by Kiersten Fay
He slumped on top of her, holding himself up by his elbows so not to crush her. They struggled to catch their breaths. Anya's legs were still wrapped around him, her hands rubbing his arms, his chest, his back, as if she couldn't get enough of touching him. He rolled to lie beside her and pulled her against him. She nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck. He couldn't get enough of her either.
“That was amazing. I never thought it could be like that. Thank you.”
He couldn't help but tease her. “Anytime, just let me know the next time you're in need, and I'll drop everything to come running.”
Her soft giggle was the last thing he heard before drifting into sleep.
* * *
Anya woke to a heavy need. Wetness pooled between her legs as Sebastian's thick finger played there. Her nipples were hard, and her body was making itself ready for him.
She peeked one eye open. Gazing down at her with his head propped up on one elbow, Bastian's grin was wicked. “Good morning.” His voice had already gone husky and she knew he must be erect. “I'm at your service.”
She couldn't help but laugh. And what he was doing to her right now was nothing short of amazing. Never had she thought sex could be so wonderful. Vaguely, she suspected it could only be so with Sebastian.
Closing her eyes, she reveled in his touch. He continued to pet her until he had her panting, chest heaving, body aching. When she neared the apex of her climax, he raked his tongue against her nipple forcing an explosion of ecstasy. Riding her through it, he dipped a finger inside, heightening her pleasure.
“You're so beautiful. And your taste, you've got me addicted.”
Through her haze, she watched as he moved between her legs and began tonguing her there. Still high from her first orgasm, she cried out when the second began to build.
A hard masculine groan vibrated through her core and she shook with unmitigated pleasure. Fisting the sheets, her head thrashed back and forth from the ferocity of her release. Her back arched, nails digging into whatever they could find. Still he raked his tongue over her sensitive flesh.
When she went limp, he kissed his way up her body, stopping to pay close attention to each breast. “Do you want me inside you?”
It took her a moment to comprehend what he meant. He was asking permission before he took her. She loved that about him, but what he didn't know was that she was helpless to refuse him. He could do anything he wanted, whenever he wanted.
She looked down at his thick shaft. The size was daunting. Though last night she had felt how large he was, she hadn't seen it through the darkness. But the pleasure she remembered taking from him flooded her with renewed desire, as if he hadn't just given her two incredible orgasms.
She nodded. “Yes.”
With a relieved groan, Sebastian shoved himself inside her. Not hard, but not as gentle as the night before. Her mind flooded with bliss and she could only wish he did it again. He didn't disappoint. Sebastian had made sure she was slick and ready for him.
Cupping her backside as he thrust into her, Sebastian watched her with nearly molten eyes. His movements quickened. Taking her mouth with his, he swallowed her cries of satisfaction. She wanted him harder, deeper. Without words, he obliged, and her third orgasm of the day outshone them all. She could feel her core squeezing and pulsing around his shaft, as the rest of her body writhed under him.
Soon after, he followed her with his own release. His teeth once again came over her neck with a soft pressure. For some reason, her heart raced with anticipation. But he only held them gently against the tender flesh of her neck while he lost himself to his pleasure. After a moment, he rolled to his side, pulling her back to his chest. He nuzzled her hair and held tight as though he never wanted to let go.
But he would let go, she reminded herself. She was still leaving the ship after the mission's completion. Not only because everyone was in danger from Darius, but because—though he looked at her like no man had before—he couldn't possibly want to keep her.
She's been a slave. And she knew how completely unworthy she was of a man as honorable as he. Yes, she would leave, even though having his warmth against her body felt more like home than anything she'd ever known. She would miss this greatly.
She felt him kiss the back of her neck. Then her shoulder. And just like that, she forgot her woes. Smiling she turned in his arms to kiss him back. He nipped lazily at her bottom lip.
She nuzzled into the crook of his neck, and the cold metal of his necklace pressed against her cheek. When she plucked at it curiously with her fingers, she felt his energy suddenly change from the lazy relaxed heat of a lover, to something as hard and cold as the chain.
“We should get ready for the day. I'm due in the control room soon, and Cale will be very put out if you don't show for his training this morning.”
“Sure, of course.”
He moved away from her and began to gather his clothing. “I'll shower in my own room.” After quickly dressing, he moved to the door.
“Bastian?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah?” His tone wasn't harsh or short, but there was something hollow in it. Anya took a moment to probe his energy. Confusion and apprehension rolled off him in thick waves.
Was he displeased with her? Did he regret being with her?
“Never mind.”
Sebastian nodded before turning to disappear into the hallway.
* * *
——
* * *
Anya's mind was in turmoil all morning. She couldn't fathom what might have caused the change in Sebastian. She must have replayed the morning’s events a thousand times in her mind.
Cale had offered an effective distraction during training. With uncharacteristic eagerness, he had her recount her struggle with Xandar, making overjoyed sounds of approval and showing more liveliness than she'd ever seen from him. His joy at her show of progress lifted some of her despair, for a little while, anyway.
After that, they tussled a bit, but she supposed he was taking it easy on her because, at the end, she didn't have the usual sore muscles and scattered bruises.
In the galley, it seemed she only had time to think. Had she done something wrong? Did he not find pleasure with her? She thought he had, but she was not versed in the ways of lovemaking. Perhaps she had disappointed him so fully to the point of disgust. What if he finally realized he'd been touching a slave? Shame and disgrace flooded her.
Of course that was it.
“Anya!” Marik called. “The cart is ready.”
Anya swallowed a hard lump in her throat. The cart was filled with the usual tasty treats that the crew in the control room would devour. Regrettably, she would have to face Sebastian's abhorrent stares, but she wouldn’t stay as long as last time.
As she pushed the cart through the halls, coming closer and closer to the control room, the feeling inside her grew to the point of panic. If he were to look at her with disdain, she thought she might lose it.
It would be nothing more than what she deserved. How could she think that a man like him might want more from her?
She stood outside the door—five minutes, ten. She couldn't seem to catch her breath—telling herself that the crew inside was growing hungry.
She convinced her feet to move forward and the doors swooshed open. Her heart raced as she tried not to glance at Sebastian, but she peeked out of the corner of her eye. He wasn't looking at her either.
Someone yelled, “Ah, the food is here!”
Still he didn't look. His avoidance was almost worse than if he were to sneer at her. She had to get out of there. She couldn't be around him for another moment. Her eyes were growing hot from unshed tears.
In a mock steady voice, she said, “I'll retrieve the cart at a later time.” Then she forced herself, chin up, to leave as casually as possible. When she was out the door, she picked up her pace, holding back the flood as best she could.
“Anya!” Sebastian's voice called from behi
nd her.
Cringing, she didn't slow her retreat. It didn't take him long to catch her though, and with his long strides he easily kept pace. “Anya?”
“My name is not Anya! It's Analia!”
She could no longer stand him calling her by the endearing nickname. Not when he found nothing endearing about her. His steps faltered, but he recovered quickly. She could sense he was looking at her now, but whatever was displayed in his features, she didn't know. She refused to look.
“Analia,” he corrected in a softer tone. His tone alone threatened to break down all the walls she was currently trying to hold up.
“It's not necessary for you to tell me how appalled you are by what we…by what happened between us. We can agree now to never speak of it again. I will tell no one.”
“Will you stop for a moment?”
“No, I must get back to work. Marik needs me.” Unlike you, she silently added.
Sebastian grabbed hold of her elbow, pulling her to a halt. He turned her to face him, and she furiously studied the floor. “I've hurt you badly haven't I?” He paused, for what? A reaction? She wouldn't give him the pleasure. “I'm sorry. It was unintentional. I should not have left you as I did.”
That got her to glance up. His features looked as pained as she felt. “Please don't bother yourself with guilt. It's natural for you to regret our coupling. Forgive me for pushing you. I know I am unworthy…”
“Shit. I've done more damage than I thought. This is why I tried to stay away from you. I knew I would only hurt you. You are not unworthy. I am.”
Stunned into silence, she could only gape.
“Please Anya, Analia, know that you are the most beautiful…stunning…amazing creature I've ever beheld. You are more than worthy. You are soft, and perfect, and you drive me wild with the mere hint of a smile in my direction. You're smart, and kind, and carry the strength of a goddess.”
“Stop it. I am none of those things.”
“You are all of those things and more. I should be begging you for forgiveness, not the other way around.”
Crossing her arms, she raised an eyebrow and said the only thing she could think of. “Go on then.”
His lips quirked. Slowly, he went to his knees. “Please will you forgive me?”
Feigning bravado, she lifted her shoulder in a half shrug, surprised by his actions.
Sebastian's hands moved up her thighs. She was barely able to stifle a shiver as he let her feel the strength of his hands on her hips before moving higher. Those warm strong hands met flesh when he lifted the material of her blouse.
He placed a soft kiss on her stomach. “Please forgive me.”
Her breath had already left her. He found the small of her back, and drew her against him as he kissed his way up her body. He kissed between her breasts, her shoulder, the soft curve of her jaw.
“Forgive me.” His breath caressed her skin. This time she couldn't stifle her shiver. Then he smoothed his lips over hers in a soft, sensual kiss that made her mind go blank, and her body grow hot and sensitive.
Against his lips, she rasped, “You are so forgiven.” He smiled triumphantly before claiming her mouth, deep and demanding, and she gave herself over to him.
Drawing away, he asked, "Will you come back into the control room?”
At her shy nod, he grabbed her hand and led her back down the hallway, straight to his station. To her complete shock, he sat and pulled her into his lap. She was surprised to find his erection hard against her bottom. Cheeks heating she glanced around the room expecting to see shocked faces. There were a few here and there, but most seemed unaffected, as if it were a perfectly natural thing for her to be sitting on Sebastian's lap.
As she was studying everyone else, Sebastian was studying her, gauging her reaction, as though he didn't care what his crew might be thinking. Realization hit her as she locked eyes with him. Sebastian was proving to her that he wasn't ashamed of her. That he truly didn't think her unworthy. In that moment, the happiness that washed over her was overpowering, radiating from her every cell, becoming a living breathing thing.
Sebastian sucked in a breath. Clutching her hips, he looked at her in awe. “Did you feel that? Did that come from you?”
Shit. She’s done it again; let her guard down where her powers were concerned. Only she didn't know she could project her own energy like that. She replied sheepishly, “I guess it did.”
He studied her expression and asked, “Have you ever done that before?”
“No, never.”
His smile was wicked. “It was for me?”
Blushing deeply, she nodded. His eyes flashed with desire, and she bit her lip, growing wet at the sight.
Resisting the urge to roll her hips, she whispered in his ear, “Bastian, you must get control over yourself.” For if he didn't, she would also lose control. Already she was debating straddling him.
In a low, husky voice, Sebastian replied, “If that's my reward for simply holding you to my lap, I wonder what I'll get the next time I ride you all night.”
Her body shuddered. Of their own accord, her hips undulated against his hard shaft, begging.
Groaning softly, he stilled her movement. “If you don't stop that you'll make me explode in my pants. Then what will my crew think of me?”
The crew!
She glanced around the room. Luckily no one seemed to have notice the heated exchange between them.
* * *
——
* * *
Sebastian watched as Anya backed the cart out of the control room. He had reluctantly allowed her to crawl off his lap, when what he really wanted to do was whisk her up to his room and ask for more forgiveness by taking her up against the wall.
This morning in her bed, he had been drunk on her taste, her warm sensual body. He was content to stay there all day and make sure they were both so thoroughly satiated that neither of them could muster the strength to get out of bed. She had been so open and sweet, meeting his every erotic fantasy.
Then she had touched his necklace, bringing forth every hurtful memory of his family's betrayal, reminding him of the reasons that he held onto the necklace in the first place—so he would always remember to keep himself protected. How many times had he been on the verge of claiming her? Too many. If he claimed her and she betrayed him, it would destroy him.
That's why he'd left her in such a hurry. His head was muddled with all the horrific possibilities. Cale's words had run rampant through his mind. “She could be a spy for all you know.”
Sebastian had panicked at the thought and had run out of there as though at any moment she would reveal a dark plot to steal his heart and crush it in her bare hands.
He realized he'd never run out of a woman's bed so fast before. Her voice had quivered and still he'd left her. He’d had to. Outside her room, he'd vowed that he would begin distancing himself from her. He would make it clear that whatever was between them would go no further. He swore he would begin to treat her as every other crew member, and definitely not like his mate.
His plans were swiftly defeated.
The moment she'd entered the bridge, he'd been resolved in his plan, kept his gaze straight to the stars, even when he sensed her eyes on him. But then he'd felt her emotion. He couldn't explain it at the time, but he instinctively knew it came from her.
Utter devastation.
He’d felt it so strongly it nearly choked the air from his lungs. He'd crumbled instantly. He couldn't stand to see—or rather, feel—her in pain. Pain caused by him. He'd only wanted to distance himself, regain a little control, not to hurt her.
When he'd caught her, and she revealed, in so many words, that he'd made her feel unworthy, he wanted to howl in frustration. He'd caused such a strong, perfect, ethereal creature to feel unworthy…of him! A two-bit merchant with no home and little honor. Marik would beat him to an inch of his life if he knew he'd made her feel anything close to unworthy. He deserved nothing less.
At that moment, he would have done anything to make her smile again, to erase her insecurities, so he could see her as happy as she had been that morning in bed with him.
But the second he’d pulled her onto his lap, something in him slipped and clicked into place. And as he’d watched her glance around the room alarmed, his mind cleared. Then she revealed another faucet of her gift. It was like utter joy slamming into him, and he understood that what he’d felt earlier really did come from her. And he would never let her feel like that again.
He decided then and there that he was keeping her.
Chapter 15
Her newest gift was concerning, to say the least. Releasing the emotion had felt like a mini explosion inside her. Not painful, just different, assuaging. How many new abilities would she discover? Why were they surfacing now?
She suspected it was because she'd felt the emotion so strongly, and she'd never been so happy in her life. It made sense that if she could take in the emotions of others, then she could also project her own. Well, project to Sebastian anyway. No one else seemed to have noticed.
She'd need to get control of her new ability quickly, and keep it under control so she didn't wind up projecting her emotions to everyone around her. So far she'd been keeping her feelings in check.
Her gift could be alarming to others. Though, she mused, Sebastian had seemed elated by it.
Behind the bar, Anya smiled to herself. It made her happy that he didn't think differently because of her gifts.
He doesn't know your real ability. What would he think of you then?
What would he do if he found out he could use her blood as a super fuel? Would he want to use her?
Her smile faded.
In an attempt to clear her mind, she focused her attention on the patrons in the bar. The pub was filled to the brim tonight. Many had heard rumors of the attack, and were asking her to regale them with her story—until a few drinks were had, and then they were inserting their own variations.
