by S. E. Smith
She watched the windows of the skyscraper stream past her, and she closed her eyes. Whatever happened, she knew that she’d been loved by a magnificent, gorgeous cyborg.
Suddenly, her body jerked to a stop. She cried out. Then before she could catch her breath, she was flying upward.
A moment later, she cleared the edge of the roof and slammed into Zaden’s arms.
“Never again.” His arms squeezed her. “You will never make me do that again.”
She pressed her cheek to his, holding on tight. “Okay, okay.”
“Calla, watching you fall—” His voice cracked.
There was so much feeling in his words and it warmed her. “Zaden, I’m falling in love with you.”
He froze. “Is this what love feels like?”
“I think so.” She felt the stickiness at his back. She lifted a hand and saw it coated in his blood. “Zaden, you’re hurt. There’s so much blood.”
“My systems are functioning again. I’ve blocked the pain, and stemmed the blood loss.”
Calla blew out a breath. She glanced over his shoulder. There was no sign of the mercenary, and she decided not to ask Zaden what had happened. Then she spotted a small, furry body stretched out on the roof. Cat wasn’t moving, her fur coated with blood.
“Cat!”
After Zaden set Calla down, they quickly made their way over to the animal. Zaden checked her over.
“She’s okay. Her system is rebooting.”
“She’s bleeding.”
“Her wounds aren’t serious.”
Calla patted the feline. “I’m sneaking you cat treats for the rest of your life. You’re going to be okay.” Calla frowned. “How did she get here?”
Zaden shook his head. “I don’t know.”
The deep throb of an engine broke the silence.
They both looked up, and Zaden tensed.
A black ship lowered down to the edge of the roof, its side door opening and a ramp extending.
A group of fighters stepped out of the ship and ice slid into Calla’s veins.
It wasn’t the House of Rone cyborgs, it was a group of black-clad mercenaries, all aiming blasters at her and Zaden.
Chapter Eight
Coldness washed over Zaden and his hands curled.
He would not let these people take Calla.
He sensed her fear, but she stared straight ahead, her face set. Good. So much strength under her sweetness. She was no one’s victim.
“Give us the woman,” a big, burly mercenary called out.
Zaden didn’t respond. In his head, he assessed the odds and options. He couldn’t take on all these mercenaries at once. They’d overpower him.
Calla reached out and grabbed his belt, needing reassurance.
“You’re not alone Calla,” he murmured. “I’ll never leave you alone, and I’ll never let them take you.”
She smiled at him. “I know.”
“Quit stalling,” one of the other mercs called out. The tall, lanky man fired a laser blaster into the air.
Zaden shifted in front of Calla. He’d fight for her, to the end.
But then he sensed movement.
His system registered approaching biosigns, just as a body shot up over the edge of the skyscraper. More bodies followed, and landed on the roof beside them—one, two, three, four, five, six.
Magnus, Jax, Quinn, Mace, Acton and Toren.
A second later, a sleek, silver ship rose up. Zaden knew it belonged to Rillian from the Dark Nebula Casino.
The mercenaries started cursing and shouting.
Magnus leaped into the air, flying high. He slammed down right in front of the lead mercenary. He grabbed the man, then threw him to the side.
The burly merc went flying off the edge of the building with a scream.
Jax’s arm lit up, neon light flowing over his tattoo. He sprinted forward.
A laser fired, the bolt ricocheting between three mercenaries, taking them down. Toren’s aim always found its target.
Mace ran forward, silver flowing over his skin as he became a cyborg shield. Acton ran right behind him, lifting his arms. Two more mercs went flying off the side of the building.
A female mercenary bent low and raced toward Zaden and Calla. She held several deadly throwing stars in her hands.
Zaden took one step, when suddenly a small shape whizzed past him. The nular flew through the air and sliced into the merc’s shoulder. The woman jerked and collapsed, but managed to throw the stars.
Zaden lifted a palm and the two throwing stars slowed, then dropped harmlessly to the glossy roof. The nular sliced through the air and landed back in Calla’s hand.
“Wow,” she said.
The mercenary on the ground was still alive and conscious. Her body jerked as she fought Zaden’s telekinetic hold.
Magnus strode forward. All the other mercenaries had fallen off the building or were unconscious on the roof.
He reached them and yanked the woman up.
“Jax,” the imperator said in a calm voice. “Take any of the mercenaries who are still breathing and put them in a cell.”
“On it.” Jax’s tone said he was going to enjoy his job.
“It’s over,” Calla murmured.
Zaden turned, pulling her close. “It’s over.”
A plaintive meow cut through the air. Cat wound between Zaden and Calla.
“How did the feline get here?” Magnus asked.
“We don’t know,” Calla said.
Cat looked at the mercs and meowed again. It was almost like she was cross she’d missed the fight. Then the animal stalked toward the mercenaries’ ship.
“No, Cat,” Calla called out.
But Cat just sauntered up the ramp like the ship belonged to her.
Frowning, Calla and Zaden followed. Inside, the cargo area was stacked with crates. Cat circled one of the stacks.
When they followed, they found a small girl with brown skin, dark hair, and a gold pattern circling her face.
Calla gasped and crouched. “Hi, there.”
The girl stared at them, trembling.
“We aren’t going to hurt you,” Calla said.
The girl pressed her hands against her chest. “Where are the bad people?”
“They’re gone.”
The girl’s dark eyes flicked to Zaden.
“He’s mine,” Calla said. “He’s one of the good guys.”
Then the little girl’s gaze fell on Cat, and her eyes lit up. “Kitty.” She stroked Cat’s head and the feline purred.
“Yes, this is Cat. My name’s Calla. He’s Zaden.”
“I’m Nemma.”
“Hi, Nemma. Can I tell you something?”
The girl nodded.
“I’m from Rella.”
The girl’s eyes went wide, going to Calla’s markings. “Like me.”
“Just like you.”
Then suddenly, the little girl threw herself into Calla’s arms, her little body shaking.
Calla closed her arms around her. “You’re safe now. You’ve been so brave.”
“My mama? They took me from our ship. I heard my mama screaming.”
Swallowing, Calla held Nemma tighter. “I know. I know. It’ll be okay.”
“They said I was ex topic.”
Calla frowned, then realized. “Exotic?”
Nemma nodded. “They said along with another ex topic, they could sell a pair for a lot of credits.”
Calla’s belly tightened. That’s why they’d wanted her. They wanted to sell her and Nemma like they were pets.
“You aren’t alone anymore, Nemma.”
Calla looked up to meet Zaden’s eyes. Just like Calla knew that she would never be alone again either.
Zaden touched Calla’s shoulder. “Let’s go home.”
After a blissfully hot shower, where she’d finally scrubbed herself clean, Calla stepped out of the shower stall. She rubbed herself briskly with a drying cloth.
The litt
le girl, Nemma, was safe with Ever. Plus, Cat had refused to leave the girl’s side. Calla smiled. She guessed she’d been dumped by Cat for a better option.
Or someone who needed Cat more than she did now.
Calla walked into the bedroom and stopped. A shirtless Zaden was standing beside the bed, his back to her.
She could see his almost-healed wounds. Avarn—the head healer—had worked his wonders when they’d returned to the House of Rone. The stab marks were just small, pink scars that would fade with time.
Calla walked straight to Zaden and wrapped her arms around him from behind. She pressed her lips to his back.
“All clean?” he asked.
“Squeaky.” Ever liked to say that.
“Then you should get some rest.”
“Only if you rest with me.” As he turned around, she pressed kisses to the center of his chest.
“Calla—” A warning tone.
“Love me, Zaden.”
His eyes flashed and she kept her lips on his chest, moving over one flat nipple. She took her time exploring the glorious muscles, each one of them hers to play with. He was in such amazing shape. She moved down, her nails and teeth raking over the fascinating ridges of his abdomen. He sucked in a breath, his body trembling.
She did that to him. Simple Calla Ryss, chef from Rella, drove this amazing man wild.
Then she reached down and flicked open his trousers. She wrapped her hand around his cock, and he groaned.
“I love when you touch me,” he said.
“I love touching you.”
She stroked him, but more than anything, she wanted to know what he tasted like. She wanted to know everything about Zaden.
When she dropped to her knees in front of him, he stiffened.
“Calla—”
She licked the head of his swollen cock, and heard him gasp, disbelief on his face.
“Calla, drak. What are you…?”
“Wasn’t this in that information you downloaded on sex?” she asked.
“I…may not have gotten to this part.”
She smiled up at him, and then sucked him into her mouth. His cock pulsed and his groan filled the room. She took her time, licking and sucking. Every groan and jerk of his body was a reward. She sucked harder.
His hands tangled in her hair. “So good.”
“You taste amazing.”
“I…I want to spill inside you, Calla, but not in your mouth.”
She wanted that as well. She slithered up his body and then he pulled them down on the bed. He rolled her over, his big body covering hers.
Without warning, he shifted between her hips and plunged inside her.
Calla cried out and he froze.
“I’m being too rough.”
“Never. I’m yours.” She wrapped her arms and legs around him. “Take what you need.”
He started plunging inside her, and she held on until their joined cries of pleasure echoed off the walls.
Afterward, they dozed, their arms still around each other. Calla decided she could quite happily stay here, naked in Zaden’s arms, forever.
Zaden stirred. “We have a meeting with Magnus.”
With a reluctant nod, Calla pulled herself out of bed. Once they were dressed, they headed for Ever’s sitting room.
Holding hands, they walked inside. Everyone was already present, the assembled cyborgs standing quietly to one side. Nemma spotted them and hurried over. Her small hands clenched in the skirt of her blue dress. “I have a new dress, Calla.”
“I love it.”
The little girl whirled around and the dress flared out. “See, Zaden?”
“Very pretty. Like you.”
She beamed.
Ever appeared. “Nemma, could you help me entertain baby Asha? She’s getting restless.” She led the little girl out of earshot of the cyborgs.
“We’ve been questioning the mercenaries,” Magnus said. “They were definitely hired by the Edull.”
Calla shivered. She’d expected that answer. “They wanted to sell Nemma and me like a matching set of collectibles.”
Magnus’ face looked harsh. “Unfortunately, there are plenty of sandsuckers like that.”
Calla clasped her hands together. “I’m nobody special—”
Zaden slid an arm around her. “You’re absolutely special. Good, kind, and tough.”
She smiled at him. Yes, her cyborg was definitely falling in love with her. Then her smile faded. “Do you think they’ll try to snatch me again?”
“I won’t let them.” Zaden’s arm tightened on her.
Magnus’ eyes flashed. “We’ve sent out the appropriate warnings. You’re House of Rone now. They take you, they declare war with us and our allies.”
Calla bit her lip. “Thank you.” Then she frowned. “One thing I still don’t understand. How did Cat arrive on that building?”
A faint smile formed on Magnus’ face. “Ever told me Cat tore out of here, and we’ve heard strange reports of a feline scaling the outside of the skyscraper.”
Her jaw dropped, her gaze moving to the animal in question. “Cat scaled the skyscraper?”
“Apparently, she knew you needed her,” Zaden said.
Definitely cat treats for life.
“And Nemma?” Calla turned to look at the small girl playing with the baby. There was no way home to Rella or her family.
“She has a home here,” Magnus said. “Young children are very resilient. Or, so I’m told by my mate.”
“We’ll take care of her,” Ever said.
Suddenly, Nemma wandered over, and for some reason, the little girl moved toward Acton. The cyborg stiffened, but Nemma just tapped his thigh. The man leaned down and she started babbling to him. Calla tensed, waiting for the cyborg to push her away or ignore her. But he didn’t, nodding at the little girl.
“She didn’t deserve to lose her family,” Calla said.
“None of you did,” Magnus said. “But it is possible to make a new family.”
“We will,” Zaden said. “Whatever it takes.” Then he cleared his throat. “Magnus, I’ve claimed Calla as mine.”
Calla gasped at the blatant possession.
A smile crossed Magnus’ face and, for a second, Calla was arrested by the sight of it. He always seemed so imperious and cold.
“Perhaps you should’ve spoken with her about that first,” Magnus said.
“I should have?” Confusion crossed Zaden’s face.
Calla smiled. “He’s still learning, but I love him.”
Quinn bumped her hip against Jax’s. “Told you these two were going to end up together.”
Ever clapped her hands together. “I’m so happy.”
Jayna grinned, leaning into Mace’s big body, and from beside them, Sage caught Calla’s gaze and gave her a thumb’s up.
“I would like to request a celebration of our union,” Zaden said.
Calla’s breath caught. Oh. She looked up at her cyborg, her heart filled to bursting.
“And I’m sure Calla would like to prepare the desserts for the celebration,” he added.
Now, her insides melted.
“I tasted the baked goods you left in my office,” Magnus said.
“Oh, me too.” Ever rolled her eyes back. “They were delicious. Magnus ate five of them.”
Calla felt a flush of pleasure. “I’m so glad you liked them.”
“I’ve already spoken to our chefs,” Magnus said. “They focus on preparing balanced, nutritious meals for the House of Rone, but no one specializes in desserts.” He glanced at Ever. “And I’ve been told that enjoying your food and its flavors are important.”
“Desserts are not nutritious and not necessary,” Acton said.
“Shut it, Acton,” Mace grumbled. “I want dessert.”
Magnus’ intense gaze focused on Calla and she tried not to feel intimidated.
“The head chef said you would be a welcome addition to his staff.”
Calla g
asped. She looked at Zaden and saw him smiling. Looking back at Magnus, she nodded. “It would be my honor.”
“Yay,” Ever said.
“Now, returning to Zaden’s request for a ceremony,” Magnus said. “We’ll organize it as soon as we can.”
As the women cheered, Calla beamed. Then Zaden cupped her cheek.
“I love you, Calla. You’ve taught me to feel love.”
She pressed against his palm. “Oh, Zaden.”
He kissed her, sweeping her off her feet.
“I want to celebrate that love. With our family.”
She nodded. “I want that, too. You’ve been my protector, my unfaltering guard from the moment I landed in your arms.”
A loud meow.
They looked down at Cat.
“Okay, both of you have been my guards.” Calla pressed her lips to Zaden’s. “But you’re the only one I want to kiss.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Then he set to work leaving her breathless.
Afterword
I hope you enjoyed Calla and Zaden’s story!
If you’re new to Galactic Gladiators, you can read Imperator Magnus Rone and Ever’s story in CYBORG.
For the first action-packed adventure in the new Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone series, check out Jaxer and Quinn’s story in SENTINEL.
Don’t miss out! For updates about new releases, action romance info, free books, and other fun stuff, sign up for my VIP mailing list and get your free box set containing three action-packed romances.
Click here to get started: www.annahackettbooks.com
About Anna Hackett
I’m a USA Today bestselling author and I’m passionate about action romance. I love stories that combine the thrill of falling in love with the excitement of action, danger and adventure. I’m a sucker for that moment when the team is walking in slow motion, shoulder-to-shoulder heading off into battle. I write about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.
My books are mixture of action, adventure and sexy romance and they’re recommended for anyone who enjoys fast-paced stories where the boy wins the girl at the end (or sometimes the girl wins the boy!)
