by Anna Adler
Holly didn’t react. The coldness of her skin frightened him. He held her to him protectively, willing her to turn warmer. The blanket was too small to cover both of them, so he only made sure Holly was covered and he kept his body pressed against hers.
She’s alive and we’re together. It’s got to be enough for now.
Feeling her body in his arms was soothing, but the sedative still pumped in his veins. Now that he had calmed down, its effects were stronger, and he became drowsy. He tightened his grip on her and inhaled the scent of her hair. His eyes closed.
When he opened them again, the lights had dimmed, perhaps to simulate night.
Shit, I fell asleep!
Alarmed, he shifted to check on Holly and froze. She had curled into him. She was in deep sleep, but her head was on his shoulder and her arm across his chest. The slender arm was gripping him tight, like an iron band. Chase stared at her in wonder.
No one ever…
No one he ever shared a bed with turned to him like this. Holly might be drugged, but deep within, she must have sensed his presence.
“That’s right, baby,” he whispered, his voice thick. “I’m here. I’m yours.”
He exhaled. He should be worried about their immediate future, but right this second, he was so relieved. The bond between him and his Mistress sustained him. He relaxed and enjoyed the feel of her body pressed against his. Her skin felt warm now.
Holly made a small noise in her throat and curled into him more tightly. She lifted her thigh over his. Electricity went through Chase and suddenly he was far less relaxed.
“Holly?” he murmured.
No reply. She kept breathing steadily, and as Chase looked at her, he saw that her eyes were closed. But her arm was locked across his chest and her warm thigh was pressing against his crotch. Her physical closeness felt so good he couldn’t suppress his body’s reaction. His cock began to swell, and lust filled his head. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to remove their clothes and feel her bare skin against his.
Chase clenched his teeth and banished the indecent thoughts. But Holly remained pressed against him and he couldn’t ignore how good it felt and how badly he wanted to touch her. To slide into her…to join their bodies completely…
Holly let out a sigh and nudged her hips against him, seeking a more comfortable position. The contact sent electric flares through his crotch.
Fuck.
His breathing increased and his heart hammered even though he fought to stay calm. His gorgeous woman was so close, so tempting. And who knew how long they would have to live; they execution team might be on their way already. The thought that he would die without getting to be inside her one last time was unbearable. A beast was roaring inside him.
But no. Holly was asleep. She was vulnerable and he was not going to take advantage. He swallowed. His cock stood rock hard and Holly was pressing her thigh against it, oblivious.
“Holly,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “Are you awake?”
Holly didn’t wake. Chase gritted his teeth and focused on breathing. His desire was at war with his protective feelings. He needed to keep Holly safe, even from himself. He would never abuse her trust, and yet she felt so enticing, pressed against him and wrapped around him. Other women had ceased to exist for him the moment she had appeared in front of him, back in the IPT facility. And the knowledge that they might die soon… His hand moved, ready to grab her neck and bring her mouth to his.
A fucking animal, that’s what you are. You don’t deserve her.
Chase stilled and forced his hand back down. He heaved a deep breath and gently touched her face. He traced the curve of her cheek with his fingertips. “I would never hurt you,” he vowed. “I’m always going to keep you safe.”
Holly opened her eyes. Chase’s heart skipped a beat. Her beautiful gray eyes stared at him for a second, her lips parting. Then she cried out and leaped on him.
“Chase!”
She pinned him to the floor and grabbed his face, kissing him with unbidden joy and vehemence, laughing, crying and sobbing at the same time.
“Chase, oh Chase, oh my love, I thought you were dead. I thought—” She kissed him and caressed him with such fierceness it overwhelmed him. “Are you really here?” she demanded. “Is this real?”
“Yeah,” he groaned. “It’s real.”
She was sitting on his cock.
Holly cupped his cheek, her smile disappearing and her face paling with temper as she observed his appearance. “You’re hurt. What did they do to you?”
He shook his head. “It wasn’t them. Me. I went crazy because they separated us.”
Understanding flickered in her gaze. “I lost my mind too. I thought you were dead. I—”
She paused. Chase realized she had become aware of his hard cock pressing against her ass. Shame burned inside him and he opened his mouth to explain.
“I can’t help it. Thought I’d lost you. Might lose you any second now.”
Holly’s cheeks flushed and her pupils dilated, making her eyes appear darker. “Chase…”
Suddenly, she pressed him against the mats and kissed him. Chase’s heart jumped with surprise. Her passion matched his as she squirmed on top of him, her hands roaming over his body.
Then she broke her grip and scrambled off him. “Come here.”
Chase barely comprehended, but he followed. Holly stood and backed up to the wall. He pinned her there, his chest heaving.
“I need you,” he rumbled.
“Yes,” she replied, her voice husky. “I need you, too.”
She pulled him to her and kissed him, burying her fingers in his hair. Being inside her was all he could think about, one last time before they faced the inevitable. His heart hammered in his chest. They tore the clothes off each other until nothing remained between their bodies. In the dim light of the cell, Holly’s dark hair looked black and her skin seemed to glow. She was so beautiful. Like a goddess. He could have fallen on his knees before her, but she guided his hands down her back. He grabbed her ass, at which she leaped on him like a panther. Her slim legs wrapped around his waist and her fingernails dug into his shoulders. The sensation sent a surge of lust through him. She panted softly into his ear.
“Hurry. Hurry. I need you inside me.”
Her smooth skin felt glowing hot against his. He pushed her against the padded wall and thrust inside. Holly cried out, clutching him tighter, and he experienced both relief and pleasure as her tightness enveloped him. She was hot on the inside too, and slick with wetness.
Heaven. He heaved enormous breaths.
“Holly,” he groaned. “You’re my sun. You’re my everything.”
“We are the sun, Chase,” she murmured, gripping him tight. “You and I together. Without you, I’m lost.”
Chapter 27
Holly watched Chase dress briskly while she did the same. Reunited with him, she felt in control of herself again. She felt whole. The shock of believing him dead still fluttered inside her, but it was nothing more than a diminishing ghost now. The blissful, hot ache in her loins reminded her he was still alive. Once she had her prison pajamas back on, and Chase had pulled up his pants, she looked up at the black glass eye in the ceiling. It was time to get some answers.
“I want to talk to you,” she said aloud at the camera.
The lights in the room turned bright.
“Tell me what’s going on,” she demanded. “I have the right to know what we are charged with.”
The AI voice replied, “Halina Danek, you are charged with—”
“Fuck off, machine, I want to talk to a real person.”
“I’m afraid that’s against regulations.”
“I’ve had it with your regulations! I want to talk to your programmer.”
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that.”
Holly scoffed. “Fine. My charges?”
“Disturbance of peace and endangering the lives of fellow citizens.”
“Bullshit. I haven’t enda
ngered anyone.”
“You set loose a pet whose training was not complete. Uncollaring a pet in public is strictly forbidden. An untrained pet could have hurt countless of innocents.”
“The only ones endangering lives were the security guards at the wrestling arena who charged in and caused panic. Those are the people you should arrest.”
“The security forces needed to act in order to rectify your misdeed.”
“The laws in this colony are fucked up.”
“Profanities will not improve your situation, Ms. Danek.”
“What about Chase? What’s he charged with?”
“He is an escaped pet. The law states he is to be terminated.”
“He didn’t escape!” Holly yelled at the glass eye. “I set him free.”
“Setting a pet free is illegal and results in the termination of the pet and a lifetime pet-keeping ban.”
Holly glared at the camera, her chest heaving. She forced herself to think rationally. “You haven’t terminated him yet. Instead, he’s locked in here with me. Why the breach of protocol?”
“You have caused emotional disturbance among the Silenian population. A postponement was deemed necessary until the security forces have gotten the population under control.”
Holly’s heart leaped. Emotional disturbance? Could it be that we managed to get through to the Silenians? They didn’t dare to execute Chase before they got the crowd under control!
The AI went on, “The pet was moved into the same cell to stop you both from doing self-harm. Self-harm is forbidden. You ought to be grateful for this privilege. Silenia is a peace-loving place that doesn’t want to cause distress to its citizens.”
“How long have we been here? How long are you going to wait?” Holly demanded.
“You have been in the Cloverfield Correctional Facility for thirteen hours and twenty-seven minutes. Your sentences will be read within thirty minutes.”
Holly’s gut clenched. She spun to Chase, who stood behind her, his expression stern.
“Half an hour,” she said and grabbed his arms. “Oh no. They’re going to come and kill you.”
Chase traced her cheek with his fingertips. “That’s what it sounds like.”
“I’m not going to let them! I—”
“You can’t stop them, Mistress. We both know it.”
Holly fought the icy dread spreading inside her. They were locked up and unarmed, stuck in a cell underground. She didn’t have any means of helping Chase. He was going to die. She threw her arms around him and buried her face against his chest to keep herself from falling apart. Her worst nightmare was about to become reality, after all. Chase held her and kissed the top of her head. His strong arms around her felt heavenly. At least they were together. She would make them kill her, too. They would only get to Chase over her dead body.
“Is that AI watching and listening to us?” Chase murmured into her ear, his voice low, as he embraced her.
“Y-yes,” she replied in whisper. “Twenty-four-hour surveillance.”
“What’s that room in the back?”
“Bathroom.”
“Let’s go take a look. There’s nothing helpful in this room.”
Trembling, Holly let go of Chase and followed him through the narrow doorway. They stood in a small bathroom with a shower stall and a toilet seat. The space was so small they could only stand still in it. Chase scanned the ceiling and following his gaze, Holly saw there was no camera eye here.
“Let’s take a shower,” he said. “We want to look our best for the firing squad.”
She gave him a puzzled look.
“How do you turn this thing on?” he asked, examining the shower stall.
“Do you want to go in there?”
“No.”
No?
Holly reached into the shower stall and pushed a button. The stall closed and began to spray liquid soap into its empty space. The shower unit made a humming sound, and she understood what Chase was after. He wanted something to drown out their conversation.
Chase turned to her and gripped her shoulders. His gaze was sharp and his expression severe. “Okay, we don’t have much time, so we have to do something, fast.”
Holly nodded. “Yeah. But…”
“Do you trust me, Holly?”
“Of course I trust you.”
“I’m going to get us out of here. It’s going to get rough, but this is our only chance.”
Her heart beat faster. “I’m ready to try anything. What’s your plan?”
“If I got it correctly, we’re in an isolated little cube that’s lifted up and lowered back down when they extract prisoners or lock them up. We’re in an elevator at the bottom of an elevator shaft.”
“Yeah, that’s the impression I have, too.”
“And these cells were built for humans, isn’t that right?”
“Yeah. For Silenians. There are no pet prisons, unless you count the pet training centers.”
“Exactly. Misbehaving pets are terminated, so someone like me wouldn’t usually be here.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m a hybrid. I’m stronger than the average human. And I’m pretty sure the ceiling of this cell isn’t as strong as it looks.”
Not designed to hold someone like Chase!
Holly nodded. She watched, anxious, as Chase stepped on the toilet seat. Elsewhere in the cell, he wouldn’t reach the ceiling despite his height, but standing on the toilet, he had access. He tapped the ceiling along the area he reached, listening for weak points.
“Here,” he said, planting his palm on a spot above his head. “Watch out.”
Holly shifted back an inch. Chase pulled his arm back, gathering his strength, then slammed his fist with enormous force against the ceiling panel. Holly gasped. The ceiling panel dented. Chase slammed his fist against it again. The panel cracked. Holly saw a bloody smudge as Chase pulled his fist back.
“You’re bleeding!”
“No big deal.”
He smashed his fist against the panel over, and over, again.
“Your activities are unacceptable,” the AI voice said. “Please leave the bathroom and assume a resting position.”
“We’re just…having very noisy sex here,” Holly called out. “It’s not forbidden, I’m sure.”
Chase clenched his jaw and pounded at the ceiling panel faster.
“Your activities are unacceptable. If you do not cease, I will have to sedate you.”
Fuck.
“Give us a minute!” Holly yelled. “Hurry,” she whispered at Chase.
“I got it.”
He slammed his fist against the bent panel one last time. The screws holding the thin sheet in place gave in all at once and the panel popped outward, opening a square hole into the darkness above the cell. Cold air smelling of moist rock filled the bathroom.
Chase leaped and wiggled himself up through the hole within a few seconds. Holly’s eyes widened in awe. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man. How he could simply vanish through a narrow hole like that took her breath away. She had always seen Chase as more human than alien. For the first time, she witnessed his alien abilities.
Suddenly, the room spun and she stumbled back a step. She glanced around, disoriented.
Gas. The AI wants to sedate us.
“Come on up, Holly,” Chase called. He extended his arm for her.
Holly coughed and stumbled forward. “Hold your breath!” she cried out.
She swayed, but managed to climb on the toilet seat. She remained there, crouching, holding on to the walls to steady herself.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, with alarm in his voice.
“Gas.” She coughed. “The AI is trying to…”
“Get out of there! Come on. Grab my hand.”
Holly’s vision was going dark and strength left her limbs.
“Holly!”
Chase’s voice from above was the only thing keeping her focused. He would come back down to
get her if she didn’t make it, but then he would get sedated too. No. She had to stay on her feet. She let go of the wall and grasped blindly up. Chase’s strong hand clasped her right wrist.
“That’s it. I’m gonna pull you up now.”
He yanked her up out of the cell, fast and effortless. Holly’s vision became a swift blur. He planted her on her feet and Holly fell against him, her knees giving in.
“I’ve got you,” he said, relief in his voice. He held her tight in his arms. “Come on. No gas up here. Breathe deep. I need your head clear because we gotta move fast now. Come on, baby.”
Holly leaned against his chest and tried to process what he was saying. It was dark and freezing cold in the chute. The roof of the cell felt like ice against the bare soles of her feet. The only light was a bright dot somewhere high above. Holly looked down and noticed Chase had put the bent panel over the hole they had come through to keep the gas from spreading.
“Have to move fast,” she muttered, disoriented. “Yes. Fast.”
“That’s right.” He held her to him and petted her hair, urgency evident in his movements. He took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up. “Are you feeling better? Breathe, Holly. Come on.”
“What…what are you going to do?” Holly couldn’t see much around her, but she assumed they were trapped, as if in a well. “Is there a ladder we can climb?”
“No.”
“Let me see.”
“Can you stand?”
“I’m…I’m okay.” Her head was clearing up thanks to the fresh air.
Chase loosened his grip on her and Holly turned to look around. She stepped to the wall and put her hands on it. Rock. Cold, hard rock. She felt around, frantically, but didn’t find anything resembling a maintenance ladder or anything they could use as handholds. She found the cables suspending the cell, but she wouldn’t be able to climb those, either.
“What do we do now?”
“I’m going to need you to hold on to me,” Chase said. “Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
“You hold on tight, Holly, you understand? It’s a long way up and I’m going to need both my hands for climbing. If you fall…”
She turned to face him. “You can climb out of here?”