Snared by Saber
Shelley Munro
Middlemarch Capture, Book One
When a feline virus on Earth wipes out much of his race, Saber Mitchell moves his shifter family to the jungle planet of Tiraq. To provide an income—and keep the testosterone-fueled males from killing each other over the lack of mates—Saber opens Middlemarch Resort, specializing in women’s capture fantasies. Unbeknownst to the women, some captures will be more permanent than others.
Saber has no plans to find a mate himself…until a capture goes awry, landing both him and “kidnapped” guest Eva Henry on the other side of the huge island. Saber must face birds, beasts, hungry natives and Eva’s own penchant for escape to see her safely back to the resort.
Keeping his hands off her proves impossible…even after Saber learns mating Eva comes with bigger, more dangerous troubles than all their jungle perils combined.
A Romantica® SciFi erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
Snared by Saber
Shelley Munro
Acknowledgements
A special thanks to Hollie Glover and Mary Kirkland for reading the first drafts of Saber’s story. This book is especially for you.
Pronunciation Guide
Many of the alien characters within these pages bear Celtic names. Here is a guide to help pronounce their names:
Casey Seonaid: (kay + sea) shone + aid
Pryce Dearbhorgaill: (price) der + vor + gill
Almeda Dearbhorgaill: (elle + me + da) der + vor + gill
Loeiz Dearbhorgaill: (loo + eece) der + vor + gill
Chapter One
Middlemarch Resort, Ione Island, planet Tiraq
“I shouldn’t have come to Tiraq.” Eva Henry plucked her communicator out of her bag and glared at the round screen.
Nothing. Not a single frying fungus squawk.
She shoved the red com-circle out of sight even as she prayed her assistant would call soon. She needed to know her careful plan was proceeding. “I should be back on Dalcon taking care of business.”
“Wash your mouth with crapola soap!” Casey Seonaid, Eva’s best friend, grabbed her forearm, her fingertips digging into Eva’s flesh like scorp-pincers. “Forget work. This is your birthday treat. If anyone needs stress relief, it’s you. Listen to Doctor Casey. Indulging in a capture fantasy is just the thing.” Casey glanced around. “Where are we meant to check in?”
Eva forced herself to focus on the noisy chaos of dozens of women and their multitude of bags and let Casey drag her to the end of the line waiting for room allocation.
“Eva, take a gawk at his ass!” Her friend spoke in a reverent tone. “Wouldn’t you like to take a bite? Or what about him?” Casey hummed a sexy sound and winked at her as a second bare-chested male strolled through the resort foyer. “I want a capture fantasy with him.”
Her friend wasn’t the only one to notice sex-on-legs saunter past. Eva observed the shy smiles, the blatant grins, heard the shrill whistle, the appreciative whispers about forced-sex fantasies at the men’s hands. Holy Finnian bats, even her libido did a halfhearted jig. Something that had her stumbling mid-stride since she hadn’t thought of men and sex since Pryce—
The cramped pain in her left hand jerked her from the tortured memories. Bloodless fingers gripped the handle of her bag, and she fought to regain her equilibrium, fought to get past the haze of red rage, fought to distance herself from the past until she trembled with the stress.
Luckily Casey didn’t notice her zone-out, her friend’s saucy commentary a steady rumbly purr of background noise. Casey continued murmuring and nudged Eva with a pointy elbow.
“Oh yeah. Hell yeah. This is right where we should be,” Casey said, using her elbow again before Eva could evade. “My female parts are gonna get a good workout if those cuties are any indication of the resort merchandise. And about time too. A pox on the military and their stoopid fraternization rules. Capture fantasy, here I come!”
“Shush.” Eva rubbed her ribs and sent a furtive glance at the other women waiting to check into the exclusive Middlemarch Resort on Ione Island.
Most of the female guests hailed from the nearby planet of Dalcon—the same as she and Casey—but they came from a cross section of races. There were several blue-skinned Manx, some Labhras with their flickering skin colors indicating their fluctuating emotions, a powerful striped Tigrus, and a couple of compact Setanta with their distinctive straight violet-toned hair. Some came from races she hadn’t seen before, and Eva didn’t let her gaze settle into a stare. Unintended rudeness of that nature caused deaths every year, and she didn’t intend to end up a statistic. Not now when she was so close.
Things to do. Revenge to implement.
Despite herself, Eva slid another quick glance in the direction of two women whose heads were covered with swaying tendrils. Casey might recognize their race since she traveled a lot with the military.
“Scurvy sky pirates,” Casey said, suddenly breathless as she stared over Eva’s shoulder. “I’ve changed my mind. I want one of them to capture me. No…no, all of them at once! I’m sure I could cope.”
Eva caught a glimpse of tall, dark and sexy seconds before her communicator gave a familiar squawk. She fumbled through the contents of her bag. Her hand closed around the com-circle and she flicked it to active vocal. “Henry,” she barked. “Tell me it’s—”
Casey snatched the communicator, dropped it on the floor and deliberately crushed it under the heel of her military issue boot.
Eva gaped at the innards of her com-circle, took long secs to find her voice. “Why did you do that?”
“This is a holiday. For both of us. You work too hard and need a break, and I require recreation before I head to my next assignment. Please, Eva. I want us to enjoy ourselves. I won’t see you again after I leave on assignment. Not for ages.”
The forlorn note in Casey’s voice made Eva look closer for the first time since they’d met up at the busy Dalcon spaceport. Were those tears shimmering in Casey’s eyes? And she looked exhausted, with bags of fatigue beneath her lower lashes, as if she hadn’t slept in days. Guilt flooded Eva. What kind of friend was she?
“I’m sorry. You’re right.” Her plans had taken eons to set in place. Several more solar days wouldn’t make much difference. The final result would be just as satisfying.
Vengeance for Pryce at last.
Eva hooked her arm through her friend’s and urged her forward as the line wended its way to the reception desk. “Did you have a chance to make the new outfits you were talking about? Not that you’ll spend much time in your clothes if you’re captured.”
“No.” Casey’s expression was closed off, and Eva sought a way to bring back the fun, smiling girl she’d met in the market many cycles ago, the young girl with the wild dark curls who’d towed her aunt from fabric stall to fabric stall and radiated excitement and enthusiasm as she stroked the shimmering materials of every color imaginable.
Now, not only did Casey appear exhausted, but she’d lost some of her bulk. Her wild curls were long gone, sheared off to leave brutally short fuzz. Something was dreadfully wrong with her friend.
Two men entered the foyer, both tall, both dark-haired, both with intense green eyes that crossed the roomful of gawking women with silent intent. They exchanged words, one nodding then replying.
Eva stared with everyone else. Sexy lips. Way too easy to imagine those luscious mouths roaming a feminine body, giving and taking pleasure.
“What about one of those two?” she whispered, using her chin to signal the direction. “Can you imagine one of them whisking you away to the fantasy rooms? Forcing you to have sex with them? Or how about them,” she said as three males joined the first two. Tall, all muscular with black h
air of varying lengths, sparkling green eyes and grins ranging from friendly to impish. “Do you think they’re from a new range of bots? They’re very alike.”
To Eva’s relief, Casey lifted her head and her scowl dropped away. “Good choice.” Her gaze lingered with feminine appreciation. “Bots or not, I hope we’re chosen for the extras. Rumor says their fantasy rooms are the latest in new technology, and they cater to any sexual taste. They say the women have to be carried out because they’re so drugged with pleasure. Then they’re pampered in the beauty rooms with sensual massages and given the whole royalty treatment.”
Casey gave a theatrical shiver. “You work hard. You deserve a little fun. Even if we don’t get picked for the special captures, we’ll get to partake in the other activities, have a fruity cocktail or three, some blistering-hot sex. Please, Eva. I want you to enjoy your birthday.”
Eva flashed her friend a smile, hopefully a reassuring one. “Don’t worry. We’ll have a blast.”
The line shuffled forward and the receptionist lifted her gaze, a professional smile pinned to her lips.
“Names please.” She was a pretty girl with green eyes. Her black hair was pulled back from her face and arranged in a tight bun on top of her head—a doughnut-shaped roll. She resembled the sexy males. They had to be bots.
“Eva Henry and Casey Seonaid,” Casey said.
The woman’s hands halted on her flat glasslike keyboard. “Shone-aid?”
“Yes,” Casey said. “But it’s spelled S-e-o-n-a-i-d.”
“Ah.” The woman’s hands flew over the keyboard and she hummed approval. “Perfect, thank you for booking with the Middlemarch Resort,” she said and slid a genic mini-tab over the counter between them. “Your chalet number is twenty-five. There is a map plus information and instructions on the genic. Make sure you read them because missing crucial events or not following directives will lessen your chances of experiencing one of our special signature captures. Don’t forget to attend the welcoming party tonight. Your luggage will be delivered, if it isn’t in your chalet already. Any questions?”
Eva shook her head.
“I hope you enjoy your vacation at Middlemarch Resort.”
Summarily dismissed, Eva gave the genic to Casey. “You’re the expert navigator. You find our chalet, and I’ll follow.”
Eva had seen luxury, certainly while attending functions with Pryce, but this place was impeccable, with stylish touches pulling everything together. The atmosphere oozed sensuality and good taste. Cream walls, arrangements of vivid fresh flowers, innovative lighting to spotlight erotic statuary. A water feature provided background noise. Top-of-the-line fixtures. They’d gone for classic styling rather than succumbing to technology streaming and the advertisements most hotels plastered over every available wall. Whoever the decorator was, Eva wanted to meet them so she could discuss refurbishing her restaurants to give her customers a more rounded dining experience. She followed Casey through a door and onto a gravel path.
The grounds were stunning too, full of plants and fragrant blooms. A selection of variegated leafy bushes lined the path, their vivid blue and white flowers perfuming the air with exotic cookie spices. Tall trees with bright coral-colored trunks and green and coral foliage cast shade over the gravel walkways.
When they exited the trees, Eva caught her breath. “Oh, it’s beautiful. I’ve heard…I mean, you told me planet Tiraq gets its jade-green color from the immense seas, and you’ve said how beautiful the water is, but I thought you were exaggerating.”
The jade sea spread before them, the surface barely rippling. Already women lazed on the beach of pristine white sand, and some from races that didn’t mind getting wet were frolicking in the water. Eva couldn’t wait to dip her fingers into the sparkling green liquid.
Casey gave a disdainful sniff and lifted her nose in the air. “This is our chalet.”
Their chalet was the last in a row of carefully spaced accommodation. Thatched roofs kept out the weather and gave them a rustic charm. Beyond their chalet was a sturdy fence covered in fine mesh—the far boundary of the resort. Eva didn’t mind since it would afford them more privacy than the chalets in the center of the resort. She might as well catch up on sleep while she was taking downtime.
“So it is. Looks pretty.” Eva chuckled at her friend’s put-upon expression. “Sorry. I’ll never doubt you again.”
“Then understand I crunched your com-circle for the greater good. I know you miss Pryce, but you can’t mourn your husband forever. You’re still young and you deserve this holiday.”
I don’t deserve anything. Eva sucked up the swell of grief and put on her game expression. It slid across her face like an old friend, which told her how adept she’d become at pretense, at hiding the truth, at keeping secrets.
“Oh look.” Entranced, Eva crouched to pet a fluffy creature. Its black fur looked soft while its big, round eyes emphasized the cute factor. “Come here, little fella. Casey, come see.” Eva extended her hand.
“Don’t touch it,” a sharp male voice snapped.
Eva jerked her hand back even as the fluffy creature darted closer.
A huge black cat leaped in front of her, seized the creature in its maw and bit down until the fluff ball stopped fighting. The cat flicked its tale and trotted off with its prize.
The man hauled her up by the arm, his green eyes full of alarm. “Did it bite you?” He grasped her hips and turned her to face him. Before she could answer, he ran his hands down her arms and legs. “Good,” he said when he didn’t find signs of any wounds. “The zylon didn’t bite you.”
“They bite?” Casey asked, looking dazed by the man and his sudden appearance. Not to mention the huge black cat, which luckily had displayed more interest in the zylon.
“Yeah, their bite is poisonous, which is why we’ve fenced the resort to keep them out.”
Poisonous? “There’s a hole in your fence. I-I saw the-the creature crawl through,” Eva stammered.
“We’ll get it fixed,” the man said. “I’m glad you weren’t injured. That wouldn’t be a good way to start your holiday. Let me get reception to send you refreshments to make up for the inconvenience.” The man tucked Eva’s hand on his arm and escorted her to the door of their chalet, where Casey waited. He disengaged and shunted them both through the open door, then closed them inside.
“I don’t think he was a bot,” Eva murmured.
“The men here are sexier than in my wildest dreams,” Casey said. “Bring on the captures, I say.”
Eva’s legs gave out, and she toppled onto the edge of a sleep-bed. She couldn’t find the right brain cells to formulate an argument, let alone voice one. Hard to dispute the truth when it frisked you in such a delightful manner.
* * * * *
“What do you think?” Saber Mitchell studied his four brothers, who were currently crowding his office, two sprawled in chairs and the other two leaning against the walls. He scanned each of his brothers’ faces before focusing on Felix, the second oldest of the Mitchell brothers. Leo came next in age, followed by the twins Sly and Joe. They had one more sibling, their sister Scarlett, who was the youngest of the Mitchell clan.
“I still think this is a crazy idea,” Leo said. “Why can’t we focus on farming the land? We had a successful farm on Earth. There’s no reason we can’t replicate that again.”
“We don’t need mates,” Felix said, folding his arms across his chest. His green eyes—the same green eyes Saber saw in his bedroom mirror each day—offered a dare.
“They won’t necessarily keep us on the straight and narrow,” troublemaker Joe agreed. “Women are good for one thing.”
“Your Mission Mate plan is flawed,” Sly said, with a smirk at his twin. “Ma might think copying an idea our ancestors used successfully will fix everything, but it won’t. And I don’t want to settle with one woman. Leo is right. We should focus on the land. If we’re dog-tired we won’t have time or energy for fucking around.”
Saber fought the urge to knock his brothers’ heads together. No point wasting the energy. Violence wouldn’t dent their heads or their confidence. Ever since they’d left Earth with a large contingent of friends and family to escape the feline virus, trouble had followed them. Often expensive trouble, with his brothers as the ringleaders.
“We don’t have the luxury of waiting for the land to become productive.” Saber strove for calm and logical arguments. “We have to take the assets we possess and use them to support our group. That means making the resort a success—and finding mates before the males kill each other.”
“What about the zylon? Their numbers are increasing again. If they get through the protective fencing and into the resort, we’ll have dead guests,” Leo said. “Excellent publicity for Middlemarch Resort. It was lucky I grabbed that zylon this morning before the woman tried to stroke the bloody thing.”
Saber failed to repress a shudder when he thought of the possible headlines that could race to Dalcon, their largest market so far. Guests at Exclusive Middlemarch Resort Die from Zylon Bites.
He couldn’t let that happen.
“We’ll go hunting tonight after the welcome party,” Saber said, wishing he knew what was up with Leo. His normally even-tempered brother had become moody. He’d been acting weirdly since they’d left Dalcon. Maybe Ma knew. He’d ask at the next opportunity.
Saber drummed his fingers on the top of his desk. “You’ve all wandered through the foyer during check-in. Did any of the women catch your eye? Did you spot possibles for the first captures?”
“I went through the booking forms again last night. On paper, the two females in chalet twenty-five look good,” Felix said. “From what Scarlett dug up during her comp research, they have little or limited interaction with family. We could capture one of them.”
“That was the two females Leo and I saw with the zylon,” Saber said. “Did they book together? Do they know each other?”
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