“I understand. You go on, I’ll be fine.” Maybe she just needed a little food and some more rest.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine,” she reassured him.
“Have someone summon me if you need anything.”
“I will, but I promise, I’ll be fine.” She tried to smile but knew it didn’t reach her eyes.
Kollin
He couldn’t help the worry that plagued him. His mate had just thrown up in the bathing facilities, and her color looked a little off. On one hand, it warmed his heart that she worried about what happened to him. On the other, he didn’t enjoy seeing her so upset.
It tore at his heart to leave her alone while he planned the coming attack, but it had to be done. As he headed down the corridor, his mind went to his ship and then back to his mate.
He met with Captain Loul, Princess Usla, and few other high-ranking officers. They talked strategy, discussed how they would overtake the bridge and look for prisoners.
“I don’t want any killed, only taken into custody.” His gaze roamed everyone present, making sure they heard and letting them feel the sincerity of his words.
“I cannot keep my soldiers from defending themselves,” Captain Loul stated.
“Understood,” Kollin supplied. It wasn’t that he didn’t want the traitors dead, he did. He just wanted to interrogate and kill them himself.
“We should reach the Conqueror in sixteen standard hours. We will send three shuttlecrafts full of mercenaries to help you reclaim your ship. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Kollin replied as he lifted himself from the chair. They had spent the standard day going over schematics, devising plans so everyone knew their job. The Siccia were extremely thorough.
It had been a long standard day and he longed to see his mate, hold her in his arms. When he entered their quarters, he found her curled up on the bed. She was beautiful.
Krista rolled over and opened sleepy eyes. With a slight smile, she said, “You’re back. I’ve missed you.”
“And I’ve missed you,” he said as he stripped out of his clothes and climbed into bed. He needed to shower, but he needed to hold his mate more. “Are you feeling better?”
“I am. Sorry about first meal.” She yawned. “Did you get everything planned?” she asked as she snuggled into his open arms.
“Yes. If everything goes well, it will be over quickly.” He rested his chin on top of her head.
“Good. I don’t want to be without you.”
Those words melted his heart. She meant everything to him. After so many standard years of being alone, he now had someone to… his eyes popped open. He knew he cared for her, but… “I love you, Krista.”
She peered up at him, searching his eyes for the truth. “I love you, too.” With a smile, she continued. “I know I haven’t known you very long, but I do love you. My brother always said I fell too quickly; I guess this time I fell for the right one.”
He held her close. The coming standard day would be here soon, but for now he wanted to forget everything but the feel of his mate.
His fingers twirled in her silky hair before he grabbed a fistful and tilted her head up. His intense eyes gazed into hers.
She pressed her lips to his, needing to deepen the kiss. “Stick out your tongue.”
Kollin didn’t hesitate to do her bidding. She sucked it into her mouth and twirled her tongue with his. His breath hitched in surprise until he relaxed into it.
Breaking the kiss and panting, he said, “That was amazing!”
“Yeah?” she smiled.
“Yes,” he laughed and then went for another kiss. It was so erotic, his shaft stood at attention while his need to have her consumed him.
After he broke the kiss a second time, he rolled her underneath him, supporting his weight with his elbows. “I want you, now!” he said as he aligned his shaft with her core and then thrust hard inside her. He loved the feel of her channel as it gripped him tight, a perfect fit. She was made for him, he had no doubt.
“Oh, Kollin, you feel so good,” she moaned. He loved hearing his name fall from her lips.
With one hand on her leg, he hitched it up around his waist, allowing him even greater entrance. It didn’t take long until she screamed, “I’m going to cum!” He watched her face until he felt his own release nearing. He threw back his head and grunted with every pulse as he emptied into her tight channel.
They both collapsed on the bed. He needed that, needed to be inside her before the upcoming battle. The burden he felt for leaving her with the Siccia lessened a little when she smiled at him.
Krista came up on her elbow with a mischievous smile on her face. “Wow! That was great. Now, let me show you how good it is to give up control occasionally.”
Kollin watched with a cocked eyebrow as Krista climbed on top. His shaft came screaming back to life as he felt her wet core on top of him. He sucked in a harsh breath as she scooted down his body. What was she doing? he puzzled.
When she lowered her warm, moist mouth down onto his shaft, he gasped as his hips arched automatically. His hands threaded through her hair. His eyes shot to hers and then dropped to where his shaft disappeared inside her mouth. Not all of it, but enough. No female had ever done anything like this—the Azziarins couldn’t, with their teeth.
He was close! Watching her lick and suck his shaft before it disappeared inside her mouth, he groaned as he threw his head back, thrust his hips and released his seed into her hot, moist mouth.
He worried he’d hurt her until he saw her licking her lips. At the sight, he threw his head back and groaned, his shaft roaring to life once more. “Female, what are you doing to me?”
Still licking her lips, she climbed up his body and lowered herself onto his hard shaft. “You taste like cookies,” she grinned. “I could do that every day just for the cookies.”
Kollin couldn’t take it anymore. Easily holding her hips, he pounded into her at a fevered pace. He groaned as he watched her luscious breasts bounce up and down from the forcefulness of his thrusts. He couldn’t resist as he leaned forward and took one of them into his mouth, careful not to cut her with his teeth.
“Oh, Kollin! That feels go good!” He loved hearing his name fall from her lips in ecstasy. “I’m going to cum… Oh, God!” she screamed, which triggered his own release. He held her down on him as she milked the seed from his body, giving her everything.
“Female,” he rasped as he fell back on the bed, taking her with him. “What are you doing to me?” be repeated once again.
She fell on top of him, exhausted.
“Did you enjoy that?” He could hear the smile in her voice.
He chuckled. “You can do that any time you want. That was amazing!”
“I thought you’d like it.”
They laid there in silence, her head on his chest, his arms wrapped around her. The weight of the moment changed, but neither one mentioned it until Krista said, “I dread tomorrow.”
His answer was to tug her closer to him. What could he say? He didn’t want to leave her on a ship—a Siccia ship, to boot—but there were no other options.
“It will be okay,” he tried to reassure her.
“I hope so. I love you, Kollin.”
“I love you, too.”
Chapter Thirteen
Kollin
“Please be careful,” Krista said with watery eyes.
He tenderly cupped her face, and she turned her cheek into his hand. “I will be. Don’t worry, it will be over soon.”
“I hope so.”
“Remember, stay in our quarters. Captain Loul said he would have someone deliver your meals.” He didn’t want her roaming a ship of Siccia by herself. Everyone knew they were mercenaries, but not much else was known about their culture.
“I remember.”
He tenderly kissed her lips. “Stay safe, mate. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He searched her eyes, want
ing to remember every line of her face, the shape of her nose, the loving look in her beautiful eyes. With one last look, he let his hand drop, spun on his heels and left their quarters.
It was hard leaving her, but he couldn’t take her with him. Even though he knew they would persevere, he didn’t kid himself in thinking it would be easy.
He walked with authority, determination etched on his stern face as he entered the cargo bay. He found eighteen mercenaries standing at attention. Captain Loul turned to face him.
“Commander,” he bowed his head slightly.
“Captain,” Kollin acknowledged. “Have you contacted the Conqueror?”
“Yes. It is as you suspected. Someone calling himself Commander Wallace was in charge.”
Kollin worried about his soldiers and their fate. He cleared his mind so he could concentrate on the mission ahead.
“They are expecting us?” he asked.
“Yes. I told him our ship was need of repairs and offered to pay handsomely for some supplies. They are expecting one shuttlecraft, not three. We’ll sneak the other two in as planned.”
“Good.” Kollin watched as supplies were loaded, along with eighteen heavily armed mercenaries.
As they departed, the trip went according to plan. They slipped by unnoticed and docked on the other ship.
Once onboard the Conqueror, they quickly filed out, one by one, and took the Azziarin greeting crew into custody. Kollin snarled in disgust. Wallace called himself a Commander but didn’t have the decency to meet the shuttlecraft himself.
Each had a job to complete. With a sword in one hand and a phaser in the other, Kollin led six mercenaries to the bridge. He was more than ready to confront Wallace. Anyone who tried to stop them would eventually meet death. Not many would oppose him, followed by six stone-faced mercenaries. Some of his soldiers pressed their backs up against the wall, trying to stay out of the way, others went the opposite direction. Kollin noted every reaction, committing them to memory.
The door to the bridge was in sight. This was it, the moment he’d been waiting for. When the bridge doors swished open, the six Siccia rushed in with phasers drawn, not giving the crew a chance to react. Kollin stood with a menacing look as he watched the swift action of the Siccia. The only Azziarin without a phaser pointed at him was Wallace, and he was Kollin’s!
Wallace suddenly turned in his direction. Shock, then fierce determination marred his features.
“Kollin. I see you survived the Tureis,” Wallace said, his voice tinged with fear.
Kollin looked at each and every one of Wallace’s crew, all now on their knees, hands behind their heads.
As Wallace stared straight at him, Kollin held up his arm, a signal to take everyone on the bridge into custody, everyone except Wallace. The mercenaries grabbed each crew member and shackled their wrist together.
Wallace looked on with surprise and anger before he drew his sword and stared straight at Kollin. There was honor in fighting this way… equal ground.
With swords drawn, they circled each other; Kollin fought the red-hot rage that coursed through his body. This male meant to kill him and his family, tried to kill him by handing him over to the enemy. Kollin had been waiting for this standard day. Wallace lunged, his sword swung close to his chest. Kollin effortlessly dodged. Wallace was no match for his strength or experience.
Kollin played with him. Wallace now sported several gashes on his body from the sword and his fist, and Kollin hadn’t even broken a sweat.
“Just get it over with!” Wallace spat blood when he talked.
“I don’t think so.” Kollin’s vicious grin and stern eyes promised death, but in his own time. “I want your crew to see what a weak and cowardly leader they chose to follow.”
A few more gashes from the sword had Wallace on his knees. His sword fell to the floor with a defeated clang. Kollin circled him. He enjoyed the fear on Wallace’s bleeding face. “An ambush with several males and drugs were the only way you could ever defeat me, and even that didn’t work out too well, did it?”
When he’d had his fun, Kollin ordered, “Lock them all in the brig; I’ll deal with them later.” Two Siccia rushed forward and grabbed Wallace’s arms. Wallace threw a death glare at Kollin, but he ignored it, turned on his heels and walked away.
Kollin and the six Siccia did a room-to-room search looking for his most trusted crew, starting with the brig. That would be the obvious choice.
“Commander,” Kollin turned to one of the mercenaries. He hated not knowing their names, but there was no time before they departed.
“Yes?”
“Engineering is secure.”
“Thank you.”
They continued to search but weren’t having any luck. He wondered briefly if Wallace had them killed and jettisoned into space. When they reached cargo bay nine, the doors wouldn’t open. It was smaller than the other cargo bays and the one used the least; it was mainly for storing extra supplies.
“Get the doors open,” Kollin ordered.
Two Siccia came forward, and one used a phaser to shoot out the control panel. Still nothing.
“Commander, they have sealed it with an override code.”
Kollin figured as much. Nothing could open the doors without the help of the main computer. He watched in fascination as a bag was quickly passed forward. Two Siccia took out steel bars and physically pried the doors open. Well-practiced and effortless, it was obvious they’d done this many times.
The odor that wafted from the room had Kollin taking a step back before braving the inside. He dreaded what he would find.
All his missing crew were clustered there. Looking around, he spotted Kassim, his second in command, Unnal his head of security, Tanner… they were all there.
“Commander?” Kassim stepped forward. “We were told that you were dead.” The two of them locked fierce eyes and clasped arms.
“It’s not that easy to kill me, old friend.”
They seemed physically fine but smelled horrific. “How are the crew?”
“Holding it together.” They both glanced around. “They ambushed us on the bridge and threw us in here with a food replicator. The odor is from lack of bathing facilities,” which translated to no showers or a place to relieve themselves.
“How many traitors do you suspect?” Kollin wanted to know Kassim’s impression.
“My last count was twenty-five. They pulled me out of here when they first captured us, told me you were dead, and then made me order our soldiers to follow Wallace.”
“Why did he leave everyone alive?” Kollin puzzled.
“Leverage.” Kassim answered immediately. “The only reason I ordered the others to follow him was to save the lives of these soldiers,” he gestured to the ones filing out of the cargo bay, “and the lives of the ones giving him problems.” He pursed his lips in anger.
“You did the right thing. Wallace didn’t kill me; he drugged me, then handed me over to the Tureis.” Kassim’s eyes widened in shock. “A coward’s fight.”
“A coward’s fight, indeed.”
Kollin placed his hand on Kassim’s shoulder and said with a grin, “There is much to do and much to tell, but first, you need a shower.” The relief he felt at finding them all alive was immeasurable.
“So true,” Kassim returned his grin, “and you can explain why you’re wearing a red Siccia uniform.”
“Shower first, talk later. Meet me on the bridge when you’re finished.” Kollin handed Kassim a phaser before he and three other Siccia headed for the bridge. Who knew what Wallace had done to his ship?
Thirty standard minutes later, he crew walked onto the bridge. Kollin marveled at their resilience, but he expected nothing less. This was why they were the best.
“Commander,” Kassim called his name.
Kollin grinned at his friend. “You look much better.”
“I feel much better, thanks.”
Everyone looked tired, but they stood at attention and awaite
d orders.
“Kassim, take Unnal and detain any traitors who are not already locked up. Take as many soldiers as you need to help you. Be careful.”
“Understood,” they said in unison, then spun on their boots and left.
“Tanner, I need you to run a full diagnostic. I want to know what they’ve done to my ship.” Tanner nodded and went straight to work.
“Addis, it’s good to see you.” One side of his lip tipped upwards. “Make sure everything is fully functional and secure in engineering. If you are not aware, Lannk will soon be locked in the brig, if he’s not already.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Take Rassik and Maddax with you for extra hands.” They nodded and then left the bridge.
As everyone worked, Kollin stared at the Captain’s chair, brushing his fingers over the high back. He’d missed his chair, his ship, his crew. It was great to be back.
The standard day past by quickly. Everyone was exhausted but happy to be freed and in control of the ship.
“Commander.”
Kollin turned toward Tanner. “What have you found?”
“There is a secret access code for the communications program. It will take a few standard hours to remove it, but everything else is functioning properly.”
Kollin nodded as Tanner turned back to finish the task.
There was so much work that needed to be done, order that needed to be restored. Kollin headed to his ready room and eased himself down into his familiar chair. He grabbed the holo pad to see what changes Wallace had made in his absence.
He was reading reports when his comm unit beeped. “Yes?” he said while still staring at the report.
“Commander, we have detained every known traitor.”
“Good work, Kassim. Meet me at the brig.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Kollin stood up from his chair and then changed his mind. With all the known traitors now in custody, he needed to inform the remaining crew that he was back in command of the ship.
Kollin (The Azziarin Series Book 3) Page 8
