His cock was erect again, rising up to his firm abs.
She held out a hand. “Let’s come together this time.”
* * *
Mace put one knee to the bed, leaning over Jayna. His body was a throbbing mass of need.
She pulled him down eagerly, her hand sliding into his hair. He was careful not to rest too much of his weight on her. She tugged him close for a kiss.
He could kiss her all night. As he plunged his tongue deep into her mouth, he savored the taste of her. He slid a palm up her slim leg, then pushed her thighs apart.
Lowering his hips, he nudged her softness with his cock. Despite his previous climax, desire was pounding inside him again.
“Yes.” She lifted her hips, his cock sliding through her wetness. “Come inside me, Mace.”
He knew Avarn had given her a contraceptive implant when she’d first arrived here. He pushed in, feeling her stretch to fit him.
She made a choked sound and wrapped her legs around him.
He paused. Drak, she was so tight, and he was so big.
“Don’t stop,” she panted. “Keep moving.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.” Her hands gripped his shoulders. “Please, Mace, I need you inside me.”
He slid in more, and then pulled out, resulting in her loud gasp. Then, he sank into her again.
Heat raced over his skin. He craved her, every bit of her. Hot, unrelenting desire coursed through him. He kissed her again, and she responded, kissing him back, roughly, hungrily.
Mace’s control was threadbare. “Can’t…hold back.”
“Don’t.”
He drove into her on the next thrust. Then he picked up the pace, relentless and hard. Her husky, desperate cries filled the air.
“I crave you,” he growled. “I’ll never get enough.”
“You’re sexy as hell, Mace.” She reached up and grabbed the headboard behind her. The action pushed her breasts up to him, like an offering.
The bed rocked beneath them, with each of his thrusts.
“I need this,” she moaned. “I need you.”
Her words inflamed him, but he wanted to watch her come again, this time on his cock.
“How do I make you come again?” he growled.
“Touch my clit.”
He slid his hand down between their bodies. He shifted to his knees, keeping up his plunges into her warmth.
Then he found that small, intriguing nub. It was swollen and he pinched it. She cried out, her back bowing, her hands clenching on the metal headboard.
“Mace!”
Drak. Watching her pleasure, seeing it flood her face…
Her body clamped down on his cock, and he thrust into her with hard grunts—once, twice, three times.
He shoved deep, shouted her name, and then poured himself into his woman.
Mace’s chin hit his chest and he sucked in some air. He tried to pull his head together. He felt so drakking good. Relaxed and satisfied.
He lifted his head and saw she was smiling at him. Her brown hair was a wild tangle across his pillows, her skin glowed, and her lips were swollen from his kisses.
He’d never seen a prettier sight.
He pulled out of her and she moaned. Then he leaned forward and kissed her between her breasts. “Thank you.”
“I feel like I should be thanking you.”
No. She’d made this easy for him, had brought him pleasure, showed him what was possible.
“How do you feel?” she asked.
“Like I won the fight.”
She smiled. “Well, I hope you’re ready for the next round.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Mace.”
“Keep moving.”
His hands were on her ass and she was riding him. Jayna loved having Mace’s powerful body beneath her. Sensation arrowed through her belly. It was too much, not enough, so overwhelming.
She swiveled her hips, her hands curling into his hard chest. She moved up and down on his thick cock. She was sensitive from the night—where they’d slept in short bursts between devouring each other.
Her cyborg might not have had much sex in the past, but he was sure trying to make up for it.
Without warning, her climax crashed over her. She thrust her body down and cried out.
Mace reared up, turning her and pressing her down on her belly. She felt him behind her, felt him take his cock in hand, and then he thrust back inside her.
“Mace!”
He grunted and a second later, he was coming. He groaned, his big body shuddering above hers.
Jayna rubbed her cheek on the sheets, trying to calm her breathing. Then he collapsed beside her. He was always careful never to put his full weight on top of her. He pulled her close, his warm breath puffing on her neck.
It took a while, but eventually she could breathe normally and think again.
She nuzzled him. “I love your body. It’s beautiful.”
He blinked. “I’m not beautiful.”
He was to her. She kissed his nose. “You can’t change my mind.”
He cupped her breast. “You’re beautiful.” He slid a hand into her hair, playing with the strands.
During the night, he’d made it very clear that he liked her hair.
Then his face turned serious. “We need to meet Magnus and the others shortly.”
Reality. They’d pushed it aside for the night, but now Jayna could practically hear the ticking clock in her head. They had to rescue Sage.
Jayna’s fingers tightened on Mace. “We’re going to find her.”
He made a frustrated sound. “I don’t want you anywhere near the Edull. I don’t want you in danger.”
“You heard Vron, you need me to help get you inside.”
“I know, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“I’m not afraid of them,” she said.
His gaze sharpened on her face. “No, I see that.” He tugged on her hair.
“And it helps to know that you’ll be with me. And the other cyborgs.”
The faintest smile touched his lips. “Something makes me think you’d be fine without us. Strong and fierce.”
Warmth filled her chest. She hadn’t felt strong or fierce for a very long time, but now…she was going to get her friend back.
Finally, they pulled themselves from the bed. Part of Jayna wanted to stay there, curled up under the covers with Mace.
But Sage and the others needed her.
“Quinn said she had some gear for me,” Jayna said.
“Good.” He kissed her lips. “Go. I’ll meet you at Magnus’ office.”
Fighting down her nerves, Jayna tracked down Quinn in her quarters.
“Hey.” Quinn opened the door, her blonde-brown hair pulled back in a braid. She was dressed in leather trousers with a blue shirt. “Come in.”
Quinn and Jax’s room was similar to Mace’s, but done in more shades of blue. The bed was unmade, and several swords rested on a nearby table.
“You’re not coming on the mission?” Jayna asked.
The other woman shook her head, her face twisting. “I want to and I had a pretty spectacular argument with my cyborg.” She blew out a breath. “They have enough on the team. I’ll stay and help out here.”
“Hi.” Ever appeared in the doorway, baby Asha in her arms. The brunette’s gaze zeroed in on Jayna’s neck and she smiled. “Did you know you have stubble burn on your neck?”
Jayna slapped a hand against her neck.
The other two women smiled.
“’Fess up,” Quinn said.
“Well, I can now say that I know how good cyborg sex is.” Jayna shivered.
The women laughed.
“You’re happy?” Ever asked, a hint of concern in her eyes.
“He’s…so real.” In her head, Jayna thought of Mace. “He’s been reluctant to let himself feel anything for me, but when I’m with him… Everything else falls away. Fo
r both of us.”
“You’re falling for him.” Quinn didn’t state it like a question.
“Hook, line, and sinker.” Jayna’s smile faded. “But right now, Sage is the important one.”
“You’ll bring her home,” Ever said.
Jayna gave a determined nod. “She’s so nice, so sweet. I worry that the Edull might have crushed her.”
“Let’s get her out first.” Quinn wrapped an arm around Jayna’s shoulders. “Whatever she’s been through, she’s tough, and she’ll have all of us to help her.”
“I’m so glad you rescued me.” Jayna hugged both of them, and dropped a quick kiss to baby Asha’s perfectly formed nose.
“Now—” Quinn turned to the closet. “I have fighting leathers for you to wear. Let’s get you decked out.”
Jayna set her shoulders back and nodded. I’m coming, Sage.
* * *
Mace stood at the light table in Magnus’ office with his fellow cyborgs.
“One of Rillian’s experimental desert ships has been prepped for us at the spaceport,” Magnus said. “His people spent the night adding modifications so it could make a longer journey.”
Mace stared at the maps on the table. A mineral in the desert sand played havoc with ship engines. The wealthy casino owner had been experimenting with new tech, but it hadn’t been perfected yet. “Will we make it to the coordinates?”
Magnus’ mouth firmed. “Undetermined. The pilot is doing everything he can to ensure we do.”
“We’ll go to the location we got from Vron and do some recon first,” Jax said. “We need as much intel as we can, then we go in.”
“Sage doesn’t have long,” Mace said.
Magnus pressed his hands to the table. “We’ll find her.”
Mace’s fingers curled into fists. He wanted to rescue the woman, but not by putting Jayna at risk. “Jayna cannot get hurt.”
“We’ll protect her,” Magnus assured him. “With all we have.”
“She’s mine.”
Jax grinned. “How’s that going?”
“She’s mine, and I’m not letting her go.”
Magnus’s lips curled into a small smile. Jax was grinning.
“I’m happy for you,” his imperator said.
“Good luck,” Toren said. “From what I’ve seen of Magnus and Jax’s mating dances, you’ll need it.”
Acton shook his head. “I’m glad I can’t feel. These women are disrupting our House.”
“For the better,” Jax said.
Acton’s expression was skeptical.
They were going over the plan one more time, when Mace sensed his woman. He lifted his head and saw Jayna in the doorway, wearing fighting leathers. Her hair was in a braid.
Seeing her battle-ready was like a punch to his gut. “Jayna.”
She smiled, and instantly, he was back in his bedroom with her in his arms. He could still feel her, taste her, hear her cries.
“One hour, and we’ll leave for the spaceport,” Magnus said.
Mace moved foward and she held her arms out. “Quinn decked me out. I’m a fighter now.”
He tugged her aside as the other cyborgs left.
“Here.” He held up the scarf he’d found for her. “It’s a new, high-tech fabric that Maxon’s team is testing. It’ll protect you from the desert sun and wind.” He wrapped it around her neck. “Do you still have the blaster that Quinn gave you?”
She pointed to the weapon holstered at her hip. “Point-and-shoot.”
“It has auto targeting as well. A good weapon for you.”
She sucked in a breath. “I think I’m ready.”
He wished he was. There would never be a day where he felt ready to take her into danger. “I’ll be with you. Every step of the mission.”
She smiled, but Mace was tense. He wouldn’t relax, not until they were back safely.
“We leave for the spaceport in an hour,” he said.
She nodded. “Okay.”
He reached down and cupped her ass.
Her eyes widened. “So, does my cyborg have any ideas on how to spend that hour?”
He kissed her. “A few,” he murmured against her lips.
The kiss deepened, took on a hungry, desperate edge. He yanked the tie out of her hair and the curls fell free.
“Hey, Ever braided that for me.”
His need was too great. He grabbed her hand and dragged her down the corridor. As soon as they reached his room, he spun and backed her against the door.
“Mace.” A hungry, breathy word.
He opened her vest and shirt, baring her breasts. Her frantic hands were at his trousers, yanking them open. His throbbing cock sprang free and she moaned.
Spinning, he backed her up until she hit the table he rarely used. Then he turned her and bent her over the smooth wood.
“Drak, Jayna, you drive me wild.” He shaped his hands over her ass.
“Mace.” She pushed back against him. He yanked her trousers down, peeling the leather over her ass. Then he thrust his fingers inside her. She cried out, pushing back eagerly. She was so wet, and her hungry sounds urged him on.
He shoved his own leathers down and circled his cock in one fist. He leaned over her and thrust inside.
“Yes,” she cried out.
He drove into her, the table rattling under the force of his thrusts. He pinned her there.
“Don’t stop,” she panted.
“I won’t last long,” he growled.
“Me neither.”
He looked down and saw she’d snaked a hand under her body and was touching herself. So drakking sexy, his woman.
He picked up the pace, each thrust causing her to cry out. A second later, she started coming, her body shaking. It triggered his own release. They came together, and Mace groaned through his climax, his vision going blurry.
Once he’d regained enough sense to think again, he kissed the back of her neck. She made a small mewling sound.
“You have to stay safe,” he said.
“I will.” She turned her head. “I want to make a life here, Mace. I want to make a life with you.”
Drak. What had he ever done to deserve her? She wanted to be with him. A man with blood on his hands, with no soft edges, who’d been a fighter all his life.
He held her close. “Let’s clean up. It’s almost time to go.”
She smiled, and they both tidied themselves and pulled their clothes back on. He helped her braid her hair, loving when she laughed at his attempts to get his huge fingers to plait the strands.
But when they headed down the corridor, he sensed tension seep back into her.
He’d keep her safe. Mace would give his life to protect her. She was his. He’d never had something or someone that was solely his.
Never had someone who he would risk it all for.
Chapter Fourteen
Wow. The spaceport was amazing.
Jayna had loved her high-tech lab on the Helios, but since arriving on Carthago, she’d spent most of her time surrounded by the low-tech elements of the desert and Kor Magna, despite the advanced enhancements of the cyborgs.
The spaceport, however, was slick and futuristic. Giant starships of all shapes and sizes were parked out on the tarmac. As they passed through the airy terminal building, she took in all the glass and shiny metal.
Magnus led them out a doorway, and soon they were striding across the tarmac toward a sleek, silver ship. A couple were waiting for them by the ship’s entry ramp.
Wowser, the man was gorgeous. He had the kind of face that made a woman look not twice, but fifty times.
“Rillian,” Magnus said.
“Magnus,” the man drawled.
So, this was the owner of the Dark Nebula Casino. The woman beside him stepped forward, holding out a hand.
“Jayna, we haven’t met yet. I’m Dayna Caplan.”
From Earth. Dayna had been a former cop before she’d joined security on a ship that ran supplies to Fortun
a Space Station. She’d been abducted by the Thraxians as well.
“Nice to meet you,” Jayna said. “Great name, by the way.”
The human woman squeezed her fingers and smiled. “I love yours as well. I’m glad to see that you’ve come through your ordeal.” Dayna’s nose wrinkled. “Ordeal. Not the right word for the horror.”
No, but then again, no word was right. “Thank you. You too.”
Dayna glanced at Rillian and smiled. “Yes, I’m very happy to be where I am today.”
Rillian looked back at her, the man’s silver gaze on his mate’s face. They smiled at each other and Jayna shivered.
Mace touched Jayna’s arm, and as she witnessed the small move, a smile appeared on the other woman’s face.
“Good luck out there,” Dayna said.
Rillian nodded. “The ship is fueled and the pilot’s ready to go. He’s stocked up on spare parts.” The casino owner’s face took on a serious edge. “You’ll be pushing past the ship’s capabilities.”
Jayna pressed a hand to her churning stomach. They had to make it.
Rillian nodded. “Good hunting.”
“Bring them home,” Dayna added.
Following Mace onto the ship, Jayna tried to calm her nerves. Glancing around the sleek interior, she felt like she’d stepped onto some fancy private plane. The ship had wide, comfy seats at the back, and a cockpit with two pilots’ chairs up front, sitting behind an angular viewscreen.
The pilot, a stocky man with a neat beard, rose from his seat and waved them in. Jax slid into the copilot’s seat. Magnus lowered into a seat, facing forward.
“I’m Captain Dachard Millik.” The pilot’s voice was a deep rumble.
Jax nodded. “Rillian said you’re the best, Dachard.”
“I’ll do everything I can to get you where you’re going.” The man grunted and dropped back into his seat. “Hate slavers.”
Mace sat and gestured to the seat beside him. Jayna joined him, and behind her, Acton and Toren settled into their seats. Mace leaned over and helped her do up her straps. The engines rumbled to life, sending vibrations up through the seats.
The takeoff was smooth and Jayna smiled. She’d always loved takeoff. It gave her a sense of adventure.
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