“There will be times when you aren’t around, Commander. How can you promise to prevent any abuse of me from across the span of a galaxy or two? Suppose my buyer is just as rich and powerful as you are? How do you propose to interfere in the treatment of his legal mate? Surely you can see why I doubt your claim of protection after my auction?”
There was only one way he could keep her, and it must remain a secret even from her. “I’m a very intimidating person, Jana. I’ll make sure your owner gets my message about keeping you safe. No man would dare to challenge my black temper and high rank.”
“Moloch did minutes ago, and you were only a few feet away. I cannot help but doubt the power of threats at a time when a whole galaxy separates us. Even if you recall my existence after the first month, you’ll be too busy to check up on me. I will accept and expect your protection until my auction. After that,” she said as she lowered her gaze to the floor, “either I adapt and survive with my own wits, or I don’t. It’s really very simple. After all, Commander, what does a captor owe his victim?”
“Jana, it isn’t like that, and you know it,” he scolded her.
“You’re wrong, Commander. I can’t depend on your empty promises. I can’t expect you to drop everything and rush to my aid, and you wouldn’t. If you think for one moment that you would place yourself between a charl and her owner, you’re fooling yourself. I’m not that gullible or stupid. Please don’t try to pacify or delude me; I’m not a child.”
Her words stung him deeply. But what could he say or do, particularly tonight? “Come along, moonbeam, and stick close to me.”
“I haven’t made it to the ladies’ room yet. Your adversary stopped me. If any new troubles arise, I’ll handle them. I was simply caught by surprise this time. You won’t have to bloody your hands tor me, Commander. Any bastard who dares to attack me will find himself in the fight of his life. It is permissible for a slave to defend her life and honor, isn’t it?” she scoffed acidly.
Varian thought it best to let her words slide. “I’ll wait here.”
Jana shrugged. “Suit yourself. You always do. I’ll return shortly.”
After Jana left, Nigel came looking for her. Varian explained her delay. “Moloch threatened her. Make sure he’s watched. If he isn’t working for Ryker, I’ll take him down hard next time he comes near her!”
“She could be facing worse foes in the next two weeks. I tried to warn you this scheme had dangerous flaws in it.” To change the subject, Nigel told him, “I gave Daxley and Vaiden permission to visit their families. I sent Braq, Tesla, and Baruch to the Merrick Company. They’re demonstrating new hightech equipment. I’ll join them when we’re done here.”
“You sure the ship can run with six of her lieutenants missing?” Varian jested to lighten his gloom, unaware that he faced another problem. One of those officers was a traitor.
The next morning Jana had no appetite. She was ready to leave by ten o’clock, but her schedule called for a three-o’clock departure. Never had the gold room seemed more like a prison than it did this morning. She stretched out on the bed, stomach down. She seemed to lack all spirit today.
Varian had slept little. Even a long, hot shower did little to improve his frame of mind. He had no desire to travel to the planet surface any sooner than necessary. He was tense and moody this morning, feelings which were becoming too familiar to please him. Maybe he should check on Jana. Perhaps they could spend some time together.
Varian entered her quarters. He noticed her lying on the bed, her face turned to the wall. He wondered if she was asleep. He walked to the head of the bed and bent forward to discover her eyes were open. Yet she didn’t make any attempt to acknowledge his arrival. “Good morning, Jana.”
“Good morning, Commander Saar,” she responded tonelessly.
“It looks and sounds as if you had a night just like mine, miserable. How about a walk or a game of Laius while we wait for the shuttle?”
“If you wish,” she replied listlessly.
He reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet. Varian led her to his quarters and seated her at a small gaming table. The room was charged with warring emotions. After the game began, their knees often touched before Jana shifted to halt this disturbing sensation. Her calm appearance concealed the turmoil raging within her. Just as Varian’s stoic expression denied the turbulent winds which were storming his mind and body. The chemistry between them heightened with each passing minute.
Soon, Jana became edgy. She wanted and needed to be away from him and this disquieting atmosphere. Her inability to concentrate and her urgency to be gone as quickly as possible caused her to purposely lose the game. Eager to be dismissed, she sighed wearily and started to rise.
Even though this game was the furthest thing from his mind with her so close and enchanting, he was determined to begin another round. He wanted and needed to talk with her, to savor her company. He wanted to draw her out and destroy the wall she had erected between them last night. He wanted her to forget the frightening episodes which she had endured recently. He wanted her to smile and be happy.
Varian cleverly teased, “You gave that game away, Jana. I think your mind is elsewhere. Or do I offer too much distraction?” His blue eyes twinkled with mischief as he said, “If you win the next game, you can select a special reward…anything you desire, except your freedom.”
Jana’s astonished gaze came up to lock with his challenging one as she tried to control the sudden tremors which swept over her body. “Anything, Commander? That’s a very big wager for such a meager game and simple victory,” she remarked skeptically.
“Where are your sporting instincts, Jana? How can you refuse such a challenge?” He rashly encouraged her cooperation with, “Surely you would like to demand some secret desire? I’ll honor your choice.”
Jana’s eyes glittered at that fantasy-evoking statement. Her gaze sparkled with devilment and a beguiling grin tugged at her lips. “Anything but my freedom? Didn’t you overlook an important restriction? What if I demanded for you to purchase me. Careful, Rogue Saar, you’re slipping.” Jana eyed him intently as a playful grin crossed his features. For a heart-stopping minute, he neither accepted nor rejected that restriction. “A secret desire,” she echoed seductively. “That’s quite tempting. Are you serious?” she quizzed. Their eyes met and searched. Before he could respond, she inquired, “What if you win? I have nothing of value to offer you, so what reward could you claim? I’m already obedient, respectful, and well trained. The only thing I have is the bracelet you gave me.”
Varian chuckled, his eyes full of mystery. “To tell you in advance would spoil the suspense. The winner will be given until midnight to decide and reveal his, or her, demand. Fair enough?”
Jana pondered his words. “It seems quite a risk for you since I have nothing to offer. On the other hand, you’re in a position to be generous. How could you possibly profit from this victory?”
“I assure you, moonbeam, I can and will find a way to savor such a triumph. For example, I could demand trust in me or your full cooperation in any situation. Several very tempting ideas come to mind.”
“But you already have my cooperation.”
“But I foresee a few situations which you might find unpleasant where I could use your assistance, without questions or arguments.”
“Can I trust you to honor your loss, if it comes to that?”
He drilled his gaze into hers. “I swear to you I’ll honor your request and my promise,” he vowed with his hand over his heart.
Jana couldn’t detect a trace of mockery or deception in him. She quivered. “You have no heart to swear on,” she taunted him. “But I’ll accept your wager and your word of honor,” she recklessly ventured, extending her hand. “Shall we shake on it and seal our bargain?”
Varian’s hand grasped hers firmly. His merry gaze locked with hers as he quickly sealed their fateful deal. “Agreed, moonbeam. Just don’t try to back out on me. Aren’t you
a wee bit worried about what I’ll demand?”
“Why should I be concerned? You’ve already rejected my only worry numerous times. Win or not, you can’t get much from me.”
“That remains to be seen, doesn’t it?” he teased her wickedly.
Jana scoffed at his cocky attitude. She would give anything to beat him, to wipe that smug grin off his face! You’ve painted yourself into a corner, mon commandant. We’ll just see how you deal with my request!
“Tell me, Commander, what will you do if my prize is too excruciatingly painful to honor? What if I have expensive tastes? Or dangerous ones? Are you certain you’ll go through with this bargain?” she asked him a final time.
“I am a wealthy man, Jana. I can afford to indulge you. As to being painful, I do hope you aren’t considering a brutal beating for revenge.”
“That does sound tempting, Rogue Saar, but rest easy. I have no intention of marring that handsome face.”
“Upon my honor, I’ll pay your price, if you win,” he jested. “Nothing is forbidden except your freedom and staying with me. I have no power to grant either. Do you swear to surrender whatever prize I select?”
She looked him straight in the eye and vowed unflinchingly, “I promise to yield whatever prize you demand from me. And I accept your two restrictions,” she stated to aggravate him.
“Give it your best shot, Jana, for I fully intend to win and collect.”
Jana laughed cheerfully. I suggest you be on the alert, Rogue Saar. I heard Nigel is the ship’s champion, and I’ve beaten him on numerous occasions. I should also warn you, I never accept a gamble which isn’t stacked in my favor. Perhaps you’d remember those facts next time,” she announced confidently to unsettle him. She wanted to win this game!
Jana laughed aloud as she viewed his reaction to those statements. “Perhaps you should be worried, sir. Are you, sure you don’t want to withdraw your offer before it’s too late?” she teased, hoping to increase his anxiety. After all, she would need all the help she could find.
“I have the uncanny feeling that I’ve been set up,” he accused jovially.
“Only if I have the power to control your thoughts and actions, my love. This was your idea,” she boldly taunted before smiling at him.
The game was played slowly and cautiously. Time passed without notice. Jana refused his offer of a drink. She wanted to remain as alert as possible. Each one forfeited and captured several of their opponent’s pieces. It appeared the game was heading for a stalemate.
Varian secretly observed Jana’s fierce concentration and resolve to win. He wondered what she would demand as her prize. It looked as if he would never know, for neither of them could win this carefully played game. Piqued beyond control, Varian impulsively threw the game and allowed her to win.
At her triumphant grin, he suddenly wondered if he had acted too rashly. “Well? What shall it be, champ?” he inquired, accepting his loss.
Jana focused a smug and mysterious gaze on him. “If you’ll recall, you said the winner could have all day to choose and announce his or her demand. I’ll let you know by tonight. I don’t want to select such a monumental gift too impetuously. I’m starved. How about lunch, Rogue Saar?”
“I have the feeling you already know what you want from me. Why stall in voicing your demand?” he questioned, his curiosity burning wildly.
Jana laughed. “I’d like to see you squirm and fidget for a change. Who knows? With all you possess, you’ll probably find my request simple.”
“Make your choice before midnight,” he reminded her, “or you forfeit any prize.” His smoldering gaze swept over her and he licked his lips.
Varian watched Jana as she gracefully rose and bid him a sunny farewell. He arched his brows suspiciously. He was unaccustomed to being teased in such a manner. After Jana left for lunch, Varian paced his quarters, scolding himself. The tension of her unknown choice gnawed at him.
Jana and Varian were greeted by Avatar Seid Rhoedea and his two daughters on the planet Auriga. Karita raced into the welcoming arms of Kyle Dykstra, who lifted her and swung her around before kissing her soundly and shamelessly. The two lovers were gone within minutes. Arianna patiently waited for Varian to approach her, but he didn’t. He seemed content to converse with her father and his captive.
Naturally that didn’t sit well with the dusky female. She joined them and edged Jana aside. Varian behaved as if he hadn’t noticed the woman’s conduct. Soon, he grasped Jana’s hand and led her away from the grinning father and glaring daughter. Seid Rhoedea clutched the tape in his pocket.
As Varian had told Jana, Kathy Anderson was placed in Ferris Laus’s parents’ care, who seemed more than pleased with their son’s choice. Ferris wasn’t bothered by the fact that Varian Saar had insisted on supplying part of the purchase price, and had stipulated Ferris keep that fact a secret. Ferris knew the money was nothing to Varian and he knew Varian was doing this good deed for Ferris and Kathy as well as for himself and Jana.
Joy flooded Jana as she watched the Lauses and Kathy leave. She remained with Nigel during the auction, which went off without a twist, while Varian spent his time with the ruler and his daughter.
When Arianna and Varian joined Nigel and Jana at the refreshment bar, Jana had to bite her tongue when the woman kept trying to embarrass her. She couldn’t allow it to show. Jana remained poised and polite, until Varian was about to leave with that clinging, cloying vine.
Out of Arianna’s hearing, he ordered, “Nigel, you take Jana back to the ship. If I come back tonight, it’ll be late. You’re in charge of the bridge.”
“No,” Jana boldly protested. “We have unfinished business to settle before midnight, Commander. Our talk first, then your visit with Arianna.”
Acknowledging her request, they returned to his quarters, where he stalled the inevitable by pouring two glasses of wine. “A toast to our wager. May neither of us regret that game or your reward.” Jana downed the wine. “Could you make your request quickly? I did leave someone waiting for me,” he reminded her, wanting this scene to end quickly.
“I decided I want a sexual education as my prize,” she calmly stated.
He grimaced. “You can’t be serious?”
“I’ve never been more serious, Commander Saar.”
“Should I keep my word on such a self-destructive matter?”
Her eyes frosted as she awaited his refusal. “I do not request that you honor your word, Commander, I demand it. I want complete training!”
Her angry outburst incited his. “Damn you! From whom, Jana?”
“You,” she stated unwaveringly. “I want you as my teacher. You’ve tempted and teased me for weeks. Everyone believes I’m your mistress, so why not make it true? Even if my new owner vowed I came to him as a virgin, no one would believe it. You gave your word of honor to grant me the desire of my choice. I desire two weeks as your student in bed.”
“Two weeks?” he echoed in astonishment.
“Your restriction specified I couldn’t remain with you, but it didn’t say I couldn’t…borrow you for two weeks. Isn’t that right?”
“Do you realize what you’re asking of me, Jana?”
“Two weeks of your time and attention,” she replied very quietly.
“They’re nothing compared to—” He fell silent, then turned to get another drink. He tossed down a stiff whiskey. “Don’t do this,” he almost pleaded without turning to face her. Surely it would seal their fates!
“Then it’s settled. Return to Arianna. I won’t keep you any longer. It was a stupid idea anyway. Good night, Commander.”
“Where the hell are you going?” he stormed.
“To my quarters to ponder your worthless word of honor, you traitor.”
“But you said it was settled,” he fumed.
“It is settled. If you can’t honor your word, I certainly wouldn’t ask another officer to do so! Your refusal to grant my winning request cancels our bargain. I can’t hop into
bed with just any man. Mutual attraction is required, remember? Your answer is no, isn’t it?” she challenged.
The buzzer sounded. Varian answered the intercom. “Sir, Arianna is calling. She wants to know how much longer you’ll be delayed.”
Varian glanced at Jana, who sighed heavily and turned to leave. He knew with every fiber of his being that he shouldn’t make this decision. Should he selfishly accept her demand? What a bittersweet trap!
“Just a moment, moonbeam,” he said, then bolted forward to halt her departure. Seizing her wrist, he pulled her to his desk and spoke into the intercom, “Tell the Rhoedeas I won’t be returning to Auriga. I have vital business here. Don’t disturb me again tonight unless it’s an emergency.” The communications officer acknowledged the order and signed off.
“Damn you, Jana Greyson,” he muttered in a cross between joy and torment. “As surely as my eyes are blue, we’ll both live to regret this night.”
At that very moment far away in the Pyropean Galaxy, Supreme Ruler Jurad and his son Prince Taemin were reviewing the information which Canissia’s agent, Zan, had passed along. They began to make plans to check out this mystery for themselves. They decided to visit a friend on the planet Lynrac at the precise time of Varian’s stop there. Between now and then, Canissia could keep them well informed on Varian Saar’s actions.
On the planet Auriga below the starship Wanderlust, several of Varian’s officers and crew members were enjoying the final few hours of a well-deserved one-day furlough. One officer who had met secretly with Canissia Carthon early that afternoon was under her drug-induced control. After turning over his traitorous report and pictures to her, he was undone by the glass of chemical-laced champagne he sipped to toast the termination of their association.
Canissia laughed wickedly as she stared at the man who could not resist her. “Tell me everything, my handsome slave.”
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