Conquering His Captive

 

 

By

 

Ivy Barrett

 

Copyright © 2017 by Stormy Night Publications and Ivy Barrett

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2017 by Stormy Night Publications and Ivy Barrett

 

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

 

Published by Stormy Night Publications and Design, LLC.

www.StormyNightPublications.com

 

 

Barrett, Ivy

Conquering His Captive

 

Cover Design by Korey Mae Johnson

Images by Shutterstock/Skuropatskaja and Bigstock/Eugene Sergeev

 

 

 

This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults.

Prologue

 

 

“I thought we weren’t going to do this again,” Fane whispered against Cassie’s parted lips.

She quickly unfastened his jacket, dragging the sturdy material off his shoulders and down his arms. “I changed my mind.”

Her mouth silenced his reply and her fingers went to work on the fastenings at the front of his pants. Reality narrowed and focused, accenting his motivation with brutal clarity. They stood in the foyer of her elegant penthouse, inside the security grid he had found no other way to penetrate. He’d done everything in his power to work around Cassie, to insulate her from the danger, but all his efforts had been in vain. The only way to the access codes was through Cassie Myer.

Their lips pressed and slid, tongues joined in a sensual tangle. He ran his fingers through her thick blonde hair as she eagerly rubbed against him. Desire pulsed through his willing body, but his mind remained anxious and conflicted.

She’d stripped him to the waist and loosened his pants when he caught her wrist and tried again. “It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, but I don’t want—”

“Why the sudden attack of conscience?” She twisted out of his grasp and searched his gaze. Uncertainty crept into her expression and she glanced away. “You had no trouble touching me last night or the night before or…”

Fane debated what to tell her. His betrayal was inevitable. Still, he wanted to prepare her as much as possible. He brushed his knuckles across her cheek, drawing her gaze back to his. “I don’t regret these past few days, but I know you’re still hurting. I don’t want to take advantage of you.” The warmth in her smile sent guilt stabbing into his heart. She had suffered so much already. How could he knowingly contribute to her pain?

“Who’s to say I’m not taking advantage of you?” Her palms stroked over his chest and came to rest on his shoulders. “I needed to know I was capable of feeling something other than grief, anything other than pain, so I seduced you.”

He couldn’t suppress a smile. The more time he spent with her, the more he admired her spirit. She would be so easy to care for, so easy to love. Duty shouldered through the tender feelings, leaving him tense yet alert. Regardless of his admiration, he was here for a reason. A valuable agent had already given his life in pursuit of these codes. Fane wouldn’t let Nicho’s death be in vain.

Framing her face with his hands, he pressed his lips over hers. “I’ll willingly succumb to your wickedness, if it helps ease your pain.” He teased her mouth with light kisses and trailed his fingertips along her neck. Her skin was satin smooth and warm, beckoning him on to more intimate touches.

She pushed to the balls of her feet and fit her mouth more securely to his. Her hands resumed their trek across his shoulders and down his back.

Fane tightened his arms around her and nipped her chin. “I want to do it right this time.”

She laughed. “I didn’t realize we’d been doing it wrong.”

“You deserve better than shabby hotels and a frantic tumble in a stranger’s bathroom.”

“You’re such a romantic.” She sifted his hair through her fingers as mischief sparkled in her eyes. “And such a liar. You knew anyone who walked past that bathroom would know what we were doing. You certainly took your time driving me crazy and we weren’t even trying to be quiet.” After pausing to return his playful nip, she added, “It turned you on. Admit it.”

He hadn’t meant to fuck her at the party, just make the nature of his interest unmistakable. But she’d responded so sweetly, her need every bit as urgent as his. “I didn’t care who knew what we were doing. I don’t have a reputation worth protecting. But I don’t want you ridiculed or embarrassed by anything we do.”

She tensed. “Why am I any different than anyone else? You have to stop thinking of me as a fragile widow or this will never work.”

He kissed her again, hiding his expression as he savored her sweet lips. She wasn’t just a widow. She was Nicho’s widow and she had no idea her husband had been a spy. If Fane let himself analyze the situation any further, he’d lose sight of the goal. He picked her up, cradling her against his chest.

“Where am I taking you?” he whispered.

“Second door on the right.”

Her lips trailed down the side of his neck as he shifted her against his chest. She was warm and soft, passionate and giving. Guilt tangled with his desire. Why couldn’t this be as wonderful as it felt? It had been so long since any woman stirred more than his most basic needs.

This isn’t real. She doesn’t belong to you.

She was Protarian elite and he commanded the Mutant Underground. They were enemies.

Moving into the luxurious bedroom, he set her down beside the bed. Before he could issue his first directive, she lifted her skirt and bent over the bed. She wore a black thong that left her ass cheeks bare, so the invitation was unmistakable. He’d used a firm spanking to ease their awkwardness and awaken her reluctant responses the first night they met. Now she felt incomplete without the sting and creeping heat of a nice, sound spanking.

Who was he to deny a lady what she needed. Especially when that lady had the softest, roundest ass he’d ever seen. She looked back at him uncertainly, clearly waiting for him to begin.

“Lose the thong, and spread your legs. I want to watch your pussy grow wet and flushed waiting for my cock.” Cassie was all sophisticated elegance and proper manners, so it amused him greatly that dirty talk turned her on almost as much as a little rough handling.

She dragged the thong down and kicked it aside, then slowly moved her legs apart, barely revealing her folds.

“Wider.”

With obvious reluctance she moved her feet farther apart. She still wore heels and her ass tilted up to the most beguiling angle. Her folds parted, framing her core and the puffy little clit just begging for attention. Even her puckered asshole was now visible, another forbidden pleasure in desperate need of exploration. The position was so lewd, so dirty. He knew it had to be driving her crazy. It was certainly having that effect on him.

He adjusted the fall of his pants, hoping to ease the pressure in his rock-hard cock. It didn’t help, so he moved into position and brought his hand down on her ass. He savored the sting, drawing the sensations up his arm as he spanked her again. Her round cheeks jostled with each impact and quickly turned bright pink.

She gasped, then moaned as he swatted upward, catching the lower curve of one cheek and then the other. “That really hurts,” she whispered.

“I know.” She didn’t change position or ask him to stop, so he continued the spanking.

After ten firm swats, he traced her slit with the tip of one finger. “So wet already.” He pushed his two middle fingers deep into her cunt, proving his point. “How’s that feel?”

“Not as good as your cock would.”

He chuckled and pulled back his hand. “You’re not nearly desperate enough for my cock.”

“I am. Please. I can’t wait tonight. I need you too badly.”

He rewarded her impatience with two hard spanks. “I say when, and I say how. Your pleasure belongs to me.”

After another round of swats, she cried out then moaned, moving restlessly against the bed. He continued, heating not only her lush ass cheeks, but the back of her legs. Then he knelt and held her still while he kissed the bright red skin. He brushed his lips along her soft crack and onto her slick folds.

“Come for me, love. Don’t hold back.” He pushed his tongue into her crease and found her clit, caressing the sensitive nub until orgasm took her. The bedding muffled her screams, but her thighs tensed and a fresh rush of wetness coated his tongue. He licked her until every last tremor had been wrung from her responsive body.

She was limp and sweetly submissive when he picked her up and placed her in the middle of the neatly made bed. She wrapped her arms around his back and pulled him down beside her. Their mouths met and melded, sharing the taste of her surrender.

He wanted her with a soul-deep longing, which only made his desire more impossible. He was inside the security grid. There was no reason to take this any further. Guilt surged through him, a belated attack of conscience. He should have stopped before he spanked her, but he’d been unable to deny her obvious need. The hunger raging through his body, however, made no difference to the people depending on him. Some things were more important than lust. He’d accepted that fact long ago.

He moved on top of her, ensuring her silence with his mouth and controlling her movements with the weight of his body. She didn’t struggle—at first. Then she felt him push into her mind. Wiggling and twisting, she resisted the mental invasion.

Her fists pounded his shoulders and his chest, the impact nothing compared to the pressure building between his legs. Each frantic arch of her body rubbed her mound against his cock. His body wasn’t nearly as ready to shift gears as his mind. He would not remember the heat of her snug passage or the breath-stealing pleasure they’d shared. This was business. She was a means to an end.

She needed to calm down so he could calm down and focus on the task at hand.

Relax, love. I won’t hurt you. I would never hurt you.

But he was hurting her already. He could sense her confusion and fear. Even so, he couldn’t let her emotions distract him. Her father was the most powerful man on Protaria. Fane would never have an opportunity like this again.

Constructing the command with meticulous care, he sent out a seeker pulse. Show me Nicho. The compulsion worked like a search engine, collecting information connected by a common theme. If he scanned without specific parameters, his mind became vulnerable.

She tensed beneath him, resisting the seeker pulse with every molecule of her stubborn nature. He intensified the command and she shuddered, yielding with a muffled cry. The information trickled through her shields. He scanned quickly, absorbing facts and images with ravenous interest.

He wasn’t sure what was important and what was trivial, so he collected everything. It was better to absorb too much than to ignore something that might prove crucial later.

As he’d suspected, she had no idea Nicho was a spy. That much was immediately clear. And she didn’t seem to know anything about the access codes. Fane wasn’t surprised. Nicho had stumbled across them while running down an unrelated lead. He hadn’t been sure they were significant and neither had Fane until Nicho was murdered in his sleep. It could have been a tragic coincidence, but Fane wouldn’t know for sure until he analyzed the access codes.

Cassie’s thrashing gradually slowed. He pushed deeper and a soft whimper escaped her throat. He eased back and slipped his forearm beneath her neck. Her lovely face was pale and drawn, her lips slightly parted.

I’m sorry, Cassie. I’m so sorry. He brushed the hair back from her brow and pressed a kiss to her temple. With infinite care and control, he launched a second series of compulsions. Sleep swept over her mind while his image disintegrated in her memory. If she remembered him at all, he’d seem like a hazy dream, a figment of her imagination. Just a moment longer to make certain she was out then he’d search the apartment for Nicho’s vault.

 

* * *

 

System reboot. Nanite series 371 initialize.

The message sounded in Cassie’s mind, remote yet distinct. A surreal jumble of impressions and sensations followed as consciousness undulated in and out of focus. The nanites triggered a stringent smell and her nostrils twitched. What had caused the overload? For that matter, where was she?

Clarity dissolved and mist rolled across her mind, sweeping her into memory’s bittersweet haven. A familiar rush of sorrow accompanied Nicho’s image. Would she always miss him this badly?

Another man, younger yet somehow more commanding, appeared within her mind. His clear green gaze caressed her face while a lazy smile curved his lips. Sensual lips, tender lips. She knew what it felt like to kiss those lips and be devoured by them. Everything about him was intimately familiar. So why couldn’t she remember his name?

The scene swirled, blurred then refocused. She was locked in the stranger’s arms, kissing him with obvious passion. One of his hands held the back of her head and the other cupped her bottom. Surely she wouldn’t allow a stranger to touch her like that. Why couldn’t she…

The scene faded then refocused again, becoming even more detailed. She bent over the bathroom counter, skirt bunched around her waist, panties pulled down to her knees. Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror only inches away. She looked stunned, yet yearning burned in her eyes. She appeared so pathetically needful that she had to look away.

The stranger stood behind her firmly spanking her upturned ass. It was surreal, yet she could feel every swat, and the prickly heat as it spread through her lower body, burning off the numbness in her soul. Why would she let a stranger spank her? This didn’t make sense.

Her gaze locked with the man’s intense green eyes. “Do I have your undivided attention now?”

She whimpered, then nodded. “I see only you.”

“Good. Now turn around.”

He knelt in front of her as she braced herself against a bathroom counter. Her skirt was still bunched at her waist and her panties were down around her knees. Her pussy was exposed to a stranger, yet she felt only smoldering desire.

His thumb traced the delicate folds peeking out between her trembling thighs. Each teasing pass sent waves of heat rushing through her core. She felt restless and empty, more needful than she’d ever been before.

“Please,” she whispered as her passion-bright gaze shifted toward the door. She was begging him to lick her pussy with people milling about in the next room. Had they heard the crack of his hand against her ass? That would be even more humiliating. The muffled throb of music accented her pounding heartbeat and overlapping conversations reminded her that they weren’t really alone.

He pressed his face against the apex of her thighs, his breath warming her sensitive flesh. His tongue parted her folds and his upper lip teased her clit. Sensations curled through her abdomen, gathering intensity as they climbed to her chest. She resisted the urge to cup her breasts and ease the aching fullness. Her nipples hardened, sensitized to the point of pain.

“More.” Consuming need made her brazen. She wanted his kiss and his cock and she didn’t give a damn what anyone heard or thought. Wiggling out of her panties, she unabashedly spread her thighs. “Lick me, fuck me. Anything you want.”

With desire sharpening his features, he draped one of her legs over his shoulder and pushed his tongue right into her cunt. She bit back a scream, mesmerized by the carnal savagery in his expression. He licked and sucked, filling his mouth with her arousal as his gaze bore into hers.

He paused suddenly and inhaled deeply. Raw lust stabbed through Cassie. Like an animal, he was scenting her, imprinting her smell on his memory. Amber light shimmered in his eyes, accenting the distinct angles of his handsome face. The light was significant, but she couldn’t think beyond the pleasure building inside her body.

She was connected to the image yet distanced from the event, a voyeur on her own life. Her hand moved to the back of his head, urging him on. This wasn’t her bathroom and she seldom attended parties. Was this only a dream?

Before her mind could decipher the specifics, he took her clit between his lips and gently sucked. Her head fell back on her shoulders and lights danced before her eyes as pleasure shook her entire body. He stayed with her, prolonging the powerful spasms with more torrid kisses.

Then he pushed to his feet and lifted her to the countertop. She gasped as her tender butt connected with the cold countertop. But discomfort only added to the ache, so she wrapped her legs around his waist and buried her fingers in his hair. The deep mahogany strands caressed her fingers as she brought his mouth to hers. She kissed him slowly, deeply, intrigued by the taste of her own pleasure on his tongue.

Tingling aftershocks peppered her abdomen, drawing her attention to the hollowness still residing there. Despite the incendiary orgasm he’d just triggered, her body demanded more.

“I think we should stop.”

She barely made out his words between clinging kisses. “No,” she cried. “I need this. I need you.”

“Then let’s go—”

“No.” Her tone was calmer yet no less insistent. “Here. Like this. I want your cock inside me now.”

His control snapped. With frantic determination, he unfastened his pants and freed his erection. She wanted to touch and taste him as thoroughly as he’d explored her, but there wasn’t time. He guided the impressive length to her opening then draped her other leg over his arm.

Grasping her hips firmly with both hands, he drove his full length inside her. Tighter and tighter she stretched, accommodating his thick shaft. She clenched her teeth to keep from crying out as he filled her emptiness.

He paused for a moment with his shaft buried to the hilt. His heartbeat thudded against her breast, her core echoing the steady thump. She savored the completeness of their joining and the comfort of his strong embrace. How had she survived without these feelings?

His hips pulled back slowly, prolonging the blissful slide. She pressed her shoulders against the massive mirror behind her as he drove inward again and again. Four slow thrusts were all he could stand then he slipped his hands beneath her pink bottom and fucked her in earnest.

Bending his head, he claimed her mouth in a demanding kiss without interrupting the steady motion of his hips. She stroked his shoulders and squeezed his back, her lips open to his questing tongue.

Tension built and his pace sped up. The unmistakable slap of flesh against flesh filled the bathroom. His mouth muffled her cries until pleasure burst within the vision, pulsing through her body and saturating her mind. A yell as piercing as her orgasm shattered the image and released her into a colorless void.

Echoes of sensation ricocheted through the darkness, drawing her back toward reality.

Who was her phantom lover? Sex had never been like that, not even with Nicho and… Nicho was dead.

She sat up on her bed trembling and disoriented. It was dark, but she couldn’t remember how she’d gotten home. Triggering her nanites with a practiced mental command, she waited for the cold rush of adrenaline to clear away the cobwebs. Her heartbeat sped and her muscles twitched, but she felt no less muddled.

Had the party been real? Searching her mind, she found distorted faces and muffled voices, events that made no sense. Her last clear memory was… She wasn’t even sure what day it was. Something was definitely wrong.

And if none of it was real, why did her ass feel hot and achy as if she’d recently been spanked? She rubbed her thighs together and wiggled a bit. She wasn’t wearing panties!

“Security, please respond.” After a moment of silence she repeated the command. Still, there was no reply.

Feeling decidedly shaky, she lowered her feet to the floor and stood. The room tilted and her stomach heaved. She covered her mouth with her hand and stopped moving until the sensation passed. Pressure thrummed behind her eyes, but the nausea subsided. And through it all she registered the faint throb of her bare behind.

She crossed to the control console and found it equally unresponsive. Was there a power outage? “Lights, fifty percent.” Nothing happened.

The power must be out. So why hadn’t the emergency generators kicked on? The security grid and emergency lighting had redundant backups. This didn’t make sense. She hurried down the hallway as fear welled inside her. She couldn’t sit here in the dark, wondering what was going on. Central security was stationed two floors down from her apartment. They’d know what had caused the outage and if she needed to sleep somewhere else tonight.

A sick feeling erupted in the pit of her stomach. If she’d been spanked, what else had he or she done while she was unconscious?

Lightning arced overhead, illuminating the skylights. Thunder crashed an instant later and she crossed her arms over her chest. A storm. This was nothing more than a weather-related power outage.

Expelling a shaky breath, she hurried along. She hadn’t always been this easy to rattle. Not that long ago she’d considered herself brave. Then she found her husband strangled to death in their bed and her entire world changed.

A movement in her peripheral vision drew her attention into her office. She stumbled to a stop in the doorway, momentarily paralyzed by disbelief. It was him, the man from her dream. Even in the shadowed room, she recognized him instantly.

“Security to the penthouse, code red,” she blurted, not knowing what else to do.

“You don’t need security, Cassandra. I won’t hurt you.”

Security didn’t respond. She hadn’t really expected them to. It had been instinctive to call for help. “How did you get in here?” She paused for a breath, trying not to sound so shrill. “Who are you? What do you want with me?” Why did you spank me, and was that all you did? Fear closed her throat before the last made it past her lips.

“You were supposed to be sleeping peacefully until long after I’d gone.” He took a slow step toward her and then another.

If it hadn’t been for her nanites, it was likely she’d be unconscious rather than confused. “That didn’t answer my questions.” She licked her lips and backed into the hall. “Did you drug me?” Was he responsible for the power outage? That was even more likely than the storm. He didn’t seem violent, but she wasn’t taking any chances. “Did you—rape me?”

“I would never hurt you.” His wicked smile flashed in the shadows. “Unless you wanted me to.”

Then the image rolled through her memory. She hiked up her skirt and leaned over the side of a bed—her bed—offering her bare behind to her unseen lover. Were they lovers?

Her mind remained a jumble of scrambled images and unanswered questions. There wasn’t anything in this house that couldn’t be replaced—at least not anymore.

She pivoted to the side and made a dash for the front door. Warm fingers clasped her upper arm, bringing her up short barely inside the living room. He reeled her back into the hallway and pressed her against the wall.

“I can’t let you sound the alarm until I’m gone. Please go back to your bedroom and behave.”

“Behave?” she scoffed. “Who the fuck are you?”

“My name isn’t important. You know I won’t hurt you.”

And she did. Instinctively she knew he meant her no harm. So why couldn’t she remember his name or why she’d let him into her apartment? She wasn’t sure how, but she also knew he was here because she’d allowed him into her life, likely into her bed.

Shards of golden light erupted in his light green eyes. The beauty held her spellbound for an instant before her brain registered the significance. “You’re a mutant,” she whispered the accusation as dread unfurled within her. Mutants had killed Nicho! Mutants threatened everything she held dear. “Why are you…? What do you…?”

“The less you know, the safer you’ll be.” He swept his knuckles along the crest of her cheekbone.

She batted his hand aside. “Is that a threat?” Shoving him backward, she tried to dart past him. He slapped his hands against the wall on either side of her and pressed in close.

“I won’t hurt you, but I will do whatever is necessary to protect my mission.”

His warm breath wafted across her lips and tingles danced down her spine. She could remember the blissful fullness of his cock moving deep inside her. Why was the sensation still so strong?

“What mission?”

Sadness extinguished the mutant light burning in his eyes. He cupped her chin with one hand and lowered his head as if he meant to kiss her. Unsure if she wanted to resist or test the accuracy of her memories, she hesitated a moment too long. His lips pressed over hers and she went wild. Shoving and kicking, she thrashed within his arms. His presence pushed into her mind and she screamed, the sound muffled by his lips.

Detecting danger, her nanites surged into action. He gasped and jerked his head to the side. “Stop fighting me. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Get out!” She slammed the heel of her hand against his shoulder.

He took her face between his palms and stared into her eyes, his gaze glowing like molten gold. Go back to sleep.

No! Get out of my apartment!

Determination hardened his expression and he pressed his forehead against hers. You will go to sleep—now.

Darkness closed in around her, sucking her into oblivion.

Chapter One

 

 

Stilox, three years later

 

Turning in a slow circle, Mal Ton Adoha took in the verdant beauty surrounding him. Flowering bushes and wide vegetable gardens were interspersed with sporadic clusters of leafy trees. A wide footpath wended its way across the park and disappeared into a fruit orchard in the distance.

“How?” One word was all he could maneuver around the lump in his throat. Stilox, his home world, had been decimated by the ongoing war with Protaria. The atmosphere had been scorched, making climate domes necessary to sustain life.

“Establishing an ecosystem inside a climate dome is incredibly complicated,” Roark Talbot explained. “The design team kept the details secret until the environment stabilized. They didn’t want to raise everyone’s hopes only to fail.”

“This is amazing. I knew we Stilox are too damn stubborn to lie down and die, but I never dreamed I’d see something like this in my lifetime.” As the pleasant shock wore off, Mal Ton’s pragmatic nature resurfaced. “Are the new shields online? If the Protarians have any idea what we’ve accomplished, they’ll blast it all to hell. This must be protected at all costs.”

Roark chuckled. “No one will argue with that, Commander. Everyone is as excited by the design team’s success as you are.”

“And the shields?” he persisted.

“Another triumph. They’ve created a continental matrix that encompasses all four climate domes. The grid randomly generates fictitious signals, making it impossible for anyone to decipher the readings. The Protarians will know we have a fourth dome, but they’ll have no idea what’s inside any of them.”

“Until they slip a spy past our security.” Mal Ton never underestimated the enemy. He’d seen too many comrades pay for that mistake with their lives.

“That’s always a possibility, but access to this dome is strictly monitored. DNA scanners are hard to fool.”

“Given the right motivation, even the most dedicated rebel can turn traitor.”

Roark arched his brow at Mal Ton’s pessimism. “Do you know something I don’t know?”

“I’m sure I know lots of things you don’t know.” A smile quirked one corner of his mouth as he let the oxygen-rich air soothe him. “All I’m saying is we can’t allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security. Despite the progress we’re making, the enemy is still breathing down our necks.”

“No one on Stilox has forgotten the danger.”

Accepting Roark’s insistence with a nod, Mal Ton turned back toward the entrance to the medical complex. The materials needed for the ‘new’ structures had been scavenged from the twisted ruins beyond the climate domes or stolen from Protaria’s abandoned cities. Manufacturing on Stilox was nearly nonexistent. Mal Ton found the patchwork architecture oddly appealing. Regardless of the mismatched lines and jumbled textures, this was home.

“How’s Andrea?” Mal Ton had only seen Roark’s mate for a few moments before she led Lorelle off to the research lab. The primary reason Mal Ton had brought Lorelle to Stilox was Andrea’s knowledge of human physiology. With only scanner readouts and transported samples Andrea had identified the cause of Lorelle’s symptoms, but Andrea had been unable to predict a final outcome. Hopefully direct access to her patient would allow her to be more specific.

“Andrea is amazing.” A dreamy smile curved Roark’s lips. “I’ve never met anyone quite like her.”

Mal Ton understood his friend’s expression all too well. He’d never expected to fall in love again and certainly not with an off-worlder. His life was governed by duty and honor, strategy and routine. Yet his life had been anything but routine since he first encountered Lorelle.

“The same can be said about Lorelle.” Mal Ton allowed himself to smile. “She has far exceeded my expectations. From what little I saw of humans on Earth, I never would have guessed she’d adapt so quickly.”

After a thoughtful pause, Roark prompted, “So catch me up. How is Fane and what’s going on with Max?”

The office Roark shared with the rest of the research team seemed small and airless after the unexpected luxury of the agricultural park. Mal Ton sighed. Where should he begin? There was so much to explain. “It’s official. Daniel Keller is Max.”

Roark didn’t seem surprised. Max and his band of rebels had been causing trouble for the past few months. Though the Stilox militia had been curious about his identity and motivation, Fane, the leader of the Mutant Underground, had made it a personal quest to expose the rebel leader.

“How did Fane finally unmask him?” Roark slipped in behind his desk as Mal Ton lowered his tall form into one of the chairs facing him.

“One of the humans saw Max’s face. As soon as Fane scanned her memory, all of our suspicions were confirmed.”

“If Daniel Keller is Max, then he already works for Chancellor Howyn,” Roark mused. “What did he gain by shooting down Lorelle’s ship?”

“We can only speculate, but it stands to reason that Max intended to trade the humans to Howyn in exchange for his support.”

“His support in what?”

“Max and Fane are both incredibly powerful mutants. I think Max had his sights set on the Underground.”

“No one in the Underground will follow the likes of Max. Those people worship Fane. They’ll scatter across the face of Protaria before they accept Max as their leader.”

Mal Ton shrugged with practiced nonchalance. “There are many ways to motivate people. Fane uses loyalty and compassion. Max deals in manipulation and fear.”

“That shouldn’t surprise you. Max has spent the majority of his adult life at Howyn’s side.”

“True, but this gets even more interesting. While Lorelle and I were rescuing two of her shipmates, Max flashed into Cassandra Myer’s apartment and teleported out with her in his arms.”

Roark’s mouth gaped for a second before he snapped it shut. “Max kidnapped Howyn’s daughter? Has he lost his mind?”

“The answer to that remains to be seen.”

Scooting to the edge of his chair, Roark shook his head, clearly shocked by the new developments. “What is Max trying to accomplish?”

“His motivation might well be moot. Howyn offered Fane the last two humans in exchange for Cassandra’s safe return.”

“Wait a minute. I thought Max had the humans.”

“Howyn snatched the last two right out from under Max’s nose. Cassie’s abduction could be retaliation, or Max could have a more complicated reason for taking her. We just don’t know.”

“Is Fane going to make the exchange?”

“He has to find Cassie first.”

“Is that a problem for Fane?”

“Probably not.” The Underground didn’t follow Fane because of his good looks. He was one of the most powerful mutants on Protaria. “We should know more in the next day or two.”

Roark nodded, obviously distracted by all the new information. Pushing back from his desk, he said, “Let’s go see if Andrea’s finished examining Lorelle.”

Mal Ton followed him along a corridor then across an enclosed pedestrian bridge that led to the commercial complex. Housing pods surrounded the sprawling central unit and access tubes connected each to the other. It reminded Mal Ton of a mouse habitat his sister had constructed as a child. The structure focused on functionality rather than esthetics.

When Mal Ton entered the exam room, he found the women standing in front of a readout screen. Andrea analyzed the information while Lorelle fiddled with her sleeves, looking tense and uncomfortable.

“How are you holding up through all this turmoil?” Roark asked.

“Are you talking to me or Lorelle?” Andrea didn’t take her eyes off the readouts.

“I see to your care and protection. I was referring to our guest.”

Lorelle manufactured a smile and clasped her hands behind her back. “I’m remarkably well, all things considered.”

All things considered indeed. Both women had been taken from Earth against their will and thrust into the middle of a war they were only starting to understand. Mal Ton stepped up beside Lorelle and slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Do your scans reveal anything new?”

“I don’t know yet. She hasn’t worked her way around to a diagnosis.” Lorelle sounded a bit annoyed, which wasn’t surprising. Patience had always been a challenge for his feisty mate.

Andrea continued to study the readouts. Her lips pressed together and furrows marred her smooth brow.

“Just spell it out,” Lorelle advised. “I’m a yank-the-bandage-off type of person.”

“All right.” Andrea glanced at Roark then Mal Ton before she explained, “The concentration of nanites in your body has multiplied by a factor of ten since the last time you were scanned.” She turned from the screen and faced Lorelle. “I knew they were self-replicating, but I had no idea they’d reproduce this rapidly.”

The numbers and diagrams meant nothing to Mal Ton, but he felt compelled to look at the readout screen.

“I feel fine,” Lorelle insisted. “In fact, I’ve never felt better in my life.”

“The bonding fever has subsided?”

Andrea was a doctor. She wasn’t asking about their sex life, she was questioning one of Lorelle’s symptoms. Still, Mal Ton barely suppressed a glower.

“I’m still ridiculously attracted to this lug, but the… urgency is gone.”

He gave Lorelle a reassuring squeeze.

“Have you developed any new abilities?” Andrea asked.

“My abilities mirror his, but can’t that be caused by our intimacy?”

Andrea made a noncommittal sound and scratched the bridge of her nose. “Sex with a mutant can cause a temporary transfer of their abilities. The collectors are proof of that. However, I think the nanites are responsible for your symptoms. They’re making repairs and alterations in you as if you were Stilox.”

Fane’s doctor had explained all this already. They’d been hoping for something new. “What will happen if you can’t shut them down?” Mal Ton asked.

After archiving the readouts, Andrea turned off the screen. “They’ve integrated themselves into every system in her body. Shutting them down now would likely kill her.”

“Is she always this blunt?” he asked Lorelle.

“It’s one of the things I used to like about her.” Lorelle turned back to Andrea and asked, “What’s our plan of action?”

“The nanites need to be reprogrammed, given an accurate template of human physiology.” Andrea sighed and buried her hands in her lab coat. “I can construct the template, but the actual interface is beyond my capabilities.”

“Then I’m fucked?” Lorelle whispered.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You’re far too polite.” Lorelle raked her hair with her fingers, her hand trembling.

Mal Ton pulled her into his arms and stroked the back of her hair. There was no way he was going to lose her now. There was simply no way!

“If we do nothing, will the nanites kill me or just morph me into a Stilox?” Lorelle turned within the circle of his arms so she could look at Andrea.

“I don’t know.”

Three words you never want to hear from your doctor.

“Then who would know?” Lorelle’s voice was shaking again.

“A nanobiologist.”

“Like Cassie Myer.” Mal Ton shot Roark a meaningful look.

“Who is Cassie Myer?” Andrea asked.

“Chancellor Howyn’s daughter,” Roark told her.

“No Protarian is going to help us.” Andrea shook her head, but determination burned within her eyes. “We have nothing to offer them.”

“She’ll help us or die,” Mal Ton snapped. He exhaled a ragged breath then turned Lorelle to face him. “I need to talk to Fane. Will you be all right for a few minutes?”

“I’m not a child.” Her chin came up and her shoulders squared. “And this is hardly the first time I’ve faced the possibility of dying. Go. Talk to Fane. I’ll be here when you get back.”

 

* * *

 

Fane knelt on the padded mat in his private chamber in the Mutant Underground. His surroundings were sparse and austere, nearly void of material belongings. Naked to the waist and barefoot, he extended his hands toward the fire. Heat infused his palms and caressed his chest. He inhaled deeply. Wood smoke stung his nostrils while the spicy-sweet scent of incense soothed and relaxed him.

Turning his focus inward, he tuned out each muffled noise and visual distraction. The Underground never slept. Someone was always checking in or heading out. So many paths intersected here, so many lives hung in the balance.

Images formed within his mind, faces and situations. Frightened humans in need of rescue, sickly mutants with nowhere else to turn, refugees determined to find a better life. They all turned to him with expectation in their eyes. He accepted their importance and acknowledged the danger inherent in helping them. Then he pushed through the images and unleashed his consciousness.

The metaphysical plane opened before him, rippling outward with waves of psychic energy.

Cassie. Deep in his heart he’d known their paths would cross again. She’d affected him too deeply and leaving her had hurt too badly for any other outcome to make sense. Still, he hadn’t expected the circumstances facilitating their reunion.

It shouldn’t have surprised him that the war would weave their lives back together. The eternal conflict curved and tangled through every aspect of his life. Chancellor Howyn dangled the human captives before him, taunting and challenging him. All Fane had to do was rescue Cassie and Howyn would… He inhaled slowly, pushing back his rambling thoughts. The reason he needed to find her was incidental. All that mattered was that he didn’t fail.

To locate her in the present, he turned toward the past, following the heated trail of their desire. The path was familiar. Often over the past three years he’d sought solace in these memories, needing a comfort unattainable in reality.

Her image arose, golden hair framing her delicate features, rosy lips parted in a smile. How he missed her! How he longed to touch her and hear her whisper his name. Regret panged within his heart. She’d never known his name, at least not his real name.

Focus! He had to control his emotions or he would never be able to identify her signal.

He paused, allowing energy to flow through him and swirl around him. Layer by layer his individuality was stripped away. No past, no future, just the elemental present shared by all things. His soul took on the rhythm of the universe, pulsing and expanding as he surrendered to the tingling rush.

For endless moments he hung suspended in space and time. All he felt was the fundamental throb of energy. Then he opened his mind, gradually, carefully.

Like the subtle buzz of a distant swarm, thoughts approached him. He braced for the impact while remaining accessible. Personality strands thrust into his mind, streaming through him like the gush of a storm-swollen river. Those closest to him arrived first, friends and their families. He sorted the signals, filtering the overwhelming torrent with the skill only attainable through decades of training and centuries of practice.

He released his stranglehold on his emotions and waited for the metaphysical plane to respond. The current focused, curling in on itself until one concentrated jet pelted his being. Longing swelled within him, guiding him through the dizzying flow.

An image formed within the energy stream, the scene achingly familiar. He stood with Cassie beside a simple hotel bed, their clothes scattered on the floor. They were beyond words, beyond caring about expectations or consequences. She pressed against him eagerly, her mouth open and responsive.

He sank into the memory, immersing himself in the longing. His pulse sped and his body stirred. No one ever moved him as deeply as Cassie, and no one ever would. This was the last time they’d made love, the image that haunted his dreams and fueled his fantasies. It was one night before she’d taken him to her apartment. One night before he broke her heart.

His tongue stroked over hers, his hands lost in her soft hair. She parted her thighs and bent her knee, curving her calf around his hip. “I’d swear you’re a sorcerer,” she whispered against his kiss-dampened lips. “I’ve never felt like this before.”

Possessive desire washed over him in one sustained wave. Without tightening his grip on her hair, he drew her nearer. “If I’m a sorcerer, does that mean you’ll do whatever I say?”

She smiled into his eyes as she rubbed her nipples against his chest. “Ask me to do something and find out.”

“I want your ass nice and pink while you suck my cock.” Lust stabbed into his groin. His impatience to be inside her had prevented her from tasting him the night before. She’d offered, had even objected when he’d rushed on ahead. “Lean over the bed, but don’t bend your knees.”

“You ask and I obey.” She turned toward the bed and bent over, resting her forearms on the faded bedspread.

Guilt squeezed his heart now as it had then. She deserved so much better than this. Refusing to let anything distract him, Fane focused on the image, let the intensity build, fueling his abilities. This wasn’t about sex, or how deeply she’d affected him. He was trying to save her life.

In the memory, he paused to admire her round white ass, loving the lush curves and velvet-soft skin. Her curves felt so good pressed against him as he drove his cock into her pussy.

She moved her legs further apart without having to be told, offering herself for whatever he chose to give her. He rewarded her surrender with a firm swat on each naked cheek. She gasped then sighed, clearly needing the exchange as much as he did. He spanked her again, a bit harder this time, and watched color rise to the surface of her perfect skin. She was so fair, so soft, he had to be careful not to bruise her, while he skillfully ignited her senses.

Over and over he brought his hand down on her willing ass. Liquid arousal trickled from her slit, making her folds slick and inviting. He loved to finish spanking her with his fingers buried in her cunt, but he had something different in mind for tonight, something darker, more elemental. He needed to fill her mouth with cum, then take her from behind while his fingers fucked her ass. He’d claim every part of her, fill her so completely that she would never doubt to whom she belonged.

He gave her one last spank, then helped her up off the bed and kissed her roughly, deeply, indicating the depths of his need. When he finally released her mouth, he said, “On your knees.”

With mischief shining in her eyes, she sank to her knees. Her warm fingers curved around his shaft and she stroked him from root to tip, her gaze never leaving his face.

Lulled by the sweet temptation, Fane nearly forgot the reason for his vision. This was not about reliving the past. He must locate her in the present. Her soft lips closed around the tip of his cock and Fane moaned. Anchored by the memory, he turned his focus outward, scanning, seeking the familiar pattern of her energy. Her mouth slid up and down his length while her hand cradled his balls. He absorbed the pleasure, empowering his gift with greater range.

Her tongue swirled and her being opened, allowing him beyond her instinctive defenses.

Oh, my God! Shock and fear rippled back across the metaphysical plane. How are you doing this? Get out of my mind!

Cassie, don’t fight me. I’m trying to help you.

The link shuddered violently as she resisted the connection. He wasn’t sure how she’d dissolved his mental command three years before, but he couldn’t allow her stubbornness now. Her life depended on his success. He pushed harder, dragging her deeper into the shared memory.

If you’re trying to help me, why are you picturing me… like that?

Carefully maintaining his link with her mind, he let the image slip back into the past. I had to use a shared experience in order to connect with your consciousness. Please, don’t fight me. This connection was not easy to establish.

I know who you are, Fane! It took me almost a year, but I uncovered everything.

We’ll talk about all that as soon as we get you away from Max. Do you have any idea where you are?

She took a long time to reply. Fane was just about to prompt her when he heard, We’re somewhere on Stilox, an abandoned lab of some sort.

Has he harmed you?

Not yet.

Her fear surged and Fane’s hands clenched into fists. Too many had lost their lives in this bloody war. He would not allow Cassie to be added to the list of casualties! I’ll be there just as soon as I can.

Please hurry. Teleporting off-world wiped him out. I’m not sure how long it will take him to recover.

 

* * *

 

Cassie drew her legs up toward her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees. Her senses hummed with an uncomfortable combination of anxiety and anticipation. She sat huddled in one corner of a small room adjacent to the abandoned lab. The only furniture remaining was a ratty couch and a set of shelves affixed to the wall. Her captor had locked them inside the stale-smelling room then collapsed on the couch. She knew him as Daniel Keller, but Fane had called him Max.

Max, leader of a group of bloodthirsty fanatics. Max, equally hated by the Protarian elite and the Mutant Underground. It was all so confusing. Daniel Keller had faithfully supported her father for years. How could Daniel and Max be one and the same?

His name was irrelevant. She gave herself a mental shake. His motivation, however, was not. He’d said nothing when he abducted her other than warning her not to struggle. She’d ignored the warning, of course, and bruises from the ensuing tussle marred her arms and upper chest.

She’d known Daniel Keller for years, long before his mutations began to manifest. He never spoke of his abilities, tried to downplay the changes. She’d had no idea he could teleport off-world, which was obviously the way he’d wanted it.

All of her other questions would have to wait until he regained consciousness. Knowing help was on the way allowed her to exhale, if not relax. Keller was obviously unbalanced and—no, Max. Kidnapping her had definitely been the actions of a desperate rebel, not her father’s trusted employee. She was dealing with Max.

With the name issue settled in her mind, she reluctantly returned to the other mystery. Fane had resided in her imagination, a nameless lover drifting through her dreams. Then she learned his name and understood the implications. Theirs had been no chance encounter. He’d ruthlessly seduced her for… She wasn’t sure what he’d gained. Information? She might be Chancellor Howyn’s daughter, but her father never told her anything important.

She hadn’t confided in her father or anyone else. That would have revealed how foolish she’d been, how trusting and naive. She told her father she suspected someone had hacked into her home computer during the power outage. He reset the security protocols and that was the end of her adventure. At least on the surface. Secretly she’d fixated on Fane, oscillating between hate and lust until his memory tainted every relationship she attempted to establish. This reunion was long overdue!

How had Fane known she’d been abducted? Why was her father allowing his involvement, or did her father know Fane intended to intervene?

Pushing to her feet, she crossed to the door and tried the latch for the second time. Was Fane still on Protaria? She glanced at Max and shivered. A lot could happen while Fane shuttled over to Stilox. She tapped her knuckles against the window centered in the door. Even if she managed to smash it, the opening was too small to crawl through. The lab beyond had been stripped of anything functional, so why had Max brought her here?

“I don’t think you’ll fit.” Max’s voice sounded thin and tense despite his attempt at humor.

“I’d come to the same conclusion.” She took a deep breath and turned around. He was more or less sitting now, back slumped, feet lowered to the floor. His face was pale, dark smudges shadowing his green eyes. “Why did you bring me here?”

“Direct as always.” He adjusted his position, sitting a bit straighter than before. “I need your help, Cassie. Every time I teleport, I get weaker.”

“So don’t teleport.”

He scooted to the edge of the couch and a calculative gleam erupted in his gaze. Even with fatigue etched on his handsome features, he looked elegant and composed. “I know about your new project and I’m willing to be your first test subject. Nothing else I’ve tried has had any effect.”

“The new series isn’t ready for human trials, and even if it were, I won’t cooperate with a criminal.” She folded her arms over her chest. This didn’t make sense. “Everything I need to help you is back on Protaria. What do you really want?”

His sharp burst of laughter disturbed the dusty air. “You were always too smart for your own good. Nicho didn’t deserve you.”

“Leave Nicho out of this.” Trepidation twisted through her stomach. She was well aware of Max’s infatuation with her. He’d done little to hide his interest over the years. Surely he hadn’t gone through all this trouble just to… play out his fantasies.

“Nicho is right in the middle of this. How much do you really know about your late husband?”

“He was murdered three years ago. Why bring him up now?”

“How did Nicho die?”

Her temper spiked despite her determination to remain calm. “What does this have to do with—”

“Answer the question,” he snapped, color flowing back into his face.

“He surprised a thief and paid for his bad timing with his life.”

“That’s what your father wanted you to believe, but the truth is far more interesting.”

She leaned against the door, unsure how to react. Was it better to play along or argue with him? The only time he’d been violent was when she’d fought against him. It was probably wisest not to provoke him. “Fine. Tell me the truth. What really happened?”

“Nicho was recruited by the Mutant Underground two years before you were married.”

It was hard not to roll her eyes when he was being so ridiculous. “Nicho wasn’t a mutant.”

“No, but he had many friends who were. He despised the Protarian elite and was willing to do anything in his power to further the rebellion.”

“If you say so.” Not provoking him was one thing, but she was not going to encourage his delusions. “It still doesn’t change the reality of his death.”

He shot to his feet and stalked toward her. “You don’t yet comprehend the reality of his death. He slunk through back alleys and sabotaged your father at every turn while I remained loyal to Protaria.”

She closed her eyes, struggling for composure. Here it came. The real reason for her abduction. Despite his desire for her, Keller had never so much as kissed her. Had his obsession finally driven him beyond rational thought? Did he feel more powerful as his alter ego, less inclined to play by the rules?

Reinforcing her determination with a deep breath, she reluctantly met his gaze. “I don’t understand what all this has to do with me being abducted.”

His arm lashed out, fingers tangling in the front of her blouse. She yelped and caught his wrist, but he didn’t pull, just prevented her from moving as his eyes stared into hers. “I worked like a slave for your father, yet he never saw beyond my mutation. Nicho mocked you both at every turn. He created opportunities and siphoned off information for Fane and his mangy followers. Your father treated Nicho—”

“You honestly believe Nicho worked for Fane?” The tension in her belly tightened into a painful knot. It couldn’t be true. Nicho loved her.

“Haven’t you been listening?” He leaned in, his stale breath wafting across her face. “Nicho married you specifically so he could pass information to Fane.”

“How could you possibly know this unless you’re part of the Underground too?”

“I have no interest in working for Fane. I intend to replace him, but you’re jumping ahead.” He released her blouse and she exhaled, but the sigh was premature. His hand slid up and his fingers curved around her throat. “Your father found out about Nicho and silenced him.” His fingers flexed, restricting her airflow. Pain shot up the sides of her neck.

“That’s not possible,” she whispered, barely able to hear beyond the rushing of blood in her ears. Her nanites surged, soaring through her bloodstream and congregating in her index finger. A transfer tube had been implanted beneath her nail. All she had to do was jab it into his chest and her nanites would incapacitate him. But the effect was temporary and a second jab would stop his heart. She didn’t dare kill him until she figured out how to get out of this room. Fane was on the way, but even with the clues she’d given him, it could take hours, even days for him to actually find her. “I found Nicho’s body. My father wouldn’t do that to me.” She tugged on his wrist and pleaded with her eyes as she angled her finger toward his chest. “You’re hurting me.”

His hand released and slid lower, slipping beneath the silky fabric of her blouse. He rested his fingertips on the upper curve of her breast, touching without actually fondling her. Cassie watched lust ignite in his gaze and tasted bile in the back of her throat. If he’d brought her here to rape her, why this trip through yesteryear?

“If I remember correctly,” he continued, “you left the opera during intermission because you had a headache. You weren’t supposed to arrive until after the body had been removed.”

This was ridiculous. What did he gain by discrediting her dead husband? Nicho had been kind and tender. He’d never given her any reason to question his loyalty.

“I don’t believe you.” She lunged to the side and darted past him, but there was nowhere to run.

Grabbing the waistband of her skirt, he jerked her back. “What was the first thing you did once you pushed through the sorrow and ventured out?” He wrapped both arms around her, trapping her arms at her sides. Shit! She had to get her hand free.

“Stop it.” She twisted and wiggled, but his hold was firm and she could feel his cock hardening against her back. A violent shudder shook her body and she went still in his embrace.

“You went to a party at the Ralton Estate,” he whispered in her ear, his tone softly mocking. “And a mysterious man caught your eye.”

Guilt swept up from the depths of her soul and Fane’s face appeared within her mind. Each detail preserved through repeated access, mysterious and captivating. How the hell did Max know about the affair?

“You tried to ignore him and still your gaze gravitated toward him again and again.” His tone changed, became caressing. “It’s not your fault, Cassie. Fane has a mystique, a sort of mutant charisma. No one can resist him.” With abrupt violence, he shoved her forward, sending her crashing onto the couch. She landed on her knees then rolled to her seat, instinctively positioning her hand. “Prim and proper Doctor Myer spread her legs on a bathroom counter!” He paced in front of the couch, assailing her with hateful words. “You let a total stranger fuck you while half of Sanctum listened and laughed. I’ve never been so humiliated.”

“You were at the party?” Her voice cracked and he paused to look at her.

“Of course you wouldn’t remember. I’ve always been invisible to you.” His gaze narrowed on her face and pain threaded through the lust. “Was he really that good?”

She drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, comforted by the stinging pressure in her index finger. “Why am I here? What do you want from me?”

He clasped his hands behind his back and erased all emotion from his features. “Nicho and Fane both fucked you to get to your father. Doesn’t that bother you?”

She couldn’t let him upset her. That was obviously his intention. “Nicho is dead and Fane was a momentary distraction I’ve all but forgotten.”

“Sure you have.” His gaze focused on her mouth for a moment before he recaptured his expressionless mask. “You haven’t had a serious relationship since Fane returned to the Underground. Why is that, Cassie? Why won’t you let anyone get close to you?”

“I haven’t had a serious relationship since I found my husband murdered in our bed. My reticence has nothing to do with Fane.”

“Has he contacted you yet?”

Shock stole her breath and she quickly averted her gaze. His chuckle told her she hadn’t looked away fast enough. “Has who contacted me?”

“He’s kept tabs on you. Did you know that? He’s aware of every move you make.”

“That’s ridiculous.” She glared up at him, tired of his mind games. “I was a means to an end, nothing more.”

“You better pray that’s not true.” He returned her glare, hatred burning off his other emotions. “I won’t stoop to fucking Fane’s whore, but I’ve developed quite a taste for pain. If he doesn’t arrive within the hour, your screams will echo all the way back to Protaria.”

Chapter Two

 

 

“We don’t have time for this!” Fane snapped. Sean Wylie traveled through the shadow dimension beyond tangible space with hardly a thought. Even dragging Fane along didn’t seem to faze him. Fane, however, felt nauseous and shaky after the metaphysical trek from Protaria to Stilox. “This has to be fast and lethal. We can’t risk an all-out assault.”

“This is as close as we’ve ever come to capturing Max,” Roark objected. “I think we should make sure we don’t need another opportunity.”

Sean shook his head. “Fane’s right. A small team has a better chance of getting her out alive.”

Mal Ton crossed his arms over his chest, his expression troubled. “It’s a trap.”

“A trap?” Sean shook his head again. “What sort of trap?”

“His only hope of staking a claim on the Underground is if he takes out Fane.”

“My death would accomplish nothing,” Fane said. “My people will never follow Max.”

“Everyone knows that but Max. I say you stay here while Sean and I spring Howyn’s daughter.”

“No.”

“No?” Mal Ton arched one dark eyebrow in disbelief. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Cassie is my responsibility. I’d love to have you at my back, but this is my show.”

Mal Ton shrugged his brawny shoulders, though his expression remained wary. “Have it your way, but don’t be surprised if this thing blows up in our faces.”

“I can only take one of you through at a time,” Sean reminded.

“I’ll pinpoint their location while you go back for Fane.” He silenced Fane’s objection with an upraised hand. “If he takes you first, you won’t wait for me. I know how your mind works.”

Fane smiled. He’d known Mal Ton for most of his adult life. They had few secrets from each other. “All right.”

Pausing long enough to arm themselves with a variety of weapons, the three men returned to Roark’s office for departure. Mutant powers were nothing new to the Stilox rebels, but Mal Ton preferred not to flaunt their abilities.

“I’ll be just a minute,” Sean said casually. He firmly grasped Mal Ton’s wrist while Mal Ton grabbed his. Reaching for the wall beside them, Sean pushed his fingertips into the brick. His features tensed and energy pulsed out from his hand. He swept his arm down, expanding the opening from his shoulders to his knees.

Specters were arguably the most valuable mutants. Only fifteen people had survived the particular mutation, all of them Stilox and all of them male. Sean was not the most powerful specter, but he was by far the most skilled.

Mal Ton followed Sean into the metaphysical realm with obvious reluctance. If their hold on each other slipped for even a moment Mal Ton would be trapped in shadow dimension beyond physical space.

Fane checked his weapons one last time as he waited for Sean’s return. The possibility of capturing Max held infinite appeal. Even so, Cassie was his primary concern. Cassie. Her name filled his mind with images and triggered a cascade of sensations. If his life had been his own, he would never have left her side. But he’d pledged his future to the people who depended on him for survival. Could he make her understand? If her attitude in his vision were any indication, he had a rocky road ahead of him.

The wall bowed outward then Sean’s hand pushed through the bricks. “Ready?” He created an opening large enough for Fane to enter.

Reasserting his purpose with a stiff nod, Fane locked wrists with Sean and followed him into the shadowy void. Light dimmed and sound became a muffled buzz. Like a living ghost, Sean passed through the fabric of space, traveling directly from one point to another. Reality blurred and Fane tightened his hold on Sean’s wrist. Physical sensation numbed, so Fane reached out with his mind.

Almost there. Fane didn’t miss the amusement in Sean’s thought.

You know I hate this.

You hate anything that robs you of control.

He didn’t argue. Sean knew him almost as well as Mal Ton.

They emerged in an empty storeroom and Fane braced his hands against his knees, struggling to clear his head of the spectral fog. Mal Ton crouched near the doorway and motioned them down with an anxious gesture.

They have her locked in Roark’s old office. Max has a flair for irony.

Sean dropped to his knees then crawled closer to Mal Ton. They?

You didn’t think Max would face us alone, did you? Mal Ton looked at Fane as he added the question.

How many and what are they carrying? Fane didn’t react to the provocation.

Three Protarians and one mutant. My sensors don’t identify specific munitions.

Sean reached into the pouch at his waist and retrieved a tiny spybot. The control band strapped around his hand allowed him to trigger functions with his fingers and thumb. He activated the ‘bot and its long legs sprang free from its disk-shaped body. The legs spread wide as Sean rolled it under the door then bent with smooth agility and scurried up the wall.

The storeroom was across the hall from the laboratory. Wide transparent panels framed the main access door. Sean angled his hand so Mal Ton and Fane could see the small display resting against the palm of his hand. As soon as we leave this room, they’ll see us.

Fane nodded. They’re outfitted like Protarian militia. This shouldn’t be too difficult.

Max is in the office with Howyn’s daughter, Mal Ton pointed out. How do we keep him from teleporting out with her as soon as we make our move?

I’ll beat him to it. Sean grinned. Now that I know her exact location, I can blink in and out before he knows what hit him.

Fane bit back his objection. Cassie was his responsibility, but Sean was better suited to the rescue. He couldn’t allow his pride to compromise her safety.

Sean retrieved the spybot and moved away from the door. Mal Ton counted them down with distinct hand signals. Tension twisted through Fane, cramping his gut and speeding his pulse. He’d run headlong into danger more times than he could count, but Cassie had never been at risk before.

With a violent yank, Mal Ton jerked open the door and flew into the hall. Sean disappeared from Fane’s peripheral vision as Fane rushed out of the storeroom in Mal Ton’s wake. The Protarians turned as one and fired in a shower of bright, sharp pulses. Anticipating their reaction, Mal Ton and Fane ducked and launched themselves through the observation window. The panel shattered, no match for the combined abuse of the pulse blasts and two strong shoulders.

Fane rolled through the shards of glass and shot to his feet, blasting one guard with his pistol as he trapped another with a mental compulsion. The first guard collapsed against the wall while the second stared back at him in impotent fury. “Sleep,” Fane commanded, and the second soldier joined his comrade on the floor.

Two additional Protarians came running down the corridor, drawn by the sound of the fight. Mal Ton motioned Fane toward the office as he turned to engage the newcomers. Half expecting the office to be empty, Fane pushed the door open and froze.

Sean stood beside Cassie, and Max lay unconscious at their feet.

“How did you incapacitate him?” Fane asked Sean.

“I didn’t. She did.”

Fane glanced over his shoulder to make sure Mal Ton had control of the lab then turned his full attention on Cassie. Her hair was a tangled mess, half down around her shoulders, half secured to the back of her head. She was barefoot, but her clothing was intact and scattered bruises appeared to be her only injury.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Her large brown eyes stared back at him with hostile interest. “How did you get here so quickly?”

“Max isn’t the only one who can teleport off-world. This is Sean Wylie.”

She glanced at Sean, her expression clearly curious. “Should I be thanking you?”

“Fane found you. I’m just the driver.” He offered her a playful wink and headed for the door. “I’ll go help Mal Ton secure our uninvited guests.”

Her gaze turned thoughtful and she looked out into the lab. “That’s Mal Ton Adoha? My father would kill to get his hands on that man.”

“A fact Mal Ton knows well.” Fane smiled and knelt beside Max. Even after scanning him, Fane was unable to determine the cause of his unconsciousness. “What did you do to him?”

“I chopped him in the veratinian nerve cluster as hard as I could and he went down.” She motioned toward the side of Max’s neck. “He’s been pretty out of it since he regained consciousness. I got lucky.”

If anyone could locate a nerve cluster it was Cassie. Still, it was hard to believe she hit Max hard enough to drop him. Fane had no reason to doubt her claim, but something about it rang false. He cupped her chin and turned her face so he could assess the damage to her cheek. “Did he hit you?”

“He must have known your friend could teleport. He expected you far earlier than I did.” She stepped back, easing away from his touch. “I’d like to call my father now.”

“You didn’t answer my question. How did you get the bruises?”

Their gazes locked and she crossed her arms over her chest. “I know it’s wisest not to resist an armed kidnapper, but surrender is not in my nature.”

“Then he didn’t—”

“He didn’t rape me. He said he wouldn’t stoop to fucking your whore.”

Heaving a sigh, he tucked his gun in the back of his pants. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry about using me three years ago, or you’re sorry Max used me as bait to draw you out of hiding?” Challenge snapped in each syllable. “For some reason he thought if he threatened me, you’d come running. Do you have any idea what brought him to that conclusion?”

Her bitterness was understandable, expected even. Unfortunately, the situation was too complicated for a pithy answer. “I need to secure Max then we’ll talk.”

“You’re bleeding.” She motioned toward the tear in his shirt and the long slash in the flesh beneath.

He glanced at the wound and shook his head. “I didn’t even feel it until now.”

“Adrenaline,” she suggested, her gaze moving over his face.

“As soon as we arrange transportation for Max and his men, I’ll take you back to Stilox headquarters.”

“Let me com my father. He’ll do the rest.”

He made a noncommittal sound and returned his attention to his unconscious enemy.

 

* * *

 

Cassie stayed out of the rebels’ way as they secured Max and his men. Sean found a blanket to wrap around her shoulders, but she wasn’t really cold, just rattled. Of the three rebels, Sean was the most likable. He smiled often and even flirted with her from time to time.

Mal Ton was all business. He bound the guards and carried them to the waiting transport as if they were children, not heavily armored men. Everything her father had said about the Stilox warrior replayed within her mind. He was ruthless and fanatical about Stilox independence. So what had he gained by rescuing her?

Despite Sean’s blond appeal and Mal Ton’s brooding handsomeness, her gaze drifted to Fane with predictable regularity. Did he possess some form of mutant magnetism like Max claimed? It wasn’t hard to imagine. She’d been uncharacteristically drawn to Fane from the first moment they met.

The years had changed him, hardened and refined his features. His cheekbones slashed now and the brackets framing his mouth were etched into his cheeks. The wariness in his pale green eyes hadn’t been there before. He stood beside Mal Ton, speaking in hushed tones.

She ran her thumb over the tip of the transfer tube barely protruding from beneath her fingernail. She’d launched the first round into Max. The second round would be lethal. She didn’t feel threatened, exactly, just anxious. Still, she’d been patient long enough.

Drawing the blanket around her shoulders, she approached Mal Ton and Fane. “I’d like to contact my father now.”

“Long-range communications have been moved to the new outpost,” Mal Ton told her. His features were expressionless, his tone calm. She had no idea if he was lying or not.

“We need to blindfold you.” Fane sounded regretful yet a sharper emotion lit his expressive eyes. “For obvious reasons this is all a little awkward.”

“My father already knows about the fourth dome.” Fane smiled and her stomach fluttered with unwanted awareness. She was unnerved by the sensation. There was no way she was still attracted to him.

“Let us keep a few of our secrets,” Fane said. “At least let us try.”

His silky tone did little to soothe her. He moved toward her and she stiffened, refusing to retreat yet growing more uncomfortable with each passing moment. Mal Ton circled behind her, his steps soundless despite his size.

“There’s no reason to be frightened.” Fane placed his hands on her shoulders and she stepped back, right into Mal Ton’s arms. “Relax. We won’t hurt you.”

“Then why are you…? What are you…?”

Cassie kicked and twisted, all her efforts useless within the circle of Mal Ton’s strong embrace. Fane held a small canister beneath her nose and expelled a cloud of mist. Each of her frantic breaths drew the chemical deeper into her lungs. Her nanites released adrenaline in an attempt to counteract the sedation, but Fane released a second puff of mist. Warmth pervaded her body, muting her emotions and bleeding the strength from her muscles. Her legs gave out beneath her and darkness drove reality away.

 

* * *

 

“You can’t keep her here against her will. I won’t be party to that sort of manipulation.”

Awareness flooded Cassie’s consciousness, filling her mind with images and impressions. She saw a young woman with golden hair and cautious hazel eyes. Andrea Raynier. She knew the human geneticist had spoken as surely as she knew her name, but Cassie had no idea how the knowledge had been imparted to her. Andrea stood beside a desk in a brightly lit office. Unlike the dilapidated lab, this room appeared freshly furnished and newly occupied. They must have reached the Stilox headquarters.

Roark Talbot sat behind an orderly desk. Fane watched Andrea, waiting to see if she’d say more—and realization struck. Cassie was in Fane’s mind. She was seeing through his eyes. She knew what he knew, could access his memories! That’s how she’d identified the human. Could he sense her presence? She eased into the shadows, released her hold on the scene until their voices were barely whispers. It didn’t seem to make a difference.

Her nanites had heightened her natural telepathic abilities, but nothing like this had ever happened before. At least nothing that she instigated. Even with nanite assistance, her skill was moderate at best.

Carefully pushing forward again, she took stock of the situation. Fane sat in a chair facing Roark while Mal Ton lounged near the doorway. She could sense their excitement at finally having Max in custody, but the opportunities presented via her presence were far more intriguing. Fascinated by the phenomenon, she focused on what they were saying.

“Were you harmed during your captivity?” Roark challenged. His bright teal eyes filled with heated memories as he looked at his mate. His mate? Yes, Andrea was his mate. But wasn’t she human?

“That’s beside the point.” A pretty pink blush colored Andrea’s cheeks. “There’s no reason for Cassie to be… motivated. Let me explain the situation and I’m sure she’ll cooperate.”

Mal Ton chuckled, drawing Cassie’s attention to the doorway where he stood. “Your interaction with the Protarian elite is obviously limited. Cassie Myer has been indoctrinated from the cradle to hate all things Stilox.”

It was a sweeping generalization. Even so, Cassie found it hard to contradict.

Andrea’s chin came up and her shoulders squared. “We aren’t asking her to help a Stilox rebel. We need her to stabilize a human refugee.”

Cassie paused over the concept. Would she be more apt to help a refugee than a rebel? No. People were people. This war had damaged indiscriminately. Did they really think she was so shallow? Then why did you have to stop and think about it?

“It’s not just Lorelle,” Roark reminded. “Doctor Myer was directly involved in the development of the last two counteragents. She knows more about the lentavirus than anyone on Protaria.”

“And as soon as Howyn realizes we have her, he’ll tear Stilox apart to get her back,” Mal Ton said. “We don’t have a lot of time.”

That was certainly true. Her father was nothing if not possessive and completion of her current project meant even more to him than his daughter’s life. Luckily for her, the project couldn’t be completed without her input.

“No one touches Cassie but me.” Fane’s tone allowed no argument and tingling heat vibrated through Cassie’s being. Was she ready for more of his consuming desire? She had been so susceptible to him the first time around. Did she dare risk a second exposure?

“Don’t forget the human captives,” Roark persisted. “Howyn promised to release them as soon as we rescued his daughter. This is a treacherous balancing act.”

“Howyn has no intention of releasing the hostages. He never did,” Mal Ton said.

Dread’s icy fingers dragged Cassie toward reality. Her father had offered the humans in exchange for her safe return? The rebels had every right to be suspicious. Well, so did she! Even now they were plotting her seduction, planning the best way to ‘motivate’ her.

“Aren’t the hostages at greater risk if Howyn learns we have Cassie?” Andrea grumbled.

“He won’t,” Mal Ton insisted. “Sean is on his way back to Protaria. After he turns Max over to Fane’s people, he’ll continue his search of the capitol. Sean knows Sanctum better than anyone. He lived on the streets for years.”

“I suspect Cassie can help with the hostages too.” Fane drew their attention back to the crux of the issue. “I just need to convince her to cooperate.”

Anticipation sizzled through Fane and arced into Cassie. He allowed his mind to wander, dragging her along with him. The memories were familiar. She’d indulged in the sensual echoes frequently over the years, yet there was an urgency in his mind that she’d never experienced before. He savored the wildness, let the savage energy take him for just a moment then suppressed the consuming hunger as if it had never been.

Stunned and tingling, Cassie felt the link slipping beyond her grasp.

“I want to talk to her before you start playing games.” Andrea looked at Fane as she added, “And you’re going to let me.”

Fane laughed. “I am? Who designated you commander of this outpost?”

Their voices were distant and distorted. Cassie concentrated, pouring what was left of her energy into the connection. It was no use. Her consciousness was sucked from the scene by a force far stronger than her will.

Awareness dimmed as she neared her body. She lay on a padded treatment table. It was obviously Fane’s intention to take advantage of the situation. He would exploit their attraction and use carnal hunger against her, unless she turned the tables on him first. Was she brave enough? Could she be that bold?

She clung to the information she’d gleaned during the vision, refusing to lose one trivial fact. One moment of terrifying blackness assailed her then she sprang up with a gasp. The room swam in and out of focus as she reached blindly for the rails. Her temples thumped out a painful echo of her heartbeat. She ignored the discomfort and fumbled with the trigger, lowering the bedrail on one side. She needed to be standing when they entered. The bed was too defenseless, too vulnerable.

Her toes jerked away from the cold tiles and she looked at her feet. Had she always been barefoot? The past few days had become a surreal blur… or had it only been one day?

The overhead lights activated as the door slid open. The blonde hustled into the room followed immediately by Fane. She only spared Andrea a glance, noting the accuracy of her vision, before her attention focused entirely on her adversary, her lover, her equal and opposite… She didn’t analyze the melodramatic thought. A shiver of anticipation danced down her spine as she allowed the fact to penetrate her mind then she moved on.

“Where am I?” She kept her hands at her sides, her stance loose, prepared for either attack or escape. Incapacitation was no longer an option. Her nanites were programmed to kill with the second strike.

“You’re still on Stilox,” Andrea said, cautiously approaching, “but you’re safe. No one will hurt you now.”

“Are you sure about that?” Fane asked with a provocative smile. His crystal green eyes moved over Cassie with obvious interest.

“I’m positive.” Andrea shot him an annoyed look.

They remained on the far side of the bed, which kept them between Cassie and the door. “Who are you?” she felt obligated to ask. Without the vision, she wouldn’t have known.

“I’m Andrea Raynier and I just want to talk to you.”

Cassie finger-combed her hair off her brow as she debated her next move. “Why was I brought here? This seems extravagant if all you’re trying to do is protect the location of your new headquarters.”

“We weren’t responsible for this opportunity,” Andrea came closer, her expression earnest and hopeful, “but we can’t squander it. Your skills are too valuable and we need your help too desperately.”

She glanced at Fane, unable to resist the impulse yet unwilling to reveal how much his presence affected her. He’d used her, seduced her with single-minded focus and utter disregard. After imprinting his image on her brain, she returned her attention to the human. “Are you asking for my assistance or explaining your expectations?”

“I’m not sure I see the difference.” Andrea slipped her hands into the pockets of her lab coat, obviously unnerved by the conversation.

“Assistance is asked of a guest. Expectations are explained to a prisoner.” She stared into Andrea’s eyes, her tone firm without being aggressive.

Andrea tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking less comfortable with each exchange. “If you’ll abide by a few basic rules, we’ll consider you our guest.”

Foresight was a wonderful thing. She had never felt more secure in her position. “Will I be able to contact my father?”

Andrea looked at Fane for support. He just smiled and said, “Surely you didn’t think it would be that easy.”

She turned back to Cassie with a sigh. “I suspect you’ll consider yourself a prisoner no matter what I say, so let’s move on to the actual project.”

“Let’s not.” Cassie had to make her move now before Fane entered the negotiation. Once he asserted himself things would get complicated fast. “I’m not a fool. You mentioned my skills, so I have a good idea what your project or projects entail. I’m far more interested in the details of my incarceration.”

“I wish you wouldn’t call it that.”

“If you’re uncomfortable with incarceration, you shouldn’t take prisoners.” She rounded the bed and faced Andrea directly.

“She didn’t take you prisoner,” Fane reminded. “I did. Now back off.”

“I’ll deal with you in a moment.” Cassie turned back to Andrea before he could do more than glare. “We both know my only motivation is to return home as quickly as possible.” He chuckled, the sound so provocative Cassie could feel it against her skin. “How long will I be trapped here on Stilox?”

“That’s entirely up to you.” Andrea kept glancing at Fane, but Cassie kept her gaze fixed on the human.

“My release is contingent upon my success?”

“Yes.”

“Is there more than one project?”

“There are three.”

Three? Damn. This could take a lot longer than she expected. “Have you prioritized them, or should I?”

“We have.” Fane grasped her upper arm and pulled her away from Andrea.

She yelped and shoved against his chest with both hands, careful to keep her index finger raised. “You have no reason to touch me.”

“I don’t need a reason.” He pushed his fingers into her hair and made a loose fist, securing her head without pulling her hair. She was more surprised by his restraint than his aggression. He leaned in close, angling her head until their mouths aligned. His lips hovered over hers. Threatening? Promising? She couldn’t decide which he was attempting to convey. “What are you up to?”

“I’m cooperating. Isn’t that why you’re here, to ensure my cooperation?” She dared to look into his eyes as she asked the question and her heart clumsily dropped a beat. What was wrong with her? She was supposed to go on the offensive.

“You can’t escape. Even if you get out of this complex, the atmosphere is toxic. Can you pilot a shuttle? Why are you giving in without a fight?”

She could pilot a shuttle if it came to that, but it wouldn’t. All she needed was a com panel. A distress signal attached to her personal code would immediately notify her father of her exact location. She took a deep breath and reminded herself what she was trying to accomplish. Keep him off balance. Beat him to the finish line. If they were going to become reacquainted, she would control the reunion.

“Are you disappointed?” She dropped her voice to barely a whisper and leaned in to the embrace. “Were you looking forward to the fight?”

“Resistance is in your nature, unless you gain more by giving in.” His warm breath teased her lips and still he made no move to close the minuscule space between them. “You’re plotting something.”

“Either kiss me or let go. This is boring.”

“We both know which you’d prefer.”

It was a stalemate, an emotional standoff. She wanted him with a slow-burning ache, yet she resented him even more. Something obviously held him back, though she couldn’t imagine what it was. He certainly hadn’t hesitated three years ago.

Dare she dream he didn’t want to resort to manipulation? The conversation she’d just overheard extinguished her fledgling hope. He had every intention of seducing her. He was simply waiting for the most opportune moment before he struck.

A thought occurred so suddenly she fought back a triumphant smile. The custom of short-term sexual alliances might be outdated, but it was still valid and it suited the situation to perfection. He would be obligated to protect her from any danger, including his own men. And all she had to do was accept him into her bed. Their attraction was combustible. Trying to resist her desire for him would only make his position more powerful. So why not use his lust to her advantage? She’d tease and tempt, surrender to a point then pull away. Make him so off balance and frustrated that he’d insist she return to her father.

She cleared her throat, trying to sound more composed. “On what do your people vow?”

Suspicion narrowed his eyes while the corners of his mouth curved upward. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s a simple question.” They remained in the half embrace, staring into each other’s eyes.

“Most vow on their lives or their honor.”

“Which means more to you, your life or your honor?”

“My honor by far.”

She accepted the information with a subtle nod. “Vow on your honor that you will protect me while I’m here on Stilox.”

For a long moment he returned her stare, his expression inscrutable. Then he covered his heart with his fist and said, “I vow on my honor that I will protect you with my life during your stay on Stilox. Nothing will harm you while you are in my keeping. You have my solemn vow.”

That was way too easy. Why had he offered his protection without conditions? Her heart beat furiously for a moment, protesting the ease with which she was meeting her goal. The whole situation suddenly felt like a trap about to snap shut around her foolish neck.

Time froze as she scrambled for options. He knew. Somehow he knew exactly what she was doing. His lips parted and he framed her face between his hands, challenge making his eyes shimmer.

“Say it,” he urged in a breathless whisper.

“I don’t know what to…”

His hand returned to her hair, steadily drawing her head back and tilting her face up. “Offer me your vow in return.”

“I vow to… What do you want in exchange for your protection?”

“You proposed the alliance, Cassandra. Surely you know.”

His voice caressed each syllable of her name, sending another set of tingles down her spine. If she cowered now, he won. This had to be her game or they had to be equal participants at the very least. She squared her shoulders and raised her chin as much as his hold on her hair allowed. “I offer companionship and comfort. I vow to accept you willingly into my bed for the duration of our alliance.”

“Actually, you’ll need to come willingly to my bed, but that’s just logistics. The bargain is acceptable to me.”

She braced for the assault on her senses, the first of many she was sure. His mouth slid against hers, guiding, urging her to open for the bold thrust of his tongue. She curled her tongue around his and arched into the heat of his strong body. He needed to believe her surrender was real. His arm encircled her hips, pulling her tight against his body while the kiss went on and on.

“Should I come back…” Andrea sounded more amused than embarrassed.

He eased back with obvious reluctance, his expression savagely possessive. “Do you understand what just happened here?”

There was no way to ignore the sensual promise in his tone. “We’re more or less… married.”

“You belong to me, no excuses, no pretense. You’re mine.”

“This is temporary.”

His smile was downright wolfish. “If you say so.”

She wiggled as far out of his embrace as he allowed her to go. One hand settled on her hip and the other moved toward her face. “You promised to protect me while I’m on Stilox.”

“I protect what’s mine.” He touched her cheek then traced her lips, his gaze trailing in the wake of his fingertips. “Andrea, would you please show my wife to our apartment and see that she has everything she needs.”

Chapter Three

 

 

“She proposed a social alliance? How the fuck did she even know about them? What is she, thirty, thirty-five at the most? I haven’t heard of a social alliance in decades.” Mal Ton leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Besides, you were supposed to make her your sex slave, not get married.”

Fane glanced around the dimly lit pub, relieved to find they were the only customers. “Control is your game, not mine. I’ve always preferred seduction.”

“I can be very seductive,” Mal Ton objected.

“Not with Cassie, you can’t. You’re officially out of the picture.”

“I’m officially off the market.”

“And this star system breathes a collective sigh of relief.”

Mal Ton gasped in feigned outrage. “I was not that bad.”

Fane laughed. “Like hell you weren’t. Lorelle deserves some sort of medal for clipping your wings.” The bartender handed Fane a mug of murky ale and Fane gave the wiry man a little salute.

“One of yours?”

“One of my what?”

“Don’t play stupid with me, Fane.” Mal Ton reached across the table and grasped his forearm. “Our causes might momentarily align, but I haven’t forgotten that you are not a Stilox freedom fighter.”

He pulled his arm out of Mal Ton’s light hold. “I’m no danger to you or yours. As you said, our causes align—for the time being.”

“And if your hunger for Cassie can’t be sated by the end of this temporary alliance? Don’t bother denying it. I’ve seen the way you look at her.” Mal Ton paused, his expression turned thoughtful. “Is there some sort of history there?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“I’m not sure I agree, but I’m not in the mood to fight my way through your shields.”

“As if you could.”

“I think the score is four to three in my favor.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“Undeniable.”

Fane took a long swig of ale. He was killing time, waiting for Cassie to settle in to their apartment before he… their apartment? Why did that sound so inviting? This wasn’t his outpost, wasn’t even his world, and Cassie was his enemy’s daughter. Regardless of how appealing he found her personally, he couldn’t let himself forget the fundamental differences keeping them apart.

“I won’t let Cassie become a complication for your cause or mine.” He sounded far more confident than he felt. “I just need some time with her to sort a few things out. I’ll start with how she metabolized a double dose of sedamintine in less than an hour. That was certainly unexpected.”

“You didn’t use the antidote?” Mal Ton scooted to the edge of his chair, confusion drawing furrows on his brow.

“I walked into the infirmary and she was standing beside the bed.”

“She might be resistant to the chemical. It did take two puffs to put her out.”

“That’s not the only anomaly. There’s something… different about my wife.”

The title made Mal Ton smile. “I never thought I’d hear those words coming out of your mouth. Is there any chance she’s a mutant?”

“I don’t think so. We would have sensed it by now.” Fane shifted his weight restlessly. “Something unusual happened when I activated the vision back on Protaria. It created an open connection between me and Cassie. I can’t quite control the link and I can’t terminate the signal, so I’ve been trying to minimize telepathic contact.”

“Is the link still open?”

“It’s still there, but as soon as she regained consciousness she erected a shield that rivals either of ours.” He looked at Mal Ton to make sure he understood the enormity of the implications.

“Does she have access to your mind?”

“I don’t think so. If she’s tried to communicate with me, I haven’t been aware of it.”

Suspicion arched Mal Ton’s brow before he asked, “What if she didn’t want you to be aware of her presence in your mind?”

Her presence had been in his mind continually since he used the vision to locate her. Was it possible she’d been poking around without his knowledge? It seemed unlikely she possessed the skills needed for such an intricate maneuver. Scanning was complicated enough, but extracting information without the person’s knowledge was nearly impossible.

“I don’t see how. I had no idea Cassie was telepathic, much less highly skilled. It does make me wonder about her father though.”

“None of our intel indicates Howyn has any paranormal abilities.”

“I know, but none of our intel revealed Cassie’s abilities either.”

Mal Ton’s gaze narrowed thoughtfully. “Now you’re making me paranoid.”

“That wasn’t my intention. I’m just rambling.”

“Wedding night jitters?”

“Something like that.” Fane pushed back from the table. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Have fun.”

 

* * *

 

After a quick shower, Cassie donned the utility clothes Andrea left for her. The simple garments fit well enough and it felt wonderful to be clean again. Unfortunately, the human hadn’t been able to locate suitable undergarments or shoes, so Cassie still felt a bit exposed.

She moved about the apartment in her stocking-clad feet. She noted a tiny closet, surprisingly comfortable bed, built-in dresser with retractable mirror, and corner workstation. There was a beverage station, but no way to replicate food. Apparently the Stilox rebels took their meals in some central location. Most of the compartments were locked and the computer terminal had been deactivated. Andrea wasn’t sure if Fane wanted her to have the door code or not, so for the time being, Cassie was still a prisoner.

Her thumb absently stroked the subtle protrusion of her transfer tube. The pressure had lessened as her anxiety mellowed. The automatic precaution prevented accidental injection. Still, it was now a lethal weapon and would remain so until she could return to her lab and reset the nanites.

There wasn’t much to distract her thoughts from her captor-turned-temporary-husband. This was her opportunity to give him a taste of his own medicine. She’d show him what it felt like to be used, to have his body turned against him. She’d touch and tease then reject him without thought or feeling.

The only real obstacle was her own lust and his ability to see into her mind. She would have to guard her thoughts as never before. He must believe she wanted him as desperately as he wanted her. Then, at the last moment, she’d turn him away and leave him aching for what he would never have again!

As if he’d heard her bitter thoughts, the door slid open and Fane strode into the room. Space was swallowed up by the power of his presence. He was not physically massive like Mal Ton. He was tall, his shoulders broad, but his body was lean and graceful.

“Did you miss me?” he asked with a playful smile. He raised his hand toward her face.

She stepped back, taking herself out of reach. “I mean to honor my vow, but there are some things I need to understand before we… consummate our agreement.” Let the games begin!

With an audible sigh, he lowered his hand and said, “I’m listening.”

She didn’t want to consider Max’s wild accusations, but the possibilities kept nagging in the back of her mind. “Did you recruit Nicho before or after he married me?”

He said nothing for a long time. A muscle worked above his jaw and a spark of gold flashed within his eye then vanished before she could determine whether or not it had been there at all. Shit! She’d expected a calm denial, not evidence of a guilty conscience.

“Nicho was a loyal citizen of Protaria.” His tone was gruff and dismissive. “Why would you doubt his allegiance now?”

For the first time since the disturbing words left Max’s mouth, she wondered if they might be true. Crossing her arms over her chest, she used his discomfort to make her bold. “Cut the bullshit, Fane. I know he was your spy.”

“Really.” His lips twisted in a wry little smile. “How could you possibly know that, even if it were true? And I’m not saying it was.”

Doubt swept through her in a numbing wave. Had Nicho worked for Fane? It was too horrible to consider, so she stubbornly held on to the illusion. “Why else would you…? What did you gain by…?” He stalked toward her, crossing the room with three long strides. She managed to hold her ground, but her thoughts scattered.

“Not tonight.” He let the statement hang in the air between them heavy with insistency and promise. “Tomorrow we’ll review all the reasons you have to hate me. We’ll negotiate the specifics of your release, but tonight is our wedding night.”

“This isn’t a real marriage.”

He splayed his fingers against her hairline, his palm lightly skimming her cheek. “It’s real to me.”

She started to object. He moved with lightning speed. His hands grasped her hips, pushing her back until her bottom pressed against the wall. He took the hem of her top with both hands and worked the garment up and over her head.

“Fane.” Her muttered protest went unheeded as he scrunched the material around her elbows and across her back, greatly reducing her range of motion. Her hands were trapped at her sides, rendering her panic weapon useless.

“Look into my eyes and tell me you don’t want this.”

Her nipples had already beaded in anticipation of his touch, but her mind remained aloof. She poured energy into her mental shields, determined to keep him out. This was meaningless lust. She could not let him erode her defenses. Carefully concealing her resentment, she licked her lips and looked into his eyes. “I instigated the alliance, remember?”

“I remember.” His thumb swept back and forth across her lips. He lowered his head and she allowed the kiss, using his eagerness to fuel her determination. I remember every kiss, every caress. I’ve never stopped thinking about you. Desire flowed into her mind along with his thoughts, dizzying, pulsing hunger that curled through her and lodged between her thighs.

Holy shit! How was she supposed to resist this?

She dragged her mouth from his with a moan. “How are you doing that?”

“I’ve sent my thoughts to you before.” His lips moved along her jaw and onto her neck as he spoke.

“You’re sending a whole hell of a lot more than your thoughts.”

His hand covered her breast and his mouth opened against the side of her neck, sucking firmly, sending prickly sensations deep into her chest. “Relax. Don’t analyze the feelings, just accept that you’re safe in my arms.”

He’d rescued her from Max. Even so, she’d never been safe with him. He’d always had an ulterior motive, always wanted more than the pleasure they shared.

“Stop thinking and be with me.” His hand remained on her breast, but he straightened, looking deep into her eyes. “I’ve learned not to question why things happen. I assess a situation and make the best decision possible given the circumstances. You’re in my life again. That’s all that matters.”

He didn’t allow her to contradict the concept. His mouth settled over hers and his hands insinuated themselves beneath her bound arms. She could feel the hard wall of his chest and the flat plane of his belly. He knew just how to touch her. He’d always known.

His lips were gentle now, almost mocking in their patience. He slid his mouth against hers, touching her lips with the tip of his tongue without venturing inside. She felt his longing, his need for her surrender and satisfaction surged. He craved the one thing she would never give him. Surrender required trust and she would never trust him again.

She touched the tip of her tongue to his as she checked her shields. Despite the sensations he was slipping into her mind, she was relatively certain he didn’t have access to her thoughts or emotions. She arched, rubbing her breasts against his chest. Let him think she was melting beneath the heat of his lust.

He came alive with sudden urgency, sucking her tongue into his mouth and grasping her bottom with both hands. Lifting her slightly, he aligned their lower bodies, pressing his cock into the softness at the apex of her thighs. She responded with her kiss, her tongue bold in his mouth.

Without releasing her mouth, he worked the fastenings at the front of her pants. The waistband gave and he pulled her away from the wall, allowing the loose garment to pool around her ankles. How far should she let this go? How much longer could she conceal her true intentions? She started to step out and kick them aside, but he shook his head.

“Not yet.” His voice was unsteady and he stepped back, his gaze scorching a path from her head to her feet.

Her arms were tangled in the top and the pants bunched about her ankles. It wasn’t hard to figure out what he was imagining. Why did he want her bound and helpless? A heated shiver raced down her spine. The thought was not nearly as distasteful as it should have been.

Search my heart. Search my mind. You have nothing to fear from me.

He wouldn’t hurt her physically. That wasn’t his style. He’d use her body, enslave her with passion then casually walk away.

After pulling his tunic off over his head, he draped it over the back of a chair. His chest was beyond lean, his flesh sculpted with brutal definition. He looked savage, far more dangerous than he had three years before.

“My strength has returned, but my body hasn’t fully recovered. Another week or two and I’ll be good as new.” He tugged off his boots and shed the rest of his clothes with indifferent efficiency.

His hips had always been narrow and the changes in his body weren’t as apparent in his legs. An intricate tattoo still undulated from his ankle to his hip on the right side of his body. It was a magical creature of some sort. She couldn’t remember what it was called. The long, slender body wrapped twice around his leg, the head nestling just below his hipbone. It had two sets of wings. One spread across his thigh, the other nearly circled his calf. She’d spent endless hours tracing the design with her fingers and her tongue. She was glad to see he hadn’t had it removed. It had always fascinated her.

“I didn’t mean to offend you.” Dragging her gaze away from the elaborate tattoo, she glanced at his cock. The impressive column of flesh was still every bit as appealing. “Even with the changes, you’re the sexist man I’ve ever known.” Why had she admitted it? He didn’t need any more tools in his arsenal.

“I’m not offended.” He bent to her breasts, anchoring her against him with an arm about her waist. Her shoulders rested against the wall and his pelvis pressed into her belly. “I’m ravenous.”

She clutched the material of her top as his lips drew firmly on her nipples. It felt so damn good, she was tempted to abandon her plan and sate her hunger. It was just sex. It didn’t mean anything. The past came barreling through the temptation, unwilling to be silenced so easily.

He nipped her breast and raised his passion-bright gaze to hers. Feel me. Know me.

Apparently he could sense her distraction, if not her specific thoughts. Lust exploded through her mind, jarring her body. She cried out, shuddering violently. Her body pulsed in great needful spasms, demanding and consuming. She pressed her thighs together and whimpered. It was taking all her concentration just to subdue her own desire. There was no way she could withstand experiencing his need as well.

With a ragged sigh, he eased back, stabilizing the sensations, muting the intensity. “We will talk, but not tonight.” The heat flared for an instant, singeing her senses before it mellowed to smoldering heat. “We’ve been apart too long.”

He kissed his way down her body as he sank to his knees. She should stop him. It wasn’t fair to let him… He’d never been concerned about what was fair! She pressed her hands against the wall and savored the coolness against her palms. Let him lick her pussy until she screamed with pleasure. It was no more than he deserved.

His hands cupped her ass, drawing her forward as he pressed his face into the juncture of her thighs. She waited for the skillful swirl of his tongue, knew how quickly he could obliterate her inhibitions with the stroke of that clever tongue. He didn’t move. Inhaling deeply, he held her scent inside him for endless moments before releasing it in a slow, humid stream.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, restless and anxious. Why was he soothed by her smell? His breath played through her curls, awakening tingles and focusing her attention on her body’s response to his nearness. Other than his hands on her ass, his breath was the only part of him that was touching her. So why did she feel weightless and hot?

With slow deliberation, his tongue pushed through her feminine curls and unerringly found her clit. She jerked, but he slid right past the sensitive bud and parted her folds. “Fane,” she whispered his name in helpless supplication.

Not yet. He was far too fond of that phrase.

His fingers joined his mouth in eroding her sanity. Pushing between her thighs from behind, he traced a path from the center of her body through the valley between her quivering cheeks. The pad of one finger paused to circle her anus and she jerked away. She was far from a novice when it came to pleasures of the flesh, but that was one thing she’d never done.

Trust me, Cassandra. I will never force anything on you.

She was counting on it, counting on his basic nobility to save her in the end. The tension obediently released. Whenever he said her name, her full name, in that whisper-soft tone, she melted and went all tingly inside. He continued his teasing trail, sliding smoothly in her gathering wetness. His fingers circled her core, accenting the hollow ache as he coated his skin with her essence. He drew her attention to her other opening, triggering sensations and longings she didn’t realize she possessed. She gently rocked her hips, desperately trying not to be distracted.

He squeezed her ass and caressed her hips, stroked her thighs and massaged her knees. At least he hadn’t taken the anal play any further than a few disturbing touches. She rested her head against the wall and accepted the unorthodox position. Everything about this was unusual. Why should the mechanics be any different?

His teeth caught the inside of her thigh, exerting enough pressure to make her gasp. “Mark my words. One day I will discover what it takes to focus your mind entirely on us.”

Sweeping his hand up the back of her leg, he bent her knee and angled her calf across his shoulder. Uncertainty rushed through her and she tensed. The position was off balance and open—vulnerable. He steadied her, one hand on her hip the other beneath her thigh.

“I’ve got you,” he assured.

“Can’t we move to the bed? Not yet.” She supplied his response, easily guessing what he was about to say.

He covered her slit with his mouth. His lips moved against her and his tongue pushed into her. She clenched her fists, wishing she could touch him, wanting to bury her fingers in his hair. He pushed her leg higher and angled his head, pulling her pussy right over his face. There was nothing sweet or tender in his kiss. This was savage and carnal and her body responded in kind. She arched into his mouth, grinding her flesh onto his thrusting tongue.

Her inner muscles tightened. His upper lip rubbed against her clit, creating a downward counterpoint to each inward jab. She shifted, increasing the pressure on her clit, and her orgasm burst.

The hand on her thigh slid higher, slipping beneath his lips for a moment. His fingers felt cool and intrusive after the torrid pleasure of his mouth. He glanced up, her fluids still gleaming on his lips and chin. Without a word he pushed a finger into her smoldering passage and watched her response. Her inner muscles convulsed with little aftershocks and he smiled.

He waited until she calmed then slowly withdrew and resumed his teasing trek from her core to her anus. She caught her lower lip between her teeth and tried not to tense. She should have realized he wasn’t finished. Fane never gave up on anything once it caught his attention. Excitement rippled through her as she thought of all the possible ways she could apply that particular concept. His finger pushed against her anus and her gaze flew to his.

“Pay attention,” he chastised.

“I was paying attention.”

“Then why did my finger catch you by surprise?” She expected him to move his hand now that he’d made his point, but he had something else in mind. “On the bed, hands and knees, ass in the air.”

Her jaw dropped and heat blazed across her face and upper chest. “I don’t think so.” She released a nervous laugh. “I’m not doing doggy-style.”

“I prefer to think of it as surrender, but that’s not what I had in mind.” He swatted her hip, long fingers catching the lower curve of her ass. “Now move.”

Reluctance hindering each step, she crossed to the bed and visualized the position he’d requested, so vulnerable, so open. “Fane, I really don’t want—”

He slapped her bottom with his open hand and a gasp interrupted her plea. The sting was momentary, but heat crawled across her skin and sank slowly into her muscles. “‘Companionship and comfort,’” he quoted. “You promised willingness for protection. Are you reneging on our deal already?”

“No,” she snapped. “I’m here, aren’t I? I am willing.”

“Prove it. If you’re offended by ‘doggy-style,’ then bend over the bed and spread your legs.”

“As if that’s any better.” Her voice sounded almost shrill.

Fast as lightning, he grabbed the back of her neck and pushed her down across the bed. Her hands came up automatically, so she ended up bent at the waist with her forearms resting on the bed. He moved behind her and kicked her feet apart.

Each aggressive movement angered her more, but she knew better than objecting. Most of their past encounters had been playful and hot. This was clearly discipline triggered by her reluctance. Arguing at this point would only make things worse.

He delivered two firm spanks to each side of her bottom and she clenched her teeth, trying not to react to the humiliating situation. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of crying out.

“Why am I spanking you?”

“Because you’re a sadistic pig.” The insult was out before she could stop the impulse.

A flurry of fast, hard swats was his only reply. The pain increased as his hand landed on areas already tender from previous slaps. She clawed at the bedding and clenched the muscles in her butt, doubly upset because she’d brought it on herself.

“Relax,” he directed. “It hurts worse when you tense up like that.”

She tried to obey, but her body simply wouldn’t cooperate. He spanked her again and a cry tore from her throat. Soon she cried out with each punishing stroke, which only added to her humiliation.

“What did you do wrong?” His tone was much more autocratic when he finally paused to speak.

Tension banded her chest and tears gathered in her eyes. A confusing combination of emotions twisted inside her: anger, humiliation, even fear. She knew Fane wouldn’t hurt her badly, but something menacing and powerful loomed in the distance threatening to shatter her emotional defenses.

“I need to obey you.” Her voice sounded so raw she barely recognized it as hers and hot tears spilled onto her cheeks.

“Why?”

The question surprised her. It was hard to think as the persistent throbbing gradually spread from her ass to her core. Even as a child, no one had dared to chastise her physically. Yet Fane dared. Fane hadn’t hesitated.

“I belong to you,” she whispered and heat cascaded through her body. “While I’m on Stilox.” The clarification was a reminder to both of them. Regardless of how intense this became, it was temporary.

Without explaining his actions, he walked to the nightstand and opened the drawer. His body blocked her view, but it was obvious from his movements that he was sorting through the drawer and collecting the item or items he sought.

Her curiosity got the better of her and she asked, “What are you looking for?”

“You’ll see.” When she started to move, he whipped his head around and warned, “Stay put or there will be consequences.”

She heaved a frustrated sigh, but maintained her lewd position.

He moved behind her and ran his fingertips over her spank-reddened ass. “Your ass was made for discipline. You look so damn hot like this.”

Hot, to be sure, but she meant it literally. Her skin still burned though the throbbing was starting to ease. Then she felt something cool slither between her cheeks and cover her puckered opening. She closed her eyes, dreading what was to come. Clearly, he hadn’t lost sight of what started this entire detour.

“Do you trust me?” Warmth crept back into his tone.

She opened her eyes and glanced over her shoulder. “Why is this so important to you? Isn’t my pussy enough?” She intended to stop this before he fucked her, so why was she allowing any of this?

“I will never harm you, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that no one else harms you.” His gaze locked with hers, his expression intense. “Either you believe that or you don’t.”

She turned her head back around, unable to withstand his penetrating stare. “I believe it.” And she did, but this wasn’t about trust. It was about betrayal, about a long delayed retribution.

“Then trust me with your body.” He eased his slippery finger just barely inside her ass. “All of it.”

She squeezed her eyes shut as the invasion continued, his finger pushing deeper and deeper. It felt odd, not painful, but definitely intrusive. He rotated his wrist and eased a second finger inside her. She moaned. The fullness was much more noticeable now. Her body felt stretched and invaded.

He slid his hand forward and back, slowly pumping his fingers into her snug ass. Cassie refused to think about what he was doing or how violently he would react to her rejection. She concentrated on the sensations, accepted the newness and the stark sexuality. He moved faster, pushing the pleasure higher then drawing it down through her body in a cascade of tingles.

Just when she thought she had control over the unwanted sensations caused by his punitive caress, he moved his other hand in front of her and covered her clit with one of his fingers. His hands worked in tandem. He filled her ass as he rubbed her clit, urging her arousal higher.

He closed his fingers around her clit and carefully squeezed as he pulled his finger all the way out. She came hard with a startled cry, shuddering violently as the spasms gripped her. “Oh, God, how did you do that?”

With a throaty chuckle he turned her around and paused for a consuming kiss. “If I weren’t so desperate to be inside you, I’d give you a more lengthy demonstration.” He swept her into his arms and placed her on the bed.

This was it. Somehow she had to find the strength to push him away. He is king of the mutants! He used you, drugged you, betrayed you. This shouldn’t even be a struggle.

If he touched her again, she’d be lost, and all this would have been for nothing. She scrambled off the other side, dragging the bedding with her to cover her nudity. “I can’t do this. I can’t close my eyes and pretend none of it happened. You used me! I didn’t even know your name while you looked into my eyes and pretended to care for me.”

“I wasn’t pretending and you know it.”

“All I know is you pursued me and seduced me and I’ll never be that stupid again!”

Fury erupted in his gaze for just a moment before resignation extinguished the flame. “So this is payback?” He sounded far more frustrated than he looked.

“Did you honestly think a couple of orgasms would make me forget what you did to me?”

He stared at her for a long moment, his expression turbulent. “You’re in violation of our alliance. Shall we begin negotiations instead?”

 

* * *

 

“Are you sure she’s ready for a field test?” Chancellor Martin Howyn stared at his colleague, searching for the slightest tic in his expression or inappropriate tension in his posture. General Padric Bryson had been with him from the beginning. Howyn liked to think the general was the one person he could trust implicitly, but Howyn had been disappointed too many times before.

“I’d be more comfortable if your daughter were here to oversee the field test. There are so many things that could go wrong. But our buyer is restless. We don’t dare delay the project any longer.”

Howyn stiffened, turning from Bryson to hide his expression. He’d carefully insulated Cassie from many of the harsher realities of life. Or at least he’d tried. Her expertise was invaluable, her skill essential. Still, she lacked the stomach for true brutality. That’s why he had Bryson. “I have no doubt Cassie will be located, likely sometime today.”

Bryson accepted the information with a stiff nod. “Are you suggesting we postpone the field test until after her return?”

“No. I agree with you. We’re running out of time.”

The window tint decreased as he approached, presenting him with a spectacular view of the Sanctum skyline. His empire spread before him: jutting office buildings, elegant residential complexes, and posh shopping emporiums. If Project Chrysalis performed as well as expected, the entire star system would fall under his control.

“A rapid rescue will minimize Cassie’s trauma, but I suspect she’ll need time to recuperate. We have no choice but to push on without her.” He sounded callous even to his own ears, but there was no way he could have anticipated the abduction and he was doing everything in his power to get her back. The mutants were far better suited to this mission than conventional forces, a fact that was at the heart of his new project.

“This incident proves my suspicion that Keller was Max,” Bryson said casually. “Your chief of security had no reason to kidnap Cassie while there are several ways a rogue mutant might use her abduction as leverage.”

Howyn turned around, brows arched as he faced the general. “Keller was Max? Do you know something I don’t?”

“Max was trying to overthrow Fane. We’ve known that for weeks. You gave Fane the perfect opportunity to move against his rival without repercussions. There is no way Max is coming out of this alive.”

Which was precisely what Howyn had intended when he made the offer to Fane. Irrational ambitions could be overlooked or channeled into more meaningful veins. When Max chose to bait his trap with Cassie, he’d sealed his fate. Howyn delivered him into the hands of his enemy then washed his hands of the entire situation.

The silence lengthened and Bryson adjusted the fall of his uniform jacket, a sure sign of his anxiety. He was well past middle age and yet projected a powerful presence. “What if Fane can’t deliver on his promise?”

“You’ve obviously never stood toe to toe with Fane. There’s something about him that makes my skin crawl and I’m not easy to unnerve.”

Bryson let the subject drop and returned to their earlier topic. “What did you have in mind for Karris?”

“Karris?” He released a derisive snort. “You’re on a first-name basis with her now? Chrysalis One is no more or less important than any other weapon. No, Chrysalis One is less important because she only houses the weapon. Do not allow yourself to think of her as anything more than a biological container.”

“I understand. It won’t happen again.” The reply was stiff, monotone, but his gaze revealed an acceptable degree of contrition. Howyn almost bought the expression until he saw Bryson’s clenched fists. Was the general going soft on him? Bryson’s newfound compassion would definitely make this next part interesting.

“If the field test is to move forward as scheduled, Chrysalis One will need access to mutant energy in a controlled environment.”

Bryson nodded, his gaze sharp and watchful. “We could station her outside one of their haunts and—”

“Emphasis on controlled environment. Her programming is untested. We’re not even sure if the nanites will allow her to absorb mutant energy at the levels necessary to produce the desired results.”

“What are our other options?”

“I’m glad you asked.” Bryson watched him cross the spacious office and manually trigger the door. He’d activated a privacy shield when Bryson arrived, so he was unable to summon his assistant with his usual voice command. “Send her in,” he told the shapely young woman seated in the reception area.

He stepped back from the doorway and studied Bryson as Nehalem, one of the general’s lesser wives, moved into the room. She was dressed in the nondescript uniform of a penal inmate, her long auburn hair pulled back away from her pale face. Incarceration didn’t agree with this pampered beauty.

“What is she doing here?” Bryson demanded. His resentment was hypocritical. Her indiscretions couldn’t begin to equal his. Even so, Howyn enjoyed the resulting tension.

“As we both know, your lesser wife—”

“She is not my anything anymore,” Bryson snapped.

“She is whatever I say she is.”

“And what do you say I am?” Color returned to her sculpted cheeks and Howyn smiled.

“For reasons that are not your concern, we would like to catalogue mutant abilities. If you are willing to seek out such abilities and return them to us without the donor realizing what has happened, you would be appropriately rewarded.”

“You want me to fuck mutants and return to you while their energy is still in my system?”

“Precisely. But they cannot know that you are anything more than a collector,” Howyn warned.

Bryson crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Nehalem. “It should be an easy enough part for her to play. She’s had enough practice.”

Howyn turned to the general, prepared to deliver the final blow. “For obvious reasons I’m reluctant to trust her.”

“I’ll be far more effective without a handler.”

Ignoring her insistence, Howyn focused on the general. “There are no secrets in the Underground. Many of the mutants will have heard of her betrayal. They will not be at all surprised when you develop a taste for exotic pleasures.”

“Like watching worthless mutants fuck my wife?” He didn’t sound pleased, but the front of his pants had begun to bulge. He looked at Nehalem with a cruel smile. “No one will question my desire to punish you and we both know you’ll enjoy every minute of your punishment.”

Chapter Four

 

 

Fane exhaled his frustration and reached for his pants. So things weren’t going to be as simple as he’d hoped. Part of him welcomed the challenge while a more demanding part longed for Cassie with torturous intensity. Still, without her stubborn nature, Cassie wouldn’t be Cassie.

After slipping on his pants, he finger-combed his hair back from his face and looked at his reluctant wife. “You vowed to give yourself to me willingly.”

“I vowed to come willingly to your bed.” She gathered the blanket around her like a shroud and sat on the foot of the bed.

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, yet her taste lingered on his tongue, keeping his passion smoldering. “Your treatment will be far different without my protection. Are you sure you want to become a prisoner?”

“Dress it up anyway you like, I am a prisoner.”

And he couldn’t free her. Too many people would benefit from her captivity. Cassie was the first real glimmer of hope any of them had received in a very long time. Her knowledge and expertise would help them understand the mutation, perhaps even stabilize or reverse some of the damage. The prospect thrilled him yet frightened him too. Hope could be so cruel when it led to disappointment.

Keeping the blanket tucked close against her chest, she carefully freed her arms. The upper curve of her creamy breasts swelled into view. Damn it. This was supposed to be their wedding night.

“You promised we’d talk.” She glanced at him then looked away. “Perhaps if I understood everything that happened I could… I need to know.”

She looked like a golden temptress, supple and feminine. The last thing he wanted was to talk about the past, but the details were obviously important to her. With a frustrated sigh, he sat on the bed and stuffed a pillow behind him. “Nothing I can say will bring Nicho back. I’d rather concentrate on the future.”

Drawing her legs up under the sheet, she folded them in front of her and settled into the softness of the bed. “Did Nicho work for you?”

The pain in her eyes tore at his heart and reinforced his reluctance to indulge her curiosity. “You already know the answer. We can’t change the past.”

“I need to know the truth, all of it. Did you recruit Nicho before or after he married me?”

“None of it matters now. Why put yourself through this?” He leaned forward and reached for her hand, but she snatched it away.

“Just answer the question.”

Her mind was battened down tight, not a hint of emotion escaped. He knew he could force his way through her shields, but he wasn’t willing to abolish what little trust she had in him. “Nicho loved you. Don’t ever doubt that.”

“Your avoidance is answer enough. You sent him to me and—”

“It wasn’t like that. I went after Nicho because of his connection to you, but you were already engaged when I first approached him.” Her lips trembled and tears gathered behind her long lashes. He fisted his hands, desperately wanting to touch her, to comfort her.

“Why did you come after me? What happened at the party was no chance encounter.”

He pushed his fingers through his hair while regret pelted him like hail. “Nicho uncovered something important, but… they got to him before he could pass it on to me.”

“So you seduced me to get whatever Nicho had uncovered.”

“Yes.” Their separation became intolerable. She was slipping away, barricading herself behind the past where he couldn’t reach her. With feral determination, he caught her wrists and dragged her toward him.

“Stop it!”

She tugged against his hold and the blanket sagged to her waist. He wrapped his arms around her then rolled, sweeping her beneath him. Realizing her hands were free, she swung at his face, tears seeping from the corners of her eyes. Her kicking only allowed him to wedge his body between her legs and he pulled her arms above her head.

“I’m not going to fuck you!” she cried. “Let me go.”

“I lost you once. It will not happen again.”

She made a sound half laugh and half sob. “You didn’t lose me. You walked away. You willingly walked away.”

“Cassie, it wasn’t like that. I didn’t have a choice.” Pain crept across his soul, making him feel old and weary. “I haven’t had a choice for longer than you can imagine.”

“Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?”

Her sarcasm game him strength, drew him back into the present. “Pity is the last thing I want from you.”

“I know damn well what you want from me.” She glared then stilled as uncertainty clouded her gaze. “What did Nicho uncover? Was it worth what you did to me?” Tears trailed out the corners of her eyes, disappearing into her golden hair.

“I never meant to hurt you. I tried to take the memory from you, to spare you the pain.”

“You’re a ruthless bastard,” she sobbed.

“I know.” The sorrow in her voice released a fresh rush of guilt. “I hunted you down and intentionally seduced you. I knew exactly what I was doing, until I touched you. What erupted between us was unexpected and amazing. I will not apologize for loving you.”

“Loving me?” she scoffed. “You’re deluded. You don’t know the meaning of the word. Now get off me!”

He should give her time to grieve, give her space to think about all—no, thinking was the last thing she needed to do. The mutations were escalating. Lorelle and the others didn’t have time for Cassie to mourn her dead husband. The past couldn’t be changed. These were desperate times, requiring desperate actions. He couldn’t afford to be noble.

“Believe what you like but your body knows the truth. This is real and it has nothing to do with the war.” He kissed her with all the passion consuming his soul. She was his and he intended to keep her. Duty had taken her from him once. He would not make the sacrifice again.

For a long time she tolerated his kiss, refusing to respond. He caressed her face and slowed the frantic movements of his tongue. Heat smoldered beneath the surface. He could sense her building desire yet stubbornness and pain created a barrier between them.

His dark nature surged, the primitive, elemental essence unchanged by centuries of progress and technology. His mate lay beneath him, denying herself and denying him. He tightened his fingers around her wrists and whispered an incantation against her parted lips. Mystic cords wound around her, anchoring her arms to the bed.

“What did you just…? How the hell did you do that?” She tugged against the cords, her eyes wide and uncertain. The struggle jostled her breasts, but the cords easily held her.

“I’m a sorcerer, remember? You’ve not yet glimpsed the full extent of my power.” She closed her eyes with a soft cry and the stench of fear tainted the air. He forced the savage back, infusing the possessive demand with threads of tenderness. “Cassandra, look at me.” She shook her head and he ran his knuckles along the side of her face. “Please open your eyes.” Her lashes fluttered then rose and their gazes locked. “I will never hurt you. Never.”

“Then release my hands.”

“You’ll run away or try to. There really isn’t anywhere for you to go.”

“I don’t want to fuck you.”

“Then we won’t fuck.” His fingertips trailed from her flushed cheek to the base of her throat. “I’ll just touch you and taste you until you accept the fact you’re mine.”

A nervous laugh tore from her throat. “How is that any different than fucking?”

He crawled off the foot of the bed and dragged the tangled blanket out from underneath her. His hands unfastened his pants, but his gaze admired her naked body. Soft curves and graceful angles, she spread out before him like a pagan sacrifice.

She clamped her thighs together when he crawled back onto the bed. With a wicked smile, he moved up along her body and straddled her waist. “Seduction is soft and gentle.” Angling his hips, he rubbed his cock between her breasts, pushing the mounds together to better stimulate his shaft. “Fucking can be harsh and overwhelming.” His thumbs teased her nipples, sending prickly sparks of sensation into her chest.

Shifting restlessly beneath him, she said, “No one in their right mind would define this as anything but sexual.”

“You offered me your body or led me to believe you had. My protection for the pleasure of your flesh. That’s the nature of a social alliance.”

She shivered and her lust stabbed into his mind. Already her resolve was eroding. She wanted him no matter what she said.

Leaving his cock in the soft valley between her breasts, he rolled her nipples. The tips grew tight and flushed, responding best to a firm, steady pressure. She shifted restlessly, her gaze darting to his cock again and again.

“Do you want it in your mouth?”

“You wish.” She turned her face aside. “I don’t want it anywhere near me.”

He chuckled. “If you say so.” Crawling downward, he settled over her, holding most of his weight on his forearms and his knees. He angled his hips and pushed his thick length between her thighs then wrapped his legs around hers. His lower body pressed her into the bed, but his upper body hovered above her chest. Her heat sank into his flesh even though he wasn’t inside her. “I ache, love. Can’t you feel how much I want you?”

“I don’t care.” Her voice cracked, and she closed her eyes again. “Just get it over with. I hate these games.”

“Are you sure?” He sucked her breast, drawing the beaded tip deep into his mouth. “You’re awfully wet for true indifference.” He gently rocked between her thighs as his mouth moved from one breast to the other. Knowing she was helpless, unable to deny him, allowed him to slow.

“It’s just sex,” she muttered. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Of course not.” He eased her legs apart and slid farther down, insinuating himself between her thighs. “It means nothing at all.”

Her scent surrounded him. He inhaled deeply and smiled. Her scent might be provocative, but it was nothing compared to her taste. He pressed his lips against her thigh. She clasped him with her legs, preventing him from accessing his destination. “Bend your knees, love. Make room for me.”

“Go jack off in the bathroom. I am not your love!”

Her stubbornness amused him far more than it should have. If he pushed her knees to her shoulders and impaled her, she’d gasp and protest and come despite her objections. But it wasn’t enough. He wanted her wild and eager, needed to hear her cry out his name while she pulsed around his cock.

Grasping the back of one knee, he positioned her to his liking and repeated the incantation. Mystic cords slid around her thigh just above her knee, supporting and securing her leg.

“Fane!” She kicked at him with her free leg, panic momentarily renewing her struggle. He ignored her protests and caught her flailing limb, binding it with another whispered incantation.

She was utterly helpless now, spread before him, her ass barely touching the mattress. “There is no reason to fight me.” He pushed his middle finger into her silky cunt. “Not when you want this as badly as I do.”

 

* * *

 

Desire throbbed through Cassie like the persistent beat of a drum. It had always been like this with Fane. No matter how forcefully her mind protested, her body refused to obey. She wanted him, needed his aggression and the overwhelming pleasure that drove reality away.

No! She would not surrender to his… sorcery.

Taking full advantage of her immobility, he started at her ankle and kissed a searing trail down the inside of her leg. Each time his lips pressed against her skin, heat burrowed into her flesh. Objecting to his seduction only made her sound petulant. The proof of her willingness gleamed on her folds and slicked the insides of her thighs.

Her body wanted him regardless of how much she resented his actions. The conflict was dizzying and useless. This was a battle she couldn’t win. She dragged her gaze away from his face and looked at the golden cord restraining her leg. The magical fibers shimmered in the dim light, securing her limb in midair. Sorcerer. How could she doubt it now? He obviously wielded powers that had nothing to do with technology. Her legs were spread and her hands were bound, nullifying her injector. Not that she would have considered using it. Fane’s death was the farthest thing from her mind.

His warm breath teased her feminine curls, scattering her troubled thoughts. She arched toward his mouth, craving the skillful lash of his tongue and the greedy pull of his lips. He moved on without touching her sex and she whimpered.

“If you want something, sweetheart, all you have to do is ask.”

Pride tugged the words back from the tip of her tongue. She might not be able to control her body’s response, but she would not encourage him. She closed her eyes and thought of Nicho, his kind eyes and boyish good looks.

Fane shot upward, his face directly above hers. “Look at me. Feel me. Think only of me.” He traced her slit with his cock head, sliding easily between her slick folds.

Nicho’s image faded, lost in the gleaming power of Fane’s gaze. She licked her lips, her core clenching, anticipating his hardness deep inside her. “Please.” The word escaped with a whimper and Cassie trembled. She didn’t want to want him, but the longing was inescapable.

He found her entrance and pushed slowly inside. His gaze bore into hers as his cock invaded and claimed. When his entire length impaled her, he slipped his hand in between their bodies and circled her clit with his thumb.

“Come.” It wasn’t a suggestion, it was a command. He braced himself above her, waiting and watching as she accepted the inevitability of her surrender.

Without motion, she was focused entirely on their joined bodies and the tension gathering deep inside her. Sensations jolted with each pass of his thumb. Her inner muscles took on the rhythm of his touch and she arched her back, imbedding him more deeply.

The pleasure tightened, trapping her breath in her lungs. Then the sensation released and she cried out, coming in distinct pulsations.

“Very good.” He kissed her briefly then pulled out of her pliant body.

“Fane?” Had that pleading, breathless voice really been hers?

“I’m right here, love.” His mouth settled over her pussy, rewarding her with tender licks and careful sucks.

She floated on a sensual tide, savoring the languid pleasure. His hands glided over her skin, caressing her hips and squeezing her breasts. The possessive demand was gone, replaced by amorous caring. Her heart fluttered, echoing the spontaneous ripple of her core.

“I could live on this.” His mouth moved against her as he whispered the words. With deliberate precision, he tilted his head and pushed his tongue into her passage.

The penetration seemed slight after the fullness of his cock, but it thrilled her all the same. He craved her, hungered for her body and soul. As if responding to her fleeting thought, his fiery being rushed into her mind. He warmed her and consumed her, even as his energy infused and strengthened her.

She gasped and trembled, lost in the sizzling flow. His mouth became more demanding. She clutched her hands and rocked into the kiss. Her immobility freed her to revel in the pleasure, to respond without distraction. Opening her mind, she welcomed him, absorbed his energy with greedy abandon.

Her orgasm burst with sudden fury and a sharp cry escaped her lips. He lunged upward, thrusting to the hilt as her passage throbbed. His entrance prolonged her release. She tightened around him, embracing him the only way she could.

He drove into her, strong and steady, the force jostling her breasts and launching fresh sensations. The cords securing her legs disintegrated and she locked her ankles behind his back. He slipped his hands beneath her ass and lifted her into each deep thrust.

His gaze ignited with mutant light, showering her skin with tingles. Tension sculpted his features, accenting the angles with savage beauty. He tossed his head and thrust harder. His presence in her mind intensified, blinding her, overwhelming her.

Unhooking her ankles, she raised her legs high against his sides, holding him without restricting his movements.

“Mine.” He covered her mouth with his and thrust his tongue into her waiting warmth. The taste of her pleasure filled her mouth as his tongue stroked against hers. Joined, melded, combined, she couldn’t tell where she ended and he began. His ravenous hunger incited her eager response and her excitement fed his fire.

With a deep moan he wrapped his arms around her and came, the forceful jet of his seed triggering her final climax. She shuddered against him and rippled around him as they hung suspended beyond reality.

The cords around her wrists released and he gathered her against his chest, rolling them to their sides. He anchored her leg to his hip, keeping their bodies joined as he peppered kisses over her damp skin.

“Is the link intentional?” she asked when her passion-muddled brain began to function again.

He raised his head and looked into her eyes. “Not entirely. I connected with your mind so I could locate you but…”

“You didn’t mean for the line to stay active?”

“Basically.” Mutant light faded from his gaze and his expression became guarded. “As long as I’m responsible for your safety, it’s a necessary precaution. That’s why I haven’t terminated the link.”

She smiled despite the disappointment creeping into her lethargy. When push came to shove, she was his prisoner and they were enemies. She couldn’t let their physical attraction distract her from reality. Nothing had changed. This was just sex. Just unbelievable, mind-blowing sex.

“A metaphysical tracking device?” she mused.

“I can’t sense your thoughts unless I intentionally scan your mind, but I will instantaneously know if you’re in danger.” He hesitated then asked, “Have you always been telepathic?”

“I inherited the power from my mother, but it’s nothing special. My strongest ability is shielding.”

“Can you access our link, or are you just receiving?”

Should she tell him she had access to his mind? It had given her a small advantage when she first awakened. No, the situation was slanted toward him on so many levels. She’d keep this secret to herself for now. She shook her head. “Everything grows stronger during sex, but I seem to be the receiver.”

“Even now I can feel your shields going back up. Who taught you to protect your mind?” His tone was casual, but she didn’t miss the suspicion in his eyes.

She shrugged, emulating his conversational tone. “After Nicho was murdered I learned many new skills. I refused to let the tragedy drive me from my home, but I wanted to feel safe.”

“There is more to this than new skills.” He paused again, his gaze penetrating. “Did you have yourself altered in some way?”

There was no drawback to letting him know she wasn’t as helpless as he presumed. She closed her fingers into a loose fist, hiding the transfer tube. She could reveal the source without divulging the details. “Think about it, Fane. What’s my life’s work?”

“Nanites. You injected yourself with nanites… that do what exactly?”

“That’s none of your business.” She turned her face into the warmth of his chest to hide her smile.

 

* * *

 

Fane stared at the ceiling, trying to will his body to sleep. Cassie curled against his side, soft, warm, and inviting. His arousal stirred back to life mere moments after he found release. They’d made love twice more before she fell asleep and still he was not satisfied. Only with Cassie was he insatiable and only with her could he hope to ease the ache.

He understood the urgency, the instinctual demands fueling their passion. Their souls had started to bond three years before while her heart was open to his. Then the bond had slumbered, inactive yet intact during their separation. Now that they were together again, the bond would strengthen each time they touched and it would compel them to touch each time they were together. The bonding process could last weeks or months, depending on the couple.

She might have accepted him back into her bed, but she was far from inviting him into her heart. Her resentment was understandable. She’d been betrayed at every turn. Even so, he felt powerless to bridge the gap and start the healing.

Easing her onto her back, he carefully disentangled their bodies. Mutual trust was the foundation for any relationship and Cassie wasn’t going to trust him simply because her body responded to his. He had to earn her trust, prove to her that he would never fail her again.

He took a quick shower and dressed, loath to leave her yet needing a few minutes away from the intoxicating distraction of her soft body. He’d let her sleep for a few hours then bring her breakfast, so they could share a quiet meal before they started the day.

Light streamed out under Roark’s office door, so Fane knocked on the panel. He hadn’t expected anyone else to be up and around.

“It’s open,” Roark called.

Fane triggered the door and stepped inside. Roark was seated behind his desk, studying the angled monitor centered on his desk. “Good morning.”

“I didn’t expect to see you until much later,” Roark said with a knowing smile.

“She’s sleeping. For now.” He returned the doctor’s smile.

“What can I do for you?”

Suspecting he wouldn’t be here long, Fane didn’t bother to sit down. “Can nanites create paranormal abilities in someone who didn’t originally have them?”

Roark pushed back from his desk and crossed his legs. “I’ve never heard of such a thing, but I’m not the nanites expert.”

“Well, the nanites expert is the reason I ask. She told me she injected herself with nanites, but she wouldn’t explain their capabilities.”

“Why did she inject herself with nanites?”

“It’s a long story. I know Mal Ton’s strength and ability to heal is due in part to nanites, but what else can they do?”

“We’re just talking about biological applications?”

“Yes.” Fane clasped his hands behind his back, trying not to let his impatience show. The need to be near Cassie, to touch her had never been quite this strong.

“In rare cases they can directly affect DNA, but protein manipulation has been far more successful.”

“If nanites can manipulate protein, how does that benefit the host?”

“It depends on their programming.” Roark spread his hands and offered a helpless shrug. “I really need more information before I can hazard a guess.”

And the person with the information wasn’t about to tell him. Fane sighed. “All right. Thanks for your time.” He turned to go.

“Has she agreed to cooperate with us?”

“I’ll let you know.”

The next three hours dragged by as Fane wandered the corridors of the Stilox headquarters. He reviewed the past few days, amazed at all that had been accomplished and needing the distraction from the desire twisting inside him. Max was incarcerated in the Underground. His power would be drained on a regular basis, making it impossible for him to teleport or use any other paranormal ability. Mal Ton wanted to execute him, insisting he remained a danger as long as he drew breath. There was validity in the position, but Fane didn’t want the loss of another life laid at his feet. There had to be a way to neutralize Max permanently and he would find it.

Sean was searching Old Towne Sanctum for the last two humans. If anyone could find out what happened to them it was Sean. Fane couldn’t be everywhere at once, no matter how hard he tried. Long ago he’d learned to delegate and trust in the abilities of his followers.

His wandering thoughts naturally brought him back to Cassie. They had resolved so much yet even more remained unsettled between them. One step at a time. He really had no other choice.

Unsure what she would enjoy, he filled a tray with a selection of breakfast items and returned to the apartment assigned for their use. She was still asleep, curled on her side with her hand tucked beneath her cheek. He set the tray on the table and knelt beside the bed, mesmerized by her serene beauty.

It was hard to believe this was the same woman who had surrendered herself so completely last night. After their first coupling, she had abandoned any attempt at reluctance. She’d accepted her body’s demands and reveled in her sexuality.

He hoped she would eventually offer herself body and soul to their joining, but for now he would treasure her physical surrender. Brushing her hair back from her brow, he kissed her eyelids and whispered, “Wake up, my love. You’re late for work.”

Her lips curved in a dreamy smile. “It didn’t feel like work to me.”

He chuckled. “I want nothing more than to spend the day in bed with you, but your first task awaits.” She blinked repeatedly then sat up, the sheet snagging on the hardness of one nipple. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one hungering for more.

“What’s my first task?” Her openness faded as she awakened more fully.

“Lorelle, Mal Ton’s mate.”

Tucking the sheet beneath her arms, she wiggled back against the wall. “What’s wrong with her?”

“I’ll let Roark and Andrea fill you in. They know more about the situation than I do.”

She nodded, absently licking her lips. “Three tasks then you set me free, right?”

The lie wouldn’t pass his lips. If he had his way she would never return to her old life, never be separated from him again.

“Fane, last night changes nothing. You have to set me free.”

“I brought you a breakfast tray.” He pushed to his feet, unable to meet her gaze. “Thought you might be hungry.”

She caught his arm and waited until he looked at her before she spoke again. “Promise me. If I complete all three tasks, you will let me go.”

His throat tightened and his mouth dried out. Just the possibility was unbearable. “If you still want to leave when the tasks are complete, I’ll have no choice but to let you go.”

 

* * *

 

Cassie pushed back from the desk and crossed her arms over her chest. “I can’t help her.”

“Can’t or won’t?” Roark challenged. His surliness surprised her. He’d been easygoing and likable for most of the day. With wavy dark hair and teal eyes, it was doubtful any of his Stilox ancestors had ‘tainted’ their lineage with Protarian blood. So why would he choose a human for his primary mate?

“We’ve shown you all the data we’ve collected,” the human in question commented. Cassie shifted her gaze to Andrea with objective curiosity. She was pretty enough, in the conservative, clinical style that often plagued females who spent too much time in laboratories. Her intelligence was undeniable and Cassie had seen flashes of compassion and kindness. Still, she was human, an obscure, technologically challenged race.

“You seem distracted,” Roark said. “Do you need a break? You didn’t eat much earlier. Would you like to try something else?”

And he was the charming doctor again. Fascinating. “Many animals lose their appetites in captivity.”

“Do you often think of yourself as an animal?”

She hadn’t heard Fane enter Roark’s office, but she easily recognized his voice. Her chair faced the desk, which put her back to the door. “Only when I’m treated like one.”

He moved closer, stepping into her peripheral vision. His clothing, though simple by Protarian standards, set him apart from the Stilox rebels. They all wore functional garments in solid shades of green, gray, or black. Fane’s pants were black, but his ivory tunic was edged with quilted golden cloth. The rich embellishment accented the red tones in his dark hair and made his light green eyes shine even brighter.

“I’m not sure we’ve earned the insinuation, but I’ll try harder to make you feel welcome.” Moving behind her again, he slipped his hands beneath her hair and found her shoulders. “Have you made any progress with your first assignment?”

His hands squeezed her tense muscles, his thumbs running up the back of her neck. It felt so wonderful, her eyes drifted closed and she sighed. “I can’t reprogram Lorelle’s nanites without an interface sequencer.”

“Didn’t you write the program that makes the nanites work?”

His touch was more effective than a drug. She relaxed and forgot all the ways she’d intended to twist the situation to her advantage. A woman’s life hung in the balance. It really wasn’t fair to let an innocent die to assuage her pride. Lorelle wasn’t even Stilox. The humans had been brought to this star system against their will.

“I was one member of the team and it took two years to develop.” She reached back and lifted his hands off her shoulders, refusing to be molded—literally—to his will. “I either need access to the central database or I need my DPU.”

“Logging on to the central computer is much too risky,” Roark said.

“What’s a DPU?” Andrea asked.

“A data processing unit. It doesn’t rely on shared applications to function,” Fane explained. Then he looked at Cassie and asked, “Where would we have to go to get yours?”

“My apartment.”

He shook his head. “Not a chance. We couldn’t get anywhere near your apartment without alerting your father.”

“And I can’t help Lorelle without access to an interface sequencer.”

Fane paced the length of the room, ending beside Roark’s desk. “I’ll take you to the Underground. One of my hackers will have to find us a back door into the data stream.”

She didn’t argue. The Underground was one step closer to home. At least she’d be back on Protaria. “The nanites are replicating at an alarming rate. Is it possible to put Lorelle in stasis?”

“A stasis chamber won’t affect the nanites,” Roark said. “It will only arrest her biological functions.”

“I’m aware of that. Nanites have a safety protocol built into them. I can tell them to hibernate, but as closely as they’ve integrated into her physiology, I’d rather she be in stasis when I issue the command.”

Fane looked at Roark, concern obvious in his tense expression. Roark rubbed the bridge of his nose and nodded. “It makes sense. If Lorelle’s body didn’t depend on the nanites, we would have simply destroyed them. This will buy us some much-needed time.”

“Will you be able to reverse the changes or just prevent the nanites from continuing with their objective?” Andrea wanted to know.

“I’m not sure. Have any of the changes they’ve made so far been particularly troubling?”

“No,” Andrea admitted. “She’s stronger and healthier than she’s ever been before.”

Cassie accepted the information with a stiff nod. “Then I’ll concentrate on revising their objective as opposed to reversing it.” Once she had access to the sequencer, reprogramming the nanites should be no challenge. Hopefully the other tasks were as rudimentary. “What else do you need me to do?”

“One task at a time,” Fane said. “I don’t want you to be distracted.”

“May I ask a question?” Andrea stepped into her peripheral vision as she added, “It isn’t technically part of any of the tasks.”

Cassie smiled despite the tense situation. Andrea had been nothing but kind to her. “I reserve the right not to answer, but ask away.”

“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around Stilox reproduction. We’ve run every test we can think of and we’re still unable to determine if human and Stilox physiology are compatible.”

Cassie looked from Andrea to Roark. Clearly, this wasn’t a general inquiry. “Reproduction isn’t my area of expertise.”

“Well, I’m a general practitioner,” Roark said. “Your knowledge base is far more extensive than mine.”

“I presume your interest is personal.” Roark glanced at Andrea then nodded. Cassie wasn’t sure why she cared. This was clearly another task. Even so, the cautious hope in the human’s eyes tugged at Cassie’s heartstrings. “Is your DNA triploid?” she asked Roark.

“Yes. My family has possessed the third DNA strand for several generations.”

“Does your human mate understand what that means?” Primary and secondary mates, the practice had always fascinated Cassie. Biology might have shaped the Stilox social system, but Cassie couldn’t help imagining what it would be like to have her senses overwhelmed by two demanding lovers.

“Andrea knows two Stilox males are required for conception.”

“Who’s your Second?”

“Mal Ton.”

Cassie’s gaze flew to Andrea. “And you’re still interested in breeding?”

Andrea laughed. “He’s not nearly as intimidating once you get to know him.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

“If I give you samples of our DNA, will you be able to determine if conception is possible?” Roark persisted.

“If I had access to my lab, there would be no problem. Without it, I’m not sure I can tell you any more than you know already.”

“One task at a time,” Fane reminded. “Send the samples with us if you like, but Lorelle is our top priority.”

Chapter Five

 

 

Cassie sat back and watched the easy interaction between Fane and Mal Ton. With his mate in stasis and temporarily out of danger, Mal Ton had insisted on accompanying them back to Protaria. The shuttle was small and old compared to Cassie’s private cruiser. The men didn’t seem to notice or care. Mal Ton piloted the craft while Fane navigated. They were far more interested in their lively conversation than the mundane actions required to maneuver the ship.

“I wasn’t that drunk,” Fane objected.

“You could hardly walk.” Mal Ton’s laugh was deep and surprisingly warm. “If I hadn’t recognized your voice and come running, they would have beaten the shit out of you.”

“So you say each time you tell this story. I don’t remember you being—”

“You don’t remember anything. You were seriously fucked up.”

Fane waved away the conclusion and smiled at Cassie. “He’s been trying to exploit my gratitude for years. I know him too well to fall for the ploy.”

“How long have you known each other?” Cassie searched her memory. She knew scattered facts about each of them, but her information raised far more questions than it answered. Mal Ton had been a thorn in her father’s side longer than she’d been alive and Fane led the Mutant Underground. Beyond their hostility toward the Protarian elite, what connected these two?

“We’ve known each other a very long time,” Fane admitted.

“Our paths keep crossing, whether we like it or not.” Mal Ton’s tone was still playful.

Realizing the vagueness of both answers, Cassie asked, “How did you meet?”

“I was dispatched to kill him.” Mal Ton’s grin made it hard to determine if he was serious or not.

“I was under the impression that you’re the best Stilox has to offer. What kept you from achieving your objective?” She focused on Mal Ton, fascinated by his agreeable mood. Andrea was right. He wasn’t nearly as intimidating once he stopped scowling.

“I didn’t fail.” He shot her an irritated glance. “When I located my target, I realized he was far more valuable to us alive than dead.”

“Your decision is still debatable, but I’m glad you took pity on me.” Fane sounded dismissive, as if he were uncomfortable with the topic.

“It wasn’t pity and you know it,” Mal Ton objected. “You were an opportunity we couldn’t afford to squander. It would have been foolish to end your life before we understood—”

“It all happened ages ago. I’m sure Cassie would rather talk about something more pertinent to the present.”

Cassie shook her head. “Actually, my father refuses to talk about the past and the archives have been twisted by Protarian politics. I know conflict is never as one-sided as the Protarian historians would have us believe. I’d love to hear the other side of the story for a change.”

“Why?” Fane swiveled his chair to face her, his expression carefully guarded. “Protarians don’t come any more elite. What’s your sudden interest in the past?”

She shifted in her seat, refusing to retreat. “I’m curious and I’m bored,” she lied. Her interest would have been nonexistent if it weren’t for Fane. He intrigued her, yet she knew so little about him. “Is there some reason you don’t want me to know these things?”

“You won’t believe us even if we told you,” Fane muttered.

“Then what do you have to lose?”

He released his safety restraints with an impatient snap and leaned toward her. “This might be an entertaining story to you, but we lived through each event, experienced each horror.” His emotions were banked, suppressed until all she could feel was defused unrest. She missed the blazing intensity she’d enjoyed so well the night before.

“She doesn’t understand, Fane. Why would she? The worst of it was over by the time she was born.”

She looked from Mal Ton to Fane and back. Both men appeared healthy and in the prime of their lives. How old were they? How much had they suffered before she’d drawn her first breath?

“How much do you know about the war?” Fane leaned against his chair’s back and folded his arms over his chest. “What are the elite taught about the conflict?”

“It escalated out of a colonization dispute, didn’t it?” It was embarrassing how little she actually knew. The war had shaped events and drastically changed conditions on both planets and still the elite strolled through life as if it were irrelevant.

“That was a small part of it,” Fane said. “Protaria was overcrowded and Stilox was the obvious choice for annexation. Unfortunately the Stilox weren’t interested in developing a Protarian province in the middle of their wilderness.”

“We tried to negotiate a mutually agreeable program.” Mal Ton checked the instruments before he turned around and joined the conversation. “Everything we proposed was too slow and too restrictive.”

“Even the Stilox people couldn’t agree on how many—if any—of the Protarians should be allowed to immigrate. Resentment ran deep even before the war began.” Fane relaxed a bit, placing his hands on the armrests.

She unfastened her safety straps as well, crossing her legs as she absorbed the information. “This is all so odd. Wasn’t Stilox settled by Protarian immigrants in the first place?”

“Stilox was an untamed wilderness when my ancestors settled there,” Mal Ton said. “The Protarians wanted to waltz in and enjoy the benefits and beauty now that the work was done.”

Fane fidgeted, his expression inscrutable. “Let’s move on or we’ll still be debating the cause of the war when we land. Suffice it to say negotiations broke down and the Protarians decided to take what they wanted regardless of the opposition. They sent in troops, the Stilox resisted, and the war began.”

“We were outnumbered and outgunned, which put us on the defensive from the beginning. We’d drive them back and they’d descend in greater numbers. We had no choice but to dig in and dig deep. The majority of the action took place either on or in the sky above Stilox.”

“So the Protarians decimated the planet they were so determined to annex.” She shook her head, saddened by the senseless loss. Mal Ton was right. The worst of the fighting had taken place before her birth. The war had always seemed unreal to Cassie, a tragic chapter in Protarian history.

Mal Ton nodded. “It happened gradually, but no one can deny the result.”

“Have you both been alive for the entire war?”

“Yes.” Fane didn’t elaborate.

“I wish I’d known this before. You’re way too old for me.” She tried to lighten Fane’s mood with her jest, but his emotions remained muted. “So why did the Stilox want you dead? No, go a little further back. Were you born on Protaria, or are you Stilox like Mal Ton?”

“I was born on Protaria, in a secluded village high in the Faundi Mountains. My people were primitive, far more interested in pleasing our gods than amassing possessions. My father was chief defender. He taught me how to access the vision world and control my abilities.”

“Then you had powers before…”

“The mutation intensified my gifts, but I was a ‘sorcerer’ long before the war reached our village.”

An occasional spike of anger or frustration hinted at how hard he was fighting to conceal his emotions from her. She understood his reluctance, but it made her sad. After all they’d shared physically, she wanted him to trust her with his emotions. The realization brought her up short. Why would she want him to trust her with his feelings? They weren’t lovers, not really. They were… passing time until her tasks were complete.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said. “Please continue.”

“The war was dragging on and, as you mentioned, the planet needed for the mass relocation was being torn to shreds.” Fane paused and mutant light flashed in his gaze. “The Protarian leaders needed a creative solution and they needed it fast.”

Mal Ton picked up the tale. “They developed the lentavirus, hoping it would devastate the population without damaging the land. The virus was too fragile in its airborne state and it incapacitated its victims so quickly they weren’t able to spread it to others. So they refined the virus and focused on another strategy.” Mal Ton took a deep breath and rushed on. “They wanted to target adults, not children, and utilize an attack we wouldn’t anticipate.”

“That’s where I came in, or rather my people. The Protarian leaders threatened to destroy our village and confiscate our land if we didn’t cooperate with their scheme. They held our women and children hostage and turned our men into…” Fane averted his face as rage surged through him, one moment of scorching anger then the artificial calm.

“The Faundi tribe was naturally resistant to many diseases that killed other Protarians.” Mal Ton picked up the story as Fane’s words trailed away. “This was one of the reasons the Protarians ‘recruited’ them. They didn’t seem to be affected by the lentavirus.”

“But Fane’s genetics mutated.” Fane stared off into the distance, so she spoke to Mal Ton. “He had to be affected at some point.”

Fane sharply turned his head, drawing her attention. “We became carriers. They used our bodies to smuggle their weapon behind enemy lines.”

“Actually, it was even more despicable than that. As you’re probably aware, sexual frenzy is programmed into the lentavirus to help facilitate its spread. The Faundi warriors were altered. Their sex drive was heightened and their pheromones amplified, making them extremely attractive to others.”

Understanding unfurled within her and she shuddered. “Each time they had sex with someone, they infected them with the lentavirus.”

“They had no choice,” Mal Ton insisted, his gaze on Fane. “Not only were they stimulated to the brink of insanity, each time they refused a mission one of their loved ones was murdered.”

“Kill a stranger or kill someone you love? It isn’t much of a choice.” She reached for Fane’s hand as he retreated deeper into his isolation. He allowed her touch for a moment then shifted position, taking his fingers just out of reach. Her heart ached for him, yet she barely imagined the horrors he must have endured.

“We were the first to mutate.” Fane’s voice was monotone, as expressionless as his face. “Paranormal abilities were common among my people even before the virus started rewriting our DNA.”

“I saw Fane in action while I was tracking him,” Mal Ton told her. “His mutation had stabilized and he was pretty damn amazing. That’s when I realized I couldn’t kill him.”

“Instead he turned me over to a team of doctors and scientists who didn’t treat me a whole hell of a lot better than the Protarians had.”

“You survived the lentavirus. We had to know what it was about your physiology that kept you alive. We were dropping like flies.” Fane didn’t reply, so Mal Ton went on. “Combining elements of his immune system with technology they’d developed for warriors like me, our scientists were able to create an inhibitor, and eventually a counteragent that neutralized the virus.”

“They also spread our mutations to the Stilox population.”

“You don’t know that.” The frustration in Mal Ton’s voice told Cassie they’d had this conversation before. “Everyone who survived exposure mutated to some degree.”

“But those treated with the Faundi serum mutated faster and underwent far more drastic changes.”

His control slipped, revealing a glimpse of his overwhelming shame. “Oh, my God, do you blame yourself for the whole damn war?” She scooted to the edge of her seat and grasped both his hands. “That’s ridiculous. You were a victim in all this, not—”

“I was a catalyst, an accelerant. Without the Faundi, they might never have found a way to spread the virus.”

“They would have found a way,” Cassie insisted. He didn’t pull his hands away, but his mental shields were stronger than ever.

Mal Ton shook his head and pivoted back around. “He does guilt so well. I’ve given up trying to talk him out of it.”

Her stubborn nature compelled her to try to reach beyond Fane’s emotional defenses. His convictions might place him on the opposite side of the conflict, but their connection was undeniable. “Did you willingly participate in any of it?”

Fane’s fingers gently squeezed hers as he searched her gaze. “Do you honestly believe one word we’ve said?”

His question surprised her. Why did he presume she was so callous she’d doubt their story? “What do you gain by lying about the past? I’ve seen the devastation with my own eyes and I know we developed the lentavirus. No one denies it. I was directly involved in refining the counteragent.”

“You’re Chancellor Howyn’s daughter. It would be a spectacular coup if we could convert you to the rebel cause.” His gaze intensified, possessive yet caressing. She released his hands, uncomfortable with the sudden change in his demeanor. He caught one of her wrists before she could retreat and pulled her toward him. “We answered your questions, sweetheart, now it’s time for you to answer mine. Your new project is being guarded like a global treasure. We’ve never encountered security this tight before. So tell me, Dr. Myer. What are you cooking in your lab?”

 

* * *

 

Nehalem jerked her hand out of her husband’s grasp and took a step back. “Don’t paw me! You gave up the right to touch me a long time ago.” They’d left Howyn’s office in hostile silence and shuttled to this rundown hotel on the outskirts of Old Towne Sanctum. She only had the broadest idea of what he expected her to do and she wasn’t anxious to hear the details.

“You’re my wife,” he snapped, reaching for her again. “Nothing can change that.”

She twisted away, hoping her glare concealed her pain. “I meant so much to you that you stood idly by while I was thrown in prison. Do you have any idea of the indignities I suffered in that place?”

“Your actions landed you in prison. I had nothing to do with it.”

Arguing with him was pointless, had always been pointless, but her seething emotions demanded release. She clenched her fists until her palms stung and imagined a world-class temper tantrum. She’d scream and smash the furniture as she called him filthy names. The outburst progressed no further than her imagination, however. Indulging her anger would reveal how deeply she’d been affected by his betrayal, and her position was already too vulnerable.

“You could have stopped it,” she said softly, consciously releasing her hands.

He shrugged, his indifference nearly pushing her over the edge. “And you could have remained faithful to your wedding vows. You chose to use that beautiful body to ferret out information for Max. Now you’re going to do the same for me.”

She had his undivided attention for the first time in years. The irony made her want to scream. Her affairs and her association with Max had been designed to attract Bryson’s attention. And it had all been in vain. He didn’t love her, had never loved her. She was a possession, something for others to covet, to admire but never touch.

With a frustrated sigh, she pushed away the past and focused on the present. Fucking mutants was infinitely better than returning to prison. If she managed to reignite her husband’s lust in the process, so much the better. Her physical appeal was her only weapon and she’d learned to use it ruthlessly.

“Do I have your word you won’t send me back to prison as soon as you have what you need?” Bryson was old-school military. Honor and respect were important to him. If he gave his word, chances were good he’d keep it. A good chance was the best she could hope for under the circumstances.

“This will be an ongoing operation.” He slipped off his uniform jacket and laid it over the back of a chair. “You should remain useful for some time to come.”

“That didn’t answer my question. Once you’ve catalogued all the mutant powers you can possibly use, what happens to me?”

“That’s up to you. I can set you up in a secluded location and provide for your needs or you can relocate. I have no interest in you physically, so I’d suggest relocation.”

His casual statement incited her determination. She hadn’t met a man yet who could resist her charms. She understood the power of sexuality and wasn’t afraid to use it. “When do we get started?”

“As soon as my lieutenant returns with your costume. You can’t walk into a mutant bar in a prison uniform.”

“Do we have specific targets or will any mutant do?”

“You’ll see.”

Her costume arrived a few minutes later and Bryson updated the chancellor while she changed. The skin-tight mini-dress had an antique zipper running up the front and left little to the imagination. She buckled the high-heeled sandals on and smoothed the supple material over her hips. There had been no undergarments, so the transformation didn’t take long.

“Now what?”

Lust blazed in Bryson’s eyes as he looked her up and down. “We go find ourselves some mutants.”

“Mutants?” A shiver of fear rippled through her excitement. What exactly did he have in mind?

“We don’t have time for you to seduce them one at a time. You’re going to be the life of the party.”

Her mouth went dry and her stomach knotted tighter with each step she took. They left the hotel behind and headed into the heart of Old Towne. The dilapidated buildings and piles of trash made it hard to believe they were on the same planet much less in the same city. The sun had just begun to set, casting eerie shadows over the deserted street.

“Team A check in,” Bryson spoke quietly, as if he were muttering to himself. “Copy. Check in team B.”

Of course he wouldn’t attempt this alone. Bryson never went anywhere without security. Would he let them watch her fuck the mutants? A secret thrill sped along her spine. She could imagine his men, highly trained and disciplined, watching her, wanting her, imagining themselves in the place of the mutants. It added a decadent layer to an already brazen situation. The life of the party, indeed.

“Here we go.”

He ushered her into a bar set slightly back from the street. She blinked into the dimness as her eyes adjusted to the lack of light. The air smelled of stale liquor and sweat. A row of patrons lined the bar, far more men than women. Small round tables were scattered about and holographic arcade machines were situated against the back wall of the oblong room.

“See the man at the end of the bar?” Bryson nodded in the general direction.

“The one with the jacket across his lap?”

“Yes. He’s our first target.”

“Why him?”

“His face came up in the database. He’s telekinetic.”

She looked up at Bryson, confusion knitting her brow. “How did you know he was going to be here?”

“I didn’t. My corneal implant is transmitting everything I see to the surveillance ship. They just ran him through the database.”

“All right. How do we play this?” She wanted to control the situation as much as possible, but she might have to defer to Bryson until they were in a less public place.

“We’ll tell him I like to watch. That’s all he needs to know.”

With a stiff nod, she headed toward the man at the end of the bar. She caught his attention long before she reached him. His gaze moved boldly over her body as he raised his glass for a long swig of beer.

“You’re a long way from home,” the mutant said as she slipped onto the stool beside him. Bryson stood behind her, staring down the younger man over her head.

“What makes you say that?” She crossed her legs, causing the dress to ride up nearly to her crotch.

“You’d stand out in any room, but your husband is even more conspicuous.” He looked past her and met Bryson’s gaze. “What brings you to hell, General?”

Bryson placed his hands on her shoulders, his grip firm and warm. “If you know who I am, surely you can guess what I’m after.”

The mutant’s gaze swept down to her breasts as he said, “If my wife had a taste for mutants, this is the last place I’d bring her.”

“But my wife and I have come to an agreement. She can indulge her taste for mutants as long as I am present for the encounter. I won’t interfere. I just need to ensure her safety.”

“Really.” He finished his beer and slid the glass toward the opposite side of the bar. “You’re a lot more understanding than I’d be.”

“If she insists on behaving like a whore, I see no reason I shouldn’t be entertained by her behavior.” With sudden aggression, Bryson grabbed her hair and pulled her head back. “Look at her. Can you deny she’s beautiful?”

“Oh, she’s definitely fuckable. I just suspect the price would be higher than I’m willing to pay.”

Bryson reached around and pulled on the zipper, revealing the luscious curve of her breasts. “All I ask is that you treat her like the slut she is. She likes it rough and she likes it over and over. Don’t you, dear?”

His warm breath teased her ear and the mutant’s gaze began to glow. Her scalp stung and her eyes teared, but her body didn’t care. Heat pooled between her thighs and her pussy ripened. Max had trained her well, taught her to respond instantly. She was a sexual being with a powerful appetite. Only by embracing her true nature could she hope to control her circumstances.

The mutant shifted on his stool, obviously uncomfortable. She licked her lips, drawing his gaze to her face. “I have a hard time being a proper wife, so we’ve learned to compromise.”

Bryson tensed against her back. “Spread your legs for him, wife. Let him feel your soft, wet cunt.” Her surroundings dimmed as she gazed into the mutant’s eyes. She turned toward him and moved her legs apart, anticipation speeding her pulse. “Go on. Touch her. She loves this shit.”

The mutant reached out his hand then pulled it back. “Is this really what you want?”

She ran her fingers from her knees to the hem of her dress, a sexy smile curving her lips. “Why don’t you find out?”

With obvious hesitation, the mutant slipped his hand between her thighs. His fingertips brushed her damp folds and he sucked in a ragged breath. She rocked her hips, rubbing herself against him.

“Don’t be shy.” Bryson grabbed the mutant’s wrist and pulled him closer. “Feel how snug she is, how eager for cock.”

The last of his uncertainty vanished. He pushed two fingers into her passage as he crawled off his stool. She wrapped her legs around his hips and rested her feet on the seat he’d just vacated. His hand pumped between her thighs, his long fingers stabbing into her pussy.

“Fuck, she’s hot,” he whispered.

“Tyler, take this upstairs.” The bartender motioned toward the staircase in the back corner of the room. “You know I don’t allow this shit on the main floor.”

“Sorry.” Tyler pulled his hand out from between her thighs and put his fingers in his mouth. His lids drooped as he savored her essence. Then he grasped her upper arm and pulled her off the stool. “Come on.”

“Wait.” Bryson stopped him. “Grab some of your friends. Show her a really good time.”

Nehalem ran her hands up Tyler’s chest and smiled into his eyes. “I like my men powerful. Do you have any friends who qualify?”

“I know what you’re after and I know just the guys to satisfy your craving.” Tyler took them to one of the bedrooms on the second level. His movements became stilted as he turned toward the door. “I’ll be right back. Please don’t leave. We’ll make it worth the wait.”

“We could really use a shifter,” Bryson muttered once they were alone again. “What do you think the chances are he’ll come back with one?”

“Slim to none.” She walked across the room and examined the bed. It was old and squeaky, but the bedding looked clean. “Besides, the more powerful the ability, the harder it is to absorb.”

“How many mutants have you fucked?” Bitterness flashed in his dark eyes. Despite his claim of physical indifference, his gaze lingered on her breasts with unmistakable longing.

“Are you any better?” She put her hands on her hips, spreading the front of her dress even wider. “You don’t resist your impulses. You just marry any woman you want in your bed. You fuck them a time or two then move on to the next without a backward glance.”

“Jealous?”

“I used to be, but I’ve outgrown such useless emotions.”

“Sure you have.”

Tyler returned, saving her from further exchange. “This is Eric and Jon.” He didn’t indicate which one was which as he closed and locked the door.

“And what are their abilities?” She approached the newcomers, her lips parted in a soft smile.

The tall blond fisted the front of her dress with one hand and lifted her straight up in the air. “You tell me.”

She laughed, excited by his unexpected show of strength. He was tall and lanky. No one would suspect him of preternatural strength. “Put me down. I don’t want my dress to rip.”

He set her down and the other man moved in front of her. His hair was darker and shorter than the blond’s, but his features were more refined. He held out his hand expectantly. “I’m Jon. That’s Eric. And you’re too beautiful to be a collector.” His long fingers curved around her hand and heat built against her palm. Mutant light erupted in his eyes and the burning sensation shot up her arm.

“Wow.” She shivered, examining her palm. Her skin was pink yet unharmed by the energy transfer. “Can you produce fire or just heat?”

“If I don’t concentrate really hard, you’re likely to find out when I come.”

“So get busy, boys,” Bryson ordered. “We don’t have all night.”

“Yes, sir.” Tyler offered Bryson a mock salute.

The rest took place in a blur of hands and lips and lust. They stripped Nehalem of her dress and paused to explore her body before they bothered to undress themselves. She stopped trying to keep track of who was touching her where. Hands slid over her breasts and her back, stroked down her arms and up her legs. Someone squeezed her ass while someone else fingered her pussy. She closed her eyes and let the sensations take her where they would.

“Wait.” Bryson’s voice snapped through her sensual haze. “She’s too relaxed, too distant. Spank her ass, bring her back into the moment.”

Clearly pleased by the idea, Eric sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled her down across his knees. Jon and Tyler crowded around her upturned ass, eager to participate. Humiliation washed over her, surprising and unexpected. She was already naked and one of them had been fingering her pussy, so why should this embarrass her?

“Spread her legs,” Bryson directed. “I want to watch her cunt drip as you redden her ass.”

Tyler moved her legs apart, but Jon must not have been satisfied with the view because he opened her even wider, then shoved a finger inside her. “She’s already wet, just thinking about it.”

“Move your hand,” Eric warned, and the second Jon complied, Eric started the spanking. He spanked each side twice, not very hard, but his hand was large, covering her entire cheek with each swat.

Tyler spanked her next. His swats were harder than Eric’s, but nothing compared to some of the beatings Bryson had given her. She gasped when he didn’t stop with two swats, but Jon shouldered him aside after his extra spank landed on her second cheek.

Jon’s hand fell hard enough to make her cry out, and he paused between strikes allowing the intensity to build. “Look how red her skin has gotten. Feel how hot.” He pressed his hand to one cheek and then the other, squeezing each side viciously. She cried out again, both from surprise and pain.

“Slap her pussy and she’ll come,” Bryson advised. “She can’t help it. She’s a hot little pain slut.”

More than happy to test the claim, Jon swatted her mound, sending pleasurable pain stabbing deep into her cunt. She bit down on her bottom lip, determined to prove Bryson wrong.

“Again.”

It took four slaps, but she shuddered violently and cried out in defeat as an orgasm ripped through her pussy, squeezing her juices out onto her upper thighs.

Bryson tangled his hand in the back of her hair and drew her head back and to the side. “Beg for it, wife. Tell these fine young mutants what you want more than life itself.”

She was defeated and she knew it. At least for now. “Cock.”

“Louder.”

“I want cock. No, I want cocks, filling me, stretching me tight.”

Bryson stepped back and Eric stood, taking her with him. Jon and Tyler moved in close, then the touching began all over again. Hands, fingers, lips, even teeth touched every part of her trembling body. Desire expanded as their teasing grew more specific. A warm tongue circled her clit and soft lips explored her stinging ass cheeks. Her nipples were sucked and pinched, making her breasts feel heavy and hot. Yet through it all, she felt despondent, emotionally removed from her body. Why hadn’t the spanking worked? Usually a little pain was all it took to help her focus. Was she intimidated by the situation or… something was missing.

Tyler urged her to her knees and she went willingly. He pushed his cock toward her mouth and she obediently parted her lips. None of it mattered. She was surrendering her body to keep herself out of prison. They weren’t really touching her.

“Are you having fun, wife?”

Bryson’s angry tone made her open her eyes. She looked at her husband while the mutant fucked her mouth and the first ping of pleasure erupted deep inside her. Bryson’s gaze bore into hers, shimmering with lust and jealousy. He could pretend he didn’t care, but his expression told a different story. If he felt nothing for her, he wouldn’t be jealous.

Eric guided one of her hands to his cock, which meant Jon was kneeling behind her. Jon fingered her pussy while his tongue explored her other opening. Anal pleasures were her favorite. It was so savage, so brutal to have a thick cock moving in her ass.

“Tyler, you’re being greedy. Let Eric have a turn in her mouth.” Bryson’s deep voice sensitized her skin and made her nipples tingle. If only he’d touch her with more than his lustful gaze.

She licked her lips as the men switched places. Eric brought his cock toward her lips. She gazed at her husband as the thick length slid against her tongue. Bryson rubbed the front of his pants, no longer trying to hide his erection.

“Touch her breasts, Tyler,” Bryson said. “She has amazing breasts. They deserve to be caressed.”

“How about if I lie down and she climbs on top of me?” He looked at the general as he added, “That’s how she needs to be if we’re all going to fuck her.”

Lust stabbed through Nehalem as she faced the inevitable end. She wasn’t just going to fuck three men. Three men were going to fuck her at the same time! While her husband watched…

“Go ahead,” Bryson said. “I’m getting restless.”

Tyler moved to one corner of the bed. Spreading out on his back, he kept his side aligned with the edge of the mattress and his legs bent, feet on the floor. His cock arched away from his belly, the hard column of flesh ready to take her for a ride. Nehalem climbed on top of him. He’d left just enough room for her knee between his hip and the edge of the bed.

With Eric beside her and Jon behind, Nehalem guided Tyler’s cock toward her entrance. Bryson stood and moved his chair to the far side of the bed so he had a clear view of everyone. Nehalem rubbed the head of Tyler’s cock against her clit, needing to prolong the moment, knowing her husband was watching every move she made.

Jon cupped one breast while Eric caressed the other. Tyler steadied her hips and watched her tease herself with his cock. Anticipation built, stealing her breath and launching tingles up and down her spine.

“Put it inside you,” Bryson ordered. “I want to watch it disappear.”

All too happy to oblige him, Nehalem positioned Tyler at her vaginal opening and slowly sank onto his hard length. She watched Bryson watching her, drunk on the knowledge that he couldn’t look away. His nostrils flared and a tendon jumped above his jaw. Feminine power washed over her in tantalizing waves. They wanted her, all four of them craved her body and the pleasure she could give them.

She raised and lowered her hips, moving smoothly on Tyler’s cock. Leaning forward, she brought her nipple to his mouth. He latched on with a vengeance, dragging a sharp cry from her throat.

Eric took advantage of her position and rubbed his cock against her lips. She grasped him with one hand and sucked him into her mouth. Bryson moved in her peripheral vision. He stood now, near the head of the bed, his dark eyes ravenous.

“Fuck her ass.” Bryson’s voice was harsh and anxious. “Fill her so full she screams.”

Panic tore through her with icy talons. She wasn’t ready for that. Did Jon even have some sort of lubricant? Max had always been so careful to—Cool, slick fingers pushed into her ass, driving back her panic. She retreated to the tip of Eric’s cock and looked at Bryson. He’d unfastened the front of his pants and his hand slid up and down. The tail of his shirt covered his cock. Still, there was no mistaking the motion.

She held Tyler deep inside her while Jon carefully prepared her ass. Eric reached beneath her and pinched her nipple, drawing her attention to him. “I was almost there. Why’d you stop?”

“Let Jon get inside and we’ll fuck her together,” Tyler said, his voice passion-roughened.

Jon held her open with his hands and slowly drove his cock up her ass. Nehalem groaned around Eric’s shaft as her body stretched and adjusted. Hands slid over her naked body, squeezing and pinching, urging her on. She took a deep breath and pushed up with her legs, drawing her body along Tyler’s length.

Mirroring her movement, Eric and Jon pulled back until they were barely inside her. Tyler grasped her hips and pulled her down as Eric and Jon thrust in. She shuddered, overwhelmed by exquisite fullness and raw need.

They moved together, pulling out slowly and driving in fast. Bryson walked around the bed, observing the spectacle from every angle. His cock bobbed behind his loosened shirt, but he’d stopped stroking himself. His attention was focused entirely on his wife and the three men fucking her.

Sensations pelted her from every side. She felt wild and restless, utterly sexual. Her jaw ached and her pussy clenched, tightening her ass in the process. The mutants moved faster and deeper. She cried out softly with each forceful drive.

Energy flowed into her, tingling, sizzling and stinging. She absorbed it greedily, saturating herself with their power. Tyler arched off the bed, ramming his entire length into her pussy while Jon pounded into her ass.

Eric came first. He held her face between his hands and drove to the back of her mouth, his cum spurting in hot jets down her throat. She swallowed and sucked, determined to capture every drop. He stumbled back, drawing his cock out of her mouth.

She focused on the other two men as an orgasm built within her. Their thickness and demand drove her higher, pushing the limits of her consciousness. She tossed her head and looked at Bryson. He was masturbating again. Lust contorted his features as he frantically worked his cock.

Tyler grasped her hips and impaled her one last time. His cock bucked, releasing his seed in rhythmic spurts. She was half a second behind him. The deep spasms of her climax took Jon with her. They groaned and shuddered, reveling in the stark pleasure.

Bryson’s hand stopped sliding and squeezed. Cum streamed from his cock, splattering the bed precariously close to Tyler’s face. The general moaned, shaking and pulling until every last drop had been dispelled.

“Do you feel better, my dear?” He tucked his cock away and righted his clothing. “Or should we ask your mutant stud to send you another set of his friends?”

Still breathless and dizzy, it took Nehalem a moment to reply. “You know me, love. I’m never satisfied.”