A delightful blush colored her cheeks, but she managed not to laugh. “Not entirely.”
He looked at her, brow raised. “How did I fail you?”
“You left me wanting more.”
“Well, I’ll strive to do better this time.” He reached the bed and lowered her feet to the floor.
“What about General Nox?”
He began unbuttoning her blouse. “He’s not invited.”
“I thought you needed to update him.”
“I do, and I will. But Xorran isn’t leaving until the morning. Nothing is more important than you right now.”
All pretense melted from her expression and desire ignited in her dark eyes. She shrugged out of her blouse and peeled off the supportive undershirt. Letos helped her discard the undergarment, then cupped one of her breasts as he lowered his head to kiss her.
Her lips parted sweetly and her tongue greeted his with a sensual swirl. Gods she tasted good, and her body felt so perfect in his arms. He tangled his fingers in her hair as he took the kiss deeper. He wanted to go slowly, to savor each moment of their first joining, but his blood burned and his body ached. He’d been hard nearly every minute they’d been together.
She unbuttoned the top two buttons on his dress shirt, then tugged it up along his torso. With a throaty chuckle, he pulled it off over his head, not bothering with the rest of the buttons. His undershirt came next and then his shoes as her hungry little hands explored his chest and arms. He unbuckled his belt, then shed his pants before attacking her last few garments.
When they were both naked, they paused and looked at each other, their breaths coming in audible pants.
“You are so beautiful,” she whispered.
He laughed. “Isn’t that my line?”
She stroked her hand over his chest, then down along his belly, clearly fascinated by his well-toned abs. “How did a corporate executive get a body like this?”
“I wasn’t always a corporate executive,” he reminded as his hands began their own exploration.
“That’s right. You were your predecessor’s spy.” Then she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her body against his.
Desire cascaded through him, making his cock so hard it made him groan. “You’re killing me.” He quickly pulled down the bedding, then picked her up and placed her on the bed. “I want to make this perfect for you, but I want you so badly I’m not sure I can.”
She tugged on his arm, urging him onto the bed beside her. “I’ll give you more than one opportunity to prove our sexual compatibility. I’m not heartless.”
His laugh ended in a moan as he crawled on top of her. She was soft and warm, and oh so willing. Her supple legs parted and wrapped around his hips, opening her body in a way he couldn’t ignore. He gently rocked against her while his mouth sealed over hers.
They kissed and kissed, tongues gently dueling while his chest slid over her soft breasts. He pressed against her sex, angling his shaft so it rubbed against her clit. Soon her cream coated his skin, proving that she was wet and ready for their joining. He deepened the kiss, desire pounding through him, demanding that he thrust home and claim his mate.
He caught her hands, entwining their fingers as he pulled her arms above her head. She wasn’t resisting. In fact she returned his kiss with equal fervor and arched up into him. Still, something dark and primal made him hold her down. He tore his mouth away from hers as he found her entrance with the tip of his cock.
“You are mine.” His voice sounded rough as he growled out the words. “And I am yours.” He thrust his hips, filling her completely with one forceful drive.
She gasped then trembled, her inner walls contracting around him. “I’m yours,” she echoed. “And you are mine.”
Refusing to give in to the animal impulses driving him, he shifted his weight to his knees and kissed her. Now that he was buried deep inside her, he could think again. He slowly released her hands and caressed his way down her body. She was incredibly soft and wonderfully warm beneath his hands and around his shaft.
He caressed her breasts, teasing her nipples until they became hard little points. Keeping her pelvis flush with his, he arched his back so he could use his mouth on her breasts. He sucked one nipple and then the other while her fingers ran through his hair.
“This is cruel.” She tried to rock, but he caught her hips and kept her still.
“You’re going to come for me first.” He nipped one of her nipples to accent the claim.
“I’m not sure I can.” She lowered her arms back to the bed, hands overhead as they’d been before.
Her surrender thrilled him and he returned his mouth to hers, kissing her with wild abandon. He slipped one hand between their bodies and found her clit with this thumb. Her wetness allowed him to slide easily over and around the sensitive nub. She moaned into his mouth as her inner muscles tightened.
She was close. He could feel it in the tension of her thighs and the frantic rhythm of her breathing. He pressed harder with his thumb as he slowly pulled his hips back. She cried out softly, her hips coming up off the bed.
Then he thrust hard again and she screamed as an orgasm burst inside her. She clutched his back, nails digging in, and her channel rippled around his entire length.
The proof of her pleasure snapped his control and his hips refused to remain still. He drove into her again and again, filling her completely with each deep thrust. His mouth meshed with hers, their kiss as frantic as the rhythm of his hips. She drew her legs up along his sides, offering him her depths.
The intensity built and he separated their mouths, then straightened his arms. She gazed up at him with such affection his heart flipped over in his chest. Their gazes locked as instinct drove him onward, urging him into her mind. He wasn’t even sure how he did it, but soon her emotions were flowing into his mind. He felt her energy reinforce the link he’d created and the emotions became even clearer. Longing, desire, possessiveness, and tenderness all swirled together in a dizzying kaleidoscope.
Needing more, wanting deeper, he slid his hands under her hips and raised her toward his body. She arched almost violently, coming again in a sudden burst of pleasure and sensation. He thrust deep and ground against her as ecstasy pulsed through his body. His seed jetted into her, anchoring the bond between their minds. He’d never felt anything so savage and yet so wonderful.
They clung to each other, lost to everything but the utter perfection of being joined. Their breaths mingled and energy flowed freely between their minds.
Is this real? She stroked his face and pulled back far enough to look into his eyes.
It’s real. We are real. He kissed her again, a slow, tender melding of lips and tongues, then he tightened his arms around her and rolled them to their sides. “I never want to leave this bed.”
She sighed, her gaze lowering to his chin. “Which means you must?”
“Soon. I have to update Garin. Xorran leaves first thing in the morning. If we need anything else from him, we have to tell him before he departs.”
Her beautiful gaze returned to his and she even managed to smile. “Hopefully we can find some more time for us once we’ve updated General Nox.”
“We will make more time for us as soon as possible.” He kissed the tip of her nose, then carefully separated their bodies. He crawled off one side of the bed while she crawled off the other. “Where are you going? This shouldn’t take long.”
“I’m coming with you. Bilarri has a vested interest in the outcome of this conflict.”
It was hard to argue for her staying home when she had basically created the opportunity. “All right, but I’d rather do this on my ship than trust your grandmother’s com-systems.”
“Understood.”
They each took a quick shower then dressed. He had no choice but to wear the suit he’d arrived in, but she dressed in sturdy pants and a simple blouse. Rather than the high-heeled footwear she favored, she chose work boots that laced up the front.
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br /> “We’re going to speak with a general, not charge into battle,” he pointed out, amused by her seriousness.
She glanced up at him and smiled as she finished lacing the boots. “I’d rather be prepared for anything.”
“Fair enough.” He waited as she braided her hair, then held out his hand. The palace shields only prevented inbound penetration, so he didn’t need permission to stream out. “Ready.”
She nodded then took his hand.
Even with a royal invitation, he’d been hesitant to visit Bilarri alone. They were making strides toward peace, but even their efforts could not erase a lifetime of mistrust and resentment. A skeleton crew and the top three IG guards awaited him on the ship. No one seemed surprised to see Mirella. He quickly introduced her to the men, then led her to his quarters. The cabin seemed small and utilitarian after her lavish suite, but they weren’t here to enjoy themselves. They were here to solidify the new power structure on Rodymia and hopefully end the war with Bilarri.
“Your ship is larger than I pictured. Is this the vessel you used while you were a spy?”
For a moment he thought she was mocking him. The only impressive thing about his ship was what it allowed him to do. But her expression was open and honestly curious, so he allowed himself to relax. “Like everything else I now own, this ship belonged to my predecessor.”
“Why do you say that with such bitterness? I thought you and Javin were good friends.” She lightly touched his chest, her need for contact obvious.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and ran his knuckles across the curve of her cheekbone. “I always knew he had a dark side, but I didn’t find out how dark until after he died. I’m not sure I ever really knew my ‘best friend’.”
“And now you’re surrounded by things that remind you of him.” She turned her head and kissed his knuckles. “That must be hard.”
“I’m adjusting, but it’s taking longer than I expected.”
She looked at him in bewilderment. “It’s been what, a couple months? You’re too hard on yourself.”
He smiled and reluctantly lowered his arm. “Having new things to focus on will definitely help.” The sooner he provided Garin with the new information, the sooner he could concentrate on his mate. So he activated his internal com-system and pinged General Nox.
Garin responded immediately, allowing an encrypted holo-com. The general’s blue-ringed gaze moved immediately to Mirella, but he spoke to Letos. “What’s so urgent? It’s after midnight.” If his bare chest and fatigue-blurred eyes were any indication, Letos had gotten him out of bed.
“Sorry to disturb you, but this couldn’t wait.” He swept his arm toward Mirella. “This is Ambassador Mirella Menjani of Bilarri. She’s also my mate.”
“Congratulations.” He looked at Mirella and nodded once, then returned his gaze to Letos.
He quickly explained how they’d met and the deal Queen Aurelia had made with AG Paytor. “Xorran pretended to be her personal assistant, but Mirella realized he was discontent.”
“He’s more than discontent,” Mirella spoke up. “He’s ready to join the rebellion, and if he’s telling the truth, many others are as well.”
Garin nodded thoughtfully, his gaze shifting from Letos to Mirella and back. “What proof do we have that his desire is genuine.”
“Paytor overplayed his hand,” Letos told him. “He ordered Xorran to kill me. Xorran didn’t appreciate that. Rex Dravon is coming to pick him up in the morning and take him to Lunar Nine. Xorran only said that he’d likely join Dravon’s crew. They’ll verify the location of the Triumphant before they leave this star system, then Xorran will transmit the coordinates to me.”
Garin’s eyes widened for a second before he composed his expression. “You’re serious? He’s going to give up Paytor?”
“No. He’s going to give us Paytor’s location. We have to do the rest.”
“I understand that, and there are multiple ways to make it happen. Every single one of them requires knowing the location of that ship.”
“You realize a military solution isn’t going to work, don’t you?”
Mirella’s softly spoken question drew both men’s eyes to her.
Letos cringed. Garin was generally willing to hear suggestions, but he seldom tolerated pointless criticism. Letos had seen him throw people out of briefings for just such comments.
“Do you have an alternative?” Garin narrowed his gaze as his voice grew rough.
“Wasn’t Paytor your commanding officer?” She moved closer to Letos, which also brought her closer to Garin’s image.
“He was, until I made general.”
“You learned from him, which means he’ll anticipate anything you do. The only way this attack will be successful is if it’s completely unexpected.”
Garin’s already rugged features hardened further, making him look downright dangerous. “I’m aware of the challenges, Ambassador. I still don’t hear an alternative.”
“Letos and I will arrest Paytor while you and your men secure the rest of the ship.”
Letos kept his gaze on Garin, but he activated his link with Mirella. What are you doing? We’re diplomats. We don’t need to be directly involved in this.
Yes we do. Our lives together can’t begin until this war is over.
“You’re Bilarrian,” Garin was saying, “so I presume you have abilities. Do you have a detailed plan to go with your magic tricks, or will you wave your hand and deliver him to me in restraints?”
Letos looked at Mirella. Sarcasm had rippled through Garin’s question. Did she recognize the subtle harshness in his tone?
She squared her shoulders and raised her chin. Apparently, pressure increased her stubbornness. “We have yet to strategize, but I’m confident we can come up with a viable plan.”
“Are you still orbiting Bilarri?” Garin looked at Letos for the answer.
“We are.”
“Then it will take you about three hours to reach the Defiant. You can detail your plan for me when you arrive.” Without giving them a chance to respond, he terminated the connection.
Letos turned to Mirella, unable to hide his frustration. He didn’t care that she’d volunteered him for the mission. He’d spent most of his adult life in the field. She had intentionally put herself in danger and that was unacceptable. “We now have three hours to figure out how to do what Garin Nox has been unable to accomplish. Do you realize how insane that is?”
She had the audacity to laugh. “Garin Nox might be the most brilliant military mind Rodymia has ever produced, but he learned everything he knows from Paytor.”
“I understand that, but—”
“They both think in terms of military maneuvers, rules of engagement, and honor. We’re going to sneak in like thieves and ambush him, preferably while he’s sleeping.”
Her obvious enthusiasm lightened his mood. “Have you always had these suicidal impulses, or are they something new?”
She shuffled closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You make me bold, and I’m not suicidal. My mate will be there to protect my back.”
It was impossible to stay annoyed with her while her soft body was pressed against him. She looked up at him with those endless black eyes and he could refuse her nothing. “Three hours isn’t a lot of time, and all I want to do is take you back to bed.”
“After.” She rocked to the balls of her feet so she could reach his mouth. “The faster we work out a plan, the faster we can get naked.”
Chapter Six
The Defiant was a destroyer class warship. Mirella had seen images of all the Rodyte ships, but the images never quite managed to do them justice. The Defiant was easily ten times the size of Letos’s ship and heavily armed, as the name implied. “Is the Defiant General Nox’s base of operations?”
“More or less.” Letos looked at her and smiled as they waited for permission to bio-stream over to the larger ship. “Garin commands the Undaunted, but it’s in Earth controll
ed space right now. His first officer had temporarily taken over while Garin helps solidify the situation here.”
“It must be hard fighting a war on two fronts.” She only had a rough understanding of the transformation program, but she suspected humans wouldn’t hand over thousands of their females without some sort of fight.
Letos only nodded and they received permission to come aboard, so Mirella let the subject drop.
Garin was waiting for them in the arrival bay, a small featureless room designed to help coordinate traffic streaming onto the ship. The general was dressed in a black-and-gold uniform not all that different from the ones worn by the men he commanded, but authority emanated from him with every gesture, every word.
“Welcome aboard the Defiant, Ambassador Menjani, or would you prefer Your Highness?”
It was his way of telling her he’d researched her background while she was plotting with Letos. Well, plotting and making love. No power in the universe could have kept them from each other’s arms, even if their strategy hadn’t come together quickly. The plot came together and so did they. The naughty thought made her smile, which kept her from being irritated by his suspicion. “Ambassador Menjani is fine.”
“Very good. If you’ll follow me.”
They left the departure bay and walked down several similar corridors. Once on board, Rodyte ships tended to look the same. She wasn’t sure if the universal design was intentional, or if they were simply more concerned with functionality than esthetics. An open lift took them up two decks and General Nox led them into a conference room. Bandar Nox and a man Mirella didn’t recognize were already seated at the table. Bandar stood as soon as he saw her, but the other man remained seated.
“This is Systin Levitt, commander of the Defiant, and Bandar you know,” Garin introduced.
She nodded. “Commanders.”
“Ambassador.” Levitt made a halfhearted attempt at standing, but sank back down as soon as she moved toward the table. These Rodytes really weren’t used to courtly manners.
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