by Cathryn Cade
She laughed. “Good morning.”
“Oh, it will be, in just a minute.” He turned her onto her back and braced his elbows on either side of her head. His cock lay hot and heavy on her belly.
“Put me inside you.”
She slipped her hand between them and curled her fingers around his phallus. She couldn’t resist stroking it a few times, enjoying the heft, the eager quivering flesh under velvet soft skin.
He nipped impatiently at her lower lip, and she smiled.
“Are you in a hurry, Captain?”
“To feel your eager little pussy squeezing around me? Stroking every centimeter of me, begging me to thrust harder and harder?”
She caught her breath at the raw, graphic words.
His face tautened, his nostrils flaring. “Damn straight. Now, Tessa.”
She tilted her hips up, guiding his cock between the swollen lips of her labia. As he accepted the invitation and pressed into her, he continued to look into her eyes.
She winced as he thrust deeper.
“You’re sore, aren’t you?” he asked, freezing. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips and then levered himself up out of her arms. “Don’t go anywhere,” he said, his gaze sweeping possessively over her open thighs. “I’ll get something for that.”
He strode naked across the shadowy room, disappearing through a narrow hatch to what must be the bathroom. In a moment he was back with a small bottle in his hands. He knelt beside her and pulled her near leg across his, so that she was completely open to him. Then he opened the bottle and poured some clear liquid into his hands.
“You’ll like this. It’s Pangaean.”
He tipped his palm over her mons, and Tessa felt warm oil trickle down through her pubic hair and over her labia. He stroked it down over the plump lips and then opened her with two of his fingers. To her shock, he inserted the neck of the little bottle into her, tipping it up slightly. He slid two of his large fingers deep inside her and worked them slowly back and forth. She was slippery with the oil. Heat and a teasing tingle spread through her pussy.
“What is that?” she asked, catching his wrist with her hand.
He watched her face, not stopping his slow caress. His thumb was working the oil over her clitoris and labia. It felt wonderful.
“Just a plant extract. Legal pharmaceuticals. Still sore?”
She shook her head eagerly.
“Good.” He set the bottle aside, coming into her arms. He pressed her thighs wide with his and thrust into her with one slow, implacable thrust. They both groaned at the sensation.
Craig stilled, holding her there, looking into her eyes, teasing her with soft, biting little kisses. “Sshh,” he breathed when she writhed underneath him. “I know, baby. Give me a moment—I want to feel it, too. It’s good when it soaks into your skin, isn’t it?”
“It’s you,” she told him, gazing into those blue eyes. To her, they were the greatest aphrodisiac of all. “I cannot seem to get enough of you.”
He kissed her deeply, and for a long moment it was enough. Then he moved, and they both shuddered.
He stroked the oil on his hand over her fingers and then pulled her hand down over his lean buttocks.
“Touch me,” he urged. “The way I did you.”
She stroked her oil-slicked fingers between the tight cheeks of his ass, excited by the chance to please him further. Her fingertips found the tightly puckered opening, and he groaned, widening his thighs to give her more play room.
“Ah, God, yes!”
He began to thrust into her, harder and harder and harder as she held him and stroked him daringly, until he was slamming into her, the bed rocking under them, both of them covered with a film of perspiration, flesh slapping together as they strove through the reckless, driving battle…and won.
Afterward, he rested in her arms and then rose reluctantly, reaching down to pick her up. Tessa let him carry her into the bathroom and slid down his body as he set her on her feet, nudging her into the small shower stall. She opened her satiation-drugged eyes as the warm water cascaded over her head. She smiled up at him, tipping back her head to let the water stream through her hair and over her hot, damp skin.
He was so beautiful she had to reach up and stroke the water over his face and hair. She stood on tiptoe to kiss him beside his mouth, and then took a dollop of the gel soap and began to wash him.
“I’ve always wanted to shower with a lover.” She stroked the soap over the hard bulge of his pectorals. She caressed the hard nub of his nipple and then drew the soap dreamily over his abdomen, tracing the six-pack of muscles there. She flicked a roguish look up at him under her lashes as she took his penis, its mighty length now hanging flaccid, in hand and began to wash it. “This is the first time I have seen this when it wasn’t hard.”
He widened his stance. “Don’t stop there. I’ve other parts that need washing.”
She cupped his balls in her hand, enjoying the weight of the heavy sac.
“Male parts are so interesting,” she murmured, closing her eyes as his big hands closed on her head, working soap into her hair. She kept her hand where it was until he tugged on her clean hair.
“Keep going, Tessa.”
She took more soap and slicked it deeper between his legs. He was smoothing soap over her shoulders and breasts, soaping her thoroughly, which pleased them both.
“I like this showering together very much,” she said as he washed her nether regions, his big hands working from front and back. It felt very good, soothing and exciting at once.
He was silent, and she looked up to find him watching her with a strange look on his face.
“Yes,” he said, almost as if the words were dragged out of him. “So do I.”
Something struck her hand, and she looked down to see his cock bobbing up, erect again.
“Oh!”
“Oh, hell, is more like it.”
He looked hard, almost angry as he grasped her by the waist and lifted her up against him, and then she found herself high against the shower wall, his cock forging into her again.
“Wrap your legs around my waist,” he told her. “And hang on.”
He sounded as if he were going to take her hard and fast, but instead, when he was inside her, he stilled, his forehead tipped against hers, his breath slow and deep in his chest.
Tessa held his lean body gripped in her legs, feeling him deep in her, as if he now owned her. She pulled his chin up and kissed him, looking into those blue eyes, her swelling heart in her kiss.
“I want to stay this way,” she whispered recklessly, cupping his head in her hands and turning her face against his, feeling the powerful muscles of his neck and shoulders beneath her arms. “I want—”
“Sshh.” He covered her mouth with his, stopping her words, and began to move. “Just let me have you, this one last time.”
And there was the strong, steady build of joy in her flesh, the sweet surrender of herself to his insistent, invading maleness, and the final rush of heat and bliss.
It was only afterward that she discovered he had really meant it.
They were dry and clothed—she in what she had worn the evening before, and he in his uniform. As she came out of the bathroom, running a hand through her hair, he turned to her. He looked so handsome that her heart skipped a beat, and so remote that she stopped instead of going to him, her smile dying. A chill slithered up through her chest.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Tessa—thank you. You are a lovely woman, and I enjoyed our time together.”
“You speak as if…it is over,” she said around the ball of ice that seemed to be forming in her throat.
“It is. In being with you, I’ve broken one of the rules I set for myself, as a captain of this ship. It cannot continue.”
She blinked. She felt hot tears press behind her eyes and lifted her chin, sheer pride holding them back. “I see,” she said shakily. “Well, I wouldn’t want you to lower your stand
ards by consorting w-with me.”
A dull red darkened his cheekbones. “I didn’t mean it that way, Tessa. Listen…”
Fury blazed inside her. He expected her to stand tamely while he excused himself?
“Is that an order, Captain?” she hissed. “Because if not, I decline.”
She would not let him see her weep, she would not. She had to get out of here. Unless…she gazed at him for one last moment, hoping against hope that his eyes would soften, that he would reach out for her.
His eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched. But he merely shook his head. For an instant they stared at each other, and then she turned on her heel and hurried blindly out of his quarters.
Chapter Ten
Scala woke with a start and a groan as someone moved in the bed behind her. She ached as if she had been fighting most of the night. Ssaar was an inventive lover—too bad he was such a hiss viper. If she didn’t know that he would snap her neck without even blinking, she would have killed him by now. Slithering bastard.
Discovering that he, too, was involved in the Pangaeans’ plot to steal the Orion had been a rude shock. She’d had to fight back the urge to ram the smirks on their green faces down their vegan throats as they watched her acquiesce to his demands—including the one that she share his bed.
He had taken great pleasure in telling her just how he would “discover” her involvement in the plot to steal the Orion, if she did not cooperate.
She clenched her teeth as he drew a finger down her spine.
“Ssscala, my ssweet,” he hissed. “It’s been most satisfying. And I trust you’ll remember to come when I ssummon you again.”
“Of course,” she lied smoothly, sliding out of his bed, her back to him to hide the hot anger in her eyes. It wasn’t that she minded fucking him—but she liked to be the one who chose. Next time she would bring a little surprise with her—a weapon. She could tell them he had attacked her. She drew on her tights and then her jacket.
“And by the way,” he said. “I’ll want you to bring a friend next time.”
“Tuala might be interested.” She zipped up her jacket.
“No, I have something more tender in mind. Our little Tessa.”
Scala whirled on him. “Who?” She shook her head in disbelief as he lay back in the bed, a lascivious smirk on his thin lips.
“Do you know in whose arms she spent the night?” she demanded. “Captain Craig!”
His smirk disappeared.
“How do you know?”
“Because Izard and Yvene sent her to him, and she did not come back out. I doubt they were sitting up playing holo-dice!”
He scowled, and she smirked at him this time.
“That’s right,” she said. “She’s with the captain now. She’ll no more look at you than a stinking Bartian. Set up your own threesome.”
She turned to the door. And found herself slammed flat on her back on the bed with his forearm across her throat, his knee riding high and hard between her thighs.
“I want her!” he hissed through his teeth, his eyes burning into hers. “And you will bring her to me—do you understand?”
She couldn’t breathe—his arm pressed painfully on her larynx. She clawed at his arm, struggling to twist out from under him. He pressed harder. “Do you?”
“Ye-ess…” she managed, seeing stars at the edge of her vision.
“Good.” He loosened his arm, and she sucked in a deep breath, hearing it wheeze through her bruised throat.
Scala coughed, refusing to wince at the raw pain of each breath. She really was going to kill him—as slowly and painfully as possible.
“What if she won’t come?” she croaked.
“I didn’t say she has to be willing. Trick her, drug her. Just get her for me.”
Tessa began to tense even as she bowed gravely to her sparring partner. She needn’t look to know that her next partner would be Captain Steven Craig.
These last few days had been a mixture of sweetness and pain. She had only to close her eyes to relive each touch, each look, each word he had spoken to her, each orgasm he had given her. She now understood why sex was such a powerful force in life. Recalling the way he had taken her so thoroughly, then changed so completely, once again the captain, remote and in command, she curled into a ball of humiliation in her bunk.
She knew logically that she could not blame him—he had made her no flowery promises to get her into his bed. But in her naiveté she had been sure that his powerful desire for her meant he would want a relationship. He had even confided in her.
She had been as foolish as eons of women before her. Finally her pain morphed into the heat of sheer feminine rage. He had introduced her to paradise and then ripped it away from her. She was certainly not in love with him, but in their long night together, her heart had opened, daring to bloom a little. In the illogic of passion, if he would not have her, she wanted him to pay.
The instant she saw him saunter into the workout room, her blood leapt in her veins and then settled to a simmer as she forced herself to engage fully in the sparring. For some reason, she won every match. Her last partner groaned as he dragged himself off the mat, holding his belly.
“Goddess, Tessa! Pull your kicks a little, or you’ll cripple someone.”
“Sorry, Raile.”
He straightened, moving closer to her. “You could make it up to me,” he offered, his golden eyes heating.
Tessa shook her head impatiently. He was a handsome specimen, but she had as little interest in him as she had in the rest of the males in the room. Except the lean, blond human chatting with his partner nearby.
Aware of his every move, she half feared that they would end up opposite each other, and half wished for it. Now it was to happen, and her anger burned in a steady flame, heating every muscle in her body.
She watched his feet walk toward her, hesitate, then turn to face her, lining up in the formal position.
“Tessa,” he said quietly.
She permitted herself one glower, knowing all her bitterness and pain was in her eyes. She watched his high cheekbones flush, saw his mouth pull down at the corners. But it was the compassion that she thought she glimpsed in those crystalline eyes that acted as the final catalyst.
How dare he pity her! Her anger flared, impossibly, even hotter. Through the roaring in her ears she dimly heard the command for the bow to one’s opponent. Tessa looked down, bending into the ritual bow.
Without waiting for the ready command, she exploded. She launched herself into the twirling high kick, not even having the time to aim, but knowing that her outstretched foot was going to strike his thick human head!
She connected with a resounding thwack! He went down like a pole-axed steerbuck, twirling slightly as he fell, landing with a thud. One of his powerful arms lay outstretched on the mat, the fingers curled loosely.
Tessa danced lightly on one foot, regaining her balance. She was breathing so hard she trembled and she had the absurd urge to laugh and cry at once. Her ankle buzzed with numbness. Dimly she knew that later it would hurt—possibly as much as the empty place inside her chest.
Everyone froze, gaping. Except for Sirena and Slyde, who dashed through the ranks to him and bent over his supine form.
“Captain!” Sirena said sharply. “Can you respond?”
He groaned, but lifted a hand to his head.
“What t’ hell happened?” His voice sounded slurred.
Sirena straightened. Tessa quailed before the fury in her eyes.
“Yes, what did happen, Cadet? You could have killed him!” she hissed.
“No,” Tessa said. “I held back.”
Sirena eyed her dangerously, but nodded curtly in acceptance that of course all of her trainees were capable of such finesse, and knelt by the captain again.
“How do you feel, sir? Can you sit up?”
“Yes,” he said, sounding distinctly irritable. “Help me up. I can stand.”
He grabbed Stone’
s huge hand and rose, only wobbling a little. He blinked at Tessa with disbelief that was almost comical. She stared straight ahead, her arms at her sides. She was in deep trouble, and she knew it. But, oh, part of her exulted, it had been worth it!
“Captain, someone will see you to your quarters,” said Sirena.
“I do not,” said Craig through his teeth, “wish to go to my quarters. Nor do I wish to interrupt your training schedule. You will carry on, if you please.”
Sirena nodded shortly. She turned on Tessa, her eyes dangerous.
“I was wrong, and I know it,” Tessa told Sirena, ignoring Craig. “I will accept any punishment you wish to levy.”
“You will stand down from training,” Sirena hissed. “Beginning now. We will consider further repercussions of your behavior.”
Tessa bowed formally and turned away. She bumped into someone—Ssaar. His face was impassive, but his eyes were sharp as fangs, cutting slyly across her face. He stood in her way, looking down at her for a moment, and then stepped aside.
“Well, young Tessa, you’ve unexpected depths,” he hissed under his breath, so only she could hear. “Sso much passion.”
He moved aside, and she walked across the room to the sidelines, her head high.
The room was absolutely silent as she passed. She did not try to make eye contact with any of the other guards, knowing with a sinking heart that it would be returned, if at all, with censure. She attained the wall and turned to stand very straight, with her hands folded behind her back, as the training went on.
Across the room, Craig neared the door. He turned as he reached it. The sparring had begun again, and between them bodies sailed, twisted and flipped, but she could see him clearly. Staring across the room at her, he touched his reddened cheek gingerly.
His heavy brows drew together, and his eyes narrowed to slits of blue ice, as if trying to penetrate her thoughts. His jaw tightened ominously. Tessa quailed inwardly, suddenly reminded that he was a seasoned warrior, and as captain of his ship, held absolute authority over her. He looked as though he meant to use it.
He held her gaze for a long moment. She set her teeth and held her chin high. She refused to drop her eyes, although she could feel the blood draining from her face, all the heat of anger turned to cold fear. Finally he shook his head, whether in bafflement or disgust, she could not tell. Turning, he disappeared out of the door.
