by Kiersten Fay
Sonya had come to him earlier to convince him to, as Sonya put it, give the poor girl a break. Saying she looks harmless. He considered her words throughout the day and decided to follow Sonya's advice. The chit seemed harmless enough.
He approached the cell and disengaged the force field. “Come with me,” he said, as if he were commanding any of his crew.
Her mistrust of him showed because she didn't move from her spot. “What are you going to do with me?”
“I'm taking you to another location. You don't need the doctor anymore.”
She gathered up the blanket and pillow and stood, clutching them as though she expected them to be ripped away from her.
“You won't be needing those.”
Her grip tightened for a moment, then, eyeing them with sorrow, she reluctantly dropped them onto the cot. The strange action made him even more curious about her, but he refused to let himself get involved. Someone had to have treated her badly. He ignored the ire that arose with the thought.
What did he care?
Because of the wards, he was stuck with her for a time. Once the mission was over, he would put her off his ship and out of his mind. The wards seemed to be intact, so she must have been on the ship before they went up.
Once again, she followed close behind as he led her out of sickbay. This time she didn't marvel at anything, keeping her eyes to the ground. Lost her vitality so easily? He was irritated that he might be somewhat responsible for the change in her.
After walking for some time, he stopped in front of a door and opened it, waving her inside. Hesitantly, she peered into the darkened room, unmoved. She didn't trust him. Why should she? He entered the compartment, which illuminated instantly at his presence. Analia just stood at the door. A tiny spark of interest lit her eyes, but still she didn't join him.
The room was of decent size, a bed against the wall to the left, couch and table near the center. Through a doorway to the right was a personal bathing chamber. It was one of the nicer rooms on the ship. He told himself he was offering her this one because it was the only furnished one available. But that wasn't true. There were a few smaller unoccupied rooms. For a reason beyond his comprehension, he wanted her impressed.
“You can stay here as long as you vow not to hurt yourself. You'll have this room all to yourself.”
Finally entering, she peered around, but didn't respond.
“If you can't promise me that, then I'll take you back to the doctor and leave you there till I find a place to drop you off for good.”
Her eyes blazed at that. “Drop me off?”
“Yes, we have a task to complete first, but after that I've decided I'll leave you at the nearest space city.” The smile she gave weakened him, as well as doubled his interest in her. Did she not care where she'd be dumped? “Uh, can you promise me that?” He ground out.
“Yes,” she rushed, smiling wider. But then her face dropped, and she eyed him with sadness. “Is this a trick?”
“No.”
Studying him for a moment, she shook her head. “This is just a trick. You don't just give a trespasser room and board. What do you want with me?”
Sebastian let out a breath. “This is not a trick. We have a long way to go and, no matter where you came from, you'll need to stay on the ship till we've reached our destination. Where would you rather be? Here? Or lying on that cot for months?”
As she gave the room a second glance, he proceeded to show her around. When he got too close, she skittishly backed away from him.
“I won't hurt you.”
She continued to watch him warily. For now, he decided to let it go.
“The bathing room is in here. I'll leave while you clean yourself and return with something for you to sleep in. In the morning, I'll show you around the ship before you begin your new job.”
“Job?”
“Of course, this isn't a free ride. You'll work, just like everyone else.”
“What kind of job?” She raised an eyebrow.
“I haven't decided yet.” He moved to leave. “I'll be back with clothes for you soon, so if you don't want me here while you're still naked and wet, you'd better hurry.”
With that, she rushed into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Sebastian left, smiling with amusement. Unfortunately, his teasing had backfired, hardening his already painfully stiff shaft. He imagined her damp body glistening with dripping beads of water, her blond locks the only thing clinging to her as they wound down her shoulders and around her naked breasts. Imagined himself licking and sucking those breasts between his lips, licking the wetness from every inch of her. His hands cupping her ass, her soft moans of pleasure in his ear as he drove into her.
He found himself rushing to get back.
Chapter 5
Analia studied the shower stall. She'd never seen one like this before. The walls were decorated with a mosaic of color and a hazy translucent door separated the stall from the rest of the washroom. Bottles of cleaning liquids rested on a small shelf. She noted a button on the wall just outside the stall. It could either control the shower or the waste disposal unit.
Click.
Waste disposal unit.
After searching the room for a way to activate the spray and finding nothing, she stepped into the shower stall to look there. Warm water instantly bombarded her. She yelped and jumped out of the stall. The flow immediately stopped.
Water? Real water?
Every time she bathed in the past, it was in a small bland cubical with a powdery enzyme spray.
With delight, she tore off the old ratty dress and dove back into the stall, allowing the water to wash over her. It soaked her hair, then the rest of her. The sensation of it running down her body tickled and soothed her skin.
The spray was rough against her back, but it was like a hundred fingers massaging. She sighed loudly as her muscles began to relax from the heat. A cocoon of steam rose up around her. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to become immersed.
Taking her time with the soap, she scrubbed every inch of her skin from head to toe, washing her hair twice. Then she stood there and reveled in the feeling of the water splashing on her skin, committing it to memory.
Stepping out of the shower, she had never felt so clean in her life. A fluffy white cloth draped nicely against the wall. She dried off thoroughly before wrapping it around herself, noting the softness of it.
Everything here was soft and cozy and warm. These were the kinds of thing others enjoyed, not her. Wait, that's not true, she corrected. She was free now. Sebastian had told her he would let her go.
Still, Analia didn't trust him and wasn't sure if she should believe him. Would he really set her free? He'd lied to her already. But what choice did she have?
Analia stepped out of the bathroom. Sebastian was already back, standing next to the tan colored sofa. When he saw her, his golden eyes flared, turning to liquid amber. She shivered at the sight, her mind going blank. It wasn't till Sebastian began to stalk toward her that she recalled her situation. She was wet and half naked, alone in a room with a strong brutish male of unknown intentions.
He was upon her before she could react, backing her against the wall. His body pressed against hers. A thick thigh settled between her legs.
Analia froze in a panic and was confused to find her nipples growing hard at his touch. A shiver escaped her. Sebastian moved his leg against her core, rough, but with the touch of an expert. After letting a small moan slip, she pursed her lips closed.
“Anya,” Sebastian nearly growled.
The epithet and his breath at her neck caused another shiver, and liquid pooled between her legs. She sucked in a harsh breath, grasping for control.
“Your scent is intoxicating,” his husky voice whispered next to her ear.
She should have been terrified at his words, but she found her body relaxing against his, a single compliment melting her completely. His strong arms surrounded her, his hands se
eking the small of her back. The heat of his lips on her neck reunited her with her sanity.
“Se…Se…Bastian,” she squeaked.
“Hmm.” He rubbed his mouth against the line of her jaw, almost making her forget herself again. She quietly whimpered and found she was gripping his shoulders.
How could this feel so good?
“You must stop.” The words came out as a whisper.
A low, slow growl rose from somewhere inside him, reverberating through her core. With his hands pressed firmly against the small of her back, he pulled her against him with a possessiveness that both startled and excited her in a primal sort of way.
Analia almost let out another needy moan. She could feel the strong muscles of his chest while his thigh pushed further against her wetness. She gasped as he opened his mouth to her neck and nibbled.
She wanted him to stop, needed him to. Didn't she?
“Please.” She wasn't sure if the small sound was meant to stop him, or if it was a plea for more.
But his body stilled.
He removed his lips from her neck. Then, as if it pained him to do so, he finally let her go and backed away. His eyes were still molten, devouring her. The heat from his body against hers faded, and she was left with a chill where he had touched her.
After a moment, he seemed to regain his composure. He handed her a large shirt and said, his voice still rough, “You'll sleep in this for now.” He averted his gaze, as if he were…embarrassed? “I'll return in the morning to show you around the ship and then to your new job.”
Analia couldn't yet speak so she nodded in answer. Then he was gone, rushing out the door, leaving her alone and…desperately aroused for the first time in her life.
Her actions shocked herself. Twice she almost gave in and wrapped herself around him. She had never reacted that way before. Of course, there had never been anything like that before. The intensity of it was almost overwhelming.
And he’d stopped.
She was baffled. She had asked him to stop and…he’d stopped.
Not only that, but his touch had been unexpectedly tender. His lips had electrified her skin, making her want more. Even now she could feel them on her.
Absently she realized she was still being supported by the wall, half naked with the thick white cloth wrapped around her.
The things she imagined Sebastian doing to her, the things she imagined doing to him…she had never wanted these things, would never want them.
It was only because she was in a new place, with a handsome overbearing male, that she was having these strange feelings. And the fact that Sebastian hadn't actually hurt her…yet. Once he did—and she was sure that he would—she would be back to normal. She would see things clearly again.
After slipping the shirt over her head and hanging the cloth to dry, Analia surveyed the room. The large bed in the corner of the room reminded her too much of the one in Darius' chamber. She couldn't sleep there.
Deciding on the couch, she transferred the pillow and blankets from the bed and snuggled in. It was lumpy, but not bad. It was still more comfortable than a cold lonely floor. Before she drifted into sleep, she allowed her mind to wonder at the possibilities of tomorrow. What did Sebastian have planned for her?
* * *
——
* * *
Temporarily insane!
That's what he was. When the chit had come out of the bathroom in only a towel, still damp, her scent had assaulted him. Instinct took over, and he had to have her. He didn't remember moving, but before he knew it she was in his arms. She had let out a soft feminine sound and at that moment he needed her as he needed air. The force of it was like a punch to the stomach. Then he’d tasted her and his mind had descended into a haze, lost to his lust. It was all he could do to keep from shoving inside her.
When she asked him to stop, he had barely been able to comprehend her words. She'd been aroused, absently rubbing herself on his thigh. Even now her scent still clung to him, urging him to go back and finish what they'd started. He could still taste the sweetness of her skin on his tongue.
Pulling away from her was like ripping a hole in his chest, but that was precisely why he was able to do it.
He had never before experienced a need so deep, and it felt…threatening. With all the women in his past, he kept himself detached, using them for what he needed and then leaving them soon after. He never gave them a chance to cling, or ask for more, because he would never give more of himself to a woman.
He'd learned his lesson after he witnessed what had happened with Calic. Cale had become a different man after his mate's treachery. He had become harder, nearly emotionless. Demons mate for life. And Sebastian knew that Calic had been destroyed that day, carried the pain of it still.
Sebastian had vowed to always protect himself from a similar fate.
He would have to be cautious around Anya. No, he corrected, Analia. He would not use that endearment again. He realized she had nearly done the same to him. She had almost called him Bastian. Only his family and Marik were allowed to call him by the epithet. Yet, when she said it, he had wanted her to say it again, only in a scream of pleasure as he settled between her legs.
Shaking the thought away, he decided that tomorrow he would only show her around the ship, then take her to Marik and be done with her until the mission was over. Soon enough she would be gone. His fists clenched.
He entered the pub and spotted Sonya. After ordering a flaming inferno, he downed the full glass in one gulp.
Sonya raised her eyebrows at him. In a slow, cautious voice she asked, “How's Analia?”
“In need of clothing.” His voice was guarded. But Sonya's sense of smell was as good as any demon’s, and he hadn't thought to shower or change before coming here.
A slow smile spread across her lips. “Is that all she needs then?”
“Yes,” he snapped. “I'm putting Marik in charge of her. And you too. She'll need a female companion to keep her…occupied.”
“Are you done with her so quickly?”
“There is nothing to be done with.”
“No?”
“It's not what you think. Nothing happened between us.”
Sonya snorted. “Something happened.”
Sebastian bowed his head into his hands. “The only thing that happened was that I practically attacked her. That's why I'm putting the two of you in charge. It seems I lose control when I'm around her. Have from the start. But tonight was…it won't happen again.”
Considering his words for a moment, she replied, “Did you hurt her?”
“Of course not!”
“Did you want to?” She refilled his drink, pouring the liquid to the brim.
“No…I wanted something else, not to hurt her. But I'm certain I frightened her.” Sebastian recalled the fear in her voice. Even though she had been aroused, she had been deathly afraid. He took the drink same as the first, one gulp.
Someone at the other end of the bar called for service, and Sonya went to refill his glass with something that looked like a mixture of oil and water. Sebastian knew that drink. He couldn't remember the name, but it could knock you on your ass. He should order that next.
When Sonya came back, she said, “The girl is about my height. I can scrounge up a few outfits for tomorrow. And I'll ask around for donations.”
Sebastian nodded his approval and got up to leave, deciding against the knock-you-on-your-ass drink.
“Does Marik know he's on babysitting detail?”
“Not yet.”
Sonya laughed at that.
As Sebastian left, he waved the back of his hand at Sonya and headed toward the galley. It was time to give Marik the good news.
The only way to get to Marik's galley was to go through the salon, where the crew gathered to eat. The salon was a large L shaped room with an arched ceiling, painted in warm hues of brown. A long window exposed diners to the ever changing scenery of space. The galley was separated fro
m the salon by two thin walls. A slim rectangular window with a small counter allowed Marik to put out orders without leaving the area.
Luckily, Marik was closing up for the night. Good. No one to witness the ire that was about to be sparked.
Marik was built much like Sebastian and Cale, tall with a strong physique, typical demon features. However, prominent scars ran the length of his arms, disappearing under his shirt. Sebastian knew those scars didn't stop there.
“Marik,” he called with a smile, trying to set the mood.
After the demon war, Marik had been taken as a slave. He'd been enslaved for four hundred and fifty years when, by chance, Sonya and Sebastian came across a slave auction, in one of the many space cities they frequented.
As is their nature, demons don't submit to anyone unless they want to, or are forced to. Marik had looked strong and proud up on stage, even though he'd obviously been poorly taken care of. The look in his eyes had been nothing more than that of a beast, which spoke volumes about the torture Marik must have endured.
Sebastian had decided to spend the last of their supplies money to win the wild-eyed demon's freedom, staring down anyone who dare bid against him with a look of pure malice. At that point in time, demons had developed a bad reputation as slaves, and most had been freed or killed. They were labeled as being extremely difficult and dangerous in captivity.
After the auction was won, Marik—not understanding the situation and half in a rage—fought against his restraints and against Sebastian. It took Sebastian, with the help of Sonya, a good twenty minutes to calm Marik enough to explain to him that he would no longer be a slave and that he had nothing to fear from them. He even offered Marik the chance to refuse to come with them.
Marik had just stared at them for a time, without saying a word. He'd been quiet so long that Sebastian thought he might refuse. But in the end, Marik decided to join them.
When Sebastian had arrived on the ship with the newly purchased Marik, Cale appraised him with a quick glance and then shot Sebastian a look that said, “You had better be able to control him.” Ironically, after his fifty years of freedom, Marik was now the more gentle of the four demons on board.
