No Refuge (Known Universe)

by Annie Nicholas

  “Hey!” He wrapped me in his strong arms. “Look, I wouldn’t place you in harm’s way if I could see another route around it but, Lucy, this is it. I can feel it in my bones.”

  Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “Okay.” So easy to say, yet I felt my death warrant being uploaded. “What do we do?” Brody and I were an endangered species. Our paths had crossed a couple years ago when he discovered me as a stowaway on the cargo ship he was working on as an engineer. Brody was all kinds of smart when it came to machines. Instead of turning me in, he’d kept me safe and shared his rations. I’m not sure how I gave myself away but something made him take a leap of faith and he revealed his humanity to me. What creatures had to hide in the shadows other than our race?

  “Pack lightly and take only what you can’t live without.” He knelt by our bunk and opened the storage compartment underneath it, then pulled out our two packs. “They’re still offloading ore, so we should have at least a couple days of shore leave before they go back. If this doesn’t pan out we’ll still have a job.”

  I helped him open the bags with numb fingers. The hidden human colony, was it possible? All human children were told stories of Earth, but our race had moved out between the stars, running, and no one remembered where it was. Or even if it was worth going back to. Some thought it only a story; others said they’d found the way home again. I shuddered.

  Brody stopped packing and let me sit on his lap, pressing his lips to mine in a tender kiss. “I won’t do this without you.”

  “I know.” I swallowed around a lump in my throat. “I won’t be taken by flesh traders. My m-ma— They say the Ko dissect us before they kill us off. What do you suppose they’re looking for?”

  He laid his hand over my mouth. “Shh, what did I promise you when you agreed to follow me?”

  I took a shaky breath. “You won’t let them take us alive.”

  “Have I ever not kept my word?”

  Scooting my ass around, I twisted so I could straddle him. “Never.” I leaned my forehead against his and closed my eyes. “I’m scared.”

  He pulled me against him in a bone-bending hug. “Me too.” Then he eased his hold so I could breathe again and rest against his strong build. Brody had always been solid muscle.

  I tightened my thighs around him. Pressing us even nearer, I unzipped his jump suit and slipped my hands inside to caress his rock-hard flesh.

  His grip tightened. “What about packing?”

  “I’m a fast packer. We’ll do it in the morning.” I traced the ridges of his muscled abs and purred. With a few precise tugs, I had his jumpsuit off his shoulders, exposing his naked flesh down to his thighs. I caressed his growing cock. “Unless you want to help me finish decorating the tree.”

  He closed his eyes and moaned, his cock thick and hard within my hands. “We can pack in the morning.” Lifting his hips, he let his jumpsuit fall to the floor. Brody wasn’t built like the pleasure males I’d seen here on station, full of pretty bulk muscles that bulged when flexed. My man’s body came from hard work. Lean and taut, his muscles slid under his skin as he thrust his cock in my fisted hand. “Tighter.” He placed his hand over mine and showed me how firm he wanted it.

  I squeezed and stroked, matching his rhythm.

  His gaze met mine. “Take off your suit.”

  I loved the way his voice grew rough and his stare became so intense it burned.

  Releasing his cock, I unzipped the front of my jumpsuit revealing a line of pale flesh. I shrugged my shoulders out of the suit and clutched the front to my breasts.

  “When did you get shy?”

  “I’m still a virgin. We’re supposed to be shy, ain’t we?”

  He grinned and stroked his shaft. “I’m not. Now, let your hair down.”

  A wash of carnal hunger crashed over me. Brody never took me like a man should. With no human medicine readily available, there was no birth control. He didn’t want to bring a baby into this type of life, full of fear and running. The only other human males I’d ever known were my pa and brother. Brody was the first man I’d been with, and I was his first woman. No matter the limitation, we still enjoyed each other.

  I removed the clips in my long hair. He never let me cut it. Wanted to wrap himself in it like a blanket if he could. I poured my midnight tresses over my shoulders in a silken, tangled mass. They covered my breasts so I let my jumpsuit fall past my hips, then crawled out of it.

  Brody pumped his cock with his hand as he stared at me with wicked intent.

  I crept over him. “And now?”

  His gaze was focused on my breasts. “What?”

  “Is there something else you’d like me to do?”

  He grinned, his stare still focused and his hand pumping faster. “I can stare at you all night.” Releasing his cock, he finally caressed me, easing my increasing ache for his touch. “You’re so beautiful.”

  I straddled his hips, pinning his cock against my wet pussy. “I want to take off your ear prosthesis and contacts.” I reached for his closest ear, but he caught my wrist.

  “It’s too risky.”

  “I’ve never seen you without them on, Brody. What if something goes wrong tomorrow?” I leaned into him, bringing the tip of his cock to my entrance. “Please.”

  He hissed and shook his head. “No. Once we’re on the colony, we’ll never have to wear them again.”

  I sighed and rocked against him, enjoying the slide of his hard length between my nether lips. How would he feel inside me? Would it hurt? “If you’re so sure about this informant, then take me tonight. Make me yours.” I should hate the pleading in my voice, but my need to have him made me just not care.

  “You’re killing me.” He moved his hips with mine. “I want you so bad. Don’t make this hard on us. You promised.” Sweat beaded on his forehead and chest as he panted underneath me.

  I could take him. He wouldn’t resist, not in his condition, but later… I swung off him with a moan. A promise was a promise. We’d wait until we could raise children in a safer environment.

  He rolled on top of me. “Have I ever left you wanting?”

  “No.”

  He drove his fingers inside of me and rubbed my nub with his thumb. “So there’s no hurry. I’ll have you.” He pushed deeper and harder while crushing me under his weight. “I promise.” His kiss was like his passion, deep and hard. Plundering my mouth, his tongue explored as if he’d never been there before.

  I arched my back and moaned. He’d shown me so many types of pleasure. I could save the best for last. With crude greed, I grabbed his cock between my hands, wanting to give him the same release. I matched my strokes to his. Caressing and tugging until Brody’s hips lunged with his need.

  His breathing grew heavy as he trailed kisses along my neck and whispered encouraging words.

  I closed my eyes and lost myself to him. The light brush of his lips, the passionate pounding between my thighs, the way he said my name with uncontained desire.

  His hot seed splashed on my stomach as he groaned, his body arching over mine as he rolled my clit between his fingers.

  Crying out, I bucked under him and grabbed his ass, trying without success to pull him against me. Blinding ecstasy swept over me as I shouted his name. Could it get any better than this?

  3

  The next morning, I slapped together a quick breakfast for me and Brody in the ship’s kitchen. Nobody stirred in the corridors yet. Shore leave usually meant a lot of booze and station-side lovers, so our crewmates were either hung over or waking up in some else’s bed. I stuffed protein bars in a bag. Holding the edge of the bag between my teeth, I also shoved a few pieces of fruit in my jumpsuit pockets. Fresh produce didn’t make it to the station often, but Parovi flaunted a hydroponic farm and the captain must have stocked us. I made my way around the counter to the exit.

  Stoffin blocked the way. His violet Kandarian skin held a greenish tinge as he leaned against the frame. The captain owned him as a slave but tr
eated him like crew. He said Stoffin was too ugly to sell as a pleasure slave. I thought our captain had a soft spot under his hard shell.

  Kandarians’ fates were better than humans’, but not by much. Who knew where the Ko harvested them from, but they didn’t have the tech to fight for their freedom. They were sold system-wide. Sometimes I feared this was history repeating itself and how the human/Ko conflict might have started.

  “You look like Ko shit,” I mumbled around the bag and finished storing my fruit.

  “I feel worse.” He eyed my bulging pockets. “Hoarding food? You don’t seem the type.” He poked my slim waist.

  I removed the bag from my mouth. “Breakfast to go. Do you want me to scrape something together for you before I go? Maybe some greasy eggs or that salty gerpam the captain keeps in the back of—”

  “Enough.” He held up his hand and sank into the closest chair. “Just some water, Lucille. Take pity on a dying male.”

  I laughed and handed him a bottle.

  “I missed you and Brody last night. Did you go party at a different club without me?”

  Brody entered the mess with our packs, glaring at me over Stoffin’s head. “We stayed in.”

  “Ah, a private party. You shouldn’t hoard her all to yourself. We’re family on this ship, and family shares.” Stoffin took my hand in his and pressed it to his cheek.

  I wished I could tell him our real identities. Family sounded like a far-off dream, even though I seemed surrounded by those who would claim me as part of theirs. Until they found out the truth.

  Brody snatched my hand away and swatted Stoffin on the back of the head. “Our kind mate for life and we don’t share.”

  “Ow.” The Kandarian clutched his ears. “Take it easy. Some drank harder last night than others in this room.”

  I gave Stoffin an apologetic smile, but he’d asked for it. He knew my man didn’t tolerate anyone touching me, and Brody’s possessiveness gave me the urge to purr all over his body again.

  Snorting at Stoffin’s comment, Brody pulled me into his arms.

  The violet-skinned male’s gaze went to our baggage. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m taking Lucille off ship for a couple of days. We need some alone time.”

  “Is it mating season?”

  “None of your business.” Brody shoved me out the door, herding me toward the airlock. “Move before he wakes the whole damn ship,” he whispered.

  “Lucille!” Stoffin shouted.

  I glanced at him over my shoulder.

  “When you tire of Brody’s bossy attitude, I don’t have any prejudice against relationships outside my race.” He winked.

  My man stepped toward the kitchen, fists clenched and our baggage forgotten on the floor.

  I grabbed him around the waist. “Like Brody said, we mate for life. Now, stop trying to wreck our ship leave, you jealous bastard.” I laughed the whole time. Stoffin had confessed to me one drunken night that he was more attracted to Brody than to me. I never told my man. It was too much fun to watch.

  Brody offered Stoffin a rude hand gesture and grabbed the packs. “Let’s go.”

  Struggling to keep my grin in check, I led him out of the ship with bouncing steps. Last night’s fears had melted away while I slept and dreamed of Earth. I woke with a new sense of adventure. We might be meeting more humans soon. Encountering others of our kind was like seeing long lost family, but we hadn’t seen any other humans in months.

  I’d lost my real family long ago. My pa and brother had fought off the Ko while my ma carried me to the escape shuttle of our ship when I’d been eight galactic standard years old. Sometimes in the sleepless nights, I could hear the echoes of her sobs. She never got over their loss and did her best to raise me on her own. Then flesh traders found her—I remember watching them march her off station as I hid within the crowd of spectators. I’d wanted to run to her arms and help her fight free. She had met my gaze and shook her head a little, telling me to stay put, to stay quiet. To stay alive. I’d been fourteen.

  Three years later Brody saved me from being alone forever. If asked, he’d say I was the one who’d done the saving.

  I gave him an affectionate grin. It was as if the universe had tossed us at one another.

  The ramp rang with the sound of our boots, but it was drowned out by the noise of trailers zipping by and the clang of loaders cranking. The docks never slept. I took my pack from Brody and set it on my back. “Where to, Boss?”

  He frowned and drew closer, rubbing his chin before meeting my gaze. “Am I too bossy?”

  I blinked. “No.”

  “Did you mean what you said?”

  Frowning, I tilted my head to the side. “Uh, what part?”

  “Being mates for life.” He shuffled his feet and stared at them. “You weren’t just agreeing with me to mess with Stoffin?”

  The knots in my stomach released. “What makes you think otherwise?”

  Shrugging, he met my stare. “You never claimed me before. Not publicly.”

  I sighed. “Brody, I’ve groped you publicly in every club I’ve dragged you to. If that ain’t public enough, then I can’t imagine anything clearer.” Were all human males this difficult to understand?

  “That’s just sex, and everyone is doing it in those damn clubs.” He gave me a small smile. “You telling Stoffin to back off was different.”

  I rolled my eyes and grabbed his jaw, staking my claim with a gentle kiss. “You are mine. Don’t forget it.”

  “Never.” He grinned, the second time in two days. It was a record. He took the lead, heading across the docks, dodging carts and loaders. Brody suddenly turned around, a sour grimace on his face, and almost got run over for his trouble.

  I hurried past him and finally saw what had him retreating.

  A herd of Jurranians hung out by the market entrance passing a bottle of booze. Either it was a late night for them or they were starting the party very early.

  With a duck of my head, I did my best to avoid eye contact.

  Brody’s fingers skimmed over mine and he tugged, but it was too late.

  An elder female raised her arms in greeting and made a hooting noise.

  I groaned. We were disguised as this race and knew how to act like them. It didn’t mean we enjoyed it.

  Brody sighed. Here we go.

  I held up my arms in greeting and called out a high-pitched cry, all the while smiling like I’d missed them my whole life. Jurranians were a social race. They traveled in herds led by the oldest female. Someone my age didn’t have any authority to ignore the one calling me.

  The females in that group called back and grouped around me for hugs. Yay.

  Brody, on the other hand, waited as the males circled him. I cringed while forced to watch. If I didn’t, they would think I didn’t care about him and conclude I was open for introduction. The largest among them bumped chests with my man. Being human gave Brody some advantage since our muscle mass grew denser, and he bumped him back. Once the hitting started, he’d have to hold his ground as a strange male to this clan. There was some drunken shoving and weaving, but no one swung to hit him this time. It wouldn’t be a fair fight with them in this condition. Brody could kick their collective asses if he wanted to.

  A young male caught Brody off guard and pulled him into a headlock. A small cheer went up among the males.

  Ko shit. I folded my arms over my chest and waited.

  Brody twisted his agile torso and flipped the young male off then pressed his heavy boot on his assailant’s throat.

  A louder cheer went up and the males greeted him with open arms.

  Apparently, I didn’t understand males of any race. Jurranians didn’t travel this sector of space very often, a bonus for me and Brody when we signed on the mining ship. I took a swig of the offered bottle and choked it down. “What are you doing on Parovi?”

  The oldest female twisted to face me. “I’d ask the same of two younglings. Where are your elders
?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  I took another swig for good luck and passed the bottle along. “We’re orphans and have taken up mining with the Metax as a trade.”

  “A terrible profession for such a promising female.” The elder grabbed my chin and inspected my face. “I have a grandson who needs a pretty mate. Are you fertile?”

  My eyes widened. What she offered was an orphaned Jurranian female’s dream. She wanted me to join their clan. I cleared my throat and glanced over her shoulder at Brody, who laughed with the males.

  She followed my gaze. “He’s handsome, but what prospects can he offer you…”

  “Lucille.”

  “Odd name.”

  “I know.” I sighed and shook my head. “Thank you, Matriarch. One day I might regret not following you, but I’ve mated with Brody. I can’t break that bond.” I ducked my head in respect.

  She stroked my hair with a gentle hand. “So young and alone. So foolish too.” With a finger, she lifted my chin to meet her stare. “I will speak with my mate and see if there is room for both of you on our ship. No one should stay orphaned.”

  Tears bloomed in my eyes and I struggled to hide them with another duck of my head. Jurranians couldn’t cry. Her offer broke open old wounds. I didn’t want to be an orphan anymore, and an old childhood wish crept back to the surface of my heart. Why couldn’t I have been born a true Jurranian?

  Being human sucked.

  A large hand wrapped around mine. “Lucille?” Brody whispered in my fake ear and squeezed my hand.

  I lifted my face and smiled. If I weren’t human, I’d never have met Brody. “I’m fine.”

  He set his arm around me, a pure male claim from any race. “We have a meeting to attend, Matriarch.”

  She nodded, her gaze traveling between us. “When you’re done, come and join us for the late meal.” She pointed to their ship’s berth, close to the mining ship.