by Susan Hayes
“Nikolai will see to it that justice is served.”
“Aster will get what’s coming to him. For now, though, I think Ciara is right. Doc,
you need to clean up that hand of yours. And, angel, I know you hate the med-center, but someone needs to make sure Vance takes care of himself.”
“Holy shit, the world’s ending,” Vance muttered.
“What makes you say that?” Ciara asked, confused.
“Dane’s acting like he’s the logical one. I’m pretty sure that’s one of the signs it’s the end of days.”
“Fuck you. I can be a responsible adult when the need arises. I just prefer not to make a habit of it. Too many mature decisions, and suddenly, people start having expectations.”
“I hate to break this to you, but you’re a director. People already have expectations. Me? I know better.” Vance turned his attention to Ciara. “Much as I hate to admit it, Dane’s suggestion is a good one. What say we go to my office? I’ll even let you fix up my hand.”
“Tempting. I haven’t fixed up anyone in days.”
“And while you two do that, I thought I’d go find us some food. Why don’t I meet you in Vance’s office in half an hour or so and we can have a late lunch?”
Ciara smiled, and it was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. “I think that sounds good. I’m not ready to head home yet.”
“That’s good. I’m not ready to let you out of my sight yet,” Vance said.
Vance took Ciara’s hand and squeezed it gently. It reassured him to have her close.
When she gave his hand an answering squeeze, Vance knew without a doubt that she was what was missing from their lives…and his heart.
They walked to his office hand in hand, and he loved every second of it. When they’d passed a group of officers, he’d pulled Ciara a little closer, making his claim crystal clear. She’d actually blushed a little, ducking her head at the attention she was gathering, but she never let go of his hand.
“Well, that was a new experience,” she said as they finally entered the privacy of his office.
“What was?” he asked in confusion. “Walking around a military base?”
“No. Well, partially. The only time I’ve been on a base was as a kid for testing, and then later to watch my brothers’ graduations. But I meant the whole holding hands in public thing.”
“You’ve never…” He trailed off as his throat tightened with emotion. Ciara had missed so much in her life. Things he and Dane would find a way to give her now she was with them.
“Never.”
“I’m happy to hold your hand anywhere you want. Anytime you ask.” He took her into his arms again, loving the way her small body fit against his. “In fact, I’ll hold any part of you that you’d like.”
“In public? You’ll get yourself in trouble again.”
“I promise you. I’m not in trouble. I was protecting my woman from an assault. That’s all.”
Ciara shook her head. “I’m not your woman. I’m just the woman you’re sleeping with. There’s a difference.”
“You most certainly are my woman. Mine to protect, cherish...and argue with, apparently. The star tattoo on your face doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of protection.”
“Some would disagree with you.”
“You mean your family? Aster? You know they’re wrong,” he challenged before slanting a hungry kiss across her upturned mouth, cutting off any further argument. One taste led to another, and soon he was feasting on her lips, drinking her in. She tasted like spiced honey, and when she parted her lips and moaned, it was the sweetest sound in the world.
He locked an arm around her waist, kissing her deeply as he fumbled blindly with his other hand for the lock on his office door. He wasn’t interested in being interrupted. The fucking base could catch fire, and he wasn’t going to stop. Not until he’d shown her who she belonged to.
Ciara started tugging at Vance’s uniform, suddenly consumed by the need to be skin to skin with him. He’d fought for her today. There was something deeply arousing about that thought.
“Need you naked. Need to see you,” he whispered against her lips as he began undressing her.
“Hell yes.”
Zippers. Buttons. Fabric pushed aside. Warm flesh under her fingers. Hard muscles bunching and gliding under dark skin. Tongues tangled. Breath mingled. Nothing existed but the present moment, cradled in Vance’s arms, surrounded by his strength. This was exactly what she needed.
He kissed her until her lungs burned and her pulse raced, then raised his head to look around with a thoughtful look on his handsome face.
“What?”
“Choices. Desk. Chair? Wall?”
“We already did the wall. I vote…desk.”
“I’d hate to bore you with repetition so early in our relationship,” he said with a chuckle. He spun her around and backed her up to the desk, keeping her pinned to the edge with his hips as he leaned past her and cleared the surface off with a sweep of his hand. There was a muffled crash as his entire desktop hit the carpet, then the world tipped as she found herself lifted up and placed squarely in the center of his workspace, her legs dangling over the edge.
“Oh yeah. This works.” He set his hands on her knees and pushed her legs apart, slowly running his fingers up her inner thighs as he spread her open.
Ciara lay back, propping herself on her elbows, head up so she could watch every move of her lover. Even with the blinds closed, there was enough sunlight to be able to see his naked body clearly, and for the first time, she realized he didn’t wear a claiming mark on his neck and torso. Now she thought about it, neither did Dane. It was voluntary for the males in a triad, but usually they wore the tattoos with pride as an announcement to the world they were bonded men. Later, she’d have to ask them why they’d never taken that step.
Much, much later.
Vance bowed his head and pressed an open-mouthed kiss to her inner thigh, sucking lightly on her skin before releasing it and moving up an inch or two and then doing it again. He kept his hands on her legs, holding her in place as he worked his way toward her pussy. She was soaking wet with need, her clit throbbing in time with her heartbeat. She needed him to touch her, to ease the ache between her legs, but every time she squirmed closer to his mouth he moved a little slower, making her wait a little longer.
She was on the brink of coming, and he’d barely touched her. Desperate to hang on a little longer, she looked around his office, trying to stave off her orgasm for a few more seconds. There wasn’t much to see, and very little of it reflected the man who worked here. White walls with a few framed prints and certifications hung on them. Uninspired furniture. Even the desk beneath her was little more than a monotone table with no personality.
So much for distractions.
“You really need…to hire a decorator,” she panted as his fingers brushed the lips of her pussy, teasing her to the point of madness.
“If you’re worried about the décor right now, I need to step up my game.” He licked along the seam of her folds and a bolt of lust speared through her. As his tongue zeroed in on her clit, she raised her hips off the desk, grinding her sex against his mouth.
He took her to the brink, then lifted his head and gave her a droll smile. “So, what color are my walls?”
“No idea.”
His eyes sparkled with amusement. “Good answer.”
She didn’t have time to respond before his mouth was latched onto her clit, his tongue working the tender pearl with merciless intent. Waves of pleasure crashed over her, sending her spinning into orgasm. Vance didn’t ease up, though, he continued to pleasure her until she peaked again, her world shattering into crystalline shards of pure bliss.
Her core was still pulsing with aftershocks when Vance gathered her hands in his and drew her up into a sitting position. She was as limp as a blissed-out kitten as he lifted her into his arms.
&
nbsp; “Where to?”
“You got your vote, now I’m getting mine,” he told her as he settled her on her knees in his office chair so she was facing away from him with the chair’s back directly in front of her. He moved in behind her, one hand cupping her breast as he bent down and adjusted something on the chair’s armrest. A second later she was rising into the air. There was a soft snick, and the chair locked into place.
Vance inhaled slowly, letting her perfume blend with the taste of her cream. She was a feast for the senses, and even if he never had her in his arms again, he’d never forget the way she tasted or the silken warmth of her skin. She was on her knees in front of him, her body the perfect height for entry. He moved the tumbling weight of her curls off one shoulder and bowed his head, nibbling his way up her neck to her ear.
A low moan left her lips and she tilted her head to the side, giving him better access. He plucked and teased at her bare breast with one hand while sliding the other down her stomach to her pussy. His fingers plunged into her slick heat, stroking over her clit until she closed her eyes and trembled in his arms. He rolled his hips, rubbing his cock between her legs, stroking her without penetration.
“Mine,” the word fell from his lips.
“You’re going to pick that fight with me now?” she asked, incredulous.
“It’s not an argument. It’s a statement of fact.” He arched his hips again, sliding into position a fraction of an inch away from the entrance to her body.
She turned her head, and he captured her lips with his, letting their tongues tangles as he drove himself deep into her body with one slow, steady thrust. Her laughter filled his mouth, and her body welcomed him inside. She fit him like a glove, her inner walls gripping him tight as he buried himself balls deep. Ciara reached down and placed her small hand over his, following the movements of his fingers as he teased her ever closer to orgasm. A slight shift of her hand, and her fingertips were grazing his dick as he fucked her, the added stimulation sending him into high orbit.
Vance tightened his grip on her body, holding her hard against his chest as he fucked her hard and fast. The wet slap of bodies coming together filled the air, and soon they were in a race to the finish, every stroke and touch adding to the inferno until he reached his breaking point. They came together, muffling the sound of their pleasure in each other’s mouths. She milked his dick until he was spent and she was panting, the two of them still wrapped up in each other, even after the act was done. He didn’t want to let go of her. He wanted to keep her in his arms and make love to her until she finally accepted where she belonged.
With them.
For the second time in twenty-four hours, Ciara was sated and relaxed in a way she’d never known before. It was a dangerous feeling because it could be addictive. What would it be like to wake every morning to two men who could make her feel this way? She deliberately shook herself out of her daydreams and eased out of Vance’s embrace. Vance let her go, but the look in his golden eyes told her that he wasn’t done with her yet. Stars, the man was as energetic as he was good looking…and talented in the bedroom. Ciara glanced around the sterile office and laughed to herself as she amended her last thought. Vance Sterling was talented in the bedroom, and everywhere else.
“Something funny?” he asked over his shoulder as he walked across the room only to stop in front of what appeared to be a stretch of blank wall.
“Just admiring the view,” she said, making a show of ogling his still naked form.
“You can admire it better from up close. I’m going to grab a shower. You’re welcome to join me.” He ran a hand over a hard-to-see panel and the wall slid back to reveal a small but nicely appointed bathroom.
“You have your own, private bathroom?” she asked.
“Yes, I have my own bathroom. And there’s a bed tucked into the wall on the other side of the office. I’m the senior medical officer on this whole damned base. There are a few perks that go along with the job. Not many mind you… I’m still working on getting a food console in here, so I don’t have to eat in the cafeteria every day.”
She walked into the bathroom, pressing herself up against his side in the cramped space. “At least you don’t have to eat what they serve the patients here. If I never seen another bowl of algae broth, I’ll die happy.”
His arm came around her waist. “Stay with us, Ciara. I can’t promise it’ll be a perfect life, but I can tell you this much. You’ll never go hungry, and I will see to it you never have to eat algae again.”
“That might be the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“Score one for team Sterling,” He murmured before dipping his head to kiss her.
“We need to get moving. Shower first. Then I’m going to look at your hands. You got hurt defending me. The least I can do is take care of you after the fact.”
He turned on the water, getting the temperature perfect before moving them both inside. The two of them in there together took up nearly every inch of space. Ciara felt like he was all around her, wrapping her in a cocoon of warmth and strength.
It was a wonderful feeling. One she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to walk away from.
***
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It was time to go to the party.
Ciara knew she was ready to go downstairs, but she kept finding reasons to stay hidden in her room. She’d fiddled with the straps of her shoes, rearranged the lines of her gown a half dozen times, and now she was staring into the mirror, second, third and fourth guessing her hairstyle. How in the hell had she been talked into this again? A formal Alliance event, with a regent as the guest of honor, was the last place in the cosmos she ever expected to be. Her parents would have committed any number of felonies for an opportunity like this, but she’d left this world behind a long time ago. And yet, here she was, staring at an unfamiliar reflection.
Who was the woman in the mirror?
She’d managed to tame her curls for the most part, coiling her unruly mane into a classic chignon that left her feeling strangely naked without the weight of her hair falling around her shoulders. The dress was nothing she would have chosen for herself, but Alayna had insisted it was perfect. It was a fitted, one-shoulder design in black velvet trimmed in silver, with a silver belt that accentuated her waist. As far as Ciara was concerned, it only drew attention to everything she lacked physically. A quick glance at the guest list had shown her she was the only non-enhanced woman attending tonight, which meant she would be surrounded by women with killer curves, finely honed senses, and legs so long she was going to look like a vertically-challenged pixie in comparison.
A childhood’s worth of memories surged around her brain and none of them were happy ones. Always on the fringes, never fitting in. Nibbling on hors d’oeuvres and sticking to the quiet corners where no one would bother her, and she wouldn’t be accused of bothering the guests. Fun times.
“Get a grip,” she muttered to herself as she turned away from the mirror. She wasn’t that lonely girl any more. With that thought firmly fixed in her mind, Ciara picked up her wrap and purse from the bed, then headed downstairs to where Dane and Vance were waiting.
Annie spotted her first and announced her arrival with a piping cry. “Ciara is princess!”
It was the highest compliment she’d ever been given.
Both men were standing in the foyer, their dress uniforms perfectly fitted. They truly were two of the finest looking men she’d ever seen, in or out of uniform.
“Holy nova, angel, you look amazing,” Dane said, staring at her with something akin to awe.
“Breathtaking,” Vance agreed, releasing Annie’s hand so she could race up the stairs.
Ciara leaned down and scooped the little girl into her arms. “You think I look like a princess?” she asked Annie.
“Uh huh. Bootiful princess.”
“Thank you, sweet pea.”
Dane had a lump in his thr
oat as he watched Ciara and his daughter together. It was a moment he’d never forget, and it reminded him that as much as he and Vance could do for Annie, there were some things only a mother can provide.
“The two of them together is a hell of a sight, isn’t it?” Vance asked, his voice pitched low enough the girls couldn’t overhear.
“It really is. Our girls are a couple of beauties, aren’t they?”
“Don’t let her hear you getting possessive. She isn’t ready to concede that point just yet.”
Dane tore his eyes away from the vision on the stairs to look at his best friend. “Then we’ll have to find a way to convince her, because there’s no fucking way I’m letting her go.”
Vance nodded. “Me either.”
Ciara descended the stairs still holding Annie. When she reached the bottom, Vance moved in to take his daughter. Dane went straight for Ciara, hauling her into his arms. She went easily, laughing as she stretched up on her toes to kiss him.
“You clean up very nicely, Director.”
“So do you. But you know, I think there’s something missing from your outfit.”
A crease appeared between her brows. “If you mean the other half of this dress, it’s Alayna’s fault. She said—”
“The dress is perfect.” He paused to kiss her again before holding out his hand so she could see what he’d been holding. “But it would even look even better if you were wearing these.”
She took one look at the earrings in his hand and gasped. There were tears shimmering in her eyes as she reached up to touch one of the interlocking hoops of hammered white gold. “You want me to wear these?”
“We want you to have them. To wear, to keep, hell, to sell if you want to. They’re yours.”
“I wouldn’t sell these!” she exclaimed, taking them and holding them up to the light. They’re gorgeous. I’ve never owned anything like them.”
“In that case, you can have the necklace, too,” Vance said, holding up the matching piece.