The Queen’s Triumph (Rogue Queen)

by Jessie Mihalik

  “If I kiss you right now, I’m not going to stop at a kiss. And then we won’t take off, and Ari and Luka will interrupt us to figure out what’s going on.”

  Heat blazed in Valentin’s eyes, and his hand flexed against mine. “Get us in the air,” he demanded, his voice low and rough.

  I shivered as the sound washed over me. I reluctantly let go of his hand and stepped away from him. Moving away felt impossible, but the faster I got us in the air, the faster I could stop worrying about interruptions.

  I slid into the captain’s chair and the console lit up. After a final, heated glance that caused my stomach to clench, Valentin dropped into the navigator’s chair and shrugged into the harness. I did the same.

  The console was an update on the familiar controls of Invictia. Everything was just a little easier, a little nicer. I let ground control know that we were about to take off, then went through the launch precheck. Ardia passed all of the checks with flying colors.

  I opened the hangar roof and a slate gray sky slowly appeared on the screens that lined the front of the bridge. Looking at the screens, it was as if the front of the ship didn’t exist and I could see directly outside. The images were piped in from the cameras embedded on the hull.

  Once the roof was fully open, I initiated the liftoff under fully manual control. I wanted to see how the ship handled before I put the autopilot through its paces. The ship rose, and the ground dropped away in a dizzying rush. The engine barely hummed, not taxed at all.

  “Oh, you’re a beauty,” I murmured appreciatively. “Hold on,” I warned Valentin.

  At his nod, I jerked the controls hard to port. The ship slid sideways through the air, as smooth as butter. I felt a very slight pull against the harness holding me in the chair, but the compensators were the best I’d ever experienced.

  I flew a crazy pattern, just because I could. The ship kept up beautifully without so much as a single warning beep.

  I laughed in pure delight.

  A few minutes later, we broke atmosphere and entered into the vast openness of space. I plotted a course to a distant planet. The stardrive’s recharge time was listed as just under three hours, which was unbelievable. I looked at Valentin, who had turned his chair so he could see me. “Is this recharge time correct?”

  He nodded, a smile hovering on his lips. “But I would prefer if you kept it to yourself.”

  “You should’ve been destroying Quint,” I murmured.

  Valentin nodded. “Maybe not destroying, but we certainly would’ve been doing better if they hadn’t known our every move before we made it.” His tone took on a dangerous edge. “And now that the traitors have been removed, Quint will find us a much more difficult opponent if they decide to back out of the treaty talks.”

  “Is that a concern?”

  He shook his head. “Not currently.”

  I looked at the plotted route again. “I told Ari not to expect me back tonight. Is Luka going to freak out if I tunnel us somewhere?”

  The corner of Valentin’s mouth curled up into a wicked grin. “Probably. Where are you taking me?”

  “Somewhere where we won’t be bothered for a while. Is that okay?”

  I froze as Valentin’s attention morphed. Before, he’d been contained. Now languorous heat filled his eyes and smile. He watched me with the still, quiet patience of a large predator.

  “Are you planning to take advantage of me?” he asked, his voice rough.

  Desired blazed bright, bringing with it the urge to play. I grinned at him. “Very much so.”

  He made a low sound, and his fists clenched against his thighs.

  I changed our destination to Trigon Seven, a local planet. It was still technically in the Rogue Coalition’s loose boundaries, but the planet was uninhabitable, so that part of space was empty.

  The planet was also very pretty, bathed in brilliant colors that swirled through the gaseous atmosphere.

  I tweaked the route to ensure we were on the sunny side of the planet and plotted a distant orbit that put us well outside of any danger from the planet itself.

  As fun as it was to tease Valentin, I needed an honest answer. “Would you prefer to stay here in case something comes up?”

  His mouth quirked, but he resisted making the joke I’d inadvertently set up for him. “No, I’d prefer to go somewhere. That way you won’t be able to escape for at least three hours.” The predatory look returned. “If only Ardia had a worse stardrive.”

  I focused on him completely, as if he were one of my targets. He stilled, recognizing the danger. I let desire bleed into my expression and warned, “If we transit, you won’t be able to escape me.”

  “Tunnel now,” he demanded.

  I hit the confirmation button without looking. Ardia easily slid through space with barely any vibration. The stardrive truly was exceptional.

  Trigon Seven had barely appeared on the screens before Valentin was on his feet, muscles tense.

  Anticipation tightened my stomach, but I checked our course to ensure we wouldn’t accidentally find ourselves in a moon in the next few hours. That done, I slowly unclipped my harness and stood. Now it was finally time to play.

  Valentin lunged towards me, only to pause when I mirrored his movement, keeping the captain’s chair between us. He frowned and took a purposeful step around the chair. I matched the step with a grin. I wouldn’t be caught so easily.

  Before he could cut off my escape, I dashed for the door with a laugh. It took a heartbeat, but then his steps echoed mine. The ship was too small to truly provide much challenge, but I sprinted down the main hallway and vaulted over the railing into the cargo bay. I landed in a roll, using my momentum to bring me back to my feet. I turned to dash down the lower hallway, but Valentin landed in front of me, absorbing the fall with his legs.

  He had me, and he knew it. A feral, victorious smile transformed him into the hottest thing I’d ever seen. I trembled as my desire blazed out of control, but I couldn’t give up quite so easily.

  I moved to dart around him, but Valentin snagged my waist in a lightning fast move that would’ve been hard to counter—had I wanted to, which I didn’t. He pivoted so that we ended up chest to chest, with his arms wrapped around me. I tipped my head back to meet his eyes, and my breath caught at the blatant desire carved into his face.

  Then his mouth crashed down on mine and static filled my thoughts. There was only heat and lust and the slick slide of his tongue.

  I buried my hands in his hair and arched into him. After several moments, I broke the kiss long enough to gasp, “Bed!” I wasn’t too particular about the location, as long as he started losing clothes and soon.

  He bent and swept my legs out from under me as he lifted me against his chest. I kissed the strong column of his neck and his steps faltered. Pleased, I did it again, and he growled something unintelligible.

  We made it to the master suite, and Valentin set me on my feet. With proof of his care and devotion surrounding me, I strategized the fastest way to get him out of his clothes. He beat me to it, though, peeling himself out of his sweater with such slow deliberation that it had to have been intentional.

  I watched, mesmerized, as lean muscles encased in golden skin were revealed a centimeter at a time. Once the sweater hit the floor, I pressed my hands to the hard ridges of his abdomen, and his breath caught.

  He drew me closer, and I met his mouth halfway. The kiss was a sweet exploration, a homecoming, and a roaring fire all rolled into one.

  I wanted him. Now.

  I pulled back and dipped one finger under the waistband of his pants. At his nod, I popped the button open. Together, we freed him from the last of his clothes.

  He stood, naked and proud, his desire obvious and unmistakable—and deliciously thick.

  “Can I touch you?” I whispered.

  “Yes, anywhere you like.” He flashed a crooked grin. “I have some suggestions if you need ideas.”

  I stepped closer and closed
my hand around his length, giving him a single stroke from base to tip. His breath hissed out, and his head tipped back. “That’s an excellent start,” he said.

  I chuckled. “I thought so.”

  He met my gaze, his gray eyes both hot and tender. “You’re wearing far too many clothes.”

  I loved my body, with all of its strengths and flaws, but next to Valentin’s golden perfection, I felt the flaws more than usual. But the heat in his expression burned away the anxiety.

  I slowly peeled off my clothes, and as each new piece fell away, Valentin’s eyes darkened. When I was bare, he reached out a reverent hand, not touching. At my nod, he cupped the curve of my waist, his hand hot against my skin.

  Now it was my turn for my breath to catch. And when he slid that hand up, slowly, slowly, over my ribs and to the underside of my breast, I bit my lip against the urge to climb him right where he stood. His palm lifted the weight of my breast while his thumb smoothed across the pebbled nipple.

  I moaned, my muscles clenched tight. This was exquisite torture.

  Then his head dipped and a hot mouth replaced his thumb. I arched and buried my hands in his hair, desperate to hold him in place.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered against my skin. “I’m afraid this is only a dream and it’ll evaporate when I wake.”

  Tender affection swept through me. I pulled his face up to mine and stared into his eyes. “Then we should make it the best dream possible.” I kissed him, slow and deep. “But I’m not going anywhere.”

  We eventually stumbled our way to the bed. I pivoted at the last second so Valentin ended up below me, spread out like a feast. I pressed tiny, heated kisses to his neck, shoulder, chest, and abs, working my way down with endless patience, even as desire turned my blood molten.

  When I licked him, his whole body shuddered. When I enveloped him in the heat of my mouth, his back bowed and he groaned, “Fuck.”

  I drew it out as long as I could, but eventually desire won. I climbed up until he pressed exactly where I needed him. “Yes?” I confirmed. He nodded and watched with hooded eyes as I slowly sank down on his length.

  My nerves lit with pleasure as he stretched me, and I let my head fall back at the sheer delight. Beneath me, Valentin groaned. His hands wrapped around my waist, and he effortlessly lifted me a few centimeters then pulled me back with a flex of his hips.

  Stars exploded behind my eyes. I braced my hands on his shoulders and found my rhythm. I set a brutal pace, past teasing. I drove our pleasure higher and higher, until I didn’t think I could survive it. Then with a twist of his hips and a thumb pressing exactly where I needed it, Valentin catapulted me into bliss.

  He rolled us over and drove into me, prolonging the pleasure. When I raked my nails down his back, he shuddered and joined me in ecstasy.

  We were both breathing hard and sweat glistened on our skin. Valentin collapsed to the side, pulling me with him until we were pressed together in a tangle of limbs. He kissed me, slowly, tenderly.

  I drifted with my head on his chest, listening to the beat of his heart. I was happy, content, boneless with pleasure, and willing to stay here for as long as possible.

  Valentin seemingly shared my thoughts. “If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up,” he whispered.

  I leaned up and kissed the corner of his mouth. “Me, either.” Then I gave him a sultry glance from under my lashes. “But whatever are we going to do for the next couple of hours until we can return to Arx?”

  He rolled over and braced himself above me with a growl. “I can think of a few things.”

  I gave him a brilliant smile. “So can I.”

  Chapter Five

  Valentin and I returned to Arx in the early hours after midnight. I’d planned to stay away all night, but responsibility and worry kept nipping at me in quiet moments. Ardia settled into the hangar with a gentle bump. It truly was a lovely ship.

  We walked back to my suite. At the door, Valentin paused, looking uncertain.

  I held out a hand. “Join me?” I invited.

  He slid his hand into mine and pulled me close. “Always. But I didn’t want to assume or cause trouble for you with your people.”

  I laughed. “Our relationship isn’t exactly a secret. There’s a betting pool for when we’ll seal the deal, so to speak. Ari is running it.”

  Valentin blinked in shock for a second before a grin tipped up the corner of his mouth. “Did we ruin her chances at fabulous wealth?”

  I matched his grin. “Probably.”

  I opened the door, and we took the private stairs up to my rooms. I hadn’t moved back to the top floor yet, even though we could afford to heat it again. Maybe I would once Adams was no longer a concern.

  “Does Luka know that you’re back?”

  Valentin nodded, and his grin deepened. “He seemed somewhat distracted when I linked him earlier. And less enthused about my early return than I thought he would be.”

  My eyebrows rose. “Him and Imogen?”

  Valentin lifted one shoulder. “I didn’t ask, but I told him I’d be sleeping somewhere else tonight.”

  “And if I hadn’t invited you?”

  “I would’ve circled back and slept on the ship.” Valentin pulled me close, his hands on my hips. “But I was hoping for an invite,” he murmured.

  “I sleep naked,” I warned. “And steal the covers.”

  He nuzzled my cheek. “So do I,” he whispered into my ear, “and I’ll risk it.”

  I woke with Valentin spooning me from behind, his arm wrapped around my waist and the covers tucked around us both. I was pleasantly sore in all the best ways. I mentally checked my messages, but nothing urgent had come in overnight. In fact, my inbox was suspiciously light, and I wondered if Ari had warned people to leave me alone.

  When I stretched, Valentin hugged me close and pressed a kiss to the back of my neck. His lips weren’t the only thing pressing against me.

  “Did you have good dreams?” I asked with a hidden grin.

  “Mmm,” he agreed sleepily. “I dreamed of you.”

  Bright, sparkling happiness spread through me like the sweetest honey. “Was dream me nice?”

  “Very.” He shifted his hips, rubbing against me. “Shall I show you what we were doing?”

  I moaned as desire ignited. “Please.”

  By the time we emerged from my suite, it was nearly lunchtime. We’d showered twice because the first time had led to more distraction. When we stopped by the guest suite to pick up Luka, we also found Imogen. They both looked coolly professional, but they were standing just a little closer together.

  I pressed my lips together to stop the smile. “Have you eaten?” I asked.

  Imogen shook her head. “Not yet. We were waiting for you. Of course, we waited for breakfast, too, until it became clear you wouldn’t be making an appearance.” She said it with a straight face, but her eyes danced. She looked happy and relaxed, so whatever had happened—if anything—had been good for her.

  “Well, I’m starving, so let’s eat, and then we’ll see what needs to be done today.”

  When everyone agreed, I slipped my arm through Valentin’s and led the way to the mess hall. Eddie was on duty behind the counter, and he took one look at our faces, then our linked arms, and scowled playfully. “I owe Stella twenty credits,” he grumbled. “I—”

  I shook my head. “I don’t even want to know,” I said before he could elaborate.

  His grin was sly. “Maybe you can make it up to me. Did you f—”

  “Not one more word, Eddie, or you really will be peeling potatoes until the end of time.”

  He held up his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. Did you at least enjoy dinner first?”

  “Eddie,” I warned. When he gave me an unrepentant grin that couldn’t quite hide his eagerness to know what I thought of the meal, I relented. “Dinner was exceptional. You outdid yourself. Thank you.”

  “Dinner was delicious,” Valentin agree
d. “You have incredible talent.”

  Eddie’s grin softened into a smile that made him look younger. “I’m glad, and you’re welcome. It’s nice to flex my culinary skills occasionally.”

  I took a deep breath, trying to figure out what was for lunch. The air was rich with spices and garlic. “What smells so good?”

  “Pasta with vegetables and garlic bread.”

  “Is that lunch or dinner? Because it smells amazing.” My stomach growled in agreement.

  “It’s lunch. You all eating?”

  At my nod, Eddie served up four plates of pasta and vegetables topped with cheese. A thick slice of bread slathered with butter and roasted garlic accompanied each plate. For the past month, Eddie had slowly been increasing the richness of the meals he prepared so that the transition from PRiMeR wasn’t as jarring to the system.

  Clearly the transition period was over.

  The food was as delicious as it smelled, and conversation was light as we all focused on our meal. I made a mental note to check with Eddie to ensure his assistants could handle the kitchen while he was in CP57 with us.

  I had so many things to do to prepare and so little time to do them. The meeting was supposed to be in two weeks, which meant I needed to be in CP57 already. I trusted my team, but nothing beat being there in person. And Adams would be a fool if he waited until the meeting date to arrive. Best case, I’d catch him early and unprepared. Worst case, he’d do the same to me.

  And I’d had enough of worst-case scenarios where that asshole was concerned.

  After lunch, I visited medical with Valentin and our ever-present shadows. It was a whirlwind of activity. Stella stood in the eye of the storm, directing the chaos. Two large duffels were slowly being filled with supplies for every conceivable injury.

  “Make sure you leave enough for everyone here,” I advised mildly.

  Stella scowled at me. “If you’re just here to cause trouble, go bother someone else.”

  “Will you be ready to go tomorrow?”

  “I’ll be ready by dinner,” she said. Her expression turned forbidding as one of her assistants nearly dropped an expensive trauma-doc. The man ducked his head with a muttered apology, his pale cheeks bright red. Stella turned back to me. “Is it tomorrow then?”