by Abella Ward
“It pains me to see you like this,” he said. It was the last thing I expected to hear. I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing. “The guards have been waiting. I can see it in their eyes. They are desperate to have you, to break you. That is why I hired them after all, to break people. Do you want to be broken? Do you want this hot iron burning your precious skin? These pliers ripping out your teeth and your nails? Do you have any idea how painful that is?”
I shook my head. I could imagine, but there was only one way to know and I was desperate to not know.
He moved in front of me, his thumb traced the outline of my lips. I closed my eyes, allowing myself this one moment to enjoy his soft touch. He was so tender and gentle with me. I never wanted him to stop, but eventually, he pulled away.
I opened my eyes and saw his blue ones staring directly into mine. “Tell me,” he whispered. He leaned into me, breathing on my neck, whispering in my ear. “Tell me where you were going. Let me help you.”
“Why do you want to help me?” I asked. “Why?”
“Can you not guess?” he asked. His hands were tracing the lines of my neck. I had to struggle to keep myself from falling onto him. I was ready to crumble and I wanted to just fall into his arms and let him take me from this place.
“I want you,” he whispered. His voice was so low and quiet that for a moment I almost didn’t believe him. “I found out you were the smuggler who was sneaking past my borders. I had my men track you down. When I saw your picture, I was stunned. You were beautiful and smart, but even more than that, you were free. Free like I am free.”
He took a step back and I longed for his comforting touch. The chains on my wrist were heavy, I was tired and hungry. From a bag, he pulled out a container of water. I couldn’t stop the whine that escaped my throat when I saw it.
He walked towards me but stopped a few feet away. Lugging my chains, I walked towards him and the water. The chains lifted off the ground, and then they were stopping me. My arms were pulled behind me as I strained towards the cool drink held in his hands.
Strath tilted my chin up and set the container against my lips. He allowed a small sip to enter my mouth and I swallowed it. I sighed, it was wonderful.
“More, please, My Lord,” I said. He brought the container up again and allowed more to enter my mouth. He let me drink my fill watching me all the while.
“It pains me to see you like this,” he said as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “But it makes sense. You are a bird. It was foolish of me to think that I could contain you.”
I opened my mouth to speak but then stopped myself. He saw the gesture and in two steps he was on me.
“What?” he asked me, “What were you going to say? Tell me.”
“It’s not that, My Lord. I just...I can’t just pick up and leave my life. I have people depending on me.”
“Who?” he asked.
I just shook my head.
He looked at me with a dawning realization. It came over his face slowly, like a sunrise coming over the mountains. He nodded and said nothing as I waited with bated breath. “And you are desperate to return to these unnamed people? So desperate that you would run from me?”
“I don’t want to. I have to,” I said.
I could see in his eyes that he knew. He must have guessed that I was with the rebellion. What would he do? I was ready for him to hit me, or tell me he had to turn me in, but instead he just stared at me. Looking into my soul through my eyes.
“You must? Is it that important to you?” he asked.
“Yes, My Lord. But if you let me leave, if you would let me do this one last thing. I would return to you, I promise.”
“You promise,” he echoed. He was looking into my eyes, searching for a lie, but at that moment, it was the truth.
“Yes, I swear it. I was grateful for your hospitality and I would gladly return to it. But I have something I have to do first.”
“Tell me what it is. I will do it for you.”
“No, My Lord, I must do it.”
He didn’t like that. His handsome face fell into an angry frown. He stomped away from me, walking to the corner of the room where he slammed his powerful hand on the wall. He let out a guttural angry yell and I turned my face away, terrified he might turn that anger back to me.
He nodded. “I am no fool, Andromeda,” he said through pursed lips. “This is a dangerous business and you have no place in it.”
“I’m stronger than I look,” I said.
“Tell me, how much is this worth to you? What would you do for freedom?”
“Anything,” I answered.
He was on top of me, his eyes searching my body and then he was pushing me back as if I was nothing. The heavy chains scraped across the floor and I shuddered when my back hit the cold, wet wall.
“Anything?” he asked. His face was only a few inches away from mine. I could have leaned forward and kissed him.
“Yes, My Lord,” I answered, my voice a heavy whisper.
“Give yourself to me,” he whispered into my ear. “For one night. Come to my chambers and submit to me and in the morning you can have your ship and you may go anywhere you would like. What do you think of these terms, Andromeda Nus?”
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation.
He pulled back as if surprised by my answer.
“Very well,” he said and then to my surprise he produced the key to my handcuffs and undid them. I gasped as the heavy chains fell from my wrists. I stumbled forward, my center of balance off. I had grown used to the weight of the chains. Strath was there, he caught me and held me up.
“The guards will take you to a room where you can shower, rest and prepare yourself for me,” he said.
I looked up at him, so tall and strong above me. “As you wish, My Lord.”
Chapter Eight
The guards came and I was handcuffed and led away between them. The cuffs felt so silly and pointless. What threat could I possibly be to them? They were so much stronger than I was. But I did not fight in any way. I had agreed to this willingly, happily. In some way, it was what I wanted.
It felt strange to be back in my old room. I ran my hands along the thick red fibers of my coverlet. I looked at the screens, seeing the stars reflected back at me. I turned the lights all the way down and let myself breathe. There was food left out for me: bread, meats, cheeses and fruits. It was a bounty, but my stomach had shrunk and I was quickly full.
I peeled my disgusting clothes off and put them in the trash. I let hot water steam the bathroom before stepping into the spray. The water combed through my hair, dislodging all the filth and dirt and hay that had accumulated in the last few days. I turned around and opened my mouth, drinking the hot water, letting it wet my lips. Crying from relief.
I cleaned myself from head to toe. Every last bit of dirt was removed from underneath my fingers. I scrubbed myself roughly with a brush. The soap smelled like lavender, it was rich and silky, far nicer than anything I was used to.
I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around myself. I didn’t even bother getting dressed. I dropped the wet towel at the foot of my bed and climbed between the sheets. The bed was so soft and warm. My eyes were heavy, I struggled for a moment to stay awake.
Was I worried about my deal with Strath? I felt that I should have been, but I wasn’t. I remembered our kiss from the night of the festival. His mouth on mine, the feel of his body, his strength and power had been intoxicating. I had wanted him then. Did I still want him now?
The fact that this great Lord who oversaw thousands was this interested in me seemed impossible. He was surrounded by beautiful women, at least three of them, at all times. I’m sure there were thousands of women on this ship who would have been thrilled to join him in his bed. But out of all of them, he only wanted me.
He thought I was free. He thought I was like him, answering to no master. I wasn’t though. I wasn’t like him. I had a cause I was tethered to. A cause I was not willin
g to give up.
I drifted off into a deep sleep. While I was sleeping, I had a dream that a man came to me. The room was only lit by the stars on the screen, I could not bear to turn them off before falling asleep. I watched his silhouette against the stars. He entered the room and removed his toga. I could see the strong muscles in his shoulders work as he walked towards me.
He sat on the edge of the bed and ran his hand along my forehead, pushing aside a strand of hair.
With a gasp, I awoke. Strath was sitting above me. He bade me to sit up and when I did, he brought a glass of water to my mouth and I drank eagerly. He put the glass down and cupped my cheek in his hand.
He leaned down and kissed me. I kissed him back, my tongue sliding over his lips and into his mouth. He gripped my hair and pulled me even closer. My hand traced a line down his strong chest.
He broke the kiss and looked down at my wrists, still red from the chains. He shook his head and kissed them both gently, carefully. The sight of this strong Lord in such a tender pose made me want him even more. I broke my hands free of his wrists and wrapped my arms around his neck pulling him in for a kiss.
His hand found my breast and he massaged it gently as we continued our embrace. I broke the kiss letting my head fall back. I wasn’t expecting his touch to be so light. He was so strong, he could crush bricks with his hands, but he was so gentle with me.
His expert fingers explored my body, sparking fire along my collarbone and in the hollow of my throat. Then his mouth replaced his hands. He licked and kissed along my neck. The softness of his lips combined with the scruff of his jaw created an engulfing sensation that made me tremble in his arms. My entire body shuddered and then I could take no more, I pulled his head up again and kissed him hard.
“Come to bed,” I whispered to him. Our foreheads were touching and he nodded and slid between the sheets next to me.
He was on his back and I trailed a line of kisses down his chest and his stomach. He was hard and I grazed him with my lips before taking the length of him in my hand. He moaned and his head fell back as I moved my hand up and down, slowly, teasing him with feather-light touches.
I could have stared at his body all night. Each muscle was well defined and I could not stop from leaning down and kissing his stomach. He grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me to him. His lips crashed against mine. I lightened my touch on him. My fingers just barely grazing his hot skin.
He growled, took me by the shoulders and pushed me down. He knelt between me, my legs on either side of him. I felt suddenly exposed lying like this underneath him. My entire body was open to him. I tried to cover myself, but he gently grabbed my wrist and stopped me. His hands moved up and down my body, touching every inch of me. He massaged my breast and traced a circle around my nipple. He moved lower seizing my thighs in his hands. I could feel his strength as he dug into my flesh.
I was desperate for him to touch me. I didn’t care that he was a Dolcivs and I was a human. I only cared about his touch. I needed relief from the pressure he had built up. I writhed underneath him and he leaned down and took my breast in his mouth.
Arching my back, I strained for his touch. He sat back on his knees and stared down at me, drinking me in. Consuming me with his eyes. As he stared he reached down and took himself in his hand and then slowly, oh so slowly, he pushed himself into me. I gasped as my body adjusted to his size. For a moment, my entire body froze as he thrust into me. But it was only a moment, I was wet and ready for him. He began to move back and forth in a slow rhythm. My hands were on his shoulder, pulling him down to kiss me as he moved slowly in and out.
My fingers curled into fists. He kissed the curve of my neck and I took a ragged breath. I moved with him, lost in the sensations of his hands and lips and the feeling of having him inside of me. Then we were moving. He spun me over until I was on top of him, staying in me the entire time.
I sat up on top of him. He was deep inside of me. Pressing one hand onto his firm chest I began to move my hips back and forth. He grabbed my breasts, holding onto me as we moved together.
“Yes,” I moaned as he touched that part inside of me that was made of fire.
“Yes,” he groaned as I panted above him. Electricity was sparking through my veins. I sped up and a bolt of pleasure coursed through me. Passion was streaming through my veins, building up to a desperate release. I never wanted this to stop. It felt so good. I looked down and saw that he was looking at me, right into my eyes.
My lips parted and I whispered for him to keep going. I begged, the words falling from my lips, my mouth as out of control as the rest of my body. We moved together falling into a rhythm, working perfectly in sync. I had never felt anything like this before. It was overwhelming and uncontrollable and I never, ever wanted it to stop.
A blinding pleasure was pulsing through me.
“Don’t stop, Strath,” I begged. I clung to his shoulders as my entire body tensed and then relief was crashing through me. My body thrashed above him and he pulled me down to his chest as he finished with a few powerful thrusts.
Finally, it was over and I lay on top of him panting. His hands caressed my back as he was breathing heavily into my ear. We were both hot and I rolled off him and onto my back as his hand found mine.
We were both too spent to speak. I just rolled over and felt him follow me. He wrapped his arms around me and I settled back into him. He was warm and soft and within seconds I was asleep.
Chapter Nine
A light went on, pulling me from my deep sleep. Groggy, I stared into the light, it was from the open doorway. There was a Dolcivs female standing there. She spoke softly, but I could not make out what she was saying. Next to me Strath shifted in the bed.
“Thank you,” he said to the woman who quickly left. Strath slowly sat up. I rolled over to face him, running my hands over his muscular back. I remembered last night. The way we had moved together. Would we continue? I wanted there to be more.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. My voice was rough and he handed me a glass of water and I drank it gratefully.
“Nothing’s wrong,” he answered taking the glass from me and then smoothing down my messy bed head. “It’s just morning and I have work to do.”
“It’s morning?” I asked. My internal clock was off. I had no idea how long I had slept. My wrists stung as they grazed the blanket and I remembered the fate I had just narrowly avoided.
“Yes. And as always, I have much to do. Though it is very tempting to lie here in bed with you,” he paused for a long moment and looked at the stars on the screens all around us. “However, you and I had an agreement and you have fulfilled your end. Your ship has been put back together and is ready for you to leave. No one will stop you when you go.”
“Thank you,” I said. I fell back on the bed. My head landing on the soft pillow. It was so tempting to just stay in this bed. To allow myself to become the plaything of this Lord. I could be like one of the three women he kept in his bed. My only obligation to look beautiful and please him.
Who was I kidding? I would never last in such a role. I would get bored and become quarrelsome. I would start trouble. No, I wasn't built for that kind of domesticity.
Strath scoffed, “Perhaps I should be thanking you.”
He stood up and I followed him with my eyes. “Will I ever see you again?” I asked him.
“That’s up to you,” he answered. What did that mean? Did he want me to come back, even with my ties to the rebellion? Would he want me even if I wasn’t as free as he was?
“Goodbye, Andromeda Nus,” Strath said stroking my cheek. “Be careful.”
I nodded. I knew that I should have said something, but I didn't know what. It was like I was holding a bag filled with all of my emotions. I kept reaching in and pulling out a new one: I wanted him, but I wanted to get the rebellion plans, I was attracted to him, but his people were my enemy. I wanted him but I knew I could never have him.
It felt strange to be back
in my ship. Strath’s men had done their best to put it back together, but it still wasn’t quite right. Things weren’t where I left them, the settings were built for someone of Dolcivs size. I felt like a stranger in my own home, awkward and confused as I wandered from place to place.
I dallied. I fiddled with my machines, ran diagnostics. I should have just gone, started the engines and been on my way, but some part of me was still hoping that Strath would come. I didn’t know what I wanted him to say or what I wanted to say. I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye to him yet. I didn’t know if we would ever see each other again and I wanted to know what he was going to do. Where was he going to go? It seemed impossible that we had just met and already we were being pulled apart.
Finally, there was nothing left to do but go. I fired up my engines, received permission from the men in the command post and navigated out into open space. I fell into the gravity well of the red giant. From down here I could see the true size of Strath’s ship. It was massive, an entire city filled with thousands on one ship. It was so big it had its own gravitational pull and it was affecting my orbit. Pulling me back to it.
I entered the radio signal needed to locate the data packet. I had it memorized in my head and hadn’t told it to anyone. After everything that had happened, I had managed to keep the rebellion’s plans secret after all. All it had required was the best sex of my life. Not a bad deal.
I wasn’t worried about Strath following me. There was no way his great ship could traverse the thick, dangerous atmosphere of the gas giant. He had smaller vessels that could have survived in it, but it would be hard to follow me in the chaos of the planet’s poisonous gasses.
My ship descended into the gas giant. Red and yellow mists floated around me as one by one my sensors began to glitch and malfunction. The dense atmosphere messed with my equipment. It set off sensors and alarms even though there was nothing there. That’s why this planet was the perfect hiding spot.
I only needed the radio to work in order to locate the data packet. I sent out the signal and waited for the responding ping. There was a probe on this planet with the information. It was looking for me and I was looking for it, we just needed to find one another.
