honored by your faith in me,” Azor said smoothly.
The smoothness alarmed Brandy. It was disconcerting that he seemed to be so accepting of the idea of a courtship, since they’d certainly never discussed it. She opened her mouth to point that out, but Gem spoke first.
Her sister still looked discontent. “That’s very well, but I was under the impression my sister didn’t even like you.” She glanced at Blue. “I don’t remember giving him my permission to court my sister, either. That’s the polite way to do these things, last I heard—and don’t give me that garbage about her being old enough. After the last time, we agreed we’d discuss this stuff first.”
All eyes turned to Brandy, who shifted her feet. She didn’t enjoy the reminder of her first, hasty marriage. She glanced at Azor, but he was as intent as the others, a slight, amused curl to his mouth. “For the record, we haven’t discussed a courtship or anything. Honestly, there’s nothing to tell you.”
“But you let him kiss you.”
Brandy winced. Put like that…. She attempted an explanation. “I’ve…seen another side of him in the last few days. Maybe he’s not as…uptight as I’ve always believed.” She savored the slight narrowing of his eyes at her jibe. It made her feel better, as if things were going back to normal. This was what she was used to.
“This is new to both of us,” Azor said mildly, but his eyes still held that singular spark. “We’re still working out the details.”
She wanted to argue, but she didn’t want to upset the fragile peace.
Gem looked at them, deadpan. “Let’s see if I understand this. Azor thinks he’s courting you. Other than his kisses, you’re not even sure you like him. Have I got that straight? Because frankly, you two confuse me.”
Brandy chose not to comment. She thought Gem had summed things up rather nicely, though she didn’t care for the implication that she was only hot for Azor’s body. It would have relieved her if that were all it was.
She was struggling with the idea of Azor courting her. Why would he want to? He was no fortune hunter, and he had no interest in The Spark. He rarely ever drank and her professional accolades meant little to him.
She believed he was attracted to her, though perhaps not as deeply as he thought. Perhaps he felt the passion they’d shared couldn’t be honorable unless he ratified it under the title of courtship. If so, what would happen if she let him seduce her? If he insisted on marriage and she refused, he’d have an easy out.
This line of reasoning annoyed her. Even she could see there were several flaws in her theory, but she wasn’t ready to believe he loved her.
Part of her still saw him as the cool interrogator. It would take time before she accepted the man he was now.
Gem wasn’t the only one confused about their relationship.
Blue laughed and whispered something in Gem’s ear. They’d been having a quiet discussion while Brandy had stood there thinking.
Gem elbowed him in the side, but she was smiling slightly when she glanced back at them. “All right, welcome to the family, Azor…assuming you can convince my sister to have you, that is.”
Azor gave her a brotherly hug. “Thank you. I’m honored.”
Brandy watched with jaded interest. “I wouldn’t get too chummy with the idea, you know,” she informed them dryly. “I haven’t agreed to anything. For that matter, I’m still planning to take a different ship from here to the next port.” She glanced at the children and decided that digging in the sand with them looked fun. She walked off, ignoring their scrutiny.
She’d made the mistake of marrying a Kiuyian before. Whatever Azor made her feel, it wasn’t enough to risk that twice.
On the heels of that conclusion, her relentlessly practical mind pointed out that the men were individuals. He couldn’t be held responsible for her ex’s failings.
Unfortunately, her emotional nature insisted that she’d been wrong before. How could she trust herself to make a sound choice now? The conflicting thoughts chased around in her head like two bristling dogs. She didn’t know what it would take to bring a resolution.
She sat down in the sand and let the boys bury her legs, though she refused to be covered up to her neck. Her trust only went so far.
It was rather peaceful lying on the beach. The sun was bright, so she rested her forearm over her eyes to block it out. The sunglasses weren’t quite doing the job.
After a while Azor came and shoved a beach umbrella into the sand above her. The boys had wandered off and were splashing in the water. “You looked like you were getting burnt,” he explained when she glanced at him. He sat in the sand next to her. “Tomorrow we can look for a navigator to keep an eye on the ship while we’re in semi-suspension.”
She closed her eyes and resumed her drowsing. “I’m not going with you.”
“You’re afraid of being alone with me?”
She debated answering. She didn’t want to discuss it, and he was baiting her. “Something like that.” When he remained silent, she opened her eyes and looked at him. “We aren’t couple material, you know. Nothing’s going to come of this except heartache.”
“You sound very sure.” He didn’t seem disturbed. Azor rarely was.
She sighed. “I’ve done this before, you know.”
“With M’acht.”
“Yes.”
“Did he pursue you?”
She blinked and looked at him. “What?”
“Did he chase you?” he asked patiently. “How hard did he have to work to have you?”
A slow frown drew her brows together. “What are you saying? That I was too easy?”
He looked off down the beach. “The harder we have to work for something, the more value we give it. I doubt he had time to work up a passion for your marriage.”
She sat up. “He could have told me no! He had the opportunity.” They’d talked about things. It hadn’t helped in the end.
She looked away even as she rejected her automatic, silent lie. She knew they’d been too hasty. It was time she stopped making excuses for her own failings. She was impatient and knew it. The knowledge tasted like bitter waters.
“Maybe he was too good a friend to do that. Maybe he was never meant to be more.”
She started to rise, but her feet were caught in the sand and it hurt to pull. She struggled to free them.
Azor helped. He didn’t stop talking, though. “Maybe he wasn’t strong enough to be your lover, Red. Maybe you needed someone else.”
She stiffened. Against her will, she met his eyes. “Like you?” The words were accusing, hard. He had no right to make judgments about her marriage. He hadn’t been there.
His gaze traced her face, settled on her lips. Softly, he said, “I want you, you know. I have for some time. I want to be your lover. To do that, I’ll be your friend. You won’t be in charge, though. I’m proposing a 60/40 split. I get the top half.”
She drew an offended breath, ignoring the flush of interest. “Why would I give you the controlling shares? I thought 50/50 was the standard marriage contract.”
He smiled intently and
leaned in. “That depends…on how well you like it under me.” He kissed her, slowly eased her down to the warm sand. He couldn’t cover her, not here, but he gave her a sterling example of what it would be like with him in charge of their lovemaking. The man could do things with a kiss that M’acht couldn’t achieve with his whole body.
The bottom share position suddenly looked very attractive.
He eased up. “Besides, the more experienced partner should be the one in charge.”
It was hard to be grumpy when she’d just been so deliciously kissed. “I’m not a virgin, you know.”
His mouth quirked. “So you’ve experienced intimate kisses? All over?”
She looked at him warily. The only thing M’acht had ever kissed were her lips. Her breathing quickened as she thought about it. She’d wondered what it would feel like.
He lazily twined their fingers. “And of course, you’ve given as good as you’ve got?”
Heat fired her cheeks. She’d grown up in a tavern—of course she knew what he was talking about. The fact that she was too shy to do such a thing wasn’t something she would point out.
He leaned closer. In the guise of whispering, he nuzzled her ear. “I can make you feel so good, sweetheart. You want that, don’t you?” He gave her lobe a little lap.
She shivered. Yeah, she could use more of that. Really, what was the harm?
“Let me come to your room tonight. I promise to make you feel so—” he broke off with an oath as water was tossed under their umbrella, shattering the moment.
Kaden and Baden stood there, grinning. “Mom said you needed to cool off,” Kaden announced. They giggled.
Azor rose with mock fury. “Let’s see how you like it!” The boys squealed happily and took off running. Just before he gave chase, he turned to her…and winked.
Vio listened to his man’s report with increasing fury. The good doctor hadn’t been content to confess his sins to the police before fleeing the planet; he’d gone one further and pointed a finger at Vio as well. Everything he’d worked for, every piece of art, all his money, his business, perhaps even his freedom, was about to be torn away. The doctor had found his revenge, and now was about to escape Vio’s justice.
