Marine's Queen, The

by Susan Kelley

  His pace didn’t alter though she tugged on his hair. When his lips finally pulled her sensitive tip into his mouth, the damned silk was in the way. Then he sucked.

  A deep groan pulled her stomach tight and lifted her chest to him. Molten liquid poured out of her throbbing center onto his thigh that he pressed tight to her private parts.

  The harder his mouth pulled on the peak of her breast, the higher he pushed his thigh until the two areas of intense sensation met in the middle. Instead of the explosion she expected, an emptiness expanded deep in her lower regions. She pressed back against his thigh, twisting and spreading her legs wider.

  He moved his leg and slid his hand up under her silk gown. The emptiness receded for a moment as he slid his finger inside her. She clenched never before used muscles to try and hold him there, but he escaped with a colorful curse.

  She thought he meant to leave her when he lifted his mouth from her nipple, but he moved on top of her instead. He pushed the gown to her waist and put both his legs between hers.

  He braced himself on one arm and used the other to lift her knees. The meager starlight showed his eyes as dark, glistening mysteries as he lifted his gaze to hers.

  Panic tightened all of Callie’s muscles and cooled the air between them. After all the days they’d spent together, did she know this man? Know enough to put herself in such a vulnerable position?

  His penis touched her, and she tried to squeeze her legs together.

  “Callie.” He whispered her name.

  Such great need filled his tone, her fright seemed selfish. She relaxed, and he pushed inside her with one smooth motion. She tightened against his invasion.

  He stopped, his labored breath feathered over her face. “I … you’re so tight.”

  “You’re so big,” she croaked, though she had no one to compare him with. Perhaps this discomfort was normal. A hysterical giggle tickled her throat. She shifted slightly and elicited a gasp from him.

  He pushed further into her, and she felt something give before his invasion. A sharp sting came and went, leaving her with a stretched, full sensation.

  “Joe?” She’d thought she’d known what it would be like, but no words could have prepared her for this merging of two into one. She savored having part of him as part of her. Her body adjusted and accepted his presence.

  She tightened her newly discovered muscles. He flinched and started to withdraw.

  Her hands had been on his hips as if to hold him at bay. She changed her grip and tried to pull him back by moving her hands to his firm buttocks.

  He obeyed, pushing deeply inside her once more. He pulled out most of the way again before sliding his length back into her. They found a rhythm, slow and gentle at first.

  Callie’s doubts scattered before the draw of all her attention to him and the spot they were connected. As the pace increased, he lowered himself so their chests touched. She suddenly hated the expensive silk that kept their skin from touching.

  She moved her hands up his back and over his shoulders, stroking his magnificent body. The feel of him added to her pleasure as it blossomed where their bodies connected. And where he touched her so deep inside. And where his chest pressed into hers and everything in between.

  He raised himself and reached between their bodies. His fingers touched the tiny nubbin of flesh at her center. Every swirling, delightful sensation in her body zeroed in on that one spot, compacting into a tight ball of unbearable, wonderful pleasure. She cried with the intensity of it. Then it exploded, sending shards and ripples of delight and joyful contractions down her thighs, across her abdomen and through her nipples. Even her neck and scalp tingled.

  Joe’s groan joined hers as he switched his hand from between them to hold her hips tightly against him. His weight sank onto her, crushing her into the firm bed.

  Callie tried to reorder her thoughts, but nothing seemed clear or important except the man lying atop her. She smoothed her hand over his back and contemplated the future. And how she might have this man at her side in that future. One way or another.

  * * * *

  Joe pulled his concentration back to Vin’s report. Damn his treacherous body for relentlessly reminding him of last night.

  “We have three reloads for the mobile hand launchers and two for each of the sidearm lasers,” Vin continued.

  Callie handed Joe a plate of flat bread, fragrant and warm, but it was her scent that flooded his senses.

  “We gathered the minerals for the gunpowder. Mak and Kam are working on the delivery systems.” Vin either didn’t notice Joe’s distraction or was ignoring it.

  “You mean we’re almost defenseless?” Callie’s sweet voice raised gooseflesh on his arms.

  Joe struggled to control himself. Unon! He wanted to take her back to bed and stay there with her all day. He’d thought he was experienced with women, but the night in her arms had been all new. What if he’d gone his entire life and never known the ecstasy of her arms urging him on, her body welcoming and holding him so tightly he couldn’t breathe with the pleasure? And what of the gentle feel of her hands in the aftermath, lulling him to a dream-like sleep filled with images of paradise?

  “Joe?” Vin gave him a puzzled look.

  Everyone stared at Joe. Callie’s lips curved in an almost smile, and her eyes were filled with a soft look that he thought might be amusement.

  “We’re not defenseless.” Joe was glad he found the thread of the conversation. “Our weapons will be different and less effective, but you’ll be safe.”

  “Will you all be safe?” Callie asked.

  “As much as we can be. Our strategies will have to change and we’re working on improving our waning systems.” Joe’s mind cleared as thoughts of Tar surfaced. Was it only yesterday they’d sang over his grave? All the world seemed changed to Joe, but their tenuous existence had not.

  “Mak and Roz, finish the projectile weapons today. Tomorrow you’ll start giving the women practice using them. Kam, you work on making the living quarters more secure and defendable. Vin and I are going to work on perimeter defenses.” Joe stood, avoiding even a glance at Callie. He was back in control, doing what he needed to do.

  His men rose and preceded him out the door.

  “We can help.” Callie stood and took a step toward him.

  “No!” Joe held up a hand and backed out through the door. He pulled it shut behind him, hearing Riba laughing before it latched.

  Unon help him, as much as he wanted Callie he couldn’t spend the day in her company. Not and do his job.

  As he worked with Vin to load two boarks with what they needed, Joe sorted through his chaotic thoughts. He’d had sex with various women over the years, but what had happened last night transcended simple copulation.

  Was it always like that for civilians? Was sex better because the woman wasn’t a paid whore? Or was it because he knew the woman? She wasn’t just a warm body to satisfy his lusts. She was someone he respected, someone he felt protective toward, someone he … liked.

  Satisfied he’d figured it out, Joe found he could concentrate better on his work.

  * * * *

  Callie stared at the door Joe had fled through. Riba laughed outright, and a few others giggled quietly.

  “Well, Callie,” Webb said, “you’ve done what no alien life-form or pirate has ever been able to do.”

  “What’s that?” Callie returned to her seat.

  Webb’s face smiled but his eyes did not. “You’ve made Joe turn tail and run.”

  “Did you see his eyes?” Riba asked.

  The other women joined her in renewed laughter, but Callie didn’t join in. Why had Joe acted so oddly? Last night had been wondrous for her.

  Webb stood up and offered his arm. “Callie, would you show me how to dilute the elixir and instruct me how to make medicines with it? I have that vial of your tears from yesterday.”

  Callie walked with the doctor to the new, small building he used as his home and med
ical office. Acacia often helped him gather native plants and test them in his small laboratory.

  Callie showed Webb what ratios of distilled water to use in diluting the tears, and then how to mix it with a mash of an aloe-like plant. Callie stirred the thick mixture while Webb gathered some other herbs. “Webb?”

  “Mmm?”

  “Why do you think Joe acted so uncomfortable this morning?”

  The doctor measured a white powder into more distilled water. “In case you haven’t noticed, you confuse the man at times.”

  “I’ve noticed. I understand from what you’ve said that he’s mostly been around other military types.”

  “Only the military. I’m surprised how well they do interacting with you. I would never have guessed that friendships would grow between your people and these guys.”

  Callie felt her face heat. “I think my friends believe we’ll be here forever.”

  “And you haven’t accepted that yet?”

  “I’ve accepted it might happen.”

  “Is that why you finally invited Joe into your bed, Queen Callie? Trying to make sure the royal line continues?”

  “Don’t resume your lecture, doctor,” Callie snapped. She hadn’t been thinking about children at all last night. Though now that Webb had brought it up, it would stay on her mind.

  “I don’t know.,” Webb said though she’d asked no question.

  “Don’t know what?”

  “Whether or not the marines can father children. Precautions were taken to make sure they didn’t impregnate any of the women bought for them. Some on the ruling council wanted to give them a permanent fix so a second ‘unnatural’ generation wouldn’t be born.”

  “But they didn’t?”

  “No. They were so effective as they were, nobody wanted to change anything. Messing with their testosterone producing organs didn’t seem like a good idea.”

  Callie stirred the tiny pot, speechless with her renewed horror of the life Joe had led. The marines had been treated like domesticated animals. They’d been permitted no decisions in any part of their lives.

  “Not that any of them thought of having kids,” Webb continued. “They’d never been near one.”

  “What an awful life.”

  “More than you can even imagine.”

  “It won’t be that way for them anymore.” Callie made it a vow.

  Chapter Eight

  Joe rolled away from Callie, his legs tangled in the insulated blankets. His heart pounded against his ribs, and his breath sounded rough. Could lack of oxygen cause the euphoria racing across his nerve endings?

  She rolled with him, throwing one leg over his and curling into his side. Her unbound hair feathered across his shoulder and neck as she snuggled her head on his shoulder and stretched her arm across his chest.

  He froze for a moment and then wrapped his arm around her to pull her even closer. He’d never held a woman in such a way, but it felt so natural.

  She sighed and relaxed softly against him.

  It was nice.

  Her fingers traced a small pattern on his chest. “I’m cold.”

  He used his foot to pull the blankets within reach of his hand, afraid if he sat up to get them she might move. He smoothed them over her shoulder, tucking in the top.

  Callie’s bare breast pressed against his side, but his body didn’t respond with renewed arousal. Instead, sleepy contentment spread through him.

  “Joe?”

  He woke with a start. He’d drifted off.

  “I’m the queen of my people, their leader.”

  He could tell by her tone she was going to confuse him with something.

  “You’re the leader of the marines.”

  His dread grew.

  “If we’re going to survive here, you and I need to work together.” She lifted her head and looked at him.

  “Work together?” The shadows hiding her breasts from him drew his gaze.

  “Share the problems and work them out. I don’t think you lied to me this morning, but you’re worried about our defenses.” She dropped her head to his shoulder again, blocking his view of her chest.

  A few wisps of her hair teased his nose and mouth. He turned his head and buried his face gently into the thick mass.

  “Joe, are you listening to me? That’s how couples work. They help each other solve difficulties.”

  She wasn’t ordering him to tell her. It seemed important to her but very strange to him.

  “We can hold off the rodents if they come again.” Joe thought of the old style mines and explosives he and Vin had prepared all day.

  “Without any of you dying to do it?”

  “I believe so. Tar shouldn’t have died. I think he tried to slow them down because of you and the other women.” Speaking his suspicions to her released something inside of him. It felt like a stone had been lifted off his chest.

  “You mean he wouldn’t have tried to stop them if only you and your men were here?”

  “He would have killed as many as he could from a safe place, knowing we could get out of the way and save ourselves.”

  She was silent for a moment, and a hot tear dripped onto his bare chest.

  The uplifting power of the salty droplet surged through him. His muscles jerked, and his satiated staff stiffened into a painfully blissful erection.

  “What else?”

  Joe fought his lust and turned his mind back to the conversation. He ran his hand up and down her spine. She seemed so fragile, but she was tough and strong. “We’re almost out of ammunition for our recon-issued weapons. If your ship’s beacon draws pirates instead of rescuers, we might not be able to hold them off.”

  Her hand moved in a wider pattern on his chest, drifting down to his waist and along his sides. “Do you think we should disable the signal?”

  “If you do, there’s almost no chance of rescue. If you don’t you’ll be taking the gamble of who hears it first.” He couldn’t make that decision for her.

  “But what would you do, Joe? I need you opinion.”

  He wanted to tell her to turn it off and stay here with him, but he’d been trained to make logical evaluations of situations without the influence of wants or needs. “You owe it to your people to try and return to them.”

  “I know,” she whispered. Her meandering hand swept lower and brushed his erection. She took him in her hand and turned her head to kiss his chest at the same time. “We better sleep on it.”

  She rose up to her knees and threw the blankets back to the foot of the bed. She lifted one leg over his hips and guided his penis to her entrance.

  Joe had been grateful for his exceptional vision lots of times, but never as much as he was at this moment. He held his breath as she lowered herself onto his erection.

  The position was new, but the results were not.

  * * * *

  Work-filled days and blissful nights passed while Callie pondered the future. Five days had passed since she’d first invited Joe to her bed. At night, she thought only of him and his lovemaking. During the day, she thought of the distress beacon and the decision to leave it on or turn it off. If she wasn’t Queen of Giroux, her decision would have been easy.

  Glory laughed as her mother pushed her higher in the swing one of the marines had hung from a tree for her. Little Sally bounced in her own hanging seat. Riba smiled as she turned the loom Acacia and Mak had designed and built. The flax came from a native plant growing abundantly around the oasis. They really had everything they needed at the waterhole.

  Yalo laughed, drawing Callie’s attention. Her guard had blossomed into a lovely woman under the hot sun of their exile. Vin smiled at her, trying to show her the correct way to load the new projectile weapons. Each of the women took turns learning how to use the guns.

  Joe and Kam worked on reinforcing the roof of the newest building. The marines had decided to make the doctor’s home their place of last defense. Both men had shed their shirts. Sweat gleamed on their smoo
th, hairless chest and muscular backs.

  Yes, Callie thought, they had everything they needed to live here forever. But what was happening on Giroux in her absence? Had Dania Cresbol, her minister of diplomacy, taken over the reins of rule? Did Geoff Hadrason still hope to find her and force her hand into marriage?

  How would Giroux fare if she never returned? Hadrason Mining would move in if the Galactic Council no longer protected Giroux because they needed her elixir. She still didn’t understand why Hadrason wanted her little planet so much. Was there a reason beyond controlling the elixir trade?

  Callie knew she had to return, had to risk the pirates.

  “Higher, momma!” Glory shouted.

  Callie smiled at them, but grim thoughts of what pirates might do to her women and the little girls clouded her enjoyment.

  “Wait until you taste what I found for dinner tonight,” Acacia said as she joined Callie in rolling the flax into loose balls. The science advisor’s enthusiasm continued unabated since they’d crashed. All the new plants and animals intrigued Acacia endlessly.

  “I can’t imagine,” Callie said.

  “Mak showed me this fruit tree he’d discovered. Webb tested it for toxins. I removed the seeds and baked it with some applenut syrup.” Acacia went on for a while, describing the ingredients she’d used for her latest creation.

  “Do you like it here, Acacia?”

  Acacia looked around, frowning and thoughtful. “At first, I just tried to make the best of it, and there were lots of interesting things to study.”

  “And now?”

  Acacia smiled. “I’m happy. Every day is hard work, and I know danger waits around every corner. But I wake up every morning filled with anticipation.”

  “How much does Mak have to do with that? I didn’t mean….”

  “I know you didn’t. I’m afraid Mak has everything to do with it. I’ve been exploring new ecosystems and alien life forms all my adult life. It’s never been this much fun.”

  Acacia excused herself to check her baking. The newly installed solar panels provided more than enough power to cook with, heat all the buildings at night and cool them during the day. The buildings, while small, were as comfortable as any Callie had ever occupied.