by Lynnea Lee
“Yes, a new refining process, cleaner. I’ve been working on reducing the addictive qualities. Addicts earn me money, but they are short term clients. They can’t earn credits when they are blissed-out all the time. There is a reason they nickname Euphora the timekiller. I want lifelong clients.”
“It’s good.” Ulrek placed his mug back on the platform. “Where was I?”
“The humans went on board pretending to be slaves,” Lettie offered, before realizing she had spoken out of turn. She had been too immersed in the conversation. No one noticed.
“Yes, they did. While those who sought to betray me celebrated prematurely, my men armed and trained my new allies. When the pirates the Dominion had hired to kill me arrived, they found my betrayers torn to pieces and an army of angry humans. I claimed both the Dominion ship I had been captaining along with the pirate’s vessel as my own.”
Having been completely captivated by the story, Lettie grinned at his victory and clapped her hands. Somehow, the Euphora had turned a man she had been terrified of into a friend regaling her with his tale. This was the power and danger of this substance. Somewhere at the back of Lettie’s mind, a warning sounded.
“So, I stand by my word with my actions. Humans are not good slaves. Half my crew are paid human males. I am alive, and they are free. It was a good trade.”
The night wore on, and the guests at the table reached for another dose of Euphora. The little clear pod called to him, and Vore fought the pull. Beside him, Kean’s knuckles turned white, and he gripped his hand on his thigh. Just as Vore, Kean was trying to keep his control.
Usually, Vore took the second offered dose, but left the table when the third dose made their rounds. But that was when he was alone and had only himself to worry about. With Lettie around, Vore needed to be extra vigilant. He needed to step away while the second doses were being used, being away from the temptation made it easier to resist. But he didn’t dare leave Lettie with the group of males high on Euphora.
The chemical made anything tactile insanely pleasurable. Lettie had been busying her hands on his lap, keeping him half-hard for most of the night. If she was high enough, she would absentmindedly fondle any lap she was in. Any male in the group would push for more.
Across from him, Neyala twisted the top tab and applied the temporary promise of happiness to her neck. Vore’s fingers itched. The second dose was always hardest to resist. The third was easier to turn down for some reason, but still challenging for most. He was glad for the rules Zeylum set on the Defiant. While the crew often partook of Euphora off the ship—they ran into it often on their missions—they were forbidden to bring it on board.
Instead of dosing himself, his itchy fingers picked up a small pod for Lettie. But before he could reach for the top and twist it off, her small hand took the pod, and put it back on the table.
She shook her head. “I don’t need any more.”
Lettie got to her knees, reached up, and pulled his face down for a kiss. She took his fidgety fingers in her own and pressed her lips to his knuckles. It calmed him a bit.
“She’s got control,” Kean said, noticing her refusal of the second pod. “If you need to leave for a bit, I can take care of her. I see the fight in your eyes, and I have been there.”
“Take the offer, step away.” It was Arus. “We need you functional. Something big is happening. Something bad. I’m waiting for more info from Tanith. Get somewhere private, we need to talk.”
Shit. And Vore thought they could just enjoy the rest of their time here.
“Thank you, Kean.” Hesitantly, he moved a still too-relaxed Lettie over to rest between Kean’s legs. As long as she was there, no other male would bother her. But it wasn’t the other males he was worried about. Vore had not missed the glances Kean had been sending Lettie all night. The only reason he even considered leaving Lettie with him was because, unlike Ulrek, Kean did not have a reputation for enjoying unwilling females. Kean was the safer male by far.
Like Vore, Ulrek had a strong drive to chase and got turned on by fighting. But unlike Vore, Ulrek didn’t always make sure his prey was willing. The instinct was not uncommon in Tallean males, but many learned to suppress it.
He took one last look at his female and ground his teeth as her head flopped over to rest on the other male’s lap.
Excusing himself, Vore stepped out of the room and into the hallway. He needed fresh air and privacy. The first to clear his head and the second to talk to Arus. What could be so important that Arus recommended leaving Lettie with Kean and Ulrek?
He made his way out to the back gardens, looking for cameras. He found a bench not covered by the security feed but was in sight of a guard—a heavily armed guard. It would have to do.
He sat down and put his hands up to his face, rubbing at it as if he was too high.
“Talk, Arus,” he mumbled discreetly into his hand.
“There are two Dominion warships incoming. The Defiant has retreated out of range, so our pick up will not be available.”
“What the fuck are they doing here?” This was bad. The Dominion had bounties out for every member of the Defiant.
“Tanith just figured it out. This party was a set up for Ulrek.”
“Fuck!” Vore was under the impression that Ulrek and Jotah were close. But obviously, Jotah was closer to the promise of credits.
“They planned to nab Kean too. You showing up was just the icing on the cake.”
Lettie gasped, having heard their conversation.
Kean’s voice came over the unit. “What’s wrong, sweetheart.”
“It’s nothing, just—” she trailed off.
Kean’s low growl replaced her voice.
“Shit, what’s happening there.” His mind raced to all the things Kean could be doing to Lettie. Kean was interested in her, that was a fact. He had left her in the room with some of the most predatory males this side of the galaxy.
“Focus, Vore. Ignore them for now and listen. I need you to warn them.”
“Warn them? Ulrek was shooting at me last month, and Kean is trying to steal my mate.”
“Things have changed, and it might benefit you in the end. Do you ever want to have a family with Lettie? Offspring?”
Vore’s head reeled. He hadn’t thought of it before, but he knew the answer right away. “Fuck, yes! But what has that got to do with anything?”
“Kean is our ticket. Tanith dug up some info. Kean has been talking with big names with lots of credits about creating a fertility drug for humans and Talleans wishing to produce offspring together. I want in. Warn them.”
In his ear, Lettie hummed an affirmative. “I’ll do it.”
“I’ll scout our exit. I don’t think those guards will just let us walk out of here. They are more heavily armed than when we first arrived. Shit. And there’s more of them. A lot more.”
Looking around, Vore picked up a half-finished glass of spirits another guest had left behind. He walked back into the building, acting drunker than he was. Instead of going back towards Jotah’s private party, he headed down the hallway.
“Female.” Kean’s growl came through the comm. “Fuck!” The voice sounded close, as if he was whispering it into Lettie’s ear.
Vore put the glass to his mouth, pretending to drink. “Arus, turn my comm off. Now! I can’t listen to this.”
“Done. Lettie and I can still hear you. You just can’t hear her. Remember, she’s just doing her job. Do not get angry.”
“I’m trying.”
Vore hoped it was the right thing to do. She trusted him, and now, he had to trust her back.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Female,” Kean growled. “Fuck!”
Lettie had gotten the nerve up to straddle the imposing Tallean. She needed to get close enough to whisper in his ear. But Lettie hadn’t taken into account the Euphora that was still coursing through both their systems. She straddled a very hard, very
impressive bulge. The thin scrap of fabric hiding her sex did nothing to protect her from the friction against the front of his pants as he bucked his hips. Her body betrayed her as a frisson of lust dampened her core.
Shit! Lettie didn’t want to react this way to anyone other than Vore. Damn the Euphora!
Kean gripped her ass and pressed her against him. “You are going to start a fight when Vore gets back. Do you prefer to come home with me?” He sniffed at her neck and purred. “I’m not sure he will be willing to sell. I can always just take you.”
“If you want her, I’ll fight next to you. You deserve some happiness, my friend.” It was Ulrek.
This was getting out of hand.
She cupped her hand by her mouth, and with her lips against his ear, she whispered, “The Dominion is here. Jotah set you both up."
The hand on her ass tightened. Crap. If Kean acted oddly, he would give them away.
“Keep up the act, buddy. Jotah is right there.”
Lettie ground against him exaggeratedly, hoping it looked believable. She regretted it immediately as the Euphora demanded that she do it again and again. Wrong man and wrong situation! Lettie was angry with herself.
Kean grabbed Ulrek and pulled him close. She now had two ears by her lips.
“Tell him.”
“The Dominion is here. Jotah set you both up. Vore is looking for a way out.”
“Tell them you are bugged,” Arus prompted.
Ulrek was moving away, so she wrapped an arm around him and pulled him back. “Arus is speaking into my ear.”
“Mmm, that sounds like a great idea, sweetheart. Wrap around me.” Kean stood up. “Excuse us.”
“Leaving already?” Jotah stood to meet them.
Lettie clung to Kean’s body as he shifted his weight. The movement brushed her crotch against his stomach, and Lettie inhaled sharply.
“She needs ‘taking care’ of, and Vore is not here. We are making it our responsibility. A good male never leaves a female wanting.”
Jotah bellowed with laughter. “Euphora is a demanding mistress. She does smell divine. Why not give the rest of us a show?”
“We prefer not to be interrupted when Vore returns. I do not think he will appreciate us using his property. Do me a favor, Jotah, distract him when he gets back.” Kean reached down to grab a handful of Euphora pods.
“Of course. That’s what friends are for.” The slimy bastard smiled.
Lettie made a face then buried her face into Kean’s neck to hide it. Friends didn’t sell each other out to the Dominion. What a rotten liar!
“Thanks. We owe you.” Ulrek gripped the man’s forearm.
They picked their way out of the room.
Once in the hallway, Lettie tried to get off. But Kean held her tight.
“Not so fast, female. You’ve teased me enough. This is payback.” He rubbed her against the bulging front of his pants.
Realizing that she was now alone with the two corrupt Tallean, Lettie struggled to escape his embrace.
“The scent of your fear is arousing, but I will not harm you.” He reached in Lettie’s ear and picked off her communicator. He inserted it into his ear as they walked down the hall.
“Arus, it’s Kean. Speak.” He used her hair to hide his lips from the cameras.
As Kean carried Lettie down the hallway, Arus updated him with information. They turned as they approached the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, he handed two Euphora pods to each of the guards. They took it eagerly.
“We are looking for a private place to fuck.” He made a show of rubbing his crotch against her, and Lettie cursed the Euphora for making her body react. “Somewhere with no cameras or witnesses. She’s not our property, and her owner can’t find out.”
“Top floor, make a right. Boss just had those rooms renovated, and they haven’t added any cameras yet.”
“Thanks. Keep your mouth shut, and there’s more in it for you both when we are done.” Kean started up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time.
“Heard that?” he mumbled into her hair again. “Send Vore our way.”
They entered a lavish bedroom, and Kean dropped her on the bed. The two males went to work, checking the room for cameras. As promised, it was clean.
“Fucking bastard!” Ulrek snarled, his face flushed with anger. “I trusted him. Twenty years! He betrays me after twenty years.” He gripped the back of a chair so hard the wood cracked. “Fuck! I shouldn’t have taken that extra dose. I can’t fucking think.” He stormed into the attached bathroom and splashed his face with water. He took a long drink.
Kean removed the bug from his ear and sat down next to Lettie. “Good job, sweetheart.” Then he completely covered the communicator with the pad of his thumb. “If you wish to come home with me instead, I will treat you well, Scarlet. I need a female who can hold up under pressure, and you have impressed me. You can have a home on a lush green planet. I have already made my money, so I never have to leave your side for work. You will want for nothing. Say the word, and you will be mine.”
Ulrek scoffed at his friend. “You are asking? If you want something, you should take it. She is better off with you on Vosthea than on the Defiant.”
“I thought you didn’t believe humans make good slaves.”
“I don’t. And the female has proved that she is no slave. She is here with Vore on business. That doesn’t mean you can’t take her anyway. She will be angry, but you will have all the time you want to convince her to forgive you.”
Hadn’t Vore done just that by taking Lettie on board the Defiant?
“You’ve been a Dominion captain for too long. I prefer not having to worry about my females killing me in my sleep.” Kean turned to her again. “Your choice, female. I can give you a good life, and I will be an attentive lover. You will have no reason to complain.”
Lettie shook her head. “I appreciate the offer. But I belong to Vore.”
“That’s too bad. Lucky male.”
He uncovered the mini comm, and put it back into his ear.
Ulrek made a few calls to his crew.
“My men confirmed two Dominion ships have docked at Aton Station. The estate grounds are swarming with guards. They weren’t there before. The plan is for my men to create a diversion at the front. With security distracted, we will fight our way to the center of the garden. Jotah has a landing pad there. Our transport will touch down, we get on, and pray they don’t shoot us down.”
“Fuck prayers. They forced us to pray to that damned Goddess four fucking times a day at the Academy.”
“Then, don’t pray to her.” The Talleans Lettie had met on Reka 5 didn’t pray to the Goddess; they prayed to the Stars. “Pray to the stars.”
The males faced her and put their hands on their chests with their pinkies out. This gesture was a sign of respect among the Talleans. Glad to have earned their respect, Lettie returned the motion.
Kean put his hand to his ear. “Vore’s got a blueprint of the estate on his comm, and he’s on his way.”
Vore snuck by the two guards easily. The greedy guards had taken two doses of Euphora each, as was evident by the empty pods by their feet, and were too high to notice. He made a right and continued to the end of the hallway. Opening the door, he poked his head through and bit back a snarl.
Lettie was curled up on the bed asleep. Kean sat next to her, his hand stroking her hair. He did not snatch his hand away as Vore walked in.
“Before you attack me, remember that we have your way out of here. I have not hurt your female. I asked her to stay with me on Vosthea.”
“You asked her to stay with you.” Vore choked on the words. Stars! Humans did not form a mating bond; Lettie would have no problem leaving him for the better-positioned male. Kean had a large estate, though it was on Vosthea, a lawless planet. He had made enough to retire if he chose to. And more importantly, while Kean had a ruthless reputation, he was not known
to sleep around. That alone might sway her decision.
Vore rounded on the male. He didn’t care Kean was his way out. All three of them could die here for all he cared. Lettie was his.
“Vore?” Lettie’s sleepy voice cut through the angry roar of blood in his ear. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “You’re here!” She bounced off the bed and embraced him.
“She said no, Vore.” The male smirked at him.
Vore was able to breathe again. Lettie looked up at him, confused.
“I was so tired. I passed out before I knew it. Did I do something wrong?”
“Nothing, you are perfect.” He rubbed his jaw against her cheek.
“You are one lucky male.” Kean shot him an envious look.
“Let’s hope that luck of yours holds up,” Ulrek chimed in. “My men just spotted a contingent of Dominion soldiers heading to the estate.” He grinned. “I’m flattered they sent two warships and a small army for me but disappointed they think that would be enough.”
“Jotah has increased guards on the first floor. They are heavily armed. We should avoid them if we can.”
They reviewed the estate’s blueprint. The most efficient way to the garden was through the window and down the wall.
“We need weapons.” Jotah had a strict no weapons rule for his guests, and Vore had only managed to sneak in a small boot knife.
It was Lettie who spoke, surprising him. “The guards at the stairs would have weapons. Maybe we can give them a visit.” She turned to look at Kean, and a surge of jealously hit Vore. He held back a snarl.
“Let’s go offer the second half of our payment, sweetheart.”
This time, Vore did snarl. Kean had no reason to use endearments with his mate!
“I have a better idea.” Ulrek looked at Kean, annoyed. “Instead of baiting the male, and starting a fight, you go down on your own and give them another dose. Let them know she is blissed-out on the bed here waiting for them. We can take them out here and not leave a trail of bodies to give us away.”
Kean left to lure in their victims. Lettie climbed onto the bed as Vore and Ulrek went to stand by each side of the door.