Seriana Found

by Marie Harte

  * * * *

  The next week passed all too swiftly, to Abjon’s way of thinking. He and Seriana spent time together, playing, laughing, and best of all, making love at every available opportunity. With her, he could never quite get enough, and every instance spent inside her only increased his addiction to having the sweet yet wild woman.

  He tried to overlook the searching glances she sent him when she didn’t think he was looking. The time spent with her was too perfect to mar with anything negative, so he simply ignored the need to hash out their differences.

  Sooner or later their idyllic vacation would end. And until that time, he planned to make the most of it. He grinned as he watched her splashing in the relaxation pool behind the house. Her full breasts swayed as she laughed, her pearlescent flesh sparkling against the pale pink water.

  Her taut abdomen fairly begged to be nipped, and he grew hard thinking about what he planned to do once he joined her. Unfortunately, Morey interrupted his pleasurable thoughts with a badly timed vidcall.

  Answering the screen mounted just inside the rear of the house, Abjon warned, “This had better be damned important.”

  “It is,” Morey answered. “Rover Blue has been spotted circling the Colassa as we speak. Already a few of his scouts have questioned the staff.”

  “By Vas’s Dagger, I told him I’d bring her back.”

  “Apparently, he has as much patience as you do,” Morey muttered. “I’ll keep him distracted as best I can. But the most you can hope for is a day’s reprieve.”

  “Do it. And keep him in your sights once he lands.”

  “Will do.”

  Abjon disconnected, his good mood shot to hell. Damn. He hadn’t had nearly enough time to connect with Seriana. They’d shared their bodies and their minds on a number of interesting topics, but had yet to share their hearts.

  He knew he’d fallen in love with the woman long ago, but admitting it to her—that was something else altogether. Like it was yesterday, he could still remember the pain of his mother’s betrayal. Sold at nine years of age to a mining facility, he had watched through tears as she’d left laughing with her latest lover.

  Love had almost killed him then. He could only hope he’d fare better this time around.

  Seriana called his name, and he met her drying off by the small pool. Her eyes shimmered with humour but quickly sobered when she saw him.

  “What’s wrong?” She reached out a hand and cupped his chin to bring his gaze to meet hers.

  Unable to stop himself, Abjon took her mouth with possession. She sighed under his touch, enhancing his need to claim her as his own. Plunging his tongue inside her mouth, he began stroking, thrusting in and out of her mouth with a need bordering on obsession. He wanted to mark her, to claim every part of her he could.

  He fondled her breasts, his touch growing rougher as he noted the hardened peaks, her shivering, dampened flesh quivering with excitement. This she couldn’t hide. No matter what else was between them, this intense arousal remained strong and true.

  When he found her soft and wet between her thighs, his body demanded release.

  He yanked his mouth from hers and took her by the shoulders.

  “What—” she asked in a daze before he turned her around and forcibly bent her over the nearest table.

  Giving her no audible response, he shoved her thighs apart at the ankle, the domination of their lovemaking waking the savage within him.

  “Brace yourself,” he growled while he deftly unfastened his trousers. Once he freed his cock, he stepped between her thighs and shoved himself deep inside her.

  She moaned his name as he rode her hard. Gripping her hips, he pistoned in and out and came quickly, shuddering inside her.

  “That’s just to take the edge off,” he whispered and nipped her neck. “Now I’m going to take what else belongs to me.”

  She quivered with excitement, since he’d been teasing her all week about finishing his claiming. He’d played with her ass, stretching her, using toys, and licking her until she screamed. Now he planned to breach that small hole and fill it with the rest of him.

  There would be no part of her that didn’t belong to him. Not anymore.

  Lubed up with his cum, he pulled out and positioned himself at her rim. The toys he’d already used on her had stretched her, but not as much as he would. Despite the fact he’d just climaxed, he remained hard, eager to plunder her tender depths.

  Abjon worked her slowly, pushing and retreating, until he’d worked his cockhead past her sphincter.

  “More, Abjon. I want more,” she moaned and bucked back, seating him deeper.

  He gritted his teeth, fighting the urge not to thrust harder. His arousal had returned full force and he wanted nothing more than to ram himself deep. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You hurt my by not taking all of me,” she said, her voice breathy as she moaned and squirmed in front of him.

  He groaned and pushed deeper, inch by inch, until he was fully seated inside her. “Balls deep, baby. You’re all mine now.”

  Abjon made love to her slowly, fingering her clit as he finally claimed her fine ass. When she broke and cried out her climax, he eased into his orgasm. Spending inside her, he revelled in the ecstasy as she clenched him tight, caught in her own throes.

  The rightness, holding her, possessing her, brought tears to his eyes that he hastily blinked away. Dammit, Seriana belonged to him. She had to know that by now.

  A life together, a future filled with loving, hot sex, and children.

  Though he’d never truly reflected on it, having a babe with Seriana was a foregone conclusion. Each time he spilled his seed inside her hot pussy, he brought them closer to an inseparable future. Though the child wouldn’t be Ragga, the thought of Seriana holding his son or daughter, one that looked like her, completed him. Satisfaction warmed his blood, and with regret, he finally withdrew from her ass.

  “Don’t move,” he warned and left her to grab something to clean them both. He returned and quickly cleaned her, taking care to be gentle around what had to be a tender ass. Then he wiped himself down and readjusted himself in his clothing.

  She watched him through it all, beautiful in her bared skin under Aflera’s pink skies. “Not that I’m complaining, but what brought that on?” She straightened and turned to face him.

  He couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he noted the seed trickling down her leg. By Vas’s balls, he’d spent inside her pussy and her ass. Had he the energy, he’d have demanded she swallow him as well.

  Blushing, she grabbed a nearby towel and cleaned herself. “I swear, you fill me to overflowing every time.”

  “Good.” Before I’m through with you, there won’t be a spot on your entire body that isn’t marked by my scent. You’re mine.

  She laughed. “Such a smooth talker. So tell me why you looked so grim only moments ago.”

  His euphoria faded. “Your father has arrived.”

  “Oh.” Her face fell. “I suppose he knows where I am.”

  “Not yet.” Abjon placed both his hands on her cheeks, loving the feel of her silken skin. “Love, it’s time we talked.”

  She sighed and her eyes filled with tears, unmanning him.

  “Don’t cry,” he pleaded, wiping her eyes. “Seriana, I—”

  “It’s all right, Abjon. I knew it was too good to last.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Too good to last?” His eyes narrowed, making Seriana want to break into loud, embarrassingly awful tears.

  This week had been perfect. Absolutely, incredibly perfect. If a lingering sense of unease occasionally hit her during quiet moments, she’d ignored the feeling. It had been too heavenly to have Abjon to herself. All that sensual male devoted to fulfilling her every desire. It was unreal.

  He’d been all she’d imagined a man could be, tender, loving, sexual and giving. When not making love, they’d discussed everything from poetry to politics.

 
However, she made no mention of his livelihood, and he made no mention of the fact that she’d fled from him. Instead, they’d wiled away the hours swimming and sunning, basking in Fidei’s paradise and in one another.

  “Now that my father’s here, we’ll have to get back to reality.” She couldn’t help feeling depressed. “You’ll go back to pirating, I’ll go back to keeping my father’s books, and this interlude will fade into a pleasant memory.”

  “Only pleasant?” He looked amused, and her sorrow swiftly turned to irritation.

  “I’m so glad you’re not concerned about my father. He’s killed men for less than what you and I have done this past week.”

  One brow rose. “You’re kidding, right? Seriana, you yourself told me your father was throwing us together. Of course he’ll accept me. He’s lucky to have me as it is,” he muttered.

  “You don’t understand. My father wanted us together, bonded by marriage.” She waited for horror to pass over his face, since the word ‘marriage’ had that effect on most men she knew.

  He shrugged. “I still don’t understand the problem here.”

  “The problem is this—I’m not marrying you,” she spaced out each word.

  “Why not?”

  “Why not?” She blustered, astounded by his obtuseness. “You’re a pirate, that’s why.”

  “And if I weren’t a pirate? What then?” He stepped closer, staring down at her with a disturbing intensity.

  She stared back, lost in his flame-filled gaze, wishing beyond all hope that she could have this man in her life forever. But she refused to live with someone who would constantly jeopardise their future, all for want of materialistic possessions.

  If Abjon were a peacemaker or soldier for the greater good, she could live with his dangerous profession. But to risk life and limb on a daily basis, for naught but profit? And Aphra knew what ends he employed to gain such profit. No, not even for Abjon could she abandon her hope for a better future. Her eyes misted. Just thinking about the loss and heartache their separation would bring filled her with loss.

  “But you are a pirate,” she said softly, breaking eye contact.

  He cleared his throat. “What if I told you I love you?”

  She froze. “Do you?” How she managed to ask that in a calm voice she’d never know. She felt as if her entire existence hung on that one answer.

  “I do.” His words were solemn, the loving expression in his gaze open and honest.

  Tears began pouring down her cheeks, and her heart felt as if it were being ripped in two.

  “I’m sorry, Abjon, more than you’ll ever know.” She sniffed, wiping at her eyes. How can you say you love me and not know who I am inside? I can’t keep living like I did with my father. I’m not a criminal and never will be. “I won’t live with a man who does what my father does. And we both know you’ll never give that up.”

  He smiled then, completely breaking her heart. “So sure of that, are you?” He grazed her cheek with one finger. “We only have one more day together, Seriana. If you won’t say it, then show me how much you love me.”

  The words locked tight in her throat, she threw herself at him, seeking haven in his arms, in the pleasure only he could give. Mouth to mouth, heart to heart, their bodies spoke of a love not to be denied.

  * * * *

  Abjon and Seriana met her father the following day in his suite at the Colassa. Rover Blue sighed with relief as he enfolded his daughter in a smothering hug.

  “Easy,” Abjon chided, giving Rover a dark look.

  Her father snorted, ignoring the Ragga. “By the goddess, Seriana.” He marvelled as he turned her in his arms. “Seeing you now, it’s as if you’re an entirely different person than my sweet little girl.” He glanced at Abjon knowingly. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

  Abjon gave her a wolfish grin, despite her strong warnings from yesterday and this morning. “Indeed. She’s delectable.”

  Her father stared from Abjon to her, his smile widening, and she felt as if ‘doom’ were written on her forehead. “I told you she’d see the light. So when is the marriage ceremony to take place?”

  “I’m afraid there won’t be one,” Abjon said, matter-of-factly. Her eyes narrowed, as did her father’s.

  “What?” Rover asked.

  “She won’t have me.”

  “Why won’t she?” Her father glared at her, giving her the Blue scowl that made lesser men tremble.

  “I can’t,” she blurted, wondering why Abjon hadn’t seemed more emotional. If he’d truly meant that he loved her, he should have sounded more upset. Instead, he sounded as if he couldn’t care less.

  “Why can’t you?” Rover cursed. “I’ve worried my head off for a year, only keeping out of the search because your giant here promised he’d return with you. Then I hear from one of my sources that he’d found you.” He glared at Abjon. “And he didn’t have the decency to say a thing to me about it. That was a month ago!

  “Don’t think I don’t know what you two have been doing in all that time. This boy’s lusted after you since the day he first saw you, and you’ve avoided him for the same reason, I expect.” Her father rolled his eyes when she gasped in surprise. “Hell, Seriana. You mooned over the lad every chance you saw him. What did you think, that I hadn’t noticed how extremely ‘uninterested’ you always were?”

  Abjon, she noted, wore an extremely satisfied expression.

  She blushed, knowing everything her father said was true. She’d admitted as much to Abjon, but her father made her sound like a love-sick zafu. Scowling at her father for making her feel like she was twelve again, she let loose the leash on her emotions.

  “Fine. You want to know why I don’t want to marry him? It’s because he’s too much like you.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. I don’t want a man who thieves and murders on a whim. I don’t want someone who will always put me last, who thinks he’s above the laws that give our system a measure of order. What you do isn’t right, Father. And I’ve been telling you that for years!”

  Rover blinked at her. “Yes, well,” he blustered, looking to Abjon for support.

  But her lover simply shrugged and shook his head. “Don’t look at me. You dug the hole, you get out of it.”

  “And another thing. You took Abjon under your wing years ago, making him just like you. This is the kind of man you want for your daughter? A man who would sooner kill another for gain than lift a finger at decent, honest work?”

  Abjon scowled. “Now wait a minute, Seriana—”

  “This is the man you would have me wed? A killer, a thief, a mercenary? Hell, Father, he’s almost worse than you!”

  “Thank you.” Abjon tilted his head and said wryly, “For a minute there I thought you didn’t like me.”

  “I love you, you idiot. That’s not the point.” She continued to berate her father, who stood dumbstruck under her tirade. “I hate keeping your books. I hate living on Mornio, and I hate knowing there’s the possibility you might not return when you go raiding. And another thing,” she continued in huff, talking as fast as she was able. “You—”

  Overwhelmed by the barrage of emotions she’d been suppressing for so long, she missed Abjon’s overjoyed grin until he yanked her violently towards him and kissed the breath out of her.

  “Thank Aphra,” she heard her father mutter. “Damned if her dead mother hadn’t suddenly appeared and possessed my shy, quiet little girl.”

  Abjon ended the kiss, and she had to lean on his arm, her knees were so weak. “She’s not shy, and she’s definitely not quiet. She’s my woman, and it’s about damned time she finally realised that fact.”

  “Abjon.” She struggled in his imprisoning grasp. Apparently, he’d missed the part about them not marrying.

  “No, love, you’re mine,” he growled and turned to her father. “She’s not running the few legal ventures in your dirty organisation anymore, Rover. In fact, aside from fatherly visits that have
nothing to do with your activities on Mornio, you won’t be seeing her or your grandchildren until you clean up your act.”

  Rover’s eyes widened. “Grandchildren?”

  “Not yet,” she snapped, embarrassed Abjon would discuss such personal business with her father, in her presence, no less. She turned to Abjon and poked him in the chest. “And where do you get off telling my father how to behave around me?”

  She tried to scowl, but Abjon’s heart-stopping smile vanquished her anger.

  “Seriana, I love you, but you’re too tender-hearted when dealing with your father. With Rover Blue, only direct intimidation and the promise of violence works.”

  “Violence?” Rover blustered.

  “And command. I’m ordering you to leave her well enough alone.” Abjon agreed. “We both know my fleet can take yours, anytime I want to,” he added, menace in his tone.

  Seriana gasped and wriggled to get free, but Rover merely raised his eyebrows. “You think?”

  “I know.” Abjon stared at her father, and she prayed the standoff between them wouldn’t turn ugly.

  “Damn me,” Rover grumbled and shook his head. “I believe you mean that. Even with all you gave up.” He and Abjon exchanged a heavy look, one that had her curiosity running rampant.

  “What are you two talking about?”

  Abjon tugged her away from her father and stroked her cheek, a gentle gesture that seemed to soften him. “I asked you once before what you would do if I wasn’t a pirate.” Her heart sped with hope, with anticipation. “I told you I loved you.”

  “But—”

  “Seriana, I’ve worked these many years to be able to make a future for us.” He waited while she digested his words. “I’ve loved you forever. The only reason I worked as hard as I did with your father was to make a strong enough presence to keep you safe, and to make a good enough living to finally break free. I’ve been completely legitimate in all my enterprises for a year now. I’m a free trader, one who owns a fancy little island named Fidei, as a matter of fact. If you hadn’t run like you did, we could be celebrating our one year anniversary tomorrow in paradise.”