Price of Passion (3-in-1 Collection)

by Aubrey Ross

  “Passengers aren’t allowed on Sabrotine ships. What was the Bastard’s solution?”

  “He offered to requisition a cottage in one of their spousal communities. Socializing with the other spouses while we patiently waited for our men to rotate home for a few weeks didn’t sound like a good time to me. If it would have been a temporary arrangement, I might have considered it. But I’d known the Bastard long enough to realize if it ever came down to the Federation or me, I didn’t stand a chance.”

  “You wouldn’t be this angry if that were the end of the story.”

  “I’m not angry.” She flashed a playful smile. “I’m bitter. Anger requires a lot more energy.”

  His mobile lips returned her smile, yet his eyes revealed concern. If she’d sensed pity, she might not have told him the rest, but it had been a very long time since anyone showed her compassion.

  “What was the alternative to the spousal community?” he prompted when she didn’t immediately continue.

  “Sabrotine ships don’t allow passengers, but they allow pets.” She rushed on before disdain could harden his expression. “I got my officer’s certification, which protected me from the rest of the crew. No one could touch me unless the Bastard rescinded his… ownership of me.”

  “What about his commander?”

  “Good question.” She heaved a sigh and turned away, not brave enough to watch his reaction. “I thought it was a grand adventure. I would see distant planets and enjoy the intimacy of being with the man I loved. Being a pet appealed to a part of my nature I’d never acknowledged before. The first few months were amazing. I was an obedient pet and my master indulged me outrageously.”

  “What happened after the first few months?”

  “The Bastard lost interest in his pet and I saw aspects of his personality that I didn’t like at all.” She shuddered as memories inundated her mind. It was hard to decide which had hurt her worse, his sporadic cruelty or his utter indifference. “We’d been fighting for weeks. The cook allowed me to sleep in the galley, but he couldn’t protect me from the crew. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone challenged the Bastard.”

  “I don’t know that much about -- pets.” He stumbled over the word, clearly unsettled by the concept. “You were an officer’s pet, so only an officer could claim you, right?”

  “Correct. But none of the other officers could touch me until the Bastard relinquished his claim.”

  “Did he fight for you?”

  She snorted her derision. “I think you know the answer to that one. The commander requisitioned my services and the Bastard had no objection. He saw it as a way to advance his career. Commanders create opportunities for the officers in their good graces. If I could endear him to his commander, he probably would have tied me to his bed.”

  “And you had no say in this?”

  “I frantically read my contract and was appalled to realize I had no legal recourse. The commander was within his rights to requisition any resource on the ship and I had become the property of the Sabrotine Federation when I signed my contract.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Pity tinged his tone. Thank God the story was almost over.

  “You don’t know me very well if you think I passively accepted the situation. I was a fool to sign a contract I didn’t fully understand, but I had no intention of submitting my body to a man I despised. I stole an escape pod and set off for the nearest outpost.”

  “Not that I’m complaining, but why didn’t they shoot you out of the sky?”

  “And destroy a valuable escape pod?” She laughed. “Have you ever dealt with the Federation?”

  “We operate under a Sabrotine charter, but it’s a recent development.”

  “I’m not so lucky. I’ve dealt with various members of the Federation for most of my life. They’re greedy and ruthless and have the misguided impression that they own the entire galaxy.”

  “As I understand it, that’s not far from true.”

  “Which doesn’t make it right.”

  He inclined his head, acknowledging her statement without agreeing or disagreeing with her position. “How did you end up on Ceallon?”

  “The Bastard was sent to clean up the mess he’d made.”

  “Does the Bastard have a name?”

  “Lieutenant Commander Arrik McGuire, Prick Extraordinaire.”

  His lips twitched as he fought back a stubborn smile. “LC McGuire for short?”

  “No, the Bastard is the only acceptable diminutive of that man’s name.” She narrowed her gaze and looked at him with new interest. “Do you know him? He’s been assigned to the outer sectors for as long as I’ve known him.”

  “I’ve heard the name, but never dealt with him directly.” Any hint of amusement left his expression as he asked, “What did cleaning up his mess entail?”

  “He’d been ordered to recover the escape pod and find a suitable punishment for me.”

  “So, he deserted you on a primitive outpost, filled with bigots and superstitious fools?”

  “That about sums it up. He dressed me in one of my most provocative gowns and ‘set me adrift’ outside the main village. I was there eight months… and you know the rest.”

  “I know they found you guilty of ‘witchery’ and I interrupted your execution.” He followed the contour of her face from her temple to the tip of her chin, brushing his index finger lightly across her skin. It was barely a caress and still her lips tingled and her pulse accelerated. “What I don’t understand is how they learned of your clairvoyance.”

  “I have prophetic visions.” She watched his eyes, waiting for the suspicion or distrust she’d encountered so often. His gaze remained curious as he waited for a more detailed explanation. “Sometimes they’re just flashes of insight and sometimes they foretell events. The flashes are a pain in the ass. I can’t control them and I seldom want to know what they reveal.”

  “Give me an example.” His wandering fingers drifted back across her cheek.

  “I bumped into a woman as I passed her on the street and saw the magistrate in bed with her. The magistrate is married and this woman was very pregnant and painfully undernourished. It infuriated me and I made the mistake of thinking I could shame him into doing something to better her situation.”

  He dragged his fingers through her hair, not grasping, just making her undeniably aware of his touch.

  “He didn’t respond well to your suggestions?”

  “Well, they started out as suggestions, but his indifference made me more outspoken than I probably should have been.”

  He stepped closer and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Was the magistrate, perchance, actively involved in your trial?”

  “That would be a fair assessment.”

  “Were there other incidents?”

  She nodded. “A little boy fell down a ravine and broke his leg. No one had any idea where to look for him, until I saw him in a vision. I tried really hard not to let them realize how I’d figured it out, but it was impossible to explain.”

  “So they used your compassion against you?” Disbelief finally appeared in his gaze, yet it was reflected on her behalf not to her detriment. She wrapped the realization around her like a blanket, letting it soothe her inner chill.

  “They’re mean-spirited and hypocritical and I’ve never been so relieved to be away from anywhere in my life.” She purged her mind with a cleansing breath and changed the subject, determined to know more about her charming rescuer. “What did you do before you started running cargo for the Sabrotine?”

  He lowered his hands to his sides as he became the focus of the conversation. “We actually ran the Sabrotine blockade of a planet called Palonti until a short time ago.”

  Feeling the absence of his touch with her entire body, she reluctantly asked, “What made you switch sides?”

  “Self-preservation. The Palontian empire fell and we met a very successful Sabrotine privateer. He showed us that doing business with the Federatio
n was different than joining their cause.”

  “Anyone who willingly does business with them is joining their cause.”

  He arched his brow and a challenging smile curved his lips. “Were you this passionately opposed to the Federation before the Bastard betrayed you?”

  He had a valid point which annoyed her even more than his defense of her enemy. “How long will it take for you guys to finish your repairs?”

  “It shouldn’t take more than a couple of days.”

  “And where are you headed next?”

  It took him much longer to answer. Why had that question upset him?

  “I’m not sure.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’d take you with us in a minute, but it’s not up to me. Any time Bluz and I disagree on a decision that directly affects the crew, they vote and the outcome is final.”

  “Why would they vote against giving me a ride?”

  “The Chrysalis has never carried passengers and our charter reinforces that rule. The crew is never going to risk losing our charter, regardless of my feelings on the matter. I’ll make sure you have plenty of credits to book passage on the next transport.”

  He obviously didn’t understand the situation. They had just left the only village that accepted offworld deliveries. There was no such thing as a passenger transport on Ceallon.

  She took a deep breath and considered her options. He had been kind and she didn’t want to take advantage of his generous nature. Unfortunately, she had precious little with which to barter.

  “How large is your crew?”

  “Twelve men. Why?”

  “How many officers?”

  He shook his head, easily guessing what she was thinking. “Bluz will never allow it.”

  “How many?”

  “Bluz and I are the only officers.”

  Perfect. The electric attraction arced between them still and she was every bit as fascinated with Bluz as she was with Jazz. If they would just give her the opportunity, she would… She suppressed the hope bubbling up within her. Allowing herself to dream only made reality harder to bear.

  One step at a time, Treena. Get your ass off this planet. She cleared her throat and refocused her thoughts. “Is the crew allowed to vote on personal matters?”

  “I have no interest in owning you.”

  “And I have no interest in staying here! Your charter is not at risk if you contract a pet. All of my certifications are still valid.” She loosened her hold on the sheet, exposing the upper curve of her breasts. “What do you have to lose, Master?”

  Chapter Three

  Jazz took a deep breath and forced his gaze away from Treena’s tantalizing cleavage. “I am nobody’s master.”

  “It’s just a word.” She took a step closer, a heady mixture of determination and desire illuminating her dark eyes.

  He caught her upper arms and held her away from him. “I’ve had masters and so have you. We both know it’s a whole lot more than a word.”

  “You’ve had masters?”

  “Not in the sexual sense. Bluz and I were pressed into service when we were little more than children. The original owner of the Chrysalis bought us along with the ship.” He shook his head and admitted, “We were sold with the Chrysalis three times before we ended up with Ivy.”

  She smiled, mischief relaxing her expression. “You served a female commander?”

  “Next to Bluz, she was the best of the lot.”

  For a long, tense moment she just stared into his eyes. All the pain and bitterness accumulated over the past few years were there for her to see. He longed to shelter her, to show her how she deserved to be treated, how he would treat her, if he were free to love her. But his life made a romantic relationship impossible.

  “The only village that has any contact with offworlders is the village we just left. How can I arrange for transport if I can’t go back there?”

  “Is that true or is it just what needs to be said to gain my cooperation?” He waited for her indignation, a shocked gasp or petulant pout. He couldn’t be distracted by her beauty.

  “It’s true.” Uncertainty flashed for an instant before she looked away. “If you don’t want me, we can make this strictly a business arrangement. I’ll find a way to repay you once we reach civilization.”

  He cupped her chin and turned her head back around. “I’ve hardly thought of anything except how much I want you since we fished you out of the river.”

  “Then let’s draw up a contract. It will protect me and --”

  “Bluz will be furious.”

  “Are you afraid of your brother?”

  He chuckled. “No, but you should be. If we push him hard enough, you might find yourself requisitioned again.” Her gaze darted away and a telling flush crept up her neck. “Is that what you’re hoping?”

  “I’m extremely attracted to both of you, but I didn’t think it would be a problem. When you two touched me, you seemed… that is I got the impression you had…”

  He took pity on her and said, “The opportunities for bond-servants to fuck are few and far between. Our first sexual encounter happened at the same time with the same woman. After that it seemed almost unnatural to fly solo.”

  “You and I can get to know each other better and let the rest develop naturally.” Her mischievous smile returned. “Until Bluz decides to end his sexual hunger strike, I’ll do my best to make your solo flights as enjoyable as possible.”

  “And if Bluz decides to punish you?”

  “It depends what you mean by punishment.”

  “He has never intentionally harmed a woman and I wouldn’t allow it even if he had.”

  “Then I see no downside to the arrangement.” Her expression was open and guileless as she said, “I want to explore what’s happening between us.”

  “If what you said about the settlements is true, I’ll contract your services.” Holding her in his arms and kissing those soft lips had only left him hungry for more, much, much more. “There is one condition, however.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Don’t call me master.”

  She inclined her head, hiding her expression with the fall of her wildly curling hair. “What would you like me to call you?”

  “How about Jazz?”

  “All right, Jazz.” She slowly licked her lips. “Would you like a sample while you wait for verification of my information? It’s customary, you know.”

  He sat on the edge of the bed, concealing the sudden weakness in his knees. This was ridiculous. He had never been this affected by a lover, never felt a connection so tangibly. A laugh bubbled up within him. He hadn’t even fucked her yet!

  “Why don’t you start with a preview? Show me all those glorious curves.”

  Her smile turned wicked and she loosened the sheet even more. It dipped low over her breasts, revealing one dusky nipple. Before he could enjoy the view, she turned around and unwound the sheet, holding the trailing ends out to either side of her body. She wiggled and swayed, rubbing her delectable ass against the filmy material.

  His cock hardened, expanding to unprecedented proportions. His fingers itched and he fought back a wolfish grin. He didn’t have to stop this time. He could touch all he wanted -- and taste!

  “More,” he urged.

  She opened one fist and the sheet slipped to her knees, revealing those soft ass cheeks and the shadowed cleft between. Shifting her legs apart, she folded the sheet into a neat square, then bent from the waist and placed it on the floor.

  Holy Mother Creator, he was in serious trouble. His cock bucked and his balls tightened until he wanted to howl. Her position displayed her sex and the tiny rosette above. He wanted to kneel behind her and thrust his tongue into her cunt. Then he’d finger-fuck that tight little ass while she wiggled and moaned.

  “Very nice,” he croaked out as she straightened.

  She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “You approve?” Gathering her waist-length hair with both hands, she
piled the thick mass on top of her head. This presented him with her slender back and merciless glimpses of her full breasts.

  Doing his best to sound assertive with his mouth so dry he could hardly speak, he said, “Keep your arms raised and turn around. I want to see the rest.” One step offered him the most spectacular profile he’d ever seen. With a second step, she faced him, arms raised, one knee bent. His chest tightened right along with his cock. “Come here.”

  He spread his legs, making room for her to stand between them. Her nipples hardened, their pink hue darkening to dusky rose. Reaching behind her, he caressed her ass, savoring the velvety texture before squeezing the firm mounds. He bent toward her breast, but she leaned back, taking her nipple out of reach.

  “A sample is all you’re allowed --” She released her hair and lowered her arms. “-- until the contract is signed.” Her long black curls cascaded down her body, concealing her breasts and brushing against his arms.

  The resolve in her tone annoyed him. He didn’t want this to be a negotiation. He wanted to discover all her secrets and feel her eager hands stroking him in return. “What are my options?”

  “Oral stimulation is the most common form of sampling. Pleasure can be given or received. The choice is yours.”

  He pictured her on her knees between his legs, breasts swaying as her head bobbed. Her warm lips and wet tongue would… But licking her cream-soaked pussy was easily as appealing. Why didn’t he just sign the contract now?

  He reined in his libido with the last of his rational mind. Regardless of her fabulous packaging, she was a stranger to him. She’d made a claim he could easily verify. It was foolish not to do so before entangling his life with hers.

  “What if I want to give and receive?” he asked.

  Her gaze swept down the length of his body and her lips parted in an appreciative smile. “That’s permissible. Would you prefer the top or bottom?”

  Again his vivid imagination made the decision harder than it should have been. Having her above him, straddling his face, would offer him greater access to her succulent flesh. Yet the thought of pressing her into the bed while he thrust into her mouth sent a hot rush of lust crashing into him.