Prime Target

by Monette Michaels

  Damon wouldn’t mind carrying her anywhere. Geep was on his own.

  The little furball made a noise that sounded suspiciously like laughter.

  “We’ll use the workout sim room together.” No way would he trust her safety to Geep, no matter how loyal, ferocious, and deadly the Ragbag could be. “We’ll do some cardio, and then I’ll teach you more self-defense moves. That should burn more than enough calories so you can eat whatever you want.”

  Plus, the exercise would help keep his libido depressed. Somewhat.

  “That would be great.” Susa’s eyes lit up, and her pleasure warmed him all the way to his heart. “So, what do you want to do today?”

  “You can make the choice today.” He eyed her over his coffee cup. “I’ll escort you wherever you wish to go.”

  She used a stylus and highlighted an item on the com-tablet provided to cruise passengers, then shared it to his tablet. “How about we go to Cruise 101 this morning? From what it says here, all the cruise’s daily programs will be explained in detail. Then for the programs with limited space, we can reserve space in advance for the individual sessions that interest us.”

  The more non-sex-oriented sessions they could pack into this next week, the better. “Sounds good. Once you finish your breakfast, we’ll go early and grab a seat where we can see the presentation, but have our backs covered.”

  Susa frowned. “Damon, what are you worried about?” She licked syrup from her lips, then proceeded to suck the sticky stuff off her fingers.

  Mentally groaning, Damon shifted his hips so his erection would settle more comfortably. “Just think of me like a rim-running gunslinger. I like to see trouble coming so I can control it.”

  She finished the last bite on her plate. “After my experience with the Dornians, I can relate. But I’d let you know if trouble were coming. After all, we’re in this together until we arrive at your jump station.”

  One thing he was sure of, when they reached the station, he wouldn’t be turning the responsibility for her protection over to her cousin. As long as Susa was anywhere close, he’d protect and care for her. He’d never felt as protective and possessive about any other woman before.

  “I welcome your input,” he said, “but I’ll be the final arbiter of who is or isn’t dangerous.” He wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Okay, but I’m curious. When was the last time you truly just let go and had a good time?”

  Her question had him pausing, then shaking his head. “I can’t recall. I’m the eldest in my family. My parents were farmers and pacifists and rather naive. Someone had to take care of them.” And that someone had been him until he’d left.

  Her expression was sad, but also filled with compassion. “Who’s looking after them now? You’ve been away for a while from what Borac told me.”

  “I had a friend who wanted to leave the Alliance military and dig in the dirt to grow things. He’d always been envious of my growing up on a farming planet. So I made a deal with him. I bought the farm next to my family’s. He’d live on it and watch over my family. With each year he stays, he gains another five percent ownership in the property.” Damon smiled. “He recently married one of my cousins and plans on staying forever. I plan to deed the rest of the property to them when their first child is born.”

  Tears glistening in her golden eyes, Susa moved from her chair to stand next to him. She stroked a hand over his hair. As her fingers combed through the strands, his cock pulsed with each movement of her hand. “You’re a good man, Damon Martin. Thank you for being here for me.”

  Her admiration … her thanks … filled a hole in his psyche he’d never known existed. When she kissed him on the cheek, he turned his head and captured her mouth. Pulling her onto his lap, he held her close and rediscovered the intense pleasure and satisfaction kissing her gave him.

  A week? Why in the hell had he chosen a week?

  Later on Day One, Cooking for Lovers, Lesson 1—Appetizers

  Susa looked to her left and laughed. “Damon, you’re wielding the knife as if the vegetables were Antareans and you’re going for the kill spot.”

  For a second or two, she was transfixed by the sight of his forearm muscles flexing and rippling as he attacked the vegetables. The image was visually erotic. Ironic since the whole idea of the lesson was to prepare foods that were aphrodisiacs.

  She was definitely aroused—and erotic food wasn’t the cause.

  Putting down her whisk, she moved away from the dip she was creating. He was in charge of the crudités for the “prelude to sex” appetizer spread the cooking class instructor had demonstrated for the class. But at the moment, he was pulverizing the poor vegetables.

  “Here.” She covered his knife hand. His actions stilled immediately. She then gently pried his fingers off the chef’s knife. “Let me show you how to hold this.”

  Damon snorted. “I know how to cut things up, Angel.”

  “What did you call me?” Susa absently stroked his leanly, muscled hand. Definitely the hand of a warrior and not a chef. “Isn’t that a Terran deity of some sort?”

  “I called you Angel. Angels are immortal spirits that live in heaven with the Terran Christian god. They are depicted as lovely creatures and are innocent of all things bad.” Damon picked up her hand from where it covered his and kissed her knuckles. Her cheeks flushed as the sensation shot straight to the juncture of her thighs. “It’s how I see you.”

  For a second, she forgot how to breathe. He saw her as innocent? As clean? Taken aback, she gave a light laugh. “Damon, I’m the least angelic person you’ll ever meet. In fact, I can be very naughty.”

  “I certainly hope so.” He shot her one of the most wicked grins she’d ever seen on a man’s face.

  Knee-weakening lust swept over her body, forcing her to brace herself against the counter. She so wanted to be his naughty angel.

  He traced a finger down her cheek. The touch pulled her back to the here and now and not a week in the future. “You’d better show me how to hold the damn knife. The One forbid, we fail appetizers because I’m better at slicing Dornians than innocent carrots.”

  Susa proceeded to do just that.

  After that, the class flew by, and the ways Damon touched her—stroking her arm, tucking hair behind her ears, patting her bottom to get her to move—kept her need for him at a low boil. Together they aced appetizers as they helped one another with the tasks and the clean up like partners who’d known one another for years rather than mere days.

  Appetizers was such a success, they signed up for all the cooking classes. Susa now considered the sessions as foreplay; she received the impression Damon did, too.

  End of Day 1, their suite

  Damon placed a proprietary touch on Susa’s naked lower back, just above where her sweet ass curved outward. The hand that could wield a battle-blade on a blood-strewn dock in the midst of a heated battle tensed as he fought to keep it in place and not move to caress the tight, round bottom which had tempted him all day.

  “Damon…” She turned and hesitated.

  “What’s wrong, Angel?” He gave her an encouraging smile even as he picked up her hands and placed them on his chest. That’s where he wanted her hands.

  As she traced a pleat on his white dress shirt with one finger, she asked, “Do you think the casino will forbid me from gambling? I’m winning a lot of the other passengers’ money.”

  “The house is taking a cut, so the house doesn’t give a fuck.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “No one has complained. So have fun. You are having fun, right?” He cupped her chin and swept a thumb over her lightly flushed cheek.

  “Yes.” She giggled as she twirled away from him and raised her arms in the air. “I love winning. Especially winning money from self-important apayebote who strip me naked with their eyes, but know if they touch me, you’ll rip their arms off.” She stopped moving. “Thank you. It has to be boring for you.”

  Damon crossed the short distance a
nd took her in his arms once more. She set her palms on his chest, their lower halves snugged against one another. He couldn’t hide his erection, and Susa didn’t seem bothered by it poking her. She adjusted her body so his hard-on lay nestled against her mound. Her height, the shape of her body, were made for him; they fit.

  A week—no, six days now. Just six more days. He could hold on. He had to. He’d promised.

  “Damon?” She stroked his jaw line. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m not bored. I enjoy watching you take those assholes’ money almost as much as you enjoy doing it. Besides I didn’t do so badly in the winning arena, either.”

  “No, but you sat out most of the second round of cards.” She paused. “I noticed you’d throw in when you sensed I had them bluffed or a winning hand. Do I have a tell?”

  “Don’t worry. You have a perfectly blank expression—no tells at all. But the more I’m with you, the more I can read you.” His lips twisted slightly. “I figured if anyone realized I can read your moves, they might object. So I lose enough to make it look good. I don’t consider it cheating since I can’t even explain why I know when you’re bluffing and when you’re not.” He gave into the urge to caress her ass before releasing her.

  “No one notices, lubho.” She wrinkled her nose. “They’re too busy watching me.”

  She called him “my love” in Prime.

  He watched her face as she continued talking about their evening. She hadn’t even realized she’d done it. Warmth filled his heart and the pull he felt in her presence tugged at him more strongly. Hell, yeah, he was her love.

  “What did you think about the entertainment in Sessions this evening?” Susa moved to sit on the couch where Geep perched, his eyes closed.

  The little furball was faking it. He was wide awake and had been since they’d entered the room.

  Yes. I wake.

  Damon startled. That was the first time the Ragbag communicated with him in any manner other than images and feelings.

  Learning. Cilla taught some. Computer help.

  Damon eyed the computer in the suite’s work area. It was on and showed a screen with a tutorial on speaking Galactic Standard.

  Can’t speak. Only mind talk.

  Good. That way Geep could more easily alert him when Susa was in danger.

  Yes. You useful also.

  Damon snorted. The little furball had a sense of humor.

  “Damon?” Susa called out. “Where did you drift off to? You’ve been staring into space for almost a minute.”

  “Geep is mind-talking with me.”

  “He is?” Susa turned to look at Geep and was silent for several seconds. “He is! He’s using simple sentences. Well, that will be nice.”

  Damon sat next to her and pulled her against his side, his arm going around her shoulders. He sighed. He didn’t like her too far from him, even in the safety of their suite.

  “As to your question,” he said. “I wasn’t impressed with tonight’s demo. The rope master wasn’t very good. In fact, I wouldn’t call him a rope master, more of a rope enthusiast. He wasn’t in tune with his submissive. She wasn’t getting anything out of the scene.”

  Susa laughed. “Not until he roped the vibrator to her clit. Then she got six orgasms.”

  Damon chuckled and gave her a squeeze. “Yes, but you know what I mean. You told me you liked tight rope bondage and could go into subspace and lose yourself. She didn’t get that experience, and she should expect it. From what the host said, they’re a long-term couple in the scene.”

  “Sad. Maybe they were having an off-night.” Susa yawned. “It’s been a long day. I’m so ready to lie down and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow’s cooking class is soups and salads. The instructor said something about making a bisque. I’ve always wanted to learn how to do that.”

  Her joy with the day pleased him. He kissed the top of her head. Even the simplest of kisses gave him pleasure. Hell, just being with her made him feel like the ruler of the galaxy.

  “Go get ready and crawl into bed.” He caressed the nape of her neck under the silken fall of her hair. “I’ll be along in a bit. I want to check in with Borac, then I’ll join you.” For another night of torture and delight.

  “Okay. Give him my love, please. I’ll call him and Cissy tomorrow.” Susa shifted, casting him a worried look. “Did it bother you that I sort of migrated in the bed and ended up lying all over you this morning?”

  “You were awake?” Had she felt his morning erection?

  “Sort of.” She shrugged. “Did it bother you? Do we need to place pillows between us? I could sleep on the couch.”

  “No.” Damon’s firm tone startled her. “No,” he said more softly. “Angel, we agreed to cuddle, right?” She nodded. “I loved having you snuggled up against me and holding onto me. So, no, we don’t need anything blocking your movements, and no, you aren’t sleeping on the couch.”

  “Okay.” She leaned over and kissed his chin. “See you in bed.”

  She left the room with Geep scurrying after her.

  Only six more days. After that affirmation, Damon pulled out his com-device and called Borac.

  Chapter 16

  Cooking for Lovers, Lesson 2, Salads and Soups, Day Two

  Damon washed vegetables for the arugula salad that the instructor guaranteed would spice up their sex lives. He was fairly sure he needed nothing to spice up any sex he might have with Susa, but he’d keep it in mind for the future.

  He cast a side glance at his lovely cooking partner. Today’s outfit was another one of her body-conscious jumpsuits in a bluish-green color that set off her lightly bronzed skin and dark hair and made the green flecks in her golden eyes stand out. He wasn’t the only one noticing, either. He shot one man a deathly glare and was gratified to see the asshole blanch and turn his attention back to his culinary skills.

  “Damon.” Susa’s tone was mildly chiding. “You’re scaring our classmates.”

  He grinned. “Yeah.”

  She giggled and shook her head. “He was only looking. Plus, he’s married. His wife went out of her way to introduce herself since we share a cooking space with them.”

  “Where was I when this introduction happened?” He frowned as he placed the rinsed arugula in the serving bowl provided, then turned to the tomatoes.

  “It was yesterday. You and her husband were gathering supplies for the appetizers.” Susa continued to stir the creamy artichoke bisque she was making. Artichokes were supposedly aphrodisiacs. Who knew?

  He grunted as he cut the tomatoes into cubes to be tossed into the salad. “Just because he is married doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to have sex with you. There are a lot of polyamorous couples on this cruise.”

  Far too many for Damon’s liking. During this morning’s breakfast buffet, several men and a few women had invited him and Susa to join them and their partners for sex. He had no problem turning all of them down.

  “Have any women approached you individually about swinging with them and their partners?” he asked.

  Silence.

  He looked up and found her biting her lip as she focused on stirring. “You’re laughing at me, aren’t you?”

  She shook her head, but a cute little snicker escaped. Taking a deep breath, she looked him in the eyes. “Yes, and I told them all no. I’ve told you, I don’t like being with more than one man at a time, and I’m not into women.”

  She had told him, but he needed to hear it again. He frowned. “Why were you amused? And don’t deny it. I can read your moods, Angel.”

  “It was your tone.” She giggled. “You sounded so … prim.”

  “Prim?” He looked at the tomato he’d just hacked into pulp and then back at her. “I am not fucking prim.”

  “No, you’re really not,” she agreed, her voice a mere whisper. “You’re—”

  Damon dropped the knife onto the cutting board and cupped her face between his palms. “What am I?�
�

  She leaned into his touch. “You’re a bad-ass, overprotective alpha-male. Who for that one moment sounded”—she grinned-—“prissy.”

  He snorted. “Prissy?” He pulled his angel into his arms. Taking her surprised squeak into his mouth, he proceeded to kiss her until she placed her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

  Around them the murmurs of the class as they continued preparing food created a semi-private buffer; it was as if they were in their own little world. The only reason he broke off the embrace was because he smelled something burning.

  “Damn. We burned the bisque.” He touched his forehead to hers. “Sorry, Angel. Guess we’ll not be having soup for lunch.”

  Not moving away, Susa rubbed her cheek on his chest. “That’s okay. I despise artichokes.”

  Later that day, Pool Sim Room

  Each day, the cruise ship recreation director changed the geographic location for the pool area. Today’s, as simulated by the computer, was a famous seaside tropical resort on a planet in the Alpha Centauri system.

  Reclining on a lounger, Susa inhaled the balmy air and smelled tropical flowers and the sea. It surprised her that the simulation was so realistic. The fake sun even seemed to radiate heat.

  Over their real lunch at pool side—the cooking class lunch wasn’t much more than a tasting menu—Damon had shared he’d visited this actual resort during one of his Alliance covert ops missions. He refused to divulge why he’d been undercover at the particular resort, but had said he’d always wanted to go back one day under less stressful conditions.

  She had gotten the impression the “stressful conditions” had involved life and death and that he hadn’t left entirely unscathed, physically or mentally. The conversation had helped her understand more about why he was so vigilant and protective. Part of it was in his DNA, but the rest could be chalked up to his life experiences.