by Marie Harte
“Yes, Sir.” She thought he might have groaned. “I just wanted to help.”
He pulled on her nipples, playing with them until they formed painfully hard buds. “And then?”
“And then I found that secret compartment. I didn’t mean to invade your privacy,” she said on a gasp as he shoved his fingers under her skirt, through her wet slit.
He rubbed her clit with light strokes, enough to make her plead for mercy. Though as strong as a Ragga, Anin felt so weak she could barely protest this sexual agony. Stars, she wanted him so much...
“But you saw everything.” Nu shoved a finger inside her, and she moaned. “You looked inside the box, didn’t you? Tell me the truth.”
His quiet voice should have warned her to lie. But she couldn’t disobey her master. “I did. I don’t know why Lita said those things about you.” She met his furious stare, tears pooling at the sight of his banked hurt. “You’re so much more than what she knew. So kind, so generous—”
His harsh laughter cut her off. “You don’t know a thing about me.” His touch grew rougher as he shoved another finger inside her. He touched so deep, to her very core. “Do you like pain, Anin? Would you like being told what to do, handled like a plaything by a man who can do whatever he wants to you?”
She nodded, and he swore. “Then let’s see how much you like this.”
Nu shoved her onto her belly and dragged her to the edge of the bed. She wasn’t afraid of him, though she knew she should be. Instead she ground into his bed, wanting to feel his hands and body all over her. To mark her again, as he had when he’d bitten her neck. So powerful, so demanding. Only she could soothe the beast inside him.
He yanked her skirt off her body and shoved her legs wide. “Don’t fucking move.”
She said nothing as she waited. Clothing rustled. He returned and slowly pushed something inside her, something cold and large.
“Do you like this? It’s one of my favorites.” He pulled it out and commanded her to look. The large blue dildo. “It looks perfect in that pussy. So smooth and glassy.” He shoved it back in and fucked her with it.
He didn’t make a sound as he pushed it in her. She couldn’t help her moans and responded.
“Damn it.” He pulled it out of her and turned her on her back. “Lick it, taste your need.”
He held it high enough that she had to strain to reach it. She licked it twice before he shoved it in her mouth. “That’s it. Suck it.” His gritty voice told her he liked what she did.
She didn’t miss his erection, hard and hot against the inside of her thigh as he leaned over her.
“Pretend it’s Set you’re sucking,” Nu said, his voice thick. “You like my brother, don’t you? You like pretending you’re in love.”
She shook her head, but he stopped her.
“No, just suck this cock. You’re a woman. You want love. They all want it.” Bitterness laced his words. “But when you have it, you don’t know what to do with it.”
He pulled the dildo away and shoved himself inside her. He grunted as he shafted her, in and out, grazing her clit with each pass. “Come for me, slave. Feed your master that desire.”
She keened as she came hard around him. Still he fucked her, not giving an inch as he rubbed her sensitive flesh past the point of pleasure into pain.
“What feels good can hurt, can’t it?” he panted and leaned back. He pulled her closer to him, so that he fucked her without leaning over her clit, giving her some ease.
Then he withdrew from her body and laid his cock on her pelvis. “Look at me. See how hard you make me? How hot? I’m slick with your desire, Anin. Just like Set is when he’s fucking you. He and I are so much alike. But we’re different, too. He’s a gentler soul.” Nu held her gaze as he spread her thighs wider. He poised at her entrance. “I’m not gentle.” He rammed inside her so hard it hurt, but as he continued to pound into her, the pain turned into something else entirely. Pure pleasure burst inside her as he shouted and came.
She squeezed around him when he tried to withdraw. Surprise filled his eyes as he thrust back inside her and came again.
“Fuck. Anin, what are you doing to me?” He groaned when he finally withdrew, spurting the last few drops of his cum on her clit. He rubbed her with light strokes. “Come again, Meena.” Three caresses were all she needed before she lost control and climaxed.
“You like the pain, don’t you?” he asked in a hard voice. But beneath his anger, she sensed his surprise.
“I like you,” she answered as she stared up at him. So beautiful with his bright eyes, clenched jaw, and long, ragged hair framing that masculine face. He looked like a warrior, one shying away from claiming what could rightfully be his had he the mind to take it.
11
“Damn it.” Nu scowled and blanketed her. He kissed her hard and for so long she nearly passed out.
He stood and tucked himself back in his trousers then lifted her in his arms.
Moments later, he dropped her in Set’s lap. “I have work to do. I’ll be back later.” He left the house.
“Anin.” Set grinned. “Baby, you are absolutely getting a reward for whatever you did to piss off my brother.”
“I’m sorry,” she started but was cut off by a kiss.
“Don’t be. I’ve never seen Nu so shaken. Not in the seven years since Lita died. Trust me. You’re doing fine.”
Anin groaned and curled into his arms. Her body was sore, well-used, and sticky.
“What say we go for a ride?”
A ride was the last thing she wanted, but she couldn’t deny Set’s good mood.
“Okay.”
“But first, we clean you up.”
Set wouldn’t let her help, and he wouldn’t let her tend to his erection either, which looked imposing even through his trousers. Embarrassed when he cleaned her all over, she stood still as he smoothed cream over her womanly parts with a lavender balm. In seconds, the soreness vanished.
“Nu bought some of this today.” Set smirked. “Thought you might need some after your work-out this morning.”
“Jerk,” she said offhand and froze when she realized she’d said it out loud.
Set laughed and hugged her. “That’s the Anin I’ve come to expect. You constantly surprise me. Yeah, I am a jerk. I owe you an apology I know you won’t accept. It’s not really fair of me to throw you at Nu the way I have. But you don’t know how good you are for him.” Set stood and kissed her on the mouth. “Your gentle soul is what he needs, what I need. I’m not letting you go, Anin.”
She didn’t know what to say, or even what he really meant, so she nodded instead.
“Now let’s put these new clothes to work.” He dressed her in a brown outfit and boots, as well as a soft, full length cloak the color of midnight blue. “Matches your eyes.”
His comparison made her blush.
Set programmed the house security to recognize her handprint and voice before leading them to the surface. He readied a rak to mount and promised to make the trip easy. Silence filled the small space between them for some time.
Set sounded amused when he said, “I’m sorry we weren’t there when you woke this morning. We needed to see our parents.”
“What’s so funny?”
“My mother very much wants to meet with you for longer than a hello. For some reason Nu feels threatened by that.”
She digested that for a moment. “We’re riding to your family unit, aren’t we?” She stared outside through the barn at the bright environment, once again seeing beauty in the stark landscape.
“We are. My mother and fathers like you. My grandfathers wanted to meet you as well, but they had council matters to attend to several towns over.”
His mother and fathers like me? “But they don’t know me.” Still, she felt a deep-seated joy that Set’s family seemed to like her.
“They know what I know of you. And it’s all good. You only have one or two minor flaws.”
“Oh?” Curious, she wanted t
o know what he thought.
“You need to speak your mind more than you do.” Set surprised her yet again. Most men wanted her quiet and on her knees. Or at least, those at Blue Rim had wanted that. “And you wear too many clothes.”
She laughed and batted his hand away from her robe.
Set cleared his throat. “You know, Anin. Anytime you don’t want to serve us, sexually or otherwise, you only have to say so.”
Surprised, she studied his sincerity. “I know.” And she did. “I like serving my sexy lovers,” she said shyly, running a hand over his arm. He thrilled her with his response.
“You don’t even have to loosen that scent and I’m hard. By Vas’s Hammer, Anin, you really get to me. You’re beautiful, smart, and so damn kind.” His voice thickened. “A better man than me would tell you to enjoy your newfound freedom. To see the System and go out with other men, to experience the life you’ve been denied.” His eyes darkened.
“Set—”
The rage in his gaze took her aback. This was a side of Set she’d never seen, and she loved his ferocity.
“But I can’t. The thought of you with any other male makes me crazed.” He breathed hard, staring down at her with an expression she’d once seen Erin give her own mate. “You’re mine, Anin. Mine and Nu’s. Remember that.”
Thrilled to the core, she nodded solemnly. Mustering her courage, she said, “And you’re mine. I don’t think I’d take it very well to see you with another female.” The thought of it brought her territorial instincts to the fore. The Ragga in her gripped him by the throat before he could move. “I’m not as nice as you might think.”
Set nodded, and she removed her hand. Shocked at the violence pumping through her blood, she looked away in shame. She’d never felt so possessive before, and it shocked her. Submissives didn’t harm their masters. They didn’t threaten. They certainly didn’t harm—
“Hot damn. I love you, Anin.”
Set watched Anin interact with his mother and rubbed his throat. If they hadn’t already been running behind to see his family, he would have fucked her right then in the barn.
So, his Anin felt possessive. Too bad Nu hadn’t been there to witness their lamb turn into a lion.
She glanced up at him and blushed. His mother caught her attention again, and the two of them chatted about feshwa and various clothing materials native to the planet.
“She’s quiet,” Orset, his father, murmured.
“Quiet when it counts,” Winnu, his other father, remarked. “Your mother seems to like her.”
Set wanted to burst with pride. Mother hadn’t like Lita from the first.
“Anin’s had a rough time of it.” Set and Nu hadn’t explained much about Anin’s presence the day before, except to say that Anin needed a place to stay for a while. “She wasn’t treated well before we found her.”
Orset scowled. “System is full of uncivilized people. Imagine doing harm to that innocent thing.”
Anin smiled shyly at something Nala said.
“I don’t know.” Winnu stared at Set’s throat. “I imagine that one’s full of surprises.” He paused. “Her eyes are special, aren’t they, son?”
Set bristled. “They’re beautiful. Her people—”
“Easy. I’m just saying what others are bound to say, or think.” Winnu waited for an explanation. A lot like Nu, his father could say more with an expression than he did with words.
“She was an unfortunate victim of an illegal lab on Eyra.” Period. Set had no intention of explaining her background unless forced to. His parents either accepted her or they didn’t, but he wouldn’t let them refuse his future mate because of something she couldn’t help.
“Good enough for me.” Orset eyed Winnu. “Well?”
“Fine, fine. I said I like the girl. Now where’s Nu?”
Set couldn’t contain a smirk. “He’s sulking because Anin won’t live up to his expectations. She’s not rejecting him, and he doesn’t know what to do about it.”
Winnu grinned. “Not rejecting him, eh? I like her even more.”
Orset beamed. “A double mating. I hoped you two would follow tradition. I’m happy for you, son.” He nodded at Winnu. “That explains why Nu was so upset about the longhouse. Not ready to forget about Lita, is he?”
Winnu growled, “He’s too much like me in some respects. Our war god had his justice. Lita and Ivar are dead. Nu needs to let go of the past.”
“I agree.” Set nodded. “Anin’s just what he needs. She’s sure as hell what I need.”
The three of them were silent when Orset spoke again. “I don’t suppose you’d like to tell us how you really met her, would you?”
“Ah, I don’t—”
At that moment, the whinnying of several raks sounded outside.
“What the hell?” Winnu moved to the door, with Orset and Set on his heels.
A dozen Raggas remained on their raks while one approached the homestead. At the doorway, he announced in a harsh voice, “I have an official seal to search the premises.”
Set didn’t recognize the Ragga. Then again, he and Nu spent most of their time off world. “Who are you?”
“Betar Ot, head of the fraternal order of the People of Vas.”
“Ragga has its own peacemakers now?” Set turned to Winnu. “Since when?”
“Since we don’t trust offworlders to solve Ragga problems,” Betar answered coldly.
“They aren’t peacemakers.” Winnu grimaced. “They’re church militia.”
Even worse. Betar Ot...the name sounded familiar. But before Set could come up with a response, his father asked Betar inside.
Ragga tradition called for hospitality toward guests, so Winnu did the right thing and stepped back, forcing Orset and Set to do the same. “Come inside for repast while you tell us what you mean by this.” Winnu’s gaze met Orset’s.
Betar nodded and entered. “My men will remain outside.”
Orset stood by the doorway, alert. Set moved with Winnu, looking for his mother and Anin. Both women were absent, to his relief.
“You,” Betar said, staring at him with a frown. “What is your name?”
“Why are you here?” Set asked without answering.
Betar accepted the tea Winnu handed him and sipped slowly, his gaze glued to Set’s. “I’m here for Nu Fas.”
Set suddenly remembered where he’d heard the name Ot before. Lita’s lover, Ivar, had been an Ot before he’d been cast out of his house for dallying with Nu’s mate. Shit.
12
“Why would the People of Vas look for my son?” Winnu frowned. “He’s barely been back a day. What trouble has he caused that I haven’t heard of?” As one of the leading men on the town council, he knew more than most about current happenings.
“He’s wanted for the murder of Ivar Ot.”
“That’s bullshit.” Set crossed his arms over his chest, incensed. And worried. A lot of men outside could cause trouble for his family. “That fucking drun had an affair with Lita. As if that weren’t bad enough, he and Lita tried to murder me in my own bed. So tell me how I murdered Ivar in the course of defending myself?”
His fathers looked at him with surprise. To those who didn’t know them well, Nu and Set looked enough alike to be twins. Nu was slightly broader at the shoulder and an inch taller, but this idiot didn’t know that. At least this way, Nu wouldn’t be broadsided by Betar, not when the prick thought Nu stood right in front of him.
Betar’s eyes narrowed to slits. “My brother and cousin impregnated Lita with their seed—Ot seed. We finally have the results of the babe’s genetic match, thanks to new offworld technology. Therefore, you could not have been Lita’s rightful mate.
“I’ve a petition pending with the People of Vas. Any day now and Ivar’s union will be recognized, yours nullified. For poaching Ivar’s intended, you deserve nothing less than castration. And for killing my brother, I will personally see to it that you die a slow, agonizing death.”
&n
bsp; Set snorted. “You’re out of your mind. Fuck you and your posse. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“You’ll do what I tell you to, boy.” Betar glared.
“Boy? You’re what, barely twenty years older than me, if that?” Set shook his head. “Betar, get out of my parents’ house before I plant you next to your shit of a brother ten feet in the ground.”
Betar swore and shoved a pistol in Set’s gut before anyone could move. The son of a bitch was big and strong, but Set could have taken him had Betar been unarmed.
Set glared, not having expected a weapon. On Ragga, handheld pistols were illegal. Or at least, they had been. “I should have known you’d have as little honor as Ivar.”
“I can shoot you now, as I’m within my rights. But I would rather your pain last. Should I kill one of your fathers for getting in the way of the People of Vas’s justice?” Betar turned the pistol on Winnu, and Set froze.
The fucking bastard.
His fears were further realized when Anin and his mother re-entered the room.
“Orset, why are there so many men outside?” Nala’s soft voice trailed as she saw the pistol aimed at her husband.
Anin said nothing and stood still, but it didn’t matter. She had Betar’s attention in a heartbeat.
“Well, well. Who is this?” Betar stared from her to Set with a grim smile. “So this is the reason for the construction, eh, Nu? Mating quarters for your new whore?”
Anin clenched her jaw but said nothing. She understood the danger, if not the situation.
Set spoke quickly. “Fine. I’ll come with you to the church. Leave my family alone. They had nothing to do with Ivar’s death.”
“No. We’ll bring the pretty one with us to make sure you don’t try anything. My, my.” Betar waved the pistol at Anin. “You’re a beauty. Why the hell are you here with Nu Fas, of all people?” He studied her with interest. “Are you Nebite? I vow I’ve never seen a woman like you before.”
Fuck. Set couldn’t count on Betar’s honor not to harm Anin. Winnu must have sensed the same, for he tried to step in front of her.
