Most of it was raw ore from the settlement they’d paid a special visit to earlier that day. Lucy, not in the business of killing innocents unless she absolutely had to, had settled for stripping the village center of anything of value. The individual families’ personal belongings had been left untouched. The planet was so desolate that she doubted she would have gained much more than aggravation and wasted effort if she’d tried to raid homes. The ore, though, had been fair game and an added bonus. On certain planets she could fetch a beautiful, and legitimate, price for her discovery.
She turned to regard the two prisoners with a raised eyebrow, giving an irritated sigh. “And where should I house a couple of blue-blood killers, eh?” She blew a wisp of hair away from her forehead.
“We didn’t kill anyone,” Julius protested. He flinched when Styx gave him a casual smack across the back of his head.
“If I had a silver for every time I’ve heard that phrase, I’d be a wealthy woman.” She waved a hand as if shooing off their protest, ignoring the darker male’s glare. “For now, lock them in the brig, Styx. I’ll deal with them after we’re sailing. I’ll see you on the bridge in twenty minutes.”
Lucy stomped off to her room without waiting for an answer. She needed to vent some frustration and she knew just the toy in her dresser drawer to do it with. It wasn’t quite what she wanted, but she had a feeling it would take longer than the twenty minutes she had if she were to drag Julius or his friend into her bed. When she finally got her claws into them, she wanted to make sure she wasn’t bothered for at least a few hours. Until she had the time for that, she would have to be content with her tried and true toy.
Chapter Two
Devon watched Julius explore the room while he sat on the bed. Though they had only been in here for about fifteen minutes, Julius had already made one circuit and was halfway through his second. Devon knew he wasn’t checking for anything in particular, getting a feel for their new domain.
“A pirate ship!” Julius peered out of the small, round window provided and grinned. “Bet you didn’t see this coming, Devon.”
Devon answered only with a shrug, quietly letting Julius ramble on. He needed to calm down, but how could one do that when their father’s best advisor had left them for dead in some two-bit town? He’d paid little attention to the intrigues and gossip that plagued the circles he tended to travel in with the higher societies. Now that he was caught up in its drama, he wished he had listened a little better. Maybe he would have seen this coming?
“Do you think my dad is in on this?” His deep base voice was soft, but Julius’ prattle instantly ceased.
The blond pulled away from the window, sitting down beside him. “I don’t think so,” he offered. “Your dad really seems to care a lot about you. And who would profit from it? Mine on the other hand…” His voice trailed off.
Devon shook his head, knowing what Julius thought. “Your dad doesn’t even know you left with me to go on this escapade. Remember, he thinks you’re still tucked away in that resort house, prowling for a potential wife at local parties.”
Julius nodded, frowning. “Well, I still don’t see why I couldn’t tell that woman who we are. Maybe she’d be willing to help us get home?” At Devon’s answering silence he stood, pacing the room again. “We could buy her services. She seems smart and capable; not to mention I wouldn’t mind spending a few hours getting to know her better. Maybe, if we told her who we were, we could convince her to take us to Prodigus?”
“Absolutely not!” Devon grabbed Julius’ arm, forcing the smaller male to stop and meet his gaze. “That woman is a pirate, a cut throat. She’d sooner sell us to the highest bidder than help us get home, you idiot. She doesn’t care about some sob story where we were tricked into the middle of nowhere and drugged, then turned in for murdering ourselves. Look at this ship, it doesn’t stay this nice because they spit shine it. This woman knows how to turn a profit, and returning slaves to their home isn’t exactly profitable.”
“It is if we make it,” Julius argued. “What do you think she paid for us? Sixty gold, seventy maybe? We can pay her back for it. But to do so, we have to let her know who we are.”
They fell silent as a loud beep filled the air, followed by a woman’s sultry voice. “This is Captain Lucy Verr speaking. I hope everyone is aboard and strapping in. As most of you know, we made a tidy profit today and that means we need to head out of port. I want to be swimming in the stars before the sun sets.”
The intercom clicked off, followed by a cheer from the crew members outside the brig doors. Julius walked back over to the small window, craning his head to watch the engines. With a loud rumble that shook the hull, the engines flared to life, sending a thrill of excitement through the pit of Devon’s stomach.
“You’d better come sit down,” Devon warned him.
Devon watched as Julius hurried over and sat down next to him. Moments later the ship shuddered again as the thrust engines pushed it aloft. Not wishing to find himself plastered against the metal floor, Devon reached behind him to the straps that hung from the wall and began to buckle himself firmly. Julius copied him.
The pressure built as they ascended, making Devon’s throat thick with fear and excitement. No matter how many times he’d been on a ship, he could never get over the beauty of one in motion. It was kind of like a horse enthusiast, he decided. No two horses were exactly the same, just as no two ships were. Tartarus, or at least that was displayed on the ship's side when they had been on the docks, was larger than any other ship he could remember ever being on.
He’d been on plenty of trade vessels, and his family even owned their own personal cruiser, but those ships were quite a bit smaller than the beast they were currently in. Other trade companies often used ships that were much larger, but his dad had a theory. “Smaller ships, smaller cargo, less loss if stolen.”
The pressure in his chest continued to build until Devon felt like he couldn’t catch his breath, then it was gone. The air around him went quiet, still, ethereal. It was a moment of beauty, Devon thought, to be caught between this world and that galaxy. The gravity generators kicked on with a whir near their cell, and everything had weight and sound again.
Julius let out his breath, his features looked paler from the lift off. “I am not fit for galactic travel,” he gasped.
Devon chuckled, giving his friend a pat on the shoulder.
The intercom beeped on again, interrupting their thoughts. “We are free and clear boys. Next port is in Kerrin, to exchange some of our hard won goods. Get to work.”
“I can’t decide if she’s friendly with her crew, or simply mocking them.” Devon stood up and stretched. “She doesn’t act, or look, like I always thought a pirate would.”
“Yeah,” Julius chuckled. “What’s with her having all of her body parts intact?”
The two of them burst out laughing, remembering the tales they’d heard told about one eyed, one legged, hook-handed pirates. Pirates who were always male, always spoke in a drunken slur, and always had a parrot on their shoulder. To see the sexy, fiery haired captain had caused them both quite a bit of surprise.
Moments later the door opened, and the man the Captain had called Styx beckoned them out. “Captain wants to see you. Look alive now.”
They left the room without a word, following him up some narrow metal stairs, through a network of hallways, and past endless rows of doors. The door they stopped in front of was elaborate, made of wood, and carved with two skulls that were set aflame. Each skull held a curved saber in its toothy grimace.
Styx knocked once, then opened the door and ushered them in before him. “I brought the slaves as you asked, Captain.”
Devon tried very hard not to stare. She had removed the velvet jacket she’d been wearing in Dremes, replacing it with a corset of crimson, black ribbons running down the sides and between her breasts. It set off Lucy’s tanned skin beautifully. A pair of black jeans clung to her like a second skin. The br
ight red and yellow strands of her hair teased along her collar bone, enticing kisses and gentle nips. Devon guessed her height at about five and a half feet. Though she wasn’t tall, she still held an air of intimidation to her.
He racked his brain, trying to remember any information he’d heard of this woman. Little came up. Captain Lucy Verr was the only female pirate captain of the twelve planets that ringed the green sun this solar system called its sun. Rumor had it that her parentage was a mixture of human and some alien race. Her eyes were the most distinguishing fact behind that rumor. Those flashing orange eyes, some say given to her by the devil himself.
As if knowing their thoughts, she shot them a smile filled with wicked intent . “Leave us, Styx. I don’t think these fine men will cause me any trouble. At least, nothing that I can’t handle.”
Styx gave her a half bow before leaving, closing the door soundlessly behind him. Lucy Verr walked around her desk, a giant solid wood creation that dominated the room. Behind it, bay windows lined the wall, giving a wide view of the stars as the ship glided through space. She sat on the edge of her desk, her breasts almost spilling out of her top, and eyed them in silence for a moment.
“What am I to do with the two of you?” She pursed her lips, obviously entertaining a few thoughts in her head. “Where are you both from?”
Devon’s brown eyes locked with her orange ones. Damn, that woman’s eye color is unnerving, he thought. Controlling his temper, he asked with a steady voice, “Why do you need to know that?”
“So I know where not to sell you, of course.”
She laughed, and he felt himself go rock hard at the sound of her voice. Dominant women had always been a soft spot for him. He loved nothing more than taking a dominant woman, and putting her on her knees. It was the challenge. He loved the rush of adrenaline and feeling of conquest he got when they were right on the edge and begging for more. He imagined striding across the room, kneeling her across that desk, and giving that firm ass a hard smack. He could see her reaction in his mind; eyes wide, nipples spilling out of her corset, mouth opened in a soft little ‘o’ of surprise and pleasure.
“We are from Prodigus.” Julius’ voice jerked Devon right out of his fantasy.
He fought the urge to swear, instead he stood still and tried to keep his temper intact. It was difficult, but he overcame the urge to smack Julius across the back of the head. He waited, instead, for the captain to speak. . Her reaction would determine where this would go. Devon had no desire to be sold into slavery. But he worried that revealing their identities to her would cause her to push them further in the galaxy, selling them at a far higher price than she originally would have. If she sold them to a couple of local nobodies, chances were they could reveal themselves to their new ‘masters’ and entice a barter; their safe return to their families in exchange for monetary compensation.
“Prodigus.” The captain used her fingers to comb her hair away from her face. “Well I won’t be going there. The patrol is a little too tight to risk pulling anything off. I’m thinking Madari.”
Devon felt his heart sink to the pit of his stomach. Madari was a nasty place, full of barbarism, out-dated technology, and constant feuding. The planet sat on the edge of the galaxy, living outside of Galactic Law. Territory lords were always in a state of conflict with each other as they tried to increase the land they controlled. It was like something Devon pictured when he read old archaeological data about the Middle Ages on ancient Earth.
Looking unfazed by her statement, Julius crossed his arms in front of his chest and gave her a cocky smile. “I’m thinking Prodigus.”
Anger flashed across her beautiful face, her lips tightening in a thin line as her eyes narrowed. “Oh?” Lucy said. “And what makes you think you have a say in your future?”
Devon thought about bullying her into taking them there. He wanted to walk across the room, grab her by the throat, and tell her she was sailing them home. He wanted to, but he doubted he would get that far. The gun on her hip didn’t look like a mere decoration. Not to mention her confidence when she dismissed her first mate didn’t seem misplaced. Her crew knew her best, and the guard hadn’t even hesitated to leave her in their company alone.
“I think I have a say because I know our dirty little secret. The one you are just dying to know.” Julius gave her a wicked smile. “That is why you called us in here, isn’t it? To prod us for information? I’m assuming you didn’t get much in Dremes. I’m sure the warden didn’t know enough to tell you anything useful.”
Lucy Verr’s eyes glittered with interest as she stood. Devon caught himself watching the sway of her hips as she approached them, her heeled boots clicking on the metal floor. He could feel Julius tense beside him and wondered if it was from worry or a struggle with his own sexual tension as well.
She stopped before Julius, a hand reaching forward to slide delicate fingers down his chest. “I can’t make decisions based off of secrets I don’t know.” The captain’s voice purred with seduction. “Tell me what makes you so confident and maybe we’ll work something out. Were you kidnapped from your owner, perhaps? Shall I get a reward for returning his or her lost pets?”
Devon clenched his jaw at the thought of belonging to anyone. He wanted to put this bitch in her place, but fought down the urge. If anyone could talk some sense into this woman, it would be Julius. If he couldn’t convince her to return them to Prodigus, no one could.
Julius caught her hand, bringing the fingertips in a deliberate, slow fashion to his mouth. His eyes stared straight into hers as he first licked, then nibbled each of them in a gentle, erotic show. The Captain’s lips parted, her tongue darting out to wet her lips when he stopped.
“My lady, you would be surprised at what you might find if you happen to look up the names of Julius Cartwright and Devon Barbaroy.” Julius released her hand from his.
She let it drop to her side as her eyes searched his face. They all stood there in uneasy silence for a moment. It was her move. The captain could either dismiss it, send them back to their cell, and haul their merry asses to Madari; or she could give in to her curiosity. Devon found himself sending a mental prayer to whatever gods guided the stars that she would walk back to her desk.
As if sensing his thoughts, Lucy turned her gaze on him. The orange eyes roved over his face, studying him. “And what do you think of all this, my tall, dark and handsome companion?”
He shrugged, keeping his face impassive. “The decision you make now is yours alone. How it affects our futures is something we’ll deal with when that time comes. I’m not going to beg you, if that’s what you want.”
Lucy Verr laughed as she turned and walked back to her desk. Devon felt Julius’ tension relax a bit as she flopped in her chair. “You two are quite the mystery, I’ll give you that. I wonder what mysteries may be laid bare before my eyes were I to spend a little time with each of you…alone.”
Julius shrugged, a cocky smile settling on his face once again. “Well, Captain, that is something you’ll have to find out for yourself. That is if, once you look up the names, you decide we might still have anything to offer.”
“Well played,” she murmured. “Well played, indeed.”
She pushed a button and a display screen lit up in the air above her desk. Most computers had voice recognition commands, but it seemed she stuck with old fashioned methods. The click of her entering words on the keyboard echoed through the still room in a loud, uneven tempo. In moments her screen flashed, and Devon was staring at his holographic image.
“I still say that’s a bad picture of you.” Julius gave Devon a once over before shaking his head. “You need to let me schedule you a sitting with a photographer I know. They can present you in a much better light. I promise you’d get a lot more private e-mails.”
Lucy, who had been staring at Devon, tilted her head in thoughtful contemplation. “Devon Barbaroy, in the flesh. Son of Donald Barbaroy; owner of the largest shipping company in this galax
y. So what does that make Julius?”
She typed away again, then leaned back in her chair as image after image of Julius popped up on her screen. “My, my, Mister Cartwright, you do love the camera.”
He gave an extravagant bow while a wicked grin formed on his face. “That is because the camera loves me.”
“So your daddy dearest owns the second largest shipping company. Wouldn’t that make the two of you competition?” She raised an eyebrow in question. . “Did we try to kill each other and fail, boys?”
Julius laughed, while Devon found himself fighting a smile.
“The key to our success, Captain, is that we work together. When the two largest predators unite, the little ones don’t stand a chance.” Julius tilted his head. “Now that you’ve ousted us, maybe you’re a little more willing to listen to our offer?”
Lucy turned her display screen off, then leaned forward, steepling her fingers. “Offer? I suppose I could afford some more amusement. I can see several ways this could benefit me greatly, though I doubt any of my ideas coincide with your own.”
“You take us to Prodigus where you drop us off safe and sound. We then reimburse you for your purchase price and everyone walks away happy.” Julius waited for her answer.
“Mmm.” She shook her head. “That’s not working for me. You see there is a flaw in your logic. I don’t, in any fashion, make a profit. I didn’t get the reputation of being a pirate from good deeds. I don’t think going out of my way to Prodigus is in my best interest. My course is currently set for Kerrin. I’d have to make a complete turnaround to take you home. I say I make port at Kerrin, then straight to Madari.”
Devon snorted in contempt at the idea. “Or,” he offered, “you could tell us what you expect to make from us, and we can pay it ourselves. You get your profit, we get our lives back, and no one has to waste time going all the way to Madari.”
Sail My Oceans Page 2