“You wouldn’t have believed me.”
The general gave a heavy sigh. “No, you’re right.”
“He’s covered his tracks well and used fear to keep everyone in line. If I hadn’t confronted my brothers, hadn’t learned about Jonathan’s arm, others mightn’t have believed me.”
“This is gonna be a fodo crap storm,” the general muttered and rubbed his hand over his face. “There will be other soldiers out there… Gods!”
“I suspect my mother has been modified,” Casey said. “She might know of others if you can’t get information out of the medical facility staff. But I believe they’ll cooperate. Contact Dr. Phillips.”
“Your mother?” Horror laced the general’s voice.
“I’m afraid so. William doesn’t know how lucky he was, because he would’ve been next.” Casey made a mental note to contact her mother. Maybe things would be different between them now that the general was out of the way. Or maybe not, but she had to give her mother a chance.
Yes, she thought, and she felt good about that decision. As soon as things settled down, she’d approach her mother and see how the meeting panned out before taking the next step.
“Do you need us for anything else, General?” Felix asked.
“No, not at present,” the general said, his mind obviously miles away.
“You can contact us at the resort if you need us,” Casey said.
“Congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you, sir,” Casey said. “I’m a lucky woman.” And that was an understatement.
* * * * *
Felix stared at the bolts of fabric filling most of the second room in Casey’s tiny city apartment. “All of this?”
“Yes. I’ll be able to use most of this fabric in designs for the boutique.”
“Sweetheart, you’re a pack rat.”
She wrinkled her cute nose and looked baffled. “I don’t know what that is, but it sounds insulting.”
Felix laughed and hugged her, still unable to believe that this wonderful woman was his wife. His very feminine wife, even if she did know many ways to kill a man. “Let’s get started then. What are we going to pack it in?”
“Aunt Elsa can suggest a mover company. They have machines that cover the items with a special coating to protect them.”
“I don’t care what it costs. Call them.”
She grinned. “I’ll do it now. They only need to pack and ship the stuff in this room. The rest of the stuff came with the apartment. The next tenant will inherit it.” She picked up her communicator and made the call to her aunt, who’d arrived safely back at the resort just that morning.
Felix wandered out to the other room. It was dark and dingy compared to the fabric room. He doubted Casey would have any regrets leaving this hole. His com-circle squawked and he answered it absently. “Felix.”
“It’s Saber. Can you come to Dalcon and pick us up? I’m injured and can’t pilot the shuttle. You’ll need to bring someone to fly back my shuttle.”
“How badly are you injured?”
“Shot with a laz-weapon. Not gonna die, but I feel like crap.”
“Where are you? I’m in Dalcon City now.”
“At the castle.” Saber paused and murmured something to someone in the background. “The king said he’ll get us to the shuttle port.”
The king? “When?”
“About an hour?” Saber asked.
“We’ll be there.”
“Who’s with you?” Saber asked.
“My wife, Casey,” Felix said with a grin. “She can pilot the other shuttle back to Ione.”
“A wife… Sounds as if we both have stories to tell. Catch ya soon, bro.”
“All sorted,” Casey said. “Someone is coming straight over. Aunt Elsa said they were efficient.”
“Slight change of plans. Saber has been injured and needs us to fly him home. Can you pilot our other shuttle back to the resort? We need to meet Saber in an hour at the port.”
“Sure. Let me pack up a few things to get me started.” She darted into the other room, and Felix heard her muttering and the thump of various items.
Casey was true to her word and a short time later they caught an air-glide to the shuttle port.
“Eva!” Casey cried and was off like a rabbit.
Felix spotted Saber standing beside Eva. His face was pale, but he was standing on two feet. “Hey,” he said. “Let’s get you on the shuttle.”
“Sir, which shuttle is yours?” a large man asked. He was beefy with red skin. Even his thick black hair bore a red tinge. “The king instructed we aid you with your luggage.”
“Port 3,” Casey said. “Position C.”
The red man nodded and spoke to his companion. In a short time they organized a cyber-porter and the mechanical man pulled a cart bearing their luggage. The red men followed.
“Where is the other shuttle?” Casey asked. “Can Eva come with me so we can catch up?”
Felix could see the hesitation in Saber. “Eva will be safe with Casey, and we’ll be following them.”
Finally Saber nodded. Once he and Felix were in their shuttle, one of the red men escorted the two women to theirs. In a short time, they were on their way home.
“How are things at the resort?” Saber asked.
“We’ve had problems, but I’ve sorted them. I kicked Laurence out. He was the one who was cutting the fence. We caught him cutting another hole and feeding the zylon.”
“Fuck,” Saber muttered.
“He blames our family for Lori’s death,” Felix said. “He’s not trustworthy, and it’s better now that he’s gone. The rest of the employees seem more settled, so I think he’s been stirring resentment behind the scenes.”
“Good job,” Saber said. “I had my suspicions but wasn’t sure how to prove them.”
“We put a silent alarm on the fence. It’s saved our butts a couple of times.” And he told Saber about the visits from the amphibic tribe, plus the black ops.
“You sound happy for someone who’s been so busy,” Saber said.
“I am. I’m crazy about Casey. Ma, Casey and Casey’s aunt Elsa are starting a boutique. It’s going to create jobs for some of the women and more revenue.”
“Eva is setting up a restaurant at the resort, and maybe something on a smaller scale in the employee village,” Saber said. “It happened quickly, but I love her. Even more than I loved Lori.”
Felix reached over and squeezed Saber’s shoulder. “I know the feeling. How bad is your injury? Do we need to worry?”
“It’s healing, but the king’s physician said it will take time.”
“Ma will make sure you rest.”
Saber gave a wry smile. “So will Eva.”
“You don’t need to worry about the resort. Everything is going great. We’ve planted the grapes and they’re doing well. Joe and Sly are pleased with the vines. The zylon population seems to be under control.”
“Sounds good. I promised Eva we could laze on the beach and relax while we thought about our plans.”
“You’ll have to get past Ma first. She was pissed when Casey and I got married so quickly. She’s planning a party.”
“So if I tell her that Eva and I are getting married too, she’ll be in her element,” Saber said.
“Out of our hair,” Felix said and laughed. “Good plan.”
* * * * *
The lunar-moon sent a delicate light over the party while a series of colored lamps shed both illumination and shadows. Casey slow-danced with Felix, something she’d never done before and couldn’t work out why. The feel of his strong arms around her brought a sense of security to battle other, more lustful thoughts. Somehow, she’d grabbed the perfect man, found the one who completed her, and she couldn’t imagine feeling happier. Giddy euphoria bubbled up inside her, and she pressed closer to her husband.
On the other side of the party, Eva sat with Saber. Their heads were close together, and their fingers were twine
d. She’d never seen Eva like this before either, and that made joy swell within her heart. Now she had friends as well as a husband, and a new job to fulfill her creative side.
“I love you, Felix,” Casey said.
Felix stopped swaying and pulled away enough to glimpse her face. His breath caught at whatever he saw, and he tugged her away from the other dancers. “We’re leaving,” he said in a gruff voice.
“But we should say good night to everyone,” she protested.
“We’re on our honeymoon. They need to get used to us disappearing.”
“But they’ll know what we’re doing.”
He smirked. “Newsflash, sweetheart. They can smell you all over my skin and me on yours. They already know we’re married and can connect the dots.”
Casey felt heat bloom in her cheeks nonetheless.
Felix pressed his palm on their suite door and dragged her inside. Once the door locked behind them, he turned to her, his green eyes glowing in the catlike way that spoke of great emotion.
Her hands went to the lace fastenings on the side of her dress. Without breaking their connection, she wriggled out of her dress to reveal the silky bit of nothing she wore beneath.
“You’re so beautiful, Casey. I have never felt happier.”
She kicked off her Elsa Sparkle shoes and reached for his hand. “Let’s celebrate this love of ours, husband.”
“I like that word on your lips.”
Casey grinned and unbuttoned his shirt. She tossed it aside and went to work on his trousers. With one quick yank, his trousers and underwear slid down his legs.
“Shoes?” he asked with laughter in his voice.
“Smartass.” She knelt to work off his shoes, then craving the taste of him, rose a fraction to give his cock some attention. She sucked him deep into her mouth, felt the quick jolt go through his body and wanted to chuckle. She teased him, licked and took him deep, massaging his crown with the flat of her tongue.
Finally, she pulled back. “I want you inside me.”
“Yes.”
She led him to their sleep-bed, and looked at him, puzzled, when he resisted her push to the bed.
“I want a kiss.”
“Whenever you like.” Casey tipped up her head. “I do love you.”
“Pleased to hear it.” And he took her lips, hard and sure. She clung, opening her mouth to him, tangling their tongues together in a kiss so intimate, so special, so thrilling that her toes curled. Each time he touched her it was like a blow to her heart. Her pulse rate sped and her body moistened. Even now, it was difficult to believe they were married and would remain together forever. In good times and in bad, she thought. Always.
He scooped her off her feet and placed her on the sleep-bed. His eyes traced the curves of her body, the lean lines of her, and dwelled on her lacy underwear. “These are pretty, but they have to go.”
In seconds flat, she was naked. He kissed her jaw, her neck and headed straight for the tiny tattoo at the place where neck and shoulder joined. His lips surrounded it, sucked, and sensations cut through her like a laser knife. A moan sounded, and she realized the throaty noise came from her. His tongue teased the spot before he moved down her body, giving each of his favorite parts special attention. He had a lot of favorites, and by the time he parted her legs she wanted to beg him to hurry.
Felix lifted her to his mouth and did some precision work on her clit. Her hands gripped his hair, tugged.
“Ow, woman. Are you trying to scalp me?”
A giggle—yes, a giggle—erupted from her as he grinned in return.
He moved over her and thrust inside with one perfect stroke. He filled her with joy, with sensual expectation, with his cock, and it felt oh so good.
Perfect.
Felix didn’t hurry. He stroked into her almost lazily, but glided to the hilt each time. Pleasure unfurled like a flower blooming from a bud. The sensations grew and expanded, became better.
“Felix,” she cried. “I love you.”
“Love you too, sweetheart.” He thrust again and this time she exploded, taking him with her. They rode out the swells of passion together as lovers. Husband and wife.
Felix withdrew and gathered her against his hard frame. “I liked you from the moment I saw you.”
“You did?”
“I did,” he confirmed. “And now that I’ve captured you, you’re not getting free.”
“Works for me,” Casey said and kissed him. This is what happiness felt like, she thought in wonder. She liked this feeling.
He gathered her even closer, if that were possible. And they spent the rest of the night making love.
Fast.
Slow.
And in between.
It was very, very good.
About Shelley Munro
Shelley lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with her husband and a small, bossy dog named Scotty.
Typical New Zealanders, Shelley and her husband left home for their big OE soon after they married (translation of New Zealand-speak: big overseas experience), a year-long adventure lengthened to six years of roaming the world. Enduring memories include being almost sat on by a mountain gorilla in Rwanda, lazing on white sandy beaches in India, whale watching in Alaska, searching for leprechauns in Ireland and dealing with ghosts in an English pub.
While travel is still a big attraction, these days Shelley is most likely found in front of her computer following another love—that of writing stories of romance and adventure. Other interests include watching rugby and rugby league (strictly for research purposes *grin*), being walked by the dog and curling up with a good book.
Shelley welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Shelley Munro
Currents Run Deep
Curse of Brandon Lupinus
Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis III anthology
Fallen Idol
Fancy Free 1: Fancy Free
Fancy Free 2: Christmas is Coming
Fancy Free 3: Feeling the Buzz
Fancy Free 4: Biding His Thyme
Lynx to the Pharaoh
Middlemarch Capture 1: Snared by Saber
Middlemarch Mates: Lightning Strikes Twice
Middlemarch Mates 1: Stray Cat Strut
Middlemarch Mates 2: Peeping Tom
Middlemarch Mates 3: Scarlet Woman
Middlemarch Mates 4: Assassin
Middlemarch Mates 5: Cat and Mouse
Middlemarch Mates 6: Cat Burglar
Middlemarch Mates 7: Leticia’s Lovers
Middlemarch Mates 8: CatNap
Middlemarch Mates 9: Tiger by the Tail
Middlemarch Mates 10: Blue Lady
Middlemarch Mates 11: Twin Trouble
Playing to Win
Price of Love
Sex Idol
Sex, Spies and Sapphires
Stoned
Talking Dog 1: Talking Dogs, Aliens and Purple People Eaters
Talking Dog 2: Never Send a Dog to Do a Woman’s Job
Talking Dog 3: Romantic Interlude
Unforgettable
Wanderlust
Print books by Shelley Munro
Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis III anthology
Fancy Free 1: Fancy Free
Fancy Free 2: Christmas is Coming
Fancy Free 3: Feeling the Buzz
Fallen Idol
Middlemarch Mates: Feline Lovers
Middlemarch Mates 1 & 7: Lion’s Share
Middlemarch Mates 2: Peeping Tom
Middlemarch Mates 4: Assassin
Middlemarch Mates 5: Cat and Mouse
Middlemarch Mates 6: Cat Burglar
; Middlemarch Mates 8: CatNap
Middlemarch Mates 9: Tiger By The Tail
Playing To Win
Provocative Pearl anthology
Sex Idol
Talking Dog 1 & 2: Romancing the Alien
Talking Dog 3: Romantic Interlude
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Favored by Felix
ISBN 9781419992476
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Favored by Felix Copyright © 2015 Shelley Munro
Edited by Kelli Collins
Cover design by Kelly Martin
Cover photography by AS photo, Igor Zh., Volodymyr Burdiak
Electronic book publication February 2015
The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.
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