Righteous Fury (To Protect and Service Book 2)

by Tracy St. John

  “You are too kind, esteemed Saazeer.” The relief in Laaruu’s tone was unmistakable.

  “To those who deserve it, and they are damned few. Ah, Maaguum, you have crept out in the view of the sun. To what do we owe this miracle?”

  Saazeer had noted the arrival of another Paatiin without glancing his direction. Though Kimi faced in the direction where this new person approached, she hadn’t detected him until Saazeer’s entourage stepped aside in deference.

  How she could have missed him was almost as astounding as his appearance. Kimi gaped.

  Maaguum was the oddest version of a Paatiinn she’d encountered. Wispy white hair, the texture of spider’s silk, waved about his skull as if it possessed a life of its own. No lines whatsoever etched in the rich brown skin of his face. It was so smooth, it appeared plastic. His pupils roiled and writhed in their setting of silver-tinged irises. His limbs were oddly elongated, as if he’d taken the elegant lines of Saazeer’s body and stretched his own in a satirical mockery. His rainbow collection of robes fluttered around a muscular torso at odds with the extended arms and legs. He didn’t so much walk as prance to join them.

  In a lilting voice, the apparition addressed Saazeer. “It is true I prefer plush appointments to the cruel natural world, but my curiosity over Laaruu’s acquisition lured me from my lair.”

  With that, he appraised Kimi with a frank stare. Somehow, his assessment of her nude body failed to bother her. Kimi had the impression this odd fellow would look at animals in a zoo with the same curious but remote gaze.

  Her programming reminded her she wasn’t supposed to stare. She sighed and dropped her eyes with belated respect.

  He chuckled, apparently not offended. “Hers is such an interesting species. I cannot get over my fascination with them. Laaruu, I don’t suppose you noted anything to my taste on Alt-Earth? Something masculine but sweet?”

  “Indeed I did. A young man acquainted with my Kimi—his name is Todd.”

  Kimi jerked and shot Laaruu a look. Heaven help them all if this Maaguum went poking around Earth, in search of Todd. He’d cause a panic.

  “Todd?” The odd Paatiin spoke his name as if he tasted it, rolling it around on his tongue and licking his lips. Kimi had a sudden vision of Maaguum running that tongue over Todd’s bare chest. Disconcerted, she jerked her gaze to the pink grass and stared at it.

  “I don’t believe he acknowledges his own interests when it comes to the gender he’s born to desire. He’d be a fun challenge for you.” Laaruu sounded amused.

  “Marvelous! May I have my procurer contact you for the particulars?”

  “It would be my pleasure, Maaguum.”

  “And mine, I hope.”

  Saazeer snorted. “That’s why you came out here. Such a greedy wretch.”

  “Greed is among my better virtues. It wasn’t my sole intent, however. Come, my esteemed Prince Saazeer, if you’ll grant me the privilege of your presence in my chambers. I have matters that cry for your immediate attention.”

  Saazeer spoke with laughter in his tone. “You would pry me from my Laaruu so soon after his arrival?”

  “I must. He’ll not despise me for it, will you, Laaruu?”

  “Never, Maaguum.”

  Saazeer shook his head, but his humor was evident. It was as if the trio engaged in an old, familiar dance during which private messages were passed through polite and meaningless exchanges. “Very well. We’ll talk later when I’ve shaken this fiend off, Laaruu. Take your time getting your slave settled in your quarters.”

  “Thank you, esteemed Saazeer.” He bowed as the contingent swept away, moving down the marbled walkway toward the largest of the glass buildings.

  Kimi blinked as she watched them go, unsure what to make of Laaruu’s people. Particularly Maaguum, apparently in search of a male Earth slave to play with. She hoped for Todd’s sake, he wouldn’t be found.

  “That was interesting. Maaguum is—?” She couldn’t begin to think how to phrase the question. She wasn’t even sure what her question was.

  “Maaguum is the most dangerous being you could ever cross. So don’t.” He chuckled at her disbelieving stare.

  “In any case, don’t tell him where to find Todd. Even you aren’t that cruel.”

  “Don’t be silly. Men perform the most insane acts imaginable in hopes of becoming Maaguum’s darlings, if only for a single night. His attention to their pleasure is legendary.”

  “Do you have personal experience with that?” Kimi tried to imagine it and couldn’t.

  Laaruu stared at her, then exploded with laughter. “We’re old friends, nothing more. Definitely not each other’s type. Come along. Let’s enjoy a little of Paatuun before the need to destroy Hanos drags us away.”

  Still chuckling at the idea of being romantically involved with Maaguum, Laaruu led her in the opposite direction of the path he and Saazeer had taken. After a quick glance at the other Paatiin roaming the area, Kimi followed in his wake, trotting with her head down. The obedient slave.

  * * * *

  After entering Laaruu’s home within Saazeer’s compound, Kimi had to admit the Paatiin prince was generous to his employees. The spacious quarters appeared larger than they were, thanks to the glass walls that offered such amazing exterior views. The décor was sparse, but the pink grasses and ornamental gardens the dwelling looked out on offered astounding grandeur that couldn’t be improved upon. While the scenery took Kimi’s breath away, she realized privacy was at a minimum.

  “You’ve got shades for these walls, right?” She turned about, spying the bedroom at the other end of the residence from her spot in the main living space. A few small enclosed spaces dotted throughout, but the walls were all glass and metal supports.

  Laaruu snickered. “Not at all. The toilet rooms are equipped with concealing walls, but otherwise, there is a clear view from the outside. Most residents of the compound don’t stroll past my quarters.”

  “A few do.” Kimi scowled.

  “It’ll have no bearing on how we conduct ourselves, however. If we fuck and others happen by, they’ll have the pleasure of witnessing our enjoyment. Along with the opportunity to watch you bathe or shower.”

  Of course they would. Kimi wanted to say a few things about the matter—okay, far more than a few things—but the idea of Saazeer or other Paatiin strolling by and watching Laaruu making love to her was alarmingly exciting. She’d been aware of her few exhibitionist tendencies, but the amount of wetness between her legs as she contemplated future scenarios was ridiculous.

  She refused to argue about the matter, worried Laaruu would detect how titillating she found the idea. Besides, his expression said he expected her to protest. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

  They had entered a space that was easily two thousand square feet on its own, and featured a dining area and what Kimi would have identified a living room. Most of the surfaces were white, though rugs of marvelous hues scattered like giant gems scattered on the floor. The luxurious couches, creations of curves that caused Kimi to think of clouds, sported more multi-colored pillows and throws. Laaruu demonstrated the voice-recognition hologram system, which offered computer resources and entertainment broadcasts. The broadcasts were mainly news reports, detailed investment intelligence, and musical concerts. After a few minutes of viewing, Kimi figured out the Paatiin preferred eerie, haunting melodies played on instruments so whimsical in nature that Dr. Seuss might have concocted them.

  She selected an investment program and watched the jarringly familiar crawl of numbers across the screen. “You guys have a stock market?”

  “Property and value are everything to the Paatiin,” Laaruu confirmed. “Little as we care to admit it, our society judges its members by their monetary worth. As well as how justly we collected it. We’re not completely without the merit of decency.”

  “That’s something, I suppose. The money doesn’t matter if you cheated to get it—do I have that right?”

 
; “Exactly. We strip wealth from those who are caught engaging in fraudulent practices.”

  “Do I dare ask how you rank in the scheme of that? Or is that too gold-diggerish of me?” Kimi teased him, though curiosity left her wondering if Laaruu was dependent on Saazeer. If the prince could toss them both out into the streets on a whim, it was worth worrying about.

  Laaruu struggled and failed to not appear smug. “You’ll find Paatiin are delighted to flaunt their wise dealings and investments. I could live comfortably on what I have accumulated. Very comfortably.”

  “Are you thinking about retirement then?” When his eyes widened in shock, she laughed. “Apparently not.”

  “I’m dedicated to Saazeer’s safety. In his position of leadership, he guides Paatuun and its holdings with brilliance and care. I am fortunate to be in charge of his security.” Laaruu considered for another beat. “I can’t imagine not doing this work. I was born for it, even more than gathering wealth and property—but don’t tell anyone I said that.”

  “My lips are sealed. I’m glad that you have a strong sense of honor.”

  “To protect someone who makes such a great difference to our world—can there be a greater privilege?”

  “I get it.” Kimi smiled at him, delighted that she wasn’t enslaved to a shallow man only interested in his personal glory. Laaruu had his rough spots, but there was a core of decency she could relate to.

  He grinned back. “It’s not so different from you wishing to stop Hanos from harming your kind, is it? We share a love for duty to those who matter to us. A feeling of responsibility.”

  “It’s nice to have that in common. Maybe we won’t end up ripping each other’s heads off if we remember how similar we are in that respect.”

  “Not to mention, the excellent sexual chemistry?” He waggled his eyebrows.

  “Not as long as you’re sporting those.” Kimi nodded to the slight bumps on his chest.

  They disappeared, as did the curvier hips and softened features he’d adopted for Saazeer’s preferences. His hair became short again, and the old Laaruu stood before her, as gorgeous as before. “Better?”

  “Rawr. Now do I get a tour, or are you going to point out the rest of the place from here, since we can see the whole thing?”

  He led her around the home, with its clean style that was saved from blandness by the bright splashes of colorful accents. Besides the large living area was an office, where he promised she would have her own workstation.

  “You’ll let me work with you as a partner?”

  “Of course. Didn’t I tell you that before?”

  “Actually, you did. I guess I forgot. What’s next?”

  She was surprised by the gardening room, where Laaruu told her he enjoyed puttering about in his free hours. He proudly showed her the seedlings that had sprouted in his absence and pointed outside to the garden plot he’d planted himself.

  “It’s beautiful. This place is amazing.”

  “I’m glad you like it. Come to the pool room. Do you swim?”

  She did and was delighted that not only was there a pool, but also the Paatiin version of a jacuzzi. “I think we found the place I’ll be while you’re growing posies.”

  The bedroom was sumptuous with the billowiest bed she’d ever encountered. It begged to be bounced on, so she did, to Laaruu’s amusement.

  “Come on,” he urged her, surprisingly not taking advantage of her being sprawled on the marshmallow surface. “Let me show you the training room.”

  The final part of his home had an impressive array of weaponry. Kimi walked along a freestanding display of alien guns, blades, bows, and staffs. “A lot of ways to hurt an enemy in here.”

  Laaruu selected a couple of bamboo-like sticks and tossed her one that was as long as she was tall. She caught it and wondered at its lightness.

  “These are used in a fighting art called liofu. You have a program for it.”

  Kimi accessed the program. Knowledge flooded into her mind, and she realized liofu was similar to some of the martial arts she’d learned on Earth. Though several of the postures and movements were new to her, it felt familiar. The advantages of the computer matrix in her brain were all too clear. She swung and twirled the daakgee stick in complicated patterns, as if she’d been doing so since birth.

  All at once, Laaruu came at her in an attack, his daakgee whirling too fast to be seen. Her programming took over and she defended herself. Within seconds, she was backing him up across the stretch of white padded floor.

  “Hey! What’s the big deal?” she shouted.

  In answer, he changed his attack, spinning a path to the weapons wall and grabbing a second stick. He went at her again, and once more, she held him off, though she wasn’t able to mount a decent offensive. She needed another daakgee, and Laaruu defended the wall so that she couldn’t reach it. They were at a stalemate, grunting with effort, the sticks clacking against each other in a relentless tattoo.

  Laaruu almost succeeded in swiping her skull. She deflected the blow at the last instant, and he beamed with pride. “The program is working perfectly.”

  “Yeah, otherwise you’d have a dead darling.”

  “Hanos is not well versed in disciplines like liofu. He’s all about blasters and guns.”

  “Not when I met him.”

  “You were on a ship. Hull breaches are instant death.”

  No wonder the Gilotheans hadn’t been armed.

  They continued fighting, and Kimi could feel her array computing a solution against Laaruu covering the wall. She grew impatient with not finding a way to grabbing a second daakgee. Maybe her advantage lay not in a program, but in her own knowledge of hand-to-hand combat.

  Kimi concentrated on Laaruu’s chest and eye movements. Bingo. He was betraying his next offense every time. The program grasped the new information and fed it into the matrix.

  In a flurry of movement too fast for even Kimi to conceive, she drove Laaruu from the wall. Then, just as she realized she didn’t need the other stick after all, she knocked both of his away and swept his legs out from under him, flinging him on his back. In the space of half a breath, she was sitting on his heaving chest, her knees pinning his arms at his sides.

  She chortled. “The master has been mastered.”

  He laughed with her. “Nice work. I deserve to pay a penalty. Is there any prize in particular you wish to claim as your reward?”

  Kimi licked her lips. Her blood was up after the round of combat, and his offer to let her take the lead for once gave her plenty of ideas. Starting with putting him in his place.

  “You damned sure better believe I’ll take that offer.” She pulled the sash around his waist loose. “To start with, these robes are coming off.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Easier said than done. The robes had been layered, and they weren’t identical in their cuts. Within seconds, Kimi had the fabrics tangled, and herself with them.

  “Damn it, Laaruu! Help!”

  He roared with laughter at her struggles. “Get up and I’ll take care of the matter.” As soon as she did, he obligingly stripped his clothing off with barely any effort, irritating her more.

  “You could have at least pretended it was difficult,” she groused.

  Chuckling, he reclined on the padded mat of a floor again, naked and beautiful, allowing her to straddle him. She sat on his thighs, so she could enjoy the view from head to eager groin. Maybe he wasn’t as breathtaking as Saazeer, but Kimi preferred her men to look real. Somewhat flawed and non-angelic. Saazeer’s perfection had left her feeling the supplicant, as if she approached a divine being. She couldn’t have fucked something as unearthly as the Paatiin prince.

  But Laaruu? Oh, she was more than ready to fuck him. Yet she hesitated as she examined his gorgeously masculine figure, another thought invading her mind.

  Laaruu gave her a knowing gaze, his lips curling up. Kimi half-hoped he’d do it without her having to speak. Naturally, he wasn’t about to
let her off that easy. “What is it?”

  “Can you—can you show me how you were before?”

  “So shy with your request! What an interesting turn of events to witness Kimi Joy Furio bashful.”

  Her face heated. “Stop being an asshole. Show the Saazeer-approved version of you.”

  “As you wish.”

  His chest narrowed and small but perfect breasts formed. His hips swelled as his balls shrunk. The shaft remained the same; thick, long, rigid with want. Once more, his face softened, approached femininity.

  “What do you think?”

  “It’s interesting. Intriguing. What’s the deal with your sack? Does Saazeer do testicle inspections?”

  Laaruu snorted. “Of course not. The difference helps my mindset in balancing the genders. I don’t prefer to have a vagina, so I diminish my scrotum instead.”

  “Gotcha. Nice your cock doesn’t follow suit.”

  “Not when I’m excited. I can tell this appearance isn’t appealing to you.”

  “Maybe not.” She stroked the jaw that had been strong seconds before. Down his neck to the still-broad shoulders. Then, hesitantly, she explored the breasts that were shaped like hers, but smaller. She cupped them, weighing the curves against her palms. Laaruu’s nipples hardened in the warmth of her touch. Interesting, but not exciting. “You’re attractive in this form, but it’s not for me. I guess I’m strictly hetero.”

  “Not a problem for me in the least.” Laaruu returned to his masculine shape. “Or would you prefer even more?”

  He bulked up, the muscles growing in size and detail until his physique reminded Kimi of Maurice. The sculpted swells of bodybuilder proportions were overboard, but more to her tastes than his androgynous façade.

  “I don’t know about a steady diet of it, but it’s amazing to see you like this.” Her hands were running over his torso, seemingly independent of her brain. All that brawn demanded she touch it, trace its dips and curves. God, he was big.

  “Does it make you feel small? Helpless?” Laaruu sat up and pulled her close. She noticed he was twice as wide as she, a behemoth of raw power. Her long, lithe frame was as insubstantial as matchsticks in his grip.