by Aubrey Ross
He grasped her hips and moved her up and down as he arched into each rotation. “I love you too. Never doubt I’ll fight to keep you. Nothing will ever separate us again.”
“Nothing,” she agreed, and then returned to the kiss, expressing her determination and devotion with her body rather than words.
The shallow slide of her body over and against his soon frustrated them both. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he swung his legs off the side of the bed. Still clasping her to his chest, he stood then bent and lowered her to the mattress and draped her legs over his arms.
She couldn’t move as well in the position, but he could move so much better. His cock slid nearly out before thrusting deep again. Each endless stroke sent excitement spiraling up her spine and tightened her inner muscles in a rhythmic caress.
Their cries mingled as his hips pounded between her thighs. She stared into his eyes, humbled by the love he offered with his sparkling gaze. The pleasure intensified, but she fought to keep her eyes open, wanting to fall together, to share the wonder with him.
He pulled her hips off the bed and drove his entire length into her pussy. His gaze drove into her as fiercely as his cock and she eagerly accepted both. They shuddered and moaned, lost in each other’s eyes, unaware of anything but the love passing between them. The moment stretched on and on, her body perfectly attuned to his, their spirits one.
With a shaky smile, he scooped her up and she quickly wrapped her legs around his waist. He turned and sat on the edge of the bed, still buried deep inside her. They touched and kissed, unwilling for words to intrude on the perfection of the moment.
“We could tell Caleb to drop us off on one of the colony outposts or catch a transport to—”
He placed his fingers against her lips, halting the sudden rush of words. “There is more at stake than you and me. We can’t abandon the others and we both know it.”
She nodded. “This is just so perfect. I don’t want to risk…”
“Nothing worth having comes without risk and sacrifice.” He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. “But we’re fighting this battle together. Your father won’t know what hit him.”
Chapter Eight
Naloni was awakened the next morning by an annoying buzzer. She had spent the night in Max’s arms and slept better than she had in years. It took a moment to clear the peaceful lethargy.
“Open comlink,” she told the computer, lifting the emergency-only block she’d put on the cabin. “What’s wrong?” she asked her unseen visitor.
“It’s Caleb, Your Highness. You need to get dressed quickly. Your father is here.”
“How did he find me?” She sat up, clutching the sheet to her breasts. Max stirred beside her, still looking sleepy and content.
“I don’t know. But I can’t hold him off much longer. He’s liable to blast his way onboard.”
“We’ll be right there.”
She threw back the covers and crawled out of bed. “Damn it. This weakens our position considerably. I can’t threaten to disappear if he knows where I’m at.”
“Sure you can. Your chip is dead. He has no way to track your movements without making you a prisoner.”
She dressed quickly in one of the uniforms Caleb had delivered to the cabin the night before. Max dressed as well, looking especially dangerous in the primarily black outfit. “Captain Thrax, we’re ready. Where shall we go?”
“Take the lift down one level. I’ll meet you there.”
Caleb met them as promised, but his expression was noticeably tense. “I put him in the officer’s lounge. I tried to refuse his guards, but two ignored my instructions and shoved past my men. I figured a firefight wasn’t the best way to begin negotiations, so I held my guards back.”
“That was wise.” Naloni smoothed down her hair, feeling ridiculously nervous. She was about to have a conversation with her father, not face an executioner. “It’s probably best if you let us handle this. I don’t want him to turn on you if he becomes frustrated with me.”
Caleb grinned. “You don’t need to protect me. I have no regrets.”
“Even so, the fewer distractions we have, the better.”
“My comlink is open. If you need me, call.”
There were several tables and a comfortable-looking sofa inside the lounge, but her father had chosen to stand. She stepped through the doorway ahead of Max, partially blocking her father’s view of her mate.
“Arrest that man,” Sineth said with a suspicious lack of conviction in his voice.
“I can’t let you do that, Father.” She didn’t budge as her father’s guards rushed forward. She would not back down. Not this time, not ever again. “Where Max goes, I go.”
“Even if he assisted in your rescue, he actively participated in your abduction. There must be consequences for his actions.”
Refusing to hide behind her, Max stepped to her side. “I was attempting to escape an intolerable situation. I had no idea Dario intended to use a hostage to secure our escape. Had I known, I would not have—”
“I am speaking with my daughter. You will remain silent or I will have you removed.” Sineth motioned for his guards to return to their posts, but his gaze remained hostile. “I spent the past two hours with Stevon Poliantus. So I understand his reason for attempting escape. I’m not sure it justifies endangering you, even temporarily.”
Naloni nodded toward one of the tables. “Can we please sit down? This feels adversarial and I don’t want to fight with you.”
“Your actions indicate otherwise.” He took a seat facing her and Naloni motioned Max toward the sofa. With obvious reluctance, he complied.
She folded her hands on the tabletop and took a moment to study her father. He looked frazzled, dark circles shadowed his eyes and his face had an unusual pallor. “Did you arrest Tarhee and Mikko Xyell?”
“Yes. Their crimes are irrefutable and they will be punished. I intend to bring charges against the founders as well as many of their customers. Stevon has agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation.” Sineth cleared his throat, his effort to remain calm obvious.
“Have you located Dario?”
“One of my generals noticed an unauthorized flight and intercepted the team upon their return. He found the tunnel you mentioned and he is looking into Dario’s claims. Dario is blaming his actions on the soldiers of course. He swears he was only following orders.”
“What rubbish.”
“I agree. Now we are here to talk about you. Stop distracting me. How did you become involved in all this?”
“There has been a network of people working to temper the abuse from the beginning. They are called the resistance. But the abuse became so widespread and twisted they realized their efforts were not enough. That’s when Laetif Xyell recruited Elaina.”
“Elaina is mixed up in this mess?” He shook his head and scrubbed a hand over his lower face. “Why did no one think to notify me? Am I so unapproachable?”
“If it had been anyone but Tarhee, they wouldn’t have hesitated. But who wants to tell an emperor that his heir is… If you’ve seen the vids, then you must understand why they dreaded bringing this to your attention.”
“I’ve always known Tarhee had unusual appetites, but I had no idea he had become so depraved. Of course I love my son, but I am responsible for everything that happens within my empire, not just my family.”
“We wanted more than rumors and speculation before we brought our claims to you.”
He nodded. His gaze shadowed and sad. “So Max is part of this resistance?”
“He is.”
“And in the course of one day you’ve fallen hopelessly in love with him?” Sarcasm tinged his question and his gaze locked with hers.
“Max and I have known each other much longer than one day.”
“I suspected as much. Vito told me you had fallen for one of his men, but he refused to give a name. I always suspected it was one of the g
ladiators. You have a wildness in you that couldn’t help but be drawn to their…savagery.” His gaze drifted toward Max and then narrowed. “Has the affair been going on all this time?”
“No. Max and I had a falling-out right before Vito tracked me down. I tried to forget him, to live up to your expectations of me, but my heart refused to consider anyone else.”
Sineth sighed. Disappointment was clear in his expression, but she wasn’t sure if he was disappointed with her or himself. “A good ruler must balance the urges of the heart with the logical dictates of the mind. Though I failed with my boys, I thought you understood this.” Before she could respond to the charge, he added, “My parents were furious when I chose your mother as my wife. Her father was a colonist and they felt her blood was tainted. My heart didn’t give a damn. I loved her and nothing and no one was going to keep us apart.”
“I was unaware,” she murmured, not knowing what else to say. Was he encouraging her to fight for Max? “All I knew about Mother’s parents was that they died before I was born.”
Sineth rested back in his chair and abruptly changed the subject. “So here we are, with one hell of a mess to clean up and I’ve little idea where to begin. When Vito originally proposed Gladiator Games to me I was highly skeptical. But Vito tended to succeed at whatever he set out to accomplish, and quite frankly we needed the revenue.”
“Vito kept Tarhee in check. It was only after Vito died that things spiraled out of control.”
He nodded. “But it doesn’t change the fact New Pompeii was founded by this family. I allowed those people to be brought here and they are my responsibility.”
He was getting at something, but Naloni wasn’t sure what it was. The entire conversation was far different than she had expected. He already knew most of the things she’d thought to tell him. “The barrier has to come down. There is no way around it. We cannot hold them prisoner any longer.”
“I agree, but how do we introduce them to freedom without destroying their faith and overwhelming their sensibilities?”
She hesitated. The perfect person to ask was fidgeting on the sofa, obviously struggling to maintain his silence. “We need input from the people directly affected by these changes.”
“Again, I agree. And that’s why I’m appointing you Governor of New Pompeii.”
Here was her opportunity. The old Naloni would accept the position and grumble about his shortsightedness. But today was the official debut of the new Naloni. “May I make a suggestion?”
He seemed surprised by the question, but he said, “Of course.”
“The people of New Pompeii will respond better to one of their own. Allow me to serve as liaison between their governing board and the Fedoran council, but I think Max would make a far better governor. He is a natural leader and he knows far more about the outside world than most of the people inside the barrier.”
Sineth stood and made his way over to Max. Ignoring protocol, Max pushed to his feet and met the emperor eye to eye. “What are your intentions toward my daughter?”
“I love her with all my heart and I would be honored to share her life in any capacity she will allow me.”
“Well, the only capacity I will allow is as her lawfully joined spouse. Are you willing to make that sort of commitment?”
Naloni’s heart hammered in her chest. She didn’t want Max to feel pressured into this decision. When and if they married, she wanted it to be because they both were ready for that final step. She pushed back from the table and stood, trying to catch his gaze.
“She is already the mate of my heart.” He paused and looked at her, love shimmering in his eyes. “Any ceremony your culture dictates is agreeable to me.”
Well, that wasn’t the most romantic proposal, but her heart swelled with joy just the same. She smiled and he turned back to her father.
“If you make her happy, I will be pleased,” Sineth told Max. “If you manage to produce a son or two with her shrewdness and your strength, I would be the happiest man alive. My legacy is a bit of a mess right now.”
“What about Feztis?” Naloni crossed to stand beside Max. “Vito and Elaina already provided you with a fine, strong grandson.”
“Fez is my one and only heir at the moment. That puts him at greater risk than ever before. I wasn’t suggesting your children usurp the line of succession, simply expand it.” Sineth glanced off into the distance and scratched his chin. “Speaking of Elaina, where is she? Fez was asking about her this morning.”
“Outpost Seven on Racine Colony,” she supplied with a guilty smile.
“What in God’s name for?”
“She’s with a man named Theos. He took the blame for something Max did. If they hadn’t diverted Mikko’s attention away from Max, Mikko would probably have killed him.”
Sineth crossed his arms and shook his head, but amusement brightened his eyes. “Let me guess, Theos is a gladiator too and Elaina has fallen in love with him?”
Naloni laughed. “They are rather hard to resist.”
“Tell Elaina she is to return to the palace with all due haste. Mikko is no longer a concern and her son is worried about her. In fact, as often as Fez gets distracted with concerns over his mother, it might be best if she and this gladiator found suitable apartments somewhere within the royal compound.”
“She will be thrilled to obey. She hates being separated from her son.”
“Good. Then we’re all agreed.” His gaze shifted back to Max. “I’ll leave the specifics of New Pompeii in your capable hands. When you have a workable plan of action, submit it to me for final approval before implementation.”
“Of course, Sire.” Max bowed, offering a belated show of respect.
“Now I need to figure out what to do with Mikko and Tarhee. My first instinct is to throw them into the arena they seem to love so much.”
“A fitting end, if you ask me,” Max agreed.
“I’m not sure I can make my council support such a verdict. It was bloodlust and power that led them so far astray.”
“So let them choose,” Naloni suggested. “They can submit to Fedoran justice or accept punishment according to the laws of the city they created.”
“Genetic modification or death by gladiator.” Sineth shivered. “That’s not much of a choice.”
“It is more of a choice than their victims were given,” Max pointed out.
“True.” He smiled at Naloni and said, “You two make one hell of a team.” He kissed her on the cheek then took his leave. His guards followed him from the lounge and Naloni flew into Max’s waiting arms.
“Is it really over?”
He lifted her against his body and smiled into her eyes. “No, my love, our future together has just begun.”
She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him with all the love bubbling in her soul.
“Am I interrupting?” Caleb’s amused tone drew them apart, and Max lowered her feet to the floor.
“We were celebrating our victory,” she told him.
“So I saw.” He strolled to them, his stride relaxed and slightly rolling. “What is the outcome?”
“The founders have all been arrested and it’s up to us to assemble a new council made up of inhabitants.”
“That sounds like a damn good start. Will the barrier be deactivated?”
“Eventually.”
Max’s answer shocked Naloni. “Eventually? Why not as soon as we return to the city? Why would we delay?”
“How are we going to explain it? The people must be transitioned gradually. It’s not fair to flip on the lights and say, ‘Surprise, your entire existence is a lie’.”
“He’s right,” Caleb nodded. “The inhabitants must be given a choice on how to live out their lives, but maintaining the integrity of the original city should probably be one of the options.”
“We can’t leave New Pompeii the way it is.”
Caleb shook his head. “That’s not what I’m suggesting. Some people don’t ada
pt well to change. Why not make the noninterference clause a voluntary guideline for how life is to be lived inside the city. If anyone wants a life free from technology, a life focused on the simpler things, they are welcome to settle in New Pompeii. But if they enjoy the conveniences and the faster pace of a technologically advanced society, then they’re free to leave and assimilate with the rest of Fedoros.”
“A simplistic existence is not what drew people to New Pompeii,” Max argued. “They came for sexual freedom and the Gladiator Games.”
“Would that need to change, if everyone participating in any event were willing?” Both men stared at her, speculation twisting their expressions. “The fact is, we can’t make these decisions alone or we are no better than the founders. We must ask the people what they want and let them decide what to do with their city.”
“I bet many would be willing to entertain tourists if they were benefiting from the trade,” Max mused.
“The possibilities are nearly limitless.” Caleb slapped Max on the back. “I don’t envy you two this task. I’ll stick to smuggling.”
“Thank you for your assistance,” Naloni said as Caleb turned to leave. “You were a godsend.”
“Anytime, Your Highness. My ship is always available to you.” He motioned to the door. “There’s a shuttle on standby. Just head to shuttle bay two as soon as you’re ready to depart.”
Naloni looped her arm through Max’s as he led her from the lounge. “So what will you do first, Governor Max?”
“Appoint a council. Any ideas, Your Highness?”
“Laetif Xyell. You know you can trust her and she has a wonderful head for business.”
He considered the possibility then looked down at her and asked, “Do you think she’ll stay in the city once all this comes to light?”
“With Mikko gone, I think she’ll be happy as a lark.”
“With her bodyguard to keep her warm?”
“And occasional visits with Captain Thrax to keep things interesting.” They both laughed and moved into the airlift.
“Felicia must be part of this council,” Max said as the lift began its descent.
