Seeing Stars

by Lisabet Sarai, Justine Elyot, KS Augustin, Buffi BeCraft, Lizzie Lynn Lee, Sophie Angmering

  “Too bad.” Korm looked up from her breast. The predatory light in his eyes was all male, a conquering warrior. “Ready, lady?”

  Drew sucked in a breath, holding on to Ash’s embrace lest her knees crumble. She hoped he had more stamina than she had or they’d all be on the floor. “I—”

  “What do you want?” She’d seen all kinds of emotion in Korm’s eyes, but never the softer glint that she didn’t think he’d admit to. And he’d called her ‘lady’ several times. Not skid, or woman, or even captain. “What do you want?” he repeated the question. Even Ash tensed, waiting for her answer.

  “I want you inside me, Kormec.” He freed her hands, allowing her to slide them up the heavily muscled biceps. Catching her breath, Drew didn’t realise until that moment how much larger than her he really was. She licked her lips, tracing a scar on his shoulder. “I want you deep inside me.” He hauled her close, then turned her around unexpectedly, so she now faced Ash with his hooded, satisfied eyes. Kormec’s breath shivered down her back, hot, a different sensation as he pulled her against his loins and paused. “I want you inside me,” she told him again, shuddering with pleasure as he complied. His wider girth stretched a strangled cry from her. He stopped, carefully holding her. “Fuck me, Korm. Then bite me.” She barely had a breath as he surged into motion.

  Ash bracketed her face with his hands, fingers sliding through her short curls, and captured her mouth. His tongue plundered past her lips, teeth and fangs nipping at her before settling into a deep thrusting kiss that mimicked Korm’s stokes. Drew had no time to think, no time to breathe, as she was taken. Briefly, she opened her eyes, meeting the diamond studded velvet of space. Her climax rushed over her, consuming her in a fiery glory that only comets understood. She screamed her release into one man’s mouth as the other seized in his consummation, filling her completely. Kormec pounded into her four more times before holding her still. In the aftermath, there were no individuals. Her body was held pinned between them. Hot cum mingled in her body and the damp slickness of a second release against her belly made her smile faintly at the tangle of arms and legs on the floor of her cockpit.

  Another shudder racked her at the sensual lick across her lower neck. “You bit me.” Her words held no rancour.

  “You told me to,” Kormec mumbled from the sweet arch of her breast where his head rested.

  “You did not tell me not to.” Ash licked across her shoulder again, like a sated cat. She had no idea how they’d switched spots again, unless she’d blacked out after coming a second time.

  Well, she decided. Either she’d hang or they’d kill her with the sex. The latter didn’t sound like a half bad way to go.

  Chapter Three

  The mirror in her tiny dim bathing closet didn’t offer much of a view. Drew angled her neck to touch the mark there, expecting it to be sore, and a heck of lot more bruised than it was. The mark was neither, just what you’d expect from an old-fashioned Earth vampire movie. The matching site, high on her breast, was in the same condition, a little sore, but otherwise fine, if highly visible. The precious peroxide didn’t even fizzle at either site.

  She desperately wanted to do another search on the media-pad about the meaning of kith sex bites, but by her own decree they were still on blackout until the GI Guard moved on. Drew poked at the breast mark again. Hell, she’d like to know how much risk she had of infection. Kith were human and human bites were rampant with bacteria.

  She could ask, but her bravery ran out about the time Korm decided to find clothes to put on. Apparently, having done the deed, he was back to his dour self and wanted as much space as possible. Drew was more than happy to accommodate. He could have as much space as he wanted—an airlock full.

  Sighing, Drew’s heart just wasn’t behind the feeling. Everything and nothing had changed. The GI Guard would still arrest and hang her for kidnapping, of that she had no doubt. On a personal level, she’d just managed to fuck not just one guy, but two. Wow, even Mara hadn’t managed to get herself into double trouble. Deciding she’d hidden long enough, Drew exited the bathing closet.

  Her cabin was empty. She didn’t know why that surprised her, but it did. Screw this. Pulling one of the last tanks and cargo pants from her locker, she then slipped them on before deciding she needed the extra comfort of boots. Dressed, Drew armed herself with a small stun weapon.

  She had work to do.

  Neither man showed himself as she marched herself to the cockpit and sat in her seat. The faint scent of sex lingered in the air, taunting her with the mental image of Korm at her breast, pleasuring both her and Ash. The sensory memory sped her heart, tightening her nipples in the constant state of arousal. In her mind, she imagined kneeling and taking a turn at breaking Korm’s self-control while Ash mounted her from behind. Or what if they actually used a bed? Ash sprawled against luxurious fabric while she took him into her mouth and Korm fucked her from behind.

  A small beep jerked her from the fantasy. Arousal blasted to full alertness as she recognised the sweep frequency systematically scanning the grid sector. The Pandora was clipping along, whatever tweaks Ash had made to the engines had given the old girl new life. Drew bent to her task, running a low level scan from an unregistered backup IP system. The unit was illegal as hell, dating back to the days when she and Mara were running pharmaceuticals and other aid to the striking crystal mines. There were risks, mechanical and legal, with getting caught with the unregistered units. Time had taken care of the legal issue. As crystal technology had become the stable and secure norm, the last generation hybrids like the Pandora were mistaken for the first fully crystal tech compliant ships. In actuality, the models were grandfathered into the compliance registrars and the governments forgot how easy it was for old mechanical techs to mimic the newer methods of data transfer.

  Drew and Mara had considered themselves heroes, slipping in with needed supplies while the government tried to force the miners to new terms and a takeover of their only asset, the crystals that powered interstellar travel. In the last few years, the Pandora had made do with completely traceable yet profitable soybean shipments from the New Denali station to space stations that needed the extra protein their hydroponics couldn’t deliver.

  Satisfied, she opened the com. “We are engaging engines. Please remain on minimal power usage.” Drew pulled up her map, quickly scanning it before she entered the coordinates. The destination was different than usual for this time of year, but then her whole itinerary had been crapped up when the ship broke down. She needed a new plan to deal with Ash and Korm and the whole fuck-up her life had become since meeting them. She frowned. No, things had been going badly since before Mara died. She pushed the thought away before it dragged her down.

  New plan. Check.

  Fortunately—or not, depending how she looked it—her body perked up, humming with awareness before the scent of Djorlan tea and manly forests heralded Ash’s presence. Drew reined in the desire to jump him. Once again, he was damp from the shower, but his rumpled tunic and pants were a testament to the broken refreshers.

  He held out the mug like a peace offering. Accepting, Drew sipped, staring into the peaceful black of space while he settled into the co-pilot’s chair. It was almost a repeat of earlier when Ash had come in offering his services as ship’s mechanic for…her eyes drifted over a cluster of stars. They’d never quite finished the conversation before Korm had stormed in.

  “What is on Kisk-Q?” Ash leant back from reading the new itinerary. His hair slithered around him and she realised he’d kept the mass loose since they’d come aboard. She supposed he preferred it loose when he was in private. The remembered feel of that mane on her was enough to make her palms itch to touch. With Korm the feeling was different and Drew didn’t know what to make of her fascination with a man who, though they’d had hot sex, didn’t want to be around her.

  Drew set the tea down. “Kisk-Q is the business side of the crystal mines. It’s safe enough now. The embargo
has been over for almost eight years. It’s not even a colony anymore—it’s a real city with all the amenities.” Hypersensitive to his every movement, she cursed her already aching breasts and the marks that seemed to generate an illicit reminder all their own. Damn, she would have to either wash some of her stash of dirty clothes by hand or buy a cargo hold of new underwear, and soon. A bra was definitely on the list if she didn’t want to walk around with knobby knockers the entire time they were on board.

  She cleared her throat. “It’s close. Two days. The Pandora should be able to refuel and restock before going on to the next destination.”

  “And where is that?” Ash peered at the itinerary again, but he wouldn’t see where they were headed, because she hadn’t put it in. “Where are we headed to next?”

  Jumping up, Drew couldn’t meet his gaze. “You know, I just realised that I need to organise the supply hold before we get there.” The damn man moved faster than should be normal. He didn’t crowd her, but managed to insinuate himself between her and the door. One finger touched her cheek, sliding down to the mark, which seemed to flare to life. It wasn’t fair! Why did Prince Kith-Charming stay so suave when she was a puddle of goo in his presence? Drew held her breath to keep from gasping.

  His almost charcoal eyes held her into place while that one finger traced the mark he’d made. The fine workmanship of a heavy man’s bracelet she hadn’t seen before caught her attention for a moment before she felt the pull of his gaze. His studied gaze took in more than her eyes as he seemed to memorise every feature before meeting her eyes again. The elegant, long fingers that weren’t tracing fire on her neck and shoulder held her fixed, barely touching her waist. Drew held perfectly still, fighting the urge to throw herself on him. Damn, but the man changed the rules again and bent his head, barely brushing his lips across hers. “I dreamed of you.” She almost missed his compliment before he bent again, pressing his lips against hers more firmly. Drew’s resistance disappeared and she wound her arms around his neck, fingers thrusting into the silken fall of hair. The kiss ended with Ash wrapping both arms around her waist, lifting her up to bury his head against her neck.

  “Ash.”

  “Shhh.” He breathed against her skin. The touch of his hands made her skin sensitive to the slightest movement. His bracelet brought a shiver to her skin as it brushed her. The sensation was dizzying. “I dreamed, thinking everything would fall into place by itself. But, nothing has gone as expected. You are not anything like what I thought.”

  The words hit her like cold water. “Well, that’s one way to put it.” Drew shook her head. She needed to get some space. Dreams—God, now she’d heard everything. “I need to…” She needed a cold shower. She didn’t want to argue or talk. “I’ve got things to do.”

  “Drew.” One last touch sent goosebumps down her arm. She had some kind of problem, but paused anyway, not looking back. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “It’s all right.” The words were automatic. Looking up at the stained tiles of the ceiling, Drew inhaled a steadying breath. She just needed some perspective. “It’s okay,” she repeated, escaping before he touched her again.

  Kisk-Q. She’d get plenty of perspective there. She just had to last for two days.

  The door slid shut behind her as Drew made her escape. Damn, but Ash was driving her insane. Everywhere she turned, he was there. Fixing things. The man never slept!

  Reasonable, sexy, and wondering how to fix his little slip-up. Right now, he was doing his damndest to fix her clothes’ refresher. She rubbed her hands across her face. At least she knew where she stood with Korm. The man had managed to disappear in a class-two trading shuttle. The phrase ‘cramped quarters’ was not even in the same ballpark as class two.

  Stomping into the rec room, Drew wanted to scream at the expanse of bare muscled back flexing in front of her. His chestnut brown and gold streaked hair was tied back. Her eyes followed the path of Korm’s spine to the twisting artwork of a tattoo about the size of her palm. No way was she going to be able to slip around him to hide in the cockpit. As if that was an adequate hideout any longer. The whole space reminded her of the feel of being sandwiched between them.

  It wasn’t fair! Her inner slut panted. Korm was definitely in the zone, going through a series of movements that reminded her of Earth karate. The multi-hilted sai-like weapons whipped in and around him with the skill of a master. Diligently trained muscles gleamed with a coating of sweat. Drew swallowed, her eyes following the bunch of a perfectly shaped ass, flexing with the intricate footwork. He turned and their eyes met. Raw sexual tension built in her womb, spreading warmth downward through her core, drawing her breasts into twin aching vacuums wanting to be touched.

  Following a rivulet of sweat down his temple, Drew wanted to trace the path with her tongue, licking down the perfect slabs of pectorals and the etched line between, over sculpted abs and… Her breath nearly stopped as his cock twitched in the loose travelling pants. Her eyes jerked up, meeting pure male amusement in his. Korm held out one of the weapons. “Kith-waerspic.” His gravelled voice held a touch of breathlessness, she dared hope wasn’t from exercise. “The discipline is ancient.”

  “Does everything begin with kith?” She couldn’t help it. The words just sort of fell out of her mouth, sarcasm her defence from Korm’s blatant sexuality. She waited for the explosion, biting her tongue.

  Korm held one out, flipping it over so it pointed hilt-first at her. Absently, she noted he now wore an identical bracelet to Ash before focusing on the moment. “I never thought of it before.” He gestured with the weapon, until Drew palmed the hilt, her fingers sliding over the smooth metal slowly. His eyes dilated as her fingers wrapped around it. “Perhaps it is our way of defining our species from the rest of the GI Common.”

  “It’s smooth.” Drew lifted the weapon, amazed at the perfect balance. “Not damp at all.” A six-way cross guard ending in sharp points protected and held an edge of danger. The sharp spike was as long as her forearm. Barely remembered lessons from her teenage years tempted her to close her eyes as she dredged up the kata. She’d made it as far as black belt, and had won a few tournaments, but lack of practice for anything but the most basic self-defence, made her more than realistic about her ability to use the form to fight. She held out her other hand for the other blade, asking, “May I?” surprised when he complied so easily.

  Eyes half closed, Drew stumbled through the basics. A second round was smoother, but the sharpened hilt guards gave her fits. In a moment, Korm towered behind her. “Like this,” his voice rumbled above her as he held her wrists immobile. “Instinct is to turn and twist the hand, like a serpent. Keep your wrist straight.” His feet followed her pattern, his hands on her forearm, unafraid of the weapon. Korm’s hard body shadowed hers from behind, his cock tantalising her with occasional brushes against her ass. It was dangerous, erotic, and perfect.

  “Now that is the proper way to learn arms.” Ash glided into the room, perfectly naked. Drew almost jabbed herself. Only Korm’s sudden grip kept them both from a nasty poke. God save her.

  “You’re assuming, Ashwin.” Korm’s voice deepened, his body cupping hers from behind as he twisted the weapons from her hands. Drew stood bereft and longing, not knowing what to say. Yeah, she’d already seen the lean dancer’s perfection of Ash’s body. But round two didn’t lessen the impact. “The lady has not given implicit direction that she is interested in pursuing a…” His voice trailed off. Drew looked at Korm’s frustrated expression. He called me lady.

  “She was handling your weapons,” Ash commented, not missing a beat with Drew’s snort of illicit humour. “You do not let just anyone fondle your waerspic.”

  Her gaze slid from one man to the other. Did Korm’s eyes just glaze over at that comment? His breath stopped, no hitch, just stopped for a moment while he stared at Ash. Not for the first time, she felt like there was some kind of subtext going on between them that she was missing. Her own nature was a
contradiction. She wanted Ash, badly. Her conscience poked at her. Fine, she wanted them both equally. Instinctively she wanted to fight the attraction to Korm, to hold back, the same as he did. On the other hand, accepting her lust for Ash was as easy as falling down. The possessiveness evident in his stance and ready erection was a dead giveaway to his thoughts.

  Using the tip of her tongue, she licked her bottom lip. The moment drew both men’s eyes. Danger! Warning! Her inner alarm shrilled as she bit her lower lip, letting the plumpness pull free. Oh, yeah. She definitely had their attention. She wondered if she might be doing herself and Korm a big disservice. Didn’t she owe it to him to broaden his horizons?

  “I want to suck you off,” she told Korm¸ a thrill of devilment prodding her to grin as he dropped the waerspic on the table. His expression was more than priceless, a mixture of shock and sexual anticipation that made her hold her grin in check. She’d never dared talk to previous lovers so boldly. The feeling was liberating. “So what do you say, kith-ra? Since you like group projects, I suck you and Ash fucks me while you get to watch?” Drew threw an extra swing into her step as she approached.

  Yeah, so her sense of self-preservation was lacking. The ride was going to be amazing while it lasted. She had the rest of her miserable future to hide from the universe. Today, she was taking it by the hands…and mouth.

  Drew closed the distance. Reaching out she ran a bold hand down the front of his pants. The loose material hid nothing from her searching touch. Thick and hard, his cock pressed back at her attention. Drew licked her lips, slipping her hand between the waist and his skin. So hot and thick. All of it, waiting for her.

  “So you want me to fuck you?” Ash’s low voice sent a shiver down her spine. In the years to come—if she lived that long—she’d at least have a few memories to keep her entertained.