Settler's Mine 2: The Lovers

by Mechele Armstrong

  A thrust of her hips moved her forward to impale him. Quickly, she moved away to do the move again, only taking him deeper. She wouldn’t let him withdraw or slow the pace as she clutched at his hips. “Not slow.”

  Amory breathed deeply, seated deep within his mate. So, she wanted things fast, did she? He’d show her fast. On a downward spiral, he pounded into her. Lifting up he came down even harder. Faster.

  Her fingernails tore at his side. Her grunting with each slap of his body drove him crazy with lust. With love.

  His mate.

  Bren’s hand reached over to grab his arm with long fingers. The touch fired off nerves like rockets.

  His other mate.

  Together, he and Bren moved in tandem, timing their motions to the other. Thrusting, pumping, in and out, to create a Zelda sandwich.

  Best damn sandwich there was.

  Her whole body quaked against them both as they penetrated her from both sides. Could three people become one? It almost seemed like it. His world narrowed down to the two of them and moving his body against them. One heartbeat. One mind. One sex. One heart. They’d joined in so many ways.

  The orgasm rumbled up within him quickly, tearing to the surface to explode all around him in a show of fireworks. His vision swam with color bursts. His eyes closed, and he could still see them as his climax pumped through him. Never had he thought so much feeling and ecstasy could exist in one body.

  A thrust later, Bren joined him over the edge with a hoarse cry, as they both plowed her deeply, spasmodically until they were spent. Aftershocks rocked them, causing all three to gasp as each one of them touched the most sensitive spots of the others.

  Reopening his eyes, Amory lay there, panting before he moved out of Zelda and laid his head back on the pillow. He pressed his arm across the top of his head. Blew out breaths, trying to calm his breathing.

  Bren tossed an arm over them both. “Good enough distraction?”

  “It’ll do.” Zelda’s hoarse voice came against Amory’s side. She moved closer so their skin touched.

  Amory nuzzled into her body, inhaling her flowery scent while putting an arm across Zelda to nudge Bren as well. Had to touch both his mates. Feel their reality against him. Not that the soreness of his body wouldn’t tell him his mates weren’t a dream.

  He could smell the musky scent of sex in the air.

  Their sex.

  So many firsts for him. With his mates. He was where he should be. He had no doubts about that now. Whatever happened, his place was with Zelda and Bren. For eternity. With a sigh, he closed his eyes again. When the shuttle landed, they’d be ready. To do what needed to be done.

  But for now, they’d enjoy the unit they’d become.

  He’d almost fallen asleep when the shuttle com announced in its monotone voice, “Nearing destination.”

  Bren groaned before leaping to his feet. He shrugged on clothes with hands that didn’t seem to want to work.

  Zelda grabbed her own clothes, pulling them bunched up in her arms. “How long until we arrive?”

  “About ten minutes.”

  Zelda reached down to pick up Amory’s clothes. “Get dressed.” She tossed them to him. A grim look set about in her eyes. “Don’t forget to pick a weapon. Make sure you know how to use the one you choose. I’m going to go coordinate us. Figure out how we’ll get onboard.” She tromped to the front of the shuttle where she haphazardly started dressing while pushing buttons on the com.

  Amory dropped his shirt to the floor before pulling up his pants. He picked up and slipped on his shirt. Then he slowly got it buttoned. His hands didn’t want to do fine tasks. No basking in the afterglow for them.

  Reaching the weapons storage, he grasped a phaser with one hand before slipping on a belt to carry the weapon. It was the only weapon he’d ever used before. And that had been for target practice. But, he’d been a good shot. A natural. Maybe that would come in handy.

  The time had to come to take back what was theirs. And he’d be first in line to fight for the mine.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Zelda worked the com, talking to those that were coming in to help fight. Coordinating who would board and where. Of course, that depended on Clyde getting them onboard. The Wolfton hadn't been in contact for too long. He should have gotten in place by now, along with others loyal to her. Their entire plan depended on Clyde being able to let them all land. Off the mine, no one could do much. They needed to get down there. If Gemini had found Clyde out…

  A familiar voice came over the com. "Zelda."

  The man himself, thank Goddess. "Yeah?"

  "Done." Clyde clicked off the com.

  A slight smile graced her lips. From the day he'd taken over the bar, counting on him was one of her best decisions. Of course, he'd get himself in position and keep himself safe. "Clyde's in place."

  Bren tipped up the controls. "Where do we go in?"

  "The south side of the mine. McTavish will come in with us. Layla will be on the north side with Dar."

  Amory leaned forward in his chair behind her seat. "Clyde's taking down their weapons? So we can board without getting shot ?"

  "Yep." She sent out encoded messages to her allies, just in case Gemini was monitoring communications on ships nearing the mine.

  Bren maneuvered the shuttle. “Does Gemini suspect Clyde was working for you? I mean Clyde’s known for that.”

  “Clyde holed up as soon as Gemini started making plans. He hasn’t let the asshole catch him.”

  Bren nodded while checking the radar.

  "Once we get onboard, Bren, I'd like you two to stick together.” Bren would protect Amory. She’d be too busy.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Going straight after Gemini.” The man would pay for trying to pull one over on her. He might have created discord up until now. No longer. She’d take back her mine. Keep her mates safe. And go on to fuck another day.

  Setting down with the mine unable to block them or defend themselves, they docked and entered the mine carefully, weapons drawn. A welcoming party didn’t greet them. Gemini had no organizational skills with Clyde’s group keeping his minions busy.

  McTavish had about forty men with him. How had he gotten them all onboard his small shuttle? He nodded to Zelda. “Zelda.”

  “McTavish.” She could have thanked him for coming, but he’d not take it well. Instead, she nodded back. How long had they known each other? So many years. He was the one person off the station she’d counted on to come. The others had been unknowns.

  Layla, along with her mates, Balt and Orion, felt she owed Zelda something for retrieving Orion from an asshole. She didn’t. Zelda had been glad to put one over on Ansel, a One-Dick Wonder. Layla hadn’t hesitated from the instant Zelda had contacted her. Maybe Zelda had acquired another friend like McTavish in the young bounty hunter and her two mates, who were also her partners.

  Dar was an enigma. He’d either help her full force or ignore her. This time, he’d chosen to help.

  “Where ’tis the bastard who’s trying ta take yar mine?” McTavish raised his weapon higher. All his men followed suit. Quite a sight to see all the similarly dressed men raise their weapons in tandem.

  McTavish was always spoiling for a fight, despite being an accomplished surgeon and doctor.

  “In the downturns of the mine.”

  They all turned to spy a battered, bruised Wolfton approaching them. His lip bled from a nasty cut.

  Zelda was glad to see him alive. His working for her hadn’t been easy this time. She owed him quite a bit when this all played out. He’d never collect. That wasn’t his way.

  “No one is sure what he’s doing down there. The fighting turned nasty just before you got here. They might have more men.” An evil smile launched across Clyde’s face. “But we fight dirtier. He’s holed himself up down there to keep himself safe from us. His men are blocking the known entrances to where Gemini is.”

  Zelda rubbed a hand across
her face. “No one knows his intentions?”

  Clyde shook his head. “His minions don’t even know. We’ve captured a few of them for questioning.” The grim set to his face probably meant those questioned hadn’t survived. Wolftons could be quite persuasive, so they must not have known anything.

  Zelda’s personal com buzzed.

  Layla’s voice crackled. “We’re on.”

  “All right.” Zelda pulled up schematics of the mine on her screen. “He’s down there?” She pointed to a loop of mine corridors, which hadn’t been used regularly in a while.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s where I go. The rest of you work on taking out all his minions on the upper reaches of the mine. Protect the people on the mine.”

  “Most of them have thrown in with us, Zelda.” Clyde moved forward, cracking his knuckles. “The diggers and all the workers. They’re helping us.”

  “Sounds good on the plan.” Bren’s eyes flickered.

  Zelda turned to face her big mate. “You two go with McTavish.”

  Bren straightened. “Shit, no. I’m with you.”

  “So am I.” Amory’s hand tightened on his weapon.

  No. They couldn’t go with her. She needed them safe and that wasn’t an option, going after Gemini. “This isn’t the time to argue. I need you both working on the upper floors. It will be easier for one person to slip down and take out Gemini.” And less dangerous for them. McTavish would keep them both safe. If anything happened to them…

  McTavish nodded. “I’ll look after them both.”

  “You need someone to watch your back.” Bren’s mouth straightened in a stubborn line. “Like I always do.”

  “Not this time.”

  “Z…”

  I don’t have time for this.” She turned, effectively dismissing both her mates. “I’ll be working my way down to where Gemini is. The rest of you, take out as many as you can and take back as much of the mine as you can. If they ain’t loyal to me, hurt ’em.”

  Several agreements sounded.

  Zelda sprinted off, weapon in hand. She didn’t look back to see if Amory or Bren watched her. Didn’t want to look back at them and see their eyes. It was better this way. This time, she was the one leaving. But she would come back.

  * * * * *

  Amory scrambled behind Bren as they fought their way through the masses down the corridor. Mostly hand to hand with some phaser fire. The man named McTavish had an overwhelming number with him. They took the lead in mowing down the minions of Gemini by their sheer numbers. If McTavish hadn’t joined them, they’d have been hard pressed to fight. How had Gemini gotten so many damn people on the mine?

  Bren changed direction. “Stay with McTavish. I’ll be back.”

  “Hell, no.” Amory worked to keep up with Bren’s longer legs and determined stride. “Are you going to Zelda?” Of course he was. And Amory wasn’t getting left behind. His mate was down there. He’d just found them. He wasn’t going to lose them to some mine takeover.

  “Yeah. I’ve got an idea.” Bren moved through an opening, dropping off a shot to fell a man near a doorway. “You stay up here.”

  “No. I want to help you. Help Zelda. Keep the mine.” An honest answer. Amory’s priorities had changed radically in a short time. Keeping the mine was important to them all. Amory had to pull his weight and that meant going down into the mine.

  Bren blew out a breath. “Fine. But stay close and don’t get dead.”

  “Don’t intend to.”

  Amory saw McTavish yell after them as he noticed them disappear around the bend, but there was nothing he could do to stop them, as he was fighting.

  Bren led them to an old elevator shaft. It looked abandoned. “We gave up on this vein years ago. But if we can use it to get down into the downturns, we can plan a surprise for Gemini.”

  Amory nodded. “I’m in.” He peered over the dark shaft. “What kind of surprise?” Bren would plan something good for the enemy. Amory wanted to be a part of taking down Gemini.

  Bren’s grin looked grim instead of humorous. “A big one.”

  “I’ll help however I can.”

  The climb down the shaft was slippery and tedious. They came out in a pocket in the downward spirals of the mine. Coldness blew across Amory’s skin. It was colder down here than in the upper reaches. Inky blackness stretched for as far as he could see, only pierced by the light of the shaft they’d just crawled through.

  Bren lit a lantern, which carved through the darkness. There must have been emergency supplies stored in this pocket of the mine.

  “You think Gemini’s somewhere down here?” Amory tried to get a good look around and get his bearings.

  “Yeah. From what Clyde said. I don’t know why, though.” Bren struck off in a spiraling direction. “Come on. Let’s see what we can find.”

  * * * * *

  Zelda jumped down, landing on her feet with her weapon outstretched. No Gemini yet. She’d been searching for him for a while now, even as the battle raged overhead. Why go down here? Especially if one were taking over a mine. Down here was closer to the center of the planet. Most of the veins had gone dry years ago. She didn’t see what objective to taking over the mine this would meet. Which left her with a bad feeling.

  She canted her head to the side.

  Footsteps.

  They were coming this way.

  She lay in wait, shifting herself into a crevice. As the person rounded the bend, she jumped them. About to slam her gun into their head to subdue them, she stopped with only a second to spare.

  Amory stared up at her. His eyes had widened in surprise at seeing her and being jumped.

  “What the fuck are you doing down here?” She quickly got off her mate. He’d been lucky she hadn’t followed through with the blow. “You were supposed to stay above. You get back up there now.”

  “No.” Amory got to his feet. “I’m down here to help you.” He glanced furtively around her as if looking for something. “Shh.”

  “Amory, it’s too dangerous.” Her heart pumped a thousand miles a minute. Goddess, what had he been thinking? Gemini was somewhere down here. If he took Amory, that would cripple any of her efforts to stop him.

  Amory glanced behind her with a hard look. He blew out a breath. “I had to come help you. You’re my mate. I can’t let you face danger, while I don’t.” He grasped her hand. “Trust me.”

  Looking into his earnest face, she saw so many things. So many things she wanted to deny to keep her mate safe. But if she didn’t trust him, they’d never have a future together. Bren had been right saying that. And she wanted that future. “I trust you.” She reached to stroke his cheek.

  “Good.” He bit his lip. “Trust me in everything that’s going to happen. And don’t send me back up there.” He shook his head. “Like I’d go anyway.”

  “All right.” She dropped her hand. “Where’s Bren?” Bren wouldn’t have let Amory come down alone.

  Amory turned up the volume to his voice. “He’s around here somewhere. Just waiting to jump out at any moment. On anyone.”

  Zelda stared at him, even as another voice answered from behind her. She whirled to face the direction of the sound.

  “Like I’d believe that.” Gemini strolled on the path from behind them with a gun. He had a fodder cannon leveled at them. They tore big holes in people. Zelda had seen the wounds before. “You two are down here alone. After me. Guess Bren really is a coward.”

  Amory shrugged. “Believe what you want.”

  “I know you saw me coming, dough boy. Were you too scared to even warn your whore lover? I know you said Bren’s down here for my benefit. I saw that on your face. Stupid liar. I’ve been following you for a while now. Stalking you before I kill you.”

  “Gemini, you piece of dung.” Zelda waved her phaser back and forth at him. More an empty threat than anything else. As long as he held the cannon, he had them right where he wanted them. “It’s time you left my mine.”

/>   “Your mine? Hardly. You need to get with the current picture.” His voice twisted into sneering. “It’s my mine now.”

  “In your dreams.” How was she going to get Amory out of the line of fire? She couldn’t get him hurt. Or worse yet, killed. She maneuvered her body so she could jump in front of Amory if Gemini fired. Amory had to survive.

  Gemini’s smile revealed too white teeth. “That little pop thing has no effect on my big gun. I suggest you put it down. Before I blow him to bits.” His finger tightened on the trigger. “Drop your weapon.”

  Zelda lowered and dropped her phaser. Not anything she wanted to do, but she couldn’t risk Amory. She’d have to look for another way out for him. “You’ll never win.” She’d find a way to best him. To save her mates. Thank Goddess, Bren had stayed above. Wait a minute, Bren wouldn’t have stayed above. Not with Amory coming down here. But where was he?

  “Ah, but I already have. I have your mine. I have you.” Gemini motioned for them to move along the corridor. He led them to a pocket just up ahead in the direction Amory had been traveling. “Up against the wall.”

  Both Amory and Zelda complied.

  “Raise your arms.”

  They both raised their arms.

  Zelda hated being trapped like this. With Amory. Fuck, how were they going to get out of this? Gemini would use her mate against her. He already had. Any other time, she would have jumped Gemini before things had gotten this far. Because her mate was here, she wouldn’t.

  “Such a stupid bitch. I only wish I hadn’t been rushed because of that damn Wolfton bartender. I would have enjoyed letting Tenack take you in all your holes. Watch you bleeding.”

  Amory bristled. “He’d never do anything to her. I’d never have let him.” He folded his arms across his chest as a menacing sound seemed to echo around the pocket. How had he gotten so loud?

  Gemini moved forward to slap him. The thud of it resounded in the stone. “Shut your trap, boy.”

  Zelda growled and moved after him until he lifted the cannon.

  Amory grabbed her shoulder. “Don’t. He’s not worth it.”

  “Have you recognized me yet, Zelda? Have you seen beneath the mask I wear? Not a real mask, but one of surgery. They say you remember everyone who comes onboard once you meet them. I want to know if it’s true. Especially with a Bbayan like me.”