But I trusted my mates. Sensed their need for this. Maxim had been correct, my upbringing had me put a certain spin on the act. It felt as if they wanted to have their friends get off at my expense, to see them take me, fuck me in such a dark and dirty way. Earth people would consider me a slut and think the act cheap. I was a whore to be put on display.
On the Colony, with Prillon warriors? It was nothing of the sort. I’d learned immediately that I was not to be devalued. In fact, my mates elevated me, made me more respected, more revered here on the Colony than I’d ever been on Earth.
I was wanted, not only for my body—my mates had told me again and again how much they desired me—but for my mind as well. I was an asset here. I wasn’t going to be framed for a crime I didn’t commit. I wasn’t going to have my ideas stolen. All of the warriors, while extremely alpha and dominant—I swear they’d all been born in caves—were also the least chauvinistic bunch. Yes, they were chivalrous, but in a way that endeared me to all of them.
If they knew what was happening with women on Earth, I had no doubt they’d be the first to wave signs in protest.
But this wasn’t Earth. This was the Colony and my men wanted me. I wanted them. I wanted them to claim me. Finally. There was no backing out. No changing my mind. I wanted my collar to be copper like theirs. I wanted both of them to fuck me at the same time.
Maxim groaned at that last thought. I wasn’t sure if I would ever get used to them feeling my thoughts. But it did help. They knew while I was nervous about this all, I wanted it, too.
I wanted the men to show me off, to show off the bond between us.
“She is ready,” Ryston said, coming up to me.
After I’d stripped as Maxim requested, he’d wrapped a heavy robe about my shoulders, covering me completely, leading me down the hall and to a big room. Yes, this was a claiming room, all right. It was like a theater with the stage in the center, seats in a full circle all the way around. But in the center was not a stage, but a bed. A big bed with black sheets, silky and soft. The room was warm, which was good since I had a feeling I would soon be completely naked. I glanced at the warriors who were quietly watching from the seats. Waiting.
Ryston took hold of my chin, forced his eyes to meet mine. “There is no one else here. Only us.”
Maxim took his hands from my shoulders and came around to stand next to his second. Their large bodies blocked out everything, although the soft murmuring continued. I could hear the voices joining together in a whispered chorus of Claim her. Claim her. Claim her.
“We can do this in private,” Maxim offered again. “No one will think less of you.”
They were so generous. This was important to them. Sharing this ceremony, proudly making me theirs. They’d done so much for me, this would be something I could easily do for them. It wasn’t going to be painful. Quite the opposite, in fact.
“No. I want this.” I looked from one mate to the other. “I want both of you.”
I sensed their pleasure in those words and knew this was right.
Maxim’s shoulders went back as he took my hand. “Do you accept my claim, mate?” His voice was loud so everyone in the room could hear. Silence descended. “Do you give yourself to me and my second freely, or do you wish to choose another primary male?”
I expected the first questions, but not the last. The idea made me worry.
“I do not wish another,” I said quickly. When I realized it was just formality, I took a deep breath, spoke loudly. And with pride. “I give myself to you and your second. I accept your claim.”
The chanting returned and I had to hope it was all part of the tradition. Was I going to have to fuck to that?
“Then we claim you in the rite of naming. You are mine and I shall kill any other warrior who dares to touch you.”
I loved that possessiveness. It made me hot. Wet.
“Here.” Ryston held up a piece of black cloth. “For your eyes.”
They wanted to blindfold me? The idea was petrifying and really hot at the same time.
“Trust us,” Maxim said, his voice just for me. His dark gaze met mine.
I nodded once, then closed my eyes as Ryston put the soft fabric over my eyes, secured it.
“Not too tight?” he asked when finished.
I couldn’t see anything, not even a hint of light from the bottom. Not the warriors who watched. It was snug, but not uncomfortable.
“No.”
I felt one of them walk around behind me, reach around and undo the clasp on the robe. The material slipped off my body and pooled around my feet.
I would have lifted my hands to cover myself, but they began to touch me, their palms stroking up and down my arms, over my hips, waist, bottom. They were gentle, soothing. I had no idea how long they continued, but when I relaxed my muscles, gave over to their touches, I was lifted and placed gently on the bed.
One of them joined me, the length of his body pressing into mine.
“Give over to us, mate,” Maxim whispered. “Let go of your thoughts. Only feel. Feel through our hands, our mouths, our cocks. The collar. You are beautiful, you are precious. You are ours.”
That was more of a claim than the words spoken for everyone to hear.
I relaxed then, even more, not realizing how tense I’d been.
“Good girl.”
He kissed me, dark and carnal. It was as if my final acceptance of this unleashed the need in him. He’d held back until now. For me.
“Yes,” I murmured against his lips. “Please.”
He rolled us so I was lying on top of him, pushed me up so I straddled his hips, his cock nestled between my parted pussy lips. Rough hands cupped my breasts, played with the nipples. I gasped when I felt more hands on me. Ryston.
He settled behind me, one of his hands reaching around and cupping my pussy.
“She’s dripping.”
Maxim growled as he continued to tweak and tug my nipples. “I know. It’s all over my cock.”
I couldn’t remain still, had to rock my hips into Ryston’s agile fingers. They worked me to the brink of orgasm, my skin coated in sweat, my cries covering the observers’ chants.
When I was just about to come, they pulled away, left me sitting atop Maxim. Adrift.
“No,” I cried.
“Shh,” Ryston soothed, his voice close to my ear. “We will come together. As it should be.”
I whimpered, knowing they would not change their minds.
“It’s time,” Maxim growled.
Hands gripped my waist, lifted me up. I felt the broad head of Maxim’s cock at my entrance. “Yes.”
I took over then, wiggling my hips, eager to lower myself on him, to feel him slide over my inner walls, to make them ripple around him. He opened me wide, slid in, inch my inch, stretching me. God, I loved the feel of him inside me. I clenched down, wanting to take him deeper.
I’d learned I had to lean forward to take all of him and when I did, Maxim groaned, his hands cupping my breasts. I knew it was him, for Ryston’s hand cupped my bottom, parted me. A slick finger slid over my back entrance, again and again, working into me. The fingertip slipped free and then I felt something firm there, followed by a slight gush of fluid. Lube. He’d squeezed lube into me. His finger returned, pressed in with ease. The lube was worked deep inside with one finger, then two, all the while Maxim slowly lifted and lowered me, fucking me.
I was secure on his cock and with his hands on my breasts. But I felt sheltered and safe when Ryston’s bare back pressed against mine.
I hadn’t thought until now when the’d gotten naked. They’d been clothed when they slipped the blindfold on. Maxim had been right, I’d shut my mind off just as he wanted. I had to wonder what the warriors were thinking as they—
“Oh god,” I groaned. It wasn’t Ryston’s fingers anymore, but the blunt head of his cock pressing in. There was no flared tip like the plug, but a wide cock nudging against me. He would get in. I felt the need, the eag
“Relax. Shh. Push back. Good girl,” Ryston crooned, all the while pressing, then pulling back, then pressing again.
Maxim stilled, allowing Ryston to open me up a little at a time until all at once, his cock head popped in.
He hissed out a breath and I knew he felt how tight it was. We all did. I had both cocks in me. Not all the way yet, but…wow.
I was so full. God, I’d never felt this before. It was dark and carnal and dirty and wicked. And wonderful.
I was panting, trying to relax, thankful now for all of their preparations. A hand stroked down my back as I felt Ryston’s chest press against me a little more. As soon as he shifted, he moved in a little farther.
“I…oh. It’s—”
“We know,” Maxim growled. “Let Ryston in all the way and then we’ll fuck you.”
At his rough voice, I knew he was holding back, and it was costing him. I felt his hips buck slightly, but he held himself in check.
Ryston whispered to me as he began to fuck into me, then back, a little bit at a time. Such a good girl. You feel so good. I can feel Maxim’s cock so deep in you. You can take us. We’re going to claim you, mark you with our seed. Yes. Gods, yes.
And then he was in to the hilt. They both were. It hurt a little, burned, but the delicious feel of it was incredible. The collars fed me my mates’ pleasure, and I knew they wanted this more than anything. I knew now what this ceremony meant to them, that they needed this, to share me. To show the planet how I connected us all.
Ryston slowly pulled back until the flared head caught inside me. Maxim thrust deeper. Then they switched.
My eyes opened behind the blindfold and I realized I had to see them. I ripped it off and blinked as they continued to move. In. Out. Alternating.
I looked down at Maxim. He was so close, his eyes, usually dark, were now black. His jaw was clenched tight, sweat a light sheen on his skin.
I felt his satisfaction at me uncovering my eyes. I wanted to see them and he wanted to see me. The observers be damned.
The corner of his mouth tipped up. “Now I can watch you come, see the pleasure in your eyes. Feel it when you grip my cock and pull me in so deep. Sense it through the collar. Watch it as it changes to copper.”
“Yes,” I breathed.
“So beautiful,” Ryston murmured. “So perfect.”
I looked over my shoulder at him and he leaned in for a kiss. His tongue delved in just as his cock thrust deep.
The sounds of our wet fucking filled the room. I didn’t hear the chanting, if there was any. I only heard my mates’ breathing, felt the thrusts of their hips, the stroking of their cocks.
Our need rose and swirled, circling higher and higher. Now I knew why Ryston was adamant that we come together. Our desire fed each other. It wouldn’t just be coming, it was claiming.
“Please. Now,” I begged.
Ryston stroked into me once, then twice. Held himself still.
Maxim thrust his hips up off the bed and impaled me.
I screamed. They groaned. The pleasure blinding.
Hands gripped me, centering me, holding me down as I felt their seed shoot into me, pulse after hot pulse, filling me deep. I felt the claim, sensed it. While I couldn’t see the collar, I knew the color changed. I felt changed. I heard, although not with words, but through the connection between us. “Mine. Mine.”
The pleasure was so great, I fell on Maxim’s chest and darkness descended.
Epilogue
Rachel, 3 months later
“The CEO was taken away in handcuffs.” Warden Egara’s voice came through the comm while footage of the man being arrested appeared on our screen. Walking beside him, head low with shame, was the president of the company. The same woman whose office I’d called, demanding action. The one I’d trusted to do the right thing.
We stood in the command center with a connection to the Brides Processing Center on Earth. While I was well and truly claimed—I felt owned, conquered, claimed in so many places—but I still needed this closure at home.
No. Earth wasn’t home any longer. Home was where Maxim and Ryston were. Home was the Colony.
“John shared the evidence you collected with the right people, people who weren’t being paid off. He leaked it to the web and multiple news organizations. I know a lot of people died, Rachel, but thanks to you and John, others will now be saved. That poison pill is officially off the market. And, hopefully, the next time the people in charge will choose to do what’s right.”
I felt satisfaction, vindication even, at the warden’s words. I’d been right. The truth had come out, but at a great cost.
“What of our mate’s name? Her honor?” Maxim asked.
“She has been cleared of all charges, her record expunged.”
Ryston pulled me into his arms and I reveled in the hold. My mates were just as pleased as I, if not more, for my good name to be returned to me. Honor was crucial to them.
“The truth is being spread. In fact, it is going viral—if you’ll excuse the pun.” The warden smiled and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You are happy, Rachel?” she asked. I saw a hint of wistfulness in her eyes. I knew she’d been mated to two Prillon warriors, just as I had. But mine were alive and one was holding me close.
Maxim came over and kissed the top of my head, sensing my sadness for the other woman.
“I am. You were right. Being mated to Prillon warriors is…the best.”
“I am pleased, and so is the Interstellar Brides Program.”
I knew she tacked the last on to sound more official, but I knew she was happy for me on a very personal level. Happy, and sad, too. I couldn’t imagine the hell of losing both of my mates as she had.
“Has Prime Nial contacted you Warden?” Maxim asked.
“Yes, Governor. The processing ban has been lifted. Colony warriors who have been processed have been added back into the database effective immediately.”
“Excellent.” Maxim grinned, and he never grinned. The sight made my irrationally happy. He cared deeply for the warriors banished to this planet, and now, so did I.
“Thank you, Warden. Send me some girlfriends, please,” I added.
“Of course, Rachel. I wish you all every happiness.” Warden Egara nodded at us with a smile and the comm went black.
“You are vindicated, mate.” Ryston’s whisper wiped away months of stress and worry like a cool refreshing breeze. I felt cleaner, somehow. Renewed. Hopeful. Optimistic. All things I’d thought lost to me forever.
“Governor.” A voice came through Maxim’s comm unit.
“Speak.”
“You have a visitor in the transport room.”
I glanced up at Maxim, saw on his face that he wasn’t expecting anyone. Sensed it too. God, it was going to take time to adjust to the power of the collars.
“Let’s go see,” I told him.
He led me through the maze of corridors to the transport room. When the door slid open, he saw the woman standing there, but didn’t enter. The door was about to close, but I stepped through it. I took his hand, tugged. Ryston was right behind.
The collar helped me now. I felt so much. Love, anger, betrayal, frustration, coldness, joy. It was overwhelming.
“Mother,” Maxim said.
This woman was Maxim’s mother? Yes, now that I looked closely, I recognized her from her call to our suite. She looked quite like her son.
Her eyes were on Maxim momentarily, but rested on me. I felt her scrutiny. I didn’t need the collar for that. I was the female her son mated and surely she would be critical.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, pulling me into his side. He wouldn’t have me harmed or intimidated, not even by his own mother. Love flooded me, love for this strong, protective warrior, and I made sure he felt it like a blast of heat through our collars.
“You were right, when we spoke last. Your life is here. I did not wish you to remain on the Colony simply because you were banished. The moment the decree changed that, I wanted you home. But I realized your home is here now.”
Maxim pulled me in closer. “My home is here with Rachel. And Ryston.”
She glanced at Ryston over my shoulder. He came and put his hand at the curve of my neck.
“Yes. It is. What I’ve heard of the Colony, your base in particular, you are a very good leader.”
“Thank you.”
His words were monotone, but I felt his relief, a slight thaw in Maxim’s demeanor.
“I also realized the transport center works both ways. You can return to Prillon Prime, but I can come here. I wanted to meet your mate, and soon, your children.”
When Maxim didn’t speak, I saw a vulnerability in her eyes.
“Is that all right?”
“Yes, Mother. That would be perfect.”
She smiled then and I saw how lovely she was. She wasn’t cold, she’d been hurt by the Hive as only a mother of a veteran could. Combined with the banishment, things had been harsh for them. They had a chance now to be a family again. All of us.
I felt Ryston’s grip on my neck tighten, a hint of jealousy flaring bright and hot.
“I did not come alone,” she added. Turning her head, she looked to the corner where another Prillon female stood.
Ryston’s hand dropped from me and I felt his panic.
I swung about to look at the female full-on, placing myself between her and my second mate. Whoever she was, she’d hurt Ryston. Deeply.
He cleared his throat. “Mother.”
Oh god. This was the woman who’d abandoned him. Given up on him.
Tears streamed down her face.
“Look at you,” she whispered, taking a step toward him and holding out a hand.
I stepped away and Maxim pulled me back into his side, leaving Ryston to face his mother on his own. We were nearby, but this was a confrontation they had to do on their own. No matter the outcome, Maxim and I would be waiting.
“So big, so brave.” She cleared her throat, looked at the floor. “I’m sorry.”
I felt the tear in Ryston’s wall around that part of his heart. It ached and throbbed, and I clung to Maxim.
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