“Yes, well, maybe I’ve been mistreated enough that I’m entitled. I used to think your people were decent, and unfairly treated. Now I can’t be sure.” And she didn’t believe him. He would likely have no problem hurting her. He’d said it. He’d told her that was the plan if her father didn’t comply. “You’re trying to confuse me.”
He sighed and shook his head. Then he sprang forward with a burst of speed and knocked the stun gun out of her hand before she had a chance to fire. He grabbed her and hauled her out of the chair. He dragged her backward and tossed her on the floor of the shuttle, careful not to hurt her in the fall or crush her as he came down on top of her.
“Gods, but you frustrate me. I don’t think I could ever hurt you, and damn me for the weakness. I’ll keep you safe. The threat of you being hurt will be enough to convince your father to help us. I won’t need to do more. And if he rejects our proposition then you’ll stay here. He’ll assume we killed you or are torturing you. We never have to do it, and more importantly I’ll make sure no one does. Ann will be kept far from you.”
“I don’t trust you. You betrayed me. I don’t want to stay here forever. I want to go home.”
He sighed and rested his forehead against hers. “You don’t understand. You’ll see why we need you when we get to the station. I can’t believe you don’t understand. You saw what the government did to that Haven district. Besides, if I hadn’t taken you, you probably would have been arrested. You’ll see.”
She shook her head. “I still don’t believe you won’t hurt me. You’ve proved you’re a liar.”
He reared back like she’d slapped him. “That you even think I could hurt you proves you don’t know me.”
“How can I? You don’t tell me anything. And you know everything about me. You show no emotion.”
His eyes narrowed. “Right.”
His lips met hers with frenzied need. The kiss was possessive, demanding, and left her completely dazed. He grabbed the back of one of her knees and spread her thighs so he was cradled between them. She shoved at his chest and he broke the kiss.
“Kissing me, sex, it doesn’t prove anything.”
His lips slid over her racing pulse. “You don’t think so? It means a lot to me. I crave you. I always want to touch you. You keep surprising me in the best ways. I enjoy spending time with you. Even when you argue with me.”
It wasn’t a declaration of love, but it was almost everything but. It was touching.
“I will never let anyone hurt you.”
His teeth scraped across her throat and little shivers shot down her spine.
He pulled her shirt over her head and hissed. She glanced down and saw that her right side was already starting to bruise. She didn’t feel it. Maybe she was still running on adrenaline.
“Ann did that.”
He growled. “I figured. I’m going to kill her.”
Running his hand down her body, he tweaked her nipple playfully before placing his palm on her ribs. She flinched as he pressed down and he nodded. “Well, if anything was broken, that would have caused screaming. Don’t worry, when we’re done here, I’ll be taking you to medical to fix all this.”
She shrugged. “It’s just a few bruises.”
He snorted and kissed her throat. “It won’t feel like just a few bruises in an hour.”
He skimmed his fingers down her belly before deftly unfastening her pants and pressing the heel of his palm against her sex. He stroked her in slow, maddening circles.
“Stop.” She couldn’t let him keep going. If she gave into him he’d keep her here. She wanted to trust him, but he’d betrayed her, threatened her, and she’d been assaulted by Ann. And she would probably be killed by his government no matter what he wanted.
He ran his tongue over the hollow under her ear. “No. I plan to convince you to stay and I can’t do that if I don’t put my hands all over you.”
She gasped as he lightly pinched her clit between his fingers. “You could talk to me to try to persuade me.”
He nipped her collarbone. “This is much easier, and more enjoyable. You can’t deny that. Besides, I’m pissed that you tried to leave, and pounding my frustration out in you definitely appeals.”
Her pussy clenched at his words as she imagined him riding her hard.
He chuckled. “I think you like the sound of that.”
His hands left her pants and he seized the waistband, tugging them down. She kicked her feet to shake them off, eager to have him now, consequences be damned.
She ran her hands up his chest, unhooking his uniform as she went before pushing it off his broad shoulders. He growled as she captured his nipple between her teeth. He shoved his suit down his hips enough that his cock sprang free into her waiting hands.
He captured her wrists. “No, turn over. On your hands and knees. Now.”
Her eyes narrowed at his demanding tone and she opened her mouth to argue.
“Unless you want me to spank you, which I’m already considering, you’ll do what I say.”
She bit her lip and tried to stifle the thrill of anticipation as she turned over and rose to her hands and knees.
He groaned like he was being tortured and groped her ass. “This sight could not get more perfect.”
She shuddered as he caressed her lower back and shifted her thighs farther apart.
“Do you want me to take you?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Even if it won’t solve anything?”
She rolled her eyes. Trust him to throw that back in her face now. “I really don’t care.” She only knew she wanted him.
The harsh slap of flesh hitting flesh filled her ears and her ass cheek burned. Anger and arousal blended and she tried to sit up. He easily held her in place.
“I didn’t think you were serious about that spanking.”
“Then you still don’t understand what danger you were in if you left here.”
He smacked her again and she yelped. “Stop that.”
“Tell me you’ll never try to escape again.”
She hesitated and his hand landed on her ass again.
“Say it,” he ground out.
Indignation sparked through her. She wasn’t a two-year-old. She knew what she was doing. It might have been dangerous but so was staying here. She opened her mouth to argue and flinched when he smacked her again.
She nodded and gasped, “Fine. I won’t try to leave again.”
He sighed and rested some of his weight on her. He ran his palm up her spine and tangled it in her hair before kissing the back of her neck.
She rocked back against his hips and his erection bumped her ass. “Please screw me now, Galen.”
He growled. “God, that’s what I love to hear.”
He rubbed back and forth, wetting his dick on her pussy, driving her wild, before he pressed slowly into her cunt. She whimpered and rocked against him but he grabbed her hips and held her still.
“Hard and fast, Galen.”
He slammed into her and she moaned his name as he gave her what she wanted. His strength was almost painful, his pace punishing. He rubbed her clit in small circular motions, in time with his thrusts, and warm pleasure bloomed in her vagina. She gasped his name as her pussy clenched around him. He didn’t stop thrusting and her back bowed with the rapture of her second orgasm.
He gave one final thrust and shouted her name as his seed jetted inside of her. He collapsed over her, taking them both to the ground. He rolled off of her before he crushed her.
They lay side by side on the cold floor for a while. She wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, but eventually the intercom buzzed.
Galen groaned. “Computer, broadcast audio.”
“Galen, Alec’s ship showed. I know you�
�re waiting for him.”
Galen sat up. “Dress,” he said in a low voice before raising it to speak with the person on the com. “Anyone with him?”
“You have no idea. He had to pack them in like sardines. There were more than we expected.”
She frowned at him. “More what?”
He flapped his hand at her, signaling her to be quiet. “That’s good to hear.”
“Ah, so you caught the little witch. You’re going to pay for stunning me, Jamila.”
She flinched and glanced at Galen. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it.”
“She’d better worry.”
He glared at the com. “Torin, let it go.” He glanced at her. “Come on. You’ll want to see this.”
He grabbed her hand once she’d finished closing her pants and pulled her out of the jumper to the lift. They went down a few more levels to shuttle bay. Galen’s tension was palpable. She could even feel it in the way he held her hand.
The elevator jolted to a halt and he dragged her out as the doors slid open. The bay was teaming with people. Their clothes were tattered. They were bruised. Most were huddled together, too afraid to explore their surroundings while others were laid out on the ground being tended by others.
She glanced at Galen. “Who are these people? Where is your doctor? Some need medical care.”
He squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry for them. The medical staff has been summoned.”
A deeply tanned cyborg marched around the bay, his voice booming above the din. “Get repair crews down here once we clear out the wounded. We barely made it back. Damn Galen and his persistence.”
“Fuck you, Alec,” Galen yelled across to him, but the small smile on his face said he didn’t mean it.
Alec waved at him.
“Jamila?” After the first shout a chorus of voices called her name. She glanced around, releasing Galen’s hand and stepping away. She couldn’t find where the shouts were coming from, but it didn’t take her long to notice a small group of children hurdling toward her, Jackson in the lead.
She dropped to her knees as he crashed into her followed by several other wiggling bodies.
The chorus of voices shouted questions at her in rapid fire. She couldn’t even begin to decipher them. Alice and Darion rushed up behind the kids.
Darion shouted, “Quiet! Geez, let the woman take a breath so you can ask your questions one at a time.”
They quieted and glanced at Darion. Jamila stood, separating herself from the squirming children, and rushed to hug Alice and Darion.
“I can’t believe you’re alive. How?” She glanced at Galen and he shrugged.
Darion clasped her hand. “Not everyone was killed. As you can see, some were captured as they tried to flee the bombs. We actually hid in a tunnel under the house with several others, and when the bombing was over we tried to sneak out of the tunnels and we were captured. They were taking us on a ship to the Capital where we were supposed to be interrogated and disposed of.”
Alice glanced at Galen. “He had us saved, I’m told. Thank you. It wasn’t fair to have these children’s lives ended so young.”
He nodded. “You’ll be safe where we’re going. I can’t promise there won’t be dangers, but we’re all trying to make better lives for ourselves away from the prying eyes of the government. It’s not easy but you’ll be much better off.”
She nodded. “Thank you. I can’t express how grateful we are.”
The burden of guilt pressed down on Jamila’s heart and she flung her arms around the women again. “I’m so glad you’re safe! I was heartbroken. The attack was my fault. I was careless with the last delivery. I — ”
Galen’s palms landed on her shoulders. “Hush now. It was probably something they’d been planning for months, if not years.”
Alice shook her head and crossed her arms low over her stomach, hunching in on herself. “He’s right. They never intended to let any of us survive for long. There were never any weapons being run into the district like they claimed. They were looking for an excuse to murder us, like they’ve wanted to do all along. It wasn’t your fault, and we’re so glad you weren’t captured, because we heard them say they were going to arrest everyone involved. We assumed they’d already executed you if you weren’t with us.” Her eyes flickered to Galen. “We should have known you would save her.”
He wrapped an arm around Jamila’s shoulders and pulled her back against his chest. “Yes, you should have.”
He nibbled her ear and she tossed him an annoyed glance over her shoulder. “That’s not exactly what you did.”
He grinned. “But I’ll take the credit.”
Darion cleared her throat. “Well, if you’ll excuse us, we need to get the children settled. And some of them have injuries.”
Galen pointed to Alec. “If you talk to him, you’ll be the first he sets accommodations for. And he’ll lead you somewhere to get you some food for all these starving squirts.”
There was an uproar from the children at the mention of food and the women hustled them toward the captain.
Jamila turned in Galen’s arms and stared up at him. She couldn’t keep tears from blurring her vision. “You did this for me, didn’t you?”
He nodded. “Of course. It was hard to miss your reaction when you discovered the attack on the district. If they were alive I had to save them. However, it wasn’t only for you. It would be against everything we’re trying to gain if we let those people go to their deaths. They needed saving, and luckily the mission was successful.”
She pulled him down and kissed him lightly. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”
His arms tightened around her. “How could I not? You were so upset. It was worth it.” He chuckled. “Though Alec might disagree.”
She glanced over her shoulder and spotted the tanned man. He had one child on his shoulders, one wrapped around each leg, and one swinging from each hand. She giggled. “I think he would send them back if he could.”
Galen wiggled his eyebrows. “But they’re all his now. Along with women who will gladly kick his ass if he so much as frowns at one.”
“You!” The harsh bark sounded across the cargo bay. Jamila spun around to see Torin eating the distance with long, angry strides.
She flinched and glanced at Galen who grinned down at her. “Nope, you have to deal with him. You pissed him off. He’ll probably spank you.”
She ran her finger down his chest. “I’d prefer if you did.”
“Oh, I will again, but it won’t get you out of this.”
He spun her around and pushed her toward Torin. She gaped at him as he backed up. “Traitor,” she hissed.
“No, he thinks I should get my revenge on you.”
She gasped and stared at Torin, who’d reached her with alarming speed.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”
She grinned at him. “Sorry?”
He growled at her and she jumped. “Okay, so I’m not sorry. I wanted to escape. What you said to me freaked me out and I wanted to leave.”
Galen cleared his throat. “What exactly did you say to her, Torin?”
The frown creasing Torin’s face told her that he’d been backed into a corner. He shifted restlessly on his feet. “There might have been something about the Council not liking humans, and the hand her father had in our creation. And maybe a tiny threat to her life.”
“Torin!”
He bit his bottom lip. “I’d never actually hurt her. It was only a passing thought when I first met her. She’s changed my mind. And I agree I shouldn’t have told her what her father did, or what the Council would likely do to her. It slipped out in a fit of irrational anger.”
Galen placed
his hands on her shoulders and ran them down her arms. “The Council isn’t going to do anything to her.”
Torin nodded. “Of course not. We won’t let them.”
Jamila frowned at him. “So suddenly you like me?”
He grinned. “I have no choice. If I don’t show my support, your boyfriend is going to pummel me for convincing you to take off.”
Her gaze shifted to Galen. “Don’t beat him up. It didn’t take much convincing, and I was already looking for a way out when he came through the door.”
Galen cleared his throat. “Torin, I need to talk to you for a second. Away from my prisoner.”
Torin glanced at her. “Right.”
Her eyes narrowed. What did they want to discuss that she couldn’t be privy to? They stepped away and she crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at Galen. They were probably talking about her escape attempt. She sighed. Hopefully Galen would trust her not to do it again, but she’d probably ruined that. He’d probably punish her for it and not in the really great way he had in the pod.
Someone tapped her hard on the shoulder and she turned to see one of the refugees standing behind her. He was strangely clean and filled out for a man from Haven.
“Jamila Clearborne?”
“Yes?”
White hot pain pierced her chest stealing her breath. She glanced down and saw the knife planted in her sternum. She hit the ground on her knees as Galen shouted her name.
Chapter Eleven
His heart stopped. The assassin raised another knife. He was too close. Galen couldn’t make it. He pushed his legs to the limit to make it across the cargo bay. Alec reached them first. He grasped the attacker’s head and twisted. A crack filled the bay and Alec dropped the man.
Galen dropped to his knees and slid the last three feet to Jamila’s side. He gathered her into his arms. She reached up and grasped the knife but he quickly stilled her hands.
“No, no, don’t pull it out. It will bleed more.”
She moved her hand to his cheek. “You’re crying.”
He swiped at his face. “I’m fine. You’ll be okay. It’s nothing.”
My Cyborg Savior (Crimson Romance) Page 12
