Carnevale and Subterfuge

by Selena Illyria

  “We thank you for your service and, as your reward, a full pardon will be yours. Your record has been completely expunged, and your payment has been deposited in your account.” Drogan stared, his black gaze pensive.

  Diego knew this was the time to negotiate. He’d been thinking of requesting a position on the crew in any capacity they would be willing to give him, just to be with Anarrae. This was the opening that he had only dreamed about.

  “You’ll, of course, be receiving a commission as a consultant, not an actual crew member. Due to your past and all, we can’t extend that to you.”

  Diego nodded. “Understood. First, I’d like to keep the suite I currently have.”

  “Done.”

  “I’d like secure off-network access for my AI. We will in no way endanger the crew, but some of our sources wouldn’t take too kindly to receiving a com with a starship call sig in it. They like their anonymity.”

  “Understood and done.”

  Diego raised an eyebrow. Before he could ask, Drogan filled him in. “My Chief of Security knows that I’m asking you and understands that if you should accept there will a few things she has to accept. She doesn’t like it, but will live with it if it means a new way to keep the ship and her crew safe.”

  “All right. My AI has been pestering me for ages about becoming autonomous. She wants a top of the line body, all the bells and whistles.”

  “We can arrange that. We’ll be staying over at Veritas 10 for quite some time before our next mission. We can start the process there. Anything else?”

  “I’ll need a small spacecraft of my own. On occasion, if we’re in a certain galaxy or vector, I’ll need to pay my respect to certain people. This doesn’t just ensure my safety, but yours as well.”

  “Done. We have something you can use. I’ll let you take a look at it to see if it needs modifications. Anything else?”

  Diego could see that Drogan was reaching his limit with the requests. “Should I think of anything else, I’ll let you know. Once we get to Veritas, though, I have to return home to see my mother. She’s been ill. Roberto and I must pay our respects, or the old bat will haunt me into the afterlife.”

  Drogan nodded. “Understood, but know this: my patience is limited. You have two requests left.”

  “Thank you, Captain. It will be a pleasure working with you.” Diego rose. “Good morning. I’m going to go to sleep now.”

  “We’ll speak later.”

  Diego left Drogan’s office with a grin on his face. Stepping onto the lift, he hit the button for his floor. The doors were sliding shut when a hand stopped their progress. Tigress slipped in next to him.

  “Don’t be so smug, con artist. If you slip up and get one of my crew injured, I’ll throw you in the brig and dismember you myself. Clear?”

  “Crystal. Although, do you normally threaten members of the crew who helped save your ass?”

  The elevator came to stop. Before Tigress could respond, Diego was out the doors. He rushed down the hall. As soon as he punched in the security code and slipped into his suite, he began to laugh.

  “Careful moron, you keep pulling her tail, she’s liable to slice your arm off,” his AI said.

  “Then I’ll just have to get it fixed. Time to take you off and let you rest. I have my appearance to change before Ana wakes up.”

  “Whatever,” the AI said.

  The dull buzz in the back of Diego’s head faded to nothing. He removed his wrist com. After he walked into the bedroom area, he put the computer on a dresser and headed toward the bed. For a moment he gazed at Ana, taking her all in. In sleep, her features were relaxed.

  “Beautiful,” he said. Leaning over, he placed a kiss on her cheek before heading into the bathroom.

  The sense of conflict, the uneasiness, and the pressure of living two lives had slipped away. Diego felt calm. It was more than just his part in the charade being over. New possibilities were now open to him. A new life now lay before him. Excitement burned through his body. He wanted to start anew, to begin his life with Ana honestly, with no more masks.

  “Lights.” He stepped into the vanity area flooded with a pale golden glow. It wasn’t bright enough to blind, just enough to see. “A bit brighter.”

  He moved deeper into the bathroom and stopped before the vanity. Staring at his reflection, he studied the planes of his current face. He could look at his reflection a thousand times and still not feel comfortable with another person’s face.

  He considered changing his appearance back to the way he was. Now that he was pardoned, his record scrubbed clean, he could be himself again. No more masks. He reached up and stroked his stubble-coated jaw. If he walked out of there looking like himself Ana might become frightened and think someone had broken in. Besides, she deserved to see the mask fade away.

  Stepping away from the mirror, Diego stripped off his shirt, undid the belt of his pants, and pulled off his boots before padding back to the bed. He climbed onto the mattress and gazed at her sleeping form. His heart contracted. For a moment he didn’t want to wake her. He wanted to curl up beside her and hold her. But he was impatient. He straddled her body. Starting from her hand, he kissed his way up her arm until he got to her bare shoulder. There, he took a nip at the crook before moving up her neck, pausing to flick her pulse point.

  Ana’s breathing increased. She arched her back and moaned. “Diego.”

  He traced the delicate shell of her ear with just the tip of his tongue, reveling in her soft groan. The rustle of the sheets filled the air, mingling with the gentle drone of the air-recycling unit above. The brush of her silky skin caressed his shoulder and the side of his throat as she hooked her arms around his neck.

  Her fingers dug into his hair, taking a handful and pulling hard. He stopped what he was doing. The seconds ticked by as the silence between them stretched out. Diego’s heart thudded a constant rhythm against his rib cage. Tendrils of need wound their way along his spine to start pinpricks of heat at the base of his back and between his legs. His balls drew closer to his body, tightening. His cock pressed against his pants, demanding release. The need to bury himself deep inside his woman increased with each moment.

  Slowing his breathing, Diego held himself above her, arms shaking with effort. His fingers dug into the comforter. He ached to ask her permission to continue. This felt just like the time he gave her control on Il Doge when they first met. Only this time he wasn’t tied to anything. His cock twitched in his pants. Arousal flared hot in the pit of his stomach as he remembered that sweet torture of being hers to do with as she wanted.

  “Ana?” Her name was dragged out of his mouth in a husky breath. It was a plea, a prayer and a demand all in one. Her response was to increase her hold on his hair and pull him closer to her head.

  “Please.”

  That single word made him shake even more with effort. With a deep breath he lowered his head. The words take your time were on rotation in his head as he kissed his way from her ear to her cheek.

  “I’m going to be with you, Ana, always. I’m not leaving.” He kissed the corner of her mouth before moving his face away.

  She rolled onto her back and stared up at him. Her brown eyes filled with so many emotions it was difficult to distinguish the joy from the confusion. “How?”

  He told her about being called to see Drogan as he pulled the cover away to expose her naked body. Once she was fully exposed, he rose up onto his knees and undid his fly.

  “So, you’re part of the crew now?”

  He nodded, his gaze traveling over her nudity again. After pushing down his pants and discarding them, he crawled up the bed again. “I’m all yours. We can stay here in these quarters if you want. I’ll go anywhere you want to be with you. I’ll even stay on this blasted ship, but I never want to be parted from you again.”

  Ana’s eyes glistened with what he thought were tears. “You would do that for me?”

  “Yes. I can’t go on without you. I need you to li
ve.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them. It was a weighted statement, one that he knew would make her feel pressure he didn’t want her to endure. He opened his mouth to take it back. This relationship was new to him. He wanted to enter into it with no baggage, without giving her any reason to hesitate.

  “And I need you too.” Ana opened her arms to him. “Make love to me.”

  Diego shoved his pants off the bed and moved upward. He settled on his side next to her. In this position he could stare right into her eyes as they made love. And this time it would be making love, not fucking.

  “Take me cara. I’m yours.” Anarrae threw her thigh over his hip and reached between his legs. Diego’s breath lodged in his throat as her hand wrapped around his cock. She moved her face closer and pressed her lips to his. His eyes fluttered shut as he allowed the sensations of being with her again unfolded.

  His body felt too hot, too tight. The pressure inside of him increased as she pumped her hand leisurely up and down his cock. Every so often she paused to smear his precum over his cockhead. He rocked his hips, sliding his cock in and out of her grip. He groaned when she took his bottom lip between her teeth and tugged, sucking the sensitive flesh into her mouth. Her tongue slid over the heated flesh, setting off sparks of pleasure.

  Diego groaned and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. Just a whisper of her nipples against his chest caused his stomach to tighten and the heat to increase. His cock jerked in her hand as his balls pulled closer to his body. His self-control was ebbing away. Diego wanted to be inside her now.

  As if sensing his desire, Ana squeezed his cock just under the wide helmet head. The small burst of pain only added to his pleasure.

  “Goddess, please,” he said, pulling his head away. “I need you.”

  She said nothing. Instead, Ana guided his cock closer to her mons. The heat against his cockhead was nearly his undoing. He could smell the musky perfume of her arousal. When she teased him by running his cock against the damp lips of her labia, Diego nearly cried out. Just a hint of what could come had him fighting his baser needs.

  Diego wanted to unwrap her hand from around his shaft and slide inside of her, to feel her pussy clench around his cock as he drove in and out of her, fucking her until they both came, screaming. Instead, he waited, allowing her the lead.

  “Do you want me?” she said.

  Diego stared at her as if she’d gone mad. He resisted giving her a sharp retort. She currently had a delicate part of his body in her grasp. He wasn’t going to risk her retaliation. “Yes, bella, I want you, very badly.”

  She graced him with a smile. “Just checking.” Ana moved closer until he felt her position him at her entrance. “Now, fuck me.”

  He shook his head. “No, we’re making love, my Anarrae.”

  Diego pushed his hips forward and slid into her slick channel. Her vaginal muscles rippled around his shaft as he thrust in and out of her pussy. The pace started off slow but gradually increased his speed until he was pounding into her. She moved with him, rocking against him.

  Ana lowered her head and took his lips again. His mouth fell open, allowing her tongue to slip between his lips. Their tongues dueled and twined around each other. The kiss became more passionate as their bodies slapped together faster, harder. Diego slipped his hand into her hair and took a handful. Her legs rubbed against his as they rocked together.

  The pleasure built as their slick bodies danced the ancient steps of lovemaking that were as old as time. The pinpricks of heat at the base of Diego’s spine increased, burning hotter with each pass. His balls ached for release with each thrust. He pushed away the wave of need, wanting to stretch this moment out as far as it could go. He continued to move with her.

  His climax spiraled higher and higher as the heat between them increased. The sound of wet flesh slapping against flesh became music to his ears.

  “Ana,” he said as she squeezed her vaginal muscles around him.

  “Diego, please, let me see you, let me see the real you,” she said.

  He didn’t hold back. With a silent command he ordered the nanobots to change his face, let the subterfuge fall away. They continued the dance as pain rippled through his face. The ache was overcome by the pleasure he felt from moving with her, being inside of her. It distracted him from what was happening. Her mouth blazed a trail of fire along his jaw line, soothing away the ache as the pain subsided.

  “So beautiful.” Damp fingertips slipped along his cheeks as she covered his face in kisses.

  As Ana explored his true visage, they stopped moving. Her lips danced along his forehead, eyelids, nose, cheeks, lips, chin, and his neck. When she pulled her upper body away from his he groaned, hating the loss of contact.

  “Even your tattoo has returned to the way it was,” she said.

  Diego took a breath and groaned at the ache. His skin felt tight and hot. It was painful to breathe.

  “I’ll make it feel better,” Ana assured him.

  He opened his mouth to ask how, only to shut it and groan when she began to move her hips again. The pleasure built. Pain was forgotten in the face of desire. The fire between them burned higher and higher until Diego couldn’t hold the pressure back any more. A tidal wave of heat washed through his body, saturating every cell inside of him with sensation.

  Diego came, balls pulling tightly to his body, fire sliding up his spine and her name bursting from his lips. Spurts of seed coated her vagina as he came. Her pussy quivered around his cock, contracting and relaxing, drawing out every drop from him. He shook as the afterglow set in. Opening his eyes, he stared at Ana in awe. “I’ll always be with you, cara. I promise.”

  She gave him a saucy smile. “You’re damn straight you will. Because if you leave me, I’ll hunt your ass down and bring you back.”

  He laughed long and loud before pulling her close. “I know.” He placed a kiss on the top of her head and let out a sigh. “Let’s go to sleep. We still have a long way to go.”

  Epilogue

  The Hades’ Helmet sat in the atmosphere of a large, white planet dotted with large pools of blue. Veritas 10 sat below them. Ana stared at it through the porthole. A smile played on her lips. Diego was staying with her on the ship after his record had been wiped clean. He’d insisted she move into the big suite with him. She’d said yes. It felt right being with him there. She felt safe, more connected.

  A story was made up about his new appearance that everyone bought. Well almost everyone. Tigress seemed to be keeping a close on eye on him, which only amused him.

  Morrigan, the assassin, had agreed to help the ambassador, and her assistance would replace a prison sentence. She would serve her time in his service, investigating the secret branch of the government that had been growing in power lately. The Chameleon Cyborg actually seemed eager to carry out her sentence. Captain Drogan was just happy to have her off his ship.

  The crew was spending a month at Veritas 10 for repairs, a tune-up, and to ready the ship for the annual inspection. Ana was happy for the vacation. She wanted to get to know Diego better, and Diego would be able to spend more time with his brother before they both went back to Il Doge to check in on their mother. Ana wanted to go with them but duties were keeping her on the ship.

  “She’ll be disappointed, but we’ll see her next time we’re in the sector.” Diego pressed a kiss to her temple as he wrapped his arms around her. “I look forward to that.”

  The chirp of someone at their door sounded and Ana tensed. This was the meeting she’d been dreading since they arrived at Veritas.

  “You don’t have to see him if he makes you uncomfortable,” Diego said.

  “No, no, it would be impolite. Come in.”

  The doors slid open and the ambassador came in without his entourage. He smiled warmly. “I couldn’t leave without saying good-bye to the both of you.”

  He made his way over to Ana and took her hands. She stilled, unsure of how to act.


  “You’re sure you don’t want to join my little troupe?” the man said.

  Ana gazed up at him, horror on her face. She hadn’t told Diego that the ambassador had offered her a position on his staff. Diego stilled behind her.

  “I’m very sure,” Ana said. “I enjoy being on the Hades’ Helmet. Besides, everything I want is here.” She let go of his hands and gave him a small smile.

  The ambassador nodded his head. “I understand. He better be worthy of you. Diego, thank you again. I couldn’t have asked for a better man for the job. I am forever indebted to you.” The ambassador stepped around Ana and held out his hand toward Diego.

  With hesitation, Diego took it, pumping the hand up and down before letting go. He reached into his pocket and withdrew the envelope his mother wanted him to give to the ambassador. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and my family. This is from my mother.”

  Emotions flitted across the ambassador’s face as he accepted the packet. “My father always loved your mother. That much I do know, and if he’d known…” The ambassador shook his head. “Your mother has done a lot for me, and I appreciate everything she’s done. What I did was nothing. If you ever need my help, just ask. I must go now. Meetings all day. Officer Lavender, it was a pleasure meeting you. Good-bye.” With that, he moved away, bowed, and left the room.

  Ana let out a breath she hadn’t even known she was holding. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

  “Just gives me another reason to tie you to the bed and use every instrument of pleasure I can find on you. I hear Drogan has a very interesting room attached to his and Rena’s. Perhaps I’ll ask to borrow a few things.” Diego laughed.