Centurion: Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone #3

by Hackett, Anna

  “Why?”

  She smiled. “Because I want to pleasure you. Because doing this to you pleasures me.”

  He saw the way her body was shifting restlessly on the bed. He scented her musky arousal. “You’re aroused?”

  She nodded. “Tell me what you want, Acton.”

  So few people had ever asked him that. He only had one answer. Right now, all he wanted was Sage.

  “You. Protected, safe, happy. Your pleasure.”

  Her pretty lips tipped upward. “This will give me pleasure.”

  He licked his lips. “Take what you want.”

  She shook her head. “Tell me, Acton.”

  His chest was tight, but he managed to draw a breath. “Suck my cock. Please.”

  Her grip tightened and her head lowered, copper hair spilling across his skin. She sucked him deep.

  A shout broke from him, his chest heaving. He grabbed the covers, watching her kneeling there between his legs, her pretty mouth stretched around his cock.

  She bobbed up and down on his erection, her face suffused with pleasure. One of her hands gripped his thigh, her fingers digging into a small metal implant there. Her fingers moved, caressing it.

  He groaned again and then she slid up, licking the head of his cock like a sweet treat.

  “Sage—” His control was gone, burned away. He bumped his hips up again and she moaned, taking him deep. He felt a wave of something growing inside him, something big that was about to break. “Sage.”

  “Come, Acton. I’m here.” She sucked again.

  His release ripped through him and he growled. He pumped into Sage’s warm mouth. She sucked hard, swallowing everything as he came.

  When Acton sank back on the bed, he couldn’t think. He was used to lightning-quick clarity, but as he looked down at Sage, he couldn’t form a single word. She smiled up at him, licking him and then nuzzling his stomach with her cheek. His body shuddered.

  She looked…pleased. Happy.

  She slid her body up his. “I’ve thought of doing that with you for a while. Driving you wild.”

  What had he ever done to deserve this woman? To deserve to bask in all her bright light?

  “Sage.” It was all he could manage.

  She nestled against his chest. “You’re a gorgeous man, Acton.” Then she kissed him, soft and gentle. “Now you need to rest.”

  He frowned at her “What about your pleasure?”

  “Later.” She pressed into him. “When you’ve rested.”

  He pulled her close and she nuzzled his neck. “What are you doing?”

  “Snuggling.” She rubbed her cheek on his skin. “I love a good cuddle. I’m going to sleep with you.”

  Acton had never slept with anyone before. He’d never wanted to.

  But this—her warm weight close—it felt good.

  Besides, it meant she’d be close to him, where he could protect her all night long. Something inside him loosened.

  “Sleep,” she ordered.

  Acton pulled her closer, and with her scent teasing his senses, he shut down and slept.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sage drifted out of sleep, sighing. She was pressed against a hard, warm body. A cool, firm arm was wrapped around her waist.

  Acton.

  She turned her head and watched him sleep. His face was the most relaxed she’d seen it, his hair mussed. He looked much more man than the enhanced cyborg warrior he was.

  Then his eyes flicked open.

  “Hey,” she murmured.

  “Good morning.” He sounded instantly alert.

  She sat up, and her shirt fell down one shoulder. “How do you feel?”

  His brow creased like he was uncertain how to answer.

  She pressed a hand to his chest. “Don’t overthink it.”

  “I feel healed. I have no pain.” He tilted his head, his gaze on her bare shoulder. “And I feel…good waking beside you.”

  Warmth wormed through her, and when he lifted a hand and stroked her shoulder, she shivered. There was a look of wonder on his face.

  “You like that?” he asked.

  “I like it anytime you touch me.”

  He pulled in a deep breath. She reached up and pushed the shirt farther down, until it pooled at her waist.

  His gaze went to her bare breasts, light igniting in his eyes. “You are so pretty.”

  “Thank you.” Those heartfelt words arrowed right to her heart.

  “Can I touch you, Sage?”

  “Yes. Yes, please.”

  He lifted his hands, gently cupping her breasts. Sage swallowed a moan.

  “Your skin is cool.” Her voice was husky. “It feels so good because I’m too warm. Do you like touching me?”

  “Yes. You’re so soft.” His fingers shifted, rubbing both her nipples.

  Now she moaned. Sensations rippled through her, straight to her core.

  He stilled, his gaze on her face. Then he caressed her breasts, working her nipples into hard points. “You’re very sensitive here.”

  “God, that feels so good, Acton.”

  His organic cheek was streaked with color. His gaze was glued to her breasts.

  She closed her eyes and whimpered. He pushed her back onto the bed, and then shoved her shirt down her hips, followed by her loose-fitting trousers.

  She saw his nostrils flare, his hands stroking up her legs. His metal fingers brushed her inner thigh.

  “Yes, touch me,” she murmured. “Higher.”

  One hand slid higher, skimming across her panties. He touched her again and her hips jerked.

  He stilled, a finger brushing against the damp fabric. “You’re so wet.”

  “You make me like that.”

  “A biological response so that your body is prepared for—” His eyes flared.

  She bit down on her lip. “Yes.”

  “I wish I had organic flesh on my fingers—”

  She shook her head. “I don’t. You’re perfect just as you are.”

  Another wild flash in his eyes. His fingers twisted in her panties, and then he tore them off her.

  Sage gasped. Then his cool fingers slid through her swollen folds.

  “Oh, oh.” She panted, her hips lifting.

  Acton paused.

  “Don’t you stop! Please don’t stop.”

  His fingers dragged through where she was slick and warm. His thumb bumped against her clit.

  “Yes!” Her back arched.

  “You like that.” His voice was a growl, deeper and more edgy than she’d ever heard it.

  “Yes.”

  He leaned over her, his cybernetic eye glowing neon. “Tell me, Sage. Tell me how to pleasure you.”

  Need was tearing through her, the pleasure so acute it was close to pain. His fingers kept stroking her and she could barely breathe. His eyes were on her like a laser.

  “That small nub, it’s my clitoris. A bundle of nerves that gives intense pleasure when stimulated. But other things feel good too.”

  “I want to make you feel good.”

  “Slide…” she had to clear her throat “…slide a finger inside me.”

  Instantly, he obeyed, nudging her thighs wider and pushing one finger inside her.

  She cried out. “That’s so good.”

  Acton leaned down, sucking one of her nipples into his mouth. She pushed up against him—the warmth of his mouth sucking on her breast, the cool, thick finger plunging inside her… It was all too much, and at the same time, not enough.

  “Acton…”

  “Tell me what you need.”

  “I want you to taste me.”

  He lifted his head, his lips glistening from sucking on her. He stared at her face.

  “Between my legs,” she urged him.

  He moved fast, sliding down her body and pushing her thighs farther apart. His big palms slid under her bottom, his breath warm on her skin.

  She threaded her fingers in his hair and watched as he leaned in, his face sl
iding along her thigh.

  “Acton!” So much sensation coursing through her.

  He stared at her, where she was hot and swollen, until she wanted to squirm. Then he buried his face between her thighs.

  Sage screamed his name. He licked at her, dragging his tongue over sensitized flesh. He opened his mouth wider, and he sucked and licked. When he groaned, the sound vibrated through her.

  Then he found her clit.

  She tightened her hold on his hair. “Oh, God. Acton.”

  His tongue swirled, and he made a hungry sound that she felt right in her lower belly. His mouth closed over her clit and he sucked.

  Her orgasm hit like fire ripping through her. She screamed, arching into his mouth.

  He kept working her, eating her like he couldn’t get enough of the taste of her.

  And her cyborg held her tight as she trembled through her release.

  * * *

  Need—dark and intense—rocketed through Acton. He watched Sage come apart, pleasure all over her pretty face.

  He’d done that. He’d given her what she needed and made her feel like this.

  Throbbing, needy sensation washed through him, and his breathing turned harsh. His organic skin felt over-sensitive. Even the receptors in his metal skin were firing. Everything was overwhelming.

  The air around him filled with energy, and he realized he’d lost his grip on his cybernetic power.

  He glanced up and several items—a dagger, a leather harness, their discarded clothes, a chair—floated in the air, swirling around the bed.

  Sage—with heavy lids and a flushed face—gasped. Her eyes widened, and she pulled the sheet to her chest.

  “Acton?”

  “I… It’s too much.”

  “It’s okay.” She cupped his cheeks. “Just focus on me.”

  He locked his gaze with hers.

  She smiled. “We’ll just have to go a little slower and practice some more.” She stroked his skin, sliding her fingers down his neck and stroking his metal implant. “You are so handsome.”

  He listened to the silk of her voice, letting it slide over him. “No one’s ever said that before.”

  “You never let anyone close enough.” Her thumb rubbed against his jaw.

  Around them, all the floating items dropped back down. The chair tipped over with a thud.

  “There.” She leaned forward and brushed her nose against his.

  Slowly, Acton regained some control. The roar in his blood dimmed a little.

  Then there was a loud knock on the door.

  “Acton.” Mace’s deep voice.

  “I’m here.” Acton answered, grabbing the drying cloth off the ground, and wrapping it around his waist.

  Suddenly, the door flung open, and Sage squeaked.

  Belatedly, Acton realized that she was naked under the sheet. He quickly flipped the fabric over her head.

  Mace entered and stopped abruptly. “Drak,” the big cyborg muttered.

  “Hi, Mace,” Sage called out.

  The cyborg made a strangled sound and Acton straightened.

  “Do you need something, Mace?”

  The cyborg’s lips twitched. “This is not a situation I ever imagined you in.”

  Acton tilted his head. Sage’s bare leg wasn’t covered by the sheet, and he reached out and stroked it. “Me, neither.”

  Mace grinned. “How the mighty have fallen.”

  Acton raised a brow, feeling…unusual. He felt a strange need to smile. “I’m just following your path. One you’ve already crashed down. At least I’m not tearing up training dummies in the arena and denying my feelings.”

  Mace looked at the items littered across the floor and the overturned chair. “At least I didn’t lose control of my powers and toss things around.”

  Sage’s head popped up. “Can we hurry this along?”

  The sheet slipped a little, exposing the slope of her shoulder and the top of her breast.

  Frowning, Acton shifted, blocking Mace’s view. When he looked back, Mace was smiling.

  “We have a planning meeting to find the lake,” Mace said.

  Sage sat up, keeping the sheet clutched to her chest. “I’m coming.”

  Acton pushed her back down. “We’ll be there.”

  Mace stomped out the door. “Put some clothes on.”

  As soon as the door closed, Sage bounced up and off the bed. She leaned over and smacked a kiss against Acton’s lips. “Let’s get going.”

  His fingers flexed on her and she smiled. He towed her back in and kissed her again, slow and gentle.

  She made a humming noise. He followed her movements, mimicking her as her tongue delved into his mouth.

  “You’re getting pretty good at that,” she murmured.

  “I am a big believer in practice to hone one’s skills.”

  “I bet,” she murmured. “We’ll get back to this later.”

  He nodded, staring at her mouth.

  She smiled now, bright as the sun. “Head in the game, cyborg.” Her face turned serious. “We need to find that lake. We need to find Grace and Simone.”

  He nodded and quickly set about pulling on some fresh clothes. They went past her room, and she changed into a pretty green top and trousers.

  When they arrived at Magnus’s office, all of his screens were filled with images. The first picture Acton saw displayed showed huge, red sand dunes.

  Sage walked ahead of him, stepping closer to the screens on the wall. “Did you find the lake?”

  “Not yet.” It was Quinn who answered. The woman was eyeing Sage, then she looked to Acton, a slow smile spreading across her face.

  “These are the Red Dunes of Tauri,” Magnus said.

  “Tolpan said to go past them and look for the daggers,” Sage said.

  Quinn’s nose wrinkled. “We have no idea what the daggers are, yet.”

  Acton watched Sage’s shoulders sag. Following instinct, he slid an arm around her. He’d seen the other men do it so many times with their mates, and when she leaned into him, he knew he’d done the right thing.

  He felt plenty of interested gazes on them.

  “We’ll find it,” he told her.

  In front of them, Magnus nodded. “We’re running searches. We have limited images of the area, so it’ll take time.”

  Sage tensed and Acton squeezed her. She blew out a breath and nodded. “I know I need to be patient, but it’s damn hard.”

  “The House of Rone is fighting the House of Loden in the arena today,” Quinn said. “We’re all going.”

  Sage frowned. “We can’t have fun while Simone and Grace are out there.”

  “You can and you will,” Quinn said. “We all need to recharge. We’ll do them no good if we run ourselves into the ground.” Quinn’s gaze flicked to Acton and back. “You’re entitled to a life, Sage.”

  Sage looked torn.

  Quinn linked her arm through Sage’s. “Come on. We’ll go and find Ever, Jayna, and Calla.” She looked at the cyborgs. “We’ll meet you at the arena.”

  Acton watched Quinn tug Sage out the door. She managed to shoot him a smile before she was gone.

  “Soooo,” Jax drawled.

  Magnus leaned forward, a serious look on his face as he pinned Acton with his stare. “What’s happening between you and Sage?”

  Mace grunted. “Found her naked in his bed this morning.”

  “What?” Toren looked shocked, his eyes gleaming.

  “We are…” Acton usually found words direct and easy. “It’s…”

  Jax laughed. “I like this. Mr. I-don’t-understand-why-these-Earth-women-are-tying-you-up-in-knots is tongue-tied over a pretty, copper-haired Earth woman.”

  Acton blew out a breath. “She awakens things in me. I can’t stay away from her. I don’t want to stay away from her.”

  “Head over heels.” A smile touched Magnus’ lips. “That’s what Ever would say.”

  “I’m not certain I can give her what she needs,
” Acton said quietly.

  “She’ll show you, Acton,” the imperator said. “Protect her, listen to her. The rest will fall into place.”

  Protect her. That he could do.

  Chapter Twelve

  The thunder of the crowd rocked through Sage, rattling her bones.

  She grinned. The huge arena was filled with wild energy and a sense of eager anticipation.

  The stone seat beneath her was hard, and she shifted to keep her butt from falling asleep. Down in the center of the arena, the gladiators were already out on the sand, waving to the crowd and doing test swings of their weapons.

  The Kor Magna Arena was packed, and the sand-covered floor looked completely different to the last time she’d been here. Instead of flat sand, there was a rocky landscape, and even some trees, dotted here and there.

  “It’s holographic,” Ever yelled over the noise of the cheers.

  She was bouncing Asha on her knee. The tiny girl wore a small set of futuristic-looking earmuffs to protect her hearing.

  On the other side of Sage, Calla smiled. The alien woman was practically glowing, her dark hair tumbling around her face that was lined with the pretty, gold patterns of her species. Since she’d moved into Zaden’s rooms, the woman was clearly happy.

  She’d come a long way from when she’d been locked up with Sage.

  The timbre of the crowd changed. Down below, the competitors were performing wild leaps and jumps, deep-green cloaks accenting their fighting leathers. The House of Loden.

  Then Xias, the House of Rone champion, threw his arms wide and let out a wild roar. The crowd roared back, and the other Rone gladiators waved their weapons.

  Moments later, the gladiators lined up, and after a horn sounded, the fight began.

  Sage watched Xias bound over the rocks, light on his feet for such a big man. Weapons clashed, sometimes sending sparks flying, and the crowd booed and cheered.

  “This is just what we needed,” Ever said.

  Sage nodded. Despite her worry for Simone and Grace, being here, all her senses engaged in watching the fight, helped clear her head. She had to admit that she felt better than she had in a long time.

  And Acton. Oh, boy. She felt her cheeks flush.

  Ever eyed her, her lips twitching. “You look pleased with yourself.”