by Berinn Rae
Her hands flashed out so fast Jamila didn’t see them coming before they were tangled in her hair. The woman wrenched her neck back and she couldn’t contain the small gasp of pain. “By the way, Galen is mine. I’ll make sure you pay if he fucks you.”
“Ann! Let her go, now,” Galen shouted from across the room. His long legs ate up the distance as he came to her aid.
She met Ann’s gaze. “He’ll beat you bloody if I tell him you’ve threatened me. He already knows what you said to the room. I’m guessing it was unkind, dirty, or threatening. Do you really want to wait around for him to make it over here?”
Ann released her, and fear darkened the woman’s features. She turned and stalked away. Jamila took a breath in relief and rotated her neck. Ann had pulled it so hard that it would be sore for days. If she could only go back and start today over.
Galen reached her side and thumped two prepackaged meals on the table. He cupped his hand over her neck and massaged gently. “Did she hurt you? What did she say?”
“Yes, she hurt me, but not much. And she threatened me. Said you were her fuck buddy and I should keep my distance.”
He snorted. “I’m hardly hers. We had sex before I left for my mission, over a month ago. I can’t believe she hasn’t found someone else.”
“Whatever. You’re not mine. Keep her away from me. What did she shout to the room?”
His knuckles cracked as his hands clenched into fists. “That you wanted to be fucked by one of us. That you couldn’t wait. Don’t worry. I’ll have a talk with them after I take you to your room. I won’t let any harm come to you.”
She was starting to think he couldn’t prevent it.
• • •
He watched as she ate. She grimaced with every bite. It wasn’t the kind of food she was used to. This was only a little better than what she’d given the orphans in the Haven district. It was for survival, not to invigorate your senses with decadence. He was sorry he couldn’t offer her more. Though surely she’d traveled and eaten similar food.
She pushed away her half eaten meal and massaged her temples. This headache worried him. Her little bump on the head shouldn’t have caused such a powerful migraine. Cyborgs didn’t get headaches. Was something wrong with her? Surely if there was it would have been detected by her doctors and removed. It was time to take her to lie down.
“Are you done?”
“Yes, it tastes horrible.”
“Sorry about that; the meals aren’t going to get any better either. We’re searching for a planet to settle on, but the search for a habitable one is difficult. Until then we have to deal with the rations we steal.”
She sighed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.”
He snorted. “I think you have every right to be. It’s not a problem. I can handle one crabby, small woman.”
She glared at him. “Yeah, until I rack you.”
He arched a brow. “I’m pretty sure I could grab you before you managed that.”
He stood and held out his hand and helped her up. They quickly exited the dining hall while he glowered at everyone who dared to stare at her. This was one problem he had to deal with. It had taken him quite a bit of restraint not to injure her by accident. If one of these men went near her … he didn’t even want to think about what would happen. Especially if someone decided to have sex with her. He knew she wouldn’t consent to that and it would probably get her killed. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. He loathed putting her in this situation. She’d proved to be a good person, despite her upbringing. She didn’t deserve to be threatened by his people.
Ann’s reaction puzzled him. The sex between them was casual. No strings. It often was among cyborgs. And yet she acted like she possessed him. He’d have to set her straight. He belonged to no one, and right now, the only person he wanted to fuck was clutching his hand like a lifeline.
He glanced at Jamila. She still trusted him, even though she said she never would again. He was the lesser of evils. Not a compliment, but it wasn’t hopeless to try and wiggle his way back into her good graces. Well, if he didn’t have to maintain the act that he would kill her if they didn’t get what they wanted from her father. If they let her communicate with her father at all, she had to believe her life was in danger. It put an unfortunate kink in his plan to seduce her. Nothing he couldn’t get around but he regretted causing her stress.
He arrived at the door to his chambers and it slid open. He pulled her inside and sat her on the bed. “Why don’t you shower while I get you a painkiller?”
She nodded and he left, silently locking the door behind him. He couldn’t bear watching her get undressed. Not while she was in his room, and would be sleeping in his bed. He shook his head. He was a grown man. He could handle a beautiful woman sleeping next to him. He snorted. No he couldn’t.
He turned the corner a few feet from the infirmary and spotted Ann sashaying toward him. “Do you want her, Galen? Don’t deny it. I’ve seen the way you stared at her. Held her hand.”
Just what he wanted to do right now; arguing with Ann was annoying at best. “If you know the answer, why ask the question? I want her, but I can’t have her, so it’s moot. She doesn’t want me back.” He was positive that wasn’t true, but he wasn’t about to share that with Ann.
Ann trailed a finger down his shirt. “Why don’t you come with me then, and work out your frustrations. We had incredible sex.”
It had been alright. She was a little too fake for his tastes. He got her off, but none of her responses were genuine. Not like Jamila. Every time he touched her, he could see exactly what she was feeling. Exactly what he did to her. It was intoxicating.
“No, thank you. I have to keep an eye on her. I don’t have time to fuck you. If I don’t get back, she may try to escape.”
“Then tie her up. You should put her in a holding cell anyway.”
“She’s not a criminal, Ann. She’s not even dangerous. But she is resourceful. By the way, don’t ever threaten her again. Stay away from her. She’s not a threat to you, and she’s a good person who doesn’t deserve anything we’re doing to her. If you hurt her, I’ll make sure you suffer.”
She snarled. “She’s human. They deserve whatever they get.” She turned and stalked off. He ground his teeth. She wasn’t going to stop. He was going to have to watch Jamila and keep her far away from Ann. He finished his walk to the infirmary and grabbed a painkiller.
When he made it back to his room, Jamila was face down on the bed in one of his shirts. It rode up, and didn’t cover her ass all the way. He bit back a moan as his cock hardened in a rush. Her long legs hung over the edge of the bed, and all he could imagine doing was spreading them and plunging into her wet, warm cunt from behind. Stop. Her head aches. And she’s still angry with you. No matter how much he repeated that mantra, his libido refused to listen.
“Jamila, are you asleep?” he whispered.
“No. Head hurts too much to sleep.”
He adjusted his hard on before walking to her side. “Well I brought you something for that.” He lifted her hair and injected her with the medicine he’d brought. “That should help.”
He was distracted by the back of her neck. The little peach fuzz stood on end. Was his touch affecting her? Could she feel the heat of his gaze on her body? He slid a hand through her hair and massaged her scalp.
“Hmm … that feels nice.”
Yes, it did. Her hair was soft and shiny. What would it feel like brushing his chest as she rode him? Tickling his thighs as she sucked him off? He swallowed and moved to massage the little hollows behind her neck. She sighed and her muscles became relaxed and pliant for him. He moved to her shoulders and worked at the knots there. He wasn’t surprised she was riddled with them. She’d been kidnapped following a very annoying visit from that bastard her father called a suitor, and found out the people she took care of in the District were probably dead. She blamed herself. She needed a bit of pampering and to be told that their deaths we
ren’t her fault. The government had exterminated them on a whim.
You want to touch her and see if you can coax her into riding your cock.
His hands trailed lower as he relaxed her muscles. He reached her ass and hesitated. He could make out the pert shape of it through the loosely draped t-shirt. Round and firm. He wanted to bite it. He ran his palm down the curve of it.
“Galen.” Her voice held a smoky and seductive under current. She cleared her throat and it was gone. “You should stop.”
Damn. “Right, of course.”
“Shouldn’t you go back to your own room?”
He began massaging her back instead. She’d been close to giving in to him, maybe he needed a little more time. You’re a bastard. Leave the woman alone. It didn’t stop his hands from continuing to roam her body.
“This isn’t your room. It’s mine. You’ll be sleeping in here with me.”
She rolled onto her back and his hands settled on her hips. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“It’s either that or a holding cell. I figured you’d be happier here.”
She shoved his hands off her. “Fine, where are you going to sleep?”
“Right next to you. In this bed.”
“Oh, hell no!” She slid off the end of the bed, and as she moved past him he caught the scent of her wet pussy. She wanted him.
“Yes. Like I said, it’s either this or spending your days in a cell. We’re both adults. We can share a bed without having sex.”
She snorted. “I can’t even lie on the damned thing without you having your damned hands all over me.”
He smirked. “Well, you could have stopped me at any time. I notice you didn’t.”
“A mistake I won’t make again.”
Way to go, dumbass. Point that out so she never lets you near her. “I won’t touch you again.” A lie. “Besides, you don’t get a choice in the matter. Our jail isn’t comfortable. They’re cold, there’s no shower or bed. You’ll be comfortable here.”
“Why can’t I have my own room?”
“Because I don’t trust you not to attempt escape once you figure out how everything works. Don’t bother to deny that you would try. I know you.”
“Ha! You don’t.”
“I know you well enough to determine this. You don’t have a choice, so why don’t you climb back into bed and get some sleep. I’m going to.”
He stood and shucked his clothes with efficiency. The only thing he left on was his boxers. He flopped on the bed. He could feel her eyes on him the whole time and he rolled onto his back. He folded his arms behind his head and watched her stare at him.
“Like what you see?”
She glanced down and shuffled to the other side of the palette. She settled next to him, facing away. He sighed as she curled into a ball and the distinct clatter of teeth banging together reached his ears.
“Are you cold? I can adjust the temperature.”
“I’m fine,” she growled.
He raised the heat in the room by a few degrees using his connection to the ship. She’d likely never admit she was uncomfortable, and he didn’t want her to freeze. Cyborgs kept the ship warm enough so they didn’t catch hypothermia and die in space. Otherwise it was considered a waste of energy and a luxury to keep the ship warm. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his body. She tensed so hard he thought she might strain something.
“Just until the room and mattress heat up. You’re cold. I can hear your teeth chattering. Get some sleep.”
He threw a leg over hers and forced them to straighten slightly. He kept it there so he was pressed more fully against her. Only his computer exerting inhuman control over his body kept his erection from surging to life.
He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Nine
She rocked against the solid object between her thighs as it bumped against her clit. Teeth scraped the back of her neck. Rough palms skimmed her belly before cupping her breasts. She’d dreamed of this. His hands on her, his mouth on her. She’d woken wet. Or maybe she hadn’t dreamed it. Maybe he’d touched her first. She wasn’t sure. She glanced over her shoulder.
“Hmm … what are you up to?”
He pressed his mouth to hers and thrust his tongue into her mouth, mimicking the rhythm of his thigh between her legs.
When he pulled away, she shook her head and tried to gain her focus back. “You don’t fight fair.”
“The last thing I want to do is fight with you. Aren’t you tired of arguing? All that sexual tension must be building, and building.” He skimmed one hand down her body to skim over her mound. He parted the folds of her sex and rubbed his finger against her clit.
She laughed and it came out shaky. “That’s really … oh, Galen.”
She was half asleep, and lacked the willpower to argue with him while he was touching her there. His tongue swept over her shoulder before he bit her lightly. She gasped as more warm wetness flooded her sex.
“I think you like this. You’re all slippery. I want to have my tongue where I have my fingers. I can’t wait to taste you again. You’re like a drug.”
She snorted. “Pretty words, but you don’t mean them.”
He chuckled. “Oh, I mean every word. You’re beautiful here.” He thrust two fingers into her vagina while his thumb continued to play with her clit. “You taste good, and I love the way you respond to me. I can’t wait to have my hard cock sliding into your warm, tight body.” He slowly pumped his fingers in and out of her cunt. “So tight. You need to get laid.”
She was supposed to be protesting this. She should be fighting him. He was getting too close and eventually he’d betray her.
Her inner muscles tightened, little sparks of pleasure shooting up her spine, and he pulled away. She moaned in frustration. “What are you doing? Why did you stop?”
She grabbed the nape of his neck and pulled him into a scorching kiss. She ran her hand over his abs down to his dick and rubbed it through the cloth of his underwear. His sharp intake of breath broke their kiss.
“So demanding. I like that in a woman.”
“Shut up.”
He laughed and pulled her up, whipping her t-shirt over her head. “Gods, you have beautiful breasts. Large, bigger than handfuls.” He shoved her back on the bed and held himself above her. She glanced down before wrapping her hands around his large, swollen cock. He growled low in his throat. “If you keep stroking me, this isn’t going to last as long as you’d like.”
She giggled and released him. “Okay, have it your way.”
“I like your attitude. I intend to have you my way.”
He lowered his hips to hers. He grasped his cock and stroked it up and down her wet folds, concentrating on her clit. She rocked herself against it. “Now, Galen, please. I want you inside me.”
He flashed her a crooked grin and ran his dick around the entrance of her vagina. He slowly pressed himself inside. Her inner muscles stretched deliciously to accommodate him. He was almost too large. If she’d been less aroused, it would have been painful.
He lowered his head and pulled a nipple into his mouth as he worked his thick length farther into her cunt. He bit her breast lightly and she gasped, arching her hips against his. His arousal slid in all the way and he held himself still above her as he toyed with her breast.
She gasped and rocked her hips, but it wasn’t enough to get her off. “Galen, stop teasing.”
He slowly drew himself out, and hammered back into her. She cried out and he froze. “Are you okay?”
She looked at him. Really looked at him. His muscles were bulging with tension, his brow furrowed with concentration as he watched her. He was worried about hurting her.
“I want you to fuck me hard.” She wrapped her legs around his hips and yanked them to hers.
He didn’t need more encouragement. He thrust in and out of her at a punishing pace. Her breath came in gasps as he pounded into her.
&nbs
p; “God, I’m not going to last,” he groaned.
He slid his hands down her body and found her clit, wiggling his fingers over the sensitive flesh. Pleasure bloomed in her cunt and she shouted as she shook apart from her orgasm.
Galen thrust into her one last time as he shouted her name. His heated cum shot into her as his elbows sagged. He didn’t let himself collapse on her, which she was grateful for; he’d crush her.
He rolled them over so she was sprawled on top of him and they tried to catch their breath.
“You know … there’s no trophy above this bed.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, that was bullshit.”
“Huh. That’s unfortunate. It might have gotten you laid sooner.”
He snorted and squeezed her to his chest. They stayed like that in silence for a long while. She started to fade into sleep when he whispered, “I am sorry for bringing you here. I shouldn’t be. I shouldn’t give a damn, but you didn’t deserve the threats of death.”
She traced a circle around his nipple. “You’re far from forgiven, but thanks for that. Don’t hurt me again.”
He sighed, and stroked her back, but he didn’t promise not to betray her. He didn’t say anything.
• • •
The crackle of the intercom brought Jamila out of her half sleep. She blinked and rubbed her eyes.
“Galen, report to meeting room one.”
He groaned. “No. Shut up, Torin.”
A male chuckle came over the com. “Come on, man. Council wants the lowdown on your mission. Don’t make me come get you.”
“Ugh, fuck you.”
“You know I’m not comfortable with your homosexual tendencies. Find a different boyfriend.”
Jamila slid off him and poked his side. “Get up.”
“Oooh, did you get laid?”
“I’m going to kill you, Torin.”
Torin’s snort was so loud that she jumped. “I guess not. Sex is supposed to make you more relaxed.”
She poked him again and kept at it. “Get up. I’ve never known you to be a stubborn riser.”
He opened one eye to regard her. “That’s because I didn’t sleep while I stayed with you. I was hoping to make up for that before I have a mental breakdown.”
