Still, it was impossible to feel anything but good when they all came straight to her, each pressing a kiss to her lips in turn. After the greeting which at once felt natural and special, Hope asked, “How’s the new armada coming along?”
Kila chuckled. “Four raiders and a ‘cruiser are hardly an armada.”
“In yours and Lokmi’s hands? With Piras leading the charge? The Basma would be pissing his pants if he knew you three are still on the loose.”
The men laughed, the spate of joy making their dissimilar features equally stunning to Hope.
Piras stretched, his long body mouthwatering as it extended in a backwards curve. “Where is Charity?”
“Being an angsty teen in her room. You Kalquorians don’t know what you’re letting yourselves in for by insisting on producing a next generation. The adolescent years are a mess.”
Lokmi never took Charity’s tantrums or thinly veiled insults—or the overt ones—as anything but a joke. “She’s a good kid. And you love her.”
Charity wasn’t the only one Hope loved. Unable to wait any longer for word of her fate, she gazed at Piras. “Have you discussed my request with these two?”
“Yes. We can’t help but go round and round on the matter, with valid arguments for and against.”
Kila fixed her with a severe glare. “Especially since our civil war is none of your concern.”
“So blunt,” Hope said, pretending her heart hadn’t plunged in despair. She knew then they were going to send her away.
“I don’t want you hurt unnecessarily,” Kila scowled. “I hope you know why. It would destroy me to see you harmed or worse.”
Was he saying he loved her? Hope grasped at the straw with both hands. “Would it count as necessary if I was going in as your clanmate? Wouldn’t it make me a member of the Empire, and therefore someone who should be fighting for it?”
The men froze in place. They stared at her. A bright grin spread across Lokmi’s face. He started to say something, then the smile fled before a much more worried expression. Kila also beamed for an instant. That was replaced by a scowl. In quick succession came another smile, followed by a scowl again.
Piras’s expression never altered, remaining watchful, intent. Commanding. He was every inch the leader as long as sex wasn’t involved.
He jerked his head toward the hall which led to sleeping room the clan shared—the room Hope snuck into each night after she was sure Charity had fallen asleep. “Let’s talk in private, where we won’t be interrupted.”
He led the way, Hope behind him and the other two men following her. Her heart hammered, wondering what Piras would say. Probably no. Probably that they’d wait to consider it at war’s end and after they’d all been cleared of charges of treason. They wouldn’t allow her to fight in any case, even though she’d be of help to them.
She refused to consider they didn’t care about her, that they’d refuse her outright. They had to want her as much as she wanted them. Had to. Otherwise, her life would become an empty void. It startled her how much she wanted to be with them. However, she wasn’t going to fight that particular battle. It was already lost. She loved them. Therefore, they had to love her too.
They entered the clan’s sleeping room with its huge bed, which had seen some incredible nights. The door closed behind them, and Piras turned to face Hope. Lokmi and Kila stood on either side of him and glanced in turns at their Dramok and her. Nervous anticipation was blatant on Lokmi’s face. Kila wasn’t as open with his true feelings, but Hope imagined she felt as much intention from him.
Piras regarded her with the same focused gaze he’d greeted her proposal with. Then he chuckled, shaking his head. “I wasn’t expecting you to say you’d be willing to join our clan.”
Hoping his laughter was a good sign, Hope giggled. “I wasn’t expecting to either—until I had a little conversation with Miss Know-It-All Charity.”
Lokmi beamed delight. “She’s not against it?”
“She’s encouraging it. I guess she likes you. Or maybe she thinks you’re jerks and that’s what I deserve.”
Piras turned his grin towards the wall which separated their sleeping room from the teenager’s. “I hardly believe that. For all her complaints and moods, it’s obvious how much she loves you.”
“Sibling rivalry and hormones,” Hope concluded. “Plus the last few years since we lost our mother have been rough.” She sobered. Had she been there enough for Charity? Hope had been left reeling from Armageddon and the death of her mother as well. Perhaps in dealing with all that, along with taking her mother’s place at her dad’s side in the attempt to unseat Copeland, she’d shortchanged her sister.
I tried to be strong for her. Was it enough?
Kila interrupted the fresh eruption of concerns Hope had carried since the end of Earth. “Your father has to be considered, though. He’s a hell of a good man, but I’m not so sure he’d approve. You joining our clan might come as a big shock.”
“It’s not his life. It’s mine.” Hope was surprised at the strength in her own tone, especially given she’d voiced a similar concern to her sister. Yet she knew whether her dad approved or not, she’d grown into her strength—strength he’d encouraged, along with the ability to make decisions for herself. She told the men, “I’ve been fighting to be able to live the way I choose since I was younger than Charity. Now I’d ready to fight to live it with those I choose. With the men I love.”
They brightened at her proclamation. Piras sobered again all too soon. “We can’t officially clan with you for another year. Lokmi just joined himself, and that’s our law.”
“Dumb law.”
“You’re not the first to say so. Many believe if the clanning requirements were different, the war might not have happened.” Piras looked at his clanmates and shrugged. “But then, maybe we wouldn’t be together either. It’s hard to determine who’s correct.”
Hope didn’t miss that he’d not refused her outright. Piras made it sound like he wanted to keep the option on the table. She could work with that. “If the law is solid on this point, let’s be an unofficial clan. Like you were with Lokmi when we first met. I’m not averse to a long engagement, so long as I end up with you three.”
Piras’s smile returned. He aimed it at Lokmi. “I already know what your answer will be, my Imdiko.”
“When I start taking on clanmates, I’m ready to go the full distance. Why wait to complete the collection?” He grinned at his laughing Dramok and Nobek before stepping up to Hope. Lokmi kissed her, long and slow, as if taking possession. Her body lit with instant arousal as his tongue stroked hers in an intimate embrace. He pulled back, but not far. His blue-purple gaze was soft, and she fancied she could feel a gentle caress on her face from it. He said, “Nothing would make me happier than to know you’ll be my Matara.”
Piras’s amused voice reminded Hope they weren’t the only two people in the room. “Kila?”
“Ancestors, help me. I don’t want her going into trouble with us.”
Lokmi stepped aside so he and Hope could look at the Nobek. Kila’s words had her concerned he was about to cut short the moment of pure joy which Lokmi’s acceptance had brought.
Yet a tender version of Kila’s smirk curved his mouth, and his gaze on her was as gentle as Lokmi’s. He said, “I’m not about to refuse the chance to be your Nobek. Not for one second am I that stupid. The thing I’m struggling with is if you’re to be my lifemate, I won’t want you out of my sight.”
Hope tried to keep triumph out of her tone for fear he’d take it wrong. “I’d have to go with you, wherever you go.”
“I’m not pleased about taking you into harm’s way. However, you are capable of making your own decisions. A right you’ve fought for and earned. I can’t take that from you.”
“Sounds like a yes to me.”
Kila narrowed his eyes, giving her a warning stare she knew contained no real threat. “I’ve got enough problems keeping Lokmi in line. Be
aware if you don’t do as you’re told on my ship, I’ll take it out of your hide, exactly as I would our Imdiko’s. I don’t need you making my life complicated too.”
Hope wasn’t about to make promises she probably wouldn’t keep. “Welcome to your relationship with an Earther woman. Complicated is what we do.”
Kila laughed and threw his arms out in surrender. “Fine, I give up. I vote yes.” He came forward to shove Lokmi out of the way and claim his kiss. “Don’t you dare make me regret it,” he growled after he’d left her lips tingling.
“I’ll do my best.” That much she could promise.
Hope looked to the third man, the one who’d ignited her senses first. Piras had been irresistible from the moment she’d plowed into him in a battlecruiser corridor. “I guess it’s up to you, Dramok. You’ve got to make the big decision.” She waited for Piras to make her happy or leave her devastated. Her insides were shaking.
He’d gone back to his contemplative expression, the one which told her nothing of which way he leaned. “I suppose you’ll be in no greater danger with us than you were on board Copeland’s ship.”
“Less, actually. On the Sword of Truth, I didn’t have you three around. I’ll also be surrounded by the crew of your ship. Sure, we’ll be in the midst of bad guys, but not as up close and personal as I was before.”
Piras gazed at her for another long second before nodding. “All right. I accept your offer to clan, Matara Hope, which will be valid one year from the day Lokmi joined me and Kila. In addition, I agree to you coming with us on our hunt for the Basma.”
Piras’s answer, coming with little argument when Hope had expected more wrangling, shocked her more than the fact he’d said yes. She stood there, blinking at him, her mouth hanging open. She was sure she appeared ridiculous, but she had to replay his reply in her head twice before she dared to celebrate.
Then she launched herself at Piras, squealing with glee. “You said yes! Thank you! Thank you!”
He laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He hugged her tight and kissed her as thoroughly as Lokmi and Kila had. The other two men surrounded them to embrace their soon-to-be Matara, laughing loud.
Soon-to-be? As far as Hope was concerned, she was already a member of the clan. Forever and ever.
When they quieted, a new voice intruded on their moment. From the next room Charity yelled, “Congratulations, you poor bastards. It’ll take all three of you to handle the Queen of Demand. Before you start celebrating in your usual loud fashion, I’ll head out to do my schoolwork on the shuttle. You’ve given me enough of another kind of education this past week.”
They stared at each other. Hope was horrified to realize how much Charity must have heard since they’d come to the Boneyard. She listened to her sister stomp down the hall, heading for the door—probably to make sure they knew she was leaving. “Did you guys know the walls were so thin?”
A flush crept over Piras’s face. “I didn’t realize. She might have said something about it before now.”
Lokmi grimaced as he glared at the wall which had not been such a good barrier for guaranteeing privacy. “Yes, she should have. She must have been waiting for the right moment to embarrass us.”
Hope shook her head. “Now do you see what I’ve been telling you about teenagers?”
Kila said nothing. He stood there, his usual smirk frozen in an uncomfortable grimace.
They exchanged awkward glances for a moment more before the humor of the situation occurred to them. At the same instant, they broke into laughter.
Incredible humiliation, followed by hilarity. Hope didn’t know how many unions started in such a manner. It was her luck she’d begin hers that way, but thinking how Charity had nearly been married to the monster Copeland, it wasn’t such a bad way to launch her clanship.
When the merriment settled, she grinned at her fiancées. “It would seem we have the place to ourselves for the moment. I guess all that’s left to properly celebrate our engagement is for Piras to get naked.” She gave the Dramok an expectant look. She’d learned a particular attitude flipped him from strong leader to eager submissive. Her stare which said she would demand his absolute obedience. “Now, my clanmate-to-be.”
“Gladly, my beautiful Matara.” He set her down carefully.
Piras started with his boots. Hope climbed onto the sleeping mat. Lokmi and Kila joined her, lying on either side of her as she made herself comfortable. The Nobek and Imdiko stroked her body as they watched Piras strip his uniform off. Hope didn’t know about the other two, but seeing the Dramok reveal his strong, graceful body never got old for her. She sighed in appreciation as he exposed his shoulders, chest, abdomen and long, erect cocks for her enjoyment. Then came the lithe thighs. His body was fluid beauty, appearing too supple to be solid.
Once his outfit had been discarded, Piras stood at the foot of the bed, awaiting her orders. Hope felt her control over him. It shook her as it so often did. How could she dare think she had the right to order such a magnificent creature as Piras? Yet it was what he wanted, what he needed from her. The responsibility to do right by him always counterbalanced the power he surrendered.
Knowing it served them both in unfathomable but necessary ways, Hope took her time inspecting Piras, cataloguing the width and cut of his chest, the way his torso tapered so precise and perfect to his waist, the streamlined vision of his thighs. And of course, his always beautiful cocks, curving upward in anticipation of her pleasuring herself with him.
Kila and Lokmi, though they tended to be into the controlling aspects of sex, focused their attention on Hope’s enjoyment. Their mouths and hands roamed over her clothing, making their touches arousing yet distant. It was a slow, sensual seduction, bringing her awake in a steady, rising tide. Observing Piras as they caressed her was a feast for each sense.
“Now my clothes,” she told the Dramok when she’d at last looked her fill. “Don’t rush it, either. I don’t have much of a wardrobe, though what I do have is thanks to you. Let’s take care of what you so kindly supplied me with.”
Piras had been thoughtful when he and Kila had taken her father and Copeland to Kalquor. He’d taken the time to visit a shop selling Earther clothing. He had picked out a couple of outfits for Hope and Charity to supplement the ones they’d escaped with on their backs. Piras had apologized for not giving them more, but the space on their escape shuttle had barely allowed for the things he’d gotten.
The Dramok had taken some delight in sending a private message to Admiral Tranis, telling him he needed to reimburse the amount indebted to the shop. Consider it a small bit of the bonus I’m owed for that ‘gift’ I brought you, the message had read.
“I like to think it’ll come out of Tranis’s account. After all, the fleet can’t very well put a dead traitor on the payroll,” Piras had snickered. He’d seemed like a mischievous boy who’d pulled off a wonderful prank.
Kila had given him a grouchy glare. “Still petty after all these years.”
Piras had refused to show any sign of remorse. “It’s not like I bought the women jewelry or anything of such a nature. The clothes will hardly break the bank.” Kila had continued to appear put out, leading Piras to yell at him in exasperation. “I’m over him! You should know it by now, you jealous Nobek!”
Perhaps the clothing Piras had brought her wasn’t terribly expensive, but Hope liked this particular blouse best, a shimmery pink with a lace collar. The fabric was as soft as down against her skin. The tan slacks she wore were cut straight in the legs, making her appear taller. Piras had excellent taste, she thought.
Speaking of taste, I know what I’ll have him do first.
He’d eagerly climbed onto the mat the moment she’d ordered him to undress her. His slender fingers were quick but careful as he unbuttoned the lovely shirt he’d had Admiral Tranis buy for her. The thought of him making another man pay for his gifts struck Hope as funny. It was a move Charity would have appr
oved of, had she known. Hope giggled.
The men shot her questioning gazes. She shook her head. “Nothing.” She didn’t want Kila mad. At this moment, the last thing she needed was him thinking about Piras’s trick on the man who’d taken away the first Nobek the Dramok had been set to clan. Kila did not like to remember how he’d had to fight so hard to win Piras’s broken heart from Lidon.
Piras lifted her so he could slip the blouse from her torso. When she glared at him, he left the bed to hang the prized top so it wouldn’t wrinkle.
Noting Kila and Lokmi’s hot, wet mouths on her bared shoulders and stomach, Hope re-thought her first inclination to have Piras take her slacks off next. “The bra,” she told him when he climbed back onto the mat.
It was gone in a twinkling, and Nobek and Imdiko fell on her like ravenous wolves. She watched the dark heads jostle for space as they sucked her nipples, sending molten streams of pleasure straight to her clit. Hope was barely aware of Piras stripping her pants away and racing off to hang them neatly next to her blouse.
He came back and lifted her buttocks from the mat, peeling away the panties which clung wetly to her pussy. Piras knelt between her legs and peeped at her, a pleading whine escaping him. His parted lips glistened, as did his tongue, which peeked out from between them.
Hope gathered her thoughts, scattered from the gorgeous assault on her tits from the other two men. She nudged them imperiously, wanting obedience from even the control-happy members of her clan. “Show me to him,” she demanded. “Spread me open so he can see.”
When he found her orders particularly delightful, even Lokmi could be ruled for a moment or two. He and Kila glanced at each other. Hope was struck by the identical grins; one on a brutishly handsome face and the other brightening a more classically pleasing visage. They reached for her crotch, framed by bent and splayed legs.
Electric surges passed from their calloused fingertips as each man pulled the outer lips of her pussy open, baring her to Piras’s hungry gaze. The flower-petal folds of her womanhood were wet. Hope’s clit had already swollen in anticipation of what was to come. It blatantly pointed towards Piras.
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