Seeing Stars

  Graeme turned around and pinned her against the walls. She protested. The titanium walls felt cold on her skin.

  “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll make you hot in no time,” he cooed.

  She had to laugh. Silly him. But her laughter was short-lived when Graeme started to flood her with slam after slam of ferocious fucks. She keened as the pleasure gathered again. He brushed his lips over hers, murmuring how he loved how she made him feel. He showered her with kisses. Then nips. And love bites as he slammed his cock with savagery, grinding his hips as if he was looking for deeper penetration. Amaranth mewled. She had taken him to the hilt. She was full beyond words.

  Graeme fucked her even harder to the point she could only feel fire. The air around her thinned. Her heart wanted to burst out from her chest. She couldn’t do anything but surrender. He slammed and slammed again until she couldn’t breathe. Amaranth screamed at the top of her lungs when a climax crashed over her.

  Amaranth thought she was dying. She had a momentary blackout in the height of her rapture. When it was over, she felt like a wreck. Her strength left her indefinitely.

  She noted Graeme shouted next to her ear while he emptied his seed into her. His cock spurted a dozen spasms. Maybe more. She lost count. Her cunt milked him until he had nothing to empty anymore.

  “Oh, babe.” Graeme panted like a winded dog.

  Amaranth found his lips and kissed him deeply.

  She opened up her eyes and realised they had both drifted to sleep. After their fiery lovemaking, they had cuddled and talked. Apparently, they’d dozed off when the conversation died out. The small bunk felt cramped, but they managed. His naked warm body wrapped her in a protective embrace. Amaranth noticed something else. Graeme had taken a shower recently, judging from his soapy scent. When did he have the time to shower? Maybe while she was fast asleep? And he didn’t bother to put his clothes back on. He was still naked under the blanket.

  Feeling naughty, Amaranth lifted the sheet and took a peek. Heat warmed her cheeks. He was as breathtaking as she remembered. Broad chest. Flat stomach. Beautiful muscled body. And his cock that brought her endless pleasure.

  Amaranth pushed the blanket down, watching his sleeping beast with fervent curiosity. As a hetai, she had been trained with many skills to bring pleasure to her overlord, but she’d never been enthusiastic about her lessons, knowing Shanrakhan was the only man she’d serve. It was different now. All of a sudden, she was eager to put her skills to work, giving him back pleasure after he’d given her so much.

  She untangled from him and scooted down, running her hand across his belly. He felt so warm. His breathing was calm and peaceful. Amaranth experimentally touched his cock. It stirred awake. She grinned and clamped her hand on his half-awake shaft, stroking him gently. His cock went hard in her palm. Amaranth couldn’t resist giving him a lick.

  He grunted and mumbled something like, “Wench.”

  Amaranth ignored him. With the flat of her tongue, she caressed its shapely crown. He tasted like soap. She plunged her mouth until his cockhead touched the back of her throat then gave him gentle sucks.

  “Amaranth!” Graeme was fully awake by now. He reached for her and stroked her hair. “What are you doing?”

  She released him with a loud pop. “Don’t mind me, I’m just acquainting myself to pleasure you.”

  He laughed. “I don’t need…”

  His words cut short when she shifted her attention back to his cock. She licked his crown and down his veined shaft. She heard him whimper. His breath hitched and his cock turned dark red, filled with blood.

  “Babe…” he murmured.

  She paused. “Yes?”

  “Come here.”

  “In a moment. I’m rather occupied.”

  Graeme let out a long groan. She clenched the base of his shaft and stroked him slowly. He hardened even more. Amaranth licked him again, alternating it with gentle siphons and hard suctions. Salty ocean flavour flooded her mouth. Amaranth picked up the pace while twirling her tongue on the eye of his cock.

  “Naughty…wench…” he growled. “Come…here!”

  Amaranth squealed when he grabbed her waist and pulled her in his direction. It happened so fast, the next thing she knew she was flat on her back while his muscled body was on top of her.

  “I didn’t know you had such a wicked mouth.”

  She giggled.

  “Where did you learn all of that?”

  “I was trained to pleasure.”

  Graeme snorted. He felt her and squeezed her breast. “Now look what you did to me.” He hissed. “Are you sore?”

  “No.”

  “Don’t lie.”

  “It’s the good kind of sore.” Amaranth wound her arms around his neck. “Kiss me.”

  Graeme was more than happy to oblige. He showered her with feather-light kisses while he pushed her legs open. Her heart beat faster. She knew what would come. Still, she was unprepared.

  “Oh!” Amaranth gusted out a lungful of breath. Graeme filled her. She didn’t remember he was this big. Her cunt contracted around his virile hard flesh. She shivered uncontrollably.

  “Too much?” Graeme sounded worried.

  “No,” she said quickly. “I love it…”

  He sighed and fucked her in shallow motions. “You’re so delicate. I just don’t want to hurt you…”

  “You give me nothing but pleasure.”

  “Mmm.” Graeme fisted her hair and picked up his pace.

  Her heart pounded as fast as he battered his cock into her cunt. Graeme cooed at her in a soft, lulling voice. She tried to cling on to him as his thrusts became urgent, a torrent of jab after jab of pure lust. And the pleasure he gave her, fast and sharp like a strike of lightning fire.

  A climax swept her like a hurricane. Amaranth cried. He kept pounding her. She begged him to give her a break but he seemed to be consumed in his own atavistic lust. He kept battering his cock until a second orgasm struck her blind. She convulsed in ecstasy. The world blackened as she gasped for breath. Pure white pleasure entrapped her in one unstoppable tide. She screamed. Graeme shouted too. He ejaculated, bathing her channel with hot cream. Veins corded on his neck and temples. He shuddered. She whimpered in ragged breaths.

  It took her a while to compose herself. They snuggled under the blanket without a word spoken, just listening to their breaths until she was about to doze off again. Amaranth caught his eyes and smiled. Graeme was about to open his mouth when she interrupted, “Yes, I’m hungry.”

  He laughed hard.

  However, his laugh was cut short when someone pounded on the door.

  Nate yelled. His voice was muffled by the thick steel. “Graeme, we have a fucking problem! And it isn’t about you.”

  Chapter Four

  “Rear Admiral Graeme Darin. Haven’t seen you in a long time. Imagine my surprise to find you in this rust bucket. You look good, by the way.”

  The smug smile of Captain Ernst Georn filled the bridge’s entire communication screen. Graeme narrowed his eyes. Irritation crept within him. Georn was his former colleague in the Fleet. They entered the service together and were friends at the beginning. But Georn quickly became a pain in his ass and their friendship went sour as the two of them became very competitive. When Graeme was promoted as the Fleet’s youngest admiral, Georn suddenly resigned his commission. Later on, Graeme heard Georn had been recruited to the private sector with a plush position and a cushy salary. What the hell is he doing here now?

  Graeme flicked the dust off his jacket lapel, putting out his haughty posture. Georn hated it when he did that. “Likewise. What can I do for you?”

  Georn’s smile evaporated. “Curt as ever. We know you have the relic.”

  “Oh?”

  “We would like it back, of course.”

  “The coffin? You’re out of luck. We don’t have it anymore. When we couldn’t dismantle the bugs, we dumped the shit.”

  “We knew. Do you think we only bug the
container?”

  Damn. Graeme had forgotten about the Star of Hecave, the amulet he took from Amaranth’s coffin. He put it on the bridge and forgot all about it. Georn could have tucked a nano tracking onto it and no one would notice.

  “We’ve been following you since Persei-7. And we know the Imperial had been on your tail. We want the Goddess’s body.”

  “What for? I didn’t know you had a thing for stiffs,” Graeme answered lightly. Nate’s wisecracks had started to rub off on him. On an occasion like this, it came in mighty handy.

  Georn started to look agitated. “It’s a matter of life and death, and the Goddess holds a very important key. Prince Tarryn is about to be executed in four days, and if you have a shred of decency, you should give a shit about him. The last time I checked you’re one of the few loyal officers in the Fleet.”

  “You work for the Crown Prince?” Graeme didn’t expect that.

  “Of course. While you were busy prancing around in front of the queen, I was busy defending the Prince’s honour.”

  “Ernst,” Graeme admonished him. “If you want the Goddess, you’d better change your tone.”

  Georn snarled wolfishly. “Cut the shit, Darin. What will it be?”

  Graeme slipped back to the captain’s chair and poked around some more, enjoying the torture. Nate and his two former aides snickered silently. “I’d like to know how you acquired the relic in the first place? This ship is scheduled to be decommissioned. We were halfway to Sierra-Allyx when we found the container.”

  Georn considered his question. “We stole the relic from the queen’s chief expeditor. My agents blew their covers and they had to stow it away in haste. We didn’t expect you to steal it.”

  “Is that so? I still don’t see how the Goddess could save Prince Tarryn?”

  “Didn’t you know?” Georn leaned closer to the camera. “Dzon Jian planned to challenge Prince Tarryn’s place. Breanna influenced the High Priest so the Sun Temple will allow the succession if Dzon can prove he’s worthy of the throne.”

  “How?”

  “By resurrecting the Goddess and claiming her virginity to become immortal. But you have her. If we take her to Prince Tarryn and have him—”

  “That’s out of the question!” Graeme barked. Nate jumped behind him.

  “Why not?” Georn’s voice raised an octave. “It’s the only way to save the crown prince.”

  “Because she’s mine. I have taken Amaranth as my wife. If anybody wants her, they would have to claim her over my dead body.”

  Three days later at Nova, Arcova’s capital

  “I know I asked too much of you and I know how much you hate to lie. But this is the only way to end this feud once and for all.” Graeme wrapped his hands around hers, giving her much needed strength. “Think you could pull this off?”

  “I hope so.” Amaranth smiled. “Do you think the High Priest will know who I am?”

  “Of course. Your paintings and statues are everywhere. Ozai would have to be a fool not to recognise you.”

  “What if he thinks I’m an imposter? I’ve been missing for six thousand years.”

  “If Dzon and Queen Breanna have been currying Ozai’s favours, Ozai would know they’ve been excavating your tomb. I even suspect that Dzon found you because of the temple’s help. You have nothing to worry.” Graeme paused. “Can you make it convincing too?”

  “You hurt me, sire.” She rolled her eyes. “The only thing I’m good at is pretending to be someone I wasn’t. High Priest Mamnon made sure of it.”

  Graeme nodded faintly and gave a once-over look at his woman. Amaranth was clad in the Sun Temple ceremonial attire that was too bare for his liking. Rows of gold chainmail covered her chest. Then, more gold chainmail draped around her hips, layered with a sheer long skirt. The ensemble was completed with elaborate gold headdress. She looked breathtakingly divine. But Graeme hated it that anyone could see too much of her skin. Call it being territorial, but this lovely woman belonged to him. “Okay. You remember your line?”

  “Yes.”

  Graeme turned back at Georn who had been huffing and puffing impatiently while he briefed Amaranth. “She’s ready.”

  “Thank Gods.” Georn rolled his eyes. “Let’s go.”

  Ernst Georn wanted to kill him when he found out that Graeme had resurrected the Goddess and slept with her. Perhaps, Georn would not have had any hesitation to blow their stolen ship into pieces if he hadn’t been hell bent on saving the crown prince. After long, winding, heated arguments, he and Georn decided to work together. Graeme was worried about his crew’s safety and needed a new means of transportation, while Georn needed Amaranth to save Prince Tarryn. The five of them boarded Georn’s ship and headed back to Nova. And during the flight, he and Georn hatched a plan. Actually, Nate was the one who came up with the idea. That kid was a genius in the miscreants department. He suggested that Amaranth should crash the sentencing appeal.

  When a royal was accused of a crime, as in this case where Prince Tarryn was accused of poisoning his own father to usurp the throne, the day before he was executed, he might plead to the High Priest of the Sun Temple for forgiveness.

  The High Priest then consulted the temple’s oracles, looking for signs from the Gods whether they should pardon the offender or not. According to Georn, Queen Breanna and her cousin Dzon Jian had planted many damaging evidences, framing Prince Tarryn for crimes he didn’t commit, so that he would need a miracle to save him from the guillotine.

  And Amaranth was the exact miracle Prince Tarryn needed.

  Brannan poked his head to the corridor. “It’s about to start.”

  “Well, my Goddess. Here we go.” Graeme ushered her into the atrium where the High Priest Ozai was listening to Prince Tarryn’s plea.

  Amaranth straightened her posture and lifted her head haughtily. “I prefer you call me babe, though.”

  Graeme almost laughed but he restrained it at the very last moment. From the atrium, they heard High Priest Ozai saying that the Gods and Heaven weren’t in favour of pardoning Prince Tarryn. The execution would have to take place the next morning.

  Ernst Georn burst onto the scene and barked, “Stop this atrocity! The Crown Prince is innocent and whoever suggested he isn’t worthy of the throne needs to hear our proof.”

  Ozai snapped back, “Insolence! What kind of proof could you possibly have when the Gods themselves inclined to give us a sign?”

  Graeme took Amaranth’s hand and led her into the atrium. She inhaled a deep breath and slipped into her role. In a heartbeat, she turned into a different person. Proud. Self-assure. Haughty, like a divine being should be.

  Everybody in the Atrium went silent. Transfixed by her arrival. Amaranth took one look around and pointed at the High Priest. “You. Do you not know who I am? And why do you not kneel in my presence?”

  Ozai cowered in an instant. He dropped to his knees. Everyone followed suit. “Goddess Amaranth. I…I…” he stammered in old merah.

  “Silence, you oaf. Had you not been clad in that robe, I would have mistaken you for a stray cur.” Amaranth glided to the altar and lounged leisurely.

  Graeme was impressed. She could pull off a charade well.

  “I am not pleased and do you know why? There I was, minding my own business in the Mother Temple when that brute Shanrakhan assaulted me.”

  Ozai’s face blanched white. “Shan…shan—”

  “He stabbed me in the heart and the next thing I knew I was in the coffin. In the future. That brave man over there”—Amaranth gestured to Graeme—”resurrected me and told me I had been sleeping for six thousand years. What made me more displeased is that you all accused Jovan’s offspring of a heinous crime he didn’t commit. I knew Jovan personally. I can vouch he was an honourable man and I believed his descendants would follow the same honourable path. But Shanrakhan, on the other hand…” Amaranth threw a cursory glance to the audience. “Was nothing but a jealous brute.”

  “That’
s a lie!” Dzon Jian shouted in old merah. His cousin, Queen Breanna, looked befuddled as she listened to the translation from her lady-in-waiting.

  Amaranth stood up immediately. “Did you just call me a liar, human?”

  Ozai bowed low. “He didn’t mean that, Goddess.” He turned to Dzon and shot him a venomous look. “Bow down, you fool!”

  Dzon refused. Ozai then ordered the temple’s knights force him to kneel.

  Amaranth continued her charade flawlessly. “Shanrakhan was consumed by his jealous rage when he found out I was in love with Jovan. That night, Shanrakhan couldn’t take the truth and tried to murder me…”

  Pandemonium erupted.

  People shouted at once. Dzon became hysterical. The temple knights unsheathed their weapons to bring order.

  Graeme hurriedly came to Amaranth and urged her to withdraw into an antechamber. He saw Georn talked to Prince Tarryn. As they strode away, the commotion turned into a full-blown riot.

  Just as Nate had predicted.

  Three weeks later

  Her husband’s new ship was named after her—Amaranth. She knew nothing about flying vessels, but from what she’d heard, the ship had cost a king’s ransom. The Crown Prince Tarryn bought her as a gift for Graeme. Amaranth, the ship, was twice as big as the Imperial ship Graeme had stolen. Twice as fast. And thrice more beautiful. The ship wasn’t only Graeme’s new conveyance—she was also their new home.

  After they stirred quite a commotion in the Sun Temple in Nova, High Priest Ozai declared that Prince Tarryn was innocent, pardoned by the Gods themselves. Ozai was exulted when he thought she would lead the Sun Temple. Amaranth declined, saying after sleeping for six thousand years, she wanted to see the world with her new chevalier. She and Graeme got married the day after Queen Breanna was dethroned and Crown Prince Tarryn was reinstated to his full rights, in a small, secret ceremony, led by the prince’s trusted priest.