by Cynthia Sax
Sabria’s eyes narrowed, her expressions changing with her thoughts, her face and her feelings reassuringly open to him. “You’ll kill my brother, you mean, not her.”
Is she jealous? Darius studied her, his heart lightening. Is she as possessive of me as I am of her? “No, I won’t kill her. She’s too valuable.”
“You can’t have us both.” Sabria jammed her little fists on her hips, as though to physically intimidate him, a Balazoid assassin. Darius’ lips twitched and she glared at him. “And if you think to double-cross my brother, I recommend you think again. He didn’t escape Gehenna 5 by being stupid.”
“And I didn’t survive this long as an assassin by underestimating the intelligence of my targets,” Darius growled, fed up with the continuous talk of her perfect brother.
“Traz is not a target.” The look Sabria gave him could have frozen a luminous blue variable star. “He’s my brother and if you care for me at all, you won’t harm him.”
Darius pressed his lips together. He wouldn’t make Sabria any false promises.
“But you don’t care at all.” Sabria rose up on her toes, her lips a breath away from his, the pain on her face agonizing. “Because to you, I’m a replaceable breeder.” She stepped back.
“No, you’re not a replaceable breeder.” He pulled her forward, regretting that she’d heard him utter those cold words. “You’re my breeder.” He pushed her face into his chest, inhaling the floral scent of her hair and the sweet aroma of her skin. She struggled in his arms, her wiggling tormenting his hard cock. “Be still.” He smacked her pert ass with the flat of his hand.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” she mumbled into his jacket. “You woman-hating asshole.” Her hands crept around his back, her arms encircling him.
“Curse me out all you want, female.” Darius petted her long black hair, relishing the softness. “You’re not leaving me. I’m not letting you go.”
Sabria tilted her head back, gazing up at him with red-rimmed eyes. “You didn’t tell my brother that. You told him I was a replaceable breeder.”
“I lied so he wouldn’t use my need for you against us.” Darius skimmed his fingertips over her face. “I couldn’t show weakness.”
“Because you never show weakness.” She backed away from him. “Needing one specific breeder, caring for her, is weakness. If your enemies knew how you felt, they could control you.”
He nodded, watching her warily.
“So you don’t allow yourself to care. You’ll never care for me and I’m a fool for thinking you will.” Sabria walked away with her black curls bouncing and her hips swinging, leaving him standing alone on the bridge of his ship.
Darius stared at the closing door, yearning to chase her, yet knowing he hadn’t the words to make her understand, the language of emotions foreign to him. I need a plan. He returned to the captain’s chair and picked up his personal viewscreen.
Chapter Seven
Sabria sat at the foot of the bed and replayed the transmission.
“For the cost of a replaceable breeder, the glory of capturing the Federation’s prize future-bender could be mine.” Darius’ flat, dead eyes froze her heart, the heart she’d given him, an assassin.
“I’m a fool,” she muttered.
“I’m the fool.” Darius stood in the doorway, filling the space, his hard form large and lethal, and Sabria’s body hummed to life. “I’ve made many mistakes.”
“Including capturing me.” She clutched the bed sheet to prevent herself from reaching for him. “If you had captured the valuable future-bender, you’d be a hero on Balazoid right now, not a fugitive.” She slumped her shoulders.
Darius tapped on the viewscreen and the display faded to black. “If I had returned to Balazoid with the future-bender, they would have killed me to cover up her existence.” He wrapped his fingers around Sabria’s waist, picked her up and tossed her to the middle of the bed. “I’d be dead.”
She bounced on the bed. “What are you doing?”
Darius straddled her hips, pinning her to the surface. “I’m restraining my irreplaceable breeder, protecting her.” He unwound the long leather straps wrapped around his forearm and a frisson of excitement skittered up Sabria’s spine. “Because I care for you, Sabria. I may never say the words again, but never doubt it.”
She blinked up at him, stunned by his confession. “Balazoids don’t care for breeders.”
“With you, I’ve never been a Balazoid.” He pushed up the overly long sleeve of her pale-blue flight suit, looped a leather strap around her right wrist and attached it to the bedframe, pulling her arm straight. “Or a Dreck.” He repeated the process with her left wrist. “I’ve always been Darius.”
“Why me?”
Darius shrugged. “Why not you?” He moved down her body, grabbed her right ankle and bound that limb also. “You serve my purposes. You’re everything a female should be.” He secured her left ankle, spreading her completely open to him.
“And you care for me.” Sabria yanked on the leather, unable to free herself, the straps secure. “Although you threaten to never say the words again.”
“Why do you need words from me?” He scowled. “I watched you with your bots, female. They didn’t tell you their emotions, yet you cared for them.”
Sabria stilled, hearing the wistfulness in his voice. “They didn’t need to tell me they cared. They showed me.”
Darius extracted a dagger from his leather jacket. “I’ve showed you, numerous times.” His arm blurred as he sliced her flight suit into ribbons of fabric, his downward swoops fast, yet accurate, not a scratch left on her skin. “I captured you, breaking Balazoid laws to take you. I defied my senior officers, my planet, my people. I haven’t yet blown up your brother’s embarrassment of a ship.”
Yet. Sabria’s eyes rounded in alarm. “And you won’t. I love my brother, Darius.” As I love you.
“No more talk about your perfect brother, female.” Darius flung the dagger across the room. The blade stuck in the metallic wall, the handle vibrating with the force of his throw. “I’m showing you how I feel.”
“I—”
Darius leaned over and covered her open mouth with his. His hot tongue slid along hers, silencing her words, dissipating her thoughts. Sabria moaned, arching her back, yearning to touch him, yet unable to move, her body bare and restrained under his.
He wound his fingers in her hair, the teasing pull sending tremors lower, his grip felt down to her pussy. The leather of his outfit slid over her naked skin, rubbing, softly abrading her taut nipples and her spread pussy lips.
“You’re overdressed,” she murmured, in a daze, as he sucked on her chin.
“I’m showing you,” he repeated, his lips humming against her neck. “This isn’t about my release, my needs, wants, pleasure.”
“Balazoids don’t please their females.” Sabria raised her chin, allowing him access to more of her.
Darius licked along her collarbone and she shivered, the sensation as intense as his loving. “I no longer care about what Balazoids do or don’t do.” He swirled the tip of his tongue around her right breast, cupping her left with his big hands, his long fingers squeezing to a rhythm her entire body felt. “I’m Darius and I please my female.”
“Your breeder.” She pulled on the straps, offering him her breasts.
He slid his hand down her torso and rested his palm over her fluttering stomach. “My breeder.” Sabria’s heart squeezed at the thought of carrying his child. “I’ll show you what I’m feeling.” Darius fastened his lips over her nipple and sucked, feasting on her breast, and Sabria cried out, undulating against him, swept away by sensation and sentiment.
He lowered his hand and stroked along her pussy lips, spreading her juices and escalating her desire. “Yes,” she called encouragement, pushing into his caresses, the motion straining her thigh muscles, the tension delicious.
Darius increased his tempo, sucking harder and strumming her folds faster, graz
ing his thumb over her clit, and Sabria panted his name, her lungs aching, unable to retreat from his passionate assault.
He wielded his long fingers as though they were swords, slicing away her control, bringing no pain, only pleasure. She trembled and she shook. “Please,” she pleaded, for mercy, for release.
Darius released her breast with a lusty pop. He held her gaze, his crimson eyes dark, as he circled her clit, each rotation of his fingertip winding her tighter and tighter.
“My female.” He bared his white teeth over her reddened nipple and Sabria tensed, anticipating his bite.
“My breeder.” Darius sank his teeth into her fragile skin and she screamed, flinging her body toward him, breaking into pieces, her emotions no longer her own. He kept them, controlled them, her captor, her lover.
“You showed me,” she sighed, sagging against her restraints, her mind hazy, her form warm.
“I showed you nothing.” Darius grinned, his angular face softening, his expression boyish. He stroked his fingers deeper and deeper into her, slipping into her entrance, filling her with first one finger, then two, and finally three.
“Darius?” Sabria’s passions stirred, building once more, her exhausted body revived by his caresses.
He flicked her abused nipple with his tongue. “You’ll see all of my emotions and all of my weaknesses, Sabria. No one will hold as much power to hurt me as you will.” His grin faded, his lips settling into a grim white line.
“You can trust me, Darius,” Sabria assured him. “I’ll never hurt you.”
“I trust you and only you.” He swiped the flat of his tongue over her stomach and an after-tremor shook her. “I’ll show you everything.”
He nuzzled her mons, mouthing words she didn’t understand into her skin, gripping her ass in his palms. “You smell like home,” he murmured, his voice reverent and soft, and Sabria melted under his adoration.
Darius licked her from ass to clit and she trembled. “And you taste like happiness. You’re that place you told me about, and in your arms, I’m accepted and equal.” He nibbled along her folds, soothing each bite with his tongue, and Sabria curled her fingers around the leather straps, twisting her restraints.
“I want to be that place for you.” He pushed into her entrance, sliding his tongue along her inner walls.
“Yes,” Sabria cried out, pressing her pussy against his lips.
Darius slurped lustily, his pale stern face positioned between her spread legs. He ate her pussy with the same intensity he applied to his battles, his focus entirely on her pleasure. Any doubts Sabria had of his feelings faded away.
He loves me. Sabria gazed at him, overwhelmed by emotion. There’s no other reason for this. Spurred by that realization, her arousal built with a painful quickness, her pussy becoming hypersensitive, each brush of his mouth too stimulating for her senses. She writhed and twisted, but she couldn’t avoid his torturous mouth.
“Darius, please,” she begged, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Darius kneaded her ass cheeks with his long fingers as he ravished her with his tongue, rubbing his nose into her clit, applying himself to her taste with an almost android-like devotion.
“Darius, this is too much, too good.” Her voice rose to a thin whine. “Savor me later. I need to come. Make me come.” She curled her fingers into fists.
“Later.” A corner of his grim mouth quirked upward. He continued his slow torment.
“No.” Sabria growled, struggling against her bindings, shaking the bed. “Darius, please let me come. I’ll do anything you want, anything you—”
“Anything?” He met her gaze and warning sirens sounded in Sabria’s mind.
She ignored them, her need too great to be denied. “Anything,” she promised wildly, beyond thinking, beyond caring of tomorrow. “Make me come.”
“I’ll bring you release.” Darius positioned his lips over her clit and she quieted, watching him wide-eyed. What is he—
He inhaled, sucking on that tiny bundle of nerves. Sabria closed her eyes and shrieked, her voice pitched so high, it was barely audible. The darkness exploded with light, waves of pleasure hitting her body, pulling her under, and she wiggled her fingers, grasping for something, anything to keep her afloat. Rough palms smacked against hers and Darius held her tightly, calming her inner storm.
“Darius,” she whispered, drained beyond recovery.
“I won’t abuse your vow, Sabria.”
Vow? Sabria opened one of her eyes. Darius swiped the back of his hand across his face, wiping the wetness from his cheeks. My wetness.
“I’ll only ask one thing from you.” Darius removed pieces of body armor from wall compartments. “That you don’t leave this chamber until I return for you.” He fastened armor to her arm.
“I should be with you when you meet with my brother.” Sabria shook her arm, trying to dislodge the armor, her mind clear and her body fully awake. “It’s too dangerous for you to see him alone.”
“I will see him alone.” Darius covered Sabria’s torso with large black armor, the heavy material hanging off her body and flattening her breasts. “Because you’ll be here, safe and secure.”
“My brother won’t harm me,” she protested, her concern torn between her mercenary brother and her assassin lover.
“I’m not taking any chances, female,” Darius growled, loading her slighter form with more and more armor. “You promised to do anything I asked. I’m asking you to stay here.”
“I spoke in the heat of passion.” Sabria glared at him.
“I showed you my feelings in the heat of passion,” Darius replied softly. “I meant them, all of them.” Sabria bit down on her bottom lip, swallowing her protests. “Armor, fasten.” The armor tightened around her body, encasing her in protective material. “You’ll stay here.” He stood, looming over her, dark and menacing.
Sabria met his gaze. “I’ll stay, but please don’t kill my brother, Darius,” she pleaded. “Traz is the only family I have. I love him.”
Darius didn’t answer. He extracted a wide strap from his jacket, bent over the bed, and brushed his lips over hers. “I trust you more than I’ve ever trusted anyone, but a good assassin never takes unnecessary risks.” He placed the strap over her mouth.
“No!” Sabria yelled. No sound escaped the strap. “Don’t you dare muzzle me!” She struggled, shaking her head. He calmly attached the strap and stepped away from her. “Not again!”
“I’ll protect you, Sabria.” He rested his hand on the hilt of one of his daggers. “Don’t leave this room,” he advised as he left, the doors sliding closed behind him.
“How can I leave?” She yanked on the restraints, the strap across her mouth smothering her words. “You’ve tied me to the bed.”
She struggled until she tired, the straps not loosening, Darius’ knots tightening with each pull. The ship was eerily silent and still. He won’t kill my brother. Sabria stared up at the ceiling, the surface as blank as her future. I have to trust him, even if he doesn’t completely trust me.
The ship shuddered. Docked. She held her breath.
The gunfire echoed, faint, far away. Darius. Sabria closed her eyes, picturing the ceiling weapons, the armed floor bots, the impregnable fortress her assassin had transformed his ship into.
The sounds of guns grew louder and louder. Traz is coming for me. Sabria watched the doors, waiting, debating whether to tell her brother the truth or a more palatable lie.
Metal scraped against metal and the doors slid open, revealing her brother’s scarred face. There was no sign of Darius. Is he dead? A pain pierced Sabria’s heart, leaving her breathless.
“Stay still,” Traz instructed. He drew a knife from his belt and sliced through the straps. His mouth was set in a stern, unforgiving line and blood dripped down his arm, the wound on his shoulder thankfully shallow.
She yanked the strap from her mouth, her fingers tingling. “Traz, what are you doing here?” She rolled off the bed and scramb
led to her feet, gazing around her brother’s body, looking for Darius. Where is he?
“I’m rescuing you. What does it look like?” Traz drawled. Shots rang out. Darius. Sabria relaxed. A woman screamed. “Fuck,” her brother cursed. “We have to go.” He gripped Sabria’s wrist. “Before he hurts her.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Sabria pulled her arm out of his reach, remembering Darius’ instructions. “Do you know who he is? He’s the assassin they call Dreck. Through him, I have access to the Balazoid system.” She touched the tracking device attached to the back of her neck. “The Federation would—”
“Fuck the Federation.” Traz glared at her. “The Federation put me in prison, Sabria. I don’t care about their stupid war.” The shots continued, the barrage of gunfire reassuring Sabria. “Falyn is in trouble. Come on. We have to leave. Now.”
“No.” She crossed her arms protectively in front of her chest, the armor heavy. “I’m not leaving him.” Ever.
“Him?” her brother roared. “Falyn was right. You love him. He’s a cold-blooded killer and you love him.”
Sabria’s cheeks heated as she heard the contempt in Traz’s voice, the same contempt the Federation officers often showed him. “Killer? I have a bigger problem with him being an arrogant woman-hating asshole,” she fumed. “Shit, Traz. You’re a killer.” She flung her hands up in the air, fed up with the arrogant males around her. “And I love you. What does being a killer have to do with anything?”
“Fuck.” Traz raked his fingers over his scalp and paced. Sabria watched him. Her brother froze. “He has her.”
“Who?” Sabria narrowed her eyes. Who is the future-bender to him?
“Your Balazoid, the assassin they call Dreck, has Falyn, the woman I love.” Traz’s breaths were ragged and Sabria stared at her normally stoic big brother, the grief on his face stark and heart-wrenching. “I risked her, my destiny, everything I’ve ever wanted, for nothing. I can’t lose her, Sabria. It’ll kill me.”
Traz in love. Sabria sighed, the situation growing more volatile by the minute. “He won’t hurt her. She’s too valuable.” She waved her hand, dismissing his fears. “Though who he’s shooting at—”