Vicious didn’t like her logic but understood why she’d acted the way she had. “Don’t ever do that again, Halllie. You hide. Do you understand? You hide and you stay safe.”
She nodded. “I will. I really hope it never happens again.”
“You and me both.” He spotted Terror coming out of the room. His bloody shirt was a reminder of the gory scene he’d left behind. Two medics rushed into the bedroom. Not that they would do much good. What was needed was a body bag, not a trauma kit.
“So about that move,” Terror said carefully as he wiped his knife blade on his pants. “I’d probably move that up by a few days, if I were you.”
Vicious couldn’t believe Terror was trying to joke at a time like this. The man had the most morbid sense of humor.
Hallie touched his cheek. “We’re moving? Off the Valiant?”
She looked so disappointed so he quickly shook his head. “No. To the general’s quarters two floors up,” he explained. “General Thorn finished clearing out his belongings last week and I’ve had the maintenance crew making some changes to suit us. It’s where I belong now. We’ll have more room and I’ll have better access to the bridge and my office.”
She frowned in consternation. “When were you going to tell me? Don’t you think I should have been told before Terror?”
Vicious shot Terror an annoyed glare. The man had the decency to look contrite. “I planned to tell you this evening after our wedding.”
Her face crumpled. “Our wedding is ruined.”
“No, it’s not. We are not letting that psychopath ruin our day. You’re going to go upstairs to our new quarters and change. We’ll push the ceremony back an hour but it’s still happening, Hallie. I promised you this.”
“And you never break your promise,” she whispered, her gaze filled with love.
“Never, Kitten.”
Chapter Twenty
“What do you think?”
Vicious turned at the sound of Terror’s voice. They were congregated in a small ceremony room that the land corps used for awarding medals and promotions. Just a few short weeks ago, Vicious had stood here and received his first star and his new rank. Now surrounded by his closest friends, he waited to make a public commitment to Hallie.
He eyed the bouquet of flowers Terror held. Instead of the silver tape Menace had suggested, Terror had wrapped the stems in bright-red ribbon. It looked surprisingly beautiful against the pale-pink and white flowers.
“Wait,” Vicious said uncertainly. “Haven’t I seen that ribbon somewhere before?”
Terror cleared his throat. “Well, it’s from the same spool.”
Vicious blinked. “Don’t tell Hallie where it came from, Ter. She’ll faint if I have to explain that particular trick of yours.”
“We wouldn’t want that.” He laughed and reached into the pocket of his dress uniform pants. “I’ve still got these, by the way.”
Vicious glanced at the silver wedding bands he’d entrusted to Terror earlier that morning. “I was worried you’d lost them in the air ducts.”
Terror shook his head. “I was extra careful with them, Vicious.” He paused. “I know I’ve been busting your balls about this wedding thing but I get it, Vee. I know how much she means to you. I’m beginning to understand why so many of you are choosing to enter the Grabs.”
“Is that your way of telling me you’re putting your name in for the next one?”
“Hell no!” Terror looked aghast at the very thought. “Unlike Menace, I’m not crazy.”
“I heard that,” Menace grumbled from his seat in the front row.
Terror tossed the bouquet to Menace. “Make yourself useful and take that to the general’s lady.”
Menace looked less than thrilled to be holding the bouquet for the second time today. He muttered under his breath but took it out of the room and into the hallway where Hallie and her sister waited. Without her father to walk her down the aisle, she’d chosen her sister to fill that role. Vicious preferred that choice to coming face-to-face with the bastard who had terrorized Hallie for most of her life.
When Menace returned, he was flanked by General Thorn and his wife, Leda. Vicious hadn’t expected them and smiled as he walked down the aisle to meet them. They shook hands and he nodded in Leda’s direction. “Ma’am.”
“General, I hope you don’t think we’re being too forward in coming without an invitation.” Leda patted her husband’s arm. “I’ve never seen one of these weddings. I’m curious about them.”
“That makes two of us,” Vicious admitted. He turned his attention to General Thorn. “We’re happy to have you with us today.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Thorn replied. “I like this idea of blending cultures. It’s good for the men to see their superior officer making an effort to support and respect his wife’s culture. Especially after the Crow incident,” he added grimly. “I was sorry to hear about how that went down this afternoon. Ugly business.”
Vicious nodded. “Hallie is safe. That’s all that matters to me.”
“As it should be,” Thorn said. “You should know that I’ve talked to the rules-and-regulations committee about your ring query. You’re the lead officer of this ship. You can make any changes to the on-ship uniform codes you like.” He smiled. “Wear your ring, Vicious.”
“Thank you, sir.” Vicious was glad to have that issue fixed. He’d already had three other men who had performed secret ceremonies ask about wearing their rings in public. He didn’t see an issue with the men wearing them so long as they weren’t working with their hands, like the mechanics and engineers.
“You’ve started the move to the general’s quarters?”
Vicious realized General Thorn might have wanted to use them. “Just a few things, sir. If you’d like to use the quarters tonight, we’ll be happy to move to a different apartment.”
General Thorn shook his head. “Leda and I won’t be staying. We took our transport shuttle a little out of its way to be here. We’re off to the Arctis later and then on to Harcos Prime. No. I wanted to be sure you were taking advantage of your new living space.”
“We will be.”
“Good.” Thorn gestured to the seats arranged on the right side of the room. “We’ll sit here, I think.”
“Yes, apparently the groom’s family and friends occupy this area.”
Vicious returned to the front of the room where Terror stood. Menace slid down two seats to make room for the general and his wife. Raze and Venom sat in the second row. On the other side of the room, Lenny and Sergeant Hawk occupied the few seats there. A handful of women Hallie had reconnected with from Harper’s Well and the neighboring villages sat behind them with their husbands, all of them sergeants.
Admiral Orion entered from a side door. He walked to the front of the room and tapped his tablet. His voice lowered, he said, “I checked this with your wife’s sister and Lenny Hawk. The ceremony is simple and straightforward.”
There wasn’t a religious man onboard and the judge was on vacation. Orion was the only man who outranked him aboard the ship so it made sense to ask him to officiate.
“I appreciate you doing this for me, Orion.”
Orion clapped him on the shoulder and squeezed. “We’ve been friends and colleagues a long time, Vicious. I’m happy to do it.”
“Maybe someday I’ll return the favor.”
Orion laughed. “Doubtful.”
Vicious still chuckled as the softest notes of music filled the ceremony room. Unlike the usual brassy notes of military marches, this was gentler and more ethereal. The doors opened and Hallie and her sister came into view.
His breath caught in his throat. He’d never seen her in a dress. The effect stunned him.
The pink flowers and red ribbon popped against the gauzy white lace gown she wore. Her feet were bare, her toes peeking out from her skirt with each step. She wore her hair down in the way he liked. Simple. Unadorned. Beautiful.
&nbs
p; When she came to stand before him and placed her hand in his, he understood why this was so important to her. He’d considered this a romantic gesture that would mean more to Hallie than it ever would to him. How utterly wrong he’d been.
Standing there, holding her small hand in his, Vicious trembled slightly. In front of their family and friends, they recited the vows of her people. Each word, each one especially chosen, sealed their bond in a way he’d never imagined possible. This act eclipsed the commitment he’d made to her by stealing her away from her planet and placing his collar around her neck.
By taking her hand and sliding his ring onto her finger while he swore to love and cherish her, Vicious cemented their commitment in a deep and surprisingly gratifying way. When she did the same for him, his heart threatened to burst in his chest. Heat prickled at his eyes and he blinked furiously, refusing to let even one tear escape.
Hallie squeezed his hand as if to reassure him. She smiled up at him, her mouth curved in an impish, teasing way. His heart warmed at her playfulness. Even in a moment as serious as this, she found a way to make him grin.
When their lips first touched, this time as a proper husband and wife, the spark of love and lust seared him. He slid his hand into her hair and cupped the back of her neck as he kissed her tenderly. Though he wanted so much more than that chaste lip lock, he knew this wasn’t the time.
Later, in the privacy of their new home, he would coax more than a gentle sigh from her lips.
*
Exhausted but happier than she’d ever been, Hallie hung back as Vicious walked the last of their guests out of their sparsely furnished new quarters. She ignored some of the more ribald advice offered by a slightly drunken Terror. When the door shut, she leaned back against the couch and waited for Vicious to emerge from the entryway. He rested an arm on the wall and stared at her.
“What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. Just enjoying the view.”
“Oh?” She experienced a tremor of excitement. Knowing Vicious, he probably had something incredibly sexy in store for them. “Maybe we should move this to the bedroom where the view is even better.”
“I like the way you think.” Vicious crossed the space between them and gathered her into his arms. He lifted her up and cradled her to his chest. “I think it’s customary for a new husband to carry his bride across the threshold of the bedroom, yes?”
She didn’t have the heart to correct him. Besides, she rather enjoyed being carried by him. “Yes.”
He set her down at the foot of their bed. She eyed the massive piece of furniture with a critical eye. “This is new, right?”
Vicious laughed behind her and started to flick through the pearly buttons lining the back of her dress. “Brand new, especially ordered and paid for by me.”
“Good.” She let out a relieved breath. “I was really worried that…well…you know.”
“That we were going to sleep in a bed where General Thorn’s orgies took place?”
She couldn’t help but smile at his teasing. “Yes.”
“I wouldn’t dare, Hallie. Everything in this place is new or from our old quarters.” He slid the unbuttoned dress down her shoulders. “Is it strange being back here?”
“A little,” she admitted. “It looks different than the last time I was here.”
“The last time we were here, you were dressed up like a cat and scared out of your mind. I’m sure the details of the floor plan escaped you. I had them strip the walls and change the lighting. I wanted it lighter.”
“And less dungeon-like?”
“Something like that,” he agreed with a chuckle. “Thorn definitely has a different taste in décor than we do. You can make whatever changes you like to our new space.”
“The plants help.” She smiled at the thought of the potted plants he’d acquired for her. Some of them were a flowering variety. It wasn’t quite the same as walking out into the garden or the fields behind her childhood home to pick beautiful blooms but it was a start.
“I’m glad you like them. Getting them onboard the ship was a nightmare. Thankfully I know someone who’s good at smuggling things onboard unnoticed.”
“Terror?” she guessed with a laugh.
“Terror,” he confirmed.
“I thought he behaved rather well at the wedding and reception.”
“You sound surprised.”
“Well, he didn’t try to hide his feelings while we were planning this.”
“He’s not always the most diplomatic about things but he does support us.” Vicious dropped his lips to her bare shoulder. “Enough talk. Time for sex.”
She giggled and stepped out of her dress. He carried it to a reading chair in the corner while she slipped out of her panties and bra. When she turned around, he was starting to undress. Hallie shoved aside his hands and did the honors herself. She flicked through the buttons and tugged on the zippers to free him of his shirt, undershirt, pants, boots and socks. His boxer-briefs came last, her fingers tugging them down over his muscular thighs as slow as she dared.
That cock she’d come to love so much tantalized her. Licking her lips, she climbed onto the bed and stayed on all fours. She motioned for Vicious to come closer to the edge of the bed. He walked forward until his knees nudged the mattress. The bed was the perfect height for what she had in mind.
“Hallie!” Vicious groaned her name as she cupped his sac and stroked his big, throbbing cock. He pulsed in her hand, his skin blazing hot and ruddy. Lips wet, she wrapped them around the head of his shaft and swirled her tongue over him. He moaned even louder and sifted his fingers through her hair. “Oh, Kitten. Hell!”
She laughed around his massive erection and took him a little deeper with each down stroke of her mouth. She fondled his balls in her hand, using the kind of pressure and slight tugging that she’d learned he liked. Deep throating him completely was still out of the question. As long and thick as he was, she simply couldn’t do it. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t try.
“Ah!” Vicious cried out in surprise as she took him as far into her mouth as possible. The crown of his cock nudged the back of her throat. She relaxed her jaw and held him there a moment before humming loudly. He growled at the wicked sensation. His fingers tightened in her hair and he pulled back from her mouth a little.
Vicious took control then, his hips pumping as he worked his cock in and out of her willing mouth. He rarely took the dominant role in this sex act. Always, he was gentle and easy with her, never wanting to scare or hurt her. She moaned happily, encouraging him to continue. She loved this side of Vicious.
Her breasts ached and her nipples had drawn into hard pebbles. He fucked her mouth at a slow, leisurely pace, mimicking the way he often took her pussy. Her clit throbbed and she became wetter and wetter as her tongue glided over his cock.
“Enough,” he said, breathless and shaking. “I want to come in you.”
She grinned up at him. “Yes, please!”
He laughed and gently pushed her onto her back. His thumb swiped the saliva clinging to her lips and chin. When he kissed her, his tongue stabbed deep in her mouth. He nibbled her lower lip and then peppered soft kisses down her throat and across her breasts. He played with her nipples, pinching the pink peaks and laving them with his tongue. His mouth moved lower then, dancing around her navel before sliding even lower.
“Open your thighs for me.” He dropped to his knees at the edge of the bed and hauled her even closer. She did as instructed and shivered when his big hands gripped her inner thighs. When he held her down like that, she knew she was in for the tongue lashing of a lifetime.
She whimpered as Vicious flicked her clit with the tip of his tongue. The sharp sensation made her squirm. He held her in place and took long, slow swipes of her pussy. His tongue invaded the petals of her sex and penetrated her opening. He thrust inside her pussy until she thrashed and slapped at the bedcover.
When his tongue returned to her clit, he resumed the q
uick flicking that made her cry out. Just as she approached her climax, he switched to a slower, fluttering flick that made her insides melt. The first spark ignited her core. Head thrown back, she rocked with the power of her climax. “Vicious! Ah! Vicious!”
Two of his fingers penetrated her. He sucked her still-sensitive clit between his lips and worked his tongue across the swollen bud. She clawed at the bed and cried out his name again and again. His thrusting fingers and lapping tongue drove her over the edge into the abyss of ecstasy.
“So pretty and pink,” he whispered, his lips hovering above her clit. He placed a couple of noisy kisses on her mound before climbing back up onto the bed. He grasped her by the waist and flipped her over onto her belly. Holding her hips, he pulled her into a kneeling position and parted her thighs with his knee. “Hold on, Kitten. It’s about to get rough.”
Excitement arced through her chest. She gripped the bedcovers in both hands as his cock nudged her pussy. He eased his way inside and tangled a hand in her loose hair. Fully sheathed in her wet heat, he started to thrust. He took his time at first, seeming to savor the slow mating, but his pace built and his force increased until the whole bed shook.
“Ah! Ah! Vicious!” She relished the wild coupling. Vicious awakened the wanton side of her. She reached back and gripped his thigh as he pounded into her, his cock battering her pussy in the way she craved. The intensity of their mating left her panting and shaking.
“Hallie,” he growled her name and lowered his chest until it touched her back. “Hallie!”
She pushed back against him, meeting his fast, hard thrusts. “Fuck me, Vicious. Harder. More!”
He snarled at her entreaty. She’d never used that word with him. She’d never felt freer than in that moment. With Vicious, she could say or do anything without censure. This man loved her just as she was. Right there, in front of their family and friends, he’d sworn his vows to her. He loved her.
“You want more? You want my cock? Say it, Kitten. Tell me.”
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