by Susan Hayes
“When this is over, I should talk to Zura, then. See who she used and if they can do something similar with my place.”
“Whatever you want, love.”
All three of them grinned. The future was looking better all the time. All they had to do was survive long enough to make it a reality.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
If anyone had told Blade that some of the best days of his life would be spent on board a cargo freighter while on the run from an assassin, he would have asked for a sample of whatever pharma they were using. It was true, though. He’d enjoyed every minute of the past five days.
There were no threats to watch for, no reason to stay vigilant against potential danger. They could finally relax, and so could Alyson. There were no patients out here, no demands on her time, no reasons to push herself to the point of exhaustion. They were all enjoying a brief hiatus from reality, made all the sweeter because they knew it wouldn’t last.
Over the past few days, Blade had started to realize that what he felt for Alyson hadn’t been love, not when he’d first said the words. It had only been the promise of love, but with every hour that passed, that promise continued to evolve and grow into something greater. A week ago he would have died for her. Now, he wanted to live for her instead.
For that to work, Alyson needed to survive, too, and right now she wasn’t listening to any of their suggestions on how to make sure that happened. She stubbornly insisted on being included instead of agreeing to hide on the Sun Sprite until the danger had passed.
They were sitting in the ship’s rec area, and the afternoon’s planning session was rapidly spinning out of control.
“No, damn it. We’ve talked about this. You’re his target, so it makes no sense for you to be out in the open,” Lance argued.
“I won’t be out in the open. According to the blueprints Phaedra managed to find, there are two easily defendable locations on the station.” Alyson stabbed a finger into the hologram that filled the air over their heads. “Here and here.”
“Which is why you should be way the hell over here.” Lance pointed to a docking arm on the far side of the station.
“And what happens if he comes after me on the ship? You’ll be too far away to stop him. As much as I’ve enjoyed the self-defence lessons you guys have given me over the last few days, but I’m hardly ready to take on a trained killer single-handed.”
“The Sprite’s AI is capable of defending this ship for a prolonged period. You’ll be safer here.” Dirk’s voice was tight with barely checked frustration.
They all wanted her to be as safe as they could possibly make her, and none of them wanted her to witness the fight that was coming.
Blade was prepared for her to argue again, or call them all stubborn idiots. He wasn’t prepared for her next words.
“The only place I’ll feel safe is with you. I don’t trust an AI to protect me. I do trust all of you.”
Veth. How could they argue with that? Apparently, his brothers felt the same way because they looked at each other in baffled silence.
Finally, Dirk spoke. “If you stay with us, you will have to do exactly what we say, the instant we say it.”
She started to nod, but he cut her off.
“You have to mean it. If you hesitate or argue, someone could die. So before you say yes, you need to commit to what it means.”
Alyson flinched. “I meant it last time.”
“And yet, you wouldn’t leave Royan when we told you to run.” Dirk’s fingers drummed out a staccato beat on the arm of his chair.
“He was bleeding!”
“And there you go, arguing again. If one of us is bleeding, are you going to try and save us, too? Ward’s a killer. If you give him a chance, he’s going to take you out.”
Blade saw the hurt and unhappiness in Alyson’s eyes and opened his mouth to say something to ease the tension. Before he could, her shoulders slumped and she bowed her head in defeat.
“I promise to do what you say without hesitation. I don’t want to be the reason any of you get hurt. I get it. I do. I just wish there was some other way to end this beside an all-out war with someone who doesn’t have any choice.”
Unlike most of their kind, Blade and his brothers had never faced their brethren across a battlefield. This would be their first time standing against one of their own, and it wasn’t sitting well with any of them. “He’s got his mission, and he’s compelled to complete it. There is no other way. At least, none we’ve been able to figure out.”
“We’ve got two more days. Surely Victor will be awake by then and can give us more information. There might still be a way to resolve this,” Alyson said.
It was what they were all hoping for, but so far, hope hadn’t done them much good. Victor’s injuries had proven to be more serious than first thought. He’d been shot and left for dead by someone who believed his injuries weren’t survivable, even for a cyborg. The only reason Victor was still alive was because Lieksa had been on hand to initiate repairs to his damaged implants. After she had done all she could, Dr. Basque had put Victor into a medically-induced coma to give his brain time to heal. He’d live, but there would be no answers until Victor was awake again.
With time running out, they were left planning for the worst case scenario; the one where not everyone lived.
“If it comes to a choice between him or you, he’ll die. Since you’ve made it clear you’re not going to stay on the ship, there isn’t going to be any margin for error. That’s the price for what you want. You might have to watch us kill someone to save your life. I’m trying to protect you from that, but you won’t let me.” Dirk stomped out of the room before anyone could react to what he’d said.
“And there goes Officer Overkill,” she huffed. “He says I’m stubborn. Has he looked in a damned mirror?”
“He doesn’t have to.” Lance pointed to himself, then Blade. “He’s got us for that.”
Blade understood what had Dirk so frustrated. He wanted to protect Alyson having to witness that kind of violence, too. They all did.
“True.” Alyson chewed on her lip for a second, then sighed again. “So, since you’re very much alike in some ways, do you share his opinion on what’s best for me?”
Hello, slippery slope to Hell. Time for a distraction. “Uh, before we answer that, how mad are you going to be if we say yes?” he asked, giving her his best sad puppy face.
She flashed a glimmer of a smile, and he seized the moment. He sent a quick internal message to Lance and got to his feet. “Follow my lead, or we’re in as much trouble as Dirk.”
“I’ve got a better idea. Instead of rehashing things we’ve already talked about, how about we do something else?”
“You’re avoiding my question,” she pointed out.
Damn right he was. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m tired of talking and want to dance with you. We haven’t danced yet, you know.”
“You want to dance? Here?” Alyson gestured around the rec area. It was a moderate size, with well-worn chairs and a newer-looking lounge taking up most of the available space.
“For what I have in mind, this will work perfectly. Why don’t you take a seat on the edge of that lounge, while Lance and I clear some space?”
“I can’t decide if you’re brilliant, or insane. Either way, you owe me a drink. We agreed to never discuss this again.” Lance grumbled over their private channel.
“Would you rather answer her question?”
“Excellent point.” Lance hopped up and started moving furniture.
“What about music?” Alyson asked.
“Right. Ship, display your musical library on the rec area’s monitor. Eliminate any ballads and orchestral pieces.”
It didn’t take long to find a song that would work. He tapped the screen to make his selection and told the computer to begin playing the song in two minutes. That should give them enough time to call up their encoded memories of the last routine they’d done together. It wouldn’
t be a perfect performance, but it would be a memorable one.
“Ship, dim lights in the rec area to one-third normal.” Lance had cleared the area around Alyson, giving them enough room to move.
“Am I part of this dancing plan, or am I supposed to stay seated?”
“You stay put for now. Remember when I told you that Lance I had worked a short stint as dancers? You’re about to get a private performance.”
“I am?” She settled deeper into her chair and beamed. “This should be fun. Where did you guys dance, anyway? You never said.”
“Ever been to the Torex mining platform?” Lance asked.
“Only once. I recall it being a big, busy place where they process most of the ore coming in from the asteroid field. I briefly considered investing in one of the medical clinics there, but then I got the opportunity to buy the clinic on Astek outright.”
“Did you see much of the lower concourse? That’s where we worked. A hole in the wall called Grinding Rods. The whole bar was done up to look like a machinist shop, lots of gears and pistons and metal. The drinks were cheap, and the owner had dancers perform a few nights a week. Girls, guys, and aliens, we all had assigned nights.”
“I never got down to the lower areas. I heard about it, though. Rough place full of rougher folks looking for a good time.”
“That’s the nicest description I’ve ever heard of the place. It was a cesspool, and we moved on as soon as we had the scrip to pay for transport to another part of the Drift.” Blade took a moment to take off his shoes and socks, a move he instantly regretted when his bare feet hit the cold deck plating.
“You ready?” Lance asked, moving to stand in front of Alyson.
“Yep.” Blade turned his attention to Alyson. “Only one rule. No moving. You stay right where you are, and keep your hands to yourself.”
“That’s two rules. And where’s the fun if I have to sit still?” She demanded.
Lance chuckled. “Trust me, we’ll make sure you enjoy yourself.”
*
Alyson knew they were deliberately distracting her, and she was more than happy to let them. She’d talk to Dirk again after she had time to mull over what he had said. For now, she wanted to enjoy what little time they had left.
Blade and Lance were standing only a few feet in front of her, both of them grinning as the music started. She’d been to a few clubs with male dancers before, but she had never done more than watch from the back of the room. That wasn’t going to be an option this time.
Both of them moved in time to the bass-heavy music. At first, it was nothing more than a slow roll of their hips, but as the beat sped up, so did they. Every step they took was in perfect synch, and every move was a display of sex appeal and strength.
They even stripped off their shirts at the same time, giving her an eyeful of hard muscle and bare skin. It was a sight she would never get bored of. When they moved in closer, she forgot the rules and reached for them, only to have Blade wag his finger at her and move back out of reach. While she watched him, Lance came around behind her. She didn’t realize he was there until he grasped her arms and drew them gently behind her back.
“Ship, pause the music. What did we say about touching, sunshine? We really need to work on your ability to follow directions.”
She laughed. “Good luck with that.”
“Stubborn woman,” he whispered in her ear as something warm was wrapped around her wrists.
She jerked at her arms, but there was no chance she could break free of Lance’s hold unless he let her, and he wasn’t going to.
“That is brilliant, and evil, brother of mine.” Blade cupped her cheek and winked at her. “You look incredibly sexy right now, Doc.”
Lance finished knotting what had to be his shirt around her wrists and came back into view. “Ship, restart the music.”
“You’re going to pay for this you know.” She wriggled, testing how tight the knots were.
“If you want to tie me up and have your way with me later, you go right ahead.”
They started to dance again, and the heat level kept rising with every seductive look and move. Her clit started to throb and her pussy grew slick with arousal as she watched them dance. Though it wasn’t really dancing anymore, it was something more primal than that. It was sex without contact, and by the time the song reached the midpoint, she was aching to be touched.
She moved to the edge of her seat and leaned forward, hoping they’d take the hint.
Blade chuckled and strutted up to her, giving her a clear view of how turned on he was. His cock was a hard line straining against the cloth of his pants, and if she’d had her hands free, she would have helped him get them off.
“Untie me, please.”
“Not yet.” Lance took his brother’s place in front of her. He was so close she could lean in and lick the sculpted ridge of his abs, but she managed to resist the temptation. Something told her the more she disobeyed, the longer they’d tease her.
He threaded his fingers through her hair, drawing her head back, so she was looking him in the eyes as he closed the distance between them. He pushed between her thighs, and she parted her legs, letting him in closer. He ground his body against hers, his cock rubbing across her breasts. Delicious friction added fresh fuel to the fire already burning inside her, and she uttered a soft moan.
Within seconds, Blade was behind her, kneeling on the lounge so that his thighs were pressed to her back and the solid bulge of his cock was tight against her spine. They were still moving in time to the music, carrying her with them until the rhythm stole her reason and she gave in to it.
The next time Lance moved against her, she dipped her head and raked her teeth lightly across his stomach. He groaned, and then Blade moved in again, giving her a chance to reach up a little to stroke her fingers over his cock.
“You trying to tell us something?” Blade asked.
“Do you really need to ask?” she retorted, impatience putting an edge on her words. Her confidence had grown since their first time together; bolstered by their love and obvious desire for her. She’d never dared to take control though. Not until now.
“Tell us what you want us to do,” Lance encouraged.
“I want my hands back, and your pants off. Both of you.”
“And if you could only have one of those things, which would it be?” Blade asked, his voice a sexy rumble by her ear.
“The two of you naked.”
“Our lady has spoken,” Lance said.
“Clearly.” Blade agreed.
She couldn’t do anything but watch as they peeled off the rest of their clothes, somehow managing to keep to the beat of the new song that had started playing during their brief discussion.
Despite the fact her hands were still tied, Alyson was the one in control. “Now I want Lance to stand in front of me, and Blade, back behind me. Blade gets to use his hands.” She arched a brow at Lance. “You don’t.”
Blade chortled in gleeful delight and moved in behind her. He had her shirt unbuttoned in a matter of seconds and cupped her breasts in his hands, working her nipples hard enough to make her gasp.
Lance stepped between her parted thighs, a cocky grin on his lips as he gazed down at her. “And what about me?”
She didn’t bother answering him. Instead, she bowed her head and took the tip of his cock into her mouth. He groaned, and she felt his shaft pulse and harden.
“Veth, that feels good. Suck me just like that.”
She started to hum softly as she explored every silken inch of him with the tip of her tongue. She took her time, lapping and circling the tip until his thighs were shaking and his breathing was ragged.
Blade never stopped touching her. He alternated between tender caresses and harder tweaks and tugs on her nipples, keeping her off-balance and turned on at the same time.
“Take him deeper,” Blade murmured in encouragement.
“Fraxx, yes. Please. I want your mouth on me.”
“That’s cruel,” Lance muttered, but he went still and silent after that one grumbling complaint. That’s all she had been looking for. Like her grandmother was fond of saying, what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, too.
She didn’t make him wait for long. After a few seconds, she lowered her head once more, working his cock with her lips and tongue until he was groaning her name and rocking his hips against her mouth. When he was close to coming, she leaned in and let him go deeper than she’d ever tried before.
He jerked his hips and cried out her name as his release tore through him, leaving him shuddering over her as she swallowed every drop. He was still struggling to catch his breath when she raised her head until his cock popped free and she flashed him a cocky grin of her own.
“My turn, now,” was all he said.
He must have said something to Blade via their internal link, because the next thing she knew, the two of them were working together to lift her onto Lance’s shoulder.
“This looks kind of familiar,” Blade observed. “Only you’re missing those cute fuzzy slippers this time.”
“I didn’t have time to pack those. And for veth’s sake, why am I being carried like this again? I’m perfectly capable of walking!”
“Well, for one thing, this way is a lot more fun for us, sunshine.”
“Not to mention it gives us a gorgeous view of your ass.” Blade emphasized his point by leaning in and nipping one cheek.
She started swearing at them in every language she knew, well aware that cyborgs were fluent in all the languages in the galaxy and would understand every word she said.
They laughed at her all the way to their shared quarters, and by the time they set her back on her feet, she was laughing with them. That’s one of the things she loved the most about her men: they made her laugh. No matter how dark things were, or how uncertain their future was, they never lost their sense of humor. She thought about Dirk and amended that thought. They never lost their sense of humor for long.