Secrets Vol 2

  242 Angela Knight

  realize my father was wrong, about that and other things. Some systems are so corrupt they can't be changed. They simply can't tolerate anything but evil. If you try to change them, they' 11 kill you. And if you just go along, they'll corrupt you." Softly she added, "That's what happened to Henry. And ultimately, it's what would have happened to me."

  "I think you're selling yourself short. Enemy or not, you've never been anything but honorable." Roarke grimaced. "Even when I didn't want to admit it."

  She shook her head, the small movement causing her body to drift in the air until she reached out and grabbed the handhold again. "Since I'd become captain, I'd begun to finally see what the CSS was doing. Often I was appalled, it was so totally opposite everything I knew to be just. I considered resigning a hundred times, but I always rationalized my way into staying."

  She shrugged. "I reasoned that my father's enemies would use my leaving the service to make him look bad, I reasoned that I was protecting the lives of innocent Coalition civilians, I reasoned that soon he would be president and the corruption would end." Taking a deep breath, Elise added, bluntly, savagely, "But the fact was I'd worked fifteen years of my life to win this ship, and I didn't want to lose it."

  "Sounds to me like you were guilty of being human."

  "Unfortunately that's no excuse." She put her slim foot into the hoop and gently pushed. Slowly, her unbound hair forming a swirling halo around her head, Elise floated upward. "But now that doesn't matter. I've lost it all anyway. My crew, my ship, my home. My father."

  He looked up at her as she hovered over him, her body long and lush in the white coveralls he'd given her in lieu of the uniform she'd refused to wear any longer. "Elise..."

  She was staring fixedly at the globe of Earth, its blue light washing her face in cool radiance. "Losing him.. .it's like when someone you love dies of a long, wasting illness. There's grief and pain, but there's also a kind of relief. Because it's over." Her eyes seemed to

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  be growing larger, an effect caused by tears filling them, yet unable to fall. "I never realized how working for those bastards had eaten at me all these years. And without meaning to, he'd tied me to them." Impatiently, she dashed a hand over her face. The tears spun away, glittering in the earthlight. "But God, Roarke, it hurts."

  Feeling helpless in the face of her grief, he pushed off from his handhold and floated to join her. "Elise..." Gently he caught her shoulders. She turned and flowed against him, wrapping her arms tightly around his ribs, the movement tumbling them both into a slow spin.

  He felt her small, slender body shudder with pain. "They killed him. Roarke, the bastards killed him."

  "I know, darlin’.”

  "There's no more of us left. Nobody but me. I'm alone."

  "Shhh. You're not alone. I'm here." Gently, he kissed away one of the tears clinging to the feathered length of her lashes.

  Suddenly her mouth was on his, desperate, fierce with a hunger that caught him off guard. Roarke stiffened in surprise, then began to kiss her back. Her tongue swept into his mouth, so possessive and eager he felt his cock harden. Her slim body strained against his. Instinctively he tightened his grip, giving her the strength and closeness she seemed to need so badly.

  "Help me, Roarke," she whispered against his mouth. "Help me forget. For just a little while."

  "Anything," he moaned as the tank spun lazily around them.

  "We need to anchor," Elise said, her voice hoarse with a razored combination of choking grief and sudden, furious need. "Anchor us."

  Instinctively Roarke reached out and snagged a passing handhold, then caught the one next to it with the other hand, bringing both of them to a sudden stop. Elise pulled back from him just enough to open the seal of her uniform, her mouth set in a line that trembled. He could only ache for her, even as his own hunger ignited as she wiggled out of the shipsuit. The clothing went sailing across the tank as she reached for Roarke's seal. Ruthlessly, she dragged at it

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  until it opened, clawed it back until it was off his shoulders and pulled down to his elbows.

  Elise began to nibble on the thick swell of his biceps, then licked her way up his arm and across his shoulder, biting and tasting as she went. After wrapping her legs around his thighs to anchor herself, she stretched up his body to pull the suit down to his waist. Roarke moaned as his erection pressed into her flat belly.

  Her long, cool hands trembled as they traced the plates of his pecs, then explored the weave of muscle that lay over his ribs. He felt her breath gusting warm over his skin, the brush of her fine sexual hair against his right leg, and shuddered himself in raw, erotic pleasure.

  "If you keep this up," Roarke said, his voice husky and rough, "I won't be responsible for my actions."

  Elise straightened, her hands bracing her away from his chest even while she held on with her legs. There was a hypnotic, witchy sensuality about her as her long hair flowed around her head, her gem-green eyes glittering at him through a sheen of tears, her breasts with their darkly flushed nipples taunting him. "Surely the captain of the Liberator can muster more self-control than that."

  "I'll try," he muttered hoarsely.

  "Good." And, wrapping both hands in the fabric of his coveralls, she jerked them down. His stone-hard erection sprang free into the cool air. "Because I'm getting to the best part."

  ******************

  Elise stripped the suit the rest of the way down his legs and tossed it across the tank. For a moment she let go and allowed herself to float, studying Roarke as she considered the possibilities. He was stretched out, his hands locked around the handholds, muscled arms bulging as he held his powerful body taunt. It was a tempting picture—and just what she needed. What she had to have.

  Forgetfulness. If only for a while.

  Making love in zero-g was tricky. Unless one partner anchored the other, it was easy to go into a wild, uncontrolled spin or even bounce

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  off one another altogether. It took strength and self-control to provide your lover with the strong, steady brace needed, not to mention a willingness to stay completely rigid. Roarke hadn't even questioned why he should be the one to anchor them, though she knew he'd probably prefer to be in control. He seemed to recognize what she needed.

  Looking down the length of his body, Elise saw his erect shaft bouncing slightly in an invisible air current. She decided on the spot to reward him for his generosity.

  Reaching out, Elise hooked an arm around his strong thigh and drew herself closer as she opened her mouth for the broad, purpled head. Roarke moaned in anticipation that would have made her smile at any other time. Now she just took him in without hesitation. The crown felt just slightly nubby as she swirled her tongue over it, then sucked it deeper inside. She grasped his hip, angled her body upward and sank, head first, down onto his erection.

  Fellatio was the sole sex act that was actually easier in zero-g, since you could get into any position you needed to and suck as long as you wanted without worrying about muscle fatigue.

  Roarke's back arched as he moaned in voluptuous pleasure. They drifted for a moment, then jerked to a stop as he remembered his task and grabbed hold of the hoops again. Slowly, Elise withdrew, paused to lick and bite gently at the crown, then took his organ even deeper. And so she played, first pulling her body closer by her grip on his hips, then pushing away again, over and over until he twisted in helpless pleasure.

  "If this is payback for using the neurowhip on your nipples," he groaned, "it's damned effective."

  She didn't answer, too intent on the moment, on the feel and taste of him. Forcing away the pain.

  "But for you, I'm willing to suffer." His black eyes closed. "As long as you don't stop."

  Instead of taking his shaft again, she pulled herself close to his groin and nuzzled his testicles. Sucking first one and then the other


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  into her mouth, she tongued them, enjoying the shudder that ran through his powerful body. Returning her attention to his cock, she slowly licked up and down the shaft, then engulfed him for a few more long strokes down her throat.

  "Elise." His voice had deepened into a rough growl. "If you keep that up, / won't be able to."

  He was staring at her with that famished black wolf look in his eyes, and she realized his patience was eroding rapidly. But she wasn't ready for it to be over. Not yet.

  Releasing his hard shaft, she worked her way over his torso, stroking the fascinating topography of his muscles, savoring the warmth of his skin. And his hooded eyes, flicking over her body in that predatory way he had.

  "Elise, let me suck your nipples," he purred.

  "I don't know," she rasped, a jolt of pleasure at the idea stabbing through her desperation. "You've been a very bad boy."

  "Just give me another chance." His eyes hooded. "I'll show you just how bad I can be."

  "Well, all right." She let herself drift up his body, touching him here and there as she moved. Taking hold of his powerful biceps, she presented a nipple to his mouth. "As long as you're very, very bad."

  Looking up into her eyes, he lifted his head and curled out his long tongue for a slow lick of the hard pink tip. Pleasure lanced through her at the contact.

  Then it was Elise's turn to moan helplessly as Roarke began suck and bite and lick at the stiff nipple. Desire coiled in a tight, laced ball in her belly. She twisted her torso to present the other breast to his mouth, and he obligingly, hungrily, closed his white teeth over it. His tongue flicked at his trapped captive until she writhed against him, the strength and hardness of his body maddening her even more.

  Suddenly Roarke released her. His dark eyes burned into hers. "Now." And he arched his back, thrusting his hips upward in invitation.

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  "Yes," she moaned, and hurriedly pushed herself down his body. Ravenous, desperate, Elise wrapped her legs around his hips, caught hold of his hot shaft, and lifted herself until she could aim it at her tight, creamy opening. Tightening her thighs, she grabbed his ribs and pulled until he sank into her, spreading her, filling her deli-ciously full. She shuddered.

  "God, Elise..." Roarke twisted, pumping his hips to help her push his shaft deeper into her clamping flesh.

  Driven wild by the force of her desire for him, Elise began to work, grinding her body against his, though she could scarcely bear the pleasure of the penetration. She could feel the muscle leaping under his damp skin as he struggled to both hold them still and provide a steady platform for her pleasure.

  Gasping, she rode him, staring at his handsome, set face, watching the flex of tendon in his jaw as he fought to control his own passion. Forced to keep her strokes short, she circled her hips, letting his shaft gore her deliciously. Each flex and movement they made drove her pleasure that much higher, until her climax was just beyond the brush of her fingers, needing only one slight nudge...

  "Elise!" Roarke groaned. "I have to...!"

  His hands released the hoops and flew to her hips. Powerful fingers closed over her round buttocks, lifted her off his shaft, then drove her downward in one brutally deep thrust.

  "Roarke!" she screamed, feeling it coming, bursting along her nerves in a firestorm. "I love you!"

  He bellowed in triumph and release. Deep inside her, she could feel his thick cock jetting.

  Later as they clung together helplessly, he whispered in her ear, "I love you, too, Elise."

  ******************

  Roarke floated in midair, relishing the feeling of Elise wrapped around him like a blanket, her body utterly limp, her skin damp and warm with pleasure. Her hair waved around them in the air cur-

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  rents, strands of fine silk shimmering in the blue recorded light of Earth. One of her long, slim hands was stroking his chest, combing through the ruff of hair in slow, sensual exploration. Her mouth was pressed against his breastbone, over his heart. He felt something wet against his skin he suspected might be another tear.

  "What's going to happen now, do you think?" she asked, sounding sleepy.

  "Well, you're not going to that damn prison camp, for one thing. Would you be willing to defect?"

  "After what the CSS did? You'd better believe it." She bit gently at one of his nipples. He closed his eyes at the sharp pleasure. Resting her chin on his chest, she looked up at him. "I think I'm going to tell the crew what happened. All of it, including Scordillis' betrayal of us and Henry's assassination attempt. What they did to my..." She broke off. "My people deserve to know what the CSS really is."

  "Will it make a difference?"

  She shrugged. "Some of them will probably opt to stay in the service, either out of fear for their families or ambition, but I think those who can defect, will." Elise shot him a haunted look. "The real question is, will they be accepted?"

  He nodded. "They'll have to undergo psyche evaluations to make sure they're not spies, but once their sincerity is confirmed, there'll be no problem. Frankly, the Star Force needs all the qualified ship personnel we can get." He hesitated, then added, "That goes double for you. There's always a certain amount of political infighting involved in who receives captaincies, so it will be difficult to get you a ship given your background. But you're too talented to waste, and I will fight tooth and nail to get one for you. And I should be able to pull it off, too." Roarke smiled grimly. "The high command still owes me one for Nygaard."

  She pulled away and stared. "You'd do that for me?"

  "Yes. I'm not saying what I get you will be much of a ship, but..." he broke off and shrugged.

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  Frowning, Elise reached out and caught his wrist. Weaving her fingers through his, she stared at their joined hands for a long moment. He waited patiently for her to speak.

  "I want to avenge my father," she told him finally. "But you and I have just discovered each other. I don't want to leave you. And frankly, I'm not sure I have any interest in political intrigue just now. Of any kind. Not even to get another ship." She looked up at him, her green eyes vulnerable. "I don't suppose there's an open berth on the Liberator."

  "I'm sure something can be arranged," Roarke told her, his voice rough with the knowledge that she was willing to choose him over another ship of her own. Twisting his mouth into a evil grin, he added wickedly, "In fact, I can think of several interesting positions I'd like to put you in."

  "That sounds...promising." But her eyes had drifted to the image of Earth, hanging blue and white against the stars. He could almost feel the grief beginning to ribbon its way through her again.

  "But for now," Roarke said softly, "I think I'd rather just hold you."

  "Yeah," She wrapped herself around him again, her body warm and sweat damp. "I like that idea."

  He drew her closer. He'd finally caught Elise Morrell.

  And he planned to hold on to her for the rest of his life.

  About the Author;

  Angela Knight lives with her family on the East Coast. She's been writing for a few years and enjoys the outlet it provides. Her story, Roarke's Prisoner, was a labor of love and gave her the opportunity to combine her passion for science fiction and her love of romance in one story.

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  SURROGATE LOVER

  BY DOREEN DESALVO

  To My Reader:

  Forbidden fruit is sweet, but forbidden love can be the sweetest of all. Enjoy a little taste.

  The woman who opened the door was tiny, with honey-brown hair and huge blue eyes that dominated her waifish face. She looked him in the eye for a second, then nervously glanced away.

  "You must be Dr. Ross," she said.

  He smiled, even though she wasn't looking at him. "Call me Adrian. And you must be Sarah."

  She nodded, then stepped back from the doorway. "Come in."

  He shut the door behind him an
d followed her down the short hallway and into a room. Her bedroom. As if she expected him to get straight to work.

  Before he could speak, she turned to face him. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

  "Of course." She could ask, but if it was too personal, he might not answer. After all, he was here as a therapist.

  "Are you married?"

  "No."

  "Do you have a girlfriend?"

  "No."

  She let out a breath in an audible rush of air. "Good."

  "Why is it important to you?"

  She shrugged and looked away.

  "Sarah, if I'm going to help you, I need you to be honest with me."

  "If you had a girlfriend, I wouldn't... I couldn't... it just wouldn't be right."

  She couldn't even say the words, give the act a name. No wonder

  254 Doreen DeSalvo

  she couldn't enjoy it. "This isn't an issue of right or wrong, Sarah. I'm here to help you. All you have to do is concentrate on what feels good to you."

  "Nothing feels good to me. Didn't Dr. Lansing tell you that?"

  In a few minutes, he'd show her just how good she could feel. "No, she didn't." He moved to the bed and sat down on the edge. Before he could ask her to join him, she came over and sat next to him, not touching but close.

  She gave a nervous little cough, as if her throat was dry. "You're not what I expected."

  "What did you expect?"

  She thought for a moment. "I don't know. But I didn't expect tall, dark, and handsome."

  "I'm not that tall."

  She laughed, a brief, quickly stilled laugh, as if she was afraid to let her feelings out. Typical. He patted her thigh reassuringly.

  She turned toward him and slowly, cautiously, brought her hand up to rest on his shoulder. "I guess you want to get started."

  He took her hand from his shoulder and lifted it to his lips for a gentle kiss. She didn't pull away, even though her hand shook. God, her tentativeness was sweet, and arousing more than his protective instincts. Surprising. He usually controlled his arousal, decided consciously when to let his body react. "We don't have to rush things. I'd rather wait until you feel comfortable. Until you're ready."