by Anna Hackett
“Help me, Acton,” she panted. “Help me fuck you.”
He gripped her hips harder, and drove her up and down on his cock.
He crashed his mouth onto hers, tongues plunging and tangling. They ground against each other wildly.
He needed more.
Acton surged out of the water, holding her tight. She wound her legs around him, and he kept her riding his cock.
He closed the distance to the bed and lowered them down, not caring at all that they were both wet. He surged inside her.
“Yes.” She arched her body.
Following instinct, he hammered inside her. Wild need was twisting inside him, and he thrust hard, sliding a hand between them. He stroked where they joined, amazed at the way her body could fit him. He moved his thumb, touching her clit.
“Yes! Touch me. Make me come.”
She was so slippery, and he returned to that tantalizing nub. He rubbed it and then felt her body clench on his cock, pulsing rhythmically.
“Come for me, Sage,” he demanded.
She screamed, and Acton kept plunging inside her.
Then his own pleasure slammed into him.
It was incandescent, making his body shake. He groaned her name.
Wave after wave of intense emotion crashed into him.
“Sage.” He could barely believe that the gritty voice was his. “Sage.”
Just her name. The one thing that meant everything to him.
Chapter Thirteen
Sage woke to a cool hand stroking her belly.
She opened her eyes and saw Acton’s face—absorbed, focused on her stomach.
Okay, any man who looked at her belly like it was the greatest wonder in the universe was a keeper. Her heart did a little jig in her chest. This man, this cyborg, was hers. Hers to hold, to kiss, to love.
She felt that little tingle of fear again but she squashed it. She wasn’t her mother. She refused to believe the worst in everyone.
His gaze met hers.
“Hey, there,” she said.
“Good morning.”
There was that crisp, cool voice she loved.
“I would like to make love to you again,” he said in a serious tone.
Her breath hitched. “Okay. I have absolutely no problem with that.”
He kissed her—softly, sweetly.
She made a humming noise and then he moved over her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him. His mouth traveled down her neck, his hands stroking her. She loved the way he watched and listened to her, learning what she liked best.
His mouth found a sensitive spot below her ear. Oh, she could get so lost in him.
She kissed him again, playing with his tongue. He made a harsh sound of need, his hands moving lower and pushing her legs apart.
His hard cock brushed against her, and they both groaned.
“Tell me that you want me, Sage.”
She looked into his eyes. There was nothing cool about him now. His eyes were awash with heated emotion.
“I want you,” she said.
His hard cock slid inside her and his powerful body shuddered. She ran her nails down his back, urging him on. As he thrust inside her, he moved a hand between them and thumbed her clit.
Sage came, his name torn from her lips. So much intense pleasure swamped her.
He groaned, long and low, his own release taking him.
In the aftermath, they snuggled together, both panting. They shared a slow, easy kiss.
Then he stiffened, a faraway look appearing in his eye.
Frowning, she sat up.
“Acknowledged,” he murmured.
She realized he’d received a message. “What?”
His expression turned serious. “Magnus has narrowed down the possible location of the lake.”
Sage gasped and scrambled out of the bed. “Hurry.” She yanked on her clothes, and he watched her dress. “Acton, move it.”
When he moved to get fresh clothing, she got sidetracked by his magnificent body. She paused, just staring at him.
“Sage?”
She shook her head. “You have the most biteable ass in the galaxy.”
He blinked, then he smiled. God, she loved his smile almost as much as his ass. Forcing herself to focus, she braided her hair.
They hurried down to Magnus’ office. When they entered the room, the serious atmosphere and palpable tension almost smacked her in the face. None of the cyborgs were smiling.
But as Quinn looked at Acton and Sage, the woman’s lips quirked.
“Acton, you have a hickey,” Quinn said gleefully.
Acton frowned. “A what?”
“A bruise on your neck. Usually from someone’s mouth.”
Sage blushed.
“Sage did it,” Acton said.
Gasping, she smacked his arm.
“What? I liked it. Receiving it was very pleasurable.”
Mace grunted and Jax grinned. Magnus’ eyes were alight, and Toren averted his gaze to look at the ceiling.
Quinn was struggling not to laugh.
“God, I wish the ground would just swallow me up,” Sage muttered.
Acton wrapped his arm around her. “You don’t wish people to know that we—?”
“Shush.” She pressed a hand to his mouth. “That’s private. Just between you and me.”
Understanding flashed in his eyes and he nodded.
She looked at the others. “He’s still getting the hang of this whole emotions thing.”
Magnus cleared his throat. “So, we knew the location of the red dunes. From there, Rillian’s pilots have run some aerial searches and found the Stone Sea of Suffering.”
All humor slid from Sage and she twisted her hands together.
Images appeared on the screen on the wall. Aerial shots of the desert that displayed dunes of the deepest-red sand.
Then Sage spotted the plain, filled with rock formations. “Oh, wow.”
“This is the Stone Sea of Suffering,” Magnus said.
“Who comes up with these names?” Quinn muttered.
The formations were all sharp, pointed, spears of rock. Some formed arches, others looked like empty tree branches, and the rest arrowed toward the heavens.
Then, a single image near the edge of the stone sea appeared.
Sage sucked in a breath.
Two sharp blades of rocks speared diagonally at each other…looking exactly like crossed daggers.
“The daggers,” she murmured.
“And the lake?” Acton asked.
“There is no sign of any bodies of water,” Magnus said.
Sage deflated. “Nothing?”
“No,” the imperator said. “I suggest we go and take a look around.”
Sage straightened. “I want to come.”
Acton stiffened. “It will be dangerous—”
“I don’t care,” she said.
“On our last trip to the desert, the Edull attacked. You were almost hurt.”
She pressed her hands to his chest and felt his heart hammering hard. “Acton, take some deep breaths.”
“I…feel too much.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Anger, fear.”
“Welcome to the club,” Mace grumbled.
“Deep breaths,” she said again.
Acton let out a shuddering breath. “I want you safe.”
She leaned into him. “And I will be, because you’ll be with me.”
“Sage has earned the right to come,” Magnus said.
Acton didn’t look happy, but he finally gave her a nod.
“When do we leave?” she asked.
“As soon as we’re ready,” Magnus replied.
Sage was swept into a whirlwind of preparation. Before she knew it, she was wearing desert clothes and heading into the center of the Kor Magna Arena.
Around her, the cyborgs were all prepped and armed. Quinn had refused to stay behind this time. She’d argued with Jax, and the cyborg had lost, big time. She marched ahead of him, wearing fighting leathe
rs, her staff on her back.
It was strange being in the arena when it was empty and dimly lit, its stands devoid of people. The air was still, and the place eerily silent. She could see a repair team working in the stands, repairing damage from the Edull attack.
“Will the attack affect the fights?” she asked. “Keep the spectators away?”
Acton shook his head. “They come for the blood and many are rabid fans. Footage of the attack is already being streamed across the city. Plus, the imperators have offered free tickets and the possibility of some exhibition matches.”
“Exhibition matches?”
“Friendly fights to show off new weapons and skills.” He glanced at her. “And cyborgs are allowed to fight as well.”
A second later, a ship appeared above the walls, hovering in the sky. It was sleek and silver.
It landed with a rush of air, kicking up sand. Sage lifted an arm to shield her face.
The side door opened and the pilot appeared.
It was Rillian.
The handsome, elegant owner of the Dark Nebula Casino nodded at them. He wore tailored combat pants and a fitted, white shirt that was open at the throat, showing a triangle of bronze skin. His eyes were a fascinating, liquid silver.
“We weren’t expecting you,” Magnus said.
“I decided I didn’t want another of my ships crashed.” The casino owner shot a pointed look at Quinn.
The woman’s nose wrinkled. “It was an emergency landing. And I said I was sorry.”
But despite his words, Rillian didn’t seem concerned. He waved them aboard.
Sage followed the others into the ship, and Acton showed her to one of the wide, plush seats.
Memories tickled at the edge of her mind. She had vague memories of this ship, or one just like it. Nerves cramped her belly. The last time she’d been on a ship like this, she’d been newly rescued and barely conscious.
Acton had held her then, and she remembered a sense of strong, steady arms.
“Everyone strapped in?” Rillian called from the cockpit.
After Magnus had replied in the affirmative, the ship lifted off.
Once they were airborne and flying out over the city, Quinn unbuckled and headed into the cockpit. Sage could hear her asking Rillian questions.
In the back, the cyborgs were quiet. Sage shifted on her seat, a few sensitive aches between her legs reminding her of what she and Acton had been doing. But right now, she couldn’t think of that. The minutes ticked by, turning into hours. As time blurred, Sage’s nerves tightened.
Her head was wracked with all the things that could be happening to Simone and Grace. God, please be okay.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Rillian announced that they’d be landing.
The casino owner was a very good pilot, and the landing was smooth.
Magnus rose. “How’s the ship holding up?”
“Fine,” Rillian replied. “Some damage to the engines, but the auto-repair system is already hard at work. With all these trips to the desert, my engineers have been able to adjust to the damage the sand does. With each trip, our capabilities increase.”
The casino owner touched the controls on the door. When the side door opened, a blast of hot, dry air hit them.
Magnus was the first off.
Sage followed the others off the ship, the scorching, desert suns beating down on them. Her throat tightened.
As she stared at the empty, desert horizon, she knew they were close to the Edull. To the aliens who’d hurt her without blinking an eye.
On this mission, it was likely that she’d see some of her captors again.
“Sage?”
She looked up at Acton. His direct gaze was focused on her, a glint of concern in his eyes.
“I’m ready.” She tossed her shoulders back, wrapping her scarf over her head. She stared at the vast red dunes in the distance. “Let’s go and find Simone and Grace.”
Rillian set the high-tech security system on the ship, a blue shimmer of energy gleaming across the hull.
“I’m coming with you,” he said.
Magnus eyed the man for a moment, then nodded. Acton knew Rillian was a good addition to their group. Even while he was wearing black combat gear, the casino owner still managed to look elegant, but he was also bonded to a powerful alien symbiont that gave him incredible strength.
They moved off at a steady pace, and he watched the sand turn a deeper shade of red. One dune rose up around them, large and imposing.
As they neared the crest of the dune, Acton glanced at Sage.
Her face was flushed, but she was keeping up. She was determined to save her fellow humans.
The same way she was determined to drag him into a real life.
She looked his way and smiled.
Then she reached out and took his hand, her fingers twining with his cybernetic ones, holding on tight. Flesh mixed with metal, but it didn’t matter that they were different, they were linked.
Acton felt his heart fill with warmth, the organ coming back to life. He shook his head. He was well aware that his heart functioned perfectly, pumping blood around his body. Sage clearly was having a fanciful effect on him.
They crested the dune, and Sage gasped.
Acton stared at the rock formations down below.
The Stone Sea of Suffering.
He scanned around, using his system scanners to check the area. “I’m not detecting any water.”
Sage bit her lip, and they kept trekking. Soon, he saw clouds building up ahead above the formations.
There had to be water here somewhere.
Slowly, the dunes got smaller, and they hit what appeared to be a large, white, rocky plain. The formations speared up around them, casting shadows across the ground.
They trekked on until the daggers appeared, the crossed rocks looming above them.
They stopped by the rock formation, and Sage idly stroked the twisted rock. “Where is the damn lake?”
“Spread out,” Magnus ordered. “Look around.”
Acton paused, scanning around again. All he detected was rock and sand.
Sage kicked at the ground, moving away from him. She moved into a small clearing between the rocks.
“Look at this.” She crouched down, brushing her hand on the hard surface.
He moved closer, and on the ground, he spotted hexagonal formations that looked almost like tiles.
“These remind me of the Giant’s Causeway on Earth,” she said. “Pillars made when molten rock came up through softer rock. They’re really beautiful.” She rose and walked out across the hexagonal shapes. “Looks like they go on for a long way.”
But it didn’t help them find any hidden lakes.
She stopped again and crouched. Her brow creased. “Acton.” She brushed some salt away.
He saw what she was looking at. There was a fossil in the rock. A tiny skeleton, no bigger than Sage’s hand.
The skeleton looked like it had been aquatic.
“This looks like the fossil of a fish.” She scanned the plain. “There was a lake here, once upon a time.”
“Acton.” Magnus’ deep voice came through Acton’s internal comms.
Acton tilted his head. “Here, Magnus. Anything?”
“No. You?”
“Sage found a small fossil of some aquatic animal. There’s no telling the age.”
“Keep searching.”
Sage moved away, her gaze glued to the ground. Acton saw her stumble.
“Sage?”
She spun, her face flaring with panic. “One of the hexagons crumbled beneath my foot.”
He stiffened. “Don’t move.”
“There’s a hole.” She leaned over, peering downward. “There’s something under here.”
Acton took a step closer, and a puff of dust rose up to Sage’s left. Another hexagon had fallen in.
What the drak?
Sage yelped. Around her, more hexagons were dropping away.
Acton’s pulse picked up speed. “Sage, come to me—”
She took one step and lifted her head. Their gazes met.
“Acton!” The ground beneath her dropped away and she fell.
One second, she was there, the next she was gone.
“Magnus! Sage just fell. The ground’s caving in.”
“We’re coming, Acton. Wait for us!”
It felt like acid was burning inside him. Acton sprinted toward where Sage had disappeared, trying to think through the rush of emotions.
Right now, Sage needed him cool-headed.
A huge hole, the size of a transport, had opened up in the ground. Looking down, all he could see was darkness.
No.
He had to get to Sage. He wasn’t going to wait for the others.
He jumped feet first after her, plummeting downward.
He dropped for a long time, then suddenly he hit water with a splash, sinking deep. He kicked hard to reach the surface.
“Acton!”
He spotted Sage nearby, her wet hair stuck to her head. She was treading water.
Acton grabbed her, holding her tight.
“I’m okay.” She beamed at him. “And I found the lake.”
He turned. Light streamed in from the hole above, illuminating the dark water around them. They were in the center of an underground lake that spread out around them. He couldn’t see anything except a small sandbank nearby and water—still and dark.
Chapter Fourteen
Acton towed Sage to the sandbank.
They both collapsed there, catching their breath. The water was surprisingly cool, and she shivered.
But she was just damn glad the sand was there.
Acton was talking to Magnus.
“We’re okay. Yes, the lake’s deep and large. Acknowledged.”
He turned to look at her. “The others are coming.”
They’d found the lake. Excitement fizzed through Sage like soda bubbles.
A second later, a big body arrowed down from above. It splashed into the water like a missile. Magnus.
The flap of a red cloak. Jax landed in the water.
One by one, the others followed.
The House of Rone cyborgs, Rillian, and Quinn all swam over to the sandbank.
“Okay?” Quinn asked.
Sage nodded.
“My scanners aren’t giving clear readings,” Acton said.
