The Rogue

Settler’s Mine 6:

The Rogue

Mechele Armstrong

Settler’s Mine 6: The Rogue Copyright © September 2010 by Mechele Armstrong All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions. eISBN 978-1-60737-855-6 Editor: Antonia Pearce Cover Artist: April Martinez Printed in the United States of America

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Dedication To all the rogues who let themselves be tamed.

Chapter One The man’s eyes glittered as he watched the young boy walk by with his ass swinging provocatively. As if sensing danger, the boy took one look at the big man and toddled away. Only he wouldn’t get away fast enough. Not in the dark alleys where all kinds of things that never saw the light of day lurked. The man lowered his hands to his bulging cock before shuffling to his feet to follow. Fresh meat. The man appeared as though he had no cash of his own and was looking for a free ride. Upon the boy who didn’t have the ’nads to defend himself. McTavish took one last burning sip of the Tenaglian whiskey. He shuddered at the feel of the whiskey sliding past his lips. He shouldn’t get involved. Only he was about to. Stupid boy out at the wrong time. What the hell was his pimp thinking? McTavish smacked his glass against the tabletop and threw down some coin to pay. His eyes narrowed as he, too, watched the man and his ass walk away. A wide one. It wasn’t nearly as pretty as the first young man’s. McTavish took care to make sure he didn’t look like he was following. Sauntering along with his long-legged stride, he appeared carefree, though he had only one destination. The man had caught up with the lithe young boy in a dead-end alley and tossed him against the alley wall before McTavish caught up to them. With meaty hands, the brute forced the boy to lean his front against the dirty brick. The boy tried to break away, but the bulk of the attacker ensured there was only to be one outcome here today. Unless someone intervened. McTavish cleared his throat. The man barely paused in loosening the boy’s pants and slipping them down his trembling legs. “My ass. You can have a piece when I’m good and done.” He slapped the boy’s backside with a resounding smack. “’Course I don’t think there’ll be much left.” His jowls jiggled with his laughter. “Mister, help!” Rushed words on a breath that barely was contained. “He’s not my anything.” McTavish pulled out a knife from a scabbard on his pants and commenced cleaning his nails. “I doona think ya want ta be testing me today.” The man glanced back and froze at the sight of the knife. “The boy and I are contracting business. And it’s none of yours.”

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“Ya paid his pimp, then.” McTavish continued to play with the knife as if he hadn’t heard the man’s words. Damned stupid bastard. “No.” “Then ya’ll not be taking this ass today. Not while I’m waiting here.” He steeled his muscles. The fat man didn’t disappoint. He turned so quickly from the boy he almost fell, and launched an attack at McTavish. A clumsy, meandering attack that had no finesse. Almost bored, McTavish easily turned the attack around and cut the man’s arm. Blood flowed. He put him on the ground before he slashed with the knife at the man’s shirt to let him know what McTavish could do to him if he wanted to. It was tempting. The idea of taking a piece of shit that would rape young boys from the world kept him warm some nights. “Don’t hurt me.” The man whined and pulled up his arms to protect his prodigious girth. Not that he could. Not from McTavish. “Leave the boy alone. Then ya and I will have no quarrel.” McTavish gestured with the knife toward the alley entrance. “Go.” The man scrambled away, muttering to himself. He’d never expected to be bested. Had it just been the little boy, he never would have been. McTavish turned to the boy. “Who’s yar pimp?” The boy blinked black eyes at him as he pulled up his pants. He shook. The only sign of fear the little bastard showed. Bravado soon filled his eyes again. He was new. New to this life. McTavish had only to look at him and could see the rube housed within. Not to mention more experienced boys would never be caught out like this. McTavish swallowed. On these streets, he wouldn’t be a rube for long. Chombay had one of the biggest male-prostitute sections in the Union Alliance sector. Union Alliance turned a blind eye to it as long as their population numbers stayed up. It meant Chombay was always on the lookout for fresh meat to keep the hungry predators fed. Union Alliance might prefer males and females to get together in ménages, but they’d give the men what they wanted so long as they didn’t cause trouble. “I doona have a pimp.” The boy’s eyes flashed. He might be a rube, but he knew how to lie. McTavish closed his eyes at hearing that voice. That accent. A Schooner. One he hadn’t heard in so long. He opened his eyes to glare at the young man. “Ya do. Who really should have told ya not ta come out after hours without him. Men are always looking for freebies in the off times.” There were only certain hours a young male whore could work. During those off hours, all sorts of men looked around to do things to a whore that even a pimp would say no to. The boy’s gaze grew belligerent. “Ya doona know anything about me.” He took a step to leave. McTavish grabbed him. “Ya little bastard. I was ya.” His hand rested on the boy’s shoulder. “Sooner or later, ya’ll lose yar looks. Or be tired of all the fucking.” A bitter laugh grew from his chest at the boy’s expression. “It will happen.” No man thought he’d get tired of fucking for a living, especially when he wasn’t mated yet. But it happened. “Yar pimp promised ya a woman. A mate. He won’t deliver her.” The boy opened his mouth to protest.

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McTavish let go of his shoulder. “When ya get tired of all that and make a run for it. I’m McTavish. Those who want ta find me, do.” The boy surveyed him with suspicious eyes. “Whatcha waiting for? Run back ta yar pimp. Before ya meet another fat man.” McTavish waved at him. “Ya aren’t going ta fuck me?” The boy said fuck like “fook.” The accent did things to McTavish. That made him shake to his core. He didn’t like it. He wanted this boy gone. McTavish shook his head. “I doona do whores.” The boy winced. But it was the truth. McTavish would rather do the hand than to take someone who didn’t have a choice in who they fucked. Oh some waxed poetically about whores having a good life. Lies. All of it. They no more decided who they fucked than rape victims. “I —” “Go. Back ta yar pimp. And remember the name. McTavish.” On Chombay, those who wanted to get off the prostitution chain need only speak his name. If only this boy would get off before he wound up dead or something worse. But McTavish couldn’t force. It was the only thing that saved him from the pimps’ wrath. That and lots of money. Good thing his doctoring was in such high demand. He watched the boy disappear along the alley, then resheathed his knife. He rubbed his face. “I’m getting ta old ta be doing this.” Once upon a time, he would have walked away from this boy Schooner with no second thoughts. Now, all he could think of was a little McTavish running around Chombay. No one had helped him off though. That was for damn sure. “McTavish.” A lilting singsong voice came from the opening of the alley. Two Schooners in one day? What were the odds of encountering two from his rare race? He turned to face the source of the lilt. On Chombay, he didn’t hide his identity like he did most anywhere else. Union Alliance never came to Chombay. There was no need. A woman. Rare in the slums of Chombay. What was a female Schooner doing here? Where was the man who should protect such a rare jewel? She was a beauty. Her hair was pulled back into a severe bun, but one piece had escaped. It lay beside her ear in a wave that spoke of curliness. She had true black hair that was glossy in the way that only Schooners had. Her eyes were a brilliant jade green. He’d seen those eyes in women of his race before. They could snap fire when provoked. She had meat on her bones, this lovely piece o’ ass. No miniscule little waif. This was a woman through and through. His cock jimmied to life, hardening as his breath withdrew from his lungs. The easy erection reminded McTavish how long it had been since it had even met his hand. He’d seen the like of her before. Seen more beautiful women. Why did this one take his breath away? An unnatural warmth slid across his chest. His hand came up to rub at it and knocked his stone out of the way. His stone.

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Her mouth parted in cute surprise, also making him think of how that mouth would feel around his thick cock. He’d give her more than a mouthful. Shoot his load down her throat many times. He took a step, still rubbing at the heat on his chest. Her stone blazed under the top she wore that didn’t half contain her bodacious tits. Yes, this was a woman. One that he could easily see himself riding. Wanting. Maybe there’d even be time for that today, if God was willing. God knew McTavish sure was. Her stone blazed. He glanced down to his chest, where his stone shone an eerie black light that made him pause. The glow couldn’t be coming from his stone, could it? His stone blazed. Great fucking God in heaven, he was mated. Ari couldn’t take her eyes away from the man’s stone glowing in front of her. This man was her mate? The Fates had to be joking if he was who she thought he was. He had to be who she thought. She’d come all this way to find him. After all, he’d been talking to the boy she’d had planted on Chombay. A Schooner. From what she’d heard, he’d never be able to resist a Schooner boy. The instant she’d come up to see him talking to the boy in those last few seconds of their confrontation, she’d known he had to be the man she was looking for. Which was why she’d sent her servant to go collect the boy before he could get into more trouble. And she’d lurked to talk to McTavish. She had to convince him to help her. She’d expected McTavish to be larger than life. For once, the legend had lived up to the real thing. He was larger than life. Bigger than any man she’d ever seen. Not that she got out much. His shoulders were as wide as the river that crossed their home world. His hair was longer than most, jet-black like hers. His torso tapered to surprisingly slender hips and powerful legs. His arms looked as though they’d do well pounding any man. Or holding a woman closely so she felt safe. Those rough hands would take. Plunder. Be rough against aristocratic skin. Tangle in hair. Caress lips. Touch places that only she had handled. She couldn’t breathe. The stone seemed to be stealing what little air she had left. That had to be it. She surely couldn’t be attracted to this rogue. So she told herself. Her stone glowed. She could feel it against her chest. Could see his stone answering in a weird form of black light. This could not be happening. He looked just as shell-shocked as she was. Maybe even more so. They both stared at each other for several seconds without saying anything. There was nothing to be said. The Fates had spoken. Mistakes had to have been made. “This has to be a mistake.” She said the words aloud. “Fates doona make mistakes.” A lie. They had with her mother and father. “McTavish?” She repeated in a breathy voice that hardly sounded like her. “You are McTavish, aren’t you?” She had to know the name of the

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man who would be hers for an eternity. Hers. Nothing had ever been hers and hers alone before. ’Course from what she knew, she didn’t think this man would take the idea of ownership well. Not to mention there was no way this could work. His lids blinked down to cover his eyes for a moment. Long dark lashes framed his dark irises, which stared back at her. “Who wants ta know?” His voice took on an air of suspicion. He had no right to be suspicious of her, even if he should be. Except that the time for that had passed. They were mated. That accent. Schooner, like hers. But from the poorer sections of her planet. The regions where you couldn’t get rid of the accent as she had fought to do. Interesting. “I do. I want to know.” “And ya are?” He arched an eyebrow at her. “Your mate.” Should she be pointing that out? Considering she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. She watched the interplay of emotions slide across his face with the movement of the muscles. “Are you McTavish or not?” Just tell me. What if he was? Which was worse, him being McTavish or not? She wasn’t sure. His large shoulders shrugged widely. “Mayhap I am and mayhap I ain’t. Maybe ya best tell me who ya are.” She took a deep breath. “I’m Arianna Deepheli.” She waited for the reaction. For the startle at her name. For the recognition of who she was. That never came. His face never changed expression. “Ya’re a Schooner, aren’t ya?” The stones were finally ceasing to glow. Hers was still warm to the touch, though, as if a reminder of what they shared. She watched as his hand clasped around his own stone tightly as if he could break the rock around his neck. She nodded. He didn’t know who she was. How incredible that seemed. Words caught in her throat. A mate. Her mate. She’d known it could happen at anytime but never expected it, especially now. Not the best time for a mating. She glanced down his body. His huge body. He was muscular in the way of showing that he did labor, but his hands were smooth. His dark hair was pulled back from his face, yet it ran down to beyond the curve of his shoulders. He wore a long black trench coat that swung around him like a ghost. He made her insides goo up. He commanded attention. Hardly what she expected from a surgeon of his skill. Only he wasn’t just a surgeon; he was a rogue. A rogue with a brogue. A giggle almost spilled at that. She quickly caught it back. She was losing it. Being mated to someone you didn’t even know would do that to you. “Why are ya looking for McTavish?” Good question. One she’d only reveal to the real McTavish. No matter that this man was her mate; she worked on a need-to-know basis. Only McTavish needed to know her true purpose. That was what had been agreed. “That’s between him and me.” His mouth thinned. He didn’t like being denied. Perhaps he’d better get used to it. “I’m him.” The blurted-out words almost made her gasp, even though she already suspected it was him. The incredulity struck her just the same. She was mated to the McTavish. To a man legends were written of in the ghettos of Schoon. A man who mothers told their children would take them if they’d been bad. A man for whom Union Alliance had set a high reward for capture. A man she now needed more than life itself. How ironic were the Fates?

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She shook her head as she stared at him. “We’re mated.” She couldn’t get over that. The Fates did truly have a sense of humor. “Aye.” He blew out a deep breath. “We are.” His accent seemed more prominent at times than others. Like now. Maybe times of great emotion. He looked deep into her eyes, his hands at his side. “Mated.” Their stones glowed in tandem again. Yep, times of emotion were evident in the glowing stones. Her nether regions clenched in response. Just looking at him brought on things she’d never in her life experienced. She felt slick between her thighs. Her body wanted him in ways she didn’t understand. Most of all, she wanted to touch him. To make sure he was real. To feel that hard body against hers. Feel the stones glow between them. He slid toward her before he reached out and brought her toward his body. He was rock hard. Not just his body but more intimate parts of him. She couldn’t make any leeway against him. It was like being up against a stone. Nothing had ever felt this hard. He wouldn’t let her back away. He held her close. Grasped her body in those firm hands and pulled her tighter against him. “So damn beautiful.” He wrenched out the words before descending to close his lips over hers. There was no asking, only taking. Claiming. He tasted her lips and mastered them. Dominated them. Left her breathless and panting against him. He backed her to the wall and shoved his hardness against her belly. Rubbed it against her with a moan. A man was against her. Her man. Ready for her. She shivered as if a summer wind suddenly brought a chill her way. His mouth plundered hers again and again, not giving her time to regain any of her scattered thoughts. He ran his hand down her cheek to her throat. His hand felt like warm silk as he caressed her. He reached her breast and cupped as much of her into his hand as he could. Her whole body shuddered and ached. There was so much that she wanted, she didn’t know how to express it. She’d never thought she could hurt for the want of anything, but for him, she did. She wanted things she couldn’t even name, much less tell him. All she could do was whimper and groan against his onslaught. Her mate. The sensations of his hands on her, and knowing exactly who he was, were overwhelming. She’d never expected to find her mate like this. Her back pressed against the stone of just one of the buildings looming around them in the dank, dark alley. Cool. Sharp. It scratched against her skin. Almost as much as her clothes. She wanted them off. Wanted to rub against his body with her naked skin just to see what he felt like.

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A man she didn’t even know. She chased away the voice. After all, this was her mate. He should be this sensual to her. She should be wanting him. There was nothing wrong with it. With her. A man she’d never met before. She closed her eyes, trying to block out her thoughts, but all that seemed to do was bring them to the forefront. She knew rumors of McTavish. She didn’t know the reality of the man. She’d seen what blind acceptance could do. It had the ability to destroy. Misplaced trust could tear anyone apart. She should know. She’d seen it happen. She had to be careful with this man, mate or not. She’d been let down too many times already. She didn’t intend to get blindsided again. She swallowed, only partially successful at pulling back from him. Her body protested, but her mind won the battle. He panted against her lips, trying to fight her for possession of what she had to give. “What’s wrong?” “I doona know ya.” Startled, she pulled more away from him. It had been a long time since her Schooner accent had crept out. “I don’t know you. I can’t do this.” She couldn’t. No matter how much she might want to be with him. Her reasons would remain her own. He frowned. “I’m yar mate.” “I know that. But I can’t…” She pressed on his chest. Almost got lost in the muscles under her fingers but shook her head to clear it. “A minute ago, ya wanted ta know what I wanted. Didn’t want ta tell me yar name unless I told ya. Now ya want ta take me against a wall?” She winced against at the accent escaping her again. She’d fought too long and too hard for this to happen. He lowered his hands. “We are mates. We’re supposed ta fuck. Supposed ta be…” Her lips pursed at the use of the rude word for sex. Fuck. What a crass term. What else should she expect from McTavish? Maybe all the legends weren’t stories. No, she wouldn’t have made it to him if they were all true. He backed away from her. His gaze appraised her. “So the likes of the Schooner high class would never want ta be with someone like me, heh?” He folded his arms across his chest. “Even if we be mated.” “How did you know…?” She lowered her head. “My lack of an accent.” Her looks were pure Schooner. Much to her mother’s dismay and her father’s disdain. Schooners always tried to get away from what they were. Unless they were McTavish. Or maybe especially if they were McTavish. “And yar seeming ta expect me ta know who ya were when ya announced yar name? Go back ta yar high-class life.” His face looked like angry storms of gray as his features wrinkled with lines like clouds rolling across the sky. “I won’t trouble ya no more.” She caught his arm. “That’s not why I stopped us. I…” She’d stopped them because she didn’t know the man, nor did she trust him fully yet. Too many people in her life had let her down. Her mother had left her. Her father had checked out on her when her mother left. Her stepmother seemed to care only about appearances. All she’d had was Erek, and then he’d left her too. Not to mention there was a part of her that wanted to know the man whom she’d have sex with. It overruled the part that didn’t care.

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He looked at her hands resting on him. “Such a wee hand.” She snorted. “There are no wee parts on me.” His eyebrow raised on one side. She ignored his reaction and didn’t reply. She knew her faults. God knows they’d been pointed out often enough to her. Willowy would never be an adjective used for her. “I stopped us because I…can’t do this yet. I’m…I don’t even know you. Except in the fairy tales they tell of you.” “They aren’t fairy tales.” His lip curled up into a smile. She snorted again, ignoring a little shiver. Her stepmother would tell her she was being unladylike. So would her mother. McTavish didn’t seem to care. “So you do have a black heart and breathe fire and brimstone?” “Only from me ass.” He cackled for a minute, then sobered. “They really say that on Schoon about me?” She nodded. “Also that you’re seven feet tall.” Another rumor popped into her head. About the size of the lance he bore. The intimate lance. How long it was. She felt heat move up her cheeks. His grin told her that he knew what she was thinking. “That one ’tis true as well.” He unfolded his arms. Opening himself up. To possibilities? Maybe. If her leadership training had taught her anything. “Mayhap later ya’ll be seeing up close and personal that one. Mates are supposed ta be together, no matter that they just met.” She shook her head. “I can’t. Not yet.” She’d never thought about meeting her mate. What she might do. But being with him didn’t feel right yet, probably because she wasn’t confident he wouldn’t abandon her, and she had to work that out. It was her problem, not his. Not to mention she had things hanging over her head. He might not stick around once he knew those things, making her abandonment worries all the more real to her. Then where would she be? She’d known mates to leave each other. Like her mother had her father. “Ya’re a virgin.” That came out of nowhere. Heat once again rose up her skin. She liked that he didn’t call her a “cherry” or any other crass terms for those who hadn’t had sex yet. “Yes.” Why lie? If they ever reached that point, he’d know anyway. She’d only found her stone a few seasons ago. His mouth thinned again. “Great Mother of God, Fates, what have ya stuck me with?” At that, she bristled. “Hey. I’m right here. And it’s not being stuck.” She took another breath. “Besides, I have business with you. I was looking for you when the stones glowed.” She rubbed her head. When had things become so complicated? “That you were.” He waited, as if expecting her to tell him, only she didn’t know how to start. Finally, he said, “What business?” Then he cocked his head to the side. “Shhh.” He stood, listening intently. “Someone’s coming.” Ari only had a moment to dread before several figures popped into view. “Arianna.” The cool voice could have been at a state dinner or barbecue instead of in a dark alley. A gaze even colder than the voice surveyed her. Behind the woman, held by guards, her servant stood with the Schooner boy held fast by arms and weapons.

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McTavish glanced from Ari to the woman to back behind the woman. He noted the boy and looked back to Ari. His hand drifted down beside his lean hips. Probably getting closer to a weapon. She’d never even considered the fact he was armed. This was Chombay after all. It was a wonder he hadn’t pulled a weapon on her. The icy woman shook her head. “You’ve had your fun. Now it’s time to come home. Your father is very worried about you.” Ari shook her head. “No.” “You don’t have a choice, my dear. I’ve come to fetch you. Time to pay for your little bit of excitement.” “No.” She couldn’t go back. If she did, she’d be dead within the month. Isa, her stepmother, would see to that. The idea of her stepmother killing her was crazy. On the one hand, it seemed real, but on the other hand, she couldn’t believe it was true. The two sides kept warring within her. If she believed Isa could do that to her, she’d have to believe that Isa had a hand in Erek’s disappearance, and she couldn’t accept that. Not yet. At the very least, Isa would ensure she’d never get away again to search for her brother. Isa moved forward, shadowed by her guards. “You will come home. Please escort Arianna to our ship.” She clapped her hands to her guards. The men fanned out around the tall, willowy woman, except for the two holding Ari’s servant and the boy. Ari drew back. McTavish stepped forward and in front of Ari before anyone could reach her side. “I doona think she wants ta go with ya.” Isa’s frigid glare met his gaze head-on. “I don’t think this any of your concern.” McTavish’s head came up. “I doona think ya know my concern.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t have time for this. Take this man down and get Arianna. Now.” Her voice grew louder with impatience. Ari swallowed. She couldn’t go back. She should have known the witch would track her. Now she’d dragged McTavish into this mess before she’d even wanted to. Six against one was hardly a fair fight. She opened her mouth to speak as the guards approached. Only lightning-fast actions took the words from her mouth. She hardly saw what happened. She was behind McTavish, didn’t see what he did exactly, only flashes of arms and legs flying, but he took out all six of them without drawing a weapon. One minute they were there. The next, the men were all on the ground. Isa looked at the men lying around her. “Who the hell are you?” She turned her attention back to McTavish. McTavish rocked back on his heels and sounded as if he were grinning. “Wouldn’t ya like ta know? I do know this woman isn’t going anywhere with ya.” Isa clicked her tongue. “You have no idea what you’ve done. You’ve taken out the royal guards. Aiding and abetting this spoiled Schooner will put you in prison for a long time. A very long time.”

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“They can try. Now, why doona ya back out of here? And let her be.” His voice rounded out with edges upon edges. He grabbed Ari’s arm and pulled her over the fallen men. They took a left fork in the alleyway prior to the dead end they’d been standing in. He pushed her along until they came to a shuttle bay. Then, he whirled her around to face him. “Who are ya?” “I told you, Ari Deepheli. Arianna Deepheli.” “Then who the fuck was that?” He jabbed a finger back where they’d come from. “She was pure Schooner royalty bitch.” When he hadn’t recognized who she was, Ari hadn’t enlightened him. She hated to do so now. But now she had no choice. As usual, Isa hadn’t given her one. “Isa Deepheli. Queen Isa Deepheli of Schoon. My stepmother.”

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Chapter Two McTavish roared with laughter. Especially at seeing the look on Arianna’s face at his reaction. The look of utter confusion at his laughter. He shook his head. “I’m fucking mated ta the princess of Schoon. The high society is going ta love this.” He could see their lips curling up now in utter disdain at him. Arianna didn’t find this so funny. She folded her arms in front of her chest, looking ticked off. “You don’t have to laugh.” He sobered. Arianna was a real person. With deep feelings. He’d already found that out when he’d tried to fuck her. He would have taken her against the wall had she not stopped him. Good thing she had, though. He would have been caught with his pants down. Not a bad thing to show your ass to the queen when you were McTavish, but he wouldn’t have had easy access to his weapons. Not to mention with him being naked, his cock would have been an easy target if the guards had gotten any licks in. The second reason was Ari’s virginity. You didn’t take someone’s cherry like that, up against a wall. “Why were ya looking for me? And running away from your stepmother?” That was the answer he needed that would determine what would happen next. She took a deep breath. He shuffled her into the bay. “Actually, hang on.” He moved away from her, despite having asked the question. It was better to get away and then start the conversation. He needed to know things, but he also needed to get them to safety. Isa would have no luck getting Chombay authorities after him. Even with all her money. McTavish had greased their fat pockets too well and done too many favors for them to betray him. But it always paid to be cautious. He’d listen better when they were off this piece-of-shit planet. “Let’s get off this rock.” He needed to get them back to his haven. To where he could keep her safe. He hustled them on board the shuttle and shut the door behind them. Too bad he couldn’t so easily shut Isa out of their lives. A couple of buttons later, a little chat with transport, and they were off and flying. Now that they were in the air, he could concentrate on her story. “Now, tell me what ya wanted ta talk to me about.” He gave her his full attention. “I’m listening now.” She pressed the errant lock of hair back. He had a sudden desire to see her hair free and flowing. Draping across her like some dark curtain. God, she’d look good in the moonlight. His cock hardened. His breath caught. She was too damn beautiful. They headed to a planet that was filled with nothing but men. Throwaway men who needed chances. He’d have to put the fear of God in them about his woman. Not hard to do with most of them. And he’d already done that. They didn’t serve him because they feared him, but it didn’t hurt.

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Mechele Armstrong

He had this strong urge to protect Ari from anyone. Even his men. He didn’t understand it. He wasn’t some damn fine hero who charged in to save anyone. He’d never been a big damn hero. “I…I’m the princess.” Something he already knew. “Ya were going ta hire me, weren’t ya?” It was the only thing that made sense. Talking to him about fairy tales didn’t seem to be what she needed. She nodded. “I was.” “Ya set the boy loose, knowing something would happen.” “Yes. I’d heard you were there. I hoped that would help me find you.” “Ya were lucky I found him.” Too many things could have happened on Chombay. He’d been a pawn. McTavish frowned. He didn’t like where those thoughts were going. ’Course, she was royalty. All they ever thought about were their asses. “I had a servant watching him at all times. They would have saved him had anything gotten too intense.” Her chin came up. “I wouldn’t put him in any danger. He volunteered to help me. Because of what I was doing.” He changed topics. “That woman was yar stepmother? Ya said so before we boarded the shuttle.” He took a turn in the shuttle and then deployed autopilot. He’d keep an eye on the controls. Just in case someone did come after them. “My mother…left my father some years after I was born. She couldn’t handle the life of royalty.” He leaned back, checking a control. “She left her mate?” Not something that happened often. It would leave most lacking and searching for the rest of their lives. Not a life most desired to lead. You grew up wanting a heartstone so that you could fuck. Then once you had a heartstone, you tried to find a mate so you could find the other part of your heart. Bunch of bullshit. He looked over at her. He’d always thought mates were trouble—even if he had wanted one. This one was going to be trouble for him. He could feel it. From her eyes that urged him to do so much for her to the fact she hadn’t wanted to fuck him. Get to know him? Hell, this wasn’t some damned fantasy fairy tale. He’d waited years to find his mate. Least she could do was bone him once. Her eyes grew clouded as though she was remembering something. Whatever it was, it wasn’t pleasant. “Yep. I know.” She looked up to the shuttle ceiling as though that could block out whatever the memory was. He wanted to pull her alongside his body and hold her in his arms. He couldn’t help but reach for her and clasped her tiny hand in his. He checked the scanners behind him. No one followed him. Good. Now he could focus on this woman before him. She leaned toward him, and he could smell something light and flowery. The scent tickled his nose. He wasn’t used to good odors. She began again, almost startling him. “I have an older brother. Erek.” Her voice lowered, barely audible over the noises around him. He roamed over her soft skin with fingers that delighted in her differences. She was the softest thing he’d ever encountered. So smooth. What would the rest of her feel like? She was so pliable. He swallowed, dreaming of her naked body under him. “He was ta be king.” Only a male, the first boy child, could take the throne.

Settler’s Mine 6: The Rogue

13

“Aye.” She winced. Breathed in and out a few times with a shattered look on her face. “Yes. He was…is the heir.” She had worked hard to get the Schooner dialect from her speech. But little bits of accent kept escaping. Especially when she was upset. Erek’s mention seemed to have upset her. He’d caught the is/was slip too. His index finger stroked her knuckle. What had happened to Erek? “My brother left. A few months ago. He journeyed on a trade trip for our people. He’s not been heard from since. He never showed up to meet with Union Alliance. My father and…Isa believe he’s run away. Like our mother. But”—her mouth twisted—“he would have told me if he was planning to run away. Isa keeps telling my father he took off. Now Father is starting to believe her.” Odd that a mother and son could have run away in the same family. But what did this have to do with McTavish? She’d come to him expecting something. What? “Have there been sights of him?” A blip on the radar screen caught his attention. He quickly looked and made a note to keep an eye on it as it grew closer. It might be a random ship out on its own. But there might be a reason for its presence. “Yes.” She blew out a long breath. Her hand shook beneath his. The expected words didn’t come from her mouth. Even her lips trembled. It was as if she couldn’t speak whatever it was. What could be so horrible? The brother was obviously not dead, or she would have said so. “And?” Erek was a member of the royal house of Schoon. They could go get him anytime. With any amount of force. Why weren’t they doing that? Why was Isa more concerned with where Arianna was than the wayward boy? Perhaps because Erek was the only heir. Perhaps she didn’t want the heir to be found. He quirked an eyebrow. “On Batuck.” He turned from the screen to look at her. “Batuck?” The boy just as well might have been dead. Hell, he could be dead by now on Batuck. Life wasn’t taken seriously there. She nodded before looking away. “Batuck.” Her voice sounded as frail as a fall breeze. “He’s there as a whore.” Could be nothing else. Only two things stayed on Batuck. Gangsters and whores. Royalty would never have been accepted as a gangster. The only thing they liked to do to royalty on Batuck was fuck them in the ass. She nodded again without saying anything. Her lips were tight together as her hand bunched under his. “Ya wanted me ta go after him. After Erek.” Which still perplexed him. “Ya wanted ta hire me ta find yar brother.” “Yes.” She moved closer to him. “I’d do anything to get him back.” Her gaze drifted down toward the shuttle floor. He arched a brow at her. “Anything?” “Anything.” He moved closer to her. She didn’t resist. “Ya know what a man could demand from a promise like that?” She looked up at him finally, eyes huge and like a scared deer’s. “What?”

14

Mechele Armstrong

He couldn’t resist a slide of his mouth against hers. Pulling her against his body. Which he instantly regretted. Heat spread through him as his cock tightened. He tasted her, and she was the most wonderful thing he’d ever tasted. Sweet as honey and twice as fresh. Her breasts pressed into him like twin melons. He slid his hands down the front of her shirt, feeling across them. Her nipples tightened and pebbled against his hand. Her body stiffened against him. Her action barely registered into his psyche. She even shifted backward. She would taste this sweet anywhere. Everywhere. She would be the elixir of life for him. Be his manna. His mind went down to a litany of “mine” echoing throughout his thoughts. Nothing else coherent would come. One wee hand came up to press against his chest. He could force the issue. But that would make him no better than the ones who used the boys he rescued. He pulled his lips away. “Ya did say anything.” His gleaming gaze held hers as his hand continued to stroke her breasts, enjoying the way they moved against his hands as she breathed. “I did. And I will do anything if you save him. Save my brother.” The desperation in her voice catapulted him from wanting more to wanting to go right now and save her brother. Not a wise plan. “Even that.” She breathed against him. Her eyes looked as desperate as her voice. Her lips trembled. He couldn’t resist dropping his lips to taste hers. To mingle. He didn’t kiss her fully and only permitted himself the barest of touches. Even with that, she tasted of honey and things he’d never be able to name, much less have. Her skin was like the smoothest silk. Her whole being radiated being out of his league. Her body shook as though winds buffeted her from all sides. She was as affected by his touch as he was. Yet she still held back. She wouldn’t surrender to the abandon that could take them both. She still didn’t trust him. Not that he blamed her. She’d been abandoned by all the socalled family she’d ever had. The desire to take her, to answer the call that told him to make her his, pulsed through his body with the desire to fuck her senseless. He rubbed his heavy cock against her, thrusting in a way that brought him some satisfaction. But it would never be enough. Not until he had her underneath him, writhing in passion, her hips undulating with his. He grunted as she pushed back with her hips against him, moving in time to his movements. He pulled her even closer, letting her feel his arousal against her. She lifted her head to the heavens where not even the god of Schoon would help her. Her lips parted as the breath flew between them in a pant that was designed to bring air back in her lungs. He took over her lips again, catching the soft breath as she exhaled. She rubbed herself against him, seemingly unable to help herself. He wanted to give that back to her and more. He wanted to be inside her with a need so desperate he almost acted on it. He almost shoved her to the ground and pressed his way inside that tight pussy.

Settler’s Mine 6: The Rogue

15

Only now she’d consider that repaying him for her brother. That was not how this should go down. Not to mention he’d been trying to build up to the time when she would not refuse him. This wasn’t that time yet no matter how much he wanted it to be. “What do ya want?” “I do not know.” She looked up into his eyes with trouble in her gaze. “I…I’m not ready for this. But if you need a down payment…” No fucking way. He released her except for her hands, which he placed in his. “Ya won’t need to pay me anything. When I take ya, I want ya ta want me.” Her eyes widened so much, they were gigantic. “Not just what I can do for ya.” He completely let her go. “Why do ya think he needs rescuing?” She pulled her hand from his to wave in the air. Her face was flushed, lips swollen from his kisses. “He couldn’t have gone there of his own free will. I know my brother. He would have told me he was going.” Her nose wrinkled. “And he surely wouldn’t have gone to Batuck to be a whore on his own.” Unless she didn’t know him well. Which could be the case. But it did seem odd a royal would leave the cushy life for a job at fucking on one of the worst worlds to do so. “Yar father won’t go in after him.” “Isa has convinced him that this is what Erek wants. That he never wanted to rule. Father is convinced that Erek shouldn’t be the heir, and why shouldn’t Erek get what he wants? Batuck isn’t… Well, it’s not like they would honor any delegation from Schoon.” They were all excuses. If anyone McTavish cared about ended up on Batuck, an anal probe wouldn’t keep him away. Batuck was not likely to accept a delegation willingly. More likely for bandits to capture the royal family and fuck them while broadcasting it for all to see. Batuck was not a place that took kindly to anyone. It made Chombay look like a preschool. “Ya expected me ta retrieve yar brother.” He let go of her hand. The blip on the screen was drawing ever closer. Troubling. Even more so than the idea of Arianna looking to him to play hero. “Yes.” She sat forward then, as if realizing this idea could still be in play. “Money wasn’t…isn’t an object. Erek’s in trouble. He needs a rescue.” The hope hung through her voice like strands of lights. McTavish rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m not the one ta lead a rescue. I’m not a mercenary.” He’d never claimed to be one. He was a surgeon. A sometimes thief. But he’d never tried to portray himself as anything but what he was. “I know. But everyone knows what you do on Chombay. How you take the boys back with you. How you save them.” “Big difference.” He didn’t correct her, but everyone didn’t know. He didn’t give a fuck if they did. Didn’t make him a goddamned hero. He shook his head. The blip was gaining fast. Was it targeting them? The next two minutes would tell him more about that. “Batuck is much different than Chombay. What I do is much different than going after someone specific.” Finding someone on Batuck or even on Chombay was like finding a needle in space. Never mind that she’d found McTavish. She’d gotten damned lucky. “You can do it. I know you can.” Her voice rose on a pitch of anxiety and more desperation.

16

Mechele Armstrong

“What happened ta breathing fire and brimstone?” He centered his attention on the ship approaching them, only gave her a momentary glance. “Ta being the devil incarnate?” That was what the royals had to have said about him. “They tell all sorts of tales.” She pinkened. He’d love to know the source of that blush. Probably one of the more bawdy rumors about him. “Erek needs someone. I didn’t know who else to go to. I can’t do it myself. I told ya, I’ll do anything.” They’d skin her alive on Batuck. She’d been lucky on Chombay. A woman who was willing to do anything often was forced to, no matter what the outcome. “So ya ran away from yar palace and made yar way ta Chombay?” At her nod, he swore. She was a virgin in more ways than one. Good thing she hadn’t gone to Batuck first. She was lucky she hadn’t gotten her fool self killed, much less found him. “I thought I could find you on Chombay. I heard a rumor you were there. I took a chance. The boy and I were never in danger. I had a servant to protect me. He was a royal guard.” Even with this protector, she could have been hurt. Protecting a royal was much different than intervening on a planet with whores and pimps. Instead, she’d found her mate. As he had his. Another piece of luck. Whether good or bad remained to be seen. Union Alliance’s signature glowed at him as the shuttle came close enough to track. Close enough to see the tailspin. “Fuck.” “What’s wrong?” He took evasive action. “Ya stay seated. Union Alliance. Don’t talk.” He banked the shuttle around to run. Head for his home planet and…lead them straight for his planet. Not that they’d ever find him on it but why take the chance? He backed off and banked again. Headed for Settler’s Mine, the nearest settlement in the quadrant. If he couldn’t reach home, Settler’s was the next best place for him to go. Zelda had no love of Union Alliance. She owed him a favor or two or fifty. “Where are we going?” Her voice trembled. The seat squeaked as she leaned back into its safety. “Don’t talk.” “I can talk if I want to.” Her voice sounded defiant. Weren’t princesses supposed to be obedient? So much for that idea. “So where are we going?” He’d better answer. She wasn’t going to back down. He’d like to show her how to back down. In the bedroom. Handcuffs would be involved. Maybe a paddle. He cursed his hard cock. Now was not the time. “I was going ta take ya ta my home. But now ’tis heading for Settler’s Mine.” “A heartstone mine?” “Aye. And a safe haven. Then we can figure out what ta do from there.” “Go to Batuck and rescue Erek.” Her voice held an iron determination that he had to appreciate. “Mayhap.”

Settler’s Mine 6: The Rogue

17

Which was crazy talk. Going to Batuck would pretty much be like signing his death warrant. But somehow those scared eyes had told him one thing that came across clearly. Arianna had only one person to trust. Him.

*** Decker watched the small shuttle bank left and right to avoid him. “You can run but you can’t hide.” He followed on an unerring course. Didn’t even need to keep the shuttle in view. McTavish would run to Settler’s Mine. Decker hadn’t studied the man for the past five years without learning a thing or two. McTavish wouldn’t want to lead him to Colony, where McTavish lived, or to the men who lived there. No, he’d never head back there. Settler’s Mine was somewhere he could hide and they wouldn’t betray him. Not even to Union Alliance. “You’re predictable.” Or at least he was to Decker. He laid in his course to Settler’s Mine. Five years of study. Of tracking the man’s movements, his money, his cohorts. Five years of sitting behind a desk. Studying McTavish on his own time. Until he’d finally predicted a move by McTavish two months ago. That had netted Decker some interest from his superiors. Had gotten him out from behind the desk. Decker was now charged with chasing McTavish and bringing him in to Union Alliance. Something he would not fail at, despite the fact that even his superiors thought he would. He would not go back to the desk job again. Ever. Getting out of it had been an uphill task that no one said he could do. Yet here he was. He’d capture McTavish and bring the others in too. What was he going to do once he got to Settler’s Mine? Wasn’t like walking in and demanding McTavish would get him anywhere. Not with Zelda. It might get him pitched out on his ass. Or shot. He briefly took his hands from the controls to stretch out his fingers. He’d found a way from the desk job. He’d find a way to get one past Zelda. He was this close to McTavish. He’d have him. He interfaced with Settler’s Mine’s computers and docked. Suddenly a voice spewed from his radio. “Ship’s docking is complete. Welcome to Settler’s Mine. A list of rules and regulations is available. Please read them carefully. Ignorance doesn’t excuse you from being shot.” A woman’s voice. Zelda. He breathed an easy breath as he finished the docking procedure. The shuttle doors opened, and he walked out onto the launchpad. He’d never done fieldwork before. Couldn’t be any harder than sitting at a desk researching a man who was a ghost to most people. More a ghost than the real race of Ghosts. A man few had seen. Or rather, admitted to seeing.

18

Mechele Armstrong

A woman stood by the doors next to a big man who looked as if he could pull rocks apart with his bare hands. Zelda. Bren. He recognized them from their profiles. He put a smile on his face and his best administrative air in his voice. “You must be Zelda.” His gaze met the unsmiling woman’s glare as he offered his hand to her. “Yes. Yes, I am.” The woman looked at his hand a minute before meeting it with an absolutely punishing grip. “Now who the fuck are you?” All pleasantries over, Decker removed his hand from Zelda’s and tried not to wince. “I’m Decker Roundtree.” Bren didn’t offer his hand. Just stood there with his arms folded over his chest and a disgusted look on his face. Yes, Union Alliance was sure welcome around these parts. Decker swallowed. He didn’t even try to go for his sidearm, but his hand hovered near the weapon. He’d never used it in the line of duty. Not something you did to push papers. But he was a dead-on shot at the practice ranges. Zelda eyed him. Seemed to be waiting for him to speak again. “So, Pecker Raintree, what’s your business on my Mine?” “It’s Decker. Decker.” He plastered a smile on his face. Couldn’t let her see weakness, or she’d exploit that. “I’m looking for a man.” Bren and Zelda glanced at each other. Bren did a slight chuckle. “Aren’t we all?” Decker realized how what he’d said could be interpreted. “Not like that.” Not that he hadn’t been with men. And women. But he was here on business. Official Union Alliance business “I’m looking for a man that…Union Alliance wants to talk to.” Better than saying they would put him down like a dog. That wouldn’t go over well. “And who would this man be?” Zelda might as well be taking orders for pies for all the emotion she put into her voice. “McTavish.” They’d been after him for years, both for fighting in a rebellion and for his illicit surgical skills where he helped those who needed to hide from Union Alliance or have Union Alliance-implanted chips removed. He moved like the wind around the galaxy, never seeming to stay anywhere long. He had a base that Union Alliance couldn’t seem to detect. No matter how many inspections were levied upon the barren planet. They’d once stayed there for six months. Somehow, McTavish had gotten on and off the planet without being spotted. Zelda didn’t flinch. “Heard of him, I think. He’s not here.” Decker kept his smile. “Oh, I think he is.” “Calling me a liar?” Zelda’s voice was smooth, but he’d be a fool not to hear the nails underneath the dulcet strains. Decker was no fool. “Oh no.” He moved forward. “Never do that.” Not outright. Unless he wanted that high-heeled boot she wore up his ass. Whether he was Union Alliance or not, she’d do it. Bren bristled.

Settler’s Mine 6: The Rogue

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Decker rushed forward with words. “Oh no. I’m not calling you a liar. But I know McTavish is here. Perhaps he landed under nefarious circumstances.” Or perhaps they aided and abetted him. “You tracked him here?” Zelda put a hand on her hip and smoothed down her shirt. “No.” Soon as that was out of his mouth, he knew it was a mistake. “I tracked him near here. He was coming here.” So much for being the suave Union Alliance agent. “A mind reader. What talents Union Alliance has in its workers nowadays.” Zelda shook her head. “Great, ain’t it, Bren?” “I know he would head here.” Decker tried to recover his footing. One good thing about papers—they didn’t talk back. “I’d like to look around the Mine if you don’t mind.” Zelda cocked her head to the side. “Of course.” Bren lazily looked at him as though sizing him up. “Do you have a warrant?” His meaty fists clenched. They were as big as small plates. Decker didn’t. But he’d been given carte blanche by Union Alliance to find McTavish, so perhaps that would count for something. However, he didn’t get a chance to answer. “Doesn’t matter, Bren. We always cooperate with Union Alliance.” Zelda’s smile could have melted butter on bread. “Fully cooperate.” When it suited them. “Thank you.” Decker ducked his head in a show of respect. “I also want the Mine transport locked. No one goes in or out until I’ve inspected the Mine.” Both of their heads came up. Zelda’s mouth thinned. That wouldn’t make the Mine’s population happy, so it would affect her day. Zelda recovered so quickly it was almost as if she hadn’t reacted. “Bren, would you show Mr. Pecker around?” “Decker.” Decker gritted his teeth. “It’s Decker. And I can show myself around. Really.” She smiled, showing white teeth against her mocha skin. “Oh, it would be rude not to show you around. Not to mention, you don’t have free range of my Mine.” “Zelda, might I remind you that I am working for Union Alliance?” “I don’t care if you’re fucking all of Union Alliance. No one gets free rein over my Mine. After your tour, you can look for a souvenir. Your desk might need one.” Her voice was easygoing as usual, but with a twang. Somehow, she knew. She knew he was on his first mission. He rubbed his face. “Zelda…” “Bren, show Pecker around. Then see him to his shuttle. I think that will be enough to satisfy and show him this McTavish fellow isn’t here.” She waved a hand almost dismissing Decker before she turned to face him. “Might I give you a suggestion? Next time, see where the damn shuttle goes before you board my Mine.” Decker resisted the urge to glare and kept the strained smile plastered on his face. “Shall we get started?” Bren stifled a yawn. “Why, yes, we shall.” Decker followed behind the larger man. So much for a successful first mission. This one looked like it was going to suck ass. Maybe he’d get lucky and McTavish would be out wandering the Mine. No such luck.

20

Mechele Armstrong

He glanced around the corridors of the Mine as they walked down yet another dead end. “We haven’t been everywhere, Bren. Zelda told you to show me around.” There’d been no sign of McTavish, which Decker had expected. Bren’s smile was predatory. “You’ve seen enough. I think it’s time you went on your way.” Decker blew out a long breath. “You know I’m Union Alliance…” He hated bringing it up, but if it got him closer to McTavish, he’d do it. Bringing in McTavish was his only way out. “You are. And you’ve seen enough.” They walked past the bar. Neon shone, and alcohol smells drifted to Decker’s nose. “What about a drink? Can’t I have a drink before I leave?” Bren stopped before he eyed Decker. “Sure.” He swung around to enter the bar. “I can drink by myself…” “Uh-huh.” That didn’t stop Bren, who cruised into the bar without effort. He had a lot of grace for a man with such big feet. So much for ditching him. Decker fell into step behind him. “You really don’t have to stick around. I’m sure the Mine keeps you busy.” Bren slammed himself down at the bar and looked to the squat bartender. “A whiskey for me.” Decker slid up to the bar. “And your friend?” The man showed teeth in a canine smile. This must be Clyde, a Wolfton. A species Union Alliance didn’t control. “A Tenaglian whiskey.” They both looked surprised. It was a drink that not only burned theoretically, but it did so literally to certain species. Not Decker’s. Clyde set both drinks down at once. “Here you go.” He looked from Bren to Decker before moving on. Clyde wasn’t someone Union Alliance could manipulate. None of the principals on Settler’s Mine were. Decker took a small sip of his drink. He’d have to find his own way to get a better look around the Mine. But how? He’d drink slowly. “Do you really think you’ll find McTavish?” Bren tipped his glass and drained the entire shot of alcohol. Decker nodded. “I will.” Eventually he would. He had to. “From what I hear, McTavish is slippery. I don’t think you’re going to find him.” Bren licked his lips, catching a drop hanging from his upper lip. “From what I hear, McTavish is a hard man to catch.” “We’ll see…” Bren’s radio bubbled up with words. “Bren.” Bren clicked the comm. “Yes, Amory.” Amory was Zelda’s other mate. He was in charge of security on the Mine. As big as the Mine was, they didn’t have a lot of staff. Zelda ran things with an iron fist, and everyone knew it.

Settler’s Mine 6: The Rogue

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“A shuttle took off just before we put out the wire call not to take off or land. I just told Zelda about it, and she said you may want to mention it to Mr. Pecker.” McTavish had headed to the Mine, but nothing said he had to stay on the Mine. Zelda had been a little too accommodating. Dammit. The prey had been in the air before he’d ever started this pansy-ass tour. The shuttle that McTavish had been in had taken off from Settler’s Mine at least thirty minutes ago. He had no doubts that the shuttle was the one McTavish flew around in. Decker stared at the speaker on the comm as Bren replied. Damn them. They’d thwarted him. He’d made a rookie mistake. He’d thought Zelda was trying to keep him away from McTavish onboard the Mine. Instead, she’d been helping him spirit away from the Mine. “Tell Mr. Pecker he has our full cooperation. That’s why we are reporting this shuttle lifting off.” Yeah, a full thirty minutes after it had done so. Yet it wasn’t anything that Union Alliance could go after. They’d played by the book. The shuttle had taken off before his command had gone in; therefore, Zelda hadn’t been technically required to report it. That she’d done so would be enough for his superiors, despite what Decker knew. Dammit. “I need to go.” He stood up, almost dislodging his bar stool. Bren leaned back, his eyes sliding to slits. “Oh? You haven’t finished that drink yet.” Decker grabbed it and downed it in one sip. He tossed coin on the bar top. “Really must run.” How could he have been so stupid? He should have monitored the ships that had left before he’d locked Settler’s Mine down. He’d never expected their duplicity to run so deep. He wouldn’t be making that mistake anymore. He ran for his shuttle, followed closely by Bren. The bastard had a long enough lead, meaning Decker had to get his ass in gear. “Do come again, Pecker.” Bren grinned as he remained in the hallway by the shuttle. Decker almost flicked him the finger but refrained. Now, how would he find his prey?

22

Mechele Armstrong

Chapter Three “Does the name Decker Roundtree ring any bells?” Ari watched as McTavish pondered the question Zelda posed. While Ari had an almost hyper urge to pace, McTavish sat still as a stone. He didn’t seem to have any nervous energy. How could he not with what was hanging over their heads? His calmness both rankled her and turned on something inside her psyche. She wanted to make him feel. Make him react. She stared him down, but he barely seemed to notice, making her all the more inflamed. How could she make him show some emotion? Take your top off. He’d reacted to her when they’d embraced. He’d shown her how much he’d been wanting her. He’d shaken in his shoes when they’d kissed, which was now twice as mates. As mates. You didn’t want to go there, because he’s a stranger to you. Don’t forget that. She’d never felt so much like provoking someone before. And she’d had a stepmother and a brother so that was saying something. She tuned back into the conversation as McTavish spoke. What parts had she missed? McTavish finally seemed to answer the first question in his slow accented drawl. “No. No, it doesn’t sound familiar.” “He’s Union Alliance.” McTavish’s face creased with lines as he seemed to think. “I haven’t done anything that would concern them. Not lately anyway. What the hell does he want?” “From what I could gather, he’s a desk-job flunky. He’s never been on assignment before. But a recent entry on his file is blocked. Even from me, goddammit.” Zelda looked downright pissed that anything wouldn’t be available to her. Zelda had access beyond anything McTavish had ever seen, especially for a civilian. Ari shook her head. “How can you two be so calm about this? Union Alliance is here.” A shiver moved up her body. McTavish moved closer to her. His arm brushed against hers. His hip came against hers briefly. Two brief touches that ended altogether too soon A cascade of heat wound up her body from the contact. She felt the ripples fan out along her. Funny how a stranger could make her feel like that. She’d always been fascinated with the McTavish. Most Schooners were, be it because of impressed fascination or morbid curiosity. Yes, she’d had a schoolgirl crush on him. But it meant nothing now. She was older, wiser, the princess. She had to focus on getting him to help her and getting to know him. If they were truly mates and had to live together, she’d have to find a way. At least he was someone she was attracted to.

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She didn’t believe they’d live together forever. Her mother and father had been so similar. Look at what happened to them. There was no way that she and McTavish could have anything permanent. They were too different. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the moments. Zelda turned her curious gaze to Ari. Ari expected a barrage of questions and steeled herself for them. Instead, Zelda said, “If you saw him, you’d know why I’m not concerned.” McTavish’s stormy eyes appraised Ari too as he released her hand. “There’s always someone after me. Something ya better get used ta.” That was as comforting as the loss of his touch. Not. Boy, had she ever bitten off more than she could chew this time. Her father had always told her she didn’t have to look for trouble, that it found her, which was an accurate description of this whole situation. Bren’s voice came over the comm. “He’s gone. He’ll eventually figure this out, you know.” Zelda clicked off with two words. “I know.” She turned toward McTavish and Ari. “He’ll be back.” McTavish nodded. “Thank ya. I’ll make preparations ta leave.” Zelda’s half smile was only a ghost of an expression. “You’ve never owed me one before.” “I’m sure ya will collect.” He arched a brow. “Arianna and I will be leaving soon as I can book a shuttle out of here.” He sobered a little. “I do hope I didn’t bring trouble on yar head.” Zelda didn’t look back as she got to her feet. “We live for danger. But you might want to warn your boys that trouble’s coming. This Pecker—and I do know his real name—he’s determined. If he’s trying to make a name for himself at Union Alliance, you could be the fucking reason he gets one.” “I’ll be careful.” Zelda walked to the door. “Take your time getting away. Let me know if you need anything.” With that, she opened the door, walked through, and shut it behind her with a swish. They were in a room on Settler’s Mine. Small, spartan, and carved from the rock itself, it was hardly hospitable. “Roundtree mean anything ta ya?” He pushed a strand of hair back. “Ever heard of him?” She shook her head. “Sorry. No.” She felt like all this was her fault. That she’d brought it to McTavish. But how could that be? “I don’t think he has anything to do with me.” “No need ta be sorry. Just checking.” He put his hands together and stretched. Yawned. That big body stretched out on the seat. God, he was huge. Not freakish or anything, and Bren made him look small. But he was a nice size. A size that she could see curling up to her in bed. Doing other things in bed. Her breath caught. Her gaze was captured by his hands as he dropped them by his side. They weren’t rough, but neither were they soft. They looked tough. Sort of like the man himself. Her gaze drifted over this man. Her mate. No one would ever call him anything but hard. But she’d heard of him doing extraordinary things for people in need. Her gaze drifted back up to his face. Maybe he would help her and Erek. McTavish was all she had, so he’d better help her. She’d put her whole future in those big hands. Just how would he feel against her skin?

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Mechele Armstrong

He watched her. His eyes blazed in that long face. He knew her interest in him and seemed to thrive on it. Probably would have whether they were mates or not. He was that kind of man. One who enjoyed her attraction. Because what a man he was… She quickly lowered her head. “So what now? After we leave here?” Would he help her? “First we need ta stop at Colony. It’s where I live.” Her throat dried out as her breathing hitched. McTavish was her last hope for finding her brother. Her last chance at getting to the bottom of what had happened to him. Maybe she should have slept with McTavish to get what she wanted, but she hadn’t even been comfortable doing that. It required her to make a leap. One she wasn’t ready to make, despite the way he made her tingle in places she didn’t know could tingle. McTavish leaped to his feet, came over to her, and gently put his fingers under her chin. He didn’t force her head up but coaxed her to look at him. His ran his thumb along the soft skin under her eye to wipe away a tear. Silly. She should be used to disappointment. It was the only constant in her life. “Maybe I should just—” The thumb covered her lips. “I have ta make arrangements. That’s why I’m stopping there. With Union Alliance sniffing around me, I have ta be prepared. I also want ta make sure I’m well armed.” His mouth thinned into a grim line. Her head came up. “Well armed?” He nodded. His thumb still traced down her cheek. “For Batuck. I have ta be ready for anything.” She couldn’t help it. She threw her arms around him and pulled him to her body. He was going to help her. Tears sprang again, leaking from her eyes. Happy tears for once. He was going to help her. Help her get her brother back. “I make no guarantees, Arianna.” She liked hearing her full name from his lips. Whispered against her ear. She liked his body up against hers too. “I know. You’re at least going to try, which is more than anyone else.” She couldn’t believe she’d said that. What happened to the reserved princess who never said boo to anyone? She’d told McTavish more about her family than anyone else knew. Even what she suspected her stepmother of—even if she didn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe it. “You owe me nothing to go. Nothing you do will affect my decision to go save your brother. Nothing.” He moved away from her, but not too far. She blew out a sigh of relief. He was telling her that the rescue wasn’t tied to letting him have his way with her. But could she trust him? He spit on his hand and offered it to her to shake. She blinked at him. He shrugged. “It’s a custom on some planets to seal a deal.” His lips drew up in a tight line. “I never break a deal.” The conviction in his voice told her he took this seriously. She shook his spit-covered hand. He wouldn’t pressure her to do anything in return for trying to save her brother. Good to know. He moved closer against her, and all thoughts of her stepmother and brother faded. The only thing she could focus on was his jutting chin and his body against hers. How hard he felt

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and how hot. The heat from his body took over and made her burn in its wake. She should pull away, and she would. Soon. Only her body liked it up against his. He made her feel small. Protected. Lusty. She wanted this man. Probably had before they’d ever met. Every girl had a thing for bad boys, and probably every Schooner schoolgirl had a crush on McTavish. Only she’d given hers up for the proper princess crush on some aristocrat. Now that she was with McTavish, some stuffy diplomat had no chance against him. They didn’t take up half the breath the man did. Didn’t make her nethers tremble or ache as though they needed to be filled. And he could fill those empty places inside of her Didn’t mean they’d be together forever. Just a moment. That was all sex took. She was so curious… She could hardly breathe. Something hard poked against her. Like a stick. Only this was no stick. He had an erection. One that she had caused. Her breath caught in her throat. Her stepmother had taken great delight in pointing out her defects: her less than slim thighs, her unmanageable hair, her clumsiness. How her father was going to have to pay someone to marry her. No one had paid McTavish to be attracted to her. Not even a heartstone could create attraction if it wasn’t there. She’d learned that about the rock around her neck too. From her mother. The attraction had to come from McTavish himself. That made things all the hotter, because sex with him was going to be anything but stuffy. She rubbed against his erection, unable to help herself. He groaned and pushed his hand across her cheek to rest in her hair. He pulled at the strands, but instead of hurting, it felt good. She lifted her head to accommodate the tug of his hand. “Och.” He breathed heavily and said words in a language she didn’t understand. “So beautiful.” Words that she’d never heard except by him the first time he’d kissed her. One potential suitor had called her a proper princess. McTavish called her beautiful. She liked that much more. Right now she wanted to be anything but the proper princess. He lowered his mouth and touched her lips—a brief whisper that didn’t even qualify as a kiss. She wanted more. She’d signed into this embrace, at least for a while. She wanted to experience whatever he would give her, because who knew if the chance would ever present itself again. He pressed in more deeply, but not harshly. Explored her lips with a tenderness she never would have expected. He tasted her and took the time to explore her deeply with his mouth. Then he claimed her mouth, questing deeper and deeper with all the finesse that he had in him. His tongue almost startled her when he drew it across the seam of her mouth, seeking entrance.

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A shudder rocked her. A whimper ran through her. She opened her mouth for him. Needed to taste him too. An electric shock pulsed across her body when his tongue touched hers. He languidly rolled his tongue across hers, entwining it with hers in a duel that both would win. His arms urged her closer into the crook of his body. His hands grasped at her back as if seeking something to hang on to. She’d give him something. Her. Over and over again he toyed with her mouth. She could barely draw a breath. Her heart felt as if it were going to leap from her chest, so hard was the pounding. He pulled his mouth away, panted, and looked straight into her eyes. “I know what ya said earlier. Ya wasn’t ready. I am, Arianna.” That hoarse voice sent more shivers down her spine than she’d ever thought possible. How far could she take this? Could she stop? Could she keep going? Twisted emotions curved through her as she argued with herself. A myriad of expressions crossed Arianna’s face. “I don’t know if I can—” She broke off, unsure of herself. Confusion seeped from her words and every pore on her body, mixed in with a little fear. McTavish put his finger across her lips. Even with this little contact, he was going to burst —just explode right then and there. He’d try to be gentle, to ease her into a physical relationship with him. As much as he could. But he could only hold himself off for so long. Eventually they’d have to fuck. He’d build them up to that point, taking it as slow as he could. But it probably wouldn’t be slow enough for her. He wanted to lean her over that bunk and take her. Take her from behind. Take her from above. Hell, even sideways. He wanted to open up her every orifice to his pleasure. He could bend her to his will—the lust was already eating at her resolve. Despite her uncertainty, she wanted him. He could smell her. It would be so easy to force her hand. To take this to levels where she wouldn’t be able to protest his actions. No. He couldn’t do that. Wouldn’t do that. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t start the exploration that had to happen once their stones had glowed. Would he be able to stop when she asked? If she didn’t ask? He’d have to find a way. But maybe this little bit would help him get through without doing something he’d regret. If he pushed her further than she could go before she was ready, he’d regret it. He lowered his forehead to hers and closed his eyes for a brief second to try to find his measure of control. “Arianna.” “Yes?” He opened his eyes to gaze into her soulful emerald orbs. It was like looking into a glowing stone of the deepest green.

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“Let me show ya some pleasure.” Maybe a taste of it would open her up to the possibilities. She hadn’t been explored sexually. Perhaps some restraint now would help when it was time to push her further. Even if it killed him. Her eyelashes slid down in a quick motion. “How?” She was untouched, untried. Both figuratively and literally. Innocent. No, no one was innocent. He’d seen enough of this world to know that. Not ever her. She might appear so, but she couldn’t be. Shaking off his thought, he pushed his mouth against hers again and whispered, “Like this.” He took his sweet time, claiming her mouth under his. Deepening the kiss but not getting too heavy with the embrace. He didn’t push his body against hers, though he wanted to. Wanted to slam her against the bunk. He’d hold himself off for as long as he could. He ran his hands over her shoulder. He could feel her warmth even through her clothes. There was so much he wanted. He wanted to rip and tear them, bare her for his eyes. It would be hard to keep his libido reined in. Just like his cock. He lowered his mouth from hers to explore her throat. Slowed himself before he slipped too fast and did more than he intended to do to her. It would be so easy. Too easy. Slow. This was going to be even more difficult than he’d thought. The knowledge that he could have her wasn’t something he could ignore. She was his. The stone had said so. But to claim her, he’d have to earn her. She’d made that clear. He’d have to keep himself in check. He’d not think about what could happen on a trip to Batuck. Only live in the few moments before he went with her to rescue her brother. He nibbled her neck, shoving that silky curtain of hair to the side. One hand gripped her other cheek, laying her where he needed her to be. “What are you doing?” Her body was so stiff. “Nothing ya’ll regret.” He wouldn’t push too far. “Hmph.” A second later. “McTavish.” “Relax.” He nipped at her earlobe, eliciting a gasp from her. “I won’t push ya. Promise.” Another nip to the dangling lobe. He slid his tongue up to her ear and carefully traced the delicate pieces and parts. Her body slowly started to relax in his arms. There ya go, girl. He slipped into crevices and penetrated the entrance to her ear. She arched herself against him as his tongue played with her, seemingly unable to contain herself. He didn’t meet her movement. He pulled his tongue out, then plunged back into her ear. He wiggled his tongue around as much as he could in this tight opening. Her pussy would be even tighter. He softened the moan that came with that thought. Didn’t want to hurt her ear. “Oh Goddess. I never knew…” Truth was, neither had he.

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Mechele Armstrong

He’d been with people before. Both males and females. Hell, he’d been with multiple lovers at the same time. In another life. But none of it had ever felt like this. Even though he wasn’t on the receiving end, he felt each stroke, each wiggle of his tongue—all the way down to his belly and his balls. It was as if he’d been dipped in molten wax that stayed heated no matter what the circumstance. As though his entire body had been fitted with an electric suit that jazzed him. Like he’d stuck a finger in switch and the current continued through him. He never wanted this to stop. He ran his hands up and down her back in huge motions that grew smaller. He slipped back to slide one hand around, found her breast through her tunic, and stroked against the drab green fabric. Her nipple immediately hardened. If he had his way, he’d drape her in silk. None of these dowdy clothes that didn’t show to full advantage the woman underneath. The full woman. Whoever dressed her had no idea how to play up her assets. Or maybe they just hadn’t wanted to. He did. He wanted her to show off that body to him to the best of her ability. She swung her head back. Her legs seemed to almost collapse, but she managed to right herself. He passed his palm over and over the nipple. Then lifted his hand and dipped inside her shirt to tease her bare skin. This time was even more electrifying than last time. Before, she might have been letting him do these things to save her brother. This time, she knew he was already going. She didn’t have to let him, but she did. How soft her skin felt. The little stabbing nipple pressed against his palm. He could feel the softer skin around it. Would she be this soft down below? Probably even softer. She made a noise in the back of her throat that seemed to come from deep inside. Would she be this responsive everywhere he touched her? Even her pussy? He swallowed, throat dry. He wanted to know. Not yet. Why not? A haze of passion moved across her face, yet her features were edged with something. Something he didn’t like to see. More confusion. Dammit. “What’s wrong?” He pulled his mouth back from hers but left his hand slightly over the top of her breast. She groaned low and deep in her throat. “I don’t know. I…want this. But I just don’t know.” Fair enough. “I’m not going ta push ya further than ya’re ready to go, Arianna. I only want ta give ya pleasure. Does this”—he circled her breast again but this time with his fingers—“feel good?”

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“Uh-huh.” She couldn’t seem to push the words from her mouth for a minute. They hung from start to finish as though they weren’t ready until she finally got them past her lips. “Just enjoy that feeling. I won’t do anything else lower than your breasts. Promise.” This time. He shifted his weight. He wanted so much. So much. But he couldn’t take it until she was ready. Wouldn’t. He might be hitting the old hand in the shower soon. More frenzied kisses on her lips. He gently pressed kisses along her jawline and stroked the still punctuated nipple through the material. Liked the way it felt against his hand. He pushed down her shirt, trying for access. If only she were wearing less. Or something button-down. He lowered his body and his head until he was level with her breasts. He closed his mouth around one nipple, flicking his tongue back and forth across it. Then did the same to the other nipple. Her body convulsed, but she didn’t fall. That’s enough. He pulled back so suddenly, she almost teetered on shaky legs. Maybe keeping her off balance would be a good thing. He pulled up her shirt, which was now slightly stretched out. And was that a wet spot from his licking over her nipple? He smiled. She looked as though a soft wind might blow her down. Her breath pumped in waves out of her mouth, rushed and hushed. “We’d better go. Miles ta go and all that rubbish.” He’d need to prep his home for the worst. His killing or capture by Union Alliance. Either way or even if neither happened, he’d not be going back home. From the time the stones had glowed, his life had changed paths. It wouldn’t have mattered had his mate been the poorest peon ever. He couldn’t ask a woman to live where he did. Would be too dangerous. For her and those around her. Their final destination would be determined by what happened on Batuck. If he was lucky.

*** Arianna looked at the stark, dark volcanic landscape. “You live here?” She couldn’t help her nose wrinkling up. Her body still hummed from earlier, and she still felt slick between her thighs. He’d stopped. She hadn’t known McTavish would do that. Could do that. He seemed a man to take what he wanted by all reports she’d had of him. He was full of surprises. She looked over the landscape again. Case in point. His chuckle was low. “Doesn’t look like much, does it?” He let out a shrill burst of whistles that was, in fact, the opening notes to the Schoon national anthem. Made her chuckle. Until all sorts of men filed along the top the crest. Malicious men. Men who would never be termed as “good men.”

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Mechele Armstrong

She swallowed. They were all around. Surrounding them. She slipped closer to McTavish without even realizing she was moving. Funny how she trusted him to keep her safe even now. She’d only known him a little while. Even though his whistles must have called these men to him. What did he want with these men? Who were they? Surely they couldn’t be his rescues from Chombay? They didn’t look like whores. They looked like thugs. McTavish let out a string of words that she couldn’t understand. Then continued, “’Tis my mate, Arianna. No man touches her, ’cept for me. Break the rule and ya die.” His voice could have cut glass. So much for pleasant introductions. She forced a smile to her lips. Whoever they were, McTavish knew them and had summoned them. He could have warned her. ’Course that wasn’t in his nature. God, he’d never tell her anything. She’d have to talk to him about that. Her lip quirked up. Somehow she didn’t think McTavish would be telling her much that wouldn’t be a surprise. He turned to her. “I’m going ta take ya down below.” He moved toward her and gripped her shoulders. “No one can know what I’m about ta show ya. It’s…classified. Not even those ya trust can know about this. No one can.” She nodded, though he seemed to be telling her, not asking her. Another thing they’d have to discuss. Mates should give and take, not order. ’Course they were mated, but she wasn’t sure they’d be together yet. What was he talking about, “below”? This place was barren. She’d never seen such devastation to a planet. He took her hand and led the way. The men filtered around her, sort of like a pack, filing in around McTavish, who breezed through them like the Alpha he was. His broad shoulders seemed even broader. His step even more masterful. He stood head and shoulders above even the tallest man and carried himself with more dignity than anyone else there. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. Liked the way his tight pants hugged his butt. Liked the way his leg muscles moved. Even with all these other eyes, she had to watch him, wouldn’t be deterred from watching him. Though it was disconcerting, to say the least, to be surrounded by all these men. She had the urge to turn and look behind her but instead kept her gaze on McTavish, his tight butt, and she followed his lead. She wanted to touch those bunching muscles. Her hands curled. Did he have a soft space on him? Or was he all hard? She’d have to find his soft places. How? She didn’t know. To do that, she’d have to go all the way with him. Would she ever be ready to do that? If the stones had anything to say about that, she would. He led her down a winding path that wound up going to a block of stone. A dead end. Didn’t seem to be any way to get past it. There was nothing to indicate this rock face was anything other than rock and jammed against every other rock there. Only he did something. An opening appeared in the solid rock. She’d not seen any lines to indicate there was such a thing there. She’d never seen such technology. The line had appeared from nowhere. An enemy would never be able to spot it. He motioned her into the opening and closed it behind them.

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Under the cold dead stone lay a series of caverns. A whole township existed below the surface. A whole township of men. There were no women, even below the surface. There were state-of-the-art medical facilities. Food. It wasn’t luxurious, save for the medical supplies, but it was better than things she’d seen on Chombay before she’d found McTavish. There were rooms and rooms of beds. Little privacy, but they looked comfortable. Men’s belongings rested in cubbyholes along the walls. Her shoulders drooped. They looked way too comfortable. Almost inviting. Fatigue overwhelmed her. But she kept pressing onward. McTavish had to be just as tired, but he didn’t look it. He looked as fresh as he had when they’d met. McTavish led her into a series of rooms, which seemed to be some sort of command central. “Tell Sid I need ta see him when he gets a chance.” He nodded and the men left them. Just a nod, and they left him. What kind of power did he have over these people? The room was spartan. A bed. A chair. A conference table. A dresser. No pictures. No artwork or carpet. Nothing better or worse than the other rooms she’d seen. “Is this your room?” He nodded. “Home sweet home.” Funny, but this didn’t seem like a home. It seemed like a place to stay or sleep. Nothing told her about the man who lived there. Maybe the whole of Colony did more so than this little room. “This is incredible.” She didn’t just mean the room or the caverns but everything on the sparse planet. How had he done this? His mouth pursed again as he grasped her arm in his warm hands. “No one can know about this. No one.” He seemed so sober as he reiterated what he’d told her earlier. “Not even…” “Someone I trust. I get that. What is this place?” Why did this place exist? She had so many questions, she wasn’t sure she knew where to begin. “It’s my home.” He looked up at the rock walls and dark shadows. He released her as a light smile grabbed his lips. “Such as it is. It’s Colony.” “Why are all these men here?” He blew out a breath. Seemed to struggle with words, not something she saw in this man often. “Long story short is that…I collected them.” She stared into his face, trying to find the joke. “What?” People weren’t something to collect. “They are mostly freed whores from the Chombay colony. I take anyone from that place with me who wants ta come.” Did she detect a hardening in his voice? His face betrayed no emotion, however. There was no joking on his face either. He believed he had collected these men. “Oh?” She’d known he rescued men from Chombay. She’d never thought before arriving on Colony about where they went after the rescue or that they’d need rehabilitation. That McTavish provided. She must be tired not to have thought about that upon seeing the hardened men spring from behind the rocks. “Some stay with me only a while. Others have been with me longer. I do what I can ta get them back to society, even if society doesn’t want them. Here they have a purpose, so some don’t feel they can leave.” “What purpose?”

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“Ta help the ones I bring in.” His mouth thinned as he looked into her face. “They are all broken when they come here.” His voice lowered into bitterness. “Hell, they are always broken. Chombay isn’t some high-class courtesan service. It’s where the desperate end up. On both sides of the sheets.” A shiver walked her lonely spine. Her brother was on Batuck, rumored to be worse than Chombay. What did that say? “So they are brought here and given a second chance?” By him? She didn’t say it, but that was implied. He was giving the lowest of the low a second chance in their lives. It would be for the better. Her heart swelled. No one else would do this. Just McTavish. He went up several estimation points. He nodded. “They can live with me for as long as they want. I have people to teach them things. Classes. Education. Trades. Some leave sooner than others. Others stay here and help me. I get a lot of runaways and refugees. Those who have nowhere else ta go.” Like her. Only that wasn’t accurate. She had money, probably something that most didn’t have. She could have gone somewhere else, but she’d picked McTavish. Probably most who darkened McTavish’s door didn’t have that option, or hadn’t chosen him. A shiver rocked her. That made her different to him. For him. “How is this place hidden?” She looked around. How did he keep scanners from picking up on the town below the surface? His smile lit up the room. A far cry from the seriousness of a few minutes ago. “The surface is impenetrable from scans by X-ray or anything else that Union Alliance has. It was dug out long before I came here. I don’t know who did it, maybe the lost civilization that settled here before the volcano erupted. I stumbled upon the underground tunnel. Some of the rock is pure iron. It’s impenetrable. Now I use the underground city and caves to hide myself and my men.” No wonder Union Alliance couldn’t find him. But how did he keep these men in necessities? How did he keep himself safe when not here? “How do you…make it?” She reached back to rub her neck. There was so much unknown about this man. After they rescued her brother, she had no idea what would happen. But she’d better learn about his life now because it was a life she might share. She had no desire to live like her father after her mother had left. The one thing she could say for Isa was that she had kept her father together after her mother had left. Had it not been for Isa, he’d not have survived the loss. What she had witnessed from her father’s loss of her mother meant that one day she had to share this life with McTavish for her own happiness. If he wanted her to share his life, that is, but surely he had to as he was in the same situation. She’d take advantage of finding out about him while she could. “I’m a surgeon. I help others Union Alliance fucks with. Those spies with chips in their heads. Others who need ta change their faces. Anyone who needs me. For a price. Ta make my living.” He rubbed the back of his neck much like she had. Neither of them had had sleep or food. Was he as tired as she was? “That helps me ta do what I can on Chombay. Helps me to help those who come here.” He went to great lengths to help those no one else would touch. Both those on Chombay and those he helped with surgery. If Union Alliance ever caught him, they’d execute him for what he did for their spies. Why did he do the things he did? She studied the man before her. No one would ever term him beautiful. His features were too lined, too defined, his hair too free. A small scar stood out on his chin. She’d class his looks as maybe wild. Perhaps roguish.

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Definitely hard. Which suited his personality. Suited what he did for other people. Something had marked him. What had it been? It had been stamped all over his features. His actions. Now that he was her mate, whatever it had been would affect her too. She scrutinized him. What was it? Would he ever share it? He leaned forward, suddenly in her face. “So what do ya see?” She blinked, unable to follow the shift in conversation. “What do you mean?” She didn’t pull back from him even though he was in her space, which was hard not to do. He was so close, the hairs on her skin stood up. He had a magnetic pull on her. On things that had never been pulled before. “Ya were looking at me just now. What do ya see?” His eyes surveyed her as though he could see into her thoughts. “A man…” She broke off. What did she see? She couldn’t exactly tell him. Not yet. Sad to be mated to someone you didn’t know. ’Course the Fates seemed to always decree that happen. A smile broke through that black visage. “Well, that’s good. As that’s what I am.” He continued to peer down at her. “Definitely.” There was no mistaking him for anything else but a man. A full-fledged, bona fide man. My man. Still a foreign thought. Her head came up slightly, and she gazed into his eyes. Got lost in the irises. The beautiful color blue that reminded her of planets she’d heard of but never seen except in pictures. He reached out a hand and stroked very gently over the contour of her cheek. He pressed his thumb against her skin. His hand was warm. Much warmer than she thought it would be. Much smoother. She would have expected roughness. He was a cacophony of paradoxes. Rough yet gentle. Caring yet hard. What else would she find out about him? His lips descended to connect with hers. Gently. It was an exploration of mouths as he kissed her. She let out a soft sigh. Enjoyed the feel of his slick lips on hers. He groaned and pulled her against him. Sort of like being pulled against a stone wall. Her nipples swelled, wanted to feel something against them. A breath caught in her throat as she whimpered. He kissed as though branding a claim on her lips—as though he wanted to get inside her. Which he probably did. And she was growing more and more used to the idea. Every clench they shared took her a little closer to accepting the idea that they’d have sex. She’d now seen the one thing he kept more private than anything else. Colony. He’d probably never shown it to anyone who wasn’t a rescue. Or was she a rescue just like all the others?

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His hands roamed her back, pulling her even closer into his body, pushing away her thoughts as her body joined his. He rocked against her, and she could feel the evidence of his desire. Shivers raced down her spine. She rubbed herself over him, wanting that closeness but unsure how to get it. His hand went under her shirt to caress against the skin of her stomach. She sucked in her muscles. His hands were warm. Rough. Energizing on her bared skin, which seemed more sensitive than usual. Sensations rolled down to her toes. He slipped his hand down and plunged under her pants. His hand was tight against her as he roamed. She gasped against his lips, almost trying to pull away. What was he doing? Well, she knew what he was doing but wasn’t sure if she liked it. Or maybe she liked it too much. He held tight to the back of her head, holding her lips against his. He moved his lips to murmur, “Relax.” That was easy for him to say. He didn’t have a hand down his pants. Her stance widened as her legs spread. She didn’t remember trying to get them to do that. They just did. He slid a finger into her most sensitive place. It flicked slowly down her folds to explore as far as his long arm would allow. Her legs wanted to drop her on the floor. Only sheer will kept her on her feet. Everything felt tingly and tangled up in knots. She didn’t know where it was going, only that she was riding the wave where it went. She arched against him, trying to maximize his touch. He didn’t disappoint. He rubbed her in just the right way. She wasn’t even sure there was a wrong way. She swallowed as her whole body clenched up around the touching that he was doing. Why was her body tightening? And oh the sensations washing across her. She panted, trying to catch what was left of her breath. “Please. Please…help me.” She wasn’t sure what she was asking for. He pulled his hand back. “Noooo.” She couldn’t help her cry of protest. “Help you do what?” “I…don’t know.” She didn’t know what she wanted. Or needed. Only that she needed something that only he could give her. Whatever he was looking for, that seemed to satisfy him. He returned his hand to gently stroke her up and down. He would take her almost to some point and then back down. What point was she headed toward? She rocked against him as he dipped his head gently to possess her lips just as he’d taken control of her nether regions. A throat cleared behind them.

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McTavish’s lips hesitated on hers. Lingered. With seeming reluctance, he puffed out a breath, pulled his hand out, and moved away. The protest died before it escaped her mouth. Her fingers came up to stroke her tingling lips. Places that had never throbbed before, did so in time with the hammered beating of her heart. Hope this happens again soon. The brief touch made her crazy. She couldn’t imagine what their naked bodies would feel like together. Well actually, she could. Which scared her as much as going to Batuck. She shouldn’t be opening to him this quickly. But finding out about the true McTavish was just as engaging as finding out about the rogue McTavish. He intended to wear her down with spurts of intimacy between them until they made it to the finish line. Sex. Maybe by the time they made it there, she’d be ready. Only how could she really trust him? Her family had betrayed her, and McTavish was a stranger. No. Not a stranger. My mate. Yes, that thinking, which had moved forward from when she’d met him, showed he was deliberately taking small amounts of clinch time with her to build up to the crescendo at the end. She’d better be ready for it. She couldn’t help but think there was something to sex. She’d felt like she was on the brink of something wonderful several times already with McTavish. Maybe if they had sex, she’d reach it. Food for thought. Her attention turned to a man who stood in the doorway, looking as if he didn’t know whether to leave or stay. “You wanted to see me, Tav.” His gaze skittered to her as though he couldn’t help himself. She didn’t like the way he looked at her. Hungry eyes. McTavish had them too, but somehow they didn’t seem as wild as this man’s. The difference was McTavish’s still had humanity. “Perhaps I should go…” She’d intruded enough. It was time she had a moment to herself. She hadn’t had time to process everything that had happened. Not to mention maybe she could find one of those nice comfortable beds to sleep on. “No. Ya need ta stay for this.” McTavish crossed his arms over his chest. “Yes, I did call for ya, Sid.” He motioned Sid farther into the room. “Next time ya could knock.” Sid shot a look at her and walked in. “Point taken.” Shot was a good word. Because she felt the weight of the stare he tossed her way. It made her shiver. She wasn’t sure why, but it was heavy. It was a glare, not a stare. He didn’t like her. That accounted for the wildness in his gaze earlier. Why wouldn’t he like her? Because she was mated to the man who was these men’s savior? She’d never stopped to consider how much she would affect McTavish’s life. Only thought of his effect on her own life. This was going to affect both of them in ways they probably hadn’t even considered yet. Mating was like that. Look at how much she’d changed since she’d met him. Before she’d met him, she’d never considered sex with him even with her crush. Once she’d met him, she’d felt things she’d never felt before in all the parts down below, but once she’d been mated to him, she’d thought something might be possible sexually with him but not probable. Now she was beginning to think it was inevitable. Who knew what she’d think tomorrow?

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Of course, he could leave her by tomorrow. McTavish motioned her to his side. She went on legs that shook a little. She’d spent most of her life trying not to impact people’s lives. Now she’d had a big impact on McTavish and on these men who needed him so much. She would be taking him away to Batuck. Who knew what would happen there? This didn’t only affect her or McTavish. It affected all of Colony. She frowned. She wasn’t sure she liked that. McTavish curled her into his side. “This ’tis my mate, Sid.” Sid nodded, spreading apart his legs. He put his arms up across his chest. Closed was her guess as to his state of mind. “I’m going on a mission with her.” To Batuck. Her knees shook. She still couldn’t believe that she’d gotten him to go with her. He’d been a long shot. No wonder she was becoming more agreeable to sex. He was fulfilling all her hopes of rescuing her brother, and she was finding that, while he was a rogue, he worked on the side that was good. Not one that was evil. “Where to?” McTavish shook his head. “Always better if ya don’t know. Ya know that, Sid. Can’t be sharing that with ya, just in case.” Especially as it was Batuck. McTavish also probably didn’t want to worry Colony. Yes, he did think of others. Probably even more than he thought of himself. Sid nodded again. “I didn’t think ya would tell me. But I had to try.” Her gaze flittered back and forth between the two men, even as she remained tucked against McTavish’s side. Something had passed between them. Not anything she understood. Or even wanted to. “How long will the mission be?” She swallowed. Bad question. Colony needed to know. But McTavish and she had no way of knowing how long this would take. It was all dependent upon who had Erek. And how willing they were to let their royal prize go. “Doesn’t matter.” What did he mean by that? Sid’s eyebrow went up. “Doesn’t matter?” McTavish shook his head. “Nope.” Why didn’t it matter? Shouldn’t he give them a time frame at least of when he’d be back? He wasn’t going to tell them what was going on. Or even who she really was. But they at least deserved to know when he’d be back. “You should give him an idea of when you’ll be back.” Sid blanched. McTavish shot her a look that said not many people gave him advice. She would bet probably no one. He’d better get used to that now that he was mated. “Sid, I won’t be coming back here. Not with my mate. Ya’re going ta lead here from now on.”

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Ari almost fell into McTavish as her knees buckled. He gave her a strange look and directed her to a chair. That had never occurred to her. And it must never have occurred to McTavish to tell her.

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Chapter Four Decker skimmed through his computer, idly tapping on the controls. A picture popped up of McTavish. Black hair loose in one of the only shots he had of the elusive surgeon. The man’s eyes burned into the camera even on the grainy image. As though he was staring at Decker. Not that he could see through the screen. If only Decker had that ability. Then he could find the damned bastard. A pulse of unrest moved up and down Decker’s spine, as it often did when he looked at McTavish. Especially now that he’d lost him. He’d been an idiot. He stared at the picture. He’d been left holding his dick in his hand like a dumbass while McTavish trekked on his merry way. His hand traveled down to the region. He was hard. Adrenaline. From the thought of finding McTavish. That had to be why he had an erection. “Dammit, where did you go, McTavish?” He tapped on the console with his other hand. The man had disappeared like he so often did, seemingly without a trace. He stroked his cock through his pants. Not like he had anything else to do. Went up and down on his cock through his pants. Not nearly enough. He looked around the shuttle. He was alone. His quarry had vanished. His cock was hard, straining against his pants. Why not? He opened his pants, splaying them into a V, and pushed his hand down under his underwear. Found his hard cock. His head pushed back on the chair. Up and down, faster and faster his hands went. Moisture leaked from the tip onto his fingers when they pinched. He tried to create a channel with his hand for his cock to go in and out of. He opened his eyes to glance over at the picture. That intense gaze stared back him. The eyes that Decker stared into often. Probably too often. Wasn’t like the picture would help him find the man. His hardness wept again against his hand as he rolled it around the straining member. His motion grew faster. Dry. The friction heated him up. Not enough precome. He needed lube. Something to ease the friction. But he didn’t want to get up and go get the lube.

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He focused on McTavish’s picture. The man of a thousand escapes. The man who’d been his focus for so long now. The man who would make Decker’s career. Once he captured him. McTavish in handcuffs. Standing subdued as Decker put him onboard his shuttle. Naked. Naked? Yes, naked. Cock sticking out from his body. Lips pursed in resignation. Lips that might close around Decker’s cock and suck it until the last of Decker’s seed had spilled onto McTavish’s bold tongue. A tongue that licked its way down Decker’s body until he wrapped it around Decker’s cock. So close. He hovered near the edge. Would McTavish offer him sex to save his skin? Probably not, considering McTavish’s past. He’d only have sex if it meant something. Sweaty bodies. Torsos twisted around each other. Cocks in hand. Or in asses. Kisses that sold souls to the devil with lust supreme. The come spurted from Decker’s cock in a wave. His hand finally slowed down from its marathon pace. He closed his eyes, not looking at McTavish. He had to stop doing this. He wiped himself off and redid the fasteners on his pants. At least his hardness was gone. He glanced to the picture. Not that he had any ideas about where McTavish had gone. But maybe now that his brain had more blood flow, he could figure it out. His comm bubbled with noise. Someone trying to contact him. Good thing it hadn’t been two minutes ago. He wouldn’t have answered. Didn’t matter anyway. Wouldn’t be who he needed it to be. McTavish would never willingly be on the other end of that comm. Decker couldn’t even hope for that. He was never going to get promoted. Decker let it ring for several long seconds. Maybe they would go away. He didn’t feel like talking. Maybe it was his superiors calling to pull him from the trail. Maybe it was someone with a lead on McTavish. He’d never know unless he picked up the damn comm. With cramping hands, he grabbed it and pushed the button to answer it. “Decker here.” An icy voice replied. “My name is Isa Deepheli. I’m the queen regent of Schoon. I humbly request a video conference.” Her voice screwed up on “humbly” as though the word hurt her, and from the arrogance he could already detect in her voice, it might have. “Okay. Give me a minute.” He pushed several controls, getting the settings right. Not even Union Alliance superiors did video conferences with him. They normally just contacted him by comm. Even though he might bring them McTavish, he wasn’t high on their priority list. So what did the queen of Schoon want with him? Yes, McTavish was a Schooner. But he’d been away from there for so long, it didn’t seem to matter, and he was wanted on his own planet as well as by Union Alliance. Decker didn’t think McTavish had been back there since…well, forever. Even if his superiors thought he’d be bringing McTavish in, which they hadn’t had high hopes for, why would they have ever referred her to him? The screen flared to life. A beautiful woman with long, flowing black hair peered at him, icy looking as her voice. She was slim to the point he wondered if she needed to eat. She had a

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stick-up-her-ass look that so many royals affected and her eyes gleamed with a silky fire. “Decker.” “Queen Isa.” He nodded his reverence to her. Not that he had any allegiances to the queen of Schoon. But it always paid to have good relations. He might need her one day if he escaped from behind the desk. “I believe you and I are after the same things from what my sources at Union Alliance tell me.” She idly stroked the chair’s armrest. What sources could she be speaking of? It had to be unofficial. He cocked his head. His gut crawled. Unofficial channels were talking about him? Probably saying his chances were nil. But these sources had referred Queen Isa to him. “Oh?” “McTavish.” “Oh.” McTavish was a wanted man on Schoon, but Decker didn’t think they were in any hurry to bust him. He’d been wanted for many years. “I understand he’s wanted on your planet…” As well as any other place but Chombay. And Settler’s Mine. He gritted his teeth. Zelda. The bitch. Maybe if he did get out from behind the desk, he’d check out Settler’s Mine. There had to be illegal operations going on. A grim smile lit her lips as though she both hated and loved to be the harbinger of this news to him. It had a creepy effect. “This morning, McTavish kidnapped the princess, Arianna Deepheli.” Decker couldn’t keep his eyes from widening. The air exited from his lungs in one big whoosh. So much for projecting cool calmness to those he was dealing with. “McTavish did what?” “He kidnapped the princess, my stepdaughter. Her father and I are most distressed. Whoever brings her home safely will be rewarded.” She nodded to accentuate the words. “Handsomely.” Her lips curled up. “I need my stepdaughter back before…trouble happens.” Kidnapping a royal? Decker looked again at the picture still up of McTavish. Kidnapping wasn’t his style. Maybe he’s making a new style? Maybe he needed money? A ransom. Queen Isa hadn’t mentioned a ransom demand. Still, that didn’t seem like his style. McTavish didn’t do ransoms or easy ways out like this. Decker frowned. Not everything was adding up. “Is there a problem, Decker? Your superiors seemed most confident that you could help us resolve this matter quickly and quietly.” Now she brought up official channels? “No.” He shook his head. Maybe they did believe in him more than he thought they did. “No problem at all.” Of course, to do that, he’d have to have an idea where McTavish was, which he didn’t. Maybe he shouldn’t have bragged that he could anticipate McTavish’s moves so fluently to said superiors. But that wouldn’t have gotten him sent on the mission. He’d still have been sitting behind the desk. “Where were he and the princess last seen?” “Chombay. That’s where the kidnapping happened. He took her from there and hasn’t been seen since.” Decker tried to keep the surprise from his voice, but it was hard. The queen was just full of surprises. Chombay was a male-prostitution mecca. A place McTavish frequented. No surprise at him being there. But what was a princess of Schoon doing in such a place? How had she gotten there in the first place? “Chombay. Okay.” Not much else to say without coming across as insinuating that Schoon wasn’t taking care of its royals. Nothing he’d do.

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“The princess is…quite addled.” She leaned forward. “The information I’m about to give you is classified. No one can know. I was assured I could trust you with sensitive information. That you’d be discreet.” Her gaze darted to the side of the screen. Just who had told her that? “Yes, ma’am. Discreet. I’m very discreet.” He’d keep anything hush-hush that would get him out of a desk job. Gossip on the royals would do that. He sat forward in his seat. “As I said, the princess is addled. She’s quite out of her head. Shame really. A lunatic for a princess.” Her voice hardened as though she were dripping words from the end of a tack. “Sorry to hear that.” Not the best response, but better than What the fuck? Decker made a mental note to find out about this Princess Arianna. Did insanity run in Schoon’s line like it did some of the ruling classes? He’d not heard anything, but Schooners did keep to themselves. “My husband refuses to get her help. He’s…quite soft on the girl. Her mother left him when she was small and he has indulged the girl beyond what should have been allowed.” Her lips curled into something that could best be termed a snarl. “This has led to her many…issues.” He’d bet Queen Isa had never been easy on the princess. Nor anyone else for that matter. “I see.” He didn’t see where this was going. Not yet. Maybe she’d explain it or at least give him a map. “Her brother is also touched.” Her face turned smug. “I think it came from their mother’s side. Craziness. He’s run off. Didn’t want to be king. Arianna has some deluded notion that she’s going to find him. That’s why she was on Chombay. Looking for her brother. McTavish encountered her.” Her face lit up, anger unveiled. “That’s where he snatched her. Just out from under my clutches.” Her fury rolled through the words like some runaway shuttle. Now, that did sound like McTavish. Nothing would delight him more than taking the princess from under the queen’s nose. He’d have done that just to thumb his nose at royalty. Maybe that was why he’d acted. Yes, McTavish would love to get royalty pissed off. “Ah. He took her from Chombay.” Something occurred to him. Had she been on board when Decker had encountered McTavish? He didn’t know where McTavish had been before that. Best not to bring that up though. If Queen Isa knew he’d had them right in his radar… He shifted in his seat. Hell, if his superiors knew, he’d be on a hot seat. Right back behind his desk again, never to return to such duty. “It is most imperative that we get the princess away from McTavish before damages are done. I cannot stress this enough.” Her voice thickened. “Before they get into trouble. By whatever means necessary, the princess must be recovered to me. I’m the only one who can control her.” Decker looked to the picture of McTavish again. Queen Isa was advocating the use of force without outright stating it. You’ve stepped in it this time, my friend. Not that McTavish was his friend. Of course he’d logged more hours with McTavish than people he’d met in real life. “I understand. I will do what I can to bring the princess home. My orders are to get McTavish.” To bring him in for justice. Probably not what Isa wanted. Because it didn’t involve blood or pain or suffering. She didn’t smile. “Any means necessary. Your superiors have transmitted new orders by now. These allow you to take such necessary measures to get me back my princess.” Decker didn’t even have to check his orders. There would be a new directive. Union Alliance would allow what Queen Isa wanted with a carte blanche. They’d want to keep Schoon

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in good relations with Union Alliance. For a multitude of reasons. Why in the heavens had she made it seem like she’d gone under the radar to find him, when in fact, she’d been in contact with his superiors? A puzzle. Unless his superiors had been off the record too. “Yes, ma’am.” Decker felt for the phaser in his pocket. He’d anticipated pulling it on McTavish. Maybe even knocking him out. He’d never imagined that he’d have the license to use the kill function. He was a good shot. In the simulator. With stun. He’d never shot an actual being before. Killing McTavish had never been on his agenda, and use of excessive force never on his order slip. Until now. He looked to the woman with his brow furrowed. Union Alliance never would have authorized excessive force on McTavish on their own. He wasn’t a killer. Or an assassin. If word got out… Which was why Queen Isa had at first tried to imply she’d come in with unofficial sources. No one was going to claim that order after it was done. Which meant if anything screwed up, Decker would be on his own. Not to mention he’d now have to try to kill McTavish. He rubbed his temple. He hated politics. Luckily he had no idea where McTavish had gone. He’d exhausted any leads he’d had. Even with an order to kill, you had to know where someone was, or be able to find them to kill them. For the first time, he was grateful that he hadn’t been as good as he’d bragged. “McTavish will be taking the princess to Batuck.” Decker almost choked on his own spit. He sat up straight, trying to catch his breath. “Batuck?” He’d heard a lot of stories of Batuck. None of them were fairy tales with happy endings. Batuck made Chombay look like charm school. Even McTavish didn’t hang out on Batuck. No one did. Because eventually on Batuck, you got fucked up. Whether by the blade or the wrong end of a phaser. On Batuck, you were liable to end up dead. Or dead and fucked. Queen Isa nodded and looked as if she was trying to appear concerned for her princess. “Yes. I believe McTavish may try to…do something with the princess there. Under the illusion of looking for her brother. Many would give a fortune to have royalty as their personal…” She let out a long sigh as though she couldn’t continue. But her face belied that action. She didn’t look the least bit upset as she contemplated the princess’s fate. Maybe even looked a little elated. The princess hadn’t had an easy life growing up with this woman. Where was the mother? Decker settled back in his seat, trying to ignore his stormy stomach. “So you think McTavish and the princess are heading to Batuck?” Selling a woman on the market wasn’t McTavish’s style at all. Even a royal. Why save so many from the fates of prostitution and then sell someone into it? Somewhere worse than where you’d rescued people? Something wasn’t right about this whole situation. Isa nodded. “I don’t think. I know.” Her voice came out a little peevish before she seemed to rein it back in. “You’re after McTavish. I’m after the princess. They are now together. I think we can form a partnership so we don’t lose them at Batuck.” She batted her eyelashes at him. She thought she needed him. That was the only reason she’d started being nice. Better men than he had probably fallen prey to this woman’s cold charms. Yet something about her made him uncomfortable. She definitely rubbed him the wrong way.

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She continued, “We can both get what we want if we work together.” She ran a hand down her chest. You don’t have to like her to work with her. She’s got a line on McTavish. You need him. Only if he wanted to stay out of the desk chair. Yes, if it screwed up, Decker would be taking the fall. He’d have to make sure the situation didn’t get screwed up. From the moment he’d approached his superiors and gotten their approval, he’d been in this. There was no backing out now. No matter who he’d be working with. He’d have to ensure things worked out to his benefit and keep his role in the partnership necessary to the queen. To not be needed would make him expendable. She’d get rid of anything she didn’t need, or so he suspected. Keep your eye on the prize. You can be a field agent. You were always going to give them McTavish. They weren’t going to be nice to him. “I do believe we can find a way to our mutual benefit.” Decker sank low in his desk chair, ignoring the sinking feeling in his gut.

*** McTavish stretched as he leaned back to work out the kinks in his back muscles. He’d just spent a good two hours with Sid, making sure Sid knew everything he was supposed to do. Sid had been there the longest and was the best suited to the job. He would mature into the leadership; McTavish was sure of that. No one person would have been right for it, especially to McTavish. He knew that. All he could hope was that he’d made the right decision who to hand this development off to and go on with the rest of his life. With Ari. His gaze sought out the woman, who had hunkered down in an old armchair. She looked almost asleep. Her eyes were closed. Heavy breathing lifted her chest up and down. Maybe she was asleep. Adorable. Beautiful. Mine. She’d been quiet the whole time he’d been talking to Sid. She’d left them to sit across from them. Hadn’t interfered or interrupted. If he could have, he’d have forgotten she’d even been there—only he could never forget her presence. It called to him too much. He walked over and stood above her. Looked down at that sleeping angelic face. What were angels? He’d heard the term. She must be one. Mine. In his whole long life, he’d never had anything to call his. Not really. The place he lived was for those he rescued from Chombay. It wasn’t his. His bedroom served as sanctuary during times of crowding. He’d never had anything—save his skill or the clothes on his back, which often were taken from him in the old days on Chombay or worse places—to call his own. That was different than having something to himself. Something that was intrinsically his. He wasn’t talking about owning her, because no one owned anyone else. He was talking about the intrinsic nature that she was his.

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This woman had walked into his world. She needed him without even knowing it. Not just because he was her mate, but he’d seen the danger surrounding her in Isa. He’d seen death on Isa’s face when she’d looked at Ari. Unacceptable. Only he could protect this woman from the dangers around her. Only he could take her where she wanted to be. Where she needed to be. He had a feeling no one had ever looked after her. Looking after people was something he did well. Truth be told, he’d longed to do so for a mate. Now he had that chance. Blessed be the Fates. He placed a hand on her shoulder. She was warm under his touch. A soft sigh emanated from her lips. Much like the one she’d let slip while they’d been kissing. The one that had made him come undone. He’d almost pushed too far last time. Sid had been the only thing that had stopped him. He was losing himself in her. Not sure if that was a good or a bad thing. She opened her eyes. She saw him standing there above him as she focused on him, and started to get up from her reclined position. “Did Sid leave? Did I fall asleep?” He nodded, helping her up from the chair with one motion of his hand. “Yes. Yes, he did.” Renewed and full of vigor at taking on Colony. Sid would do his best. Would his best be enough? It would have to be. “Ya did fall asleep, I think.” Ari stepped to her feet and then poked him in the chest with two fingers. “What the hell are you doing?” Well now, she was awake. And mad as hell. He didn’t know what he’d done as he looked down at the fingers pressed into him. “What?” He wasn’t sure if her use of a curse word or her stabbing her nails into him was the more shocking. What could she be so upset about? “Why are you leaving here? How can you abandon these men? They depend on you.” Her voice broke, but she continued her tirade without raising her voice. His ire fired up along with other parts of him. She was beautiful always. But like other Schoon women, her loveliness sparkled when she was angry. “Ya want ta go ta Batuck, don’t ya? Ta find yar brother. I can’t very well stay here and do that.” He didn’t like being questioned about his men. The men. They would no longer be his. He was doing his best for them, dammit. Just like he always had. “Of course I want you to take me to Batuck. But are you thinking you’ll get killed there? Is that why you expect not to come back?” Her voice wasn’t dulled by sleep. Her voice was sharp as a pin and twice as testy. “No.” Although the chance was there. They both knew it. “I don’t plan ta die yet.” He’d at least fuck her before he died. And considering the slowness with which they were going, they’d be back from Batuck before she permitted him to fuck her. It would be worth it in the end. So he told himself. “Then why the heck give Sid control of this place? Put him in charge? It didn’t sound like you plan to come back. It sounds like you plan to stay away for good.” She folded her arms in front of her chest, as though she was daring him to answer her. “You discussed too much to only be away a short time.”

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“I’m not planning on coming back ta here.” By default, that meant she wasn’t either. That hadn’t occurred to her. He could tell she didn’t think of them as a unit yet. That would have to change if they were to be mated. “Ya’re right on that.” “Why?” Her voice went up. “Why wouldn’t you come back here after our mission to Batuck?” “Because…” He let out a short puff of air. “Because I’m mated now. I have ta look out for ya.” Everything had changed once that stone glowed. He was still getting used to how much. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t come back here. Being mated doesn’t mean you can’t live here.” “Have ya looked around?” He waved a hand. “This is no place for a woman.” Never had been. Even though he’d rescued those men and done so much for them, there were some he wouldn’t trust not to touch his mate. He’d not take the chance for her sake. Not to mention the barren land. He’d never ask anyone to live here of their own free accord. He’d never had a choice. Neither did the men from Chombay. His mate would have a nice place to live. He’d vowed that long ago. He wouldn’t renege on that promise. “You live here.” “Yes. I did live here. But…I make do. I’m not going ta bring ya back here, Ari. That’s final.” He shouldn’t even be arguing on the subject—wasn’t used to this kind of questioning of his actions. He’d made the edict, and it would stand. She’d have to see that. Her face hardened. “Then I’ll leave you. After Batuck. I’ll not go anywhere with you.” He chuckled. “And where would ya go?” She’d not make it two seconds in Union Alliance’s world. Especially with Isa out there. He sobered. Not good to think about. Ari had been sheltered, and he wasn’t being an arrogant bastard when he thought that. Or at least, not much of one. “I’d go away from you.” He turned stern. “You can’t do that.” “I can. And I will.” She shook her finger at him. “You don’t tell me what to do.” He arched a brow. Saucy wench. Somehow he found that irresistible. And irritating. He stared her down. She didn’t back away, though she was much smaller than he was. Instead, she repeated, “You don’t tell me what to do.” “I tell my men what to do.” The men. He’d have to get used to not thinking of them as his. “I’m not your men.” He couldn’t argue with that. He was glad she wasn’t. He liked her curves, her breasts, and her mouth that tasted so sweet. “And another thing. You didn’t tell me what you were thinking. I’ve never been more surprised than when you started talking to Sid. Never.” She shook her finger at him. “Mates discuss things, not order each other around.” Yeah, this mate thing was going to be hard to get used to on some points. “I shouldn’t have surprised you like that.”

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That seemed to placate her somewhat. She stopped wagging her finger at him. But then, she started in again. “You can’t give up what you do here. I can’t ask you to leave your home. I can’t make you give Colony up.” “Ya’re not asking me to. Plans have been in place ta transfer the leadership for several years now.” Just in case. He’d always had an out for himself. Just in case he got captured or worse. “Oh?” She was going to make him say the words that she didn’t want to talk about. “If I were captured or killed, they’d need ta continue on. This place won’t die just because I’m not here.” He’d made it that way from the beginning. Unlike a mate who might just wither and die from lack of his presence. So he’d been told. She shook her head. “You shouldn’t have to leave all this work behind because you’re mated. That’s not like death or capture.” He chuckled. “Depends on who ya talk ta.” She glared at him, but he didn’t say anything else. He didn’t want to press his luck, or that finger would start up again. She waited for him to say more. He could see it in her eyes that she was waiting for him to argue back with her. Maybe if he didn’t argue she’d see that it wasn’t up for discussion. No such luck. “Is Sid even a surgeon? That’s how you make money to finance this place, isn’t it?” He nodded. “Aye. He is. Top-notch. He’s been doing surgeries for two years now.” Funny how this place had been fashioned so that he wasn’t needed. He could drop out at any time. But Colony would go on. Sid would have growing pains in the role. But he’d make it. McTavish had faith in him, or he wouldn’t have set him up as a successor. The only place where you couldn’t be replaced was with a mate. He’d heard it said before, and it was true. No matter how many tried to deny that. He wasn’t one to negate the facts. Not in this. She opened her arms, and her breasts bounced. “You can’t be serious about leaving here and never coming back because I’m in your life. That’s absurd.” He shook his head. “’Tis not, Ari. ’Tis the reality. I’ve decided.” “Aren’t mates supposed to work together to have a life? I’m not one of your men to order around.” Color rose in her cheeks. He winced. She had a point there again. Shit, this mate stuff was complicated. He wasn’t used to not being in command. “Would it help if I asked?” “If I said no, would ya listen?” His teeth gritted together. “Scratch the asking, then.” He wouldn’t set himself up to deny her. He wouldn’t bring her back here. He couldn’t. She turned from him. “I’ve always tried to live so I don’t cause problems. Now I’m causing big ones for my new mate.” “It will work out, Ari. We’ll make a life together.” He had things set up for himself. He’d not tell her now, but wait until they were away from Colony. He clenched his hands by his sides. There were things she had to know if he did get killed on Batuck. He’d have to find an intermediary to handle this.

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Zelda. If he was killed, he’d tell Ari to seek her out. He’d leave information with her. Z would do it. Probably for a price, but she’d do it. He trusted Zelda to do what he wanted doing. He’d make sure Ari was taken care of above all else. He might not have had a mate before, but he’d always thought about having one—how to prepare for one so that they were taken care of. He’d always thought his mate would be a male. That he’d buck the system even in that, yet here Ari stood. Ari had been talking. She looked at him with wide eyes. “Life’s not fair.” A good point to end on. “No. It’s not.” He walked up behind her. Pressed his front against her back and put his arms around her stiff form. “Never said it was.” He let the warmth of her infuse him, drain away so many bad things. Life had never been fair. Never been good. Now it had delivered him a mate. God he needed her. He wasn’t so comfortable with that notion. He’d never needed anyone, but being around her filled so many voids that he’d never known existed before his stone had started glowing. She cared enough to argue with him. He was used to people accepting his decrees without question. Without preamble. When he spoke here, the men on Colony obeyed. She never would. He could already see that in the twinkle in her eye, in the frustration knitting her brow. Life with her wasn’t going to be easy. Look at the first thing she had for him to do: rescue her brother from Batuck. Yet she’d had faith even before they were mated that he could do that. He wasn’t sure how that made him feel either. His lips left hers and pressed a kiss against her forehead. She was the right height. She fit in his arms as though she’d been molded there. She had been designed for him and he for her. By the Fates—who had a definite sense of humor most times. But he didn’t see that in Ari. She was perfection, even when she stood up to him. “Ya’re not a problem ta me.” He felt her attempt to lean into him, then push herself off as though she couldn’t let herself go against him. She pushed away from him more forcefully a second time. After a moment’s resistance, he let her go. Not that he wanted to. But she was right. He didn’t have the right to make her decisions for her. After this one thing, he would allow her some say in her life. Maybe. “Aren’t I a problem?” She stormed around the small room like a black-haired whirlwind. As she shook her head, her hair flew out in every direction. “I’m the reason you won’t come back to your home.” “Can’t. Not won’t. Can’t come back here.” He waved a hand. “Does this really look like a home ta ya anyway?” Granted, it was home to many after they left Chombay. But it wasn’t supposed to be permanent. McTavish wanted every man he brought back with him to one day leave and make his fortune outside of this barren rock. Some never did. A fact that grated him on him in the best of times and kept him up at night in the worst of times.

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She looked around. Hesitated. But didn’t answer his question. “I’m the cause. I never wanted to do that.” She bit back something like a grunt. “I’ve always tried to be…out of the way. With my mother. She left.” A little snort sounded. “My father was always too busy. My brother…was my only… Now he’s gone.” Her voice lowered. “My stepmother told me repeatedly I was never good enough. Too big. Too gauche. And now I’m in the way for my mate. A woman who takes him away from his home. I just can’t win.” He walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. He eased her around to face him. “Ya aren’t too big. Or a problem. Or anything that yar stepmother ever told ya.” He’d wager the bitch had told her more than that. He also had his suspicions about her and the disappearances of the mother and brother. He wouldn’t say any until he was sure. “Ya’re my mate.” A tremulous half smile crept forward. “Yar mate.” In spite of the unshed tears he saw filling her eyes, that had made her smile. He’d made her smile. A king among men he was. “I am.” His mate. Never had he expected to find such. Ever. He’d watched others whom he’d helped who’d found their mates. Even the most rough-and-tumble men had been brought to their knees by little slips of women. Or other big brawny men. He moved his hand up to caress her chest. Softness. Like fine silk. He lowered his head, giving her plenty of time to pull away. She didn’t. His lips met hers in a combustion of a kiss that made his cock harden and pulled his breath from his chest. She had no idea of the effect she had on him. Something he wanted to show her. Desperately. He kissed her like she was the elixir of life and he was a man dying. Because that’s what he felt like. He broke the kiss to pant against hers lips. She wouldn’t be ready to take this thing further. Would she? Only she didn’t let him break the kiss long. Instead, she snaked her arm around his shoulder, before she straightened up to recapture his lips. He groaned at her invasion. Lightning raced along his veins. He kissed her again and again until they were both breathless. He pulled away from her, unable to take the stress of being next to her body without wanting more. Without doing more. The more that she wasn’t ready to give. The allure of mates and the attraction he felt for her had combined into one hell of a ball of lust. It was all in his cock and balls. They were hard and wanting. “What’s wrong?” Her gaze captured his with her soft voice running even more shudders along his body. “We keep this up, I won’t be able ta stop.” He laid it on the line. She needed to know how far this could go this time. He didn’t have his control in place. Couldn’t seem to get it. Should have had a cold shower before they started talking. “No one is asking ya ta stop.” Her Schooner accent manifested itself. Her eyes widened, whether at what she’d said or the accent, he didn’t know. Her voice strengthened. “I’m not asking ya ta stop.”

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He held himself in check. Kept himself from jumping on her body but only barely. “Ya sure about this?” He looked to her swollen lips and got lost. “Because I’m not sure how much more… Not sure I can stop after much more.” Truth be told, he didn’t want to stop now. But once they got going, he’d never be able to pull himself away from her considerable charms. “Be sure.” A little pink tongue came out to moisten her lips. He couldn’t keep looking. Had to look away. To the black walls. To anything that would take his gaze away from that little wet tongue. His cock jumped. Twitched like a rod used to find water. Only it wanted to find her warm, wet pussy and jump inside. Never let her go. Or maybe that was him. “I’m sure. You’re my mate.” “I’ve been your mate a while now. Nothing has changed.” He needed to hear her say she could do this, but he also needed to make sure she’d changed her mind. He didn’t want her fucking him because he was going after Erek. She seemed to consider his question before answering. “Everything has changed.” “How so?” “You listen to me. You’ve shown me…you. No one trusts me with secrets. You do. You take care of all these men. But no one takes care of you.” She moved forward to touch his arm. “I don’t need you to take care of me. I need—” She interrupted. “I want you. Even if just for a little while.” The words lessened in decibel until he barely heard them. He cursed, low and under his breath. “Ari, if I take ya now, it’s forever.” She had to know the consequences of this. There would be no mistakes. He’d not get blasted again for not telling her this. She opened her eyes wide and stared at him. “Ya’re my mate. That the Fates gave ta me.” He turned his head toward her. “I may be many times a rogue, but mating is mating. We’re meant ta be tagether. I don’t want ta live the rest of my life in misery. Or ya either.” He didn’t move toward her. Kept himself in check. They needed to settle this before they had sex. “If we fu—have sex, it’s forever. Got ta be.” He wouldn’t mention that even if they didn’t have sex, it would still be forever. She’d learn that soon enough. He’d lost too many things in life to give up something so precious handed to him on a silver platter. She swallowed. The sound was audible. “Ya want ta be with me forever?” Didn’t sound like she’d thought that could be the case. He nodded. “I’m fat.” She looked horrified as the words left her mouth. “I mean I’m not pretty. Not… anything…” He shook his head. “Ya’re beautiful. From the beginning I thought so. And I’m discovering ya’re quite feisty.” She had the gall to argue with him. Very few did. “Who knows what else I’ll discover.” He’d wager some passion lived in the heart that beat under that bountiful breast. Some hidden fire lay dormant under that princess aura. “And you’re kind.”

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He laughed at that. A full-bellied laugh. “No one has ever told me that I’m kind.” Quite the opposite. “So we have sex; it’s forever.” She blew out a long breath that she seemed to have been holding. “Not just one time.” His blood pumped through the vessels in his ears so loudly he could barely hear her. “Not just one time.” If he had his way, multiple times in one day. “Okay.” He blinked at her. “Okay?” He hadn’t expected it to be this easy. He’d expected some resistance. She nodded. “You’re my mate. I want ta be with ya, McTavish. I’m not asking ya ta stop. I’m asking ya ta—” Her words were cut off as he grabbed her and roughly claimed her lips. She didn’t have to tell him twice.

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Chapter Five Ari couldn’t breathe, not with this man sucking down all her air. He seemed to be trying to suck the very life from her bones. She could almost feel it leaving her body. He made her weak at the knees. Or maybe it was lack of air. He made her heart pound in her chest. Her breath didn’t want to come out. Couldn’t seem to come out. Or maybe the cause was what she was about to do. Sex. She’d heard it was messy. It was painful. Now she was about to go through with it. With a man she wasn’t sure she knew well enough, or did she? Ever since her brother had disappeared, her world had been upside down. Finding her mate hadn’t helped get her head back on straight. How many people who she thought she knew had let her down? At least, he hadn’t had a chance to do that yet. In fact, so far he’d been there for her every time she’d asked. But would that change? Maybe she’d better take advantage now and for this. She tried to get her mouth out from under his so she could breathe. She had to have air, and the kiss wasn’t giving that to her. He didn’t seem to want to release her, but with a push to his chest, he did finally let her go. His breath puffed as much as hers did. “Change yar mind?” His voice was little more than a growl. He pressed against her so tightly, she could feel his excitement. How much he wanted to do this with her. His movements and words were jerky, as if he wasn’t thinking straight. She surely wasn’t thinking straight. Her knees went weak again. No wonder sex was in a bed. She couldn’t keep standing up if her knees kept doing that. She’d never caused anyone to be excited before him. Not like this. Not to have an erection. She wasn’t pretty or sexy or anything. Every time it happened it filled her with wonder. “No. I haven’t.” Her voice sounded so breathless. She couldn’t believe that this man wanted her. He was the wonder, not the reaction she triggered in him. “I haven’t changed my mind.” The words were firm, but her voice was squeaky. “Good.” He nipped at her lips but didn’t fully claim them. He ran his hands up and down her back. They didn’t stop but kept swirling in circles around her shoulders and back. “So soft.” He drawled the words near her mouth. She almost didn’t hear him. She cringed. He could probably feel how her body wasn’t lean and tight. Not like his. “Yes, fat.” How many times had her weight been pointed out as a liability toward nabbing a suitable mate or husband? Too many to count. Not that McTavish would be regarded as suitable by anyone who cared about who she was with. Showed what they knew about men—she found him more than suitable. So far, he’d been her hero in more ways than one. More a hero than

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anyone else in her life. He was the only one who’d taken her seriously about her brother. She’d had to pay her servant, who’d been a member of the royal guard, and the boy to help her. Not even her brother’s friends would help her. His hands came up to her shoulders. His fingers bit into her flesh much like the words bit from his mouth. “Ya aren’t fat. “ She swallowed past a stingingly dry throat. She didn’t say anything. Couldn’t get anything out past her shaking lips. How could he deny what she’d been told so often? What she saw when she looked in the mirror? Maybe he saw something she didn’t. If only she could see herself through his eyes. It might allay some fears. Or cause some new ones. “I can’t do this.” Not if she was thinking she was fat. She’d never be able to get naked with him. “Do ya really want me to stop?” He stiffened. Didn’t get angry, but she could see the tension emanating from him in waves like fog from a wet pavement. “No. But…” “I know what yar stepmother bitch said. Says. But ya aren’t.” He ran his hands over her hips. They lingered there, warm and strong against her body. “Ya’re what a woman is supposed ta be. Curves that a man can lose himself in.” One hand moved up to skitter over her breast, making her gasp. “Ya’re damn beautiful.” His eyes looked so serious as he looked down into hers, yet sincere just like his words. “Do ya believe me?” He returned his hand to her breast and continued touching her. She still couldn’t form any words. Not with him stroking his hands all over her body and brushing against her nipple. She wasn’t sure she believed him completely, but she liked the her she saw through his eyes. She liked that he seemed to find her sexy, maybe even seductive. Maybe she could believe him. Eventually. If he kept touching her, she might just believe anything he told her. His touch set off bombs along her body, radiating heat from every pore. He pressed against her. She could feel his hardness against her middle again. He rubbed it alongside her, letting out a light moan. “Och. This is what ya do ta me, Ari. It doesn’t lie. This is how much I want ya. This is what yar body does ta me. Do ya feel me?” As if a winter wind had brushed over her body, she shivered, pressing in closer to him. “Yes, I feel you.” That she could admit without having to lie. She’d never felt anything so hard before him. Definitely nothing so hard for her before. A hardness that was for her alone. That alone made his reaction priceless. She’d never had anything all to herself. She was his. So the Fates said. He was her mate. He would be for her alone. Her stomach bottomed out before coming back to its regular position. He could be hers. No, despite his pretty words, there was no way this would last. She’d have her moment. Then he’d walk away. Like they all did. “Good.” He said the words decisively and seemed content by that answer at least. He took her hand and led her to her his bed. “There’s no going back, Ari. Stop me now if yar gonna.” His

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mouth hardened. He didn’t want to stop. Didn’t want to push back from her. That much was evident in his body language and speech. If they didn’t go through it with now, when would they? Not anytime soon. Not to mention she wanted this. Wanted this time with him. Her mate. A man she was quickly finding to be her hero, just as she’d thought of him earlier. How many men would take the time to reassure and check on her like this? Especially when they were so sexed up themselves. His erection was proof of how lustful he was. Her stepmother had told her that men took their pleasure whether a woman did or not. Guess she’d been wrong about that if this was any indication. McTavish had waited for Ari to be ready to have sex. He’d pulled back several times already. Now he was letting her call this outcome. He’d do what she wanted to do. She’d never had anyone put her in control like this. Princesses weren’t known for having choices. She’d never thrown caution to wind. Never done anything for herself. It had always been for duty. Except for her desperate search for her brother, she’d always done what was expected of her. This would be something for her alone. The first selfish thing she’d ever done. But it also seemed right. McTavish wanted her too, so it wasn’t that selfish. Was it? Her sex ached. For something. Ari didn’t even know what exactly. She knew the mechanism of sex. His penis would go into her vagina. Every Union Alliance citizen knew the clinical words. But what would the reality be like? She had no idea. A shiver raced through her. Despite the bad things she’d heard, she wanted to know what this intimacy was like. She looked into McTavish’s glimmering eyes. With him, sex had to be good. She’d take whatever pain there was and deal with it. There had to be some pleasure in the act. Even for her. Otherwise, sex wouldn’t be so important to their species. People wouldn’t be so eager to “do it” that they’d die finding their heartstones. They stood by the bed. The last chance for her to back out. There was no going back after this. It was a threshold that, once crossed, couldn’t be backed out of. But she didn’t want to back out. She wanted this. She steeled herself for whatever was to come. She felt as though she was going to war. After all, from what she’d heard, an injured vagina and pain were common during sex. He smiled down at her, probably in an attempt to reassure her. Ran one hand along her jawline. As if something occurred to him, he pulled his hand away and bounded to the door. Locked both locks. They slipped into place with a click. The noise reaffirmed there was no going back from this. There was no disappointment in her about that. She wanted to go forward with this. Sex. Making love. She’d heard they were different things. Which would this be? He came toward her in two big steps. Captured her gaze with his and kept it close. She couldn’t look away from him no matter how much she wanted to. She wanted to look at anything else but him.

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His hands slid up to the top of his pants. To the bottom of his shirt. Without discussion, he yanked his shirt over his head. The breath left her lungs again. Her mouth wanted to water, only it was too dry from the air whooshing past. It was much too dry, except for the fact that she wanted to drool. He was a god. There was no other explanation for him. His lean body showed off muscles with every movement. He wasn’t bulked up. His torso was long and lean. He had well-defined abdominal muscles. Maybe an eight pack she’d heard so much about? It was hard for her to tell. Probably because she wanted to look everywhere at once. He wasn’t tanned. Instead, his bared skin was pale, but he was darker than she was. No man in any of the manuals looked like him. She didn’t think there was a way any man could look like him. He flexed his arms, showing off the muscular biceps and triceps that he had. His shoulders rolled down. He grinned, attracting her attention back to his mouth. What did he see in her gaze that amused him? Probably attraction. Which explained his showing off for her. Her face heated as though she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She’d love to stick her hands in his cookie jar. He walked slowly to her. Lowered his mouth and claimed her lips for his own. He kept kissing even when she might have pulled back. He kissed her fully and deeply. He tasted of coffee and mint. His hand stroked along her jawline. “So beautiful.” Barely a murmur, but she heard him loud and clear. A line he’d repeated. He seemed to believe it and wanted her to believe it too. He pulled her hands forward and put them on his chest. His skin was warm and smooth under her fingertips, and a few crisp hairs bit into her palm. There was little fat on him—nothing to tickle. At first, she hesitated, her hands remaining where he placed them. She couldn’t bring herself to move her hands. What if she touched him wrong? There had to be a technique to this that she didn’t know. He felt so hard under her fingers. No way she could hurt him, at least. He didn’t move a muscle, didn’t shift his weight, and kept his body still beneath her hands. “You can touch me.” His voice was hushed. Quiet. He waited patiently for her nerve to build up. She timidly stroked his pecs, and then he swirled her hand around in a circle, brushing his nipple. It was flat but still managed to tighten under her fingers. The tight little bud felt like a small berry, and the wrinkled skin tickled her fingers. His body jerked. Jumped. He reacted to her touch like he’d been scorched by a flame. Only he didn’t ask her to stop. Empowerment filled her from his reaction. Of course he was the one who was hot with the flames from his heat licking her all over. She remained a little chilly despite him. Now, her nether regions—those were hot. Achy. Wanting. She felt his warmth under her hands, and they began to lose their chill. He was a scorcher. He’d burn anything in his wake, including her. She was going to be consumed by this heat if something didn’t happen. What would happen?

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Soon both her hands were moving over his skin, entranced by the softness she touched, the hard muscles underneath the smooth covering, and the hair that prickled this way and that under her roving fingers. Her explorations did nothing to do calm the fires within her. It seemed like a long time, yet was only a moment before he moved closer to her and kissed her thoroughly again. His tongue met hers in an age-old duel that no one would lose. His tongue cartwheeled over hers, teasing and playing. Taking his time as he tasted her. He pulled back from her and looked down. Put his hands down at her sides to tug on the bottom of her shirt. “I took mine off. Only fair.” For the first time since they’d begun, she realized they were still standing up. By his bed. Which he hadn’t pushed them into yet. Yes again, he was taking his time and letting her adjust to what was to come. He acted like he had all day. He pulled her shirt up and away from her body and was careful not to get her hair tangled up as he pulled it away from her. She scrunched up her face. Bit her lip. What would he see? She’d never been this naked in front of anyone since she was a child. And they had more to go. She was never going to survive this experience. His eyes glazed over. His hands ran around the newly exposed skin, leaving trickles of heated fire in their wake. “Lovely.” His voice descended into the baritone levels. “Lovely.” He touched all around her chest, except for the piece of fabric that covered her breasts. Her bra was in the way. She was about ready to pull it off when he pulled down a strap. His tongue quickly followed the material. He kissed her skin in the path of the descending bra strap. “Ya have freckles.” She did. Her stepmother had wanted her to have them removed. They were a Schooner trait. Funny how the royals liked to get rid of anything that made them who they were, from accent to freckles. She’d never thought about that before. Only thought of it now because it kept her mind from what was to come, from the sex to come. If she could keep thinking of other things, maybe she wouldn’t be so nervous. No, she’d always be nervous. “Yes, I do have freckles.” Her voice was soft to her own ears. He flicked his tongue over one. “Nice.” He brushed his mouth over another one, then another one. “I could trace them all out. Lots of lines to make.” Every kiss made her moisture ooze from down below. Made her inner self shiver. He accepted that part of her. Like he’d accepted everything else so far. “Do you have freckles too?” She peeked at his torso. “Oh yes.” “I could trace all of yours.” He let out a groan before his concentration went back to the bra strap. He pushed it down to her elbow. Then turned his attention to the other side. Slid down that strap and followed it with his mouth.

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He shifted and twisted until he was facing her. His gaze went to her breasts. The material was probably barely hanging on them with the straps askew like they were. He lowered his head and flicked his tongue over a patch of skin on her chest. “Freckle.” His tongue lowered. “Another one.” He tugged at the bra and lowered the straps so they fell from her arms, and seemed to be waiting in anticipation of her bra coming completely off. She swallowed and her knees knocked together. How people did this standing, she’d never know. Her bra came off with hardly a notice. She hadn’t realized that he’d undone the back clasp. He lifted it away and tossed it in a chair. The same one she’d slept in. She was now naked from the waist up just as he was. Time-honored tradition made her hands come up automatically to try to cover herself. A degree of modesty that remained in her about her naked body in front of this man. Never mind that she was about to bare all for him. Never mind she was about ready to have sex with him. Not that her hands had ever been able to cover her breasts in any way. They were too small. Her breasts were too sprawling. His hands snaked out to catch hers before they could even attempt to cover her. “Don’t.” One simple word. His hands felt warm against her skin, yet they weren’t tight around her wrists. He held her only loosely. She could have broken the bond at any time and continued her hand’s ascent. He made sure she knew that but that he wanted her to stop. She took a deep, calming breath. Let him hold her hands away from her body. She kept herself exposed to his gaze. His heated gaze. Which sapped away all her modesty. The look in his eye that spoke of everything that he wanted to do to her didn’t encourage her to cover herself. Instead, it made her want to expose more if he’d only keep looking at her like that. “Och. Ya’re… I don’t have the words for what ya are.” His voice was both breathless and deep at the same time. “Never cover yarself. Not to me.” Easier said than done. She still wanted to bring up her hands. But with the gleam in his eye, it was a little easier to let him hold her than she’d thought it would be. “I won’t.” The words shocked her as much as him. Heat rose up her cheeks. After tugging her hands slightly down, he let her go and raised his hands to her breasts. He touched lightly, a hand on each side holding a breast. He didn’t move. Just rested his hands on her, cupping her. The reaction in her was immediate. A shiver raced along her insides to rest in her stomach. Her breasts had always been sensitive. She’d enjoyed drying off from her baths on many occasions, letting her rough towels scrape deliciously against her nipples. But she’d never expected them to feel like this. Never expected the wonderful sensations from a man touching her. His hands felt better than anything ever had there. She arched her head back, trying to give him as much access as possible. Damn her shaky legs. They needed to hold her steady so she could focus on what he was doing to her.

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He rubbed his palms across her nipples slowly. Gently. A knock came at the door. He didn’t stop. “Go ’way.” A mumble at the door. “Go ’way!” “Yes, McTavish.” She couldn’t even tell who it was with the murmured words and with McTavish’s hands on her breasts. His attention returned to her as he flicked her nipples back and forth with his fingers, circling them with his fingertips. She arched her back, finding it hard to stand with what he did to her. Who would have ever thought it could feel like this? Not her, that’s for sure. Her mind jumbled briefly to the coming pain of sex, but she blocked the thought. Tossed herself into the moment to enjoy these sensations. Those thoughts could come later. Along with the pain. He helped lower her to sitting on the bed. Thank goodness, because she wasn’t sure how much more of this she could take without her knees completely giving way. As it was, she wanted to be a puddle on the floor. It would be better on the bed. He leaned over her and lowered his head. She steeled herself, but even with that, she couldn’t help a gasp of a reaction when his mouth enclosed that sensitive bud of a nipple. Ari couldn’t hold back the cry of delight at the warm wetness engulfing her. Never had she ever imagined this much feeling coming from a single touch. Not even when she’d first seen him and the jolt had rushed through her when their stones had glowed. When she’d realized they were mates. Not even when he’d done this to her before. It had been so brief. Too brief. She’d dreamed of his mouth on her when she’d napped in the armchair. Dreamed of being with him for an eternity. She wasn’t sure they would make it past this moment. But she could dream of anything she wanted. Heat pushed against her chest. Their stones glowed now. Strong emotion could cause the stones to light up, but it had to be on both sides—which meant he was feeling it too. It took more than lust to get the stones to luminate like this. The heartstones might pick mates, but each mate had to ignite both passion and emotion in the other. Or others in the case of more than two. They had the passion for sure. The complex emotion was what they’d be building from these simple beginnings. If they stayed together. She closed her eyes against the onslaught of high emotion from thinking about whether they’d stay together or not. Stay in the moment.

58

Mechele Armstrong

She quickly opened her eyes when his tongue twirled around the edge of her nipple. He sucked her in, and the suction against her breast was more than pleasurable. It was almost too much. He hadn’t done this earlier. Not like this. And his other hand pulled on her nipple in tandem with his tongue. Her nether regions moistened. Heck, they gushed in response to what he was doing to her. He moved to the other nipple to give it the same show, leaving her wiggling in excitement by the time he pulled away. Her voice cracked with pleasure. “Gah.” He pulled back and smiled at her. Put one finger on her chest and pushed her all the way back onto the bed. His bed. It didn’t smell like him. Not the comforting woodsy scent she’d grown accustomed to. Because he hadn’t been there in a while. Oh, to be wrapped up in blankets that reeked of him would be heaven. Maybe as close to it as she would ever come. If only the bed smelled of him. You will. After this. She’d carry his scent around until she bathed. Another mark in favor of this going forward. Not that she planned to stop it. She’d had her chance. The time was past. She’d have this moment with him. Even if that was all they ever had. Another knock. His voice edged with frustration. “Go ’way.” No one said anything, but they didn’t knock again. Were they in front of the door? Waiting? Her brows drew up. Knowing what was going on in this room? He straightened up so he was back to standing, and he looked at her with eyes that spoke more than any words could say. No part of her went untouched by his gaze. He turned her inside out with the look in his eyes. He slid his hands down to the waistband of his own pants as he kicked off his black boots with a clunk on the floor. Oh yeah, he had to get naked for this. She’d seen pictures of men. Hadn’t seen a real man naked since she was a child, and that was her brother, so it didn’t count. He undid the fastening to his pants. They splayed open. Her breath held in her throat. One side came farther down than the other. Something peeked at her. The other side came down, helped by his moving his hands. Something poked up against the white cotton material that must have been his underwear. Her mouth puckered. That little scrap of material needed to move to the side. She’d decided she was having the whole picture, and she darn well was going to get her fill of looking. Maybe her fill of something else too. Definitely her feel of something else.

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He eased one hand over the waistband of his pants and shimmied them down. Took the underwear down too. Baring his member for her to see. For anyone to see. Good thing she was the only one there to have this show just for her eyes. What a lucky girl she was. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. He kicked off his pants, and her gaze drew to the part of him that she was about to become intimate with. He was large and long. With a tip that was red and swollen. He stuck out between his thighs like some sword of old. A sword. A trouser snake. She blinked at him. It did look like some snake was about ready to crawl from between his thighs. A laugh broke from her throat. She couldn’t catch it, but her hand came up to cover her mouth as she tried to swallow it back. He arched a brow. “Not quite the reaction I was hoping for.” He took a step toward her, member swinging with each step. He didn’t seem to lose any confidence despite his words. He swaggered her way, gait slow as though he knew he didn’t have to hurry. He didn’t. She wouldn’t go anywhere and miss this. She managed to hold back the giggle this time. “Sorry.” Thinking of a trouser snake had been most inappropriate. What had gotten into her? She never giggled. Never thought about inappropriate things like this. She’d always had such careful control. Now he seemed to have blown that all away. “Am I the first man ya’ve seen?” She nodded. “Sort of. I mean I’ve seen pictures. All the Union Alliance pictures. And some others. Lots of pictures. Men. Their…members…” She continued babbling until he approached her and stood next to her, warmth emanating from his body. She was next to a naked man. One who wanted to have sex with her. Chills racked her body. This was unbelievable. And he was her mate. At least for a little while. “Ya have seen pictures, eh? Still sort of funny-looking, ain’t it, to see? I’ve always thought so.” She rubbed her mouth, trying to get away any more giggles before they popped out. Yes, her reaction had been wholly mistimed. She was lucky he didn’t seem offended. “You’re not funny looking. I’m…nervous.” Once the words left her mouth, she wanted to crawl under the bed. What had gotten into her? She’d always been good about holding her tongue. Now she couldn’t seem to keep any little thought from popping out of her mouth. Couldn’t keep the giggles away. Where was her restraint? He reached down to stroke along her cheek. “I know ya are, angel.” His warm fingers captured her skin in their touch. “It will be all right. Ya’ll see.” She shouldn’t believe him. After all, nothing had ever been all right when people had told her that. But for some reason, it made her heart go pit pat and her nervousness retreat somewhat. After all, McTavish wouldn’t tell her anything that he didn’t think was real. He was that kind of man.

60

Mechele Armstrong

Odd how much she trusted him already. But he’d agreed to go after her brother when no one else would. Maybe that was why she was losing control of her restraint, because she did trust him that much. A knock sounded on the door. He jerked his hand away from her cheek as though he’d been burned. “Go ’way.” The knock sounded more insistently this time. He took a deep breath. “Unless ya’re dying or the settlement is on fire, go the fuck ’way. Now.” She didn’t hear footsteps, but the knocking stopped. “They need you here.” She was taking him away from all of this. She half sat up. Didn’t know what she would do or where she was going but didn’t need to be on her back for this conversation. He looked directly in her eyes, making her stop in her tracks. “They depend on me. But my role will be filled. By Sid.” He moved closer to her again. “My role as yar mate can never be filled. Not by anyone else.” She’d never thought of the situation that way. It was true. Her stepmother had never completely filled the void left by her mother for her father. He’d been lucky to find a second mate and have her in his life before her mother had left. But a gaping hole had remained in his heart from her mother’s loss. He’d said as much and showed as much. Mates longed for each other. Shouldn’t her mother’s running have affected her stepmother in the same way? Only it hadn’t seemed to. Odd. No one would ever take McTavish’s place for her. Even if things didn’t work out—and she expected them not to—she’d pine for him forever. He might do the same. Her mind whirled. He’d long for her too. Maybe this shouldn’t be a temporary thing. Could people so different make it? Maybe she was naive for thinking they could. Or maybe wise. She didn’t know. Now wasn’t the time to think about it as he pushed her back down on the bed. His warm hand caressed her stomach, rolling in a circle. “Relax.” She tried to, but her body felt stiff and it wouldn’t go limp. Her heart pounded in her chest. This was it. What she’d been waiting for. His hand went to the top of the waistband of her pants. She didn’t move. Barely breathed. Her skin tingled and warmed. Anticipated. His hands would touch her. His member would go inside her. This was real. As real as life got. McTavish tugged on the waistband of her pants. She forgot about the person who might be on the other side of the door waiting. Her mouth dried out again. She was about to lose the rest of her clothes. He would see her naked as the day she was born. Heck, it had probably been the last time a stranger had seen her like this. Bared for his eyes only. She was about to leave her virginity behind. Have her mate.

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She didn’t resist him. Didn’t want to resist him. Instead, she helped him slide the pants down. He yanked off her shoes and carefully slid the pants from her legs. Except for a smile and a song, she was naked. Only she wasn’t smiling or singing, only lying bare, her body heating. Was she red? Pink? Probably that lovely shade of rose that she turned whenever she made a faux pas. Which was often. He’d stripped her clothes just as he’d stripped her of most of her defenses. Bared for his eyes only, both physically and mentally. His gaze centered on that most intimate place in the center of her body. His eyes heated with something akin to lust. Heck, it was lust. She could see it reflected his eyes. The way his mouth parted slightly with a groan. The growing tension in his body. Lust was not anything she’d thought about seeing reflected in a man’s eyes for her. Not for her flabby self. She’d never thought she’d find a man who wanted her. For her. McTavish had no care that she was the princess. He only cared about the person she was. He’d made that plainly clear. In his eyes, she could almost believe she was beautiful. Almost. His gaze locked with hers. A slight smile lit his lips. A most carnivorous smile that reeked of intentions. Intentions that made her shiver all over. “What do ya call yarself?” He motioned with a hand toward her nether regions. “Down there?” She followed his motion. Felt her face heat. “I…don’t really have a name.” Did women name themselves? That seemed sort of odd. “No. I mean what word do ya use? Privates? Nether regions?” Oh. That was what he meant. “Nether regions.” Again her face warmed as though a summer sun beat down on her in the deserts of Schoon. “I’ve normally used the word cunt.” She gasped. She’d heard the term in passing from servants in the palace. Never known what it meant exactly, only known it was bad. “So, that’s what it means.” She tried to remember the exact context of where she’d heard it, but couldn’t quite call it to mind. “Yep. That’s what it means.” He put a hand on her thigh. “But I don’t like that word for yar nether regions. Too base. I’m thinking I’ll use pussy for yar nether regions. My beautiful pussy. When I want ya. Which will be all the damn time.” Her body felt as though it were weightless. As though her bones had jellified inside her skin and she was sinking into the mattress. He’d want her “all the damn time”? Only if they stayed together, though. No thoughts of the future. Only thoughts of today. He pushed her thighs apart after making sure she was comfortable before gently slipping down her thigh. Toward the warmth that was her nether—pussy. She could use that too. He tickled her hair, parted her folds, delved in with one hand. One finger extended to touch inside her channel and play in the wetness there. Another knock. McTavish’s head came down, and a snarl broke free before the words. “Go ’way!” His voice was as frustrated as she’d ever heard him. Not that she’d been around him much.

62

Mechele Armstrong

“Maybe this isn’t a good time…” Her breath flew out of her lungs like birds on the wing. She didn’t want to stop this. Not with him naked, her naked, and his hand touching her. She ached for something down there. In her nether—her pussy. She smiled at the freedom the word gave her. He’d given her the word for herself that seemed much more appropriate than nether regions. She wanted to enjoy this moment. Hated to stop. But she needed to give McTavish what he needed. “It’s never a good time here.” He sounded desperate. The knocking ceased. “Are you sure? We could stop. They seem to need you.” She tripped over the middle of the offer. She was sure he caught that because he smiled. He liked that she didn’t want to stop this. “They always need me.” He shook his head. “That never stops. But I need this. I need ya.” She spread her legs wider. Licked her lips. “Then touch my…pussy.” The word felt odder on her lips than in thought. But still so revealing. He smirked. “Yes, ma’am.” He delved in with his fingers again. Into her pussy. His touch sent electric shocks winding through her. Her body tingled. Her thighs trembled. Her heart pounded as though it wanted to escape her chest. Hairs sat up along her entire wealth of skin. She needed this too. “So wet. Oh God.” His body shook as though he’d been caught in that same breeze that buffeted her. He found all her sensitive spots. His fingers stroked and diddled. Pinched and fondled. Explored every single part of her pussy with careful fingers. He didn’t rush. Took his time. Made her crazy with every touch. He found a particularly sensitive bundle of nerves that had her arching from the bed as he gently stroked her. He pulled on the bud gently and twisted it in his fingers. Not enough to hurt. But enough to cause ripples of pleasure. She thrust her hips against his hand with furious movements. Her breathing sped up again and again. She needed…more? She wasn’t even sure. But it wasn’t enough. Something was coming. Something wonderful. She could feel the pressure building up in sinful ways. But she wasn’t close enough yet. He ducked his head without removing his hand. What was he going to do? Surely not what she thought. Did men kiss women there? She’d seen a woman doing a man once. But never had she seen this, though she’d read about it. Union Alliance ensured all its members knew about sex, but it had said this wasn’t popular. It was rare for a man to kiss a woman there according to the texts. He pressed her knees farther apart to splay her wider. He settled his mouth on her, first with a slight kiss to her center. He was going to kiss her there—her pussy. Oh God, she’d never imagined this. Then his tongue slipped in between her folds. Her already slick folds. A particularly flexible, relentless tongue that battered and cajoled her, sometimes slipping around fast and other times licking up slowly.

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The rumble came deep within. It was like sparks were coming from everywhere as her whole attention shifted down to her nether regions. Her pussy. Her body imploded on herself in a burst of desire so harsh that it sent her spinning into the stratosphere. Everything shook. Every muscle quivered. She panted, unable to get enough air to sustain herself. Moaning sounds came to her ears. Her. Her eyes flew open. She hadn’t realized that sound had been coming from her, so lost in the world of pleasure she’d been handed. It had probably echoed through the settlement. Probably the galaxy. Maybe even something larger, whatever that was. It had been loud enough to wake the dead. Heat moved up her body and not from pleasure. How would she ever face the men on the settlement now? He lifted his head. His wet mouth quirked up at her. “Ya weren’t that loud, angel. Not nearly loud enough.” How on Schoon did he know her so well already? How had he known what was on her mind? The reassurance helped though. “I wasn’t?” He shook his head. “Nah. And even if ya had been loud—and I intend ta make ya scream before it’s over—no man here will say anything to ya or to me.” That wasn’t entirely comforting. But she went with it. It was all she had. Was that it? Wasn’t he going…? He crawled up her body like some god coming to take his throne, or a lean panther. With that dark hair and turbulent eyes, a panther might be a better comparison. Whatever he was, he looked lethal. And now he was going to…take her. He claimed her lips in something that was part kiss, part combustion. It sent heat spiraling through all her synapses once more. He pulled back, his body atop hers. “This may hurt a little. We’ll work through it tagether.” He winced. “I’ve never had a virgin before.” Her body tensed. He didn’t know what it was like for a woman who’d never had sex before. How could he guide her through this? She didn’t know what she was doing. How would he know what he was doing? He had had sex before, but still… He leaned back down to claim her lips in a gentle, probing kiss. “I’ll try not to hurt ya. I’ll be as careful as I’m able.” He steeled himself, arms locking into place. She steeled herself too, tensing her body. This was the hurt part of this equation. The part she would have to fulfill as her duty. At least he’d given her pleasure before the pain. From what she’d heard from her stepmother, that didn’t happen often. A featherlight kiss moved against her lips with a hint of tongue. “Relax.” His voice was a murmur against her lips. She tried. She really did. But too many stories flooded across her brain from her stepmother. How much would this hurt? She was a wimp when it came to pain. She didn’t want to deprive him of his pleasure. It was her duty after all. But she didn’t want to be torn asunder either.

64

Mechele Armstrong

He continued to kiss her, though he didn’t put his full body weight on her. His member didn’t come near her pussy. They wouldn’t be getting too far at this rate. His kisses felt nice, distracting her from her thoughts of moving this along. He pleasured her lips, taking his time with slow, unhurried, soft-like-butterflies kisses. He almost had her forgetting about what was to come when he lowered his hips, placing his member nearer to her pussy. She could feel something poking into her. It wasn’t quite in the right spot yet but was poking against her skin. His member. “What’s it called?” She blurted out the words, hardly able to believe what she was asking. She’d never been this uncensored with anyone else. “Cock.” The words seemed to come from between gritted teeth. It was almost hard to hear him, so soft and biting were the words. “A cock.” A cock. A cock that was to go inside her pussy. What interesting terminology. And a mix of animals. Would his cock hurt her pussy? His cock poked against her opening. Prodded her before delving in with only his tip. Slipped in, but only a little before pulling out. Then he did it again, but deeper this time. He went down a little farther. His body strained against hers. For a split second as he came down into her, it hurt. But only a dull ache that spread out across her pussy before dissipating. She gasped in surprise. He stilled. Kept his body above hers and his cock inside her that little bit. Rested there without moving. The pain had all but faded away. No pain was left. Only pressure from him resting inside her pussy. His body shook. A vein popped out on his forehead. He swallowed noisily. “Okay?” It was guttural and more a grunt than speech. She nodded. It hadn’t hurt that much. Surely not like any stories she’d heard. The pain had stopped for now. Would it come back? He moved against her. Up and down. Sliding in and out of her pussy, very slowly at first. He let her body adjust to each new thrust before he went deeper. Nothing hurt after that first plunge. It was tight. She felt herself stretching around him. But it didn’t hurt. In fact, points of pleasure began to simmer all over. She became slicker and slicker with each move that he made. She kept expecting the pain to return. Waited for it. But it didn’t come back. Soon her hips were going up to meet him on every stroke. Thrusting against him and making each penetration slip away less and less. “Okay? Ya okay?” He sounded breathless. His body was coated in a sheen of sweat. His brow furrowed. “Aye. I’m fine.” Her brogue sounded foreign, as though someone else were speaking. She couldn’t get close enough to his body. Not to have what she wanted. Not to do what she wanted. What did she want? What did she need?

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Explosions of light started in her pussy and popped all over her body. A second round of intense pleasure gripped her in an iron fist. It was as if fireworks of desire expanded throughout her body from her pussy on outward. His thrusts grew quicker and quicker. His face contorted into something that looked like pain, but from the way he cried her name, couldn’t be. The slickness increased between them. As he thrust so quickly, they melded in a way that cemented them together in tandem. Nothing existed but him for her. No outside world. Only the man who made her one with the universe. Made her one with him. Then he collapsed on top of her, covering her from end to end. Someone had lied to her about sex. This hadn’t been painful at all. Now she understood why so many risked all for their heartstones. To have sex. She’d risk it all to do it again. With him. Only she didn’t have to risk anything. Because he was already her mate. Wasn’t she living for the moment? There was no guarantee this would happen again. She snuggled into his body. One step at a time. There might be no more steps with him. But she had this moment to remember forever. Which was what she’d wanted. He pulled out of her, releasing a gush of moisture, but stayed on top of her. His breathing rumbled. She listened to him breathe. He finally rolled off her. Her body chilled at the loss of him and he pulled up a blanket over them both. She lay there against his chest as he ran fingers along her exposed skin. No matter what tomorrow would bring, she had this moment to remember. She drifted off to sleep in his arms.

66

Mechele Armstrong

Chapter Six Decker leaned back in the chair behind the console. Tapped on the metal, creating a dinging noise. He was parked on the far side of Batuck. Not far enough for his liking. Soon he’d have McTavish, and this would all be worth it. He’d never seen McTavish in person. He was looking forward to facing down the man who had eluded him for so many for years. The man he would capture. The comm rang. Isa. The evil he’d gone to bed with. He shook his head. “She’s not evil.” But there was no force behind his words. Whether because he was talking to himself or because he didn’t believe them he wasn’t sure. He answered the comm. “Yes.” “Are you in place?” Isa’s voice shot from the comm like a rapid-fire phaser, assaulting him. “Yes.” Didn’t like where he was in place, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. He’d signed on with Isa to capture McTavish. To earn his way from behind the desk. He had to keep sight of that. “I have another task for you.” He eyed the comm dubiously. “What is it?” “I need you to retrieve someone. That will ensure that…the people we seek come to us, instead of us waiting for them.” Was it wrong that he saw a viper every time he talked to her? “Retrieve them? From where?” She expected him to go out on Batuck before McTavish even arrived. That wasn’t happening. As a Union Alliance officer, he would be dead before he even hit the ground from his shuttle. “The pimp, Regis. Tell him Isa 4652. He’ll know who to retrieve. You can ask anyone how to find Regis.” Isa knew a pimp? That hardly seemed a royal relationship that should have been cultivated. “Who am I retrieving?” His eyes narrowed. It couldn’t be who he was thinking it was. Surely not. But who else would ensure that McTavish and Arianna came to them? Her laugh was brutal. “Of course it’s that brat’s dippy brother.” Her voice had an “Are you stupid?” quality to it. There were several ways Isa could have known how the boy had gotten to the pimp, Regis. Regis had contacted her. But why wasn’t the boy back home, then? Which led to darker theories. Maybe Isa had helped him to get to Regis… Surely this woman wasn’t that cold-blooded?

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“Did you hear me?” she snapped. “Yes, Queen Isa. I heard you.” “Find him. Then Arianna and your man, McTavish, will come to us. We won’t have to lift a finger to find them.” Sour taste infused Decker’s mouth. He managed to say, “Yes, Queen Isa.” It was a foolproof plan. Have the boy, and they would come straight to them. Then why did it bother Decker so much? Maybe because in all the scenarios where he captured McTavish, there was always a bit of a fair fight. Which Decker always won. Not to mention this brother being used as a pawn in this game. “So you take Arianna back home. I take McTavish. What happens to her brother?” “Yes, I take Arianna back home.” Her voice didn’t sound positive on this. “He stays where he is. Where he wants to be.” “Ah.” Someone wanted to be on Batuck? That sounded like a crock of shit to him. A huge crock. “Decker, remember no matter what the boy tells you, he came there of his own accord. He stays here because he wants to be here. I’m simply seeing that he gets what he deserves and wants. Same as I will do for Arianna. And her father.” The words rolled from her lips like sugar from a fly’s mouth. Somehow her seeing to Arianna’s wants and just deserts didn’t sound like anything he wanted for himself. “Remember, I’m letting you take McTavish. To do with whatever you will.” Her voice softened. “He’s wanted dead or alive.” And Decker had the access to use lethal force now. She’d dangled the carrot in front of him to focus him on his part of this deal and away from her part. He knew that. He rubbed his chin. He’d made this deal and still wanted McTavish. He didn’t know for sure that the others were being hurt by it. Yes, you do. No, I don’t. Not really. Not yet. “I know that. And I do intend to bring him in.” Funny, he’d never thought about bringing in McTavish dead either. In Decker’s scenarios, he always captured McTavish alive and brought him in. “Good. Then we understand each other.” “Yes.” “Go to Regis and bring the boy. I’ll be in contact with him and let him know you’re coming.” “Do you have directions to his place?” She laughed, but it wasn’t a cheery sound. “I will upload them to your comm. But everyone knows where he is.” The fact that she knew a pimp that everyone on Batuck knew wasn’t comforting. This woman would be good as her word, wouldn’t she? She was a royal. “I’d prefer the directions.” “Don’t worry. Contact me when you have the item.”

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Mechele Armstrong

The item. He. The brat’s dippy brother. She’d never once called the boy by name. Decker couldn’t even remember what the prince’s name was. Never naming the boy made it less personal for her and easier to do what she was doing to him. She’d probably never refer to Decker by name either. As she had him taken out and shot in the back. He tapped on the console again as he looked up the brother’s name. Erek. He found a quick picture of the young man. Erek was too young to want to be on Batuck. Then he started typing again into ship’s computer. He had some tricks up his sleeve if she tried to double-cross him. If? Probably when. She wasn’t the type to keep her word. He brought up McTavish’s photo as he worked. The grainy image. He might soon be meeting the real thing. His stomach clenched. Isa would have no qualms about throwing away McTavish either. He snorted. The only defense that McTavish might have would be Decker. Wouldn’t that be something? If the only one to protect McTavish would be the man who’d aggressively pursued him and gotten closer than most Union Alliance agents at this point. He would not let Isa throw McTavish under the space shuttle. Or himself either. She would find his years as a desk jockey and his skill with computers had been good for something. He took a half hour laying down his plan’s groundwork. Then he grabbed his phaser with the directions encoded and left to go to find the boy who would bring him one step closer to McTavish.

*** McTavish pulled Ari closer against his body. In sleep, she clung to him like a lifeline. Her body was warm against him and seemed to seek out his warmth and touch him like a heatseeking missile. Much like she’d clung to him when they’d been fucking. As if she couldn’t get enough of him. Only in his experience, the fucking they’d done had been more than just that. He’d never come with such intensity. Never felt the person he was with down to his bones like he did with this woman. She brought out things he’d not even begun to work through. He’d never experienced making love. It was what singers sang of and poets wrote about. What he’d had with Ari had been different from anything he’d ever done. Maybe it had been making love and not simply fucking. He’d never expected to like his mate. It wasn’t a given that one would. But he liked Ari already. He liked her naïveté. That wasn’t something he encountered often in this harsh world. He liked her excitement. She wore her emotions all over her face. He liked her loyalty. Again, not anything he encountered a lot in his world. Some things would drive him nuts, but on the whole, he could deal with her better as a mate than most he’d encountered. That was saying something.

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He stroked along her soft skin and ran his knuckles over the satin of her stomach. Damn, but he liked her smoothness too. So little was soft in his world. From the rocky place he lived, to hard bunks, to hard men. Her wetness entranced him. Her tightness captivated him. The way she gave herself over to him completely made him burn. The way she wrapped her body around his made him feel like a prince. She let out a soft sigh and turned a little from him to snuggle her arms under the covers as though she was chilly. He watched the soft roundness of her ass as it bumped up against him underneath the covers. Another soft sigh slipped from her as he ran his hands over her back. He cupped her ass before moving up lightly to her shoulders. She was naked for his gaze. For his hands. For his mouth to taste the honeyed nectar that she possessed. Mine. His cock let him know that he was up for the day. There was no going back to sleep with the hardness between his thighs. He could take her. Wake her up with kisses that made her weep for his possession. Fuck her six ways to Sunday. His hands tightened on her shoulder. He could get too used to this. To waking up beside her. To having her there to have sex with all the time. He could get used to having her there with him. Too used to her. Especially since what they had together might not last beyond this moment. There was no guarantee she would want to be with him once they left Batuck. Despite what he wanted, he pulled away, slinking backward until he wasn’t touching her anymore. He had things to take care of first. That outweighed any desire to plow into her body, no matter how strong that urge might be. He had to oversee their safe exit from their rescue mission. Not an easy task. They still had Batuck to face. Getting her brother away from a pimp was going to be damned difficult. In fact, it was going to be a bitch. Soon as she arose, she’d be ready to go, and they would have to leave this place. He’d need to do some preliminary work to see to their safety before they ever touched down on Batuck. Not to mention he needed to know everything there was to know about Isa. He couldn’t fight an enemy he didn’t know. And there was still the matter of the Union Alliance officer, Decker. He couldn’t leave their future to chance. Not if he wanted to come out of this alive. With Ari. He did want both of those things. Desperately. If he was as good as he thought he was, there’d be time for fucking after Batuck. An even better reason to do this rescue up right. I will not lose you. He slipped from the bed, careful not to make it dip too much. Pulling on pants, he headed for the door and stopped just inside of it to stare at the doorknob while adjusting his zipper.

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No one had knocked in a while after the flurry of disturbances. Odd. He gently pulled the door open, and Boozer, a new acquire, almost fell inside the room from where he’d been leaning on the door to McTavish’s entrance. McTavish caught him before he could fall on the floor. He glanced quickly back, but Ari hadn’t stirred. He shut the door behind him. “What are ya doing out here?” He spoke quietly as he didn’t want to wake her before it was time to. “Sid’s orders. Keep anyone from bothering you.” It was a small sign of Sid taking leadership over of Colony. A good sign. More than McTavish had expected. “I want you ta stay here. Don’t let anyone disturb Arianna. If she wakes up, contact me immediately.” Boozer looked uncomfortable with those orders. He didn’t say anything, but his hand tightened on his radio. “Check with Sid first.” McTavish would have to remember the passing of the leadership baton. He’d been so used to being obeyed immediately. But if Sid was to succeed, McTavish would have to cede to him. And he wanted the man to succeed. Everything should go through Sid first. McTavish should have said that from the start. He was in a hurry and already slipping. He’d have to watch that. He wanted to be back with Ari, and he’d barely edged through the door. Boozer nodded, his hand already on his radio. He would have done so regardless. Another sign that McTavish had made a good choice in follow-up leadership. Sid would be good for Colony. He’d have to be. McTavish headed for another office where he did some other work from time to time when his own was being used for other purposes. He’d get some things in place before they left Colony for Batuck. Find out some things about what they faced. He glanced back at the closed door with Boozer still in front of it, now talking on his radio. If only they could just hide away from the world for a while. Skip out on reality and fuck like bunnies. He tromped down the hall. Nothing had ever been that easy for him. If there was a hard way around something, he’d find it.

*** Decker slipped through the streets mostly unobserved. There were advantages to having manned a desk job where no one noticed him. He knew how to blend in. His casual clothes moved with him, whereas his Union Alliance uniform fought him at every turn. Had to be the most unforgiving material in the galaxy. Good thing he’d changed. If anyone noticed him, they didn’t say anything. Everyone on Batuck seemed to have affected the stance he had: arms to the side, look no one in the eye. Probably what kept most from getting killed. His hand hovered near his phaser. He checked the time stamp. It had only been fifteen minutes since he’d left his ship. Only fifteen? Hell, it felt like it had been hours. Now, where to find Regis? He had the directions to where Regis…worked? Lived? Whatever he did on Batuck.

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Decker followed along mucky streets shimmering with wetness he didn’t want to identify. He looked around only occasionally. Broken-down buildings stood on either side. Broken-down people walking around. Some were naked. Some weren’t. He didn’t dare look to their faces. Or their eyes. He didn’t want to be noticed. Didn’t want to see if they looked as damned as the place around him. He swallowed as he arrived at a building that was in one piece. It was grand for that reason alone. Not to mention the two stories of unabridged house and the columns that spoke of greatness still existing. Figures this mansion would be where to find Regis. He looked around, trying to decide how to proceed. He stepped onto a porch that extended farther than some whole buildings he’d seen. The carring of phasers locking on to a target got his attention. One man came from each side of the porch, and they came at him with phasers drawn. Set to kill most likely. “I…don’t want trouble.” One of them snickered. “I’m here to see Regis.” The other man licked his lips as though Decker were a meal and not a person. “I’m sure Regis would love to make your acquaintance.” Decker straightened up. “I’m here to retrieve someone.” The first man, who had snickered, did more laughing. “No one gets retrieved from here, asshole. You better go back where you came from.” “I’d be glad to retrieve you.” The second man’s obvious flirting disgusted Decker rather than aroused him. Decker affected a bored look despite how fast his heart was beating. “Tell Regis I’m from Isa and I want Isa 4652.” Both of the men instantly became serious. Snickers stopped laughing and smiling. Lecherous seemed to deflate upon hearing the name. They knew Isa. Had to. That reaction gave Decker no confidence. Snickers said, “Come in. We’ll take you to Regis.” Suddenly he wasn’t playing around anymore. When the men who worked as enforcers for a notorious pimp on Batuck were scared of the one he’d teamed up with… Well, Decker wasn’t sure if that made him feel better or worse. He tried to look bigger than he was to intimidate the men. Good thing they didn’t know he was Union Alliance. They escorted him into a small room that had obviously been a sitting room at one time or another. It had a couch and not much else. A picture of the house in better times hung on the wall. What had happened on Batuck to bring it to this state? Decker had no idea and didn’t want to know. A scream rang out. It echoed from the walls. Bloodcurdling. Spine tingling. It wrenched at Decker’s insides.

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Neither man reacted to the noise. “Have a seat.” Snickers motioned toward the couch, sweat beading up on his bald head. Decker looked around as another scream sounded. “Is everything okay?” Maybe he shouldn’t be pointing out the screams. Maybe he should follow their lead. But dammit, how could they not hear them? React to them? Both men glanced at the other. Their faces went blank. Like a screen that had lost its pixels. “Everything is fine.” Snickers motioned again. “Please have a seat.” He moved toward the doorway, expecting Decker to comply. Lecherous nodded, his head bobbing so hard that hair flew around his head. “It’s fine. It happens.” Decker approached the couch. It happens. Wasn’t the first time this house had heard screaming. Nor would it be the last. Was it the brother screaming? Or someone else? He rubbed his mouth as he looked at the couch. He glanced back toward both men. “I’ll just stand.” He had no idea what had happened on the couch before he’d arrived. He preferred not to think about it either. “Suit yourself.” Snickers traipsed away without a backward glance. Lecherous continued to look at him. He wasn’t yet back to the lewd look he’d been giving earlier, but he wasn’t as serious as before. Not good. Decker stood with his hands down by his sides. He didn’t walk around, though he wanted a better look at the picture on the wall. When Snickers came back, followed by another man, Decker waited in the same spot. He hadn’t budged. He wasn’t about to go exploring this house as he didn’t want to see anything beyond this room. The man wore brown leathers. He had a bald head and pierced ears. His smile was as huge as his arms, which were shown off in a large tank top. “You’re here to see me.” “If you’re Regis.” Decker surveyed the pimp. Some people didn’t look like the job they did. Regis looked like a pimp. Or rather, what Decker would think a pimp looked like. “That I am, boy.” Regis moved closer. Was he an Amador? His features seemed to have that lineage. Hell, his size alone said Amador. He could probably crush Decker’s head with one hand. “What the fuck do you want?” “Isa sent me.” “So Ferdy said.” “Ferdy?” Decker’s gaze went back and forth between Snickers and Regis. “Oh,” he said when Ferdy bowed his head. Snickers’s name was Ferdy? At least Snickers was only in Decker’s head. Ferdy was said aloud. He choked back a laugh. “Ah.” Regis folded his massive arms across his even larger chest. “Isa sent you to retrieve someone.” The implication was there that Regis didn’t believe that Isa would send him. “Yes. Yes, she did. We’re working together.” Regis grinned widely with an expression that reminded Decker of someone trying too hard to smile. “She said you were working for her.”

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Decker swallowed somewhat noisily. “Ah well, she would see it that way.” Regis had been contacted by Isa? Or the other way around? So Regis knew that Decker was working with Isa. What had the look from before meant? He let out a guffaw that boomed louder than the scream. “Yes, she would. She’s a piece of work, Isa.” He looked as though he was remembering things that Decker didn’t even want to think about. Time to get this done so he could be back on the safety of his ship. One step closer to capturing McTavish. “She told you who I’d come to retrieve?” Regis shook his head. “No, boy. We never speak of retrievals. She said she’d given you a number.” “Isa 4652.” Decker moved forward a step or two. The number was so she couldn’t be traced to the particular retrieval. Regis seemed to be calculating. “Ah. He will be returned. He’s one of my more popular ones.” He turned to Lecherous, who Decker didn’t have a name for. He spoke in Amadoran. “Get Erek. Tell Wansung I’ll find another boy for him but I need Erek now. Get the boy cleaned up enough to travel. Wansung shouldn’t make the boy scream so much.” Regis shook his head. Obviously he didn’t realize that Decker spoke Amadoran. Decker kept his mouth shut and tried to look confused. “What did you say?” He didn’t give any indication he’d understood what was being said. Inside, his guts heaved. The screamer had been the brother, Erek. Damn. He pictured Erek’s face from the gritty picture. Not good. “Told him to go retrieve 4652. It will just be a minute. He was resting before now.” Yes, the Amador didn’t realize Decker spoke his language. A good thing. Lecherous stopped at the doorway and spoke in the same language as the hulking Regis. “How long until the boy comes back here?” “Isa didn’t know.” “We’ll lose money.” The big man laughed again. “Nah. When we get the boy back, we’ll get a girl too. And this sack of shit.” Lecherous looked to Decker. His eyes lit up. “Will I be able to play with him first?” He crooned the words in a creepy singsong voice. Decker suppressed a shiver. Playing with this man wasn’t something he wanted to undertake. Little too much possibility of blood and pain being more to this man’s liking than Decker’s. He remained looking impassive to give them no indication he’d understood what they’d just said. “Of course. Don’t you always? Now, go get Erek.” Lecherous walked off muttering in Amadoran, “Hope they hurry up and bring them back.” He took one last, longing look at Decker before he left. The Amador faced him. “He was asking when my boy might come back. I told him I didn’t know but we’d take it from your ass if it took too long.” Smooth words to cover what had really been discussed. Decker kept his face neutral. The girl was probably the princess, Arianna. So not only had Isa lied to him, but she was planning to double-cross Decker and send him to Batuck for good, along with the two contenders to her throne.

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Not in a rat’s ass was he getting sent here. He’d just have to double-cross the double-crosser.

*** McTavish let himself back into the room. He’d been away from her for a few minutes. Too damn long. He’d made some arrangements for their journey to Batuck. Contacted some acquaintances who might help him find out who had Ari’s brother. Made a connection with someone else about circumstances concerning Ari’s mother. He didn’t trust Isa. Something seemed up. Best to have all the tiles on the table when trying to figure out a problem. He’d also gone over some Colony business with Sid. He’d made provisions with Zelda in case he didn’t return. That had been the hardest thing to do. He wanted to return to her. He’d always want to return to her. He only hoped she felt the same way. It had been a productive day so far, even though all he’d wanted to do was go back to her. He kept thinking of her sleeping in his bed, of wrapping his body around hers, and of her skin. Her scent. Her body. He’d realized at some point, he could smell her on him. The realization had made his cock hard and made him dream of all the ways he could show his mate how to make love. He scratched his chest, the hair springing back under his fingers. A hot shower would be at the top of his list. Maybe with company. Later. Right now all he wanted to do was ease back in bed with her. Wake her with kisses. See her face. Have wake-up sex. They might not have time for it, but he’d have to try. She didn’t stir on the bed or show any sign she was awake until she spoke. “Where did you go?” He approached the bed. What curves lay under that blanket? He knew and wanted to see them bared for his gaze. “Had some things ta do before we leave.” She turned over to face him, looking more awake than he’d thought she’d be. “When are we leaving?” “Soon. I’ve got the shuttle ready and on standby. I have some contacts on Batuck. They are going ta see if they can find out where yar brother is.” She blinked at him with bleary, sleepy eyes. “I didn’t think you worked on Batuck, only Chombay.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. “I know friends of…well, acquaintances of acquaintances.” No friends. Did he have any friends? Probably Zelda, her crew, some older members of Colony, and Sid came the closest. They were the nearest he came to having friends. “They’ll help you?” He nodded. For a price. Not anything they needed to talk about right now. First one to help him got to name a payment. No love there. Only money. The way it was with most. “At least we’ll find out if my brother is really there.” She stretched out her legs. One small toe peeked at him from under the blanket. “Are you ready to go from Colony?” Her words were halting. As though she wasn’t sure she should ask.

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He nodded. “Sid knows enough.” They’d gone over a lot of secrets and routines. Sid seemed eager. He was anxious to go to Chombay and start to rescue whores just as McTavish did. Sid would have to make a name for himself there and knew that. McTavish had done all he could for Sid. Now he would see what he could do for Ari. He watched her lovely legs as she stretched again. They had been wrapped around him a few hours ago. He wanted that again. Soon. “I can’t believe you’re leaving here with no intention of returning.” She swallowed audibly. Her face pinched up in misery. He couldn’t either. He’d never expected to leave this place. Had planned on dying here. Now he never wanted to die. That was because of her. His mate. He wanted time with her. No matter how he had to get it. “It has ta be done.” He reached out to touch her legs through the blanket. Even though the material covered her skin, he could feel her warmth. She was so warm. So tender. She was making sure he was okay. No one ever did that for him. God, he’d never felt like this. Wasn’t sure he liked it. But he’d deal. She glanced up at the ceiling. “Do we have to leave right now?” Her voice took on an anxious quality. “We can leave when ya want ta leave.” He stroked along her calf. “Whenever. The shuttle is ready. I’m waiting for contacts ta fill me in, but that could be anytime between here and there.” Or never. There was that possibility too. “I know we should hurry. But…I need you.” She sounded desperate. As though she expected him to say no. As if he would. Or maybe she expected him to make her feel bad. Again, unlikely. Her brother had been missing this long. Another few hours wouldn’t hurt them in the long term. Not to mention it would give his contacts enough time to locate the boy. He stood up from the bed. “I was hoping ya’d say that.” He undid his pants and pulled them down quickly, sloshing off his boots to the floor. Her face heated. As though she hadn’t expected him to get naked so quickly. Of course, she hadn’t dressed from earlier. Her clothes still lay on the floor nearby in a pile. Maybe secretly she’d wanted him to get naked? She was still nervous about having sex. She’d seemed to think things were going to hurt. She’d been as tense as a coiled-up snake when they’d been having sex. He’d had to work on her relaxation. Maybe now that her first time had passed, she’d be more settled. He slipped under the covers and cozied up to her, aligned his body with hers. Her softness pressed into every indention that he had. Her warmth heated him from the skin downward into his core. He groaned as she made a noise low and deep in her throat. “McTavish. I don’t want to lose you.” Her voice trembled. “Not now. Not after finding you.” She sounded scared. “I want these moments with you.” He rolled into her and kissed her fiercely, ignoring that she hadn’t said forever. There would be plenty of time for her to get used to that later. “I know.” He kissed her over and over again as though he could lose himself in the kisses. Maybe he could. Maybe he could forget what he was going to do in the next few hours. He longed to say that she wouldn’t lose him. But McTavish saw realities. He couldn’t promise her anything he couldn’t deliver. His face grew wet.

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Tears. Her tears coated them both. In his whole sorry life, no one had ever cried tears over him. Not one single damned soul. Until now. He swallowed, claiming her lips over and over again for all he was worth. His tongue slipped in to tangle with hers. A hand pushed at his chest. He quickly moved away from her. He looked down into the liquid pools of her eyes as they bubbled over with tears that slid down her cheeks in fat clumps. Bloody hell. “What’s wrong?” He took a thumb and brushed away one drop. She shook her head. Her voice was deep. “I won’t lose you. I’m scared.” She couldn’t guarantee his life either. Not by a long shot. Not on Batuck. She looked him full in the face, not flinching or looking away. “I want to do something to you. For you.” Her words seemed to trip over themselves. “If you’ll let me.” If he’d let her? What did she want to do? “What is it?” His heart thundered in his chest like a thousand shuttles taking flight. She didn’t smile. Didn’t look away. A blush moved up her cheeks. “I’ve heard of women…taking men in their mouths. Taking men’s cocks in their mouths. I’ve seen it.” His heart skipped several beats. His breath quivered in his lungs. “Would you like that?” He could barely hear over the blood rushing through his ears. Could barely get words out past lips that didn’t seem to want to work. Would he like that? Damn straight he would. More than like it. She pulled away when he didn’t reply. “I’m sorry. I never should have suggested that. I’m losing it.” He shook his head fiercely as he pulled her closer. “Yes.” She looked up at him with confusion evident in her eyes. “Yes?” He nodded. “Yes. I would like ya ta do that.” He sounded hoarse and winded. He swallowed. Never had anyone offered to do that for him. When he’d been whoring, that wasn’t anything most required. They wanted to fuck or have him give oral sex to them, not give him pleasure. That had been for damn sure. But Arianna wanted to give him something. It hadn’t been easy for her to ask for this moment and not to leave immediately and try to retrieve her brother. It hadn’t been easy for her to ask for something sexual to happen. Yet she’d overcome her fears and offered herself up to him. To give him pleasure. His heart pounded. “God, Arianna. I would like ya ta do that.” Her eyes lit just before she ducked her head. “I’ve never done this before.” A light chuckle came from her lips. “I might suck at it.” Her inadvertent choice of verbiage made him laugh. “I think ya will suck at it.” He couldn’t resist the tease. At first her face clouded with confusion. Then her eyes widened and her cheeks reddened. “Oh. Oh.” Then she laughed again. “I guess I hope I suck at it.”

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Laughter had never been a part of his life. Until now. He stroked her face for a minute, caressing that hot cheek. Then he lay back on the bed and spread his legs. “Do what ya will ta me.” His body tensed for one insane minute. He’d never offered himself up like that before. Never had to or wanted to. More than just his body opened with those words. He’d started something. Wasn’t sure if it was good or not. She ran her hand along the outside of his thigh. His muscles clenched in response to her gentle inquiry. She shifted her body up so that she sat along him. Ran her hands up and over his skin. Stopped several places. Scars. He had enough of them. She paused over each one that lay near the center of his body. Touched them with quiet, almost reverence. “I have a lot of them.” He watched her from the corner of his eye. “My body is littered with them.” Not just his body. “I know.” She lowered her head to press a soft kiss upon just one scar. “You’ll have to tell me how you got each one.” Hell, half of them he didn’t remember getting. A wicked smile lit her lips. “But not today.” Not with where her mouth was going. There wouldn’t be time for talk. He settled back, letting her fingers and her mouth walk across his skin. Her first touch of him was tentative. Unsure. She ran her hand across his cock, almost skittering across him. She bit her lip as she watched him. He hissed upon first contact, and his cock jumped to life. She jerked away. Then moved back to pet him again, seeming intrigued by the reaction she’d garnered. He clenched his hands into fists, sinking them into the sheets on the bed, wanting to grab anything to hold on to. She only lightly touched him, yet he yearned to jump out of his body and into the air. Rolling sensations moved along his nerve endings all over, not just his cock where she touched him. He moved only slightly, but it was enough to startle her, which was not what he intended to do. She jerked back. “Did I hurt you?” “God, no. I’ll tell ya if ya do.” Not that she would. He was so turned on right now that pain could almost become pleasure. Her hands went back to dawdle over him. She stroked him from tip to base and explored every inch of him. Even reached up under him to cup his balls and give them a gentle squeeze. “They’re cooler.” She sounded almost awed. “The rest of you is so hot.”

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He didn’t say anything. Let her cup and comment. Long as she kept touching him, he’d stay quiet. She moved her hand away. Damn. So much for that idea. She shifted on the bed, and he watched her lower her head. Her mouth went for him on an unwavering course, slipped down to press a kiss against his tip. He almost came at the touch of her mouth. Managed to hold himself back. Hold himself in. At this rate, he’d be ejaculating at the slightest slip of her mouth around him. He’d never survive this. She drew her tongue across his tip and licked, seemed to be contemplating the taste before she did it again. He jerked both times and came off the bed slightly. His muscles tensed so tight, he thought they might cramp. She lowered her mouth and gently took him inside her warm wetness. Captured him with her pleasuring orifice. His hands wanted to tear through the sheets. His hips bucked, driving him a little deeper into her mouth. She opened her mouth that much more and took him in farther. He didn’t want to ram her, but he wanted so much more than she was giving him. “Ya won’t hurt me.” His voice tore out the air around him, taking precious amounts of oxygen with it. He gripped the bed more solidly and leaned farther back. She didn’t answer. Her mouth was too busy getting even fuller of cock. She began to move her mouth up and down his length, tightened around him with her tongue so that the suction was incredible. In and out, she took him. He panted, tried thinking of any little mundane thing to keep himself from coming too soon. Wanted this to last. Needed this to last. But unable to know if he could make it through this without giving in to the powerful need for climax. She pulled her mouth from him and pushed his cock up slightly. She found his balls with her tongue and lapped at them. He cried out as she mouthed the sensitive skin. Almost lost it again as she sucked a ball into her mouth ever so gently and sucked on it like a lollipop. She was doing her best to give him pleasure, learning technique as she went along. God, she was a natural at doing this. She let go of one ball and lapped at the other one, sucked it into her mouth as far as it would go in, rolled it around, and then let go again. His body shuddered. No one had ever done this to him. He’d never expected anyone to. Now Ari was showing him pleasure in ways he hadn’t even conceived of. She pulled her mouth up to suck him in again and suction him with her mouth. Warm wetness enveloped him with clouds of pleasure. She started at a slow pace that had him wincing.

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Only then, she began to increase the motions. Not hurried one bit, they were measured as she went up and down his length. She took him down as far as he would go into her mouth before releasing him with a pop. His body shook. The pace picked up again. Every other time she went down on him, she got faster. She’d tightened around him until she could get no tighter. Now she concentrated on speed. His hips rose to meet her before finally bucking their pleasure up under her questing mouth. The orgasm rose up in him, slowly moving him up into the stratosphere before he slipped over the precipice. He cried out as the force of it took him to flight high above and he pumped out his come into the vessel of her mouth. When he came back to himself, she was smacking her lips and licking the outside with her small tongue—the tongue that had just been against him. His hips rocked in aftershock. She looked at him and smiled. Her face shone lightly in the light, wet from what she’d just done for him. “Salty.” She smacked her lips again. “I hope ya liked it.” He hoped she’d do it again. Her smile was beautiful as she shoved her hair back from her face. “I did. I’m glad I did it right.” As if there was a wrong way. Only she’d been the first one to treat him to this particular pleasure. That made what she’d done special. Specialness needed to be rewarded. He thought he had just the way to say thank-you to her for what she’d done. He pushed her against the bed onto her back. She didn’t resist. He kissed her gently and made his way down her body. Her breasts would serve him an excellent feast. He pulled her nipple into his mouth to suck. Liked the way the nipple hardened against his tongue. Liked how the roughness of it contrasted with the softness of her areola. She tapped his head with one hand before tugging on his hair. “Didn’t you…didn’t you…” He lifted his head, releasing her nipple. “What?” He looked into the prettiest green eyes he’d ever seen. She could ask him to do anything with those eyes. If she stuck around, she’d probably use them to her advantage. “Come.” A pretty flush spread up her whole body. “I recover quickly.” He wasn’t recovered yet, but if he kept playing with her body, he would. He lowered his head again, heading for her breast. She pushed on his shoulder gently. “You don’t have to do that. I wanted to do that for you.” He backed away from her nipple. “I know that. I want ta do this.” He wanted to tell her to hush but figured that wouldn’t go over well. He was slowly learning about being a mate and not treating her like his men. It would take a while for that lesson to sink in. She lay back, seemingly content with his actions for now.

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He tugged her nipple into his mouth and sucked on it again. Twiddled his tongue against her nipple. His cock flared to life once more. Pressed into her thigh, hard and straining. Wanting. He pushed it against her more firmly so she could feel it. She started laughing. “You do recover quickly.” She seemed amazed by this. “You’re hard again.” Not as quick as some, but he did all right. “Sometimes.” He continued his ministrations at her breasts, tasting her until she squirmed against him and rocked her hips. He lifted up from her. “Turn over.” Damn, but how much he wanted her. He’d never sounded this desperate, and he’d already come several times. What an effect she had on him, the wench. She blinked up at him. “Wha?” “Turn over.” She did so slowly, hesitantly, and moved toward the center of the bed. “I’ve never…well, you know.” He patted her firm ass cheeks. Stroked the globes under his fingers. They felt so firm and kissable. “I know. I’m not going to take ya that way. Yet.” One day he’d take her up the ass, but not today. She turned to look at him over her shoulder. “You’re not?” He shook his head at her. “Nope. Just a different position ’tis all.” He pulled on her hips, shifting her up in the air a little bit, settled himself behind her, and guided himself to her wet pussy. He rubbed against her a few seconds, letting her feel him wag against her. Pressing himself into her wetness. Letting her juices build up that much more around him. He could feel more and more as he slid around her. She gurgled, her head in the air. “Ohhhh.” She arched her neck and dipped her back down. He liked the feel of this position. Liked the control it gave him. He slipped his tip inside her, and wetness coated his tip. She breathed heavily. “Oohhhh. That feels…” She couldn’t seem to talk. “That feels… different.” The different position would stimulate different nerve endings inside her lovely pussy. Giving her an experience that wasn’t the same as last time. And giving him one too. He could go a wee bit deeper at this angle. He pressed down into her, going farther inside. Went back again. Then back inside. Farther this time. In. Out. Repeat. Until he was seated balls-deep into her inviting pussy. Until her channel clenched around him, not wanting him to go back out. She groaned again. “That’s….nice. So tight.” She was tight around him. So much so, it was like sliding in and out of a sleeve. The tight walls enveloped him. They were wet and warm and fit him like a glove. Even with the orgasms he’d had, he wouldn’t last long. Take your time. He started moving again. Slowly at first, then picking up the pace. Faster and faster, they came together in an intense joining.

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She began slamming herself backward against him. It was as if she was meeting him. Stroke for stroke, she kept coming backward up against him. Driving him still deeper into her sucking folds. His body tensed. Everything stopped. It seemed as if time was standing still. He heard her scream his name as his seed poured from his body. He roared right along with her shriek of joyous ecstasy. He’d tried to hold it off, but that had been like plugging the great waterfall, Ole Samba, on Schoon. Like plugging a hole in a dam with a finger. The climax had come too fast. He’d wanted it to last longer. Wanted to be with her longer. He pulled from her and collapsed on the bed beside her. His body began to cool from the heat that had burned him during the sex. She was like a fire that he wanted to burn him. She lay there panting and drew her legs up under her. “Was I loud again?” She sounded embarrassed. He chuckled as he pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Told ya I’d make ya scream before it was over.” They lay there for a few minutes in the quiet, trying to recover their breath and calm their bodies. If only they could stay there forever. Eventually, she broke the silence. Curled along his body, she traced circles on his chest. “We do need to get ready to go.” Life always intruded on his good times. Not that there had been many in his life. “I’ll get up in a minute.” One more minute to luxuriate with his mate before he faced reality. After this, he had even more reason to survive Batuck. She gave him reasons. He pulled her tightly against him as if they could shield each other from the future. A crock of shit and he knew it. After this trip things would change, but he’d pretend for another moment he could have his happiness. Before it was gone.

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Chapter Seven Decker watched them lead in the boy, who could hardly stand. They had him in handcuffs. They didn’t need to worry. Erek didn’t look like he could walk, much less run away from them. Erek almost fell as they released him. He had some bandages on his side. Pants that had been ripped open and sewn back together, probably a few times. His gaze didn’t seek out anything but the floor. He didn’t speak. Yeah, he wanted to be on Batuck. Decker’s lips curled up into a sneer. If he’d ever believed it, he surely didn’t after seeing the proof of what life was like here. He didn’t let them see how much this boy’s condition bothered him. He checked his reactions. Not that he’d ever been comfortable with returning the boy here to Regis and life on Batuck. No way was he doing so now, whether or not they’d be double-crossing him. He wouldn’t leave Erek to this life. Hell, he wouldn’t leave an animal to this life. “Anything else? Or can I take him and go?” He acted nonchalant, like beaten men were delivered to him every day to care for. Regis’s smile was more like a snarl. “Take him. But I want him back as soon as Isa can return him. Tell her that. Remind her.” His voice deepened. “Remind her of our association.” His eyes narrowed as he watched Decker. Was he suspicious? Or like this with everyone? Probably a little of both. “I will remind her.” Decker moved toward Erek, trying to look stern. “Come on now. Let’s go to my shuttle.” He took the chain attached to the cuffs in one hand. Wanted to rip it off with the other but refrained. “Where are the keys?” Lecherous leered. “You don’t need ’em. Don’t need to free him.” “I do. If he’s traveling with me, then I need the keys.” Decker didn’t intend to use the chain except for right now. Once he got away he’d be taking it off. They didn’t need to know that. “For emergencies of course.” Lecherous started to protest, but Regis stopped him. “If he needs to free the boy for any reason, he needs the key. The boy’s no use to me dead in a shuttle fire.” Regis tossed the keys to Decker. “Don’t lose my boy, or I will have your ass.” Lecherous winked. “I’d like that. Maybe it’s a good thing he has the keys.” He looked as though he couldn’t wait for Decker to be his. Not for a rousing game of anything but hurt-andbleed either. Dream on. Decker pocketed the keys and urged Erek forward without promising anything. The sooner they got out of there, the better. Decker needed to hold his tongue until they were free. Erek almost fell again. He murmured something. He looked about ready to fall down and curl up into a ball.

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Decker tried to look bored but was concerned. His ship was a fair distance away. He looked back at the boy, whose legs trembled more than they worked. Damn them. The boy in the picture had been strong and vibrant. Nothing like this shell of a man that they’d turned him into. He wouldn’t make it walking to Decker’s shuttle. Decker had trouble looking at him too. The woman he was in league with had caused this. She’d created this wounded person who’d probably be dead in six months unless he was removed from Batuck. “You need some help. I don’t think he can walk.” Regis sounded somber. Maybe even contrite. His next words went the opposite direction of that and made Decker grit his teeth. “I’m sure Lechy would help you for a piece of your ass.” Decker just bet he was. He wasn’t going to get it, or anything that would give him access to Decker’s ass. Lecherous’s grin couldn’t get any bigger than it was after those words. According to Regis’s offer of help, his name really was Lechy? Good God, who named these people? Decker moved toward Erek. “I’ve got it. Stay still.” The latter was a command to the boy, who tried to shrink away from him. It was hard not to call him a boy, because he didn’t look like a man right now. He picked him up and draped Erek over a shoulder. Steeled himself, but Erek hardly weighed anything. “Later.” Not. He had no plans to come back here and see these clowns. Ever. Regis’s voice sounded a hair impressed. “I’ve made sure you’ll have safe passage to your shuttle. That’s why you didn’t get jumped earlier.” Decker had thought his travels had been too easy. He left them all gaping at him. Guess those days of working out in a gym with weights after he’d left the office had paid off. They hadn’t expected him to be able to carry Erek. They’d underestimated him. Hopefully something everyone would do through this whole ordeal. That would make things ever so much easier. He made it to the small ship and dropped Erek on a bunk. Actually, the bunk. It only had one. He stretched out his arms that were starting to ache. Yeah, that had been a bit much, carrying Erek this far, but he’d made it. They were safe. Relatively. Erek scrambled back on the bunk away from Decker’s outstretched arms as though he expected to be hit. Or worse. He stared at the walls and floor rather than meeting Decker’s eyes. They’d broken him. Bloody hell. Decker didn’t say anything. What could he say that would take away the boy’s mistrust? Nothing. Only time would tell if Erek could regain some of what they’d stolen from him. Regardless, he’d never be whole again. Which made Decker want to bust them all for doing this over pure politics. He took the key from his pocket and unlocked the cuffs. “Erek, my name is Decker.” He tossed the cuffs in a corner, planning to jettison them from the airlock as soon as he could. Hell, he’d let the boy do it if he could get him to. Maybe it would help him. He pocketed the keys again. Erek sat on the corner of the bunk and didn’t look Decker in the eye. Didn’t look at anything. He rocked a little back and forth. Didn’t say anything. Just sat there like a stone as if he couldn’t move. Decker looked away, unable to take the sight any longer. Wants to be on Batuck, my ass. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out for a moment. “Erek.” He sat down next to him,

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ignoring how the boy shied away from him. “Erek.” He spoke softly but in a commanding tone. Wanted Erek to look at him, but apparently that wasn’t going to happen. “How did you get to Batuck?” He waited. No answer. Which he’d figured. The boy was shell-shocked. Decker didn’t have the training or the familiarity with the boy to help him. Maybe the sister could. To do that, he’d have to find McTavish and Arianna before Isa did. He’d have to capture McTavish and find a way to jettison Arianna and Erek without Isa knowing. His alliance with the bitch was over. Yeah, this wasn’t going to be easy. Decker got up and walked away from Erek. Didn’t want to scare him any more than he already had. He wandered over to his pantry. Got some water and some bread. He fixed some soup for Erek. A whole lot of soup. It wouldn’t hurt him to get some sustenance. Maybe that would help him trust Decker. Yeah, he’ll trust you all right. You’re working with the woman who put him there only to get McTavish for your own gain. Erek remained wrapped around himself in the corner while Decker cursed this whole job and the nature of royalty. They’d sell their damned souls to get into the power of the throne. Isa had her eyes on ruling. Decker had no doubts about that. He returned and set the dish in front of Erek, left it, and walked away like he wasn’t looking. Then he sat at his console, scanning. The smell should work on Erek and make him partake of the food. It wasn’t long before Decker heard eating sounds. He didn’t turn around but let Erek eat in peace. At least he was lucid enough to do that. Decker sighed. Now what was he going to do? He had a zombielike boy, and his partner wanted to sell him out to a pimp. McTavish, you’d better hurry up.

*** McTavish made preparations with his ship. He had loaded on several weapons, including those he had on his person. The ship was ready. It was he who wasn’t ready. He who was delaying their departure. Batuck. Leaving Colony for the last time. Maybe he ought to get a few more— “How’s it going?” a light voice warbled as the owner stepped into the ship. The voice he’d been avoiding as he packed up the ship. He turned to face Ari, who beamed at him. The look in her eyes made him feel a king among men. He liked the feel, even if he didn’t deserve it. It’s only because ya’re rescuing her brother. Hell, but he could pretend. She saw him as some sort of damned hero because he was going to get her brother. And damn him, but he liked the him he saw through her eyes. Liked the way it made him feel. Even if it was only for a little while. Which made him a sack of shit. A distracted sack of shit who might get them killed if he didn’t pay more attention to the details before them. “It’s going well.” He could have lied to delay them even more. But it was

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time to face facts. He could only postpone this trip so long if he wanted to keep that look in her eyes. “Is Batuck really that bad?” She sat down on a chair that rotated to the side and pulled her legs up under her. He’d liked those legs wrapped around him. His cock throbbed. They’d had several more rounds before he’d left her. With a guard at the door. She was sore from all that exercise, and he didn’t want to hurt her, even though he wanted her again. What had she asked him? Oh, right. Batuck. “It’s a…interesting place.” Some would find it scary. Some would see it as a hellhole. That was his view. “What makes it interesting?” “Union Alliance fought a war there and wound up evacuating the race who lived there. They left it ta bandits. There are lots of burned-out buildings with some intact, of course. The bandits take the intact buildings and run whores from them for the other bandits who live there.” He’d started to say, “Make a home.” Batuck could never be anyone’s home. Colony looked like a palace compared to that place. She nodded. “It’s a little like Chombay.” He snorted. As if. “Chombay at least has some rules. Batuck doesn’t. The badasses hang out on Batuck in between their runs. They are who frequent the whores.” He’d rescued whores before from there, one in particular. The boy had been damaged, almost beyond repair. McTavish had gotten himself out of that hellhole by some dumb luck and cunning. The scars had healed pretty well but only through effort. They reappeared sometimes. Like now. Which was why he had no desire to leave for Batuck and abandon the sanctuary he’d built from the ground up after being on Batuck. “The best way ta survive is ta walk around with purpose and never look anyone in the eye.” Meeting someone’s eyes could get you killed. Or worse. There were worse things than death. A boy screamed in pain as a knife slashed up his side. The man laughed as the blood rained down on him. “If you don’t rescue much on Batuck, how do you know so much about it?” She looked intrigued. Curious. His voice sounded dead even to him as he replied, “I was there. After I was on Chombay.” Her body stilled. She stared at him with an open mouth. “You were on Batuck? And Chombay? Both places?” He nodded, punching in a code to the ship’s computer. He didn’t say it but let it hang between them. He’d been a whore there. Both places. “You were a…?” She didn’t say the word. Didn’t voice what she was asking. Maybe she couldn’t. Maybe she understood what it meant. But he doubted that. “Yes.” He understood only too well how the men on Colony suffered with their plight in life. He’d been there. “How did you survive? Being both places? Being…used? How did you escape?” Her voice was barely audible. He stared down at a blinking red button. Got lost in the pattern of the flashes. Lost in the blood that had poured before his eyes from his body the night before he’d escaped. “I don’t

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know.” He’d run from Batuck after a few months. Had only been back a couple of times to rescue from there. Never stayed for long. He wasn’t even sure how he’d gotten off the planet. A freighter with men almost as rough as those on Batuck had picked him up. He’d given sex for passage. Yeah, it came back to him in a rush of sweaty men and grunts. He’d been deposited on Colony when he’d been too sore for sex. His wound had been infected. He’d been too sick to give head. After crawling to safety, he had discovered underground caverns. As he’d healed, he had put plans into work. It hadn’t been easy. He’d crawled before he could walk and had walked before he ran with what Colony became. He’d become a doctor to heal. Only he could never heal the wounds deep inside him. Or the men on Colony. He turned to find she’d gotten up from the chair and approached him. He hadn’t even heard her. She looked into his eyes with her glowing gaze that didn’t condemn him and wrapped her arms around him. She sought nothing in that embrace. She hugged him because she wanted to and to give him comfort. She was the only person who’d ever touched him like this—willingly and wanting nothing in return. So many had touched him for different reasons—anger, passion, pain, regret. There was none of that in her embrace. He let himself relax into the touch. Let himself savor it. Because who knew when it might come around again. She stayed like that for a few minutes and simply held him. No phony words. No patting his back or head. Then she pulled away. Coldness seeped back into every pore. His fingers itched to pull her back in, but he didn’t, despite that wish. What she gave, she gave freely, not because he demanded it. He liked it that way. Instead, his attention returned to the computer. He’d delayed them enough. Time to go. “So what is our plan?” “I’ve made several contacts on Batuck.” Two. “I’ve contacted them ta see if they can tell me where Erek is. Last I hear, he was with…a pimp. Named Regis. He runs a lot from Batuck from trafficking of people to drugs.” He wasn’t a nice man. An Amador. Big and burly. Surly. He had the power in his own hands to keep his territory. And the will to make it his alone. Regis wasn’t going to be easy to tangle with. “Sometimes, whores move around. I want Erek’s exact location before we go in.” She shook her head with a serious expression. “It’s not going to be easy to get Erek away from him.” “It’s going ta cost us.” “I only had enough money for passage to Chombay. No capital. I was going to get some to hire you, but Isa showed up before I could. I wanted to know how much you’d charge before I hit up my accounts. I knew I’d only get one shot before they closed them down.” He smiled at her desperate face. “I do have capital. And I have weapons. If worst comes ta shove, we’ll take him by force.” He’d prefer to negotiate a price. Buy the boy. Not have blood shed from anyone. But one way or another, Erek was leaving Batuck. McTavish would see to that.

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“I think it’s worse comes to worst. Not shove.” She didn’t smile at him mixing his metaphors. She plopped into the chair and stroked the arm of it. “I’ll owe you more than I can ever repay you, McTavish.” Her voice seemed to catch in her throat. “Ya owe me nothing.” She’d already given him more than he could ever give her. Somehow, she seemed to be helping him inside. That was worth more than any capital. “McTavish.” Not to mention he had principles. “I rescue on my own dime. Not for a living.” Surgery was his living, not rescuing whores. He did that because he wanted to. Nothing would change that. Not even her or her damned honor. She rubbed her hands together. Looked as though she was about to argue more but didn’t get the chance. A voice crackled over the comm. “Tav?” Sid. McTavish picked up the comm. “Yeah.” “Could you come out on deck? We’d like to see you off.” Sid’s voice sounded gravelly over the airwaves. See him off? “Sure.” What did that mean? He held a hand out to Ari. “Come on.” He walked first from the shuttle. Every man was there. Every man who lived on Colony. He’d not seen them out in this force for a while. They were silent. Sid stood in front of them all. A sea of young men. Hard eyes. Some of them hungry. Some of them angry. Some of them maybe a little sad. “What’s this?” McTavish made sure Ari was behind him and walked down the gangplank to the rocks below. “We wanted to see you off. In the Schooner way.” Sid moved forward and lay a chest at the feet of Ari and McTavish. “Not a lot but all we have.” The chest was full of different kinds of coins from several planets and Union Alliance currency. “We figure you’ll need it to help with the brother.” Sid moved back. “Attention.” All the men stood up straight with their arms by their sides. “Salute.” Sid didn’t look McTavish in the eye. All the men brought up their fingers to their foreheads as one and then dropped their hands by their sides. A Schooner military salute? McTavish’s mouth ticked up. He scratched his head. He’d seen which finger they’d all done it with. The finger he’d done the salute with to Union Alliance once upon a time with an escape that had been close. The story had made the rounds of Colony. The finger that said, “Fuck off.” Did they know that? He didn’t know whether to be touched or laugh. Sid moved back again. “We did your style. So it’s a McTavish salute.” Now he met McTavish’s eyes with a grin that he’d been hiding. “That’s what it will be known as from now on. Our way of saying good-bye.” They knew. It was a fitting send-off for him. Others would have gotten offended. McTavish didn’t.

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He laughed and moved away from Ari to shake his head at Sid. “Ya’re too fucking much.” He took Sid’s hand in his and shook it. “You know it, bro.” Sid clapped his arms. “You take care of yourself. And if you need a place to hide. Or come back to. We’re here. For her too.” “Ya take care of yarself. And them.” Sid dropped his hand. “Always.” They moved apart and McTavish spoke. “I won’t be back.” Murmurs moved through the crowd as McTavish moved back to Ari and pulled her toward the shuttle. They’d disperse on their own. He wasn’t for long send-offs. “Let’s get into orbit.” Somehow they’d given the permission to move on. His heart felt lighter. Her face looked stricken. As though she was too upset for words. She nodded silently. She didn’t want to make him leave this place. But he had no other choice.

*** As they broke orbit, Ari settled herself down for the journey. She felt a momentary twinge. It wasn’t quite pain, but it was uncomfortable. She still was sore from their earlier activities. Now she was on a mission with her mate to save her brother. The mate she’d just made leave behind everything he’d worked for. Not that she’d asked him to. But the point had been made; he’d had to for her sake. Everyone could see that. Her thoughts rolled on and on, eating at her. “If something happens ta me, I want ya ta go ta Settler’s Mine.” McTavish’s voice broke into her consciousness. “The heartstone mine?” She blinked at him, and her hand came up to clasp at the stone around her neck. “The one we hid at earlier?” He nodded, flipping the switch to autopilot. “Zelda. See her. She’ll know what ta do for ya.” “Nothing’s going to happen. We’re going to collect Erek and come… Where are we going if…when we get Erek? When we get Erek.” She cursed her slip of the tongue. They would be successful. They had to be. McTavish had given up too much of himself for them not to be. “Balboa.” A strange planet several light years away. “It’s an outpost where we can set up shop and blend in.” Rogue Schooners went there a lot. Schooners who didn’t agree with the current politics. It would be safe for them. They wouldn’t be looked at oddly. “I have an identity set up there. I can…assume it without too much trouble. Can have identities set up for ya and Erek. Isa won’t look there for me.” True. Her stepmother didn’t like to think or talk about those who disagreed with her. Or would she? “Wouldn’t she look for Schooners there? Like us?”

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His smile was malicious. “It would be the first place that she’d think of. That alone would make her dismiss it because she’d know I knew that. Plus, my ties there are so well hidden, she’d think the last place I’d go would be connected with Schoon.” He’d obviously thought this through. “Arianna.” His voice turned serious. “Yes.” “Yar brother, Erek. He’s been on Batuck for months. He’s going ta be different.” His voice lowered. “What do you mean?” What was he getting out? “He’s been used. Yar word, right? Used? Abused. That’s my word. He’s not going ta be the same boy ya knew.” McTavish rubbed his face. “Batuck will have changed him. Not for the better.” She hadn’t thought about that. Hadn’t thought beyond the rescue. “Oh. Yes. I reckon he will be.” She cursed the Schoon accent creeping out, though McTavish never said anything bad about her lack of finesse. Erek would be different. Would he be broken? Her gaze sought out the man in front of her. Her mate. He was a good man. She could feel that. But part of him had been broken. That had stayed broken. She could feel it in him even when they lay together. He’d been damaged by his time as a whore. When she’d gone down on him with her mouth, she’d sensed it was a new experience for him. At first, she couldn’t figure out why. Then she’d realized. Doing that had been pleasurable for him, and pleasure had no place in whoring, at least for a prostitute. Would her brother have those same scars? Just as she worked on McTavish’s pieces, she’d work on Erek’s. She vowed that. She’d get him through whatever he’d experienced. “I won’t let him down, you know. I will help him with what’s happened to him. I won’t abandon him.” As her stepmother and father had. Hell, even her mother had abandoned them both. McTavish turned away from her. “I know that, Arianna. I do. Just don’t expect him ta be the same man ya knew. Not for a while.” She wouldn’t. “Okay. But —” The comm cut her off yet again. “McTavish.” McTavish jumped to it. “Aedelus?” He mouthed to her. “Batuck.” Must be one of his contacts. Her heart started trying to leap from her chest. Maybe he had news about Erek. “Yeah. Are we still on for payment? Because I have some news. Big news about your lost soul.” Payment? She slumped. Nothing was ever free, but darn it, McTavish had taken care of her yet again. “We’re on. Whatcha got for me?” McTavish pulled her chair closer. “He was with Regis.”

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“Was?” McTavish looked concerned as he stroked her fingertips. “As in he’s not now? Tell me straight.” “Right. Was. Regis had him pulled this morning in the middle of an…event. You know what I mean?” An event? McTavish blew out a breath. “Yeah. A fucking.” “Not just a fucking but… Well, that’s not relevant, but you know what men like to do with royals when they can.” Not just McTavish. Ari knew too. She shivered. Her brother had been brutalized as well as raped. She wanted to kill everyone who would do that, and smack her father and Isa for leaving him there. How could they have done this? “I know. Where is he now?” “You’re going to love this.” A cackle. Ari didn’t love anything about this. How could he be so cavalier? This was her brother they were talking about. Her brother. Was life so cheap on Batuck? Maybe it was. “What?” “A Union Alliance officer took him.” “Fuck.” “I thought you’d say that. Decker is his name.” “Fuck.” This time the words garbled through clenched teeth. Decker had been the officer after McTavish. That made no sense. How had the man figured out that McTavish would be after Erek? Her eyebrows came together. How could that be? Unless… Her blood chilled. “Word is, he retrieved the boy for someone else.” McTavish’s head came up. Snapped around. “Who else?” God no. Because if it was who she thought, then it might mean things were worse than she’d thought. “Word is, Decker retrieved him and is working with—get this—Queen Isa of Schoon. Told you you’d love it.” “Fuck.” McTavish looked at her wide-open mouth that had just uttered a word she’d never said before. “Ya can say that again.” “Fuck.”

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Chapter Eight Decker tapped idly on the comm. He glanced back at Erek, still mostly comatose on the bed. He had eaten everything. He’d probably licked the plate clean. Now he had wrapped his arms around himself and sat, staring into space. Yeah, he’d wanted to be on Batuck. Decker bit his lip, looking back at the comm. Was it time yet? The comm sounded. Isa. Apparently it wasn’t time yet. “Decker here.” He glanced behind him again, checking on Erek. How would he react to hearing his stepmother’s voice? “Do you have the item?” Not my stepson. Or the prince. Or Erek. Just an item. An item who started rocking back and forth the instant that Isa spoke. Damn. “Yes, I have him.” “Good. I’ve put the word out on Batuck that we have what they want.” Her voice sounded cool and calculating. That would make McTavish and Arianna seek them out. Excellent news for Decker’s plan. “That’s good to know.” “I’m going to land on Batuck in about an hour. My captain will take the shuttle back up and block any escape routes. I’ll join you for the festivities.” Decker raised his head. “I don’t think that’s wise.” He watched the boy on the bed speed up his rocking. “Why not?” Her voice was clipped. Because it interferes with my plan. “I think you’d be better served on the shuttle blocking the escape routes. After all, do you really want anyone to know that you know where your stepson is?” She clucked her tongue. No one would know because she planned to get rid of anyone who could tell, but she couldn’t say that because it would reveal her planned double cross. She had to act like she was protecting herself from impropriety, or explain herself. She probably planned to kill McTavish, as he hadn’t been mentioned in the plans for Regis’s acquisitions. A shame. Was it really? The McTavish he knew and had read all about was probably going to be executed by Union Alliance. At least with Isa he might die fighting. Instead of being held in a cell for years, unable to do anything but piss with freedom.

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He swallowed. “You sure you can handle it?” “I’m sure.” He didn’t even know what she’d asked. He’d tuned her out. But he could handle anything. Even turning in McTavish? He’d never thought much past the fact that he would be turning him in. Never thought much about what would happen to McTavish afterward. But knowing Isa intended McTavish to die and had gotten permission for use of deadly force… Well, that meant McTavish was on Union Alliance’s execution list. The world would be without McTavish. Another shame. That sentiment wasn’t one that Decker should have. But Decker would have his job out from behind the desk. “I’m glad to hear it. Just keep in mind, we need to focus on our goals, Decker.” Isa’s mouth sounded as if she curled it around the words. Maybe talking of the outcome was distasteful to her. It sure was to him. He had no desire to be a whore. “Oh, I will, Queen Isa. I will indeed.” To escape what Isa had in store, he had to stay sharp and focused. Not get distracted. He would turn in McTavish. He would cement his own future. Wouldn’t he? He clicked off the comm. Hesitated a few minutes. Tapped on it. Pulled up the picture of McTavish and read through a few files. Turned the transmission to a rogue frequency that few knew of. He’d paid a pretty penny to find out of its existence. McTavish was known to broadcast on it. Decker had never monitored it. Never heard McTavish on it. He’d never heard the voice of the one he’d been pursuing in files for all these years. If McTavish would answer him, it would all work out. If not, he’d have to come up with a new plan. He was good at planning. He’d find a way to get them all out of this. He had no desire for McTavish to wind up dead and the other three of them to wish they were dead. Decker disengaged the docking clamps. He would take off before Isa knew what he was doing. He’d turned the station so she couldn’t contact him. This will all work out. He kept telling himself that. It had to. Decker didn’t have many options. This was about the only one that would work to get Arianna and Erek to safety. Decker couldn’t be a part of what Isa was doing to them. He hadn’t signed on for that and couldn’t let her hurt them anymore. That meant turning to McTavish and trying to figure something out. Somehow, he’d find a way to wrangle the plan so that he got McTavish as the others went free. Somehow. “Niner-Niner-Seventeen. This is Commander Decker looking for the McTavish. I have the bogey, only Head B intends a double cross of Queen A.” He tapped on the screen with nervous energy. “Niner-Niner-Seventeen. This is Commander Decker looking for the McTavish. I have the bogey, only Head B intends a double cross.” Now would McTavish answer? He had no reason to. But Decker had seen him, or rather read about him doing stranger things. Decker didn’t have a choice but to try this plan until he came up with something better.

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So he kept rebroadcasting and waiting.

*** The shuttle had been silent as they flew toward Batuck. An eerie silence that punctuated every press of every control. McTavish didn’t know what to say for once in his life. He had no idea how they were going to get Erek away from a Union Alliance officer gunning for him, backed up by Ari’s evil stepmother. He didn’t see many options, and most of the ones he did see involved him getting caught or shot. He wasn’t sure which was worse. He now had no doubts as to how Erek had arrived on Batuck, or that he had been taken by Decker in a bid to capture Ari. Isa. She’d found Erek too quickly for someone who hadn’t known where he was. Which probably meant that Ari’s mother had not disappeared under her own power either. Ari’s father had had the misfortune to be mated to a power-hungry bitch. A misfortune his first mate and children now had to deal with. After the first mate and both children were gone, Ari’s father was probably next. He was all that would stand in the way of Isa ruling Schoon. God help the Schooners if that came to pass. Not that McTavish cared about that. All he cared about was making sure Ari would come out of this alive. He glanced at her. It was a good thing to be mated to her. She was a godsend already, despite these obstacles. She made him want to be a better man than he was. Made him want forever when before he’d only seen to his next meal in advance. She had settled herself into a tucked-in position a while ago and hadn’t moved. She looked out of the ship’s window and didn’t glance at McTavish. Not even when she suddenly spoke, jarring him from his thoughts. “Isa put Erek on Batuck, didn’t she?” Her voice was flat and didn’t sound like her at all. Smart girl. “I think so.” He more than thought it, but he had no proof, so he’d have to go with that. “It’s the only way she could have known how to retrieve him so easily.” Her voice sounded defeated. As though she’d lost everything. She hadn’t. She had him. He’d damn well see to it that she didn’t lose everything. “I think so.” His hands tightened on the controls. He also had confirmation that Isa had had something to do with Arianna’s and Erek’s mother’s disappearance. Off the grid of course. He’d not share that with Ari. Wasn’t anything she needed to know because it wasn’t anything she could ever go back and fix. All she’d do was beat herself up about something she couldn’t change. He would gladly have knocked Isa’s block off, had she been there, for doing all this to Ari. He’d never felt this way about anyone before. He wanted Ari to be happy again. It was an odd feeling, especially as he had no way to give that to her. “If we’d gone earlier, we might have gotten to him before Decker did.” Her voice sounded so lost.

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McTavish shrugged. “We’ll never know. So no sense beating yarself up about it.” There wasn’t. They had done what they’d done. There was no going back for a redo to see how that worked out. “She’ll know we know. She’ll never let us leave Batuck now. Not with Erek. Not without him. She’ll have to take care of us.” She remained looking out the window. Put as much emotion into it as she would buying bread. “We’ll find yar brother.” He’d track this Decker down if he had to use every favor he’d ever made. “Doesn’t matter. She won’t let us get off the planet. Going there is now a suicide mission.” She spat out the last two words as though they’d left a bad taste in her mouth, but the rest was still monotone. “No.” His voice was firm as he tuned in to several stations to hear chatter on them. Might tell him something that would help them. He had a few channels not on the grid that he used from time to time. “It’s not. We will find yar brother and…we’ll keep him and ya safe.” If worse came to worst, he’d get them off and sacrifice himself to Isa to keep them safe. ’Course that would only be the last thing he’d try. If he could, he’d kill the bitch to keep Ari safe. Erek too. He’d have no trouble pulling the trigger. She finally turned toward him. Her eyes didn’t have tears, only resignation. “I don’t know that you can. She’s…well, I may not have known she’d do this, but I know she doesn’t shrink from anything.” Isa would back down if McTavish threatened to kill her, because she knew enough about McTavish to know he’d do it. It wouldn’t matter how many guards she posted. Not to mention right now, she was traveling light, making it easier for McTavish to get to her. Losing her crown was one thing. Losing her life was something else. She’d see that and walk away if she knew what was good for her. “We’ll get this figured out.” “Why haven’t you turned from the course to Batuck?” Her voice went higher. “A lot of men wouldn’t risk this for a man they don’t even know.” She now seemed in danger of breaking down. He didn’t like flat and emotionless, but this babbling devastation was even harder to take. He wanted to envelop her in his arms but didn’t dare step away from the controls. “I’m not a lot of men. I’m me. And I know ya. That’s good enough for me.” He said the words firmly so there wouldn’t be any doubts. A smile slipped across her lips, slight but still evident. At least he could elicit that much of a reaction from her. “I know. I’m glad you’re you.” His heart pounded. He’d never had anyone glad that he was himself before. Most wished he was anyone else but who he was. He scratched his head, then went still. Had he just heard his name on the broadcast? There had been a blip of something that sounded like McTavish. He listened intently. Maybe someone had information for him. Information that would allow their safe escape. Unlikely but he needed to check it out. What had he heard? She straightened. “What is…?” He held up a hand to keep her quiet as he listened for several more seconds to see if whatever had been said would be repeated. It was. It came across the bandwidth like a snake snapping at him.

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It was his name along with many other words. Someone was trying to contact him. He didn’t recognize the voice. “Holy shit.” He scratched his head again. He’d heard something. An inkling of a name. But surely it wouldn’t be. Couldn’t be. “What is it?” He turned some dials and turned up the volume so she could hear the whole message and so could he. There had to be some other explanation for who it was. It was a few seconds of silence. Then on a secret channel he’d used in the past, apart from all the freighter traffic, they heard: “Niner-Niner-Seventeen. This is Commander Decker looking for the McTavish. I have the bogey, only Head B intends a double cross of Queen A.” She unbuckled herself and came forward. “Commander Decker? That’s who is after you, isn’t it?” She sounded upbeat for the first time since they’d found out who had her brother. He liked the sound, though he wouldn’t get so excited yet. “He’s the one who has Erek.” “Yeah.” Her scent tickled his nose. The Union Alliance prig who wanted to throw him in the brig. Why would he be contacting him? Even about the double cross of Ari? That shouldn’t concern this Decker. “What does he mean?” Her lips pursed up into a frown that turned her whole face serious. He locked his gaze with hers. “Ya know what he means. He’s not that good at code.” The question was, could Decker be trusted? The answer was, he was Union Alliance, so hell no. But they could use this and Decker to get what they wanted. “The bogey is my brother. Head B is my stepmother. I’m Queen A. Decker has my brother and Queen Isa intends to double-cross me.” She drew her arms over her chest and looked furious. “Got most of it in one.” McTavish put in a course correction. “The first part, the numbers, are coordinates.” Decker had told him in the beginning where to go, only most people hearing it would think it was a popular way on radio to talk. Though the rest had been transparent, Decker had done a good job of covering that part up. It was common to use numbers like that to announce oneself on the radio. Not everyone did it, mostly Union Alliance people, but that was the beauty of what Decker had done. Those who knew he was Union Alliance would expect that as he began to speak. They wouldn’t look for location codes. It was an impressive display of brains. She cocked her head. “You’re going to go where he told you to go anyway? This guy is Union Alliance. He wants to bring you in. You don’t even know what he wants. He could be lying.” “I intend ta find out what he wants as I head ta his location. We don’t have many choices.” He pushed the comm button. “Interceptor Decker. This is MCT. Loud and clear. What are yar intentions? Over.” He would find out what the Union Alliance man wanted and thwart him, whatever it was. Ari held her breath as they waited while McTavish repeated the message. “Interceptor Decker. This is MCT. Loud and clear. What are yar intentions? Over.”

*** Base rumbled in the small shuttle as a voice drifted across the air and banged into the metal sides to reverberate in the cockpit. Tingles ran up and down Decker’s spine. He shifted in his

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seat, cock hard. It was the adrenaline from the chase, nothing more. He turned to glance at McTavish’s picture. He could see McTavish talking. Hair down around his shoulders, gripping the comm in a hand as his brows furrowed up into worry lines. Despite the fact it was probably a wireless microphone… “Interceptor Decker. This is MCT. Loud and clear. What are yar intentions? Over.” A note of impatience sounded. The accent, unmistakably Schooner. MCT. The voice was McTavish. Had to be. Decker had never heard his voice before. His entire body crackled with electricity. Tingles ran up and down his spine at hearing the voice that rumbled through the shuttle. That he was hearing for the first time. It was deep and thick. Serious. Tough. There was a timbre to the voice that said it took no prisoners. Just like McTavish the person. The voice suited the man. At least the man Decker had read about. He shifted in his seat again. The adrenaline of the chase was on him. He wanted to capture this man and find his own life. “Interceptor Decker. This is MCT. Loud and clear. What are yar intentions? Over.” Now the voice sounded even more impatient. He could almost hear a curse at the end of the sentence, probably on Decker’s parentage. Because you need to answer him, dumbass. He can only hear you if you pick up the comm and speak. Decker hurriedly picked up the comm. It almost seemed electrified with energy, judging by the shock the touch of the metal gave him. Or maybe it was just that he was about to speak to McTavish. “Decker here.” He could almost imagine McTavish giving the comm the fuck finger. The one-fingered salute. He smiled at the image. McTavish pushing his hair out of the way and glaring at the controls. Quite an image. “What do ya want, Decker?” A growl swept through the comm like a roaring windstorm. “Ya have what we want. How can we work this out?” That he did have what they wanted. And regardless of Isa, McTavish still had something that Decker wanted. Himself. Decker wanted him so bad he could almost taste bringing the man in to Union Alliance. “I think we can find a way.” “What about yar partner?” “Taken care of.” Isa didn’t know where he was. He’d taken off and ejected his homing beacon. He was off the radar. Isa wouldn’t have been expecting it, so she wouldn’t have been monitoring him. By the time she’d figured out what he was up to, he’d been out of radar range. She could track him, but it would take a while. He planned to be done with McTavish and have Arianna and Erek safe by the time she caught up to them. “What do ya want?” Frustration echoed in the man’s voice. And something else. A note of…somberness. He knew what Decker was about to say. “I want you.”

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A laugh came across the airwaves, pulling Decker under them like an ocean wave. “My mate might have something ta say about that. I had no idea Union Alliance was so hard up for free fucks.” Decker’s nose wrinkled. Don’t get drawn into the game. McTavish knew what he meant. He was playing obtuse. “You for the boy. Isa is going to give Princess Ari… What do you mean your mate?” He’d been so eager to tell McTavish about the plan, he hadn’t even picked up on that. McTavish wasn’t mated. What the fuck was that all about? “Doesn’t matter.” McTavish still sounded amused. “Isa is going ta hand Erek and Ari back over ta the pimps.” It wasn’t anywhere near a question, more a statement. Yes, McTavish knew the score. Mate? Decker frowned. He’d been bringing in a wanted man who wasn’t mated to anyone. How had that changed? Well, he probably knew how it had changed. Dammit. “Yeah. Isa has plans for them. I took Erek from her. He’s in bad shape. You trade yourself to me for him. I’ll make sure Ari and Erek get away. Back to their home. And let their father know what Isa is.” He had a transmission all ready to go out to their father. It was encoded. Nothing Isa could stop. He had friends in communications whom he’d already contacted. Their father would know what she’d been doing. Decker had recorded all of their comm communications. King Jaire would be interested in them. “Ya’d let them go? Ari and Erek?” McTavish sounded suspicious. “Yes. You’re the one I want.” To turn in, but he didn’t say that. “But I take you in without a fight. That’s the deal.” He held his breath. Whatever the situation was about a mate, Decker didn’t let it concern him. He’d get his man and bring him in. Leaving a mate pining. “Take it or leave it.” McTavish didn’t have many choices. He’d have to turn himself in to Decker, who would deliver him to Union Alliance. Meanwhile, the mate would be lonely and bereft. Especially when they executed McTavish. No, this was the job he’d been sent there to do by his bosses. He’d dreamed of fulfilling his mission. He’d do it no matter what. Despite little niggles at his conscience that he was taking a man away from his mate. Arianna. Maybe. At least she’d get her brother back. If things went to plan. Would McTavish agree to his terms? “Aye. I’ll meet ya. I’ll give myself up. But I want Ari and Erek ta go free. And ya’ll provide the evidence ta their father ta prove Isa’s role in this? For my capture without incident? Aye?” “Aye.” He blinked at his use of McTavish’s word. Guess he’d been pursuing him too long. He moved to reach a control. “Just sent evidence to their father in good faith of our deal. We do have a deal?” “Aye.” A snort. “Union Alliance has no good faith. Until we rendezvous.” The comm cut off. Decker held his breath as he ran the transmission back and listened again. McTavish would likely try something. Decker would have to be ready. But he had McTavish in his sights and had his back up against a wall.

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Decker would keep him there.

*** “So what’s the plan?” Ari sat up and dangled her legs over the chair. Her heart hurt. She’d put McTavish in this situation. Isa would kill them. The only one they had to trust was a smarmy little Union Alliance agent. He was only smarmy because he wanted to turn McTavish in to Union Alliance. McTavish leaned back. “After it goes down, ya and Erek take this shuttle. Head for Settler’s Mine. Zelda will know what ta do. She’ll make sure Decker did what he was supposed ta do and contacted yar father. She’ll set ya up ta go forward.” He said the words as though he were discussing a meal or an evening out. She blinked at him with her mouth open. “You’re not going off with this…person. This hunter.” She didn’t know what to say to that. McTavish couldn’t be thinking that he would give himself up. “You must be joking.” There had to be a plan. A way to get him out of this. McTavish had all sorts of tricks. He must be teasing her. “Decker isn’t a bounty hunter.” He didn’t look as though he was joking. He looked as though he was serious. “So? He’s after you. He wants to turn you into Union Alliance. To Union Alliance. Do you know what they will do to you?” Now he looked bored. “He is Union Alliance. A company man. And he could shoot me on sight. He could do anything ta me on sight.” “So?” Ari didn’t see where this was going. What was he up to? There had to be a plan, darn it. “All the more reason to come up with a plan to get Erek back from this…jerk.” Yeah, that was telling him. She’d have to learn how to curse once this was all over. McTavish could teach her. He was a whiz at a turn of a phrase. “He won’t shoot me, though he could. The order went out that I can be killed on sight. He will let ya and Erek get away from this whole thing. That much I’m sure of about Decker. He’s betraying Isa. He’s telling the truth.” “How do you know that? She could be waiting there for us too!” Ari wanted to know the plan, and he was talking in riddles. He was not going to turn himself in. He couldn’t. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go down. She’d just found him. She couldn’t lose him. Not like this. Not at all. He shook his head. “I doona think so. He took a big risk in sending out that message. He contacted me on stations that Isa wouldn’t know. She’s still on Batuck, apparently tearing it apart and raising hell.” A satisfied smile moved across his lips. “Decker betrayed her. He took Erek and ran.” “Good. At least he did that part right. But he’s still Union Alliance. You can’t trust a company man.” She sobered up. “I can’t let you go with him. I won’t. You’re my mate.” I can’t lose you. She’d just found him. She didn’t want to give him up yet. He reached over and stroked her hair. His hand was warm, and sparks seemed to glide into her from his touch. “I know. I won’t be with him long. I’m slippery. He’s a desk jockey. He can’t hold me. But it’s easier to do it this way than ta try it any other way. He has ta think he won to do what I want.”

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She shook her head. “If he takes you, there’s no guarantee you will escape. No guarantee I’ll get you back.” His gaze met her full in the eyes as he still stroked her hair. “And if I try anything, he might shoot ya. If ya lose me ta him, it’s not permanent. I will find a way back ta ya. If I lose ya ta that, there’s no coming back.” She shook her head but didn’t say anything. He wasn’t willing to risk her. God, how could she argue against that? She had to. She didn’t want to lose him. But she didn’t see her way around this. “He might shoot Erek.” Her breath caught. She hadn’t thought of that. Stupid. She was willing to risk her own life, but Erek had been through so much already. He’s in bad shape. The words echoed in her head. Her sunny brother was hurting. If only they hadn’t spent so much time at Colony. She closed her eyes. It hadn’t seemed like it would hurt anything at the time. But if they’d been earlier to Batuck, they might have gotten Erek before Decker had. Too late now. McTavish was right in what he’d said earlier. They couldn’t go back and fix it. No sense worrying about it. She opened her eyes again to find McTavish watching her closely. “Decker’s holding the cards right now. When he and I are alone, I can fight him. I’m a good fighter. Ya know that. But I can’t be with ya and Erek there.” He continued stroking her hair. She was a liability. He would worry too much about her and Erek getting hurt if they were there. “So we just land and make the exchange and hope for you to escape? That’s a dumb plan.” He chuckled. His mouth curled up in a slight smile. “Tell me how ya really feel about ma plan.” He moved his hand from her hair without letting it linger. “It’s all I’ve got right now, Ari. I can’t risk either of ya.” He turned back to the controls, dismissing her. She seethed and thought during the whole the ride to the coordinates. She couldn’t come up with anything better than his stupid plan. If only she’d been doing strategy instead of stupid princess planning. Everything was stupid now in her book. They landed without a hitch. Nothing seemed amiss from the look of the layout. Decker’s shuttle was waiting for them. “Any signs of Isa?” She almost wanted there to be a sighting of her. At least then, McTavish would fight against this. He punched a few buttons. “She has left Batuck, according ta several sources, but no sign of her here. None.” He beckoned her to his side with open arms. “It will be okay, Ari.” No. No, it wouldn’t be okay. Couldn’t be okay. But she didn’t have a choice. Or an option. She wasn’t a fighter. Didn’t know how to shoot weapons. She was useless. She jumped into his arms. “This is so unfair.” Tears pricked her eyes, and she blinked them back. They were useless too. “Wild beetlebogs couldn’t keep me from ya, I swear. Once ya’re safe, I’ll escape. I’ll find ya. I swear it on my life.” His chest rumbled underneath her, which was music to her ears. She closed her eyes to zero in on the sound.

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He’d do everything to keep that promise. Because he was McTavish. And that was what he did. God, she’d never felt this way about another person. She couldn’t lose this feeling. It was too incredible. She nodded at him as he opened the door. She didn’t like the plan, but she’d go along with it unless another option presented itself. “Ya stay on the plank ta the shuttle near the door. I’ll have Decker send over Erek ta ya so ya can get him inside. Don’t wait for me. Take off as soon as ya have yar brother.” He motioned with a hand on the controls. “Ya can engage autopilot ta fly this thing?” She nodded again and he pulled away from her. She didn’t like feeling as though it might be the last time she touched him. He strode with purpose down the walkway. Long loping strides that resembled those he’d been taking in the beginning when she’d been following him. That seemed like a lifetime ago. She remained near the door. Waiting. Cursing under her breath. At least she would get Erek back. But at what cost? She surveyed her surroundings as McTavish moved to give her more of a view. The swirling dust that had been kicked up by the shuttle dissipated, clearing her sight too. This was a dry world. Decker stood in front of his shuttle. With…Erek. Erek was in front of him, so she could barely see the Union Alliance officer who was about to take her mate. She wanted to see him so she could memorize his features and get him if she ever saw him again. Her gaze fell to her brother as she ignored warmth against her chest from her heartstone. Her chest heated. She almost forgot her instructions. She almost ran to Erek after she got a good look at him. He looked so…small. So broken. Not the same man she’d seen so many moons ago. He looked so weak, he could barely stand. The brother she’d known had played sports and been taller than she was. Damn her stepmother. For this and so many other things. They were too numerous to name. “McTavish.” Decker’s voice was singsongy. Triumphant. Like a trumpeter swan who had just found a mate. She wanted to scratch out his eyes. “Did ya really send the evidence ta the king?” McTavish’s back straightened. Even in the end, he was checking on her well-being and making sure she was cared for. “Yes.” McTavish spread his arms wide and said, “Send the boy ta his sister. And ya can have me without a fight.” An odd warmth continued to spread up and around her chest with unflinching aim. She’d noted it before, when she’d first seen Decker and her brother, but this was even more intense. She reached down. Must be the emotion of seeing McTavish leave her and getting her brother back. McTavish’s hand snaked around his front to grasp his necklace. His heartstone glowed too. They always glowed in tandem. She exhaled deeply and tried to quiet the raging emotions in her. She didn’t want the stones to continue to glow.

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Decker poked at Erek and gave him a soft push. “Walk to your sister. Come, Erek, it’s Arianna.” His voice gentled as though he talked to a small animal. A small, scared animal. That was what her brother had been reduced to. Erek almost stumbled, then whispered, “Ari?” His voice sounded as if it hadn’t been used in ages, like it was covered with mold. He moved away from Decker, revealing the whole man for the first time. Ari started as she got her first good view of the Union Alliance officer. She gaped as she saw something that couldn’t be believed. A startled “bloody hell” erupted from McTavish’s mouth too, as he must have seen what she had. Their stones hadn’t glowed because of emotion between them. Their stones had glowed because they’d found their third mate. Decker’s gaze swept to their glowing stones, and then he glanced down as they stared at a stone around his neck as it glowed with an eerie black light along with theirs. McTavish, Decker, and she were mates.

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Chapter Nine Decker stared down at his chest. The glow couldn’t be happening. “What the hell?” He glanced down again and back up as though he could stop the stone from shining. A waste of time because the stone still glowed like a beacon. He knew what that meant even as he shook his head in denial. Erek had stopped about midway between them and was glancing back and forth as if he didn’t know what to do. He sensed the tension in the air. Decker didn’t have time to reassure him. He was too busy trying to process what was happening or rather, what had already happened. “What the hell?” he repeated. Arianna’s and McTavish’s stones glowed in concert with his. They looked about as shellshocked as he felt. No one could have predicted this. Or seen it coming. Maybe this explained his obsession with McTavish. No, nothing explained this. “This can’t be happening.” He swallowed, looking at the glowing stones again as though he could will them to stop glimmering. He couldn’t of course. They went on and on despite what anyone else wanted them to do. “Ya’re fooking telling me.” McTavish shook his head and took two steps toward Decker and Erek. “Decker, we’re mated. All of us. Ari. Me. Ya. Bloody fooking hell. The Fates are bastards.” “There has to be some mistake.” Yeah, the Fates made a mistake. Not likely. But how could he be mated to a…rogue and a princess? The woman, Arianna, laughed. The sound made Erek’s head spin toward her. “That’s what I said. When I was first mated to him. But it’s not a mistake. We’re all mates.” Her voice sounded incredulous. Was that what Decker sounded like? He waved a hand and moved away from his ship. “No. This can’t be happening. It’s some sort of trick.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “A trick of light.” Pinching didn’t help. His orderly side took over as the only way he could deal with this. The orderly side reminded him of what he was there to do. “I’m taking you into Union Alliance.” Did he sound as desperate as he felt? McTavish got a shit-eating grin on his face. “So ya say. Mate.” He put emphasis on the last word. Took a step or two toward Decker. His big body coming closer made Decker’s heart pound. The man was huge. Was he huge everywhere? Did he have an erection that was as hard as Decker’s? He’d feel good against Decker. So would Arianna between them. Her soft skin against their hardness. Sex with McTavish would be as rough as the man himself.

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No. You need to take him in. As you promised your bosses you would do. To get out from behind the desk job. How the hell could he turn in his own damned mate? This made no sense. No sense at all. The Fates did have a sense of humor. A big one apparently. A damned big one. But he’d made a promise. His word was his bond. He had to turn in McTavish. His orderly side overruled that side of emotion that talked about what mates were. At the very least, he needed to get away from here. With McTavish. He needed to think. He couldn’t think now. Now with the three others staring at him. That could be fun. Alone with McTavish. Stop it. He was losing his mind. He needed to get out of here. He moved closer to McTavish, who was already close by. “We had a deal.” He pulled out handcuffs. “Put ’em on.” He tossed them at McTavish. McTavish looked down at the cuffs that had landed at his feet. “We did have a deal. And I’m not a welcher.” He looked amused as he held out his hands together in front of him. “Why don’t ya put the cuffs on me?” Those eyes glittered dangerously. That would put Decker close enough to touch. If those hands touched him, no telling what Decker would do. “Handcuffs can be very fun.” That comment ignited a firestorm in Decker. He moved a step or two away, making McTavish look even more amused. “You’ve got to be kidding me. He’s your mate.” Arianna came down the plank until McTavish held up a hand at her. She didn’t like it, judging from the look on her face, but she stopped at the end of the plank. It was definite who was the dominant in their relationship. Decker broke out in a sweat. Who would be the top in his relationship with McTavish? Somehow he didn’t see himself being able to dominate McTavish. But it might be fun trying. Except you need to deliver McTavish to Union Alliance. Today. For your job and because you promised. They would kill him. Leaving both Arianna and him despondent. Arianna would never forgive him. Would he forgive himself? You can’t turn him in. Only he was committed to that course of action. Let me get in the shuttle. Let me think this through. Just let me get away from here and all these eyes staring at me. He’d let Arianna and Erek run. Better to separate anyway, just in case Isa did catch up with them. Two shuttles had a better chance at evasion than one. Not to mention it would give him some time alone with McTavish. He swallowed. Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. Or maybe it was. Maybe they could sort things out. His orderly mind had been blown by the glowing of three stones. He didn’t know anything anymore. “Erek, go ta yar sister.” McTavish’s voice rang out like fire in a canyon, spreading out and taking the space over. He boomed. Left no room for argument.

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The boy swallowed and quickly scurried to Arianna, acquiescing to the command in McTavish’s voice. He didn’t say anything, just walked up to her and let her hug him but didn’t hug her back. This embrace seemed to make him shake, but he almost appeared to draw strength from his sister as his stature improved. He stood up straighter. The boy had a long road ahead. Decker turned toward McTavish. “Now put on the cuffs.” He held his breath. McTavish would be at his mercy then. Definitely a thought-provoking idea. He didn’t want McTavish to get away, no matter what he was going to do with him. The less Erek and Arianna knew about where they were going, the better. They had an escape route. McTavish wouldn’t have let them come there without it. They could rendezvous later, once Decker figured out what he was going to do. Only if you don’t turn in your mate. McTavish picked up the cuffs almost leisurely and slipped one wrist through them. “Ya’re making a mistake.” The click made Decker’s heart pound even more. McTavish seemed to notice, and he smiled. “I don’t think so.” Not that he could think with the burning in his chest. On his chest. Wasn’t it time for the stones to stop glowing? “I have to turn you in. It’s my job.” Of course being mated changed everything, but Decker had to hold on to something. At least until he could think this through. “It’s the only way I’ll ever get out from behind…” The buzz of a small craft overhead made them both look up. The damn thing was nearby too. Arianna started yelling, “It’s a Schoon shuttle craft.” She grabbed Erek closer and began stumbling back toward the shuttle. “Come on!” Hell. Isa had found them. She had sent in the shuttle to disable them by surprise before the big ship moved in to take them out. Their shuttles could fly fast and evade big ships, but not if they’d been blown up. “Come on…” he echoed Arianna. Decker’s shuttle blew up into a million smithereens with an impact that knocked McTavish and him to the dusty ground in a clump of bodies. Too bad they hadn’t been closer together. God, he’d almost been killed, and all he could think about was being nearer to McTavish. Damn the stones trying to get them together. “A bomb.” How could the ship have blown up like that without one? She’d planted a bomb on his ship. The bitch. But she’d never been alone with his ship. It was impossible. He growled in frustration. Blood streamed down from his head into his eyes. He wiped the blood away. McTavish leaped to his feet quickly for a big man. He looked graceful too. “They fucking shot it. Come on with me.” He reached for Decker to pull him up to his feet. His hand almost touched Decker’s before Decker pulled away. “Come on, ya’re fucking bleeding.” He couldn’t let McTavish touch him. If he did, he’d be lost in the world of those who were mates. He didn’t know if he wanted to be lost in that world yet. His head started to pound. He could barely think above the thumping of his own head. He’d needed to think, hadn’t he? “You’re my prisoner. Put the cuff on the other side.” That would limit McTavish’s mobility. Just in case.

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Another rain of shots. They were running out of time. Isa’s shuttle hadn’t hit McTavish’s ship yet, but given enough time it would. Arianna and Derek were almost inside. “Just do it. We don’t have time to argue.” More blood rained down from his head. Just how bad was it? He felt woozy. McTavish opened his mouth at that but then shut it without a word. Arianna screamed. “Get on board, Ari. I’m coming.” McTavish didn’t even look to see if she’d complied. “I don’t have time for this bullshit.” Neither did Decker. Glad McTavish had seen it his way. Only before Decker could move, McTavish slung the other cuff on Decker’s wrist and clicked it into place. Decker’s reactions were slower than usual. His hands felt like lead weights. “That’s not part of the plan.” Decker frowned at the steel link that now connected him to McTavish. “Take that off.” He blinked, as the statement didn’t make sense. McTavish tugged on him, ignoring the order, probably because he didn’t understand what Decker was trying to tell him. Decker looked at their arms locked together. His spine tingled. They were locked together. Like mates. “You’re still my prisoner.” That came out much clearer than the last order. McTavish didn’t answer, simply scooped Decker up, and together they ran toward the shuttle. Decker fell about midway and couldn’t seem to find his footing. His feet were encased in weights or something. McTavish picked him up and ran with him. “Damn but ya’re heavy.” The last thing Decker saw before he passed out was the sky alight with brightness and his shuttle in flames. Yippee-ki-yay motherfucker, indeed.

*** Ari looked concerned as she peered down at Decker. “Is he going to be okay? I mean that looks serious. He’s bled a lot.” McTavish adjusted the dressing he’d just applied. “’Tis a matter of opinion whether he was okay ta start with.” ’Course he had to be daft to have joined Union Alliance in the first place. Ari clamped her mouth together, probably irritated with him. “McTavish.” “He’ll be fine.” For the most part. He rubbed his wrist where the cuff had bitten into him. Those had been the first things to go once he’d gotten on board. He could still feel the cut into his skin. Decker still wore his, however. “He bled a lot.” She repeated the phrase with a concerned look. “Head wounds bleed more. For all species.” Maybe getting knocked in the head would put some sense into the man. But of course he was Union Alliance, and they had little sense to start with. He looked down at the man who would be his mate. “Are you sure? And are you sure we lost Isa?” She glanced toward the windows, which were dark with space.

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“Yes on both counts. I am a surgeon. I can handle a simple head wound.” It hadn’t taken much to lose Isa. Just a little trick flying. Good thing they were onboard this craft that Isa had never come near. He wouldn’t have put it past the witch to put a tracer onboard Decker’s ship. Probably how she’d found him so quickly. “Where’s yar brother?” “He’s resting.” Now the worry lines came down farther. “How is he? I didn’t get a chance to ask because things were so…chaotic.” McTavish had examined him after he’d first wrapped up Decker’s head. “Physically, he’s okay. Mentally, it’s going ta take a while.” He’d seen that haunted look in the eyes of whores before, the hunched-over stature, being completely nonverbal. He recognized the signs. The boy had been savaged. It would take a while for him to recover. Ari could only help him so much. Much of this recovery would have to be Erek’s. He sat down for the first time since the attack and rubbed his back where there would be a huge bruise from landing on the ground. “He’s sleeping a lot. Already.” “It’s an escape. From the pain that he’s in. Not just physically but mentally.” “He won’t talk to me.” Her voice sounded small. McTavish met her gaze but didn’t say anything. It would be a while before Erek was ready to talk. That would hurt Ari. There were things that had to come to pass with Ari and Erek. Ari wasn’t ready to hear them now. She would later because she loved her brother. “What do we do now? Where do we go?” Her voice sounded small in the shuttle. As though she didn’t dare talk too loud for fear Isa might hear her. He didn’t answer. “Go check on Erek. Get some rest. I’ll watch over Decker.” He placed a small kiss on her willing lips. “It will be okay.” She traipsed off with the worry lines still on her beautiful face. If only he could ease them for her. But with this man coming into their life, McTavish couldn’t promise anything. He looked over where the pain pills were but didn’t rise to get them. He’d deal with the physical pain like he always did. Decker moved on the bed and let out a moan. His eyes didn’t open, and soon he breathed deeply again. The pain medicine that McTavish had given him should knock him out for a while so that McTavish could have a plan in place by the time Decker awoke. He looked at the empty cuff that had once held his own hand. He patted the key in his pocket that he’d retrieved from Decker. Then he took the cuff and looped it around a piece of the bed, fastening it with a little click. He then checked to make sure there was enough slack in the chain to let Decker move around, but not too much because he didn’t want the man getting out of bed. The jailer had now become the prisoner. McTavish could picture Decker’s irritation at this. He surveyed the Union Alliance officer who’d been pursuing him. For a desk jockey, he looked damn good. He had muscles that were lean and limber. His short-cropped hair was blond in color from what could be seen. His brown eyes had flashed his every emotion and shone bright with intelligence. Probably both were how Zelda had figured out

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he was not far out from behind the desk. Most soldiers had learned to keep their emotions in check and didn’t possess a lot of smarts. The man twisted on the bed. He did have a hard body. A boyish face. He was younger than McTavish—hadn’t seen as much. Sort of like Ari. McTavish laughed at that. He’d been saddled with two naive ones. He’d be the only jaded one in the trio. Maybe that was for a reason. There were too many jaded people in the world. Maybe they’d help him regain some of his innocence. Or at least not look at the world so bitterly. Wishful thinking. This man wants ta turn ya in ta Union Alliance. Yet he was McTavish’s mate. That fact couldn’t be ignored. Not by McTavish and surely not by Decker. Decker had somehow tracked him before. He’d come closer than any other Union Alliance officer to McTavish in ages. How? Had Decker been drawn in by the Fates to get to McTavish? Something had to be going on. Granted Decker was intelligent, but a certain amount of kismet had to have happened. He looked at the man on the bed and leaned back in the chair. Decker definitely was easy to look at. He’d look better with longer hair that wasn’t cut to Union Alliance specs. And he’d look better with no bandage obscuring his forehead. His eyes would look better open and laughing, not shut and resting. Decker’s eyes slowly slid open as though sensing McTavish’s desire to see them open. He blinked a couple of times. One eye closed and one eye stayed open. “I didn’t dream that, did I?” “Dream what?” McTavish sat forward again, glad to hear the man talking. When he’d seen the head wound, he had wondered if Decker’d be okay. “Mated. To. You. And Arianna. Isa. Not mate. Shooting at me…us.” His words came with great difficulty. It sounded as though his tongue was thick and obtrusive. Considering the pain dose that McTavish had given him, it was a wonder he was even lucid. “It wasn’t a dream. It was real.” Decker opened the other eye and closed the one that had been open before. His breathing came shallowly. “You’re still my prisoner.” Both eyes closed, and he drifted back off to sleep. McTavish smiled and pulled the blanket up on the man. Decker wasn’t going to be happy when he realized he was the prisoner. Which invited a lot of questions. How did McTavish convince Decker not to turn him in? Decker was a logical, orderly sort of person. The exact opposite of McTavish. His orderly mind would tell him he had to turn McTavish in no matter what. Sex would help once they could join their bodies. The heartstone bond was always cemented later, but it took work. The initial part was easy—the glow. Everything else had to be provided by the mates.

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He rubbed his head. How were they going to get away? He had an identity set up, but with a rogue Union Alliance officer, even that got a little dicey. He swallowed, tapping on the arm of the seat. Decker had gotten a missive off to the father. Isa didn’t know that. Maybe that could come in handy. How? It would take a while for the king of Schoon to catch up to his traitorous wife. She might hear that she’d been outed before King Jaire got back to her. How could he use this information to get what he wanted—Ari and Decker, keep Decker from turning him in, and nab Isa in the process? He stared down at the man on the bed. Decker stretched out his legs toward the end before he curled them back together. “McTavish.” Yeah, McTavish was keeping him. He pulled out a portable comm. “This is MCT calling for the king of Schoon. I have yar daughter. Over.” That should get someone’s attention and put his new plan into motion.

*** Decker didn’t want to get up. He’d been lying on the uncomfortable bunk for several minutes, trying not to wake up. He wanted five more minutes. Five more minutes. The alarm would be going off any second. Another day behind a desk, maybe some researching of McTavish before he came home. Eating a boring dinner. Then going to bed to do it all again tomorrow. He shifted his weight, trying to find a comfortable spot, but couldn’t seem to find a way to lie that was relaxing. His head tingled. No, actually it hurt. His head didn’t just hurt; it throbbed in time to his heartbeat. Black stones glimmering. Beating in sync. Three black stones. Weird dreams. Or were they? He’d had a dream about McTavish. Being mated to him. And Princess Arianna from Schoon. The queen of Schoon had been shooting at them. McTavish had picked him up and carried him to a shuttle after he’d hit his head. How realistic that his head now hurt just like it would have if his dream had been reality. In the exact spot he’d been bleeding too. Maybe they hadn’t been weird dreams. He’d often dreamed about McTavish. Arianna and Isa? Not so much.

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He could open his eyes, check out his surroundings, and see where he was. That would tell him if the dreams were real or not. But somehow, resting warm and content under the blanket was much nicer than opening his eyes to the reality. At least here he could pretend that maybe some his dreams were real. If he opened his eyes, he’d know just where he was. He let out an unsteady sigh. McTavish. His mate. That was a crock of shit. Something touched his brow. He tried not to jerk away from the touch, but it was hard. Maybe that was in his dream too? It sure felt real. “The way ya say my name makes me want ta keep ya.” Decker’s eyes flew open to stare into the blue eyes that belonged to the real McTavish. Not some facsimile on a screen or a picture. McTavish smiled. “Oh good, ya’re awake.” He pressed his lips to Decker’s in an electrifying kiss that sent all of Decker’s senses screaming into the night. His bold lips ravished Decker’s with flourish until Decker’s head was reeling more from him than the head wound. He moved himself on the mattress, and the throbbing started again. His body stiffened to offset the pain. McTavish must have felt his reaction, because he let him go. “Head hurt?” Decker nodded and tugged on a hand to put it on top of his head. Why did he have to tug on his own hand? He looked to see and his hand was in a cuff that was attached to some mechanism of the shuttle. The same cuff he’d been trying to put on McTavish to take him in. His head spun, which made him feel like he was doing circles in the room. His stomach lurched. “Easy.” Something cool draped across his forehead. He didn’t even know what it was until he opened his eyes. A compress. McTavish held it to the side of his head, wiping slightly so the coolness spread around. After a minute, the rolling motion passed. “Ya okay?” Decker nodded, bringing a whole host of secondary nausea moving across him. He clutched at the sheets. “Don’t move yar head. That will help.” Maybe. Decker wasn’t counting on anything. “Why am I cuffed to this bed?” He spoke slowly and haltingly so that his head would stay still. McTavish chuckled. “I wish it was for better reasons. But ya seemed bound and determined ta turn me in before. So…just a way ta ensure we get ta talk first before ya make any snap decisions.” Decker did remember he’d been trying to get McTavish to Union Alliance. Before Isa’s ship had come down. Guess that had really happened too. “Oh.”

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“We’re really mated.” Decker’s eyes met McTavish’s. “Ya asked that just before ya woke up. Ya were stirring and I came over. Ya seemed ta question that.” Decker started to rub his head but stopped. “So your plan is to keep me here until I won’t turn you in anymore.” McTavish took the cloth and rewet it in a basin that had some water, probably from the coolant coils on the shuttle. He placed the rag gently on Decker’s head. “Actually my plan is ta let yar head heal and then fuck ya.” He didn’t smile. Instead, he looked deadly serious. Blood rushed from Decker’s head to points down below, leaving him light-headed. “McTavish.” His voice still sounded weak. “Yes, I’m serious about that too. Ya still need rest, though.” “Isa.” Decker did want to fall back asleep. His head felt heavy, like a weight on his shoulder, but there was something he needed to say. He had to get it out before he lost it. “She’s…” “I have a plan for dealing with Isa.” Decker came awake as if the water in the cloth had been laced with caffeine. “She’s going to kill you.” “Is that why ya switched sides?” McTavish sat by him, facing him and propped his feet up on another chair. Big feet. Did that mean big something else? “I…” Decker moved around. Another mistake, as his head swam. “I’m still on the side I was when I started. I need to take you in. Isa was a momentary distraction.” The words had no conviction behind them. It was as if they were mere powder and all one had to do was blow to get them away. What had happened to his sensibilities? They’d disappeared the instant that the stones had glowed. “Do ya now?” “I’m supposed to.” “And ya’re the type of man who always does what he is supposed ta do.” McTavish found Decker’s hand and stroked it. “Well, yeah.” He had been. Always. He’d never departed from convention. “I never do.” “Well, yeah.” He was repeating himself now. “You’re McTavish.” He realized the words were probably stupid. “And ya’re my mate. Mine and Ari’s. Which means we have some things ta work out. Before ya get out of that cuff.” “Where is Arianna?” Erek’s face popped into Decker’s mind. “How’s Erek?” “He’s fine. Better now. She’s with him and doing some things I asked her ta do.” What kinds of things? Decker didn’t ask because he figured that McTavish wouldn’t answer him. It probably had to do with the plan. McTavish’s plan.

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McTavish stroked along his fingers. They tingled as though McTavish’s hand were electrified. “Sleep now, Decker. We’ll talk more later.” Despite the objections that rose to his lips, Decker’s eyes fluttered shut almost as though McTavish had bespelled him. And he slept.

*** Decker woke up slowly. Gradually. His head was no longer pounding. He just liked being under the covers, warm and toasty. Though he didn’t want to get up, he supposed it was time. He gingerly rubbed his head. The bandage wasn’t quite as big as the previous ones had been. He didn’t feel the room spinning like it had before either. He slowly sat up in the bed, stopped only by the cuff that restricted his movement. He’d almost forgotten about that. He tugged on it. Still tight. He was tied to the bed until someone came and unlocked him. What did you expect? You have been threatening to bring McTavish in to Union Alliance. He closed his eyes for a moment. All he’d ever wanted to be was out in the field. A Union Alliance agent had been his dream job. Now he was faced with never being one. Never becoming what he’d set his goal to be. Yet somehow that didn’t hold the sting that it had before when he’d contemplated not becoming what he wanted to be. Because you have McTavish and Arianna. As mates. He opened his eyes and looked at his surroundings. Took a deep breath. He’d never expected them. He had one mate he felt like he knew inside and out. The other he didn’t know at all. Would have to fix that part of the mate equation. So you’re officially not turning in McTavish? Before he could answer his own question, the man in question strolled into the room, looking controlled and loose at the same time. “Ya’re awake.” His cock bloomed to life. Damn but the man had the ability to make him sexually aroused. Always had. Even when all he had was a picture and a file to read. He’d tried to blame adrenaline but truth was, it was McTavish. Every time. “Yep.” He met McTavish’s cold eyes. “Ya look loads better than ya did the last time ya woke up.” McTavish came over to the bed and sat on the side of it. The mattress dipped under the weight. “I feel better. My head’s not woozy anymore.” Decker tugged on the chain. “Now how about letting me go?” A grin strolled across McTavish’s face to plant itself on his lips. “We clear on ya not turning me in?” “Maybe.” Instead of getting up and going over to the other side of the bed, McTavish rolled on top of Decker. His hard body pushed Decker’s down, forcing him to recline. His hard cock met Decker’s leg to push into him and grind as McTavish unlocked the cuffs. There seemed to be more wiggling than necessary to get the cuffs off.

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The big feet and hands hadn’t lied if what Decker felt was any indication. A shiver moved down his spine into his groin. His own cock twitched, already hard and wanting. Only McTavish could do this to him. When his arm fell as McTavish took off the cuffs, McTavish didn’t move from his body. Instead he lifted up and looked down into Decker’s face. His eyes seemed to probe into the depths of Decker’s soul. “What?” Decker didn’t want the man to move, so any stalling he could do was a bonus. He liked the angles of McTavish’s body pressing into him. The slide of the hardness as McTavish moved. You’re this easy? Give you a mate, and you give up on your principles? What about what you wanted to do with your job? Your career? He hushed the voice, despite a pang in his chest. Attaining a mate had changed everything. That always did, even more so than finding one’s heartstone. Only time would tell how much these two mates would affect Decker’s life. He hadn’t had a sexual encounter in months, save for his own hand. There had been no time. Now there shouldn’t be time, but he wanted this with McTavish. Wanted to be with him more than anything else—something that shocked him down to his core. McTavish’s eyes glittered. “We’re mates.” His voice was low and rumbled up from his chest like a volcano. The stones glowed in time with each other, casting a dull light and pulsing across their chests. If Ari was anywhere nearby, hers probably glowed too. Just where was their third mate? A shiver rocked him. “Yes, we are.” Decker’s voice caught in his throat. He’d never expected to be mated to McTavish. Yet something had always intrigued Decker about the man. Maybe that had been his subconscious searching for his mate. Regardless, he looked at this man now and knew him. Inside and out. McTavish reached down to grasp his face in his hands. They were warm and rough, just the way Decker had expected them to be. The descent of his mouth was much faster than Decker expected. He struck like a panther heading for prey. Quick and deep, his hunt penetrated Decker’s defenses. The lips that touched his didn’t ask. They took. Didn’t falter. Pressed against his to capture them with aplomb. McTavish traced the seam of his lips with his tongue until he opened and McTavish plunged his tongue into Decker’s mouth to tangle with his own. He pressed his body against Decker’s, sliding alongside of him, pressing his cock into him and holding him with strong arms. Moaning. It took Decker a second to realize the sound was him. The cry came from deep within his throat. Deep within his consciousness. Maybe even his soul. He’d waited for this moment since he’d found his heartstone. No wonder he’d become so obsessed with the man and finding him. Maybe it hadn’t been for the job. Maybe it had been for himself. Now he had him. And he was going to sample all that he could.

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Their finding each other had been destined from the moment they’d been born. It was something that no one could fight against. Not that he wanted to fight against it. Hell no, he wanted to run toward this intimacy with McTavish. It had been too damn long. Not even destiny or the Fates could make him want McTavish so much. Only McTavish could do that to him. The stones were the catalyst but not the end-all. They only started the passion. It was up to the people to finish what the stones had started. Decker wanted to finish this with bodies and sweating. McTavish backed away from his lips. “Ya think ta much.”

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Chapter Ten Decker felt his lips cool immediately from the red-hot kisses that they’d been sharing. He frowned at McTavish. McTavish nipped at his lips and bit just a tiny bit hard. “Don’t think. Just do.” He resumed kissing Decker, which was what Decker wanted. Decker’s entire soul melted. Because he’d always thought too much. McTavish was right. He needed to just do. He met McTavish’s lips head-on to kiss him back. Nipped at the other man’s lips until he groaned. Satisfaction roared into Decker’s stomach at the reaction he’d caused. Never had anything felt so good in all of Decker’s entire life. He’d thought it was good earlier. Would it keep getting better and better? McTavish pulled away, leaned back, and pulled his tight shirt over his head. It was a fluid motion that didn’t hesitate at all. His stomach muscles clenched and tightened as he came back down toward Decker. Decker’s head clunked on the mattress. He couldn’t hold it up. His head was again swimming. Not because of his injury. But because of the lust coursing through him like a runaway shuttle at seeing McTavish’s delectable body. The man had abs of steel. His tight muscles were something to sing about from the highest points. He wasn’t just handsome. He was gorgeous. And knew it. McTavish smiled again as though he knew what was on Decker’s mind and shimmied to his feet as in afterthought. His motions didn’t get jerky, but his pants fell from his body with one graceful kick. Yeah, the hands had been a giveaway. In fact, the hands didn’t do him justice. He was as big as he’d felt. Decker lifted his head and shut one eye. He couldn’t take seeing him in a huge dose. His head pounded from what he was seeing. What his mate was about to give him. McTavish’s erection stuck out impressively. His tip glistened in the lights. He’d been leaking. Decker was the cause of this. Oh wow. His tongue came out to lick his lips. This stolen time was going to be wonderful. If only… “Arianna?” “This is between ya and I.” McTavish grabbed the end of Decker’s pants and tugged. “Ya and I alone for right now.”

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Decker’s stomach clenched into a tight ball. That made his heart race into the stratosphere. More so than it should. McTavish had a point. He needed to get things straight with McTavish before he could ever hope to be with the woman. He’d never wanted anything more than this encounter with McTavish right now. He’d want more things later, with McTavish and Arianna. A woman. He’d never been with a woman and a man before. It would be a first for him. If the lack of information in her file was anything to go by, it would probably be a first for Ari too. They’d be the virgins that McTavish had to initiate. He wouldn’t mind a bit. Decker’s gaze met McTavish’s gleaming eyes. Not a bit. That was something to think about another time as McTavish pulled on the top of his pants again and they began to inch down. Decker tried to clear his brain, and his brain happily complied. It wanted to focus on what McTavish was doing to him too. Decker’s breath pummeled from his lungs as McTavish lurched forward to help him guide his pants from his body. Those big hands would soon be touching him. Stroking him. More. He couldn’t wait. Decker’s cock sprang free, turgid and shiny from his own precome. He didn’t have to look down. He knew he’d been leaking, and he knew how hard he was from the stimulation of McTavish’s presence. McTavish’s grin was sultry. A look that said he knew all of Decker’s secrets and was going to use them all against him. Like Decker did McTavish’s, and he planned to give back as good as he received. “Should I roll over?” McTavish was no bottom, and even with men, he had to be on top. Not much else was known about his sexual fetishes. Guess Decker would have to wing that part. Going into sex with McTavish without research would be the best experience of Decker’s life. McTavish arched a brow. “Not until I’m done kissing ya, ya won’t turn over.” McTavish got back up on the bed and lay alongside Decker. He lowered his lips and began the kissing immediately. Decker’s stomach lunged again. His cock jerked. McTavish’s warm, wet mouth devoured his own like he was going to eat Decker up. His body was warm and hard. His mouth was even warmer, and the intensity with which he kissed Decker was astronomical. Decker couldn’t recover his breath fast enough with McTavish’s mouth on his. Decker needed to kiss this man like breathing. The first time McTavish’s hand brushed against Decker’s cock, he almost jumped off the bed. He almost jerked his cock from McTavish’s hand. Not a good thing. McTavish’s hand left him but returned quickly. Up and down, McTavish stroked his cock with bold brilliance and then stroked him at his tip, getting coated in Decker’s sticky precome. Decker groaned. Couldn’t keep the sound low and hushed. Instead he let out his vocalization with pride. After all, McTavish was causing the sounds, and he was the only one around to hear it. Or was he?

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Decker looked behind them at the video monitor. A red light was on. He stared at it a moment until his eyes shut. Someone was watching them, and he bet he knew just who it was. McTavish reached between them without breaking his lips from Decker’s to fondle his balls. Decker forgot all about someone watching them. Then McTavish brought his hands back up to stroke him from tip to base. It happened before Decker could control the rise. It bubbled up from deep inside and tossed him over the edge like a wave crashing to shore or a waterfall ripping over a cliff’s edge. He hadn’t been expecting this so quickly. Just like his relationship with McTavish. His come spurted from him onto McTavish’s hand that kept stroking and pulling on him without pause and keeping it going as long as he could. Decker felt like it would never stop and he’d be mired in this canopy of pleasure forever. Not a bad way to die. Or live. When it was over and the climax finally let him go, Decker fell back on the bed with a soft sigh. His entire body felt like rubber. Couldn’t believe how good that had felt. His thighs quivered. McTavish’s hands left him, and so did his lips. That big body scooted away from him and with it all the heat in the world. Decker missed them. He wanted to protest. Until he heard McTavish’s next words that made it all worthwhile. “Turn over.” Now, not so much missing, but anticipating. He rolled his jellylike body onto his stomach. His muscles were still trembling and shaking from the encounter. He’d never felt so spent yet so sated at the same time. Liquid dripped into his anal opening. The cool wetness was like dropping ice into a volcano. He welcomed the cool even though it didn’t do much to help his raging body. He lifted his head from the mattress. A single finger slipped in to penetrate him. His entire body jerked with the shock of it, even though he’d been expecting it. It was as if he’d put his cock into an electrical circuit. The jolts kept him off balance, unable to form any true words. A second finger penetrated him. This one didn’t take him to the edge like the first one had, but it was like added voltage. Then another finger delved in a place not meant to hold so many digits at once. It didn’t hurt, but he could feel the pressure as the other man shaped him. Shaping him into something that could take McTavish’s cock. “So tight.” The growl was so low he barely heard it. The words made him shake with renewed wanting. His cock might be limp, but the spirit was willing. After one more digit penetrated him that he barely felt, McTavish removed his fingers, leaving him stretched and still longing. Decker tensed his body in anticipation of what McTavish would do to him. It had been so damned long. Then he tried to relax himself, which seemed an impossible feat. To take McTavish in, he was going to have to let go. Otherwise he’d stay too tense for McTavish to get inside him without hurting him. And oh God, he wanted McTavish inside him.

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McTavish’s cock tip probed him. Slipped in a little bit. Only enough to let Decker know that he was there. McTavish withdrew almost as quickly as he’d slipped into Decker. He’d thought he’d wanted more before. That was nothing compared to now. This man was trying to kill him. Shivers rocked Decker again. Another probe. Another withdrawal. This repeated again and again until McTavish had seated himself completely into Decker’s body. McTavish rocked his hips against him, reminding him who had taken him with little murmured words that Decker didn’t understand. Then the pace sped up. Gone was the gentleness of a minor probing. Instead, McTavish became rough, coming hard against him and harder still into him. Decker was in his own world. He could hardly keep track of what was going on, he was so lost in the feelings of the moment. He didn’t want this to ever end, yet the bubbling pleasure inside him had to be capped. McTavish was inside him. His mate was inside him, taking him in the way of mates. The man he’d been pursuing for so long was inside him. McTavish was all things to him and more. He was everything to Decker as Decker’s focus narrowed down to McTavish and McTavish alone. He’d been inside Decker for all eternity, even before they’d met, even before he’d been researching the man. The Fates had propelled his obsession. No wonder that he’d give up everything now to be with McTavish. The Fates had a sense of humor and a purpose. McTavish slammed against him faster and faster until his entire body jerked and down on top of Decker he fell, spent. Decker could feel the come seeping out of him as they rested on the bed. Their breathing quieted slowly, but neither disengaged from the other. Maybe neither wanted to let go and lose this moment. There were too many things to come at them when they pulled apart. The comm blazed a voice over the room, taking them apart from each other before they even moved. “I hate to interrupt you two, but we’re nearing Settler’s Mine.” Arianna’s voice sounded rather contrite. McTavish’s voice was gravelly as he pulled away. “Showtime.” His mood turned serious and thoughtful. Showtime for what?

*** Ari hadn’t meant to watch.

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Really, she hadn’t meant to spy on Decker and McTavish. It had turned into an event she couldn’t turn away from, though. She’d turned on the video in Decker’s room to see how Decker was. When McTavish had stormed the room in his usual style, she’d kept watching, even though there’d been no reason to. She had to make sure that Decker wasn’t going to try something—that had been her excuse to keep watching. She didn’t know if Decker had decided against turning in McTavish or not. Until she’d watched the two grow more and more physical with each other and McTavish had taken Decker on the bed. She should have known. McTavish could talk anyone into being on his side. She never should have worried about Decker trying anything. Once they’d started kissing and her fears for McTavish’s safety had turned into something else, she’d been unable to turn away. She’d viewed them for the entire scene until she’d realized how close they were to Settler’s Mine and she’d had to interrupt them. They’d been done, though. Thank Goddess. She’d never have been able to pull them away from each other if they hadn’t been finished. Would have been too hard for her, not them. Her breath caught just thinking about them kissing, touching, and more. She’d never viewed two men together like that. Yes, she knew all the mechanics of sex. She’d been taught. She just didn’t know it would affect her like this. Her heart still raced. Her shallow breathing was quick and gaspy. Seeing them together had made her wet. She hadn’t even been involved. She’d just been watching. If she’d been involved, she might have had a heart attack. Her hand went down to touch her private place. Her pussy. Her hand didn’t feel as good there as McTavish’s. How would Decker’s hands feel on her body? They would feel wonderful. Somehow she knew that. Her skin tingled all over. McTavish came bustling in, and she jerked her hand away from her pussy. “How far are we from Settler’s Mine?” “Several clicks.” She put her hand on the console as though it had been there the whole time. “You told me…” He smiled, hushing her. “I know. We need ta be wary heading for Settler’s Mine, even from this distance. Need ta be on alert the closer we get. Ya did good.” Unlike completely spacing out, which was what she’d done while she watched Decker and him fool around. She hadn’t been wary at all. “I’ll keep a lookout.” Decker came in, still tucking his shirt in his pants. “You didn’t answer my question, McTavish. What’s your plan?” McTavish still didn’t answer. He seemed to be studying some communications that had just come in. Decker looked over at her. “Hello, Arianna.” A strange look seemed to cross over his face. “Hello, Decker.”

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“How’s Erek?” “He’s resting. He’s comfortable.” Her brother had been damaged both mentally and physically. She wasn’t sure he’d ever be the same. He’d been sleeping a lot, and she hadn’t gotten the chance to talk to him. She hated seeing him like this, wanted to help him, but didn’t know how. Letting him sleep seemed to make him happy, so that was what she was doing. His happiness would have to be the most important thing for a while. Talking could wait. “Good. That he’s comfortable.” Decker seemed truly concerned about Erek’s well-being. Maybe he wasn’t such a bad guy. “Put him on a shuttle.” “What?” She blinked at McTavish, who didn’t even do her the courtesy of looking at her. Her heart froze in her chest. “Put Erek on a shuttle. Ta Colony.” He still didn’t look at her. Her mouth fell open. Decker looked as puzzled as she felt. “What do you mean put him on a shuttle to Colony?” “I mean just what I said.” He did turn to face them now. She found her voice. “I just got my brother back! Now you want me to give him up again? You must be nuts.” He shook his head. “No, ya got back a shell. Not yar brother.” She sputtered, but McTavish held up a hand. “Ya got back a shell of a man. He needs more help than ya can give ta him. He needs help if he’s ever ta be a man again. I know.” Both she and Decker sobered. Decker knew. He must know of McTavish’s whole life story, so he knew the man had survived Batuck. “The only place that can help him heal is Colony.” McTavish’s look was now gentler. Kinder. “Ya want the best for him. I know ya do.” She did. “My father…” “Yar father couldn’t protect him before. Nor will he understand about his son. Colony will. They know how ta handle this sort of thing.” Another point made. Didn’t mean she had to like it, but she wanted the best for Erek. He’d been hurt by her inaction for so many months. She wouldn’t deny him anything that would help him now. Tears sprang from her eyes. She’d just gotten him back; now she was going to have to let him go again. Even knowing it was the best thing for him, it still hurt. McTavish continued, “Not ta mention, we’re in danger. The more distance he puts between us and him is better for him.” Decker stared McTavish down. “We lost Isa.” “Not for long. She’ll find us. Arianna and ya betrayed her. With my help. She wants us all ta pay. And will try her damndest ta make us pay.” Small shivers of fear spiked up Ari’s spine. Her stepmother must be beside herself with rage over all this. She would get her revenge. She had ice in her veins where blood should be. Had to. How else could she have done this to the boy she’d raised from the time her mother had left them? The possibilities were too despicable to contemplate.

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Ari didn’t want Erek anywhere near them. Not if it put him in danger. He’d been through enough. Even if it would hurt like hell letting Erek go again. McTavish closed his hand over hers. He didn’t make a move closer. Just reached over and clasped her hand with his. He held on to her. Grounded her. She had to do what was best for Erek. No matter what else she might want to do. She’d pledged to take care of him when she’d set off in search of him. She’d told her mother she’d always take care of him though she’d never understood why her mother had asked it of her. That meant doing the right thing. She nodded. “It’s best for Erek. That he go.” Even if it would rip her heart out to give him up. McTavish nodded. “Is the shuttle course…” Her voice sounded stronger than she felt as her voice trailed off. “Already laid in. He won’t have ta do a damn thing. And I’ve alerted Colony. They will be expecting him. And I’ve boosted the shield on the shuttle. He should be able ta get past most beacons without broadcasting. He’ll avoid Union Alliance and whatever Isa might have looking for him.” McTavish had been ready to send Erek away and had been planning this without her input. Erek wasn’t his brother. “You’ve been busy.” He met her gaze. Levelly. “Ya want what’s best for him. Should I have waited? Delayed his trip so much that Isa could capture him?” She swallowed. “No. You were right.” Tears sprang up again, and she blinked them away. She could see McTavish was looking out for Erek’s best interests. She had no idea how to help him. All she’d done so far was make him uncomfortable with hugs and try not to cry. He’d slept too much, probably escaping from what had happened. She’d never be able to get him back on his feet. Maybe Colony could. Look at what they’d done for McTavish. Countless others. Sid. It had to be the best decision. Even if her heart hurt thinking about it. She nodded, biting her lip. “I’ll take him down and see him off. It’s best for him.” Her heart hung heavy and throbbing in her chest. She took a deep breath and started for the door to see him down. McTavish held her hand until they broke apart. He gave her a squeeze before letting her hand go. “Ari.” She turned back to face him. Decker watched on impassively. “He’ll heal. I did.” She sighed. “I know.” McTavish had become a man again. Surely her brother would do the same. He nodded to her. “Take yar time telling him good-bye. All the time ya need. And I want ya ta get some rest afterward.” She took her leave of Decker and McTavish.

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With heavy steps, she tromped down to where she would say good-bye to her brother. How long would this separation be? Damn Isa. The only comforting thing was that McTavish seemed to have a plan that would get Isa what was coming to her. He might not be talking about it. But he did. She could see it in his eyes. Ari would revel in it, whatever it was.

*** “Go after her.” For a second, Decker thought he was hearing things as Arianna walked from the room. “What?” McTavish surveyed him with knowing eyes. “Go after her. She’ll need someone after Erek leaves.” Decker stood for another minute looking at McTavish and the door. “But… I mean she knows you better…” “I have ta stay up here and get the plan going. There’s time, just not much.” Time for what? “Yes, what is that plan?” McTavish didn’t seem to want to talk about that. Which meant he had some surprise planned. That might not be good. Decker didn’t like the unknown. “Ya need ta get ta know her. Now. It would be a good chance for ya two. Comforting people always gets ya intimate with them.” He turned back to the screen. “Ya have some time before Settler’s Mine. Spend it with her.” McTavish had a point. He might not have the opportunity later to get to know Arianna. Decker took off for the door. He wound down around the small ship’s lone corridor and reached the shuttle bay. Arianna was talking to Erek, who wouldn’t look at her. They both looked miserable. Especially Arianna. Decker swallowed. No one could look at her and not want to comfort her. That just went against everything Decker had ever believed in. Ari watched as her brother tried to pull his body into himself and look as small as possible. “You’ll be going to Colony. The course is already laid in.” He said nothing, just looked at the shuttle bay wall. “Colony will help you. They…help men deal with things like this. All the time. You’ll get better. Stronger. Then you can come home.” Still no answer. Now he stared down at the floor. “Erek, I’m so sorry.” Her voice broke. She needed to be strong for him. But she couldn’t seem to find the strength to keep herself together. Not with her brother looking like half a man. He’d been so vibrant before. Like a giant puppy in a lot of ways. Now he just stood there. Staring. Not talking. He’d always chattered on and on.

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Her gaze flitted around. Decker watched from the small window to the shuttle bay. He had a grim look on his face. He pointed, mouthing, Need me? She shook her head. The last thing she wanted was to scare her brother with the presence of a man in the shuttle bay. She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. “The shuttle course is locked in. You’ll go right to Colony. Should be undetectable to…anyone.” She’d almost said, “Isa.” A mistake. It would probably make him react too much. “Colony is expecting you.” Erek stood still as a stone. “Erek?” He didn’t look at her. “Erek? Are you hearing me?” She took a step toward him. He backed away immediately. “Yes. You’re sending me away.” His voice was hollow. Devoid of any emotion. More tears sprang up in her eyes. “I don’t know how to help you. I want to hug you, and that’s not helping. I want to talk to you, but you’re not ready.” She blinked back the tears as her breath wouldn’t move from her chest. “You need help. The man with me? Not the one who brought you, but the other one who came when I did?” Erek seminodded. More of a reaction than she’d gotten for anything else. “He…was on Batuck.” Erek visibly shuddered at the mention. “Colony was his idea. To help others heal from what was done to them. They will help you. In ways I can’t. I want to see you…better. Even if that means sending you there.” He looked down at the floor. “Okay, Ari.” It was the most acceptance she’d get from him. “Please try. Try to let them help you. They’ve been…through it too.” He gave her no acknowledgment, but he started for the shuttle. She helped get him all strapped in. “It will fly itself.” She turned, then turned back. “Erek?” “Ari?” “May I hug you?” Maybe giving him control of the embrace would help him. He nodded. He still didn’t hug her back but wasn’t as tense as he had been that first time. “I love you, Brother. You’re going to be okay.” She moved from him, then shut the shuttle doors. Colony would see to it. So would she. When she could. Ari came back toward Decker without saying anything. She closed the doors and laid her hand on the metal. “Good-bye, Erek.” Her voice was hoarse and overwrought, but she wasn’t crying. Yet. There would be tears. Many tears. And curses. Mainly on Isa’s head. Decker heard the shoosh of the engine starting and the shuttle taking flight. Then silence as the shuttle cleared the small ship. Her hand lingered on the door, and she turned to face Decker. “Erek’s gone. His shuttle got off okay.”

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He nodded. “I saw.” She swallowed. “I can’t believe I let him go.” “It was best for him.” An echo of what McTavish had said, but it bore repeating to help her accept it. “They can help him.” “I know. Doesn’t help the pain, though.” Her eyes did fill with tears then, but none spilled over. He gently reached out and stroked her cheek. “You did the right thing.” Her shoulders slumped. “I hope so.” She let out a loud sigh. “I never thought doing the right thing would feel so wrong.” “You did, though. The right thing. The brave thing.” He stroked along the softness of her cheek. She felt so different from McTavish. Smooth. He could get lost in that. She had a passel of freckles across her nose. Too cute. How many more did she have? He hadn’t noticed those before in pictures, probably because she’d been using concealer. The princess of Schoon couldn’t have freckles, though they were a hallmark of the race. Hell, he hadn’t noticed those on McTavish either. He’d been a little busy at the time. “Thank you. For following me. For being here when he left.” Her voice broke a little, but she stopped the crack before it took over. He shrugged. “McTavish is getting us set up. For the plan.” “For what plan?” His hand fell away. “I don’t know.” “But you trust him, don’t you?” He hesitated, then nodded. “To get us out of this? Yeah, I do. He said we have a few minutes. Why don’t you get some rest like he suggested?” A brittle laugh pulled from her lungs. “I don’t think sleep will happen.” Her eyes closed as she sighed again. “I don’t want to be alone. The way that Erek… No, must not think of him.” Her eyes opened. “Can you stay with me?” Her voice didn’t sound pleading, but that was there in her eyes. Could he stay with her? Hell, yes. “Yes. Of course.” Her hand reached out for his. Such a little action. So small a thing. But it was huge. She’d reached for him. Without question. No one but McTavish had ever reached for him before. Yes, he’d had sexual partners. But not like this. She reached for him because she wanted his comfort. Not for any other reason. He took her hand. She was warm. Her hand was small in his not overlarge hand. Her skin was soft again like her cheek. They went to the same room where he’d woken up. Where he’d had sex with McTavish. This was all going so fast. But with the danger they were in, adrenaline pumping, things had to move fast. They didn’t have time to get used to the idea that they were mates. Not if they were going to get out of this alive. Could she smell the sex on the air? And then, he remembered. The video feed that had been active. She’d watched McTavish and him.

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He looked toward her. A flush moved up her cheeks as she glanced toward the bed. Bet she hadn’t turned the video off until it was over. Her gaze met his and she lowered her head. “Nice video feed from here, huh?” She jerked her hand from his. “What are you talking about?” She moved toward the double bunk bed. “I think you know.” The flush moved higher. “When did you see I was watching?” “At the beginning.” The blush deepened. “You’re awful to bring that up.” But the smile proved she wasn’t mad and was only teasing him. “Am I?” She glanced down at the floor as though it contained the most interesting thing to look at ever. “No.” “Did you like watching?” Once he’d asked, he couldn’t believe he’d asked. It didn’t seem like him, more like something that McTavish would ask. Maybe the rogue was rubbing off on him. “Yes.” Nothing he’d expected her to admit. Maybe McTavish was rubbing off on her too. Their lives had been changed by the man. Their stones started to glow. Decker didn’t have to look down to see his lit. He knew from the way hers glowed. “His is probably lit too, isn’t it?” Decker nodded. “He knows we just felt a bout of strong emotion.” That was the only thing that would cause the stones to glow. “Maybe he’s watching.” Decker hadn’t thought of that. He glanced at the camera. “Did you leave the feed up or shut it down?” “Left it open.” They wouldn’t know if he watched, only that the camera was on. He might be watching. But he might not have noticed that the link was up at all. Interesting. She shook her long dark hair down her back. It was so black that it shone. So like McTavish’s but even longer than his. Decker rubbed his own short hair. He was the only non-Schoon in the relationship. The only one who was a different species. He liked watching her hair bounce and glimmer under the low lights. “So are you going to lie down?” Her gaze moved to the bed. Still mussed and wrinkled from where he had slept and where he and McTavish had gotten busy in it. She inhaled deeply through her nose.

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Did she smell them still? A question he kept asking himself. He could catch small odor bits in the air. Sexual odor bits. The scent of sex had hung around. “Yes. I would like to lie down.” She went over to the bunk. Slipped off her shoes and flopped on it. “Hard bed.” He was hard too. His cock had been hard since they’d touched. Since the moment he’d seen her almost crying. He wanted to comfort her. Under that was attraction that he couldn’t help. She was a beautiful woman. No stick-thin woman with hard lines and edges. No, she was soft. Something he liked. “A little.” She scooted over. “Join me?” She patted the mattress beside her as she pursed her lips a moment before speaking. “Only if you want to, though.” She was still unsure of herself. She seemed to be trying to encourage him, but she was still shy and innocent. Even as much as McTavish had changed them, they still kept their core selves intact. “You don’t have to.” He’d hesitated as he thought, making her unsure. Yes, he needed to stop overthinking these issues and just do it. Like McTavish had told him. He approached the side of the bed without answering her and slid off his shoes. He carefully took his place beside her. “I’ll lie down with you.” She beamed at him. “Thank you.” His entire body felt like it was going to explode. Like he was a volcano waiting to happen. If she touched him, he might go off the edge. She touched him. He didn’t explode, but sparks set off over every inch of his skin. She felt good against him. She nestled into him. Lay against his side like she’d been doing it all her life. Amazing. He’d just met this woman. “So, Commander Decker.” He winced at hearing the name of his Union Alliance allegiance. His job…former job. His throat went dry. He was really giving up on that dream. For another one that he’d had even longer. That dream of a mate. “Yes?” “How long have you been pursuing McTavish?” He couldn’t help the smile. “Too long. I started…” And so he began his tale of trying to get away from a desk job and becoming obsessed with his subject. She hung on his every word. Never made him feel like he was stupid or a fool for doing what he had. That emboldened Decker to tell her all of it. He told her information he hadn’t even told McTavish about how he’d longed for goals he’d thought beyond his grasp. All because he wanted to be someone. Someone special. She ran a hand over his chest as he finished up his story. “You are someone special. The mate of McTavish. And me.” Funny how what he’d searched for with his job had been handed to him with his mates. To these two people, he would always be special. Which was what he’d been trying to accomplish all along. His mates had given him a dream of a lifetime and of a career in one fell swoop.

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Her eyes briefly closed, and then she reached up and kissed him. Full on the mouth. He rolled into the kiss with much enthusiasm. Kissed her back for all he was worth. Then took over the kiss, keeping his mouth planted on hers and deepening the embrace. He touched his tongue to hers, and her whole body shuddered. The kissing soon turned to frenzy. He couldn’t get himself enough into her to be satisfied. He needed more. More of her. He needed to be closer to her. She broke away gasping for air. “Decker.” He pressed a finger to her lips. “I need you, Arianna.” More than she’d ever know. This would cement a bond between them. One that had been started with the glow of stones. Carried through when she’d reached for him. And polished up when she’d listened to his ramblings and hadn’t judged him. He wanted to give her comfort too. She’d just lost someone important to her. He wanted to help her ease the hurt inside. He couldn’t take it all away, but he could help her forget for a while. Her body seemed to melt. “I need you too. I need to be with someone and not think. For a little while at least.” Those words emboldened him. He knew just what he was going to do.

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Chapter Eleven Ari’s head was spinning. She’d already been with one man in the last twenty-four hours. Now she was about to be with a second. Her mates. She’d known this one even less time than she’d known McTavish. Yet somehow, it seemed right. It hadn’t with McTavish at this point in their relationship, or even with Decker up until now. Up until the moment he’d comforted her after she’d had to say good-bye to Erek. She’d ache for her brother for aeons. Decker had helped ease the pain of Erek’s leaving and her worry about him. Decker had sat and talked with her. Told her his life story. She didn’t see him as a stranger anymore. And in this weird world that she’d entered from the moment Erek disappeared, she felt closer to Decker than most of the people she’d spent her whole life with. It felt right. She needed this like she needed her skin or breathing. Maybe even like she needed a kidney. Not to mention, she wanted this. What she’d had with McTavish had been wonderful. She wanted more. He’d created an addict. Her addiction was them. She wanted this man who lay beside her and had asked so little of her. She’d kid herself and tell herself it was only a moment she wanted. Just like she’d done with McTavish. They were too different to make it. But they could live in this moment and think of nothing else. She gave herself over to the kiss that he pressed against her lips. Enjoyed his body as it came against hers. He felt different than McTavish. Not bad. Just different. There were fewer angles. Less hardness. Neither man was better or worse than the other. Her body enjoyed the different feel of both men. He kissed her gently at first. Then the kiss grew more frenzied as their bodies came together in a mesh of limbs and body parts. They wound together, almost like they’d been meant to be together. His tongue pressed against hers in a dance that her body wanted to do with his. He pressed his cock against her, showing her how much she affected him. How hard he was for her. His cock was pressed against her, hard for her. Her and her alone. She’d thought of his member as a cock. She almost giggled into his mouth but caught it before it escaped. Funny how those words still sounded so strange to her. He wanted her. No one else but her.

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That would always fill her with amazement. He brought his hand up to stroke her face and neck before plunging it under her shirt to stroke her gently. She gasped as he found her breast without much searching. He cupped her, gently massaging and squeezing her through her bra. The shirt rubbed against her neck, almost uncomfortably. She wanted it off. Wanted his hand against her bare flesh. Couldn’t wait to get it off and feel him. As if he’d read her mind, he removed his hand and grabbed the bottom of her shirt. He eased her up and lifted her torso off the bed. Off came her shirt and bra without any problems. She was still enough of a prude to hunch her shoulders to try to hide herself from him. It was a little nerve-racking to sit there naked and in front of Decker. What would he think of her? Words had been too ingrained in her to stop thinking of them. Fat. Overabundant. She ducked her head. He breathed out a deep breath. “Lovely.” Her head came up. She couldn’t help the smile. Funny how with one word they could control her world like this. It gave them power over her. She wasn’t sure if she liked it not. But it was definite that they did. With one finger, he pushed her back into the mattress. His hand covered her breast as he massaged her. She wanted his full attention. Wanted to arch herself into him without stopping. She couldn’t help her reaction. Her breasts were so sensitive. She’d learned that with McTavish. They seemed more sensitive than she’d ever expected. Her entire body hummed with electricity from that one touch. He plucked at the tip of her nipple with his thumb as if he was playing a guitar. Or pressing buttons on a computer. Such strong fingers. Long fingers. Pleasuring fingers. They gave her such desires that rolled across her as he touched her. He pinched her nipple between those supple digits. She rolled her head back and tried to press down into the mattress as though she could get away from the sensations rolling through her body. Not that she wanted to get away. Everything just felt so wonderful. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t force the breath from her lungs in any way. Her heartbeat was pounding in rapid succession. She couldn’t get away from the sensations spiraling inside her. Couldn’t escape the mind-numbing desire rolling around her like a fog. She wanted things she couldn’t even name. He slid his hand down from her breast and over her stomach. She tried to suck it in. She didn’t have a flat one. There was a curve to her body. Everywhere. His fingers lingered, making her suck in even more. The fine hairs stood up as he stroked alongside her belly button. “You’re so lovely.” His hand plunged into her pants much as he’d done with her shirt earlier. Her hips bucked in reaction to his touch. He moved closer, and his fingers delved into her most private place.

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Her pussy. Decker was touching her there. His fingers slipped in through the slippery folds. She could feel more moisture accumulating as he thoroughly explored her pussy. He toyed with her, stroking up and down her. Delving into her channel and exposing her wetness. She spread her legs wider. Needed him to be able to touch her wherever he wanted to. Needed that like she’d never needed anything else. She’d never known sex could be like this. Had never expected it to take her over like this. Even after being with McTavish. This was different and still so wonderful. Her entire body focused on him touching that part of her. That part of her that was so sensitive right now, it was like she’d been wired with sensors. She moaned, deep and low back in her throat, desperate for anything. Any touch that he could give to her. He found a button. A particularly sensitive button. His finger played around and around it before pinching it slightly. More wetness slicked her from top to bottom. He clamped his fingers down on that button and began to rub back and forth against it. Didn’t hurt, but the pressure intensified everywhere in her body. His finger found her channel again and went inside. He strummed her with one hand while his other hand penetrated her finger by finger. She panted. Her heart raced along as sweat broke out across her skin. Her body was prepping for something that she recognized from earlier. For that escalation into the sky? Probably. Her entire being boiled down to what he was doing to her pussy. Nothing else could intrude upon her. She lost herself in Decker. Decker was going to send her over the edge. Nothing could prevent her ascendance to the pinnacle of pleasure. He removed his hand. Except maybe that. “What?” she protested lightly, hardly aware of what she said. She wanted that hand back down against her. “Put it back.” Unfair because it was his hand, after all. She surprised herself by ordering him to do so. He chuckled before he tugged on the top edge of her pants. “Not until you’re naked. That’s when I’ll come back.” “Oh.” Ohhhhh was more like it. She quickly tried to help him get those pants down. She probably would have done anything for the return of his hand. Anything he asked. And more. She wanted to reach that pinnacle. She’d been headed that way until he’d stopped. Dammit. He slipped down her pants with her pathetic attempt at help and got them around her ankles. She kicked her feet to get them from her because she needed the clinging clothes gone and his body back against hers. Needed his hands back touching her, bringing her closer to her space in the sky, and giving her all kinds of pleasure. He tossed her pants from the edge of the bed to the floor. Looked over her now naked body with his beautiful eyes.

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She should be embarrassed. Or nervous. Like she had been earlier. But all she could think about was getting his hands back on her pussy. Only he didn’t reach for her with his hands. Instead his gaze captured hers, and he lowered his head. His head. His warm mouth descended toward her wet, wanting pussy. His mouth. “Oh my.” This was most unexpected. He was going to kiss her…there. There. Where the center of nerves seemed to be. She’d read about it, but somehow reading about it had not prepared her for the reality, something she’d learned earlier with McTavish. She tensed but still found herself unprepared for the onslaught of sensations. His mouth moved into her pussy like he had lived there all his life. He moved around her folds and gently parted them. For his tongue. Her hips came off the bed as he licked her up. Then he licked her down. He licked her all around, his mouth leaving no point untouched. Her legs shook like jelly from a coolant engine. Her body steamed forward with abandon. He placed a hand on her hip to ground her. Because with this emotion, she might just fly away into the stratosphere. She might float even with his hand there. She’d only felt the like one time before. She knew what it was this time. A coming climax. It hovered nearby, blooming on the horizon as his mouth continued to lick and suck at her pussy as though she was the best thing he’d had in a long time to eat. As though she was his dessert. So close. She couldn’t take much more of his mouth on her. Especially when he licked what appeared to be that little button she’d noticed earlier. A bundle of nerves. Her clitoris? Probably. No time for scientific memory. She didn’t need to know the name, only that it evoked such wondrous pleasure in her when it was touched. Only needed to feel the touch that would bring her to that utmost point. She needed to come. Needed to let the pressure out of her body, or she might erupt into a thousand pieces. He was all too accommodating as he fastened his mouth around her and tongued her at the same time. That knocked down the last of the gates to her climax. The orgasm started down below and spread up her body like a wildfire. Her entire world narrowed down to the swirling rapture as it bongoed around her pussy like a ball struck by another on a pool table.

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She thrust her hips forward and back, moaning in the intensity of the grip the climax had on her. Her entire body clenched and shook. She felt as though she might break into a thousand pieces as she reared up into the pleasure. Forward and back, and he never took his mouth from her but continued his assault. A scream broke from her lips as the orgasm crashed into a second one that hardly separated from the first. Wave after wave carried them along in the slipstream over and across miles or maybe even parsecs. His mouth stilled but he didn’t move away the shaking from her limbs finally quieted. The orgasm moved away, leaving her trembling and spent in its wake. He lifted his head to stare up at her. There was a boyish look of joy on his face that told her how much he’d enjoyed doing this to her. Her gaze met his with what was sure to be a stunned expression. “Oh God.” Her voice croaked. She could barely talk. His laughter was infectious. “I’ll be your god any day.” He stroked her skin, which was still shivery and magnetized. She barely felt like she could move. She tried, but her body was still shaking so much. “Come here.” She needed him against her. Inside her. He shook his head and moved away from her. His face turned serious, but he still looked happy enough at what he’d done. “What? You aren’t going to…?” There hadn’t been much in that for him. Surely he was going to satisfy himself. Surely he was going to have sex with her and take her up on her offer. Fill her with his seed. He shook his head again. “No, I’m not.” The words were decisive. He’d already made up his mind about this subject and wasn’t taking input from her. She frowned. She must have the bossiest mates in the universe. “Why not?” She pulled her arms up around her chest. What was wrong with her? Why wouldn’t he do this? Didn’t he want her? He’d wanted McTavish. She’d seen them together. Why would he want him and not her? “Because I wanted to do that for you. To you. And that was all I wanted right now. To give you pleasure.” “But we can go further.” She wanted to go further. Surely there would be time for a quick roll on the bed. She surprised herself with how much she wanted this. And Isa had been so wrong about men. That he wasn’t going to take pleasure for himself proved that. “We can go further, I suppose, if time allows. But I wanted to do that for you without any pressure to go on. We may not have time for much else but this if we stay here. If we even have time for more.” As if on cue, McTavish’s voice burst from the speaker. “I need ya both on deck now.” His voice left no time for arguing. Had he been watching? It didn’t seem his style without joining in. But he might have been peeking to know when he needed to tell them to come up. Seek a break between interludes to interrupt them. His asking them at that particular moment seemed too lucky.

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“I’m okay with stopping now.” Decker turned to face her from the comm “You don’t need to do anything for me. I wanted to do that. For you. There will be time later for me.” He sounded surer of that than she felt. The bulge in his pants said that while his brain believed that sentiment, his lust espoused something different, which was not waiting to do more. He’d wanted to do that for her to show her comfort. Compassion. That he could be there for her. He was looking long-term and not short-term. Probably trying to think with his big head and not the little one. Her stomach churned. Unlike those who always looked for something from her. Who always wanted something from her. Who always wanted her to be someone else or something else than she already was. He asked for nothing in return. He offered her a gift of himself. Something she did treasure. It wasn’t anything that was given to her regularly. So few gave of themselves like this. Your mates do. That was true. They did. Both of them. She could keep telling herself she was living in the moment. But the truth was, the future kept beckoning. With them instead of without them. She leaned up and kissed him full on the lips. Accepted his gift for what it was. “Thank you.” He smiled and shrugged. “Anytime.” “Ya two getting moving anytime soon?” McTavish sounded impatient, as though they should have been up there by now. Decker got up and clicked the comm. “Be up in a minute.” He clicked it off and stared at Ari before getting to his feet. Decker helped her dress. His hands were gentle and strong. They helped to calm her fears. They still didn’t know the plan. A fearful thought. But it was a McTavish plan. That gave it more merit than most. Hand in hand, they walked up on deck. McTavish stood by the dashboard, looking at the controls. “We’ve docked at Settler’s Mine. Come on. Or we’ll be late for our meeting.” He pushed a couple of buttons. Meeting? What meeting? It must have been arranged while she and Decker were otherwise engaged, or she would have heard the situation. “Meeting with whom?” McTavish didn’t answer but pressed open the ship’s door. “C’mon, ya two, we’ve stalled long enough.” They broke their hands apart and followed him through the door. “We have to head for the bar.” McTavish took off that way. He knew his way around this settlement. They reached a place with neon and sedate colors. An interesting mix. There was a bar in the center and tables all around. This must be the place. She sighed as she surveyed their surroundings. Maybe they were meeting someone to give them new identities. That would have to be the plan. They’d all need them. Especially Decker, being of Union Alliance background.

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McTavish thought of everything. He’d take care of this. They’d all ride off into the planet’s sunset together. That was the way it had to be. They were all together now, and that counted for something. A woman at the corner table got to her feet. A black-haired, familiar-looking woman with a cold face. Isa. Ari let out a gasp and moved closer to McTavish. The witch shouldn’t be here. She hadn’t found them. Couldn’t have. They couldn’t have gotten everything now only to be foiled in the end. Isa’s men moved into place behind them, blocking the doorway that McTavish had just led them through. Decker turned to look at them with a grim expression. He moved up behind Ari as though to keep their flanks safe. They’d been trapped! Who had betrayed them? When Ari found out, she was going to go ballistic on them. Isa flashed a cold smile that did nothing to ease Ari’s mind. “Hello, McTavish. You’re late.” Ari’s mouth gaped open. She couldn’t shut it. This couldn’t be happening. McTavish had arranged a meeting with the witch? They couldn’t have been meeting with her. Could they? Why would he do such a thing? Decker looked like she felt. He didn’t have his mouth hanging open, but his eyes were wide and troubled. McTavish was about to make a deal with the devil? McTavish surveyed the cold woman in front of him, ignoring the stunned looks of his mates from behind him. “Had a few things ta take care of before I met with ya.” She arched a brow. “I’m sure you did. Where is the boy?” “There’s a homing beacon on the shuttle he’s in. He’s out in space. Headed taward Colony. Ya can home in on it and intercept it before he gets there. I’ll give ya the sequence for the device.” Ari took a step away from him. Her face contorted while she screeched. “No, you can’t give Erek back to her.” He took a deep breath. He had known this was going to be hard, but it had to be this way. He hated what he was doing. It better work out in the end. “It’s the only way she’ll let us go. She has ta get what’s coming ta her.” Isa’s lip curled. “Give me the signal.” McTavish folded his arms across his chest and ignored Ari’s desperate pleading. “Only when I have yar assurance of safe passage.” Her eyes narrowed. “For you and the princess.” Decker straightened up. “Yes.”

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Decker didn’t reply, but his jaw clenched. A tic in his cheek started to move back and forth. McTavish didn’t meet his eyes. “You give me Decker for his betrayal and Erek. And you ensure that Arianna disappears, never to return as the princess. On that I have your word. She’s never seen again. That’s our deal. And the only one I’ll offer to you.” “That was what we agreed ta over the comm. I’m a man of my word.” McTavish thumped his chest with his fist to emphasize his point. Decker’s hand moved down to his phaser. “Don’t. They have ya covered.” Hopefully neither Decker nor Ari would do anything stupid. He’d counted on that. Just a few more minutes and it would all be over. He tried to reassure them with his face, but their attention was elsewhere. He couldn’t say too much even with his expression. “Ya are a cold son of a bitch, McTavish. I had no idea.” Isa stroked along the back of a chair with one long fingernail. “I didn’t think ya had it in ya.” “Decker’s Union Alliance. And I care nothing for the boy. He’s not ma mate.” He didn’t turn to see the others’ reactions. Especially Ari’s. He couldn’t take that right now. “What are ya going ta do with Decker? Erek?” She sneered. “None of yar business.” She seemed embarrassed at the Schooner accent creeping into her speech. “Fair enough.” “McTavish, how could you?” Ari’s face drew up in more rage. She moved toward him, but Decker caught her. “Don’t. It’s not worth it.” He held her back from going after McTavish. “He’s not worth this.” Did McTavish hear enough strength in Decker’s voice? Or was it weak? Maybe Decker should be showing more outrage? More anger? McTavish didn’t know what Decker should be doing, but Decker was about to blow this plan out of the water. Time to play more cards to ramp up the situation so suspicions weren’t raised. “Ya’re not worth it, ya Union Alliance son of a bitch.” McTavish glared at the other man, who sneered right back at him. Another smile lit Isa’s face. One that would make anyone shiver. There was no humor in that face. Fuck. She knew. McTavish’s hand centered on his phaser. He prepared for anything. Would she call them out? Did she know what his aim was? “I guess I can tell you what’s going to happen.” Her lip moved upward. The fact that she would reveal any of her plans let McTavish know that she didn’t intend any of them to walk out of here. Bitch. “They’re going back to Batuck. To a pimp. You know the drill. Erek will never bother me again, and Decker will have his ass broken by all the scum in the universe.” Her finger filed along the top of the chair. “Win-win for everyone.” Bing-fucking-o. “Really?” “Really. Don’t have second thoughts now, McTavish.” Her hand went down to her weapon. “Walk away from this.”

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Her men came up closer behind them. She was setting the stage to kill him. Trying to take down his guard. Like that would ever happen. Besides, the whole trap had now been sprung. On her. She just didn’t know it yet. “Isa.” The man who came out from behind the bartender looked like death would be warmer. His face was stoic as a stone. His voice was even stonier. Isa gasped. Her mouth went up and down like a fish’s. She didn’t look like she could believe who stood behind the bar. “Surprise ta ya.” McTavish drew his phaser to cover the soon-to-be-desperate woman and made sure he could get to Ari in time in case she decided to try something. “Daddy?” Ari looked at the man as though she couldn’t quite believe it was him. “Daddy? What are you…” Her gaze fixed on McTavish. Her eyes grew wide. “You brought my dad here.” She blew out a big breath as she glanced around. She looked dubious. “To danger?” Her eyes were wide with fear. He didn’t have time to reassure her before the other parts of his plan came into motion. The bartender had pulled a large gun from behind the bar. He held it with unflinching hands and a growl as several others filed in from the back, including a contingent of Schoon soldiers. The doors to the bar opened again, and Zelda and Bren filed in with guns that matched Clyde, the bartender’s, behind the small group of Isa’s men. Isa and her men were now outmanned and outgunned. Isa’s hand went for her weapon. Her face contorted in a silent scream of rage as she realized she’d been had. “Don’t even think about it, bitch. You’ve been disarmed anyway. No ammo. That security check? Bogus.” Zelda’s mouth curled into a matching sneer. “Why would I let trash have weapons on my Mine? All of you drop your weapons now. Or you will be a smear on my Mine’s wall.” She held her gun like she meant every word. And of course she did. Isa screeched and screamed. Her face contorted into so many different masks that she looked fake. She railed about McTavish’s parentage and her own innocence. But like any true coward, backed down as soon as her adversaries weren’t a young man and a shy princess. She did manage to make it near the king as he stood there. His face was like a graven image made from stone. “Help me. I didn’t do this.” She pointed a finger at Ari. “She did. She’s the cause. Not met. I’m you’re mate.” The king turned from her. “Not anymore.” His eyes closed as he moved away from Isa, who continued to plead with him. She got on her hands and knees and pulled at his robes. He did nothing to intervene, simply moved away. He put his face into his hand as if his head was heavy. He looked broken. He’d lost two mates. McTavish wasn’t sure he’d recover from this. McTavish didn’t relax or get from between Ari and Isa until Isa had been handcuffed and was being led away, still screaming at the king to help her. Then his body slumped forward. He’d pulled it off. He’d gotten the prime danger to his mate captured.

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He’d ensured their safety. Of course now that meant certain questions would have to be faced. Like would Ari really want to live in a dump on the run when she could be a princess? Ari hit his shoulder with a punch that packed more sting than he would have expected from such a little woman. “Ow.” He rubbed the spot with his hand. Made no move to protect himself. She deserved a little anger at what had just happened. He’d only done it this way because he had to. “You…jerk. You.” She put her pointy finger into his chest and rammed him with it. “You charlatan.” “I had ta.” He did put his hand up in front of her flying finger after a couple of pokes. “If ya had known, ya would have given us away. I had ta deceive ya. Isa couldn’t know what I was up ta. I’m sorry for that. I’d never turn Erek over ta her.” His gaze spread to Decker. “Ya either.” With his eyes, he tried to say, “Especially not ya.” Decker laughed mirthlessly. “You are one cold son of a bitch. Isa had that right. You had me going for a little while there.” “When did ya figure it out?” “Wasn’t because of you, that’s for damn sure. I couldn’t see you handing Erek off when you knew where he’d end up. That was my first clue. I know you too well for that.” Decker continued to shake his head. “Your history wouldn’t let you turn him over to people who’d take him to Batuck. If Isa had only studied ya.” Ari turned her anger on Decker. “You knew too? You… Ahhhh. Men.” She blew out an explosive breath. “Not because he told me. And if I gave any indication, Isa would have had us. McTavish was right. He needed to be able to fool her.” “And me.” She ducked her head, her face still lined and scrunched up. “You fooled me.” She sounded incredulous. “I had ta, Ari. I promise. I won’t deceive ya again.” It was a promise that he didn’t make lightly. He wouldn’t hurt her like this again. He couldn’t take the look in her eyes over the situation. Decker continued, “Wasn’t easy to do what he did, but he had to do it. Now your father knows…” The man in question had moved to their side. His face looked grave. Hurting. “Where is my son? My God, I’ve been a fool. Isa…” He shook his head. “What have I done?” Ari went to him and hugged him tightly. “She fooled you. She fooled all of us.” “Not you.” “I didn’t know all she was capable of.” Ari bit her lip. He wrapped his arms around his daughter. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe. I’m sorry I wouldn’t help you get…Erek.” His voice broke. Only reserve and restraint were keeping him from breaking down right now. Ari patted his back. She didn’t give him any platitudes of easy acceptance of his role in all this. But she didn’t try to tear him further down either.

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McTavish felt his heart swell. He loved her all the more for that. She could have tried to make the man feel worse than he did. They would need to work to repair their relationship. Ari released her father, who seemed loath to let her go but did. She stepped back closer to McTavish. “I’ve been a fool,” the king repeated his earlier line. McTavish looked into the old man’s worn face. He’d aged years in all this. He’d probably never forgive himself. “Ya have been.” His voice softened then. “He’s going somewhere that will help him. He’s safe there. I promise. When Erek is ready, he’ll come back ta ya.” King Jaire clasped his arm. “I am grateful to you. Arianna, you should be grateful to him too.” The man held on to McTavish like he couldn’t let go of the line to his son. He’d never seen a man look so desperately unhappy. So broken. The whole family would have to deal with Isa’s betrayal. Despite what she’d done, she was still Ari’s father’s mate. He’d loved and trusted her. She’d betrayed him. And done unspeakable things. It would be a hard thing for the king to recover from. Maybe McTavish knew something that would help him. It would probably help Ari too. “We should be getting back to Schoon.” He finally let go of McTavish and held out his arm to his daughter. “I need to get you safe.” McTavish didn’t meet her gaze. This had to be her choice too. He couldn’t offer her anything that she was used to. Would never be able to give her luxury. She had the choice now of walking away from him. Just like Decker would have the choice later of turning McTavish in. It had to be their choice. It couldn’t be any other way. No matter how much he’d like to keep them as mates, get to know them, give this a chance, he couldn’t force their hands. “You didn’t tell him?” She looked to the heavens. “Obviously you two talked a few times, and you didn’t tell him.” “That was for ya ta do. Not me.” He put his hands behind his back. “It has ta be yar choice. Not something ya were forced inta.” “Oh, brother.” Decker rolled his eyes. “You’re in for it now, McTavish.” He moved away as if he could distance himself from McTavish. “Didn’t tell me what?” King Jaire looked confused. He still seemed out of it. When he digested everything Isa had done, he was bound to be even worse. She humphed again. “Men. I swear.” She moved to her father’s side and took his arm. “Daddy, I want you to meet my mate, McTavish. Commander Decker is my mate too. And actually they could both use your help.” “Your mates?” The man looked as shocked as McTavish had when they’d been mated. “They are both your mates?” He seemed to be repeating for clarification. Ari nodded. “Such as they are. Men. They are mine, though.” The expression in her gaze said they would pay later for their mistakes. But the words brought a heaviness to McTavish’s chest. A dip to his stomach. She had claimed him. Hadn’t walked away from him as she could have. She’d had a choice and chosen him. The emotions they all felt brought all three stones to glowing to testify their statement. Black light shone forth from all three stones as if proclaiming them as mates.

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She touched both of them. “I’ve decided this isn’t just for the moment. It’s forever. We’ve been through too much to let you go. Besides, it’s meant to be. And you both aren’t getting away from me this easily.” Not that McTavish had ever wanted to. The stones continued to glow. “Oh.” The king looked back and forth. “Congratulations to you three. Really.” He still looked shocked but no happier. “What do you need my help on?” He folded his arms in front of his chest. Ari grabbed both Decker’s and McTavish’s hands and held on to them tightly. “McTavish is wanted by both our royalty and Union Alliance. Decker probably will be too soon. He’s a Union Alliance officer charged with bringing in McTavish. Naturally, now he can’t.” She licked her lips. “They need your help.” King Jaire let out a long-drawn-out sigh. Met McTavish’s eyes and not hers. “I can’t, darling.” Ari’s entire body slumped. “You can’t? Why now? They are my mates, Daddy. You need to help them.” She wanted to change the world to right the wrongs. McTavish’s heart swelled. He’d never seen the like of her. Never. The king did look apologetic. “I can help with the royals of Schoon. But I don’t have a say in Union Alliance dealings. I wouldn’t be able to go against any of their decrees on who is a criminal.” McTavish hadn’t said anything, letting her father break the news to her. While Union Alliance controlled the many planets in their jurisdiction, each planet was its own entity as well. While her father could make all the laws he wanted in accordance with Union Alliance rules on his own planet, he couldn’t affect anything that Union Alliance decreed. It was part and parcel of being in Union Alliance. He’d known it would make a difference. But he was touched that Ari had tried. Ari’s entire body slumped. “Oh.” McTavish squeezed her. “It’s okay. We’ll make it.” He had her support. That mattered more than anything else. He looked to the old man. “The boy. Erek. He’s on Colony. You could go there. Help him.” Ari gasped. “Oh Daddy, that would help him. To have you there.” The king straightened, looking serious. “I could go there?” McTavish nodded. “Erek isn’t the same boy ya knew. But he needs his father. More now than ever.” And the father could use the son. To heal. Both would benefit. It would help restore the family. “Does…he blame me?” McTavish looked at Ari, who shrugged. Erek hadn’t been talking much when he’d left. “Even if he does, the only way ya’ll get through this is ta work tagether. He’ll need someone ta be there for him.” And if Ari were with McTavish, that couldn’t be her. Not for a while. The man looked as if he’d been handed his first ray of hope. His face lightened from the dark monstrosity that his features had become after hearing Isa’s words. “You’d let me go? I know Colony is…yours.” “Not anymore. But I can arrange yar visit. To help Erek.”

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Ari’s eyes glistened with tears. “You could work with him in ways that I can’t. I’m only his sister.” That would help Ari too, knowing that her father was helping her brother recover. It would ease her mind. Probably help her feel better about her father’s inaction on Erek’s part earlier. The man nodded. “Schoon can run itself for a while. There is a provision that the advisors can take over for an emergency.” That he was willing to give up his rule spoke to how much he wanted to help his son. And that would make the difference in helping them to succeed. “I’ll help Erek in any way I can.” Ari chimed in, much to McTavish’s delight. “You can help them all, Dad. There are a lot of boys there. Men. Who like Erek have been hurt. They could use royal support. Even if they’ll never get Union Alliance’s.” The king looked thoughtful. It appeared as if Colony had just gotten a new ally in the government of Schoon. McTavish couldn’t ask for anything more. Well, except for a happy ending with his mates. Zelda hovered nearby. “I can see what I can do for you, McT.” McTavish nodded to her. “I have another identity set up for myself. One for Ari shouldn’t be so hard ta find.” Decker arched a brow. “Just Arianna?” “I didn’t want ta speak for ya. Ya’ve not said what ya want ta do yet. After all, ya’re supposed ta be turning me in.” That had been Decker’s goal from the beginning. While he couldn’t let Decker do that, he could give Decker some say in how this would go down, just as he’d given Ari a say. “Not likely to happen.” Decker looked to Zelda. “I need another identity too. But please, not Pecker.” A brief laugh burst from Zelda. An uncharacteristic laugh if the stories on her were true. “I’ll see what I can do.” McTavish’s heart pounded even more. Decker had chosen him too. “That means you have to leave.” The king reached for Ari. “That you can’t stay on Schoon.” Ari nodded to him. “I know. We’ll have to find a way to keep in touch. I promise we will and that we can visit.” She sobered. “I need to know Erek’s going to be all right. Knowing you’re going to him…helps.” McTavish nodded solemnly. “I give ya my word. I’ll take care of her. And keep her in touch with ya. And Erek. She’ll come ta see him. Once we get everything set up.” She’d need to see that he was okay. But first, they’d have to make sure they were safe. “We’ll have ta get set up. It won’t do anyone any good if we bring down Union Alliance on us all.” Ari nodded quickly. “God, no. I don’t want my father or brother in danger. I will wait as long as need be to see them.” She would. No matter how long it took. McTavish would try to expedite the process. For her sake. The man closed his eyes for a second, then opened them. “I know ya will. Thank you.” He moved off to the side in the bar. “And I’ll keep advocating for ya with Union Alliance.” He didn’t seem to notice his Schooner accent slipups. “For whatever that is worth.”

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McTavish looked to his two mates. Both of whom had chosen him. In blatant ways. He’d never expected that a rogue could find mates like this in the entire galaxy. “Let’s go make a home.”

*** Ari listened to the rock hammers click and clack. “Hmmph. When will McTavish be back?” He was working on their new identities while they waited on Settler’s Mine in a room that seemed to be closing in around them. Somehow she found herself impatient to start this new life. “When he gets here.” Decker hadn’t been talkative since everything had gone down. He sat in a chair across from the bed, looking up at the ceiling. She tapped on her knee. Somehow his not talking made her want to talk more, as if to make up for his reticence. She waited silently for a few more minutes. “When will McTavish be back?” “When he gets back.” He still didn’t look at her. Instead, he seemed to be interested in the ceiling and nothing else. She hated this waiting. This sitting there and hanging around. She continued to tap on her knee. What if he couldn’t find a place for them to go? Couldn’t get them all new identities that connected? She’d just given up everything for them. It had to work out. “When will—” “When he gets back.” First interruption but no change of voice, and he still didn’t look at her. That damn ceiling. Which made her want to snap at him and make him pay attention to her. She could do that. The door opened with a swoosh. McTavish came in, strutting over to the bed. “Back.” He slipped off his boots and ran a hand through his long hair. “Did you get it?” She knew she sounded like a hyper Schoon puppy but she didn’t care. She’d waited long enough. “’Course I did.” He sat down nearer to Decker than to her. “Did ya have any doubts?” He looked a little tired. “Didn’t doubt you.” She couldn’t help a sigh of relief, though. McTavish usually got what he wanted, but she hadn’t been sure he’d be successful. Even with his natural charisma. “Never doubted you.” Decker snorted. “That’s why you kept asking me when he’d be back, huh? ’Cause you didn’t doubt him?” He picked that moment to talk? She glared at Decker. He couldn’t have talked earlier? She stuck her tongue out at him. “Hush. I was just…bored.” A smile crept over McTavish’s face. “Bored, huh? And don’t stick out that tongue unless ya plan ta use it.” A small shiver ran across her at that comment. She could see using that tongue all over both of them. Many times. All over them. Decker looked back up at the ceiling.

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“Ya two sure ya want ta go on the run with me?” McTavish looked impassive but his voice deepened. “I’m the reason ya two have ta change yar lives. Ya could go back ta yar lives, even lives tagether. Without me.” They both looked stunned at him. Ari couldn’t respond for a second. “This is yar last shot. Ta get a real life. Life with me will always be on the run.” His lips thinned. “Always.” “Like I’m going anywhere.” She shook her head at the crazy man. After all they’d been through, he still thought she could walk away from him. What was he thinking? He was stuck with her. Decker didn’t say anything. He hung out on the bed, still glanced routinely up at the rock ceiling. McTavish’s eyes narrowed as he looked to Decker, awaiting his answer. Maybe that was why Decker was so quiet. Maybe he was contemplating walking away. Leaving them behind. Her breath caught. He couldn’t. Surely he couldn’t. He was their mate; they wouldn’t be complete without him. Not in any normal way. McTavish cleared his throat. Decker’s gaze spun to him. “What?” Both of them looked at him with waiting eyes for his response. McTavish arched a brow at the other man. “Ya thinking about it?” His face remained impassive, but there was a note of urgency in McTavish’s voice. He didn’t want Decker to walk away from them either. “What?” Decker made a face. “Oh. No. Of course not. I’m not running away.” His voice took on a deep note. “I was actually thinking I should give the same choice to both of you that McTavish gave to me. And you, Arianna.” He met their eyes with a fierce gaze. “I’m a Union Alliance officer who will always be on the run. Nothing can fix that.” “Aren’t we a pair?” McTavish laughed. “Giving the other a turn ta walk away from what we have.” Ari shook her head at them. “Not walking away from either of you.” Nor would she give them the choice to walk away from her. Why would she? She wanted this. Wanted them. More than anything she’d ever wanted in her life. She’d come to think of them as a unit. As a whole. She wasn’t about to give up a piece of her. Not willingly. “I’m…” Decker swallowed a breath. “I’m not exactly like you, McTavish. I’m not…a rogue. I’m…” “Ya.” “You.” McTavish and Ari spoke at the same time. They glanced at each other with surprised smiles. “And that’s what we need.”

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“Yeah.” Ari rolled her eyes. “Who’d want to be with two guys who were exactly the same? I like the differences in you.” The differences in all three of them. They brought out different things in each other. McTavish settled down on the bed by Decker. He still looked tired but happier. “C’mere, Ari.” She moseyed toward the bed. “You look like you want a nap.” But that wasn’t what she wanted to use the bed for. “I don’t want a nap.” His rough voice filled her with shivers. Maybe he wanted the bed for the same thing she did. This was McTavish. Of course he wanted the bed for the same thing that she did. Sex. Over and over again. “What do ya want?” Her Schoon accent crept in a little. She didn’t feel embarrassed, which surprised her. “Ya. And Decker.” Decker sighed and moved closer to McTavish. He seemed to want that touch. Needed the contact. Understandable. Because she did too. From them both. The moment had come to be together. To cement this bonding, this mating, forever in all their memories. “I’ve never…” She tossed her hair back and forth as it batted the sides of her head. “I’ve never…” “I know.” Decker reached a hand to help guide her to the bed. “I haven’t either.” He looked more at peace now that he’d said his piece. Great. Two-thirds of them didn’t have a clue what they were doing. How on Schoon would they pull this one off? “We’ll play.” McTavish’s voice deepened. “Then I’ll get in back of ya.” He helped guide her down between them on the bed. “Decker’ll get in front of ya. And we’ll take it from there. Actually.” His smile was broad. “We’ll take ya from there.” Shivers raced across her already energized skin. The moment had come to claim both her men in the oldest way possible. She settled down between them. They each rose up like towers around her. Making her feel safe. Protected. Loved. Lustful. She ran a hand down both chests. Both so hard and well planed even under clothes. Subtle differences that she reveled in. McTavish bit out a breath. “Too many clothes.” He hopped from the bed and began to undress. Decker followed his lead by hopping up to do the same. She lay there for a second, watching them. Watched cloth come down and expose long amounts of beautiful skin.

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McTavish arched a brow as he pulled down his pants. “Aren’t ya going ta strip?” He gazed at her expectantly. She hesitated for a second. “Ya know if I change anything about ya the next forty years, it will be that ya think ya’re beautiful. Because ya are.” “Gorgeous. Like a day on Raltivia, only better. More energizing. More sating.” Decker smiled at her as he pulled down his pants. Well, with that, how could she resist getting undressed? She might never see herself as truly beautiful, but she liked the way they saw her. She liked the her she saw through both of their eyes, slightly different but pretty pictures all the same. She’d thought she’d like the way McTavish saw her. Along with Decker, it was even better. Their eyes. Their wanting, loving eyes. How could she be anything but proud of her body and herself? With the two of them by her side, she didn’t think she could. She shoved to her feet. Didn’t make a production of it to strip. The time had passed for niceties. Instead, she took off every stitch of clothing she was wearing as quickly as she could. The cool air made goose bumps break out along every inch of her. Or maybe it was the two pairs of eyes watching her. Or the two cocks that were swelled and watching her with single eyes. She hardly remembered getting back in the bed. One minute she was standing; the next she’d been pressed against the mattress, which felt cool and yielding to her skin. So different from the warm, hard bodies next to her. Two hands explored her chest. Two lips explored other parts of her. Legs met in the middle to hold her down between two bodies. McTavish’s mouth ravaged hers as Decker rained kisses down her neck to her chest. He sucked a nipple that had previously been under his hand into his mouth. A warm avalanche of a mouth that took her down. Warm wetness surrounded her. It was wonderful. All wonderful. McTavish skipped her neck but found her breast with his mouth. She didn’t mind the skip all that much. Her body straightened out into an exclamation point. Moisture wet her pussy. Made her crazy with wanting them. Both of them. At the same time. She’d be taken in a way in which she’d never been tried. Was she ready for this? Would she ever be ready for this? She glanced down at both heads as they took her to new heights. Yes, she was. She was ready for anything they could dish out to her.

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She trusted them with her life. How could she not trust them with her body? They’d make this good for her. They’d make it right. A hand skimmed down her stomach toward her pussy, going slowly before racing the rest of the way. She wasn’t even sure whose hand it was. Her pussy seemed to jump, wanting. Waiting. Anticipating. Wanting his hand to roll in her wetness. Fingers delved and pressed. Squeezed. Drifted in and out of her wet folds. Until she was crazy with the sensations. Someone eased her over onto her side. Didn’t matter who did things. They worked together. Like they’d been doing it all along. ’Course, Decker knew all about McTavish. It made sense he’d be able to anticipate McTavish’s every move. She now faced Decker. He left her breast to investigate her mouth again. He took her mouth as if he owned her. She guessed he did. Like she owned him. She returned each kiss with a fervent fire as McTavish’s body came up behind hers. He pressed that hard cock against her for a few precious seconds before he withdrew. She whimpered against Decker’s lips but couldn’t hold back her sounds of the pleasure moving up in her. Something cold seeped into her hole in the back. Lube. She’d need it. Lots of it. She stiffened. Decker redoubled his kissing efforts, taking her mind from what McTavish was doing. They might never have worked together on this before, but they worked in tandem without talking like earlier, seeming to know the best way to get her going and her mind from considering all the angles of this double penetration. As a finger went where the lube had, Decker entered her from the front. She couldn’t help the gasp. He slipped into her without issue, going all the way inside her. Decker’s face was tight. His lips thinned out. McTavish’s finger probed her before adding a second. The pressure was intense back there as he worked her gently with both fingers, spreading her. He had to open her up for the eventual penetration of his cock. Decker moved against her. Slowly but surely going in and out of her, making each stroke count against her. Taking her mind from the third finger that breached her back hole. Each time McTavish added something new, Decker picked up his pace. It was long and slow, each move taking her one step further.

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Until his fingers withdrew from that part of her completely and more lube penetrated where his fingers had been. She managed to keep from tensing. Decker broke from her mouth. “Hold on to me.” She grasped him with shaking fingers as he slammed against her. And she was split from behind. McTavish only went partway in, but she could feel the burn of his body taking over hers. She’d never been so wide. So open. So intimate with anyone before. She pulled from Decker’s mouth. “Oh my God.” He laughed, and a chuckle broke from behind her. “There’s more.” “Lots more, Ari.” They were going to kill her. Or die trying. As McTavish came toward her to press more into her, Decker pulled back. Then Decker would come toward her, and McTavish would pull back. A rhythm designed for ultimate pleasure. In and out. Her body began to meet them stroke for stroke. The moment one of them lost the rhythm, she’d know she’d gotten to them as much as they’d gotten to her. One body went down when it should have gone back. Soon they were both slamming against her with no pattern. Thrusting back and forth so forcefully, she couldn’t tell where any of them began or ended. They were all one. Decker’s body stiffened first. He called her name as his seed poured forth from him. It was only one second later that McTavish pressed against her, clutching her with hands that gripped her almost painfully, and called her name. They all lay in the quiet, panting. Sweaty. A pile of bodies and parts. McTavish pulled from her. Liquid drained from what was sure to be a sore part tomorrow. Only she didn’t care. Never would care. Only concerned herself with being with these two mates for right now. Decker slipped from her too. He pressed a hand to his head. “I’ve never had anything like that.” Neither had she. And never would have anything like being with her mates. The way it was supposed to be. None of them moved to clean up, so spent were they. She drifted to sleep between a rogue and a Union Alliance officer. The way she would for the next eternity. And it was good.

Loose Id Titles by Mechele Armstrong Another Dream, Another Reality Another Night, Another Dream Dinah’s Dark Desire I Heart That City: Body Shots Solstice Spell The Collector: Magical Chances Veterans: Nothing to Lose The BLOOD LINES Series Blood Kiss Conduit Crimson’s Rose Night’s Journey Bitter Love Surge Currents The SETTLER’S MINE Series The Rivals The Lovers The Woman The Wolf The Man The Rogue The SIX CURSES Series Six Curses of Christmas The Sixth Curse of Spring The Sixth Cursed Halloween

Mechele Armstrong Mechele Armstrong lives in Virginia and writes while technoing with a computer geek hubby, chauffeuring two girls, ball throwing to a spaz cat, playing psychiatrist to a neurotic dog, and serving one diva kitty. She loves open bedroom doors and things that go bump in the night, which is why she probably writes what she does. She's always looking for new worlds to play in so she never knows what will come up next. Her world is where sensuality and wonder collide. Find out what’s new with Mechele at http://www.mechelearmstrong.com/.