Love Like No Other

by Michelle Howard

  Cellie stretched out on her back, arms over her head, trusting him as she’d trusted no other lover in her past. “I’m open to playing if you are.”

  His steel grey gaze darkened at the sensuous dare. “Assume the position, Manx. You’re under arrest for violation of code 6634-Brom.”

  Fighting back a smirk, Cellie rolled to her hands and knees and glanced over her shoulder. “Remind me, Commander. Which law did I break again?”

  Jax knelt behind her, his hands clasping her hips firmly as he yanked her closer. He thrust a thigh between her legs. “Spread wider.”

  Her legs parted until she was sure her bare folds were visible. “Commander, the violation?”

  His lids lowered, thick lashes hiding his smoky gaze. “Failure to make me come as soon as I arrived. You went about your duties first. Made me wait. Now you must pay the fine or risk punishment.”

  Cellie arched her back as moisture seeped between her thighs and rasped, “I’ll take the punishment, Commander.”

  “Yes. You will.” His heavy weight leaned over her. “How many strokes do you think you deserve?”

  Considering she was dripping wet from his words alone, Cellie wiggled her hips. “I don’t think it will take a lot, but feel free to make the punishment fit the crime.”

  Jax groaned and swatted her butt. “You’re in a naughty mood tonight.”

  His firm strike burned and left her ass tingling in its wake. Cellie moaned, more horny than naughty. She’d missed this, missed her lover. “Afraid, Commander?”

  Jax’s arms bracketed hers on the mattress as he crawled even closer, his thighs brushing against hers. Next, the crest of his manhood slid through her moist center. “Do I feel afraid?”

  Cellie wanted to say something witty, to tease him further, but his hands glided up her arms, over her shoulder and down the bumps of her spine. She bit her lip to hold in her whimper and rocked back against him.

  Jax gripped her tight around the waist and thrust forward, penetrating her with his full length. She cried out, her slick passage clenching around the intrusion. Cellie dropped her head to the rumpled sheets, fingers gripping the cloth as she pushed back, wanting all of him.

  “Fuck, Cellie. You’re tight.” Another thrust. “Waiting for me. Saving this for me, right?”

  “Yes, yes, Jax.” She leveraged up on her arms, the fullness between her legs sending spears of pleasure through her middle.

  He pulled out slowly, teasing her by withdrawing the relief her body craved.

  “Jax!”

  His rough chuckle warmed her neck as he nuzzled her throat, teeth grazing against her sensitized skin. “You belong to me only, Cellie. Say it.”

  She’d say anything. “Only you, Jax.”

  “How long are you going to be mine, Cellie? Forever?”

  Forever? Tension crept along her shoulders, dispelling some of her arousal. Panting, Cellie gasped, “What?”

  One hand slid around her waist, easing toward her soaked mound. Fingers parted her folds and flicked at the tender button exposed by her arousal. “How long before some other man claims this?”

  “Jax, please.” Cellie turned her head to the side in order to see his face, but he ducked his head behind her, placing a soft kiss at her nape exposed by her short hair.

  “I don’t want to lose you, Cellie.”

  He surged forward, his hardness filling her aching core as his fingers continued to strum the bundle of nerves in the front. The pressure built and his hips smacked against hers, filling her with every inch. Lightning struck and Cellie screamed.

  ***

  Cellie wasn’t the only one in a mood. Despite her climax, Jax pumped into her with a fierceness he’d never used in their lovemaking. Four months. He’d gone four months with nothing but his hand and memories for relief.

  Jax licked and sucked the smooth skin from one feminine shoulder to the other. Pebbles popped up on her tanned flesh. She moaned, body jerking beneath him.

  The need to claim her took over his thoughts. Fear of losing her overruled his common sense. “That’s right.” Thrust. “Take all of me.” Pump.

  Moisture coated his fingers as he stroked Cellie to release. Her scream of pleasure filled him with dark possession. His. Cellie belonged to him whether she wanted to admit it or not.

  “Come, Jax. I need you to come.”

  Jax groaned as his hips continued to work her. “Trying to rush me?”

  His fingers eased from her weeping center and he locked his arm around her middle, pulling her up to her knees. With her back aligned to his chest, her entire front was exposed for his touch. Jax shifted both hands to her bouncing breasts and pinched the budding nipples.

  Cellie wiggled and rolled her neck along his shoulder. “Please.”

  He loved it when she begged. Jax sucked the delicate curve of her jaw, leaving his mark. Her shoulder and neck bore more of the purpling signs of his passion. “Please, what?”

  He slowed the pace of his thrust, full to the point of bursting. He wanted to come. Needed to come, but not until he brought Cellie over the edge again.

  “Please come. I want to feel you come.” Slender arms lifted to twine about his neck, her fingers twisting through his hair.

  Jax turned his head and kissed the beating pulse at her inner wrist. “Then make me come, baby. You know what I like.”

  Sweet laughter spilled on the air and his heart clenched. He adored this woman. Everything about her delighted his senses. Cellie’s lower muscles began a clench and release Jax was well familiar with. Her hips swiveled on his lap as he eased back on his calves, continuing to play with her breasts.

  “I’m waiting, Security Guard Manx,” he taunted, knowing it drove her mad trying to push him to release.

  Then she unraveled his world, slamming back against his hips and riding him hard. Jax braced his weight as she bounced and grit his teeth against shouting. His room was in one of the protected wings of the palace. Close to the Queen, but not quite as close as Cellie and the Queen’s personal guards. Still, he didn’t want anyone running in to check on their yelling.

  Cellie cried out and her fingers raked through his hair. He kissed her wrist again, his tongue sliding over the delicate bones.

  “Fuck, Jax. You feel so good.”

  He grinned and nipped her ear. “Are you getting yourself there or me?”

  She growled as he expected and Jax muffled his laughter in her shoulder. Cellie was nothing if not competitive. She slowed down her forceful pumps and dropped her hands to his thighs spread beneath hers. Leaning her weight forward slightly, she lifted and lowered herself on his aching length, her internal muscles clamping down on him all the while.

  Jax cursed, holding her close to help her keep her balance. She began a grinding swivel hard to resist. His balls drew up and pricks of sensation warned he’d lose it soon.

  “That’s it, baby. Work it for me. Make me come hard.”

  Cellie pulled forward until only his tip circled her opening and then dropped her weight down. Jax’s head snapped back on his neck, a harsh groan followed. He shot his release deep inside her as Cellie pulsed around him. Jax pushed her forward back to her hands and knees before hammering home. Cellie screamed his name.

  They collapsed together on the bed, still joined. Jax’s chest rose and fell as he tried to catch his breath.

  “What was that, Jax?” Cellie snarled.

  The angered question killed his endorphin high. He should have known his words wouldn’t slip passed her. “Nothing.”

  She turned in his arms and his softening shaft slid free. Her fist pounded at his upper arm as she faced him. “Talking about forever is something.”

  Jax wrapped his arms around her despite her struggles and pulled her close. “Can we leave it at temporary insanity from missing you?”

  The request to escort the Queen’s cruiser through the neutral zone to a meeting on Xenol came at the perfect time. Before those orders came through, Jax had come close to taking
much needed time off and paying Cellie an unofficial visit.

  He wasn’t sure how well that would have gone over. He and Cellimina Manx, head of the Royal Guard to the Queen of Zephil, had an unspoken agreement. They had sex when his duties brought him near or on Zephil. Nothing else. Neither of them spoke of exclusivity, but Jax sent prayers to a higher being that he never discovered another man taking his place in Cellie’s bed. He wasn’t sure he could keep himself from committing murder if it happened.

  Cellie huffed, her head dropping to his shoulder. “This better be an aberration, Commander.”

  Jax closed his eyes and lied. “Absolutely, Senior Guard Manx.”

  Her snort of laughter warmed him. Jax ran his hands up and down her back made slick from sweat. After she fell asleep, Jax stared at the ceiling, wondering what he was going to do about the fact that he was head over boots in love with Cellimina Manx and she wanted no part of the emotion.

  Chapter 3

  “You do realize we’re running late, Your Highness?” Cellie leaned against the wall in the Queen’s personal bedroom as Cordie held up an ugly pair of yellow leggings then tossed them to the side.

  “Yes, I know.” Cordie pursed her lips and grabbed equally ugly leggings in a shade of green similar to babies’ puke. “What do you think of these?”

  Cellie sighed and uncrossed her arms. “Ugly. You have a royal wardrobe stylist. Why on Zephil are you picking out your own clothes?”

  The green leggings went the way of the yellow and the Queen waved at Talire to close her luggage. Cordie spun to face Cellie. “If you must know, I’m hoping to use this trip to find a husband and I want to have some input on what I wear.”

  Her laugh escaped before Cellie could control the rude response. Cordie glared and pointed at her. “Laugh it up. You have every guard throughout the palace making moon eyes at you.”

  They did?

  “And,” Cordie continued, red eyes narrowed, “I think Commander Brom has a thing for you.”

  “Really?” Cellie drawled. If Cordie only knew. Cellie and Jax both worked hard to keep their clandestine relationship secret, though she had a feeling his crew knew.

  Cordie ripped the pins from her hair, spilling the black length about her shoulders. Talire gasped and waved frantically at Magda, the Queen’s hair stylist. The young woman started to approach from the corner where she hovered, but froze when the Queen shot her a dark look.

  “Everyone likes you, Cellimina.” Cordie dropped to the side of her bed, sitting on the edge. The elaborate purple gown she wore flared over her legs, the excess silk pooling at her feet. “You’re smart, witty, you fight like a man.”

  Cellie grimaced at the litany of supposed attributes.

  The Queen waved her hand in Cellie’s direction. “And you have this whole sexy man eater vibe.”

  Cellie chuckled and shook her head. “Man eater? What’s gotten into you?”

  Cordie was always upfront and to the point in her manner. Spoiled, yes, but it was expected considering her position as a royal monarch. She could be light hearted and frivolous when the mood struck and deadly when something pushed her darker nature. Never was she…despondent.

  Cordie’s shoulders slumped. “I’m the last of my line except for a few cousins. I’m the only one directly descended from King Haloku. My advisors and Talire insist I start looking for a husband soon.”

  “I see.” Cellie wasn’t sure what to say. The Queen was still young. The palace had recently thrown her a twenty-one natal year celebration.

  “You don’t see.” Cordie jumped to her feet, brushing back the red streak in her hair.

  Oh, boy. “Cordie, let’s focus on one thing at a time. You’re packed. We’re on our way to a goodwill trip for you. Along the way you can keep your eyes out for potential husband candidates.”

  The Queen paced and nibbled her bottom lip. Talire creased her hands on the skirt of her yellow dress, looking hopeful. Magda managed to catch up to Cordie and twist the waist length hair in a sleek bun, the knot a lot less elaborate than the previous hairstyle.

  “You make it sound easy, Cellimina.” Cordie straightened her shoulders, coming to a halt at the center of the room, ignoring Magda. “Fine. I can do this. One can only wish for a man who won’t have a problem with his wife being the keeper of a ravenous, night-stalking demon.”

  Cellie hid her flinch. There was that little blip. Not many men would feel comfortable sleeping next to a woman whose body contained a demon who came out and took over at night.

  “Focus on positive thoughts, Your Highness.”

  Cordie huffed and the crisis was averted. With relieved glances, their small group exited the suite. Outside in the corridor twelve personal guards waited, all men whom Cellie personally trained. She fell in step behind Cordie, Talire moving to the Queen’s right and the guards falling in place behind them. The household staff lining the halls bowed as they passed.

  Cordie pasted a smile on her face, nodding at everyone. Looking at her, no one would guess her inner turmoil of earlier.

  ***

  “I’m always impressed when I come here.”

  Jax maintained parade rest and glanced over his shoulder at his Lieutenant of security. “Impressed?”

  Dar grinned, blue eyes taking in the cargo area. “Sure. I mean look around.”

  They stood side by side near the Queen’s ship in the bay containing the Royal air fleet. The Jessin family owned the light but speedy vessel, The Reina, ten fighter jets for protecting Zephil, and a heavy artillery shuttle for when the household traveled to dangerous locale. Today Queen Cordelia planned to use The Reina.

  “All of this,” Dar continued. “For one person.”

  Jax supposed some would see it that way. “She’s royalty. No longer just the heir but the acting Queen now that her father has officially stepped back and retired to their country estate.”

  The former King was well into his nineties and suffered fatigue and memory loss. Many speculated his days were numbered.

  “I can’t imagine what its like to have so much.”

  Dar spoke from his background as a former kid of a farming family from one of the agricultural worlds. He’d joined the military as soon as he reached the minimum age requirement. Jax knew from conversations with Cellie that the Queen’s life wasn’t always wonderful and she often fought against the limitations enforced on her.

  A guard in black pants and a purple shirt interrupted them. “Commander Brom, the Queen’s party is on their way.”

  Jax nodded and the trained man melted away, eyes vigilant on the silver doors at the other end.

  “We can transport back to the Z as soon as we confirm she’s onboard The Reina and prepared for take off,” Dar said when they were alone once more.

  Jax’s battle cruiser, the Zanian IX, circled the approved air zone over Zephil. Jax had come planet side with his lieutenant and four members of his security team. Aran T’Kar, his Chief of Security, waited for them onboard the Z. Jax and his crew would act as an official escort for the Queen’s ship and six fighter jets would accompany them to Xenol for a speaking engagement at the peace meeting.

  “Good.”

  The crowd of people entering prevented Jax from speaking further. Palace guards jumped to attention at their Queen’s approach. A dozen guards took up position inside, faces stern. Beside him, Dar inhaled sharply. The Queen’s regal countenance warranted admiration. Her purple gown trailed behind her with each step she took.

  Jax recognized Talire and two of Queen Cordelia’s body guards, followed by Cellie dressed in her sleek black uniform. A purple sash tied diagonally across her chest emphasized her full curves. At her shoulder, an emblem bearing the Jessin crest marked Cellie as a member of the royal guardsmen. Only those in Cellie’s unit wore the distinctive uniform, but on Cellie, the only female in the group, the outfit transitioned from official to alluring.

  Jax clamped his hands into fists at his side to resist the urge to touch Cellie when they d
rew near. Her uniform outlined every inch of her body, revealing Cellie’s not-so-hidden passion for working out. Light muscles lined arms left bare by the shortened sleeves. Each step in the knee high black boots caused her thighs to pulse as her hips swiveled side to side.

  The hypnotic gait drew his gaze downward to enjoy the sight. Jax remembered how he’d held her hips down as he took his pleasure between those firm thighs the night before. A man could be forgiven for missing the weapon at her right hip. As an expert marksman ranked as top ten on several public venues for tracking such measures, Cellie Manx wasn’t a woman to trifle with.

  Jax shifted his gaze and bowed toward the Queen as soon as her steps paused in front of him.

  He received a slight nod in return. “Is everything ready, Commander?”

  He met her stare evenly. “Yes, Your Highness.”

  For a moment her red eyes seemed to see through him. In all his space travels and time with the Alliance, Jax had never met someone with eyes like burning fire. Rumors claimed the chilling orbs were a sign of a powerful entity inhabiting the body of the woman seated on the throne. A rumor she neither confirmed nor denied.

  Queen Cordelia stepped back, breaking the moment. “Thank you, Commander.”

  Jax faced Cellie. As always when this close to her, his body reacted. His arousal shot down his spine and he adjusted his stance to hide the erection he now sported. Fortunately no one’s attention focused on him. Except one person. Cellie grinned as the group walked past, her fingers trailing over his cloth covered crotch.

  Jax muttered under his breath as she and the selected crew boarded The Reina. Armed pilots jumped into the cockpits of the silver jets prepped on the launching pad. Six of them would take point with The Reina, and the Zanian IX would provide added muscle if necessary.

  The Z focused on patrolling the neutral zones but every now and then, Jax would receive a babysitting assignment like this. Unlike other battle commanders, he wasn’t bothered by what would more than likely be a boring, no event voyage. Sometimes there was something to be said for quiet trips. Maybe he’d spend some extra time on Xenol and visit Cellie during her off duty moments.