by Неизвестный
“Leave that thing alone!” He grimaced at his dampened sleeve. “Damn it.” He tossed the tube at Alana.
“Keep it away from him.”
“Aw, Damian.” Kalien pouted. It was a very attractive pout. Damian was unmoved.
“You are not reading it.”
“Why not?”
“Because that way it’s safer for us. We take that thing to Celestra, leave it there, hopefully get paid, and get lost. No one is taking us because they didn’t get information.”
“I know that, Damian.”
“Good.” Damian picked up his mug again.
“How are they going to know?”
Damian choked on his tea.
* * * *
Alana scowled at the offending piece of machinery. “There. It should work now.”
She backed out of the narrow passageway, dropping down on the floor. Damian, looking no better than she did, punched in the activating code in the control panel. There was a pause then the satisfying hum of a working engine.
He let out a deep breath then seated himself next to her. “Yep. It’s done.”
It was the second week of their journey. The ship had already taken a beating. Alana had a bad feeling about this. More ships were chasing them than was normal. After all, technically, it took some work to find out they were the ones who took the job.
So why, now, did everybody and his brother want to capture them?
“Do you,” she started, then hesitated. “Are you feeling paranoid?”
“No, not really.” His green gaze found and stayed on her. “By now, I do have good reason to think something isn’t right.”
She felt relieved. “Oh. I was wondering about that, too.”
She rubbed her face then grimaced once she realized there was a smudge on her hand, and now it was probably on her face. “Crap.”
“I said that Dis should be smarter than to try and screw me. However, I may have…” Damian paused, obviously lost in thought. “I may have underestimated him.”
“He could be totally uninvolved,” Alana pointed out.
Damian thought it over. “Yes. You are right.”
“But you don’t think so.”
“I don’t have anything against a good fight, but I am not an idiot. This is over the top.”
They sat in silence.
“When I brought it over, when I said it was bound for Celestra, you cringed. It was subtle, but it was there. You knew something about that.”
Alana gave him an admiring glance. “You are good.”
“I try to be. So what do you know?”
“There is political unrest on Celestra.”
Damian frowned. “I thought they were a stable planet. They export flowers, right? The whole planet is one big plantation.”
“Correct. However, they developed a plant that had amazing medical properties. It accelerates healing. Now everybody wants it. And Celestra.”
“I didn’t know about it. What’s the big picture?”
“There are a couple of major powers that are fighting for influence over Celestra. Andraxi Empire is one of them. That’s where I got my information.”
“That would explain it. If what we have is important for the outcome, then everyone is going to try and get their hands on it. Dis didn’t mention it.” Judging by his thunderous expression, he no doubt planned excruciating details for his next meeting with the creep. Having seen the way he fought—they were boarded once during the last week, a mercenary outfit from Eola—Kalien had gone and disabled a gravitational tool that held them locked to the other ship. Alana went with him as backup. Damian was a distraction. He cleared the ship. The whole thing went without a hitch. It raised some bells in Alana’s head. She was worried about Damian when they left. The Eolans were big, eight-foot-tall, furry humanoids with claws…and teeth. Even an Andraxi hunter would be loath to tackle one of them. Alana used her stun gun to incapacitate them. Damian had his weapons. Still, judging by the mess he left, he must have gone up close and personal with at least some of them. And there were four Eolans.
Kalien didn’t seem to think this was such an unusual occurrence. Alana kept quiet. After all, she wasn’t entitled to all his secrets.
And, well, the way they used to let off the steam once they were free from their pursuers was enough to buy her silence...for now.
She stretched her legs, resolutely getting her mind back on track.
“You know, if Andraxi are involved, this is liable to get ugly. I always took care not to stumble into their playground.”
“Probably a smart decision.” Damian still seemed far away. Then he suddenly turned his head and gave her a sharp glance. “Kalien said your father was a powerful Andraxi diplomat. And considering that his mate is Senhani, he must be very, very good. So why aren’t you belonging to their ranks? You are good enough. And it would cut down on misunderstandings like the one that happened on Dataru.”
“He is. My father, I mean. And they did offer. It’s just that,” she began, taking a deep breath, “I don’t look like Andraxi. Everyone knew I was half Senhani. They taught me how to fight, not because they thought I would be good for it, but because I wanted it, and they indulged me.”
“And it simplified things when someone tried to grab Senhani.”
“That, too, but that almost didn’t happen. My father took care of that. Everyone thought I was just ornamental. Something pretty and breakable that needed to be protected. I hated it. There is more to me than my looks.”
“I noticed,” Damian said in a dry voice. “If I remember correctly, that was what Kalien said when he met you.”
“What?”
“That despite your delicate looks—”
“Delicate!” Alana was indignant. She may have been only five foot ten and blonde, but she was most assuredly not delicate.
“Simmer down. I haven’t finished. Despite your delicate looks, you are a real ballbuster.”
“Oh. I suppose that was a compliment.”
“It was. I’ll endorse it.”
He stood up, offering her a hand. “We should probably go and see how Kalien is doing.”
She did the same, reluctantly. Her muscles protested vehemently. She cringed. “Maybe I should tap my cousin for more information.”
“That probably wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
* * * *
“We are staying here?” Kalien demanded suspiciously, eyeing the approaching planet on their main monitor with something akin to dislike.
“Devana has a very famous marketplace. It should be crowded enough for us to lose any remaining chasers,” Damian answered, not looking at him.
“If we get in trouble here, we are going to land in jail. And our contract will be forfeited,” Kalien pointed out.
“Perhaps. But we do need a break, and this place is our best bet. If we go out to any of our usual hangouts, we will probably be taken.” Damian obviously didn’t want to discuss this.
Kalien cursed. “So you think we have been made?”
“I am pretty sure we are. I need to check.”
Kalien theatrically showed a growing picture on the screen. “Here.”
Damian’s lips twitched. “Appearances can be deceiving.”
“If you say so.” Kalien slumped back in his chair. “You are not complaining?” he asked, looking at Alana.
“This place is probably good as any others. And…” She hesitated. “I can call my cousins from there. But if I call them, they are likely to butt in.”
“And then they are going to want what we carry,” Kalien finished instead of her. He and Damian exchanged glances. Damian shrugged.
“I am afraid so.”
“Your call,” Kalien said to Damian.
“We will risk it.”
Kalien frowned, obviously not expecting such an answer. “You sure about that?”
Damian’s eyes narrowed, his teeth flashing in a tight smile. “Oh, yes. I am very sure.”
Chapter 7
&n
bsp; Like most women Kalien knew, Alana liked to shop. Luckily for her, Kalien didn’t object to carrying parcels. Much.
“I can’t believe you found a weapons dealer on this market.” Kalien grumbled. “I thought they only sold fripperies down there.”
“Live and learn, then. Someone recommended me that dealer. And you have to confess, the knives are first-rate workmanship. You can’t find that good of merchandise anywhere. And I wasn’t the only one that bought from him.”
The guns needed recharging. Knives were easier to hide. Some mercs wore only knives. Alana preferred to carry both.
“I know,” Kalien conceded. He had to move aside to avoid bumping into someone. He checked his watch.
“We should go back. Damian said not to stay long. I am still surprised he let us outside at all. He doesn’t usually do that.”
Alana smiled, letting her fangs show. “That’s because I was with you. I can understand not wanting to let you loose among unsuspecting natives.”
“That’s not fair. You are the one that got in trouble last time.”
“I was trying to look nice and friendly. Didn’t have my weapons exposed. You will notice no one leered at me this time.”
“Excluding me.”
“That doesn’t count. You have permission to leer. Leer away.”
Kalien gave her a droll look. She was dressed head to toe in formfitting gray leather, her usual attire for the job. At least a dozen different weapons were strategically positioned over her outfit. Alana considered it practical. He considered it sexy as hell, minus the weapons. Or at least some of them.
“Anyway, my point is I can take care of myself. Usually. You can get into trouble faster than anyone I know. I still haven’t forgiven you for that incident with that bald Ionese merchant.”
Kalien winced. He remembered the incident, all right.
“It wasn’t my fault. How was I to know?”
“Hah! If Damian hadn’t shown up to bail us out, we would still be in jail. On Iona. Let me tell you, that would be no picnic.”
Damian was pissed off because of that one, too. Kalien remembered.
“You know, the two of you are sometimes no fun at all.”
“We are not?” The look she gave him was downright evil. “What if I share that little bit of wisdom with Damian? Want to sleep on the couch for the next month?”
They would do that. Kalien cringed. “No.” As aggravating as those two may be, there were compensations.
“Good.”
“I don’t believe how short tempered you two can be. Am I not your partner?”
“Mhmm. Our pet,” Alana answered absently, her attention diverted by the market stall on their right. She started to go for it, but not fast enough to not have caught the brief flicker of something on Kalien’s face. It looked suspiciously like hurt. It was gone in a second.
“Kalien. What’s wrong?”
He shrugged.
“Nothing. Why do you ask?”
“Come on, don’t give me that. Did I say something wrong?”
“You didn’t. It’s just…” He sighed, dropping his gaze.
“It’s something of a sore spot with me.”
“What?”
He rolled his eyes. “Come on, Alana, you’ve seen how Damian is.”
“Well, yeah, he can be an ass.” She paused to think about it. “What is it that’s bothering you?”
Kalien shrugged. “Nothing specifically. It’s just that…Damian sees me as submissive to him. I’m not. I enjoy doing it, but I am not adverse to...a little role reversal. It’s different for you. You are as dominant as him, and he knows it.”
She snorted.
“You manage to get your own way regardless.”
“That’s something else.”
“The outcome is the same. Besides, you like that about him. You were the one that chased after him. You told me yourself.”
“I was. I got more than I bargained for,” Kalien muttered, apparently not mollified.
Alana grinned. “That’s bad?”
He laughed then wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer, and kissed her. The packets jammed into her ribs, but she was too busy enjoying the kiss to mind.
Dazed, she had to lean on him to keep her balance. Even her toes were tingling.
“That was…wow.”
“It was sort of what I was aiming for.”
“Show-off.” She punched him in the shoulder.
“You know, it just occurred to me that I never saw Damian let you top him.”
“He doesn’t.”
“Why not?”
Kalien snorted. “It’s not like you let me fuck your ass.”
“Do you want it?” she asked with a straight face.
Kalien blinked. “No.” He grinned. “I like watching your tits while we fuck.”
She had to roll her eyes at that. “Gee, thanks. You are such a flatterer.”
“You want pretty words, you ask Damian for that. I am more of an action kind of guy.”
Talk about a one-track mind.
“Did you ask him?”
“For flattery?”
The crowd thinned as they approached the edge of the market. They picked up their pace. Soon they were moving under the shadow of the spaceport dome. They were now close to the ship.
“No, you idiot, to ride him.”
Kalien stilled, his blue eyes becoming impossibly wide. He flushed, licking his lips unconsciously. “He will never let me.”
“Have you tried?”
Kalien shook his head. “Once, when we had just gotten together, he thought I was. He warned me not to try.”
Alana frowned. As far as she knew, they had been together for years, and Kalien was fond of…experimenting. “Didn’t you want it? You aren’t dominant like him, but you do like to have him at your mercy. At least in bed.”
Kalien snorted, dumping the packets inside the ship. He climbed up to it then turned around to give her a hand. Alana winced as she was unceremoniously hauled up. Both Damian and Kalien were tall enough not to be bothered by this. She, however, was not. She would have to convince them to invest in some stairs. She squirmed in her suit. Some things didn’t like to stay where they were after movements like this. Kalien activated the sensor for closing the doors.
“I like it just fine as it is. You know he is amazingly good.”
“I’ll second that.”
“But you want to watch me fuck him?”
“I watch him fuck you, so I really don’t see the difference.”
“You got really hot from that, too.”
She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “You know me so well.”
Kalien laughed. “Seriously, though, he won’t let me do that.”
Alana snorted. “He won’t let you think he is letting you. And he is certainly interested when you are fucking me. I don’t think he needs more than a little push.”
“You mean, the added incentive of you watching.”
“Maybe doing more than watching. It’s not a question of his wanting it, it’s a question of his pride. He hates not being in control.”
Alana shrugged. “Of course, if you don’t want it…”
“I didn’t say that.” Kalien smiled at her, a hungry, anticipatory smile. “What did you have in mind?”
* * * *
Damian sighed and pulled his cock out of Kalien’s mouth, feeling deliciously sated. He groaned when Alana’s arms wrapped around him from behind, her teeth grazing his shoulder, sending tingles over his skin. Tiny sparks of desire flared up again.
“You two are going to kill me.” Obligingly, he tilted his head to allow Alana better access.
Kalien sounded like he was suppressing laughter, his blue eyes twinkling as he scooted closer to him. “At least you will die happy.”
“Mmm.”
Kalien’s body pressed closer to his, forcing him to move. He allowed it, letting them turn him so he was now facing Alana, kneeling between her spread thighs.
Her breasts lightly brushed his chest, his cock resting on her belly. Kalien was now behind him, the hands of both of his lovers on his back.
“I certainly will.” He absorbed their shared heat. He let his head drop on Alana’s shoulder, clasping his hands behind her back, just above the round curve of her ass.
Kalien’s fingertips ghosted over his skin. They followed the line of his spine, pausing to rest at his tailbone.
He jerked.
“Hey!” He tried to pull out from Alana’s embrace, but her hands fastened on his wrists. He twisted his head to glare at Kalien.
“This better be not what I think it is.”
His good mood was starting to evaporate. Fear, mingled with anticipation, swamped him.
“Problem?” Kalien’s arm twined around him until his palm rested on his chest.
He wondered if Kalien could hear his heart thudding. He tried to move away.
“Damn it, you know I am not letting you do that!” He slanted a burning glance on Alana. He had no doubt who masterminded this. “She should know it, too.”
Alana just pushed him back into Kalien, seemingly unconcerned. Her lips nibbled on his earlobe. She gently caught it between her fangs.
“He is good, I swear it,” she whispered, her voice husky.
An erotic image of Kalien and Alana bloomed in his mind. He squeezed his eyes shut to avoid it.
“That’s not the point. “
Kalien’s fingers opened him, eased into him. Damian shuddered. “Stop it!” Alana’s grip on him was iron.
“You want it.”
“I don’t.”
Dark desire was building inside him. He resisted it.
Alana snorted.
“You watch him with me. Don’t tell me you never think about how it is being with him.”
She grinned, her fangs flashing.
“But I do have you both.”
“Kalien.” Damian snarled.
Kalien hesitated, the fingers inside him stopping, letting him think, even as his body mourned the lack of stimulation.
“No, he is only pretending. He is as hard as a rock.” Alana’s voice was smug.
Damian cringed. He was. Damn them both. Kalien peeked over his shoulder, but Alana’s body shielded Damian. Instead, he reached for Damian with his hand, still wet with the lube he was using to prepare him. Damian swallowed as questing fingers wrapped around his cock.