Stripper: The Fringe, Book 4

by Anitra Lynn McLeod

  His massive body felt so good she actually rocked back with as much vigor as he gave. On the verge of climax, she struggled to push him away. She refused to fall into this trap again. But it seemed the more she resisted, the harder he held her, almost as if her refusal fueled his need to master her. Worse, his domineering fueled her need to submit.

  Breaking from his kiss, she turned her head away. “If you hate me as much as you obviously do, why in the Void would you want to fuck me?”

  He laughed, drawing her attention to him. “There’s a fine line between passion and fury. I’m willing to pay 7Mil to explore it. Seems to me you don’t have much of a choice but to let me.”

  “I—”

  He cut her off by forcing her to accept another blistering kiss. She couldn’t think, could barely breathe, and she wanted him inside her so badly she shook. Precariously balanced on the edge of madness, she spread her legs wide below him, alternately damning and praising the bedcover that kept them separated. A part of her wanted him to stop, but not as much as that other part of her, that wanton part of her, wanted him to continue.

  “What’s the going rate for a fancy whore, a thousand a night? Makes you mine for seven thousand nights.”

  To distract herself, she considered how long that would be. Running the numbers gave her respite from her yearning. Too quickly, she realized seven thousand nights was over nineteen standard years.

  “Let’s say I find you so valuable I go for 10K a night. Still makes you mine for seven hundred nights. Two years, give or take.” He growled as he rocked slowly. “Just think of what I can do to you in two years.”

  Fighting against the erotic pull of his body, his voice, his suggestive words, she barely resisted the urge to undulate beneath him. Two years of being his thrall seemed more than fair for what she’d done to him. But she couldn’t just consider her own carnal needs. If she could, she would gladly give herself to him, but she couldn’t.

  “I’m not a whore,” she reminded him, knowing that her protests were falling on deaf ears.

  “So you keep saying.” Duster licked her lips. “Yet here you are, the only woman on a registered courtesan ship.”

  His breath became labored as he pressed between her legs. She realized he was as close to climax as she was. That realization excited her, and she instinctively undulated her body below the insistence of his, which only aggravated both their needs. She noticed he was careful not to pin her with his full weight. He used just enough pressure to make her crazy. His hard penis forced his zippered trousers to make a blatant promise across her silk-covered clit. As good as he felt, she had to find a way to make him stop.

  “Den of Iniquity and my status as a courtesan are only a cover.”

  “For your stripping work?”

  “Yes.” Her breathless voice conveyed not only the truth but also the depth of her hunger for him. She loved what she did as a stripper. So many minds she had touched and healed. But she wanted to help everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. That did not bode well with the upper echelon at the network. They wanted high-paying clients only, which made Diane feel like the whore she pretended to be.

  “Did you know that long ago, strippers took off their clothes to earn a living?” Duster built her hunger by rolling his hips as he thrust, his movements yanking the cover up and down and back and forth. With just a bit more pressure, she’d climax.

  “Yes.” She could barely whisper-hiss the word. As much as she tried not to writhe against him, she did anyway. The more she tried to control herself, the more out of control she became. At the moment, all she cared about was her own selfish physical needs. She bit her lips to refrain from begging him to take her with the full power of his body spurred on by his anger and frustration. In the past, she’d seen glimpses of him in a primal male state, but nothing like what he could do to her now. Duster was so much bigger and stronger. He’d be relentless in his drive to climax.

  “I think I will have you do that for me.” Mossy-green eyes peered deeply into her eyes. “Since you won’t strip me, I’ll have you strip for me.”

  The idea of him watching her seductively remove her clothes was oddly exciting.

  “You like that idea, don’t you?”

  Rather than answer that question, she asked, “You can’t seriously expect me to work off 7Mil with sexual favors?”

  “Make me a better offer.” He hushed her by pressing his lips to hers for a moment. “Something better besides your idea that I wait like an idiot for you to go planetside, then return with my money.”

  “I’ll treat you,” she offered, desperate to reach an agreement that would get her some distance from him.

  “Treat me to what? Ice cream? Sex? Another round of betrayal?” He bit and marked her neck again with another pulling kiss.

  “I’ll treat you professionally. I’ll help you reconcile the memories you want to strip.”

  “Let’s cut the crap right now.” Duster extended his arms, rising above her.

  She couldn’t decide if she felt disappointed or relieved not to have him rocking against her anymore.

  “You are the memory I wanted stripped, Diane. I wanted you out of my mind and out of my life forever. I go through a year of negotiations to discover I have, in fact, hired the very woman I want to forget. How you managed all of this, I don’t know. Why you went to all this trouble, I can’t even edge around unpacking. All I know is you have once again cost me everything I have.”

  “I didn’t know it was you!”

  “You lie.” Duster practically spat the words in her face as he glared down at her.

  “I didn’t know it was you as surely as you didn’t know it was me.” Knowing he was alive changed everything, but how could she tell him the truth when he hated her so much? Telling him about Scott would only make matters worse.

  “Why is it that I don’t believe you? Oh, wait, don’t tell me, I know. It’s the fact you betrayed me once before.”

  “If you’d only let me—”

  “Fill my head with another pack of lies? Gee, let me think about it.” He pulled away, nodding as if he genuinely considered her request.

  “Duster—”

  In a flash, he pressed intimately close. “I’m thinking you have better odds of winning the lottery than of ever getting me to trust you again.”

  She was exhausted and sick of going around in circles with him. “Then what are you going to do with me?” Obviously, his hatred ran too deep to ever be repaired. Perhaps she would be better off letting him punish her then escaping when he was worn out. Sadly, that was exactly what she had done to him the last time—screwed him senseless, then taken off—but he wasn’t giving her any other option.

  “I already made that real clear.” In a slow, inexorable wave, he thrust up between her legs. “Since you won’t strip me or return my money, I’m going to make you my whore for somewhere between seven thousand and seven hundred nights.”

  As her body longed to succumb to him, her mind fought with sharp clarity. “I’m willing to return your money if only—”

  “I let you go planetside. No way, my princess.”

  “Stop calling me that.”

  “My princess? Isn’t that what you are? My own personal damsel in distress, forever waiting for her prince? I got news for you, Diane, I’m not real keen on playing the hero anymore.” His voice went from hot to cold so fast goose bumps washed over her.

  “That’s fine, because I’m not real keen on playing the victim.” She’d never considered herself a victim and wasn’t about to start now.

  “Good. Then we’re even. Sadly, we’re still at odds. You’re lucky I haven’t killed you.”

  Swallowing down a burst of fear, she laughed coldly. “Yes, what luck. You haven’t killed me, but you demand I become your slave.”

  “That’s what you were seven years ago.” His face tightened with resolve. “And, just my luck, seven years later, I find you alone in a whore ship. Guess who’s captain now?”


  “I didn’t know you had such a thirst for power. It must have been difficult to hide in Michael’s shadow for seven years.” She wasn’t sure if Duster had stayed with Michael all these years, but she had a gut feeling he had. He’d said he was second to Michael, so that would explain how he’d amassed 7Mil without living a life of crime. Judging by his obvious good health, he wasn’t a criminal foraging in the dark recesses of the Fringe.

  Duster deflected her insult with a smirk. “Fame and fortune have never been my goals. I wanted a safe place to live my life, and I helped build that kind of world. The very first independent world. I devoted my life to Windmere, and then I willingly gave it all up because I couldn’t trust. Not after you. If that was your goal, Diane, you succeeded admirably. You ruined me for other women.”

  His honesty shocked her. “What about the woman three years ago?” More than wanting to help him, she wanted to know for her own curious heart. Diane had never known any man but Duster. She didn’t know about him, but she still held to the vow they’d sworn to long ago.

  “Pat yourself on the back; you ruined that for me too. Happy?” His voice held a bitterness that was so strong it almost made her mouth pucker.

  “You think your misery makes me happy?” Just how twisted did he think she was?

  “It must. Why else would you do this to me? Once, okay, you betrayed me once, but why go out of your way to do it twice?”

  She wanted to deny his accusations, but she had betrayed him. For years she thought she’d killed him, then rejoiced when she found him alive. He’d never believe the contract was a bizarre coincidence. No matter what she said, Duster would think she’d planned the entire affair from the beginning just to hurt him. A part of her long-sheltered heart broke. That he honestly believed all she wanted to do was hurt him, when all she wanted to do was heal him, made her fumble her hand to her chest, seeking the comfort of her chain-bound ring.

  He pinned her wrist to the shuttle bed. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  She realized her ring had slipped on the chain and fallen behind her. “I’m obviously going wherever you want me to, Captain Jennings.”

  “Given our intimate history, you can call me Duster.”

  “Are you certain you wouldn’t prefer captain? Perhaps overlord?” Diane fell back on cutting comments, knowing they likely wouldn’t work on Duster, but she had to try to keep some emotional distance from him. In a most curious way, she still loved him, and yet she knew nothing about him. But she knew he was no longer a slaver. Not if he was still with Michael, who had a reputation as being thoroughly against slavery.

  “Captain may be apt, for I have commandeered your vessel, but overlord? Only if you dream of having Michael between your legs.” Duster paused. “If he’s your goal, you’ll find me eager to deliver you to him. After I’ve had my fill.”

  Duster thrust once, good and hard, between her legs, almost catapulting her to orgasm. She’d never been so close and yet so far from release. And she didn’t want Michael, had never thought of him in that way, because as soon as she’d seen Duster seven years ago, she’d known he was her destiny.

  “If you think Michael will fall for your charms even once, Diane, you are sadly mistaken. If you were the last woman in the whole Void, I do believe Michael would murder you rather than mate with you.”

  “Mate with me?” Defiantly, she lifted her chin. “Isn’t that what you did seven years ago? You say you want me as a courtesan when you really still want me as your wife.”

  Duster pressed close enough to kiss her, but he only spoke low and slow against her lips. “Courtesan is just a fancy name for whore.”

  “Wife is just a polite name for it.”

  “Not my wife.”

  Duster took possession of her mouth, thrusting his tongue with the same intensity as his hips.

  Diane responded by opening her mouth and allowing him full access. As he worked his body against hers, she wondered if, deep down, he still thought of her as his wife. Not that it mattered, because no matter what, she still thought of him as her husband.

  Chapter Five

  Duster used the silk bed cover to slide against her, loving the way she rose to meet him. She didn’t seem at all unwilling to do whatever he wanted her to do.

  He pulled back, sat up and considered her. Damn. Seven years had been more than kind to her. She was beautiful. Probably more so now than she had been then. In the muted peach light, her hair gleamed like copper twined with gold. Four feet of it curled down along the sides of her face to tangle on the pillow. He wanted to wrap his hands in the length and feel the slippery strands sweep across his face and his chest. But more than that, he wanted to watch her eyes roll back when she climaxed. In the blissful moment of her pleasure, Diane had always been stunning.

  “I should have known.” He crawled off the bed, masking his attraction with anger.

  “Known what?” Diane sat up, pulling the covers around her chest, almost as if she were determined to protect herself from his gaze if nothing else.

  “That you’re just trying to lead me around by my penis again. No wonder you’re all wiggly, warm and willing. Thing is, I’m not twenty-two anymore.” He tried to will his erection to subside, but it was like trying to pick up a glass of water with his ear—wasn’t going to be happening anytime soon. Not if he kept looking at Diane. Not if he didn’t stop thinking of her being at his complete and utter mercy.

  “You want me willing, but when I am, it’s because I’m trying to betray you again?” Diane sat up fully, crossed her legs and pulled the covers with her.

  “Aren’t you?” Duster turned away, trying to hide his painfully obvious erection. What he wouldn’t give for the distraction of a palmful of crackleseeds. But that was how his addiction to them started—they’d been a pale substitute for his cravings for Diane. “What is this really all about?”

  “I told you, it’s a coincidence.” Her voice had that soft tang of honesty.

  “No such thing.”

  “Duster, I didn’t even know you were alive.”

  He whirled and pinned her with a gaze. “Disappointed?”

  “Delighted.”

  “Yeah, I’ll bet you are.” She didn’t want him dead, probably was happy when she discovered he was still alive. “Did you really think you could use me to get to Michael?” he asked, even though he didn’t think that was what she was after. But telling her he believed her about the coincidence would only embolden her and make him weaker somehow. By accusing her, he might be able to get more information out of her.

  “Get to Michael for what?” Diane sounded genuinely baffled.

  “Spare me. It’s all about the script for you, isn’t it? My paltry 7Mil is just the appetizer for what you’ll get for Michael.” Duster laughed. “His head on a platter is up to a solid 20Mil. Probably more for one with your manipulative abilities.”

  Diane uttered a sigh of sheer exhaustion. “For the last time, I didn’t know my tenacious client was you. I never would have taken the job had I known. Believe me, the last thing I wanted was to ever see you—or Michael—again.”

  He believed her. Right down to the sticking-place in his heart, he knew she was telling him the truth. And it hurt. He’d thought they were in love. He’d claimed her as his wife. To find out she didn’t feel the same… He didn’t know about her upbringing, but his was strict and very orthodox. When you found the woman you wanted to mate with, you claimed her as your wife. You didn’t fornicate with anyone but her, even if you didn’t know where the hell she was. Knowing she regretted finding him again cut far deeper than the initial betrayal had.

  “I don’t believe a damn thing that comes out of your mouth.” To protect his far too tender heart, he’d lie. Ironically, the lies came easier than the truth.

  Diane caught his gaze. “Then I guess there’s no point in asking me anything.”

  “You’re right. Get up.”

  Diane clutched the covers tighter. “No.”


  “Let’s set some ground rules right now. When I tell you to do something, you do it.” He grasped a fistful of the covers and yanked, flipping them off the bed.

  Long, freckle-spotted limbs curled up as she tried to cover herself with one of the pillows. Between her legs, he caught a quick flash of wetness before she got the puffy rectangle situated. Wryly, he thought at least her desire was genuine.

  “Modesty. How interesting. Considering I’ve seen it all before.” He found a burgundy silk robe on the floor and tossed it to her, unable to decide if he did it for her benefit or his. Frankly, a hammer wouldn’t knock his erection down at the moment.

  High, red marks of shame darkened her cheeks as she slipped her robe on and climbed out of bed. “You saw me by my choice seven years ago. I’m not going to become your plaything so you can humiliate me.” Diane lifted her chin.

  Feeling challenged, he ordered, “Come here.”

  “No.” Drawing the robe around her like a shield, Diane looked for escape. Her darting gaze quickly spied that he blocked the only exit. Warily, she eyed him.

  “Do you want me to remind you who’s boss?” His snarling tone visibly chilled her. Her slender body was no match for the massive power of his. And she knew it. With fight or flight her only options, she realized she could do neither. All she could do was surrender.

  Cautiously, Diane stepped forward.

  Grabbing her hands, he laughed when she tried to jerk back. “Afraid of me now?” He used the robe’s belt to tie her hands tight to her waist. “I like that you’re afraid. Because it’s smart for you to be frightened of me. You’re not going to get me again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice? Shame on me. Shoot me where I stand, but there is no way in the ever-loving Void I’m going to allow you to fool me a third time.”

  Diane swallowed hard.

  Duster tied her wrists so tightly to her waist she couldn’t lift her arms. She could have used her fingers, but he twined the long bit of burgundy silk around her palms, flattening her hands to her belly. The only way she’d be able to access a com panel was with her face.