by Mia Allen
A hall extended in front of her, looking whitewashed like a psych ward in a hospital back on Earth and there were rows of doors all around. She was taken to one at the end of the hall, even more confused than before when she heard the commander’s voice coming from within.
“Bring her in and set her on the bed,” he said. The two guard did as he said, though Layla noted that they didn’t look too happy about it. Then, they just left. Layla found herself staring over at Kraordis in confusion, watching him for his next move, like a cat ready to spring. She didn’t know what to make of the encounter or if she was in any danger. He could easily finish her off right then and there and no one would miss her. And then Orion would either become a slave or be taken out as well.
“You don’t need to look tame like that,” he said finally, looking her up and down as if he were studying her as well. “I brought you in here because I couldn’t imagine you being out there in that cell. I don’t think you’re the definition of a criminal,” he admitted, waiting for her reaction.
Had it really been so easy to convince him? Layla felt a slight pang of guilt at trying to use him; not that it would stop her. It was just harder now that she realized he was a good guy instead of some selfish brute like she expected.
“I don’tunderstand,” she said, shaking her head. It was too confusing. Layla had confidence in her prowess but not so much that one conversation would save her.
“I take it you haven’t come across a whole lot of kindness in the pirating business?” he asked in a teasing manner with a chuckle. It was the first time she had ever seen an Arkun laugh or even smile for that matter.
Layla shook her head. No, she truly hadn’t. Mutual needs usually meant for a great working relationship, but kindness for no reason wasn’t something she had seen. And she still doubted an Arkun, even this one, was capable of it. So, she kept her guard up as she pretended to warm up to him.
“So, what am I doing in your room?” she asked, raising her eyebrow at him.
“I thought you could use a break from the cell and we could talk. I might be able to help you at your trial. Why don’t you go get cleaned up and then we’ll see if you’re more in a mood to talk about a negotiation.” Layla was feeling surprised and glanced towards the bathroom. It wasn’t quite like a human bathroom; alien ones never were. But she knew there would be a shower, which is what she needed most.
“What about my second in command?” she asked, referring to Orion.
“We can talk about that too.”
Layla nodded, not waiting to see if he would change his mind as she took to the shower, stripping her clothes off without an ounce of modesty. She really didn’t feel the need to be so bundled up all the time. Her body was nice and she knew it. But even if it wasn’t, it was just something natural. Most of her crew had probably seen her naked at least once.
What shocked Layla was that Kraordis didn’tseem to havefollowed or even snuck a peek as she got into the odd shower, trying to figure out all the strange controls. Finally, spritzes of warm liquid began to hit her skin in several places, chipping away at the dirt and sweat that covered her body like a film.
The warmth of the water was perfect. You couldn’t take such a clean and warm shower like that on Earth anymore. The water often smelled of sewage and didn’t stay warm long enough to enjoy anything. but this, this was heaven.
Layla began to moan at the loosening effect on her muscles and the fact that she was getting truly clean for the first time in a while. She had gotten lost in the sensation and pretty much forgotten about Kraordis being just feet away.
A knock came at the door, and she turned to see that Kraordis was standing there, trying to avert his eyes. She made sure he got the full-frontal view, leaning on one side of the wall.
“I am sorry, but you were making some strange sounds and I wanted to be sure you were all right.” Layla couldn’t help but laugh at Kraordis’s assessment of her moans.
“It’s a sound humans make when something feels really good,” she told him as she continued to grin at his worry. “The water is just really warm. You want to join me?” She asked him that question before she even had a chance to think about it.
Kraordis had about a million emotions cross his features over the next minute ranging from scared to bashful.
“I won’t bite unless you ask me to,” she added with a cheeky grin. That seemed to snap him out of it, and he removed the Arkun idea of clothing, which wasn’t much. It was a wonder their skin stayed pale blue and didn’t burn to a crisp in the sunlight.
She noted his muscular body from head to toe as he stepped into the jets of water with a look of determination. “See,” she said, looking at him but careful not to be the one to make the first skin contact. It had to be his idea. “It does feel good.”
Kraordis nodded and turned to her with a strange gleam in his eyes before pressing her up against the wall with his own body. It felt rubbery and slick but warm against her, and she swore she could feel his heart beat as his lips pressed against hers.
Layla relaxed into the sensation as water dripped down their entwined bodies. She felt his shaft, a little longer and more muscular than a human’s, creep up her thigh and sighed. This was going to be an interesting night, and her body was so ready for it.
“So, as long as I find a way to blend in and I stick with you and follow the rules, Orion and I will be left alone?” Layla asked, looking up at Kraordis. He had just come back from a training exercise and a meeting with the leader and high council. The leader, Braunis, was not delighted to have two human space pirates in his midst, but whatever Kraordis had said about Layla had been convincing enough to allow them to not have to go to immediate trial or be punished in any way.
“You’ll eventually have to find a job and a home of your own. I only stay here because I am the commander. But, yes, just lie low and you’ll be fine.” He leaned down to kiss her sweetly on the lips and she wondered what would become ofher future there. How long would it take to get a hold of a ship or get in contact with her crew to come and pick them up? It was still too risky now, but she couldn’t see herself settling down, even as much as she liked the way she felt when she was alone with Kraordis.
Layla blinked up at him and smiled as he pulled back from her lips. He hadn’t expressed any specific words of affection, but she got the feeling that once she high-tailed it out of there he would be at least a little broken.
“Oh, I will have our seamstress bring by some cloths you can choose from to make you some traditional clothing. I don’t think it’sreasonable to keep walking around here in that black leather,” he told her with a wink before stripping down and heading for the shower. He had to be tired from working all day.
“Oh, well I could just walk around without any clothes on. I don’t think anyone would mind that,” she teased, causing him to turn around and give her a hard look.
“I would.” Layla giggled, and then she heard the shower turn on and knew he was in it. Layla decided to relax and play on the small game pad that she was given. It was something younger people on the planet sued for entertainment, but it was the only thing she’d had to do for the last couple of days while cooped up in Kraordis’s room. But then she was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Kraordis was still involved in his shower, so she closed the door to the bathroom and walked to the door that led to the room she had first been taken to around 48 hours before. When she opened it, she expected to find some other Arkun there on official business, but instead, she found a frightened looking Orion.
“When they let me go, I asked where you were, and they sent me here. I thought that you had been taken as some sort of slave or something already, but you look fine. Are you fine?” he asked, a slight relief coming over his face. Layla began to notice reddeningaround his eyes and tear stains like he might have been crying. It was not an emotion she had expected out of her second in command.
“Of course, I’m fine. I told you this would work,”
she whispered, pulling him in and shutting the door behind him. “Kraordis is in the shower,” she warned, hoping he would understand he needed to watch his tongue. She didn’t need him ruining the freedom she had just won for them.
“What do you mean by this?” Orion asked, looking down at her with something in his eyes that she couldn’t quite place.
“Being with the commander. He talked to the leader, Braunis, today, and he said as long as we follow the rules and fit in for a bit, we’ll be fine,” Layla told him with a happy smile, but his reaction was not like she had expected.
“You mean, you’re actually with this guy by choice?” he exploded, and Layla put her hands up, begging him to stop and be quiet. The last thing they needed was for Kraordis to come in there and find Orion in that mood. “I can’t believe this, Layla. This whole time I thought he was forcing you into something. I told you not to do this. Not to sell yourself short like that. Damn it, Layla! I was so sure one day you would figure it out.”
He started pacing, running his fingers through his dirty blonde hairinfrustration. Layla just watched him incredulously, unsure of what to make of this new side ofOrion.
“Figure what out, Orion? You’re acting like a crazy person and Kraordis is right there inthe shower.”
“I don’t care,” Orion replied, taking a challenging step towards her. he was right in her face, their toes touching. “I love you.” Before she could respond to that he pulled her face to his with his hands and forced his lips to hers, moving hers with hisown. She had no say in the matter, and she was left stunned and breathless.
“What is going on out here? I heard yelling…” Kraordis trailed off, walking out dripping wet and covered in his cloth but nothing else just as Layla finally yanked herself away from Orion.
“What the hell is this?” Kraordis asked. “You’re kissing him right after I told you that you had to stick with me and follow the rules. This is NOT how we behave, Layla.” He looked furious. Layla didn’t know what he might do next.
“Please, let me explain,” she tried, but Kraordis wasn’t hearing it. In his mind, she had betrayed him and Layla knew just how things looked.
“I’m going to have to report this, Layla. The two of you are playing games with the commander of the royal army!” His voice was booming, bouncing off the walls at a frightening volume. Layla shrank back, not knowing what was going to become of her and Orion. They could very well be dust in a few moments.
Chapter 6
Layla tried to keep her head down, feeling like the complete opposite of her usual, strong self as sheand Orion trudged their way through the cafeteria of sorts, chained to one another by the wrists and feet. Many of their freedoms had been taken away as soon as that kiss between them had happened, and Layla felt ashamed to be this chained slave who couldn’t even decide where to go most of the time or even where to sit to eat. The only reprieve she got was that at night, she was still allowed to bein Kraordis’ room as long as he wanted her there. It was something she owed him for. It was the best part of her day, and he sometimes let Orion come in there to shower and relax as well. Otherwise, he was locked in a tiny room with nothing but a cot and water.
Kraordis’s reasoningforbeing so kind to her and Orion was that he needed to give her the right to figure out if there was something between the two of them. Layla had finally been able to share with Kraordis what had happened; that she had not kissed Orion. But Kraordis seemed to think there could be feelings there she just hadn’t explored and resolved.
The two of them carried their food over to their seats near the guards, and Layla looked over at Orion while he began to eat. She tried to really study his features. He was a great looking man especially for an alien. He barely looked like one, and as far as humans went, he would beat most of them out on looks as well. So, yeah, when she first met him, she might have been alright with hopping into bed with him. But Layla didn’t exactly form attachments just from that. It was blowing her mind that she even cared about Kraordis at this point. It wasn’t typical.
Layla had to admit that she cared for Orion beyond him being a crew member; a very important one at that. She had seen him for a few months now as a friend and an ally. Despite the fact he seemed to always baby the crew and disagree with her, he was a greatperson to have around. But she wasn’t sure that translated into anything more than friends. He was probably skillful at sex, and she would miss him when he was no longer a part ofher crew, but that wasn’t the definition of love, right?
Layla focused back on her food and ate quietly, trying not to notice the way the Arkuns stared at them; even the other prisoners. Humans were, evidentially, not a common site on the planet.
Layla was just trying to eat so they could get out of there and into Kraordis’ room for the night, but then Orion slammed his fork down onto the table, causing the whole place to be on alert.
“What is wrong with you?” she whisperedthrough gritted teeth. “Everyone is staring.”
“Since when have you cared about that?” Orionasked, looking right at her with an air of frustration surrounding him. “Look, I can’t handle this anymore; pretending that nothing is going on between us. It’s killing me, watching the two of you together. And he knows it. He looks right at me every time he kisses you. He says things to me behind your back; things about how I am chained to you all day, but only he gets you at night. It’s torture, Layla.”
For the second time since ending up being caught by the Arkuns, Orion had shocked her with his feelings. How long had he had them, and how had she not known?
“I don’t know what you want me to do about it, Orion. I am sorry you are hurting, but I had no idea you felt this way until after I did what I did with Kraordis, and now he’s our only shot at making it through our trial. Please, don’t get us killed,” she begged with her eyes, hoping her would understand. “You’ll get over it one day when we’re out of here.”
“It’s not so simple, Layla. I can’t just stop loving someone. We don’t choose who we love; we choose who we express love too. Which is what I want you to do. I want you to give me a chance.” Layla wasn’t sure what to think of the proposal, but it wasn’t the time out there in public like that.
“We can talk about this later, Orion. Right now, let’s get cleanedup and out of here,” Layla suggested. The two cleaned up from their meal and were led to their rooms one-by-one, their chains removed. Orion shot Layla a knowing look. He would be in there later to finish their conversation. Then, they parted ways.
Chapter 7
Layla stepped into the room, feeling drained, both physically and emotionally. Part of their punishment was for her and Orion to complete various grunt tasks, which were usually labor intensive. She expected to either be alone, or for there to be more conflictbetween Kraordis and herself. Things had been tense since the kiss with Orion, and for good reason. But she felt the need to prove to him there was nothing going on. It really shouldn’t have mattered considering she was using him to save the both of them, but it grated at her nerves of some reason that he didn’t trust her anymore. Had she gone soft? She would need to do a lot of work once she got out of there to get back to the ruthless pirate she once was after all of these emotions that were swirling around in the current situation.
Instead, she found Kraordis, splayed on the bed with nothing on but a sly smile. He wanted her.She could tell by the almost predatory look in his face. Even though she was exhausted and probably dirty, she couldn’t help but feel a sudden surge in the need for him as well. Her panties were wet at the sightof him and at the thought of sex with him. It was the perfect way to unwind from a tough day, and Kraordis was the best at sex in her book, and that was a lot to say in her long list of male conquests.
She smiled at him and hopped into bed, all troubles forgotten as he had his hands all over her body, taking her clothes off so quickly it felt like a race.
Kraordis laid over her body as she tasted the warm breath coming from his mouth. She felt his shaft sliding
up to meet her groin just as the door flew open to reveal Orion, who hadapparently come to finish their discussion. Instead, Layla and he stared at each other in awkward horror because of the scene he had just walked in on.
“How nice of you to join us,” Kraordis said, his hands still wanderingover Layla’s body. “Since you’re so keen on interrupting us at this very intimate moment, why don’t you come over here and show her how much you love her.” Layla looked at Kraordis and back to Orion in shock. Perhaps, he had been right about Kraordis’s teasing, and this was taking it too far.
“Please, don’t you want to know what it feels like to be with two men at once?” Kraordis asked, playing on her fantasies as his hands slowly spread her legs, probably giving Orion the view of a lifetime. She could see the frustration in the way Orion was sweating bullets, and his hands were clenched in fists.
Layla was so turned on as Kraordis’s fingers slipped inside of her slick flesh, and she rolled her neck back with a sigh. She knew if Orion gave into temptation that she would too. Her body loved the attention.
Finally, the decision was made, and Orion stripped off his clothes, crawling into bed with the two of them. Layla had her answers about how far done the markings went as she saw they ended just below his hip bone. Layla reached out to trace the line with her fingertip as Kraordis turned her on her side so that she was facing Orion.
Orion shivered at her touch, and her hand landed instinctively on his shaft, already standing at attention for her. He gasped, his eyes going wide as if this were the touch he had been waiting for his whole life.
Layla began to stroke him as her leg was lifted just enough for Kraordis to slip his own cock inside of her, whispering sweet nothing into her ear in his own language. He had a way of making it sound more beautiful than it did coming from anyone else’s mouth.
