Prime Target

by Monette Michaels

  “What a shame,” commented a portly male from Earth who’d told them he was in salvage. “You have a lovely figure and beautiful skin.”

  Several of the other men at the table nodded.

  Damon eyed the men, each one in turn. “I don’t like other men commenting on what belongs to me.”

  Susa had never had any man be so protective of her—not even Iolyn, the most dominant of the Caradoc brothers. She liked it.

  “You’ve made that crystal clear.” Jahdi downed the rest of his drink in one swallow. “I bid you all a good evening. I need to wet my gills before turning in.”

  The other men began to leave. The card table was soon empty but for her, Damon, and Mori.

  Damon moved next to her and then placed his arm around her bare back and pulled her, chair and all, closer to him. “So, Captain, what events should Susa and I attend while we journey to the cruise’s first stop?”

  Susa relaxed into Damon’s hold and sighed. He was so big and warm. Without any conscious thought, she rubbed his thigh under the cover of the table.

  He murmured against her hair. “Moves like that get a woman more than she bargained for.”

  Susa stiffened and began to pull her hand away, but was forestalled when Damon trapped it on his thigh. “Leave it,” he whispered against her ear. “You get a pass this one time.” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. She relaxed and enjoyed his attention.

  “I’m not sure exactly what your particular interests are,” Mori said. “You haven’t filled out the activities’ checklist yet.”

  Which proved, the good captain had made it his business to check on them. The cynical part of Susa would bet he wanted to know if she and Damon were into swinging. As he learned this evening, he was doomed to disappointment.

  Damon nuzzled, then nipped the rim of her ear, before murmuring, “Let’s not ever fill out the activities’ checklist. Keep everyone guessing.”

  Susa coughed to cover up a snicker. Damon had a twisted sense of humor. She liked it.

  Mori continued, “Tomorrow morning, the cruise activities director has a Kink Around the Galaxy 101 session. That might be a good place to begin. It’s at 0900.”

  “Too early, Damon.” Susa turned to Mori and smiled. “We planned to sleep in.”

  “We might not make an appearance before the evening buffet.” Damon kissed her cheek. “Do they record the morning session? We could watch it in our suite between … naps.”

  Mori’s eyes dilated, and his cheekbones flushed with arousal at Damon’s innuendo. “Yes. It will be on the ship’s video menu.” He coughed, then added, “You can always walk around and check out the activities to get the full effect of what’s available. There are events at all times during the day and night. Many are repeated throughout the cruise to give everyone a chance to participate. If a door is closed, then the session is by invitation only. Those sessions are listed on the Daily Events Calendar, and there are detailed descriptions and information about from whom to get an invitation. The sim rooms, which are very popular, must be booked in advance, and they are first come-first served.”

  “Wandering around sounds good. Don’t you agree, Susa?” Damon kissed the edge of her jaw.

  The light touch shot a frisson of sexual awareness straight to her pussy. She was once again taken aback at how acute her attraction to him was.

  There’d been many men at the resort and now on the cruise who were as good-looking, but none of them tugged at her every sense as Damon did. It was as if the One had combed through her mind and pulled together all the attributes of her perfect man in this one male. His allure was potent, and she felt more than a little drunk from his mere presence.

  Before leaving their suite for dinner and cards, she and Damon had agreed to minor public displays of affection and to let it be known they weren’t into swinging. Damon had insisted that he demonstrate his possessiveness, stating it would give her more protection when he wasn’t by her side.

  So far, they’d stayed on task, but Susa wasn’t sure she wanted to put on a show. The more she was with Damon, the more she wanted the show to be real. She’d found herself seeking his gaze—and touching him—frequently.

  And Damon had done the same with her.

  He was like a highly addictive drug, one in which she’d like to indulge.

  “Yes, let’s wander.” She laid her head on his shoulder and realized they fit perfectly. “So, does that mean I get final say on my shopping choices?”

  Damon chuckled. “Nice try, sweetheart. But I get veto powers on the clothing. Anything else you wish to buy, you may.”

  Susa harrumphed. “That’s what I thought.”

  Damon guided Susa, a hand low on her bare back, into Sessions, one of the cruise ship’s many bars. The large semi-circular room was dimly lit by small lamps on the tables and sconces on the wall. There were multiple levels of intimate booths that gave unobstructed views of the raised stage, which was now dark and the curtain closed. The room was served by two bars, one along each side of the room.

  Susa hesitated and trembled under his hand.

  “What is it, Susa?” Damon checked for anyone or anything that might’ve upset her, but saw nothing other than the hostess approaching them, and she looked harmless.

  “I’m not used to so many people in one room.” She bit her lush lower lip. “Silly, right?”

  The booths were beginning to fill up. The show was due to start soon.

  “Not at all. If you aren’t comfortable, we leave.” He felt her apprehension and it made him want to punch something. He’d do anything to keep her from feeling anxious.

  “No. No. I need to get used to being around people, right? I can do this.” She turned to look up at him. “But could we sit up on the highest level?”

  He had a feeling she left out “closest to the door and escape.” The booths on the highest level also had the most privacy.

  Damon looked at the diminutive and scantily clad hostess who hovered at their side. “I want a booth on the top row and with as straight of a view of the stage as possible.”

  “Of course, Mr. Martin.” Obviously, Mori had made his presence known to the ship’s personnel. The cruise line owners must want to renegotiate their docking fees and price margins on rooms and entertainment for their stopovers at his jump station. The hostess smiled. “Follow me.”

  She led them to a two-person booth straight back from the stage. “This booth, if it pleases you, will be held for your and Ms. Anghard’s exclusive use for the duration of the cruise.”

  “That would be perfect. Thank you.” Damon slipped the woman a generous tip.

  The hostess murmured, “I’ll send your waitress over right away.”

  Susa looked around and then turned glowing eyes at Damon. “It feels less crowded up here. Plus, we’ll have a good view of the entertainment.”

  “Whatever in the seven hells of Jupiter that is,” muttered Damon as he moved to allow Susa to slide into the banquette seating. After she slid onto the curved leather seat, he followed her in and pulled her against his side. “Would you like a drink?”

  “White wine would be nice. Something dry. You pick.” Susa looked over the room, then turned to him, her nose scrunched and a frown on her lips. “Damon, are we over-dressed?”

  “No.” Damon snorted. “Everyone else is under-dressed.” That was an understatement. He’d noted as they approached their table that the couples in the occupied booths near theirs were all but naked.

  “I wasn’t aware that clothing was optional in the more public spaces,” he said.

  Susa giggled. “Maybe we need to attend the introductory session tomorrow morning. Whatever the dress code is, you may have to rethink your opinion on my wardrobe. I’m betting the shops won’t have anything with as much fabric as any of the outfits we chose at the resort.”

  Damon would’ve commented, but the waitress appeared at his side. So close he could feel the warmth coming off her body.

  “Good e
vening. My name is Adina. Welcome to Sessions. May I take your drink order? Would you like to see the bar’s small plates menu?”

  Damon turned toward the waitress and found two perfectly formed—had to be fake—naked breasts with pierced nipples staring him in the face. His gaze lowered. Thank fuck, she had on a thong. For a second, he couldn’t remember what she’d asked.

  “A glass of your best dry white wine for the lady and a Valerian whiskey, neat, for me,” Damon said.

  “Yes, sir.” The waitress had moved to Susa’s side of the booth. “Would you like any food, ma’am?”

  After a second or two, Susa turned away from the waitress. “Damon?”

  “Would you like something to eat, Susa?” He picked up her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers.

  “I am a bit hungry. What do you recommend?” Susa asked the waitress.

  “The Volusian ox steer sliders are very popular. There are four to an order and are about two bites each.”

  “Damon?” Susa rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. “Do those sound good to you?”

  “Give us an order of those. Thanks.” Damon smiled, dismissing the waitress.

  “And Adina,” Susa said as the woman turned to leave, “you’re very attractive, but I’m totally a one-man woman.”

  The waitress’s smile dimmed, then she nodded and scurried off.

  “Did I miss seeing her proposition you?” Damon asked. “I’m fucking sitting here.”

  Susa patted his fisted hand where it lay on the table. “She’s a telepath and a very strong sender. I’m not a telepath”—although she seemed to be with Geep and that one time with Damon—“so I answered her verbally to make sure she knew I wasn’t interested. She also thinks you’re an excellent specimen—for a man.”

  “Great. Our lesbian waitress thinks I’m a hunk.” Damon made a derisive sound.

  Susa laughed, a full-throated, lush sound that punched him in the gut. His ever-present erection thrust against the zippered placket of his dress pants. The evening, so far, had been an exercise in torture—sexual torture.

  Besides being a beautiful woman any man would be proud to squire, Susa was also a great companion. Her sense of humor matched his. Her card play impressed him—and she’d maintained intelligent conversation on a variety of topics with the other players while trouncing them almost every hand. Snuggled next to him, she fit perfectly against his side and smelled like heaven and hell all rolled into one.

  If he could’ve custom-ordered a woman, she’d be exactly like Susa.

  His vow not to touch her in any way but the most innocent caresses and kisses was becoming harder to keep by the nanosecond. But he’d be damned if he’d violate his word.

  “Your drink, sir.” The waitress placed the whiskey in front of him.

  Damon realized Susa had been served. He’d been so lost in thought he hadn’t even been aware of the waitress’s approach or the fact the footlights around the stage had been turned on, though the curtain was still closed. What a protector he was turning out to be.

  Susa turned to look at him. “I asked Adina what the entertainment would be this evening, but she just grinned and told me it would be a stimulating exhibition.” Susa frowned. “Her stimulating and our stimulating might not be the same. Since this is an adults-only cruise, I imagine the show could include a wide range of sexual kinks.” She took a sip of her wine. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

  More sexual stimulation? That’s all he needed. He’d thought the entertainment would be singers or maybe a comedian. He really needed to check out the com-tablet provided by the cruise line and read over all the activities on the ship so he wouldn’t be blind-sided again. That or attend Kink Around the Galaxy 101 at 0900.

  Damon mentally kicked himself. After leaving the casino, Susa had been ready to go back to their suite after the walk they’d taken around the ship. He, like a dumb ass, had suggested a nightcap. He’d feared with his overactive libido urging him to have sex with her that if they’d gone back to their room too early in the evening, the bed would’ve been too much of a temptation. He’d rationalized the longer they stayed out, the more tired they’d be, and he’d be less likely to act on his attraction. Yeah, right.

  He had to face the hard facts—there was no way he could platonically share a bed with Susa. He’d insist she take the bed, and he’d sleep on the floor. The One knew, he’d slept in worse places.

  “Ansu bhau.” Susa breathed the familiar Prime swear words.

  Damon looked up and followed her gaze to the now well-lit stage.

  “Well, fuck.” And that could be taken literally. On stage, there was one woman taking on four men. The action had obviously begun before the curtain opened. Microphones captured the sounds of the action—grunts, groans, moans, and swear words in multiple languages—and broadcast them to speakers mounted around the room.

  Damon couldn’t tear his gaze from the action. His peripheral vision and his heightened awareness of her feelings told him Susa was also engrossed.

  Was she imagining herself in the middle of the group of men? Or was she into watching?

  The action was also streamed live to large monitors around the room, giving close in views of the action from all angles. The woman being thoroughly fucked was strapped down over a narrow padded bench which supported her mid-torso only. One camera view showed her generous breasts were clamped and hanging down from the bench. Her legs were spread widely and bound by the ankles to the bench supports. Her head was supported by the man fucking her mouth. She also had one cock in her pussy, and her hands were free to jack off two other cocks. All the participants were sweaty, breathing heavily, and the men looked to be having a damn good time. The answer was still out on whether the woman was.

  The sight was arousing, even though he’d never put a woman he cared about in such a situation. He fucking did not share.

  Uncomfortably aroused, Damon shifted on the seat. His cock was so rigid he finally had to use the hand opposite to Susa to rearrange his cock. It didn’t help. The only thing that would ease him now would be to pull out his dick and jack off. But he’d never embarrass Susa that way.

  Damon finished his drink and signaled the waitress for another.

  “Uh, Damon…” Susa whispered, then stopped and silently handed him a placard that had sat in the center of the table.

  He took it from her and read, “Take The Stage Night. Every night throughout the cruise at Sessions. Feel free to place your request for your couple or group to provide sexual and sensual entertainment for your fellow passengers. All participants must be consenting.”

  Susa’s lips twisted into a half-smile. “Guess we should’ve read all the literature on the table before ordering, huh?”

  Damon just noticed the nightclub was now standing room only, with people crowded along the two bars. Also, the patrons at the tables believed in audience participation since a naked woman at a table near them was giving her partner a blow job. “Do you want to leave?”

  Susa stared at the stage. A pained look crossed her face. So attuned to her, he felt her distress. “I’m not sure. I know I could never perform in front of a crowd.”

  Had one of the Caradocs forced her to have sex in front of others? The thought made him want to kill someone. He’d never ask her, but something in her past had caused the pain she now felt.

  “You’ll never have to as long as you’re with me.” Damon hugged her, nuzzling her hair. “You’re uncomfortable. We’ll leave.”

  Susa squeezed his hand. “Damon, this might be one of the more innocuous things we’ll see on this cruise. Unless we plan on hiding in our suite all day and night for the duration, we’re going to see sex acts, planned—and, um, impromptu.” She angled her head toward the couple next to them. The blow job was still ongoing. “So, I’d like to stay for a bit, if it’s okay with you?”

  Damon sensed no real fear in her now, just a bit of trepidation. “If it gets to be too much, tell me, and we’ll leave.”
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br />   “Thanks.” Susa sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. “Once I get past the initial shock—who knows? I might be a closet voyeur and never knew it.”

  The audience clapped wildly. On the stage, the woman shuddered and shook and moaned around the cock in her mouth as she came with, what looked to be, a vigorous orgasm.

  Susa turned toward him, wonder in her eyes. “Wow, did you see that? They all came at about the same time. I think they’ve done this before.”

  “You’re probably right.” Damon grinned at the fascinated awe on her face. On stage, the men shifted places. Every single one still sported a full hard-on. “They must be on erection drugs. Or they faked the climaxes.” Yeah, he was a cynic.

  Susa shook her head and took a drink of wine. “Not faked. See? The one guy pulled out and came on her lower back. The view from the camera aimed at her face shows the cum oozing out of the corners of her mouth.”

  Damon squinted at the closest monitor. “Oh, yeah.” He snorted. “I think this is going to be a messy show.”

  “Looks like.” Her earlier apprehension gone as if it had never been.

  Needing a distraction from his own erection, he picked up a slider and offered it to Susa. “Eat.”

  Susa took a bite, then another. As the waitress had advertised, the sliders were about two bites, so she ended up licking and nipping at his fingers to get the rest of the small sandwich. He could easily imagine her pink tongue delicately licking his cock before taking him in her mouth.

  “Good?” he asked, his voice rough with arousal.

  “Yes.” Susa licked her lips where a crumb lingered.

  Damon mentally groaned. Susa was teasing him—playing the game they’d agreed upon—but it was affecting him in ways such fairly innocent touches and actions had never done before. Yeah, he was in fucking big-time trouble, and this was only the first night of a really long journey.

  “Damon?” Susa whispered. “Don’t you want to try a slider?”

  He looked into her green-flecked golden eyes and fought not to fall into their warm depths. He gritted his teeth before he demanded more than she was willing to give.