Prime Target

by Monette Michaels

Difference? Geep asked.

  If he could’ve seen Geep, he was certain the little furball would be showing a single set of teeth and laughing at him.

  The difference is Susa is mine, he mind-spoke back.

  Understood.

  Susa had brought Geep with them to dinner and then to the casino. The little furball had told her he was going crazy staying in the suite all day. So, the Ragbag now rode in Damon’s pocket; he didn’t even spoil the cut of the evening jacket.

  Damon had never realized how small a Ragbag could make himself, but it made sense because most of his bulk was fur. Though with the way Geep had been plowing through food, he might not be able to ride in Damon’s pocket for much longer.

  Burn food fast.

  Geep must’ve shared their mind-talk with Susa since she turned up her face and sported a huge grin. “Lubho, could I have another glass of wine and maybe some of those little cheese puffs I like so much?”

  Damon leaned over and whispered against her ear. “The food’s for Geep, right?”

  “Yes.” She turned into him and kissed the edge of his jaw. “But I like them, too. Geep just sneaked onto my lap.” Her voice just loud enough for him to hear. “He’ll protect me from any lecherous men. But just in case, could you hurry back? It’s nice having you guard my back.”

  Damon grunted. “And I like doing so.” In a louder voice, he added, “Win big, Angel.”

  “Oh, I plan on it.” She turned back to the play. “I want to buy gifts for Borac, Cissy, and the children when we visit the resort planet tomorrow.”

  He chuckled. “Women and shopping.”

  Several of the men at the table nodded. One man added, “But with such a beautiful woman, one does what one must to make her happy, or some other man might step in and do it himself.”

  Damon narrowed his eyes and focused on the speaker. “And that man would then be hurting or worse.”

  The speaker paled and turned his attention back to his cards. Message delivered.

  At the central bar, Damon placed Susa’s order and added an extra plate of cheese puffs, because now he wanted some, plus another beer for himself. He’d only been away from the table for a minute, maybe two, but when he reached the card table all hell had broken loose.

  On the floor, writhing in pain, his face turning a deathly green, was the man who’d dared to get too close to Susa’s arm. A man from another table was checking him over and rendering what looked to be competent emergency medical care.

  Still in her seat, Susa stared at the downed man in horror.

  “What happened?” Damon moved to Susa’s side and used his size to block her view of the body on the floor. “Did he touch you?”

  Susa nodded, tried to speak, but then shook her head. Her emotional aura spoke to extreme distress.

  Man grabbed Susa. Hurt her. Geep bit him. Will not die. Just be not happy. The little furball gloated.

  Good job, Geep.

  “Okay, Angel,” Damon whispered against her ear. “Let’s get out of here. We don’t want them finding Geep.”

  “Yes. I need to go back to the room.” Susa’s voice shook as she looked at the other card players. “This was very upsetting. I’m throwing in my last hand. Please continue play without me.” She looked at the floor manager who hovered nearby. “Please add my winnings to Mr. Martin’s account.”

  The manager counted her chips and entered the amount into his com-pad, then presented it to her for her approval and signature.

  Damon thanked the floor manager and assisted Susa out of the chair, then placed his arm around her waist as she wavered. Geep used Susa’s action and her full, billowing skirt to cover his movement back into Damon’s pocket.

  The other card players stood. The man who’d spoken earlier addressed them, “I hope to see both of you in the casino the evening after we get back from Laguna Orgais resort.”

  Damon almost laughed. The man wanted a chance to win back his money. “It depends on how Susa feels after a full day of sun and shopping. Good evening, gentlemen. I bid you good luck.” He gently steered Susa toward the exit.

  The waiter caught up with them and had their cheese puffs in a to-go container.

  “Thanks.” Damon flipped the waiter a coin that probably equaled the man’s tips for a whole shift.

  “Thank you, Mr. Martin.” Beaming, the waiter forged a path for them through the crowd that had gathered to watch the man still writhing on the floor in pain.

  Geep rustled in Damon’s pocket. Good waiter man. Cheese puffs. Happy.

  Susa shuddered within his hold.

  “Susa? What’s wrong?” Damon’s voice was low and carried no farther than the two of them. “Do I need to carry you?”

  She shook her head and smothered, what he now realized was, a snicker against his chest. When she looked up, there was laughter sparkling in her eyes, chasing away the earlier dull look of shock. “Cheese puffs. Happy,” she whispered. “Life according to Geep.”

  It was all Damon could do to hold his shout of laughter until they were alone in the elevator.

  Susa turned into his body and held onto him as she finally let out her mirth.

  Not to be left out of the merriment, Geep poked his head out of Damon’s pocket, widened his eyes, and sniffed loudly. Cheese puffs. Are very good.

  Susa stroked Geep’s head. “My hero.” She rubbed her cheek over Damon’s chest. “My other hero.”

  The area she touched seemed to be directly connected to his cock which had hardened and throbbed.

  “Thanks for getting me out of there before I did something crass like crying and laughing at the same time.”

  Damon snorted. “As if you could ever be crass.”

  She turned her face up and gave him a glorious smile.

  It was in that exact moment he acknowledged he couldn’t live without this woman by his side. It wasn’t her beauty or her intelligence or shared values and opinions or even the easy companionship they’d achieved in the short time they’d known one another that had made him fall in love with her. Though all those things were a part of his love for her—but it was the fact they also shared a similar sense of humor. She made him laugh. She made him happy. Previously, no one had ever done either of those things for him.

  Now, all he had to do was convince her they belonged together—not just for the rest of the cruise, but forever.

  Chapter 18

  Day 4, the resort planet of Laguna Orgais

  In Susa’s opinion, it was a good thing the cruise had scheduled this day trip to the Laguna Orgais resort. The distraction of shopping, lunch, and catching some real sun on an exotic tropical beach was desperately needed.

  When she’d acquiesced to Damon’s week of getting-to-know one another, she couldn’t have anticipated how her attraction for him would grow exponentially each day. There were three more days to go, and she was finding it hard not to beg Damon to turn their interactions more sexual.

  The sleeping arrangement hadn’t helped.

  Every night, she’d gone to sleep on her side of the huge bed. And every morning, she had awakened to find her body tangled with his, her head nestled on his chest and her leg across his thighs. Her hand instinctively covered the spot on his chest where, if she was correct about the strength of their mating, his gemat mark should appear. Even if she’d attempted to move away during sleep, she couldn’t have, because Damon had anchored her to him with his arm over her hip, his hand on her bottom.

  He had never mentioned her invasion of his space or her use of his body as her pillow. He also hadn’t pushed for sex, even though his morning erection often throbbed fiercely against her leg. He’d merely smiled, wished her good morning in a sleep-husky voice, then arose and went to the bathroom and took his shower.

  She’d lain in bed, eyes closed, and imagined him naked and jerking off what she was sure was a beautiful cock.

  If the sexual heat between them continued to grow this rapidly, she wasn’t sure they could keep to three more days of abs
tinence.

  As much as his plan was frustrating, it had been the correct tack. She’d appreciated learning more about him. And the more she learned, the more she liked—no, loved—him, and the stronger the mating bond pulled them together.

  “Susa?” Damon stood between her and the crowded walkway in the small shopping district.

  “Yes?” She looked away from the window she’d been blindly staring at and found concern on his face. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve been trying to attract your attention. You appeared to be lost in thought.” He rubbed her arm.

  “I’m sorry.” She looked around. They stood in the shade of a shop at the farthest end of the out-door shopping mall, away from the shuttle transport terminal. “What did you want to ask?”

  “Do you want to stop somewhere and get out of the sun? Maybe, get a drink and a bite to eat?” He lifted his arm, loaded down with bags. “Or, do you have some more shopping you’d like to do?”

  “Could we finish shopping first? We could then get rid of the bags at the terminal concierge desk, then hit the cantina on the beach, if that’s all right?”

  “That works for me.” He smiled as he placed a hand on her elbow. “Where to next?”

  She looked back at the window of the shop. “This looks like a place where I can find some less revealing clothing.”

  Maybe with less of her skin showing, he could relax his guard somewhat. Not every man on the cruise wanted her, Damon just thought so.

  “Sounds good, Angel.” He ushered her into the shop.

  As she browsed the racks, she was happy to note the clerk had brought Damon a beer. He’d settled in a small seating area along with some other males she recognized from the cruise.

  Damon’s gaze touched her frequently; she felt it on her skin like a warm, soothing breeze. She also recognized that if she even looked as if she needed him, he’d be by her side in a second or two. No man had ever watched over her the way he did. It was a wonderful feeling, and the thought she might have his regard forever made her happy.

  Just this morning, while Damon showered, Susa had finally sent a message to Bria asking about the feasibility of a full gemat-gemate mating with a Prime female and a non-Prime male. Before she’d left Cejuru Prime, all Prime/non-Prime matings with a mark had been between Prime males and non-Prime females who had a certain amount of Prime DNA. But things might’ve changed in the time she’d been gone.

  Whether she and Damon actually marked or not, she was sure about one thing—Damon was her gemat, her soul mate. She recognized him with every fiber of her being.

  Last night in the elevator, after leaving the casino, she’d sensed he felt the same way about her. The thought comforted her and filled her with optimism for their future relationship.

  “Susa, I like this.” Damon stood near the seating area and held up an outfit. It was a slinky black gown with a bedazzled sheer overlay which would cover all exposed skin.

  She walked toward him and took it. “I like it. What about the ones I have in my hand?” She held up several other outfits—evening wear, some casual clothes for the cooking classes they were taking, loose exercise clothes for the defense training, and cover-ups for the pool area.

  “Those look good.” He leaned over and brushed a kiss over her lips. “Come out as you try them on. I want to see you in all of them. I’ll just sit here with the other guys and drink the excellent beer. So take your time, there’s no rush.”

  “Okay, lubho.” Susa turned to walk to the dressing rooms.

  “Susa?”

  She turned to look at him. “Yes?”

  “Save the evening gown I chose for last.” He went back to his seat.

  She smiled at the clerk who took the clothes from her. The woman had a huge grin on her face. And why wouldn’t she? The woman would make a sweet commission if Susa bought all the clothes she was trying on.

  “Would you like a glass of wine in your changing room?” the clerk offered.

  “Yes, please. Could you take my man some sort of snack? I feel his hunger.” It clawed her insides as if they were her hunger pains. More proof he was her gemat. “He’s been so patient while I’ve shopped.”

  “Yes, madam.” The clerk ushered her inside a small comfortable dressing room, hung up the clothes, then left and shut the door.

  Damon sipped at his second beer and nibbled on some cheese and crackers the clerk had brought him and the other men. The clerk made sure he knew Susa had ordered the snack for him. That she had realized he was hungry warmed him; it was usually his job to take care of others.

  While he liked all the other outfits she’d tried on, she’d be changing into the black outfit he’d chosen for her next. This was the one he couldn’t wait to see her model. It would be stunning on her; the sparkling jewels were like her—precious and full of light.

  “Here you go, Mr. Martin.” The clerk who was assisting Susa brought him a purple velvet pouch with the purchase he’d made while Susa was in the changing room.

  “Thank you.” He took the bag, pocketed his card and the receipt, then pulled out the polished antique bronze collar studded with gemstones. The necklet had a small bronze lock so he could secure the piece onto her. He wanted his collar on Susa to keep, at least, the more honorable dominant players from approaching her.

  Mostly, he wanted her marked as his, no matter how barbaric that might seem.

  As for the men who chose to ignore his claim? Well, Damon, or Geep if he were on guard duty, would handle them. Although, after last night, Damon might never let her out of his sight again. Thank the One, Geep had handled that asshole.

  “So, how do I look?” Susa asked.

  He looked up and forgot how to breathe for a second or two. Springing to his feet, he covered the short distance between them, stopping an arm’s length away. He looked her up and down, then motioned. “Turn, Angel.” His voice was a gritty rumble. He felt rough—and savage.

  Susa pirouetted slowly until she faced him once more. “You like.”

  It wasn’t a question, but he answered anyway. “Fuck, yeah. You look gorgeous.” He moved closer and placed the collar he still held around her neck and snapped the lock shut. “Now, you look even better.”

  She looked like one of the Terran goddesses he’d read about in ancient Greek mythology.

  “Damon?” Touching the necklet, Susa’s eyes widened. “What?” She turned to the mirror. “It’s beautiful. But so expensive, you shouldn’t have.”

  He moved behind her. Looking at her in the mirror, he traced the collar with a finger, then traced along her collarbone to her shoulder, covered in sheer black and sparkling semi-precious crystals. “You’re beautiful.” He nuzzled her ear and whispered, “And, yes, I should have. This is for my sanity, and for your protection. Most of the men on the cruise will honor a collar on a woman. I want you to have that protection.”

  And this is because you’re mine.

  Her hitch of breath made him wonder if he’d said that aloud. He mustn’t have since her next words were—

  “Well, it might save on broken noses and men getting bit by Geep.” There was laughter in her voice and reflected in her golden eyes.

  She turned around and offered her mouth. “Thank you. It’s the most beautiful present anyone has ever given me.”

  Damon took her lips, lightly at first, then deepened the kiss and pulled her more fully against his body.

  She opened for him, moaning low in her throat, and braced one hand on his chest over his heart. A burning ache flared each time she touched him there—and she touched him there a lot. And with each touch, the sensation grew more pronounced, hungrier.

  This time, her touch put flame to tinder and ardor rushed through his veins into the very marrow of his bones. He growled low in this throat and took the kiss deeper, so deep he was soon lost in the taste and feel of her. So deep, he forgot where they were and that they had an audience.

  When someone coughed, Damon pulled his mouth from hers. But he
refused to let her go, instead he touched his forehead to hers and looked into smoky golden eyes.

  “Sorry,” he murmured, recalling she didn’t like excessive public displays of intimacy, “you go to my head.”

  “Don’t be sorry.” She buried her face against his neck and sighed. “I liked it. A lot. I want to kiss you again—and have you kiss me, just like that, but in our room. Kisses like the one you just gave me could lead to—”

  Susa didn’t finish the thought, but he understood what she meant.

  Damon muttered against her ear so only she could hear, “Angel, if we kiss like that in private, you’ll be on your back, under me, and thoroughly fucked in less time than it took me to say it.”

  “What if I’m okay with that?” Susa moved closer and circled his waist with her arms.

  He mentally swore and tightened the reins on his desire. “I’d say that was the kiss talking.”

  “Well, it was a very potent communicator,” she agreed.

  Chuckling, he placed a kiss on the top of her head, then rubbed his cheek against her sweet-smelling hair. “It sure as fuck was.” He murmured, “I want you to be sure. I want having sex with me to be your choice. When you’re ready, wear this gown.” He stroked her back. “I want to peel it off you slowly right before I make love to you for the first time. Deal?”

  “Deal.” She nestled against him for several seconds, then gently pushed away. “I’ll change and then pay for the clothes. After that, we can enjoy the rest of our stay on-planet.”

  “I’m paying.” His voice brooked no arguments, and she nodded. “I’ll be right here, waiting.”

  After giving the clerk his card to pay for Susa’s clothing, Damon returned to the seating area. He acknowledged the interested male audience by picking up his beer and raising it in a silent toast, then taking a deep swallow.

  “Beautiful woman,” one man whom Damon had seen in the ship’s casino commented. “Your lady has drawn a lot of attention since the cruise began. She’s obviously of the Prime race, a very rare sight in the galaxy. A lot of men desire her and want what she represents.”

  “What the fuck are you saying?” Damon fisted his beer. “What the fuck do you think she represents other than being a beautiful and intelligent woman?”