by Nina Croft
“You’re strong enough to save yourself, Killian. You don’t need me.”
“Is that what you want—to be needed?”
Did I? Was that a bad thing? I just shook my head.
His expression hardened. He took a step closer and his hands gripped my waist, pulling me against his body. He was all muscle and bone, and I could feel his erection pressing into me. I wanted that erection. But did I want him to take me while he was angry?
In that moment, I realized I wanted him any way I could get him. I wanted all of him, deep inside me, wiping away the memory of what I’d gone through that day. What I would likely go through again if I stayed behind.
I lifted my arms, slid them into the silky hair at the back of his neck, dragged his head down, and kissed him. I could sense his anger and frustration in the hardness of his lips on mine, the rigidity of his muscles. He bit down on my lower lip, so I opened my mouth and his tongue pushed inside. Then he was all over me, fierce and urgent, his hands sliding around my ass, digging into me, pulling me closer, grinding me against his hardness.
He backed me up until I hit the wall behind me, never breaking the contact with my mouth. I tasted the sharp metallic tang of blood, but instead of gentling, he kissed me harder.
And I loved it.
He drew back. “Fucking come with me.”
“No.”
He shoved a knee between my thighs, pushing up against my sex, and pain and pleasure mingled, shooting along my nerves. Heat pooled in my belly, my pussy softened, my clit swelled. He shifted his leather-clad knee, and the friction drove me wild, the pleasure building.
He went still, and I whimpered, pushing against him. “You want to stay so badly? You like fucking pussy?”
“No. I like dick. I like your dick.”
“Say you’ll come and you can have it.”
“I can’t.”
“Goddamn it.”
He lowered his head, nipped at my throat, then lower, licking my breasts. He took the chain between his teeth and tugged, the resulting pain exquisite. One hand stroked over my belly, down over my bare pussy. His fingers slid between the folds of my sex. I was sore, but the pleasure overcame the hurt as he shoved inside me. He watched my face as he massaged my clit with the pad of his thumb. My orgasm was building, swelling, but as I reached for it, he withdrew his hand and stepped back.
I gritted my teeth and tried to ignore the throbbing between my thighs. I glanced down his body. His cock was huge and hard and pressing against the fastening of his pants.
I cleared my throat, trying to get my body under some sort of control.
Think about anal sex.
It didn’t work. All I could think about was Killian deep inside me. I wanted that cock.
I swallowed. “Isn’t this a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face?”
He frowned. Clearly the saying had never made it into space.
“It means you want me as much as I want you. And if you don’t take me then you’ll suffer as much”—I let my gaze wander over the bulge at his groin and things tightened low down in my body—“if not more, than me.” I licked my lips, rolled my shoulders so the chains swung from my nipples. He followed the movement with hungry eyes, so I did it some more. Then I reached out a hand and trailed my fingers over his erection beneath the smooth leather. His head went back, and he swore under his breath. But he didn’t try and stop me as I found the fastener, flicked it open, and then tugged open the laces. His shaft sprang free, and he groaned. At that moment, I knew I’d won.
His nostrils flared as he closed the space between us. He picked me up easily, turned, and tossed me onto the bed. I lay on my back staring up as he came down over me fast. My legs parted without conscious thought, and he found me unerringly, his cock nudging at the entrance to my body.
At the last moment, he hesitated. “Is this okay? I won’t hurt you.”
“Just fuck me. Please. I don’t care if it hurts.”
So he did. And at last he was where I needed him, deep inside my pussy, his head burrowed in the place between my shoulder and my neck, teeth biting, fingers gripping my breasts. His movements were hard and fast, and each time he plunged inside me, he hit my clit and pleasure surged.
It hurt.
I hadn’t lied about being sore, but I wouldn’t have changed it for anything. I needed to feel his desperation. Finally, he slowed, ground his hips against my clit, and I came in a roll of pleasure so intense I blacked out for a second. As I blinked open my eyes, he came inside me, head back, spine arched, teeth gritted.
Then he collapsed on top of me, rolled onto his back, and pulled me with him. I sprawled across his body, listening to the rapid beat of his heart as it slowed.
His hand stroked my hair and just for this one moment of togetherness, it was all worth it.
“Just don’t fucking die on me,” he murmured.
“I won’t.”
We lay for a few more minutes. I didn’t want this time to end, but I knew it had to. Finally, he sat up, tugging me up with him so I lay in his lap while he leaned against the wall behind him. He pushed my hair behind my ear, dropped a sweet kiss on my lips, cupped a breast, then moved his hand lower.
“Not sure I like this,” he said, stroking over my bare mound.
“It will grow.”
He took a deep breath. “So here’s how it’s going to be. You do exactly as you’re told. Whatever. Just don’t antagonize them. And I’m going to give this asshole Rekowski one more day—”
“Three.”
His eyes narrowed. “Two and no more, and then you come with me.”
I reckoned that was okay. If he was coming, then it would be sooner rather than later. He’d told me he’d stay close, so the fact that I hadn’t seen him yet was a little worrying. I nodded. “Two days, and if he hasn’t arrived, I’ll come with you.” I thought for a moment. I didn’t want to put him and Zak in any more danger than they already were, but there was something they could do to help. “Could you ask around and see if you can find Yolanda Pendleton? I presume she’s here somewhere.”
“She might have been sold in the slave markets, but it’s unlikely, if they want to use her as leverage to force her father’s vote. It’s more likely she’s being kept somewhere by whoever is behind this. I’ll ask around. What does she look like?”
“Tall, blond, beautiful, unusual eyes—sort of purple.”
“I’ll see what I can find out.”
“Discreetly. Don’t bring attention to yourself.”
“You worried about me, sweetheart?”
I nodded. “You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened.”
“We’ll be careful.”
A banging sounded at the door. I’d forgotten about Zak and Sarah. They’d been waiting outside while we fucked. The banging came again, and this time the door was pushed open from outside, and a disgruntled Zak appeared in the doorway. “You finished?”
“Yeah,” Kill replied.
“Is she coming?”
“No.”
“You should have let me ‘persuade’ her. Your tiny dick clearly wasn’t up to the task.”
I giggled.
Killian sighed and ran a hand through his hair which had come loose and hung around his shoulders. “We’d better go.”
Something twisted inside me. I didn’t want him to leave me. But it was my choice, and I couldn’t back down now. I scrambled to my feet and looked around. When I saw his eyepatch on the floor, I picked it up and handed it to him.
He got to his feet, straightening his clothes.
“How’s Maria?” I asked.
“Not talking. But physically she’s mending. She’ll be fine.”
“Good.”
He crossed to me, leaned down, and kissed me quickly. “Remember what I said and do what you’re told.”
“I will.”
And then they were gone.
And I couldn’t shake the feeling I h
ad made a huge mistake, and I’d never see Killian again.
Chapter Seven
Killian
We’d failed to find any sign of Yolanda Pendleton. Certainly no one of her description had been sold in the slave markets, but that didn’t surprise me. We’d also reached out to a few other parties who Zak reckoned would benefit the most from Earth losing its closed planet status, but discovered nothing.
Now Zak was off to talk to a contact in the palace. One he was pretty sure wouldn’t betray him. I hoped he was right. The whole thing made me jumpy.
I peered through the glass square in the door. Ruby was curled up on the bed, facing away from me, her friend nowhere around. She looked up as I pushed open the door. Her eyes were red-rimmed. She’d been crying, and I wanted to beat someone to death.
I hurried across to her, the door shutting behind me. I wanted to pull her into my arms, but I was scared of hurting her.
“What’s happened? Are you all right? Have they hurt you? I’ll kill the fuckers.”
She sniffed, pushed herself up so she was sitting, and pointed downward.
The nipple clamps were gone. Instead, silver loops pierced her nipples which were swollen and dark red to match the small jewels dangling from the rings.
“Ouch,” I muttered.
She sniffed again and then pointed downward to her smooth mound. I frowned. She twisted around so she sat on the edge of the bed and parted her thighs, pointed again. I reached out, and she winced before I even touched her.
I dropped to my knees by the bed, carefully parted her sex.
Shit, they’d pierced her clit. A matching small silver ring with a dark red jewel. My eyes watered at the thought. Right at the same time as my dick twitched. I decided to keep that to myself. Now wasn’t the time.
Leaning toward her, I breathed in her sweet scent and then kissed her very gently on the clit. When she didn’t flinch away, I used my tongue, caressing her with the tip. I’d never gone down on anyone who was pierced before. I half expected her to close her legs. It must hurt, but when I glanced up at her face, her eyes were half-closed, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted, and a pulse throbbed in her throat. I used one hand to hold her open and sucked the little ring into my mouth, careful not to be rough, and a whimper escaped her throat. Pain or pleasure. A little of both, I guessed. But she didn’t push me away, and I sucked on her, sliding one finger into her pussy until she came with a sigh. I gave her clit one last kiss and closed her legs then sat on the bed beside her and took her hand. “Sorry,” I said.
“I think I must be a masochist because that hurt, yet at the same time, felt so good.”
“Pain and pleasure are not so different.”
“Humph,” she said, then glared. “I didn’t think so at the time. In fact I was cursing your name.”
“Hey, you could have come with me last night. We’d be far away on the Helldiver by now.”
She ignored my comment. “I couldn’t even fight, because I’d promised you I’d behave and do what I was told.”
“Good girl.”
“Don’t be patronizing. And your dick’s hard. You think it’s hot.”
“No, I don’t.” She glared. “Okay, maybe a little bit. Does it hurt a lot?”
“Not so much now. They put this stuff on—some sort of fast-healing cream—and it’s much better. So, did you find Yolanda?”
“Not a whisper. Zak’s gone to talk to someone in the palace, see if anyone here knows anything.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“He says not. He—”
I broke off at the sound of the door being pushed open. Shit, I should have been more careful. I jumped to my feet, sliding my pistol from the holster and raising it to aim at the man who stood in the doorway.
My finger tightened on the trigger.
“Don’t shoot him,” Ruby said.
I didn’t take my attention from the man, and I didn’t lower my pistol, though I was getting an inkling who this must be.
“It’s Rekowski,” Ruby said, confirming my suspicions.
I studied him for a moment. Tall, though not quite as tall as me, dark red hair and cold green eyes. I didn’t like him. He had a cocky smile on his smarmy face. In fact, I disliked him intensely. This was the man who had put Ruby in danger. The bastard.
I holstered my pistol, took two steps across the room, and punched him on the nose. He crashed into the door and then to the floor in a very satisfying manner.
He lay there, brows drawing together. “Who the fuck are you?” he asked, pushing himself onto his elbows, his gaze shifting from me to Ruby. “Ruby?”
I was pleased to see she’d wrapped the sheet around her. I didn’t want this slimy bastard seeing my woman naked.
She cleared her throat. “This is Killian, he’s my…” She pursed her lips, then smiled. “He’s my boyfriend.”
I’d never been anyone’s boyfriend before. And a smile tugged at my own lips.
Rekowski pushed himself to his feet and brushed himself down. “How the hell have you had time to find a boyfriend?” He grinned. “And nice nipple rings, by the way. They suit you. And the clit ring is hot.” He gestured to the glass window in the door. “I couldn’t help but see.”
I punched him again. This time he was ready for it and just swayed. “Hey, I waited until you’d finished.” I drew back my fist to remedy the situation—I wanted him on the floor, preferably wriggling in agony.
“Killian, stop it. He’s winding you up.”
I was aware of that. But did it matter? I still wanted to hit him. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, counted to ten, and forced myself to relax. “What took you so long?” I growled.
“None of your business.”
I drew my pistol, aimed it at his chest. “Anything to do with Ruby is my business.”
“Aw sweet,” he muttered, then turned to Ruby. “I’m glad to see you. I thought perhaps everything had gone tits up.”
“You never expected me to succeed.”
“No. But there were other factors. Someone tried to stop me from following you. I had a shitload of trouble. My ship’s just about fucked. And that’s what took me so long.”
“Who?” Ruby asked. “There was only you and Pendleton who knew. Could it have been him?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and paced the cell for a few minutes. I got the impression he was deciding how much to tell us. I didn’t like that. “I doubt it,” he said eventually. “I’d trust him with my life. Someone must have found out.”
“Great fucking security you have,” I added.
“We’re looking into it.” He studied me for a moment. “Just how are you involved?”
“I was employed to get Ruby off the slaver ship.”
“By who?”
“No fucking clue. But they wanted her dead.”
“And yet here she is.”
“Yeah. But not for long.”
Time to go. She’d wanted to wait until this guy turned up, and now he was here. There was no reason to stick around. Yolanda Pendleton was this man’s responsibility. Not Ruby’s and certainly not mine. I shrugged out of my coat, stripped off my shirt, and handed it to Ruby. She turned her back, dropped the sheet, and slipped the shirt on, buttoning it before she turned around. It covered her to mid-thigh. She looked sexy as hell in my clothes. I liked it. I glanced up to find Rekowski watching her, and I didn’t like the look in his eyes.
“Get your slimy eyes off her,” I said. “Anyway, aren’t you supposed to be in love with this Yolanda woman?”
“We’re engaged.”
“Aw sweet.” I repeated his words, and he raised a brow but didn’t respond.
Where the hell was Zak? I didn’t want to go wandering around the palace looking for him, so I had no choice but to wait until he turned up, but my feet were itching to get the hell out of there. Something had clearly gone wrong with the plan. They’d been betrayed and Rekowski could have been followed. Or maybe he was the bad guy
after all. He certainly looked shifty.
“How do we know we can trust him?” I said to Ruby. “How do we know he didn’t set this whole thing up himself? I’d say from the way he’s looking at you, he has no real feelings for this Yolanda. Maybe he had her kidnapped.”
“He’s an asshole,” Ruby said. “But I trust him.”
“Why?”
…
Ruby
I’d actually been doing a lot of thinking about this. I tugged at the shirt, pulling it away from my super-sensitive nipples, the slightest friction sending jolts shuddering through me.
And my clit throbbed. It made thinking difficult.
I shook my head. Concentrate.
Rekowski hadn’t wanted me to agree to do this. Right back in the beginning, he’d warned me that I should say no.
I’d taken no notice. All my life I’d dreamed of space. Refusing hadn’t been an option.
But why hadn’t he wanted me to agree? It was almost as though he suspected things would go to shit. That didn’t mean he was a bad guy. In fact, it made me believe the opposite. But he clearly had a few ideas he wasn’t sharing. “I think he suspects something and he’s not telling us. But he’s not a bad person. Just a really irritating one.”
“Okay,” Killian said. “I’ll take your word for it. It doesn’t matter anyway. We’re out of here.”
Rekowski stepped forward. “I have to find Yolanda.”
“Well, good luck with that.”
“Killian, we can’t just—” I broke off as the door was pushed open. Killian drew his pistol, swung around, then lowered it again as Zak’s tall figure appeared in the doorway.
“Give us a little warning, next time,” Kill muttered.
Zak looked from Kill to Rekowski. “Who’s this?”
“An asshole.”
“This is Rekowski,” I said. “The man who’s been tracking me from Earth.”
He looked back at Kill. “Did he betray her? Shall I kill him?”
“No,” I snapped. “You shouldn’t kill him.”
Killian tugged on his lower lip as he considered the question. “I guess not.”
I released my breath. I couldn’t believe it. The plan had worked. Rekowski was here. In that moment, I realized how much I’d secretly worried that he had actually betrayed me. After all, I’d known him such a short time and through most of our meetings, he’d been a total dickhead. I’d begun to believe that my faith in him was nothing more than wishful thinking.
