Unchained

by C. J. Barry

  Cidra turned her head and glanced over at the spot where Syrus was buried. Sometime in the past few days she realized that he knew exactly what he was doing when he set this mission in motion. He even picked the right man for the job and for her.

  Cidra froze. She spoke aloud, “Trying to sneak up on me?"

  She heard the low, rumbling laugh moments before Grey dropped to the grass behind her and pulled her back between his legs and against his chest. “That sixth sense of yours is going to be a problem."

  Cidra laughed. “Not for me. Something tells me I'm going to need all the advance warning I can get."

  Grey slid his hands around her waist and listened to her laugh. It was a sound he wanted to hear every day for the rest of his life.

  He looked over her shoulder at the lake. “Decker contacted me again today. I think he's anxious to get back to work. He mentioned the Lost Mask four times.” He paused. “I was thinking of letting him take Calíbre and get it himself."

  Cidra stiffened in his arms. “Why would you do that?"

  Grey shrugged. “Thought we could use some time alone here at Syrus’ cottage."

  "Is that what you really want?"

  Grey kissed the top of her head. “I could handle it for a while."

  Cidra leaned back into his chest, sliding her hands over his. “That would be nice. It'll give you a chance to teach me everything you know about treasure hunting."

  "That's a deal, partner.” Grey grinned. He'd teach her more than just treasure hunting, starting right now.

  Cidra let her head roll back, careful to avoid his healing shoulder. “Have you heard anything from Dakru?"

  He swept her hair to one side and contemplated the slender, exposed neck beneath. “I talked to Rourke over subspace a few minutes ago. Plass was sworn in as ruler yesterday. He's already appointed Fiske as his Commander."

  Grey shook his head. “They have a lot of work ahead of them. The environment on the planet is a mess. He's initiating some steps to create more humane working conditions in the mines. It's going to take some time to undo the damage Tausek did to Dakru and the d'Hont."

  "Not to mention the Kin-sha,” Cidra said. “Ten years of hatred and persecution won't disappear overnight."

  Grey nibbled along her neck and shoulder while his hands started a slow exploration of the fasteners of her shirt.

  "So what is Rourke up to now?” Cidra asked distractedly as the first fastener released.

  Grey chuckled softly. “Last I knew, he was making the saloon rounds, dazzling the ladies with some strange story about Decker and a Servo-unit."

  Cidra melted against him as he slid his hands inside her shirt, cupping each breast. His breath came in fast and hard.

  "Grey.” It was a sigh and a question in one.

  "No one knows we're down here,” he murmured in her ear. He tugged her arms out of the sleeves and peered over her shoulder at the sight of moonlit breasts.

  "Barrios does,” she whispered.

  Grey's hands caressed the curves of her body. “He can get his own woman."

  Cidra laughed. “He already has. He can't wait to get back to Vaasa. I want to thank you for offering your house as his new Kin-sha facility."

  "Our house,” Grey corrected. “I can't blame him for not wanting the Kin-sha on Avion. Besides, Rosa loves the idea of playing hostess to a bunch of young students. The biggest battle will be over who's going to do the cooking."

  His fingers slipped inside the front of her pants.

  "Oh no, you don't.” Cidra twisted around and pushed him gently but firmly onto his back in the grass. He looked up at her in surprise. Her expression was mischievous as she straddled him and began unfastening his shirt.

  Cidra pulled his shirt back, exposing his broad chest.

  For a few moments, she just stared at him.

  "You like this position?” He grinned at her.

  She gazed into the quick silver eyes of the man who had given her flight and freedom, the man she'd spend the rest of her life loving.

  "Of course,” she said in a husky drawl and a wicked smile. “It was invented by a woman."

  The End

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