by Kara Fey
“Those two.”
Lizard nodded and motioned for the guards to remove the two naked slaves from the line. “Done.”
Padraic’s cock shifted uncomfortably when she slid off his thigh. The cushiony invitation between her legs drew his attention through every agonizing moment of her descent. Finally, she swung her foot around his knee and freed herself. He felt like he’d grown to three times his normal size. Try as he might, he couldn’t stop the room from spinning, or his magic from flaring, threatening to burst out of his control.
Reaching up, she tucked her face into the side of his neck and wrapped her arm around his waist. Dagger poking him in the ribs, lips caressing his skin, she whispered, “You’ve had your fun. Let’s go.”
Chapter Three
Every pair of eyes in the market followed them as Charla held Padraic, arm wrapped tightly around his waist, and stepped off Lizard’s platform. The children they bought fell into step behind them like obedient pets. But she sensed the stirrings of hope, of freedom, in their young minds. They communicated with one another on a private telepathic channel she couldn’t break into, despite her recent flare of magical ability, but she refused to take chances with their safety. Already her party was hunted.
Hellsfire. Was this some kind of trap? Did he have one of the missing master keys to the Riders? It was possible. More than possible. “You want my ship.”
“Why would I need your Rider, when I’ve got Hana’s?” At his taunting laughter her hand clenched, and her dagger nearly drew blood from between his ribs as she battled for self-control. The missing Rider was one more item she would have.
Charla whirled from Padraic’s embrace to enfold the two slaves in her arms and herd them on ahead, away from the battle she knew was coming. She sent the directions and the security code directly into the girl’s mind. Her Rider would take them to safety. “Now go.” The two children ran as though a Rhion beast was nearly upon them.
He had Hana’s ship. The woman she hunted. The girl she once called friend. “Where is she?”
“Exactly where she wants to be. With her bonded mate.”
“I don’t believe you.” And she didn’t. Couldn’t. The thought was too painful. That would mean everything Hana had told her in the message she’d sent was true. Charla refused to believe her entire life was a lie when another explanation was more logical. “You males brainwashed her, or are holding her captive somewhere.”
“We shall see.” One of her special gifts was recognizing truth from lies. His answer sent a shiver of dread coursing down her spine. But she didn’t have the time or inclination to argue with him now.
Four men, weapons drawn, followed, closing in on them from behind. Charla reeled from the psychic currents in the air and shoved Padraic around a corner into another metallic tunnel. Three of the men were high on stims. The fourth was the danger… he was completely sane, totally in control, and utterly evil.
“You fool,” she hissed at Padraic as they hurried down the exit corridor toward the shuttles in the docking bays. Every space on the walls was covered with moving, three-dimensional advertisements for hot, steamy sex. All types. All species. It was disgusting, frightening… a shiver raced over her skin straight to the muscles in her core, making them clench around emptiness. Intriguing. “Don’t you realize how many murderers and thieves are in the market? Why did you draw so much attention to yourself?”
“I had to make sure I got your attention.”
Why, oh why, did he have to rub his scalding hot hand over her ass? Sensitive and hard, her nipples peaked to attention. “Get your hand off my ass before I cut it off. We’re being followed.”
“I know.” The smile in his voice was beyond irritating.
“Then what in hellsfire are you doing?”
“Making them believe we’re unaware of their presence.” Padraic rhythmically massaged her buttock, gliding his hand from the small of her back to her thigh and back. Everywhere he touched, she burned.
Padraic stopped mid-stride and pushed her back to the wall. Hot and strong, his hands snaked around her waist and pinned her in place. Behind her on the moving screen, a couple writhed in the heat of mating. Their cries filled her ears, seduced her senses, and made her want to mimic their lust. Padraic rested his body against hers, ran his hand up her thigh, higher, to caress her breast. Fire streaked through her body from his palm, darted to her core and forced a gasp from her throat. Never had anyone touched her this way, made her want…
“I can be very convincing.” The threat whispered over her skin, heated her flesh and made her imagine his hot breath caressing every inch of her… without clothing.
“What?” Goddess, it was hard to think with Padraic’s hard thighs holding her pinned to the wall, his even harder cock rubbing, scorching her through her pants…
Trailing a path of silken fire across her collarbone with his lips, then up her neck, Padraic reverted to telepathy as their mutual enemies, still half a kim away, grew bolder, jostling each other and smiling in anticipation. You have a Stinger?
Yes. Her firearm was locked safely at her side. Thankful, she flexed her fingers around the weapon. Were it not for that task, she feared she wouldn’t be able to resist burying her hand in his thick hair, pulling his mouth to hers for another taste.
When I give the command, use it.
The memory of her first kiss at the slave table haunted her, compelled her to experience the wet temptation of his mouth again. Her tongue darted out to lick the remnants of his essence from her lips. Goddess, he tasted good.
“I don’t follow orders.” Charla spoke at the precise moment she arched her body into his. Aggressive and hungry, she rubbed her mons the length of his cock and took his mouth with a savage need to taste the forbidden.
The very air hummed with magic and awareness. Charla took it all in, absorbed every nuance of her body’s reaction, Padraic’s smell, the erotic thrill of sliding her tongue against his while the slavers closed in on them. She’d never felt more alive. This male challenged her as an equal. The thought was frightening, and there was nothing more exhilarating than fear.
Beneath her cape, Padraic’s hands left her body in search of his own weapons. A dark cloud of anticipation flowed toward them from around the corner. A thought flared to life, but died before fully formed.
Breaking the kiss, she hissed into his ear, “Moon Warriors don’t run.” Charla spun, pulled her Stinger from its holster, and shot out the vid camera watching them. “If we did, they’d just hunt us down like dogs.”
“True.” Padraic whispered the single word near the sensitive skin of her earlobe, leaving her flesh energized and begging for more, then moved out from behind her.
The psychic energy preceding them was so ramped up, she expected their stalkers to be foaming at the mouth, was somewhat surprised by the normal grime on their cheeks and half dead look in their eyes when they rounded the corner. Three men in gray mercenary uniforms fanned out as best they could in the narrow corridor and closed in. When they were within three long strides, Charla shoved Padraic away from her and fired. One man took a hit in the shoulder, but didn’t go down. Beside her, Padraic was still, unmovable as an ancient oak. She didn’t have time to figure out what the idiot was doing.
Stepping in front of him to block any possible shots, Charla fired again. The shot bounced off of her prey and took out another vid screen. “Why aren’t they firing?”
They want you alive. And they have enhanced armor. Infuriatingly calm and curious, Padraic’s voice shot into her consciousness.
“Enhanced with what?” Another shot bounced off the third man to destroy the image of two lovers in a swimming pool. Sparks flew, and then the screen went black.
Magic.
Magic! As much as she hated the thought, her own newly awakened senses confirmed his statement. Even now she could feel Padraic moving in their minds, gathering information. No wonder her ancestors had killed off their men and run away. Here she was, about
to get run down by slave traders with magical body armor and all because Padraic had pissed off her queen.
“Hellsfire, you males are a pain in the ass.” Charla put her Stinger away and pulled her blades free. She figured she had about ten more minutes before the bots took Padraic down. Four to one were odds she’d prefer to avoid.
Unforgiving and painful, Padraic’s hands slammed down onto her shoulders and stopped her from charging the enemy warily circling in front of them. He yanked her several steps back, away from their opponents. The mercenaries paced them like reflections in a mirror. They seek to capture you. You’ve already been sold at auction.
“How much?”
Fifteen thousand Galactic.
“Impressive.” Charla’s blades rang with sound each time they met in a death dance in front of her. The familiar singsong quality filled her with calm and she shrugged out of his grasp. “Should’ve been fifty.”
Padraic laughed. “That’s their price for capturing you.”
She took a step forward, fearlessly raising her blades in challenge.
The woman was as insane as he. Reluctant admiration flared within him. I hope you have armor on.
She didn’t take her eyes off her prey. Of course I do. Anger coursed through her, spiked her energy, and made her aura flame brilliant orange around every perfect curve. Pity that no one else could see it. He wanted to pin her to the ground, unzip those battle pants, and ram his cock to the hilt in her hot cunt. She was magnificent. And deadly. Mustn’t forget deadly. The thought made him harder.
You take care of these three. I’m going hunting.
Still a presence in her mind, he read her intentions clearly. The leader of these animals hung back and sent his men in to be slaughtered. Charla’s determination was absolute, so he shrugged. Now that he’d touched her, he’d be able to track her at will. “Go ahead. I can handle them.”
Surprise flicked across her features at his acceptance. His confidence. The poor girl had no idea what she was dealing with in him. None. But she was about to learn.
Calling forth his complete will, he focused on the men fanned out in the corridor, blocking her path to their leader. Intense pain always accompanied the gift, but he ignored it and cast his Shadow ahead of him. Weak from months on stims, their minds were easy to invade, even easier to control. All three men walked to within arm’s reach of Charla and froze, unable to control their own bodies.
“Padraic, you’re ruining my fun.” With a snort of disgust, Charla pulled out her Stinger and shot each man in the heart. Simmering beneath her calm exterior was rage at being bought and sold. Retribution. The three dead men were galactic justice at its best. Padraic knew that moments after they walked away, the robots would come out and cart off the bodies. There was only one law on Tantra 9, survival of the fittest.
Farther away, waiting around the corner, the evil energy of the leader retreated. Charla started after him, but Padraic wrapped his fingers around her wrist. He’d just controlled three men with his will alone, and she’d hardly batted an eyelash. Never had anyone shown less of a reaction. Either she completely trusted him, or her self-confidence left no room for fear. Both possibilities made him rock hard. “Let him go. We don’t have time.”
“He doesn’t deserve to live.” She kicked the scum at her feet in frustration. Battle lust boiled beneath her calm exterior. She was not happy with the news that she’d been bought and sold. Not happy at all. Deep and fierce, fury erupted within her. Too much and too fierce to be solely attributed to this incident. It festered and writhed like a demon, just waiting to break free.
“You can’t kill every slaver on this station.”
“One dead’s better than none.” Clearly irritated with him, she twisted her wrist in his grasp, trying to break free.
“Aye. But I prefer to leave this station as quietly as possible. That will be an easier task if we don’t start a war.” Their eyes clashed. A shockwave of energy leapt from her eyes to his and Padraic’s every nerve ending froze in shock. All around them their energy fields were fusing, pulsing as one. He knew she felt it too, but wisely ignored the calling of blood. As would he. Bonding to a Moon Warrior was not in his plans. Padraic shook his head to clear the fog rising in his mind. “Besides, that one will come to you. Fifty thousand galactic guarantees it.”
“Perhaps, but the rest of these slaving bastards will serve as a warning.” Jerking her hand out of his grasp, she squatted down and carved a half-moon into each man’s left cheek. The symbol of the House of Moons, the mark was both feared and hated. Satisfaction nearly purred from her throat with each artistic slice of her blade. She was more than willing to perpetuate the ferocious reputation of her Sisters.
A mere hint of blood formed, then ran down their filthy faces. Without a suggestion of mercy, Charla watched it slither down their necks, drip into their ears and filthy hair.
“Enough.” Padraic pulled her to her feet from behind, enjoyed the soft give of her ass beneath his cock, and buried his nose in her mass of golden hair. “Breathe. They’re dead. It’s time to go.”
Completely alone in the corridor, the immediate threat gone, confusion rose, swirled in a vortex of unanswered questions and unrecognized desires. Padraic hid his smile in her hair. Uncertainty worked in his favor, especially since she was too distracted to realize he fed her lust with his own, controlled her body like a master musician playing his favorite instrument. Slowly, as if not to frighten a skittish wild beast, he slid his arms around her until she was completely enclosed in his embrace. She didn’t turn him away.
No, her body craved him.
Encouraged, he risked losing a hand by cupping her left breast through her thin uniform, rolled her nipple with his fingers. The soft weight of her flesh called to him like no other. The nipple puckered instantly, and she moaned, rocking her ass back against him. Stirred by her response, he caressed every bit of flesh he could reach with his other hand, slid his hand under the waist of her pants and stroked the soft skin of her abdomen. He dared to go lower, but stopped when she stiffened in alarm.
The foolish woman still hadn’t realized the bots weren’t affecting him. She was unable to resist her own body and his subtle mental nudges. Padraic took his sweet time arousing her, rubbing her stomach, diving lower, then retreating. Again. This time his fingertip grazed her clit and her hips jerked in response. He wondered how long it would take her to get suspicious. Could he have her legs spread by the time she realized her mistake? Perhaps he’d play along and see where he ended up. She had information he needed, and a body he wanted to tame. He’d never been tempted to use his talents to seduce a woman, but to ride this one he was willing to burn in purgatory.
Charla turned in his arms and the devil’s hands immediately returned to knead her ass, driving her temperature up about a thousand degrees. Goddess forgive her, she wanted more, and she only had a few minutes left to indulge herself. Soft, sinful, and too great of a temptation to resist, his lips locked to hers, and his tongue darted in to tease and taste. Unrepentant, her body molded itself to his, eager to explore the sensations she knew she would forbid herself later. Not just later… forever.
The bots gave her the excuse she needed to surrender for the moment. Too eagerly, she lifted her arms, slipped her hands around his back. Body heat pulsed from his flesh to hers, from his lips to hers. Not only her body, but her life, as well, was going up in flames. Only her third kiss, and the thought of never experiencing the crazed rush of desire again made her want to scream.
She was a warrior. Soon she would be queen. That meant she could take what she wanted and damn the poor soul who stood in her way. And right now, what she wanted was to ride Padraic. Slide down his hard cock until she was so full she’d tip her head back and roar her satisfaction to the goddess herself.
But she didn’t want him chained. No, blasphemous as it was, she wanted his hot hands on her breasts, his tongue in her mouth. How she could know his touch would bring bliss, could want somethin
g she’d never experienced, she wasn’t certain. But she didn’t care. Aye, she wanted it all. She had both the time and privacy on her ship to take him. And no one would ever need to know.
“You want to fuck me, turn me over to your precious queen, and then walk away?”
“Yes.” That’s exactly what she wanted. Although, he was too magnificent to rot in Esmee’s dungeon. Perhaps she’d ask for permission to keep him as her own personal toy.
Solid as a rock, his cock burned her abdomen, demanded she recognize the threat even before he voiced the thought. No, my dear. I will fuck you. And before I’m through, you’ll beg me to take you.
Charla was delirious with need, her mind locked to his, her tongue lost in his mouth, her breasts molded to the hard planes of his chest. Weak and trembling, the darkest shadows in her heart flared to light at his words… and secretly hoped he wasn’t boasting.
Without warning, their psychic connection began to fade. Suddenly, he leaned against her slightly smaller frame for support. The microinjection in his neck, the unexpected fight, and the energy he’d used to control their attackers must have depleted his defenses. His twenty minutes were up a little early.
“The bots?” Padraic whispered the question and his hot breath fanned over her nipple. He immediately sucked it into his mouth. Tonguing the hard peak through her shirt, his wet suckling forced a moan from her throat. Her cunt clenched in need.
“Aye.” Sighing with regret, Charla ignored the throbbing in her core and caught him as he fell. “Play time’s over, loverboy.”
Chapter Four
Padraic struggled not to reveal himself as Charla carted him through the station with a motorized gurney and took him to a private room. There, she stripped his shirt from his chest, rubbed her small hands across his skin until he thought he’d go mad. But lust rose in her thoughts. She wanted to straddle his cock and ride him like… Kiel!
