Stolen Moments (A World Beyond Book 8)

by Michelle Howard

  “Jutak warriors! Jutak warriors!”

  Two black-clad figures rappelled down from a black cord and hit the floor at a run. They had Jordan covered immediately. One kicked out to turn him on his back and the other aimed his weapon at Jordan’s head.

  Shaya rose shakily to her feet. All around chaos erupted as some slowly realized they’d been saved. The door banged open and a male stormed toward her. Blond hair and blue eyes filled with concern. Her Chosen swooped her up in his arms as soon as he reached her side.

  “Shaya.”

  Her name was muffled as he buried his face against her throat and held her in a vise-like grip about her waist. His big body shuddered against her.

  Shaya calmed her own heart rate and smoothed a hand up his back. “Please tell me the children are safe.”

  Marlin lifted his head and tears glinted in his gaze. “Yes. They’re locked in my office. I sent them away as soon as I realized something was wrong.”

  The last of her tension drained away and Shaya slumped in his arms, her own grip tight about his shoulders. “I was worried.”

  With a weak laugh, Marlin pulled back slightly. “You were worried?”

  Shaya grinned. “It is different being on one end and not knowing if my family was safe.”

  “Same.” Marlin smoothed a shaking hand over her hair which was probably an awful mess now.

  “We need to get them. I can not imagine how afraid they are.”

  He nodded.

  “Shaya Redenler.”

  Shaya turned at the voice. It was somehow familiar, but she couldn’t place the tall dark clad figure. Weapons were strapped to both of his thighs, his tread silent as crossed the room toward them. The black mask hid his features, all except stern blue eyes.

  A Jutak warrior.

  “Shaya Alonson.” Had been for some years, so it was odd hearing someone call her by her old name.

  He inclined his head in acknowledgment of the correction. “I am glad to see you safe.”

  She tried to pierce the mystery of his face behind the fabric.

  Marlin leaned close. “My friend, Taig Vorik. You remember him?”

  Vaguely. Instead of revealing her doubt, she offered her appreciation for his actions today. “Thank you. And the other Jutaks.”

  “It is our duty.” He continued to watch her with an unblinking blue gaze until Jordan groaned from behind them.

  Taig became all business and slapped Marlin on the back. “You were always lucky, Alonson.”

  He began ordering the Jutak warriors gathered and they jumped to obey. Injuries were seen to, the wounded being escorted out where medical help awaited, Shaya presumed. Others were assisted to their feet and escorted through the open door. Once finished, the four soldiers returned to lead a docile Jordan from the ballroom.

  Taig, Marlin’s friend, approached the murmuring guests and at that point Shaya lost interest. She had only one goal in mind. “I want to get my babies and go home.”

  “Absolutely.” Marlin wrapped his arm about her lower back and walked her from the room.

  ***

  Shaya wasn’t sure who was more excited when their family was reunited. Torkel and Lissi’s faces beamed the entire ride home to their farm. Because of the eventful day, she suggested they eat the pastry treat she’d been saving for a special occasion and pushed dinner back for later.

  The excitement kept the conversation flowing until Shaya noticed their eyes drooping at the table. “I think it is bedtime.”

  For once they didn’t moan or groan. Marlin carried Lissi who was already half-sleep and Shaya held Torkel’s hand as she led him to his bedroom. It was as she was tucking the covers about his shoulders that he reached out and clasped her hand.

  Shaya smiled. “What is it, Torkel?”

  “I was really scared.” He said it as if he was ashamed of the admission.

  Shaya brushed back the long strands of his dark brown hair. “Do you want to know something?”

  He nodded, his eyes bright with curiosity.

  “So was I. I was scared for you and your sister and I was scared for your papan.”

  The floor behind her creaked and her Chosen sat down on the edge of Torkel’s bed next to them. “Is everything alright?”

  “Torkel was sharing his fear about today.” Shaya stroked a hand down her son’s arm to soothe whatever had put the worried look in his wide eyes.

  “Is there anything we can do to help you, Torkel? Do you want to talk about things?” Marlin asked.

  The gentle tone he used as he voiced the questions left Shaya’s heart melting. She leaned back against her Chosen and he scooted closer, so they presented a united front for their son.

  Torkel licked his lips, his gaze darting around nervously before he blurted. “I was really scared because I thought it was the Marenians. I thought they had come back to take me away.”

  Shaya’s breath froze in her chest. She was at once crushed and angered. Crushed because she couldn’t tell if this was something Torkel worried over but also angry that Jordan and his band of criminals had brought such a fear to the forefront of their son’s mind.

  Marlin ever calm leaned around her and placed his large hand on the side of Torkel’s face. “Were you scared in a good way like you wanted to go or in a bad way like you did not want to go?”

  Waiting for the answer had Shaya almost in tears. Torkel was their first. Maybe not the child of her blood but the child of her heart in every way that counted and she’d kill anyone who thought to take him away from her.

  “In a bad way,” Torkel whispered, slouching low in his bed covers.

  “I think it is time your maman and I told you all the details of how you came to us and made us a family.”

  Shaya glanced up meeting Marlin’s gaze. “Everything?”

  His lips quirked. “Everything.”

  She huffed. “I stand by all of my actions during that time.”

  Torkel sat up in the bed and while his fear hadn’t completely faded he looked intrigued. And so they told him how they’d found him abandoned on the farm which he already knew. They told him about the adoption center, how the workers lost the few belongings left with him. And in the end with great glee, Marlin told him about how Shaya had almost been arrested stealing him.

  Torkel looked at her with shock. “Maman!”

  Shaya wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tight. He’d had a growth spurt recently and was now considered large for his age. No longer the scrawny boy Lissi had been able to push about. At least, he’d yet to show signs that he didn’t want his maman’s physical affection. “You are mine, Torkel Alonson. Never doubt it.”

  When they turned the light out and left his room, there was a small smile on Torkel’s face that eased any concern Shaya may have had. In their bedroom as she undressed she asked Marlin, “Do you think we have to worry about his family coming back for him?”

  “We are his family.” Marlin tugged his shirt over his head.

  His muscled chest distracted from her line of questioning. He walked to the closet and removed the rest of his clothing. When he re-entered the bedroom, he was completely naked and had a gleam in his eyes. Shaya settled back against the pillows in their bed, eager to wait and see his intentions.

  Marlin leaned one knee on the bed and slid beneath the covers. He curled on his side facing her and cupped her cheek. “You cannot imagine the terror I felt when I knew you had to be one of the hostages.”

  Shaya placed her hand over his and squeezed. “All of it was a frightening experience. Let us try and put it in the past. Jordan will face justice for his actions along with the others and Arid Samba was not freed.”

  “Which is good news.” Marlin nipped her bottom lip.

  Sensations stirred and her lower region clenched with desire. Shaya eased her knee between his thighs and nudged. “Very.”

  His gasp sent a thrill through her. Running a hand over his hip, Shaya moved closer and kissed him. Marlin groaned and slid
his arm under her to pull her against him. Her nipples brushed his solid chest and became tiny points. A moan slipped past her lips.

  Desperate to erase the events of today from her memory with her Chosen’s touch, Shaya pressed her mouth to his.

  On a groan, Marlin gripped her hair and tugged as he broke the kiss. “Do you truly not remember my friend Taig?”

  Shaya paused. She vaguely recalled the name, but now as she matched it with the eyes of the Jutak warrior from earlier, she said, “I think I do. You were close.”

  Chapter 6

  Marlin laughed uproariously and snatched his Chosen up as he rolled to his back and propped her on top of him. When he settled and his mirth died down, he stared into her confused gaze. “We are still close. He is a very dear friend but because of his work with the Jutaks, we don’t get to see each other often any more.”

  Not much at all since they’d entered presentation together with the hopes of catching the same woman’s eyes.

  Shaya nodded. Marlin held in a snicker at the disinterest on her face. Taig might think he still had a chance if Marlin wasn’t a factor but it was evident his love had no interest in him. Leaning up, he kissed her pert nose, chin and then teased her lips with his tongue. Shaya’s mouth parted and Marlin spent the next few moments memorizing her taste and languishing in the pleasure having her in his arms brought.

  Slowly he rocked his hips up and Shaya undulated over him, moisture trickling between their thighs. Marlin smoothed his hands down her back and then up. He did it again until he cupped her round cheeks in his palms. He squeezed and grinned as she arched and broke the kiss.

  “About Torkel. Do we need to be worried about losing him?” Tension lined her body, removing the sensual spell entwining them.

  Marlin gave it serious thought because he saw the worry on her face. “I think he was left here for a reason. Maybe they knew what a good maman you would be.” She melted against him. “Maybe they wanted him somewhere safe. Whatever brought him into our lives, I am grateful and will love him and fight for him.”

  Shaya grinned. Her hands reached down as she stroked his twitching cock. “You’re right. I won’t think of it any more.”

  She lifted her hips and slowly lowered herself onto his erection. Marlin threw his head back on the pillows as her warm, wet center gloved him from tip to base. Then she tortured him with fast gyrations mixed with slow hip swivels. He held her hips tight for the ride and as his climax exploded, he groaned deep in his throat.

  Shaya collapsed atop him having timed her orgasm to his own. Something she often did with amazing accuracy. Kissing his chest as she dozed, Shaya murmured, “Taig Vorik never stood a chance.”

  And Marlin fell asleep with a smile on his face, arms tight around the woman he loved.

  Author’s Note

  This was a delight to write. I never thought much about Shaya and Marlin other than they are awesome amazing parents and I love them so hard. LOL. Then I sat down and suddenly I “saw” this moment in time for them with Torkel and Lissi as kids.

  At first, I thought this would be a coming of age from Torkel’s point of view and how he became a Jutak but Shaya and Marlin’s story unfolded and I couldn’t pull away. Hopefully, everyone enjoyed this glimpse into their past since Shaya has quite the fan group of her own.

  And yes, at some point in one of the upcoming books we will learn more about how Torkel, a baby of Marenian descent, ended up on Enotia and specifically on Marlin and Shaya’s farm.

  Michelle H.

  Better Every Time

  A World Beyond Novella

  By Michelle Howard

  Published by MH Publications

  Chapter 1

  “The meeting is hereby closed unless anyone has another point of interest.” High Councilor Jakil paused to scan the room of Senate Leaders.

  No one spoke or raised a hand for an extension of the meeting they had been required to attend. Baruk breathed a sigh of relief, excited at the thought of going home on time for the first time in weeks.

  It was rare any of their presence was deemed necessary at the Senate Hall more than once a week, but today’s agenda had included finalizing details on several grant proposals for the government which had been argued over to the point tempers had exploded. They’d fought over every section and article until settling on a firm resolution they could all agree to.

  “Meeting officially completed. Please note the time.” The High Councilor stepped away from the head of the table, his black ankle length senate robes swaying with his movement.

  Several Senate Leaders rose to their feet and broke off into smaller groups. Baruk was thinking of the easiest way to ease out the door without being caught in any of those conversations. He wanted to get back to his wife and their children.

  “Why don’t you just walk out?”

  The deep rumbling voice behind him was heavy with amusement. Baruk composed his features before turning to face a man he’d grown to not only tolerate but like and respect. His spouse partner and fellow Senate Leader, Zadal.

  “If I rush out, it is guaranteed to cause one of them to call out my name with an urgent discussion that absolutely must occur now.”

  Zadal’s mouth twisted in a familiar cynical smile. He rocked back on his heels, shoving his hands into the pockets of his senate robes and declared. “Best of luck. I’m leaving. I miss Lindsey and the girls.”

  With that, he turned away and strode straight for the door. Only two Senate Leaders attempted to stop him by boldly calling out his name as he crossed the room thus drawing attention from the others who chimed in. Zadal ignored them all and promptly opened the door and took his leave. But not without tossing a smirk over his shoulder at Baruk.

  Stunned, he simply stared. Only Zadal could have made it look that easy. Gathering his wits, Baruk snatched his data pad from the table with every intention of following suit.

  “Senate Leader Baruk.”

  Someone called his name when he was only a few steps from the door. Baruk blew out a breath and hung his head. He should have known it wouldn’t work. While many of his colleagues had grown to accept his spouse partner, Zadal, many of them still avoided doing anything to draw his ire.

  Zadal had a temper and as the briot son of a sex-service worker, he’d fought long and hard for acceptance among his peers and didn’t forgive them their initial slight of him. Though Baruk had never had a true problem with Zadal. At the time, the brutish blond with a grudge had already showed signs of being an exemplary Senate Leader even when they bumped heads and voted against one another on zoning or policy. As a spouse partner, Zadal more than fit in the marital Triad Baruk was a part of.

  Giving his attention to the man who now stood at his side, Baruk asked, “What can I do for you, Maro?”

  As Maro launched into a long winded speech, Baruk gave up on any plans to get out of here early and spend time with his enchanting wife. Which meant Zadal would have all the fun this evening.

  ***

  One, two, three. Three babies huddled together in sleep. His daughters. Part of his family now. Zadal stared at the little bundles curled side by side in their bed. He dismissed the house assistant whose responsibility strictly consisted of helping his wife, Lindsey, so she wouldn’t feel overrun.

  “Are you sure Senate Leader Gatar?” Graeme asked.

  “Positive.” Zadal waved his hand, sending the man on his way to another part of the vast Laars estate which had been in Baruk’s family for years.

  Graeme left with a wide grin, amused no doubt by Zadal’s constant visits to the nursery to see the babies. The door closed behind him with a gentle thud and only one of the babies flinched at the noise before settling.

  It was times like these, Zadal cherished the most. The quiet and ability to focus in complete fascination on the fact that he’d had a part in creating something good and beautiful. His life had not always been that way. He was the bastard son of a woman who sold her body for likos. Zadal could have accepted t
hat—no one understood survival of the fittest more than him but Aiella Gatar had made his life unnecessarily difficult.

  First with her refusal to disclose the name of his father, increasing his stigma among their people who labeled him the derogatory term briot and then with her recreational drug use that sent her into uncontrollable rages.

  The struggles, the beatings, it all had an impact on his outlook on life. Not once as a child had he been tempted to follow in his mother’s steps by succumbing to a life of misery and illegal activity. Fate had chosen to give Zadal a different path, a better path and he’d taken the chance to do more for himself by gripping every opportunity that came his way with determination and sheer stubbornness to succeed.

  Now he had a spouse partner whom he respected and admired though he still enjoyed taunting Baruk. Like earlier today when he’d left him at work. Zadal toyed with a blonde curl on Briar’s head and smiled in remembrance at Baruk’s shock. At some point, Baruk would try and retaliate and Zadal reluctantly admitted to looking forward to it.

  The prickly games they played were harmless and had actually drawn them closer. Without a doubt Zadal considered Baruk a friend and knew he’d stand by him regardless of anything that came their way.

  That didn’t mean he didn’t still envy his spouse partner occasionally. Baruk came from a background of wealth and privilege. He’d had parents who loved him and grown in a secure environment never fearing for his life as Zadal had. In spite of that or maybe despite it, Baruk was as solid as they came.

  “Hey, I didn’t know you were home.”

  At the perk greeting, Zadal glanced up to see his wife bounce in. Hair pulled back in a tail, face free of cosmetic enhancements and wearing a sleeping gown of rich blue belted at the waist, her appearance stirred his arousal and the beginning of an erection stiffened his cock.