Intergalactic Loyalties

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  “What about our things?” Bane asked.

  “If you can hold them in one hand, you can take them with you. Anything else will either have to remain behind, or we’ll try to get it later. But keep in mind, the longer we’re here, the more chance of us being caught.”

  Bane nodded. “We can do without the things we can’t take with us on the first trip. We can always purchase new things on Tarnan.”

  Bynt smiled. “Here we go.”

  Ariana and Bane took Bynt’s hands and closed their eyes as the air around them shimmered. The air warmed and a moment later, they were on board the Lynten 12. A look around the transport chamber showed that the slave women had come on board with them. Fenir and Lortan returned to Keshpa to bring Bane’s brothers aboard.

  Bane ushered Ariana out of the chamber, and everyone moved down the hall. When they gathered in the large room in the middle of the vessel, the women took a seat. Ariana noticed they looked uncertain but a bit hopeful. She didn’t know how long they’d been slaves on Keshpa or if Bane’s family had even been their first owners. The idea of freedom must be a bit like a dream for them.

  “We’re preparing two rooms for the women to share. They’re set up for warriors so there are four beds in each room. Another room, usually used by warriors, has been set aside for the men.” Ghel looked at Ariana. “Except for you and Bane. You’ll have the room you used before. We couldn’t very well separate the two of you.”

  “How long before we reach Tarnan?” one of the women asked.

  “A week. You’ll be comfortable on board until then. If you need anything, ask any of us. We’re here to help.” Lortan smiled. “And if you decide to mate with one of us before we land, even better.”

  Fenir gave him a narrow-eyed look before glancing back at the women. “But we aren’t pressuring you. If you decide to wait until we reach Tarnan to find your mate, you’re welcome to do so. Living arrangements are already being made for you on our home planet. Don’t worry that you’ll be left alone. We have very few women on Tarnan, and they are excited to meet you.”

  “Not half as excited as the warriors,” Bynt said with a smile. “There are no unattached women left on our world. The only children born in the last twenty years have all been male. We aren’t sure why, but it seems women are dying out on our planet. Our scientists have been working on it non-stop. As far as they can figure, it’s something in our genetics. So you see, you’re saving us every bit as much as we’re saving you, if not more so. You’ll be a welcome addition on Tarnan.”

  Zayne stepped into the room. “Everything is ready. If the women would like to see where they will be sleeping, I’ll be happy to show them the way.”

  Cael stood and took the arm of one of the women. “I’ll take Lucie.”

  Ghel frowned at him. “You think we would harm her in some way?”

  Ariana decided to help, if she could. “Lucie is familiar with Cael. I’m sure she’ll be more at ease if he were to take her to her new quarters.”

  Ghel glanced her way. “Well, I wouldn’t want her to feel ill at ease.”

  As the women, and Cael, followed Ghel out of the room, Ariana snuggled close to Bane. They’d done it! They were off Keshpa, safe and sound. Of course, if anyone realized they’d all disappeared, they could search the skies and find the Lynten 12 easily enough. The sooner they were away from Keshpa’s orbit, the better. She didn’t know if she’d be able to completely relax until they reached Tarnan. A week felt like an eternity at the moment.

  “Since you know where our room is, would you like to go lie down for a bit?” Bane asked. “We can put our things away and settle in.”

  Ariana smiled. “You just want to get me alone, don’t you?”

  Bane cupped her cheek and bent to kiss her gently on the lips. “Well, it has been several days since I’ve had the luxury of having you in my bed.”

  “Our bed,” she corrected.

  “Yes,” he agreed. “Our bed. I like the sound of that.”

  He stood. Ariana picked up their bags and he lifted her into his arms. With her directions, he found their room and quickly closed the door. It seemed he was anxious to have her all to himself, and she couldn’t blame him. She felt the same way. She dropped their things on the floor as he walked across the room and settled her on the bed.

  She watched as he quickly stripped out of his clothes, hastily tossing them to the floor. Ariana discarded her own clothes, adding them to the pile. She held her arms open, beckoning Bane to join her on the bed. His body slid against hers, the warmth of his skin seeping into her cool flesh. She slid her hands up his arms, her fingers curling around his biceps, feeling the firm skin and taut muscle. Her feet slid up his calves as her legs spread, her thighs opening on either side of his hips. Bane braced his weight on his hands as he leaned over her, his eyes staring into hers, leaving her drowning in his gaze. She swiped her tongue over her lower lip, and Bane groaned as his gaze dropped to track the motion.

  His cock pulsed against her, as if begging for entry. She was certainly wet enough for him to slide right in and yet he didn’t. Why was he holding back? He had to know how desperately she wanted him, had to feel how ready she was for him. Did he need words? Should she tell him what she wanted?

  “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” he asked softly. “I don’t deserve a treasure like you, and yet you’re mine. How did I ever get so lucky?”

  She smiled. “It wasn’t luck that brought us together, Bane. It was fate. I was destined to be with you from the very beginning. I’ve always been yours.”

  “I need you, Ari. So very much.”

  She tightened her legs around his hips. “Then take me.”

  “You should be savored, not devoured whole.”

  Her hand slid up his arm and into his hair, fisting it. “You can devour me anytime you want to, Bane. Kiss me. Take me. Show me that I’m yours. I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you.”

  His mouth lowered to hers, his lips firm yet soft as they stroked, teased and nibbled. His tongue plunged into her mouth and she moaned, greedily kissing him back. Bane always tasted of cinnamon and other spices, like her favorite coffee on Earth. She felt his hips move as his cock slid up and down her pussy, gently bumping against her clit.

  Wanting, no needing, to feel him fill her, she reached between their bodies and guided his cock inside of her. He pushed in slowly, and she felt herself stretch to accommodate him. He pulled his hips back and then inched forward again, easing his way inside of her.

  “Gods, you’re so tight, Ari. I’m always afraid I’m going to hurt you.”

  “You won’t,” she assured him. “Please, Bane. Take me!”

  He fused his lips to hers again as he plunged inside of her, burying himself to the hilt. Ariana gripped his shoulders, her nails biting into his skin. She locked her ankles across his hard, sculpted ass, a part of him she’d have to explore later, and held on for the ride of her life. Bane released her lips and buried his face in the crook of her neck as he thrust in and out of her, each stroke longer, harder and deeper than the last. She felt his heart pounding against her and knew he couldn’t hang on for long. It had been too long since they’d been together. When it came to sex, days to a Keshpan felt more like months.

  Bane pounded into her, driving her body into the soft mattress. She felt sweat slick his skin under her palms and her thighs as they slid against him with every push and pull. She felt her body tightening, her nipples so hard they were almost painful, and then he hit just the right spot and she shattered. Her pussy flooded as she cried out his name, holding onto him as wave after wave of pleasure rolled over her. Then she felt him coming inside of her and it triggered another orgasm, albeit a much smaller one. She lay beneath him, trembling and panting for breath.

  Ariana eased the grip she had on his hips and placed her feet on the bed, leaving her thighs spread as his weight settled against her. Her fingers feathered through his hair, now soaked with sweat at the temples.
He lifted his face to gaze into her eyes and what she saw there took her breath away. Love. It was so clear to see the love he felt for her.

  “You’re my everything, Ari. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

  She gave him a tender smile. “You’ll never have to. I want to be by your side for the rest of my life. I love you, Bane. So very much.”

  “I love you, too.”

  The COMM unit hummed. “I hate to interrupt, but the captain would like to see the two of you. Immediately.”

  “We’ll be there in a few minutes,” Bane said.

  Bane rose and helped Ariana to her feet. She reached for her clothes but he stopped her, instead tugging her toward the bathroom. It hadn’t grown any since her last time on board, and the space seemed even smaller with Bane in it.

  He turned on the waterfall, the Tarnans’ version of a shower, and ushered her into the space. She wet her hair and quickly washed her body. When she was finished, Bane was holding out a towel for her. She wrapped her body in it while he got in to rinse off.

  Once they were dried off and dressed, she led Bane through the corridors to the control room where she knew they would find the captain.

  Sol turned when they entered and he smiled at them, his expression welcoming and friendly. “You’re probably wondering why I called you here,” Sol said. “I didn’t mean to disturb you, especially after Arko explained the two of you had been separated since you rescued Ariana from us.”

  “So why did you call us?” Bane asked.

  “Because there’s something you need to know. On Tarnan, the women are going to be coveted. That being said, if they aren’t mated to someone, the males on my planet are going to assume the women are… what’s that Earth term? Free game?”

  “I don’t understand,” Ariana said. “What does that have to do with me and Bane?”

  “Well, you might be together, but you aren’t mated,” Sol explained.

  Bane stiffened at her side. “So you’re saying when we reach Tarnan the males will try to take Ariana from me?”

  “Well… unless the two of you wish to be mated.” Sol looked at them expectantly.

  “You can do that for us?” she asked in surprise.

  Sol smiled. “Of course I can. I’m the captain. Now, understand, this isn’t going to be your Keshpan bonding ceremony. It will be a Tarnan mating ceremony, which is quite a bit different.”

  Ariana looked up at Bane. “You said you loved me, that you wanted me by your side always. Did you mean it?”

  “Of course I did, beloved. There’s nothing I want more than to make you mine in the eyes of the gods and everyone.”

  She looked back at Sol. “We’ll do it.”

  Sol motioned to someone behind them and Ariana looked over her shoulder, surprised to see Arko and Dar standing there.

  “I called your brothers, thinking you would agree to the ceremony,” Sol explained. “Now that we have witnesses, we may begin.”

  Sol walked over to a table along the wall and opened an ornate chest trimmed in what looked like gold. He withdrew a silver dagger encrusted with gems and rejoined them. “This,” he said, “is a ceremonial dagger from Tarnan. I hope the two of you aren’t squeamish when it comes to blood.”

  “Blood?” Ariana questioned.

  “The Tarnan mating ceremony is a blood bond. Are you ready to begin?”

  She nodded.

  “I apologize in advance if you can’t understand the words of the ceremony. It’s in our ancient language and your translator isn’t equipped to handle the dialect,” Sol said.

  “Degi rama sorientay. Exi sisri amoria.”

  He took Bane’s arm and made a cut over his wrist, then took Ariana’s and did the same.

  “Kepa noste amoria. Leepri sarnum gretu orlea.”

  He pressed their wrists together and bound them with a silken rope. Ariana had no idea where he’d gotten the rope as she hadn’t seen him pick it up.

  “Initra gae raiy koro frietze.”

  He smiled. “You may kiss your bride, Bane. You’re officially mated.”

  Bane smiled down at her before softly pressing his lips to hers. She curled her free hand around the back of his neck and pressed her body close to his.

  A throat cleared and they broke apart. “Maybe you should take this celebration back to your room?” Dar suggested with a raised brow.

  Bane smiled. “I can’t think of anything I’d like more.”

  “Don’t untie the rope until after your first time together as a mated couple,” Sol said. “After that, you may keep it if you wish.”

  Arko stepped forward and kissed Ariana’s cheek. “Welcome to the family.”

  She smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

  Sol placed a hand on her shoulder. “May you find much happiness with your chosen mate, Ariana. You will be a welcome addition on Tarnan, both you and Bane.”

  Ariana wasn’t sure how he managed it with their hands still tied together, but Bane somehow lifted her into his arms and began striding down the corridor toward their quarters. Once they were inside, he let her slide down his body until her feet touched the floor.

  “It seems the mating ceremony isn’t complete until I take you again,” he told her. “But I don’t want to make you sore.”

  “You won’t, Bane. Not if you go slow and easy. I’m a little tender, but I can handle it.”

  He frowned down at their hands. “I can’t even undress us with this thing knotted around our hands.”

  Ariana turned until her back was against the wall and began lifting the hem of her dress. “Then I guess we won’t take them off.”

  A heated look entered his eyes as he unfastened his pants and shoved them down. His cock sprang free and she took it in her hand, folding her fingers around his steely length. His skin was velvety smooth.

  “Wrap your legs around my waist,” he said, his voice deep and husky.

  She did as he bade, bracing her free hand on his shoulder. Bane slid into her wet heat, taking his time. He pinned their joined hands to the wall as he began thrusting in and out of her. His body held her in place, her breasts crushed against the hard planes of his chest.

  “Faster, Bane,” she whispered. “Harder.”

  With a growl, he did as she asked, fucking her relentlessly. She knew she’d told him to be gentle, but she liked it when he was a little wild and reckless. The slide and retreat of his cock was pushing her closer and closer to the edge. She fisted his hair in her hand as she kissed him hungrily.

  He plunged into her harder and deeper, and then they both were coming. Her thighs were wet from their combined climaxes, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was Bane and that he was now hers for eternity.

  Bane pulled back and eased her to the floor. “Was I too rough?”

  She shook her head. “I loved it. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” He brushed a hand over her stomach. “And one day, I’ll love the child we create together.”

  Ariana smiled up at him. “Maybe we created one today.”

  Bane kissed her softly. “What’s that Earth saying you have? Practice makes perfect?”

  She laughed. “I think I need a slight break and maybe some food before we ‘practice’ any more today.”

  “Then I’ll just have to make sure I take good care of you.” He untied their hands and dropped the rope on top of their bags. “Come on, beloved. I think it’s time to see if we both fit in that shower.”

  Ariana wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her into his embrace and carried her across the room. She’d never been happier in her life. She had the love of a wonderful man, and now she could claim him as her own. What would tomorrow bring? She couldn’t wait to find out. They were starting a new chapter in their lives, and anything was possible.

  Cherished

  Jessica Coulter Smith

  After an accident, Lucie has spent the past two years nearly blind and dependent on her owner, Cael. But things are changing for Lucie
and the other slaves. As part of an agreement for a chance at a new life, Cael has given up his rights to Lucie. Now she finds herself faced with a ship full of Tarnan males who want only one thing -- a mate.

  Prince Drexyl of Tourmalane is intent on collecting the bounty on the four Keshpan males on board the Lynten 12. What he doesn’t expect is to come face to face with his destined mate -- a woman he’d hadn’t believed might really exist. Having come from a world where women are extinct, Drexyl is completely enthralled with the tiny human female, and willing to do anything to keep her by his side -- even take on an entire ship of Tarnans by himself.

  Lucie and Drexyl have been drawn to each other from the very first, but the Tarnans aren’t going to give her up without a fight. Will it come to an all out war between the races, or will the two lovers find another way to be together?

  Chapter One

  Lucie sat in the gathering room aboard the Lynten 12 with more than just a touch of trepidation. She and eight other women had been brought on board by their four Keshpan owners and had been released into the care of the Tarnans. Lucie supposed it was better than remaining on Keshpa, where she was a slave. Although, she hadn’t had a hard life like the other women. Their owners had used them as sex slaves. It wasn’t uncommon for Keshpan males to own two or more slaves, her owner included. But Lucie was different.

  Cael had stepped forward to claim her on a bright sunny day in Keshpa at the auction house. It was an open building; the suns had been shining overhead. And then all hell had broken loose. A warring race, the Mayntoks had bombed the auction house. A few slaves had been kidnapped during the attack, and several Keshpan warriors had died. Lucie’s life had been spared, but she was forever changed. The brilliant light and intense heat from the blast had burned her retinas and she was now nearly blind. Thanks to several surgical procedures, she could still see some colors and could make out shapes, but that was all.

  It was because of her handicap that Cael had never touched her. At least, she’d assumed that was his reasoning. He’d continued with his purchase, more than likely out of pity, but he’d not reached for her intimately. He’d come to visit her in her quarters, had actually spent quite a bit of time with her every day, but he’d never stolen a kiss, never tried to hold her hand or make a move. He’d treated her as a good friend and nothing more. She couldn’t complain, she supposed. He could’ve forced himself on her and she would’ve been powerless to stop him. But with two other slaves, he didn’t really need her to assuage his lust.