Taking Command

by Jennifer Leeland

  Her laugh was short and humorless. “Uh huh. We met because a computer program thought we were genetically suited. I was suspected of sabotage and then, some maniac was trying to kill me. Don't tell me that's not complicated."

  Sashina grinned. “You have a point."

  "We're pathetic.” She was disgusted with all of it.

  "In different ways.” Sashina's smile widened.

  "What are we going to do?"

  Sashina shrugged. “You know about the debriefing tonight?"

  "Yes, Jake called me to inform me.” Bitterness added a bite to her tone.

  "Then, we go to the meeting."

  Daniella nodded. “All right. One thing at a time."

  "Exactly."

  The last time she'd been in a room with the Ang, Daniella had been nervous. Now, she was even more anxious. Though she and the others had stopped Donny, he was still out there and still a threat. Daniella didn't want to hear what the Ang would say this time.

  The conference room was cool and sterile with no personality and the Ang dominated the room with their translucent bodies and long appendages. As the doors snapped open, Daniella's gaze was riveted on the two visitors. Her eyes swerved to Jake who sat at the end of the table, with the Ang directly to his right. It was creepy to have those eight eyes studying her along with Jake's unreadable gaze.

  He met her gaze as if she was just another military witness. That one look was like a punch in the stomach. It was clear he didn't want their relationship to muddy the waters here. But there was no warmth there, no feeling at all and Daniella's confidence sunk lower as she took a seat at the conference table.

  Sashina followed her in and Troy arrived moments later. The tension in the room was thick and uncomfortable. Daniella shifted in her seat and kept her gaze on a spot on the wall just behind Jake's right shoulder as he spoke.

  "The Ang wish to thank you formally.” His voice was deadpan.

  The tallest Ang stepped forward. “We are grateful that you stopped the rogue Tribunal.” The M.I. added no warmth to the statement, though their bodies radiated a soft green that conveyed serenity and peace.

  "We were glad to be of service.” Sashina's tone was ironic.

  A strange sound emanated from the Ang's M.I. Daniella was surprised to realize it was laughter. The Ang had a sense of humor. Who knew?

  "We realize your self interest was good motivation."

  Daniella snorted. “Yes, it was."

  "The time line is balanced. The chaos has subsided,” the shorter Ang intoned.

  Had it? Funny how the outward turmoil faded away, but her insides were a jumbled mess.

  The shorter Ang pinned Troy with its four eyes. “Your pain was unfortunate and unforeseen."

  Troy's smile held no humor. “Noted."

  "Will the colonists succeed now?” Daniella asked them.

  The eight eyes belonging to the Ang zeroed in on her. “It is still uncertain, but the chances of their destruction have diminished. The survival of the rogue Tribunal means the risk continues, but you have survived a critical junction."

  "So, Daniella is still in danger?” Jake broke in.

  The tallest Ang waved an appendage in a negative motion. “No. The focus of the time line has shifted to Sashina Matins."

  The unblinking gaze of the Ang shifted to Sashina. “Your time line is not clear."

  She shrugged. “That's fine with me."

  The tallest Ang continued. “Your future is dependent on your choices before you now. Other threads are involved and we cannot influence your decisions. We have found that ... human emotion is a mystery to us."

  "I'll bet it messes with your calculations,” Sashina quipped, her smile feral.

  The Ang remained calm and serene. “It is confusing."

  Daniella was beginning to think the Ang were being funny. Well, in their weird way.

  "What information can you give us about the threat to Sashina?” Troy spoke, his face impassive and he wouldn't look at Sashina.

  The shorter Ang pointed an appendage in Sashina's direction. “She is the key now.” Its appendage dropped and its eyes swerved to Jake and Daniella. “Your part has played. Now, Sashina must play hers."

  They made elaborate movements with their appendages to indicate the end of the conversation. “The general has agreed to meet with us. We will monitor the time line."

  "We thank you.” Jake nodded his head.

  The Ang exited the conference room and silence descended. Daniella gazed at the surface of the table.

  "Sashina.” Troy's voice dropped into the heavy atmosphere. “I think we need to renegotiate our contract."

  Daniella snapped her attention to Troy's face. There was pain and deep hurt etched there.

  "Can we talk about that later?” Sashina glanced at Jake and Daniella.

  "No. They've been a part of our relationship whether we like it or not. I want them here."

  Sashina's eyes blazed, but Daniella thought she noted fear in their green depths. “Do you want to renegotiate the contract or end it?"

  "That's up to you.” Troy's brown eyes were serious and steady. Unease blanketed Daniella's nerves and she stood up to leave.

  "Why bring this up now? Are you so ready to get away from me?” Sashina's tone was aggressive. Daniella wanted to scream at her Tell him! Tell him you love him! But she bit her tongue.

  Troy gazed at her with a closed expression. “You know that's not true, but this contract between us means nothing if you don't trust me."

  Sashina's face crumpled for a moment, but she rearranged her features into a cold mask. “I trust you.” But it rang hollow.

  Now, Jake intervened. “What do you want to renegotiate, Troy?"

  It dawned on Daniella that Troy needed an arbitrator—someone to force both he and Sashina to talk. His face radiated his pain and fear in stark contrast to Sashina's lack of visible emotion. Daniella's gaze swerved to Jake. At least he has a contract with Sashina. It was a selfish thought that twisted her gut.

  "Maybe Sashina needs someone else.” Troy's voice was low.

  Jake pinned Sashina with his onyx eyes. “Well, Sashina?"

  Daniella held her breath. Would her friend speak the truth now or allow Troy to walk away? The silence that followed was agonizing. She couldn't imagine what Troy was feeling. Tears gathered in Daniella's eyes. She was observing something being smashed to pieces in front of her.

  After a few moments, Troy nodded and stood to his feet. Without a word, he turned toward the door. All Daniella could see was his pain, his pride. She wanted to protest, stop them from ripping each other apart this way, but this was their fight.

  She sent a pleading glance at Jake and noted his fists were clenched on the table as his eyes studied Sashina.

  "Don't go.” Sashina's voice was choked and her face was hidden by a curtain of hair.

  Troy stopped but didn't face her. “Why not?"

  Say it! Daniella's heart shouted.

  As Sashina's head rose to face Troy, tears streaked her cheeks. “Because I love you,” she whispered.

  Troy whipped around and stared at her. Sashina's eyes dropped to the floor. She continued in a choked voice. “I always have. Ever since..."

  "Ever since when?” Troy pressed her, his voice gentle.

  "Ever since that first night after we embarked from Earth. You remember.” She shifted in her chair.

  Troy's face softened. “I remember."

  She continued, almost babbling. “We were so close. No one made me feel so powerful, so connected, but I'm afraid. You have a reputation for getting laid and moving on. I didn't want to be another Dom in your belt."

  He stepped to her chair and sank to his knees beside her. “Mistress,” he whispered and his chin dropped to his chest.

  Sashina stared at her hands clasped together so tightly that her knuckles were white. “I tried to control it. I tried to keep you tied to me, but if you moved on, I didn't know if I'd survive it."

  "So you
kept your distance?” Jake put in.

  "Yes.” Sashina raised her eyes to meet Jake's stare. “I thought if I clung to him too much, he'd leave.” She glared at Troy's bent head. “You've never said anything to intimate I was any different from all the others."

  Troy's head snapped up, bewilderment spread over his features. “There were things we did...” He stopped and his shoulders tensed.

  Daniella's heart twisted. She understood. Troy tried to show his love, but Sashina's fear blocked her from seeing it. Daniella shot a glance at Jake and noted his intense stare was focused on her. She tried to read his expression but came up empty.

  Sashina dropped her head in her hands. “Don't you understand? If I needed you, you'd leave me."

  "I won't.” Conviction rang in Troy's tone. “I love you.” His face twisted into a grimace. “I love you so much it hurts. How could you not know?"

  "She doesn't trust herself.” Daniella hadn't intended on saying it out loud but it slipped out. Troy's gaze met hers. He knew. He studied Sashina's bent head, his eyes compassionate and warm.

  His hand touched Sashina's thigh. “You have to trust me to protect you, serve you and love you."

  Then, Sashina threw herself into Troy's arms and began to sob. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.” Troy's arms wrapped around her and he rocked her back and forth, murmuring in her ear in a whisper Daniella couldn't hear.

  Tears dropped from Daniella's eyes. Jake stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. “We should leave them now."

  The vision of Sashina melted in Troy's arms was burned in her brain as they left the conference room. She and Jake walked in silence to his quarters. The scene between Sashina and Troy played and replayed through Daniella's mind.

  As Jake collapsed on his couch, his fingers rubbed his temples. Daniella sat in his overstuffed chair, leaned back and closed her eyes.

  Finally, she broke the quiet. “At least the Ang don't think I'm in danger anymore. Your job is finished.” She tried to keep the bitterness from her voice.

  She opened her eyes and found him staring at her as if she'd lost her mind. His voice was sharp. “Job?"

  "To protect me.” She rushed on. “Sashina and Troy seem to have negotiated their contract. What do you think will happen now?"

  "Maybe she'll finally let him in.” He was still staring at her and she squirmed under his scrutiny.

  "We don't have a contract,” she stated flatly.

  "No. We don't.” His gaze, black and steady, still pinned her to the chair. Everything in her wanted to bolt, run away from his intense gaze.

  She waited for the words. Why wouldn't he say them? She didn't know what to think. All her life she'd held her heart safe and this time, she laid it bare. But he seemed unwilling to do the same. What held him back now?

  "Don't you want one?” She hated that her voice sounded small and tentative.

  He thrust his hand through his hair. “I'm the first man you've explored your submissive side with, right?"

  She stared at him. “Yes."

  "We're different from Sashina and Troy."

  She wondered where he was going with this. “Okay."

  "Maybe you need to play with others before you make a contract with me."

  First, shock spun through her body. Then, anger welled up and she started to see a red haze in front of her eyes. Of course she hadn't revealed her fantasies with anyone else. She hadn't trusted anyone to want her in spite of them let alone because of them. “Are you telling me to find someone else?” Her body tensed.

  "I'm saying I don't want to take advantage of you.” His eyes focused on the floor.

  She launched out of the chair and stepped directly in front of his clenched fists. “So you'd be fine with another man fucking me, sucking my clit, making me scream with pleasure."

  A muscle in his jaw moved as his face hardened. “If that's what you need."

  "Fine.” Despair and anger warred for dominance. She picked anger. She wanted to slap him, hurt him, lash out at him. “I'll find some other man to tie me up and spank me until I come. I'll find someone else to hold me down and fuck me senseless.” She turned her back on him and started toward the door. “Maybe Paul Lestrano will interrogate me."

  "No!” The word exploded from Jake and he sprang from the couch. His hands gripped her shoulders and whipped her around to face him. “You don't know your limits yet.” He shook her. “What if Paul goes beyond them?"

  She glared at him. “What do you care? You want me to explore with another man, I will.” She shrugged beneath his hands. “Paul will do.” She was goading him, but she didn't care.

  Jake growled deep in his throat and yanked her closer as his hands bound her wrists behind her back in a bruising grip. “What if he doesn't control himself? Something about you makes a Dom want to bind you, control you."

  She lifted her chin and taunted him. “Isn't that the idea?” Her breasts were crushed against his chest, her nipples hard and needy.

  "Damn it.” His teeth ground as he glared her. “He can't have you. I've tried to let you go. I didn't want you to feel tied to me, but you've pushed me beyond all reason.” He grasped her upper arm and dragged her toward the door. He seemed so angry she thought he was going to fling her out the door.

  Instead, he yanked her down the hall to a VFR access. Without a word and without loosening his hold on her arm, he punched the buttons on the console. “You asked for it."

  The doors whooshed open and Jake flung her through it so hard she lost her balance and fell to her knees. He followed immediately and grabbed her hair to lift her face. “No one will do this for you. No one but me.” With violent tugs, he removed her clothes. Anticipation ripped along her skin. She only had seconds to recognize the interrogation fantasy they'd used previously.

  "I won't break,” she shouted at him as he dragged her to the chair and bound her. His cock was huge, outlined in his pants. Her breath quickened as his face turned dark and angry. This was what she wanted. This man, this Dom. Her pussy heated and her skin tingled.

  "Give me a safe word now,” he demanded.

  Her mind snapped back to reality for a moment. “Rogue.” She yelled at him as she struggled against the straps that wound around her body.

  "You're going to pay for torturing me,” he snarled at her. Her head swam from the tension in the room.

  Her response was to thrust her breasts out with her nipples taut and aching. The controlled questioning of their previous encounter in that room was gone, replaced by a frenzy that made her nerves stretch and snap.

  Jake reached inside the black bag that was part of the scene and removed a wicked looking crop. He stood in front of her and slapped it against his hand three times. Just the sharp sound of the leather hitting his skin spread warmth from the tips of her breasts to the junction between her thighs.

  "So you're going to let Paul Lestrano mark you?” He whipped out the question.

  She glared at him. “If you don't want me, why not?"

  Part of her knew that addressing their real issues this way was dangerous, but she wanted it, thrived on it. Maybe this was what they had to do.

  The crop touched her thighs as he laid it there as a threat. “You want him to dominate you?"

  "No.” She blew the word out with force.

  "Why not?” He raised the crop.

  She stared at him with defiance and kept her mouth clamped shut. She knew Jake. He'd punish her for her silence. And God help her, she wanted him to.

  The crop slashed across her thighs with a light slap that made her skin jump and tingle. She held his burning gaze as he whipped her again, this time a little harder. He increased the rhythm and she began to breathe in and out slowly. Her nerve endings screamed and his face grew taut with need.

  His hand grasped her hair and he yanked her head back. He straddled her and she strained against the straps, desperate to stroke his cock, claw his back, pull his hair. His voice was hard as granite. “Tell me why not."

  She t
aunted him. “I'll tell you nothing.” The shine in his eyes told her that her resistance turned him on.

  He leaned down and his lips brushed her ear. “Jesus, you drive me past all my limits. I want to beat you until you come. I want to make you scream."

  She was panting with need. “Then do it.” Her voice was hoarse as the sensation of his hard penis pressed into her body and her pussy grew damp.

  He shoved away from her and traded the crop for a small leather slapper. He leaned over her and one hand gripped her thigh as the other used the slapper to thud along the inside of her leg with rhythmic, controlled blows. He delivered heavenly punishment that made her arch and squirm. His face was a study in desire as he stared at her pussy.

  Then, he began to tap her clit and the pain and pleasure overloaded her system. She strained against the straps as she arched her back and her orgasm tore through her. As the wave washed over her, she cried out her answer to his question.

  "Because I love you! Because I love you!” Tears streamed down her face and she broke into a million shards.

  The slapper flew across the room and he tore at the restraints to release her. Her legs and hands were free and she would have slid to the floor, but his body covered hers. He fumbled with his pants until they were gone and his cock sprang free. He jerked her to her feet and took her place on the chair. She scrambled to straddle him, impaling herself with his penis. He drove deep and bent his head to bite her nipples which sent new ripples cascading over her nerves.

  She gripped his hair and lifted her body to slide over his cock. He groaned as she slammed down over him. To hold her still, he grasped her hips. She squirmed against the restraint and he slid deeper inside her until she arched her back in pleasure.

  Then, he seemed to lose control. His hips pistoned again and again and he shouted “I love you! I love you!” His head was thrown back and he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

  Her orgasm exploded and every muscle clenched tighter until he rammed his penis deep one more time and shouted his release. She was still shuddering and quaking as he wrapped his arms around her. His cock pulsed inside her as their breaths began to calm.