LostwithLeo

by Shelley Munro

  “Not very honorable,” Leo agreed. “But why is that so taboo? The sex in spider form, I mean.”

  “Because that’s the form in which they conceive,” Scarlett said. “According to the maid the males of the Spiderus race are not very fertile. Iseult’s sister was furious and blamed Iseult for her husband’s misstep.”

  Betrys sidled a little closer and tugged at her robe. “But Iseult doesn’t have any offspring.”

  “No.” Scarlett radiated triumph. “The maid informed me it’s possible for the male to pass off his sperm and for the female to hold on to the fertilized egg for years. I think that somehow, Leo triggered something in Iseult and she released her egg.”

  “Ugh.” Leo shuddered. “Thank God you dug it out of me. The thing is dead, right?”

  “Very dead.” Saber picked up the jar and studied the contents. “It’s not moving any longer. The vinegar has killed it.”

  “I thought Ma was crazy wanting to bring the contents of her pantry and stocking up on bulky stuff.” Scarlett shrugged. “I told her it was a waste of space when we could use my food replicator, but she’s saved our skins a few times. Vinegar isn’t something I’d consider necessary to replicate later. Burgers and fries, yes. Chocolate.” She sent Saber a rueful grin. “I believed I’d packed the important things.”

  “Maybe Iseult senses her young.” Betrys tugged her robe again and darted quick glances at each of them. “The tie between mother and child is strong in most races. Why should Iseult be any different? If what Scarlett says is right, then I don’t think Iseult knows or understands what is happening. How old was she when she left Spiderus?”

  “She was sixteen cycles, not much more than a child,” Scarlett said. “She was given an advisor to go with her.”

  “The advisor died,” Betrys added. “That’s why she hired me.”

  “So you’re saying Iseult is working on instinct rather than real knowledge.” Leo digested Scarlett’s research, but it didn’t change his poor opinion of Iseult.

  “Iseult isn’t much older than Scarlett,” Saber said.

  “That doesn’t give her a pass to kill men,” Betrys snapped, her hands fisting at her sides. “She’s murdered every man I procured for her, apart from Leo. She keeps Ricci locked away and grants me access to see him when it suits her purposes. And look what she did to Leo. Don’t you dare feel sorry for her!”

  “She’s a murderer.” Saber met Betrys’s fury with a calm and level stare. “She will be punished.”

  “How?” Betrys demanded. “How will she suffer? We can’t give those men back their lives. Dead is dead.”

  “Steady, sweetheart.” Leo’s heart ached for her. While she was still alive, she’d suffered as much as the men who’d lost their lives. Every time she’d recruited a new lover for Iseult, she’d lost a little bit more of herself. “Saber is trying to help.”

  “Sorry,” she whispered and kept her gaze on her feet.

  “Look at me,” Leo said sharply, his heart drumming against his ribs until Betrys lifted her head. Something in him twisted on seeing her expression.

  She reminded him of a dog he’d come across while he was playing by the river with his friend Craig. It had cowered, mistrust shining in its eyes even though hunger drove the creature close to snatch the food Leo held. He and that dog had spent years together and had hours of fun. Right from the start, he’d known he and the dog that he’d named James were meant to be a team. And now he had the same gut feeling about Betrys.

  “Betrys, we need to work together if we want to keep everyone, including you and Ricci, safe. We all have our part to play, but it’s a team effort. No one blames you. Shit happens and we deal with the mess together. That’s the Mitchell way.” Leo glanced away from Betrys to find Saber grinning at him and Scarlett gaping, her mouth open in an unattractive gawk.

  Saber’s grin held a trace of smugness. “You listened to some of my team talks.”

  “Hard not to absorb some of your ranting.” Leo felt his lips quirk up at the corners. While he’d been in a bad place for months, and yeah, maybe some of it was Betrys’s fault, he now knew what he wanted, and it wasn’t just revenge. It wasn’t just payback and the chance to punch Iseult in her arrogant nose.

  He wanted Betrys.

  “Betrys is right,” Saber said. “We’ve moved ahead, but we haven’t decided what we’re going to do once we have Ricci. We need a plan because we can’t have Iseult preying on our family or employees. Or other unwary men either.”

  Scarlett shot a glance at the jar and shuddered. “We can warn our employees. We should inform them.”

  “We don’t want to run the risk of Iseult hearing rumors.” Leo understood the sentiment, but there was too much at stake here. “Or suspecting a trap.”

  “But you can’t let Iseult snatch one of your employees either. She expects me to get a man to sign her contract. What am I going to do?”

  Saber began prowling around the bedroom. Leo knew his older brother found it easier to think while in motion. He came to an abrupt halt and turned to face them. “Reiterate to her that you’re having trouble because the employees are well-paid here. And happy in their work.”

  “But what if she approaches someone?” Leo asked.

  Betrys shook her head. “She won’t. At least she hasn’t before. I’ll know more once I meet her tomorrow morning, but she doesn’t recruit the men she feeds off.”

  “She didn’t want to see you earlier?” Scarlett inquired. “Wouldn’t she want to castigate you in your failure in finding new prey?”

  Betrys sat on the corner of Leo’s bed, her robe a swish of white around her slender frame. She pulled a small box from a pocket and turned it around and around in her hands. “Normally she would, but I told you she’s been strange. Unpredictable.”

  Scarlett chuckled, her amusement billowing out like a fountain. “Tell our employees Iseult has the clap—an alien disease transmitted during sex that will make their willies drop off. Tell them Leo has caught the disease, and authorities have asked us to make sure Iseult isn’t able to pass on the disease while they work on extradition orders. Tell them they mustn’t discuss the matter with any of the guests.”

  “Hey!” His sister’s impish wink made Leo want to laugh.

  “That’s too complicated.” Saber rejected the idea. “I’ll call a meeting with the staff and tell them Iseult refused to have the standard shots to prevent disease and conception and as such, she may enjoy the facilities but will not be given the freedom to have sex with our employees. I’ll tell everyone it’s a matter of safety.”

  “They’ll gossip,” Scarlett warned.

  “I’ll tell them anyone who is caught discussing the matter will be sacked.” Saber’s voice hardened. “They’ll believe me.”

  Betrys hummed at the back of her throat before raising her head. “What about if I tell Iseult I have a selection of possibilities?” she asked, appearing to think aloud. “I could tell her I’d arrange a meeting with each male for her to choose the one she prefers best, then I’ll do the negotiations to secure a contract.”

  “What if she decides to jump the man she’s interviewing?” Scarlett asked.

  “I don’t think she will. She might kill the men she feeds off, but she never touches them or even sees them before I have a signed contract in hand. I had to sign a contract with her too. She is big on getting the terms and remuneration signed off in writing before she acts.”

  “That might work, and it would allow us all to meet her too. Leo, you can go along in your feline form.” Saber’s words held an edge of challenge.

  “I’ll do it.” Somehow he’d pull himself together and shift to feline form. “But then what? We can’t turn her in to the authorities on Dalcon because that would implicate Betrys. And what’s to stop her from grabbing any one of us and not bothering about her precious contract?”

  “All I can tell you is that she has never done that before. She insists on a signed contract first. I don’t know wh
y, and I haven’t pushed because of her threats regarding Ricci.” She turned the box in her hands before looking up and scanning faces. “What if we reported her to her own people? Would they do something to stop rumors spreading about their race? In fact, there’s nothing to stop us contacting them now and putting things in motion.”

  “I can do that,” Scarlett agreed. “I’ll contact the maid and find out who we should approach.”

  “Done.” Saber headed for the door. “I’ll call a meeting. Get some rest, Leo. I’ll get the kitchen to send you a meal.”

  “Thanks,” Leo said.

  Everyone filed out of his room until only he and Betrys remained.

  “I hope this works.” Leo cautiously shifted to find a more comfortable spot and to release some of the tension left behind.

  “If contacting the Spiderus people doesn’t work, I’ll report Iseult to the authorities on Dalcon myself. She can’t be allowed to feed on and kill men any longer.”

  “Or we could just kill her.” Leo indicated her box of cards with a jerk of his head. “Let’s see what your cards say.”

  * * * * *

  Betrys woke early, before the light of the solar star pierced the darkness of the night. For a time, she attempted to drop back to the state of slumber, but her mind ran a busy path and refused to settle.

  “If you can’t sleep, we can do other things,” Leo said.

  “What sort— No! You’re still recovering from your wound. Lights on. Low illumination.”

  “No problem. I’ll let you do all the work.” Leo kicked off the covers to reveal his nakedness. His cock thrust upward, and he wore a distinct smirk. “It’s too soon to contact the twins about your son.”

  Betrys tried to ignore his cheekiness, tried to tell herself she needed to get out of bed and prepare for the coming meeting with Iseult. She tried and failed, seduced by the twinkle in his eyes. Scooting closer, she placed her hand on his hip, below the white dressing on his stomach, and used her fingertips to trace his silky skin.

  Fire and chills warred within her body, and her mind leaped onto the same page as Leo’s. She moved her fingertips lower, one finger stroking down the crease of his thigh and torso.

  “Is that all you’re going to do?”

  “No.”

  “Well?”

  “I know you’re bossy. Are you going to order me around now too?”

  “I could tell you what to do, tell you how I prefer to be touched.”

  Betrys bit back a smile. “Thank you for the kind offer, but I think I can handle this on my own. I’d like some information first. How are you feeling?”

  “Fit enough to fuck,” Leo said.

  Betrys wanted to smile again. “Well, in that case.” She gripped his shaft and encased the tip with her mouth, taking him deep and sucking hard.

  He gave a startled grunt then groaned, his hips lifting as she retreated, her mouth rising to his tip. Betrys laughed around his cock, loving the power and the way she could draw a response from him without trying hard. She sucked him deep again and used her tongue to explore the head and taste him. With her hand, she palmed one of his balls while she ran her tongue over the swollen head of his cock.

  “Betrys.” Desire and wonder filled his taut voice. “Aw, fuck. Betrys.”

  She varied her touches, giving him the lazy stroke of her tongue followed by more suction. Her hands explored the base of his shaft and his upper thighs.

  A rush of moisture gathered in her pussy, an intense burst of heat making her want to squeeze her legs together. Goddess, she’d wanted to tease Leo, but it seemed she was succeeding in turning herself on too.

  She raked her tongue over the head of his cock and was gentler on the underside. A dark sound—almost pleading—issued from his throat. Her name was a garbled groan from his lips.

  Another laugh spilled from her, vibrating around his cock. He shuddered, his hands holding her head in place and tugging her hair from her braid. She set up a quick rhythm. Lick and suck. Lick and suck.

  Leo started to tremble and his hips canted upward. The scent of him filled her nostrils and his flavor filled her mouth. His fingers laced in her hair, his cock swelling within her mouth. She cleaned away the fluid gathering at his slit, and he gave a raw and guttural groan. She sucked hard once more and his cock jerked, semen shooting down her throat as he climaxed. She swallowed automatically, drinking him down until the pulses slowed and ceased.

  “Thank you,” Leo said as she released him and lifted her head. “Now it’s my turn. Lose your clothes, scoot up the bed and straddle my head.”

  Betrys frowned before moving. The curl of arousal spiraling low in her abdomen overrode her reluctance to obey his request. Without breaking his gaze, she slipped off the bed and unfastened the thin gown she wore beneath her robe. It glided to the floor with a swish. She stepped from the circle of fabric and returned to the bed, positioning herself above his head.

  She swallowed, feeling strange and a little vulnerable.

  Leo’s grin was quick and bright and desire stirred, hot and expectant in her quim. His fingers curled around her thighs, his eyes heavy-lidded as he stared up at her. The first lazy stroke of his tongue dragged a gasp from deep in her chest.

  “Like that, huh?” Her juices made his lips shine. “You taste good, sweetheart.”

  She stared at him, part of her still unable to believe she was here with Leo, in his bed, engaging in sex.

  Good sex.

  Hot sex.

  Amazing sex.

  He licked again and applied the gentle suction of his mouth. A noise escaped her, low and breathy and hungry.

  “Leo, I need…I want… Oh-oh, yes. Goddess. Just there. Right there.”

  Leo tongued her. Goddess, he knew what to do with every part of his body. She writhed above him, rapidly losing her reservations about the position.

  “Leo, I—” She broke off when he hit a sensitive spot. Sparks of electricity sizzled and ignited in her, and a moan rolled up her throat and out. “Goddess.”

  He flailed her clit with his tongue again and hit a sweet spot. She exploded into her orgasm, her thighs quaking as she attempted to remain in place.

  Long seconds later Leo lifted her up with easy strength, and she flopped over on her side, her muscles still humming with residual satisfaction. He drew her against his chest and kissed her straight on the lips.

  He tasted of her.

  “It’s still early. Let’s get some more sleep.”

  Heavy-eyed, she yawned and cuddled beside him, taking care not to put pressure on his stomach wound. She sighed and yawned again. He smelled so good and for the first time in many cycles, she felt secure. Safe.

  “Betrys. Betrys, sweetheart.”

  Someone grasped her arm and shook.

  “Wake up. We’ve slept too long. You need to go to meet Iseult.”

  “Goddess.” Betrys jerked from her drowsiness and leaped off the sleep-bed.

  “Fuck,” Leo said.

  She glanced over her shoulder and winced on seeing Leo with his hand pressed against his wound. “My apologies.”

  “It’s…okay,” Leo replied through gritted teeth. “I’m all right.”

  Betrys scrambled into her clothes and twitched the fabric of her robe into place. “I’m late. Iseult will be furious. Where are my shoes? Have you seen them?”

  “Under the low table in the lounging room.”

  Betrys hurried out to the other room, spied her shoes and thrust her feet into them. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Betrys.”

  Leo limped from the room and halted in front of her. He tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear. “Be careful. You have your com-circle?”

  “Yes.” She slipped her right hand into her pocket to double-check for the rigid communicator. Along with her com, she felt the sheath of the knife that Caspar had gifted her.

  “Felix is going in with you.”

  “No. We should save that for another occasion.” She placed h
er fingers over his lips to halt his objections. “I promise I’ll be fine. Iseult has never physically harmed me. Her threats are always directed at Ricci. When do you think we’ll hear from your brothers?”

  “Soon,” Leo promised. “We’ll hear something while you’re dealing with Iseult.” Leo bent and kissed her slow, tender, and when he lifted his head, she drew in a sharp breath. The man kissed with skill. “Be safe, sweetheart.”

  “Always.” She forced a smile to hide the nerves dancing in the pit of her stomach. Failure wasn’t an option.

  Betrys had to force herself to follow the gravel path that wound through the plants and fragrant blooms. A selection of variegated blue leafy bushes lined the path, their vivid blue and white flowers perfuming the air with the same spice scent of the cookie things Eva and Anna produced in the resort kitchens. They gave way to tall trees with bright coral trunks. Their green and coral foliage cast shade over the gravel walkways. Despite the sweet scent and the beautiful surroundings, the distant music from the waves coming to shore, her gut churned with apprehension. She had to manage Iseult and make sure her suspicions weren’t aroused.

  Betrys exited the trees and caught glimpses of the jade-green sea. The waves were louder now and tumbled to shore, several guests already swimming and enjoying walks along the shore.

  Betrys lifted her chin and approached the large bungalow. She knocked on the door, a sound behind her attracting her attention.

  “Perfect timing,” she said to the droid waitress who wheeled a trolley of food toward the bungalow. “Let me take that for you.”

  Betrys knocked on the door again, and on hearing a summons to enter, she wheeled the trolley into Iseult’s room.

  Iseult sat in a chair, the light muted by the drawn shutters. The woman seemed to have shrunk in the short time since Betrys had seen her last.

  Betrys hid her frown. “Would you like me to serve your meal first, before I make my report?”

  Iseult gave a curt nod, then appeared to drift with her own thoughts because she barely blinked when Betrys dropped one of the covers the kitchen had placed over the meal. She placed the food in front of Iseult, poured her a glass of cool water and took a cup of coffee for herself. The stuff was addictive and seemed to wake her up.