Prince of Dragons: Orion, Book 3

by Cathryn Cade

  He wore his dark gold hair ruthlessly short, but it only emphasized the sculpted flare of his wide jaw and the beauty of his eyes, deep set under heavy arching brows.

  And the look in those golden eyes was the best part of all. He watched her with a hungry intensity and something more she couldn’t quite place, until she was close enough to sense the way his big body tensed at her nearness. The glow in his eyes was more than desire—it was yearning.

  It slammed into her like a body blow and swept through her, hot as the wind blowing in off the desert. She didn’t stop until she stood before him, her hand on the broad, hard plain of his chest, a clear invitation. “Hello. I am Sirena.”

  Her shock was complete when he covered her hand with his own, bowed over it with exquisite courtesy, and then…let it go.

  “Yes, I know,” he said in a deep, smoky voice. “I’m Slyde Stone—your new partner.”

  Chapter Two

  It’d been Sirena’s idea to hire another guard commander for the cruise and transport ship Orion. She was confident of her skill to lead her elite guard, had been doing so for years, but since saboteurs had targeted the Orion on her first two voyages, she was glad to have backup.

  Having met Slyde Stone, she knew exactly where she wanted to begin their partnership—in the luxurious bed in her shipboard quarters. When they met over drinks in one of the Orion’s small lounges, she wore another of her favorite outfits. The semi-diaphanous green lii leaf wrap clung to her statuesque form, hiding and revealing at once.

  As she sank gracefully into their booth in a shadowed corner, he watched every move. But though the heat in his golden eyes set off little fires of response all through her, her new co-commander behaved as he had the evening before: with exquisite courtesy.

  Baffled by his strange reticence, Sirena saw no value in subtlety.

  “I think we’ll work well together, Commander.” She set down her empty moon brandy glass and pushed the tiny hover table out of the way, leaning closer to him. She knew that her special perfume, distilled for her on Pangaea, would be tantalizing his senses. “We can also enjoy each other in other ways.”

  He set his own glass beside hers, lashes veiling his eyes as he watched her hand slide up his thigh. Then he looked up. She caught her breath at the intensity of his gaze and the heat in his big hand as he grasped hers, stilling it before she reached her target—the impressive swelling in his groin. Her new co-commander was obviously as large there as everywhere else. Just the thought of taking his huge cock inside her made her tingle with delight.

  “I’ve no doubt you’re right,” he agreed, his deep voice husky. “However, I…am not at liberty to explore that.”

  She blinked. “You’re wed?” Serpentians did marry, although it was infrequent. But he didn’t look at her like a man whose passions were elsewhere.

  “No,” he replied. She saw, even in the soft light of the lounge, that his sculpted cheekbones had reddened. The big lug was actually embarrassed. “I’m not wed, nor promised to another. And I find you…completely alluring, Sirena. But a casual liaison wouldn’t work for you and me.”

  Stunned at being refused, Sirena jerked her hand from his. To her irritation, he rose with her so she stood looking up instead of down. She lifted her chin proudly, ignoring the heat flaming in her own cheeks.

  “Never mind, Commander, there are many attractive females—and males—aboard the Orion. I’m sure you’ll find someone to your tastes.”

  He stepped in front of her, his broad shoulders blocking the gaze of interested viewers.

  “No. Because I won’t be looking. I’ve said I’m attracted to you. And I’d like nothing more than to explore that attraction.”

  “But?” She arched a brow at him. “I see nothing stopping you.”

  “The only thing stopping me is you.”

  “I don’t understand you,” she hissed.

  He moved a little closer, so they were nearly touching. His scent teased her, heady, virile male. “If we were to become lovers, Sirena, it would have to be…exclusive.”

  She laid her hand lightly on his chest, feeling the power and heat radiating through his thin uniform jacket. “Oh, I don’t think that would be a problem, Commander.”

  As if unable to stop himself, he lifted one hand to cup the side of her face, his thumb brushing the corner of her mouth. Ah, she had him now. Curling out the tip of her tongue, she tasted the calloused pad of his thumb.

  His broad jaw clenched, his eyes riveted on her mouth. There was that raw yearning again. But it was quickly veiled as he looked into her eyes, his gaze probing.

  “No,” he said. “Not yet. You’re not ready.”

  Sirena stared at him, shocked as if he’d slapped her. “What do you mean I am not ready?”

  He brushed his fingers through the hair that curled against her throat, then dropped his hand.

  “You’re not ready for more between us.”

  Sirena blinked. She’d never been refused before, and especially not by a male who so obviously wanted her. Did he dare to toy with her? Anger flamed, a welcome relief to the confusion roiling inside her.

  “This is ridiculous,” she hissed. “You’re a fool, Commander, if you believe I’ll wait for you. Why not just enjoy each other?”

  “In time.” He bowed politely, belying the anger flaming in his golden eyes—he hadn’t liked her frank words—and stepped aside. “Good night, Siren.”

  “Oh, it will be for me, at least,” she said, tossing her head. “You see, Commander, I’m more than ready to enjoy a male tonight. Too bad it won’t be you.”

  She smiled as she walked away, hips swaying enticingly. It was the smile of a predator who knew she could have any male who crossed her path. As she passed a table of InterGalactic Space Force pilots, she met the eyes of the handsomest of them. Arching one brow at him, she crooked her finger.

  She didn’t look back to see if he was following her out of the bar. They always did.

  Inside, she was fuming. Slyde Stone might be eminently qualified to be her co-commander, but he was a fool when it came to women.

  It wasn’t until much later that Sirena realized he’d mispronounced her name. She gave a hiss of displeasure. Perhaps he indeed saw her as a siren of legend—leading space travelers to disaster.

  Two months later, on Serpentia…

  “This way, sir, if you please.”

  The Serpentian bowed obsequiously, gesturing to the open door which led from the lobby of the low stone building into a large atrium. “Exotic Pets—We Import from All Reaches of the Galaxy”, read the discreet sign.

  The Pangaean businessman followed him onto the wide balcony. He heard his companion’s quick gasp as she stopped beside him at the rail.

  “Quite something, eh, my dear Lly?” Rra asked.

  Below them, draped over rocks, coiled in the sand beneath desert shrubbery and lazing around a shallow pool that simulated a desert oasis, were dozens of huge snakes.

  Lly didn’t answer. Glancing at her, he saw that his mistress’ green skin was as pale as a honeydew. She gripped the railing tightly. Even her silky green hair wrapped about her throat, a clear sign of distress in a Pangaean.

  His lip curled slightly. She amused him both in and out of bed, but he’d suspected for some time that the lovely Lly lacked the stomach to be truly ruthless. Come to think of it, he’d never met his match, unless it was the creatures below.

  The edge of the balcony fell away into a sheer stone pit. The vipers in it were beautiful, if one viewed them dispassionately. Pale gold, with strange markings along their sleek lengths, as if they’d been dusted with an artist’s brush. Their cold flat eyes were bronze, the tongues that flickered out before the triangular heads as red as blood. Framing their open mouths were two crystalline fangs.

  “My beauties are restless-ss,” said the Serpentian. “They are hungry. Would you like to watch them feed?” His eyes glowed with malice. Pangaeans were well known to be vegans and opposed to killing a
ny live creature.

  “Of course,” Rra answered carelessly. He’d come here with a mission, after all. These serpents certainly looked lethal, but it wouldn’t hurt to see them in action.

  The Serpentian hurried into a room off the balcony and reappeared holding several small, furry creatures with long ears. They hung quivering over his arm.

  “Desert bunnies,” he said. “A favorite prey of Serpentian reptiles.”

  The bunnies were struggling now, kicking their long hind legs, eyes wild. But their captor flung the lot of them into the pit. Small shrieks of distress were cut off as the snakes struck, their crystalline fangs sinking deep into the soft fur. The small creatures died instantly, eyes going empty in the way of dead things.

  Lly gagged, one hand clapped over her mouth, and whirled away from the railing. Her footsteps pattered away toward the exit.

  Rra ignored her. He watched with interest as the snakes claimed their prey, beginning the process of swallowing them whole.

  “You say they can kill a much larger creature?” he asked. “For example, the size of a man?”

  The Serpentian looked at him in complete understanding. “And go on doing so for days. They are quite tireless-ss.”

  “Excellent. I’ll take two of them. With the…specifications we discussed. You’ve a handler to go with them?”

  “My nephew has already joined the party, as we arranged.”

  Rra smiled, his green skin glowing with approbation. “You’re a most helpful associate, snake master. There will be a bonus for you if we’re successful.”

  The Serpentian smiled back, his eyes as dark and dangerous as those of his serpents.

  “I’m certain you will be satisss-fied.”

  Chapter Three

  Sirena looked down at the naked male straining beneath her and smiled. She might be a siren, but she led males not to disaster, but to pleasure greater than many of them had ever known. And this one wouldn’t forget her any time soon.

  “Ah, gods,” he groaned, his hands clamped on her hips as she rode him with sinuous abandon, letting his cock slide nearly out of her before enveloping it once again. His pleasure-glazed eyes were locked with hers. Sweat soaked his short dark hair and gleamed on his skin, enhancing the play of muscle beneath. “That’s so damn good! You are…unbelievable.”

  Since he was approaching his third orgasm, she chose to believe him. She herself was far ahead of that number. She supposed this would be his last effort—human males were lucky to be able to achieve arousal more than twice in such a short time.

  She rose and fell on him, closing her eyes to enjoy the sensation of the shaft working inside her, stroking her tight channel. Tipping back her head, she lifted her arms and twined them behind her head, knowing that the motion thrust her breasts out more prominently.

  Her com-link beeped a tiny warning in her ear. She ignored it as the pilot surged upward, filling his hands with her breasts and suckling greedily on her nipples.

  “Mmm, yes. Like that.” The pleasure began to tighten inside her, and she rode harder, feeling her orgasm begin.

  Her com-link beeped again. Protocol demanded that whoever was paging her wait for an answer before opening a holo-vid link. She hoped for their sake they abided by the rules, because any commander who opened a link now was going to get an eyeful.

  A hologram sprang up in sharp relief against the shadowed stateroom. It was Slyde Stone, watching her ride the other man. His stance was rigid, jaw clenched, his eyes flaming with such heat she was vaguely surprised her skin didn’t burn.

  In the two lunar months they’d been working together, they’d been through a major crisis, trained new guards and improved the quality of security on the Orion. And through it all, the heat of desire hadn’t faded, and he still refused to act on it.

  Her gasp of shock caught in her throat and, as their eyes held, it became a soft, escalating moan as she climaxed harder than she had all night, pleasure imploding deep within her pussy and then exploding outward through her body. Her co-commander’s voyeurism was as delicious as the cock inside her.

  By the time she finally managed to open her pleasure-drugged eyes, he was gone.

  A short time later Sirena stepped outside the pilot’s stateroom and stopped short, startled to see her co-commander of the Serpentian guard walking toward her. Walk—such a colorless word to describe the way he moved. He strode, he prowled like the magnificent male creature he was. His tall, heavily muscled body erect and graceful, his beautifully shaped head held high, he surveyed her with narrowed eyes.

  His sculpted jaw was still clenched, his nostrils flared. Pushing back her hair, she eyed him cautiously. Great serpents, he wasn’t embarrassed. He was furious.

  Perhaps it would teach him a lesson. He could have been the male groaning with pleasure beneath her.

  Her own body hummed with satisfaction. She’d left her latest lover sprawled across the bed in the stateroom behind her. He wouldn’t wake for a long time, but when he did, it would be with a smile. As she recalled some of the things he’d done to her and with her, the corners of her mouth curled up with satisfaction.

  If she’d sighed, feeling detached even as he groaned his eternal devotion, that was no one’s business but her own. As was the fact she’d come most deliciously of all with Slyde watching them.

  “Commander Stone,” she said now, ignoring the way his narrow gaze made her want to touch her flight suit to see if it smoldered. Even after coming several times in the last hours, she still felt the usual low curl of desire at his nearness. But she’d resolved from the beginning that she wouldn’t hang on his sleeve. That was for dewy-eyed ingénues. Let the great beast tell her what was wrong, if he wished.

  Otherwise, she was headed straight for a hot shower-dry.

  Slyde berated himself in savage silence. What had he been thinking to confront Sirena here outside her lover’s door? Nothing coherent, that was certain. Since the instant he first saw her, he’d been thinking mostly with his cock.

  After he’d refused her in the bar that first night, he’d seen the fighter pilot preen himself before her. Had known how it would end when the fellow swaggered out of the bar after her. And he’d watched the scene repeated several times in the last two months. The lovely, sensual Sirena was a typical Serpentian, sharing her body with any male she chose. And he was nearing the end of his patience. He’d done his best to show her how well they got along as they trained, planned and worked together, had even resorted to showing off in sparring. But still she turned to other men.

  In a savage mood, he’d spent the last few hours patrolling the passageways of the Orion, from the command deck to the lowest cargo storage levels. He’d been between the ballroom and the passenger quarters when he was jolted out of his foul temper by a slight, acrid scent.

  He’d stopped and closed his eyes, opening his olfactory senses further to the smells eddying around him. A cruise and transport ship, the Orion carried cargo and beings from the far ends of the galaxy, all on various intersecting journeys across the galaxy.

  Some of the beings, to be honest, stank. Serpentians, with their enhanced olfactory senses, had to put up with those who weren’t as meticulous in personal hygiene as they. Once in a while, fresh cargo spoiled and the stench invaded the area outside the cargo bays before it could be jettisoned and the bay cryogenically cleansed. Those incidents were to be expected.

  But this scent left uneasiness slithering through him. He couldn’t trace it anywhere in particular, but he knew it. It was the scent of danger. Since his first duty was to the safety of his ship, he tried instantly to contact his co-commander to alert the guard and begin a concerted search.

  When she didn’t answer, he’d overridden a prime rule of courtesy on board ship and opened a com-link between them. He bitterly regretted his decision. Because now he had to do more than imagine the things she allowed her lovers to do to her—the things he dreamed of doing to her, with her, himself.

  Now he’d seen her.
Her lovely body naked, kneeling astride another male, riding him with perfect, sensual grace. Had seen the other man’s hands on the taut swell of her ass, his mouth on the perfect globes of her breasts.

  Now he knew her skin was the same silken gold over her entire body, save for the dusky peach of her nipples and the delicate line of auburn that limned her mons. Knew how those scant curls looked soaked with another man’s seed, how the pink lips of her labia stretched taut around another man’s glistening cock as he drove it in and out of her.

  Now he knew her soft, escalating moans as she enjoyed her orgasm. And the look in her eyes as she came, because their eyes had locked and he’d been unable to break away, drowning in those emerald depths.

  Controlling his anger with a supreme effort, he stopped before her. Her golden cheeks were flushed, emerald eyes sleepy, her auburn mane tousled. Even the collar of her sleek top was crooked, which she would never allow on duty. It was obvious she’d just come from her lover’s arms. Arms that Slyde wanted to rip off and feed to the bastard.

  He grimaced as her fragrances mingled with the stench of another male ripped at his sensitive olfactory glands like rotting Pangaean fruit.

  She raised an arching brow at him.

  “Commander?” she asked in her throaty voice. “Are you well?”

  “That’s a question I might ask you,” he answered, his deep voice as rough as mountain stones grating together. “Were the answer not so obvious.”

  She straightened, frowning. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Merely that a shower-dry is in order. You reek of your lover’s sweat.”

  “Commander Stone. You forget yourself.”

  “Forget?” he sneered. “I’m not the one who has lain with too many lovers to remember.”