Chapter Nineteen

Kievan led the way quickly back to the ship. It remained where he had left it, a bored guard keeping watch.

“Leaving so soon?”

“Yes. Unfortunately, the prince was not satisfied with his...purchase.”

The guard’s eyes swept over Cam’s body in a way that made Kievan’s fists clench but he kept his expression blank. The guard shook his head.

“Royalty. I wouldn’t turn down a nice little morsel like that.”

“I’m afraid you couldn’t afford her.”

Without pausing for a reply, he urged Cam on board and went to the controls. Despite Rastrath’s assurances, he wanted off this planet before anything else went wrong. As soon as they left the atmosphere, he sighed and set a course for Sardor Two. If nothing else, Dragar and the others needed to know what had happened. He turned to look at Cam and his heart sank. Her face had resumed its expressionless mask.

“Would you like something to eat?” he asked tentatively.

He was afraid that she would reject him but she merely nodded and followed him to the galley. The meal didn’t take long to assemble, and he made sure to include her favorites before placing the plate in front of her. She shot him a glance he couldn’t read before picking at her food. He had no appetite at all but he had to fight the urge to put her on his lap and feed her. For once he found himself at a complete loss. He had betrayed her in the cruelest possible way and had no reason to expect her to forgive him—but how could he let her go? His need to claim her warred with the fear of causing her further pain.

Once the silent meal was over, he expected her to disappear into her room. Instead, she followed him into the lounge and knelt quietly at his feet. Her posture was perfect, her face blank, and his heart ached.

“May I ask where we are going?” she said finally.

“To Sardor Two. I need to inform Dragar what has happened.”

“What about Sigrast?”

“Now that Prince Ustrod is dead, the Empire will have no interest. I have been unable to raise J’Ssett to let him know that the danger is past. I assume that he is still busy with the evacuation.”

She hesitated and looked down. “Are you going back?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps not.” He had built his life around Sigrast, but now, looking down at her beautiful, blank face, it no longer seemed important. If he couldn’t have her, nothing else mattered.

“What about me?”

He closed his eyes and leaned back. Forcing the next words out was the hardest thing he had ever done. “You could stay on Sardor Two. You would be safe there and there are other human females.”

There was a long silence and he forced himself to remain motionless rather than sweeping her off her feet and carrying her into the bedroom where he could convince her of all the reasons why she should stay with him instead.

“Would you stay there?” she asked at last.

“No. I’m an Outcast, remember?” He tried for a casual shrug. “Perhaps I will become a mercenary again.” He didn’t mention that a mercenary career seemed like the quickest and easiest way to end a meaningless life.

“Kievan,” she whispered, and he suddenly realized that she had moved between his legs, her hands resting lightly against his chest. Her sweet fragrance surrounded him. His fists clenched, determined not to touch her.

“Do mercenaries get to bring their slaves along?” she continued softly.

“No,” he answered cautiously, his heart beginning to pound.

“In that case, my love, you will have to think of another profession, because I am never leaving you again.”

Her arms slid round his neck and she clung to him, her face hidden against his chest. He could barely breathe past the joyous pain in his chest.

“Sweetness. Are you sure?”

She raised her head and looked at him, face glowing. He caught his breath in wonder.

“I’m sure. I belong to you—only to you.”

Unable to resist any longer, he lowered his mouth to hers. She immediately opened to him, her response as passionate as ever, and he groaned at the sweet taste of her mouth. It had been too long; he needed more, demanded more, and she gave him everything he wanted until she was clinging helplessly to his neck, her nipples hard against his chest, and his cock was throbbing painfully against his pants. He forced himself to pull back.

“I can’t stay on Sardor and I may no longer have possession of Sigrast. I may not have anything to offer you.”

Blue eyes, still heavy with passion, studied him. “I know. But if you are willing to give everything up for me, how can I do less? As long as we are together, I don’t need anything else.”

Heart full, he cupped her face. “I love you, sweetness.”

Her smile lit up the room but she simply nodded. “I know, Kievan. I’m just glad you finally realized it.”

Triumph filled him and his mouth descended over hers with bruising force but she kissed him back just as hard, their tongues thrusting against each other as he took her to the floor. His hand went to her chest, he heard fabric rip, then the sweet warmth of her breast filled his hand, the nipple hard and demanding against his palm. Her back arched, one hand holding on to his neck, the other searching desperately between them to release his cock. He pushed his pants down, lifted her dress, and filled her in one hard thrust. Her legs wrapped around his thighs, her other hand clutching his ass so hard he could feel her nails digging in to his flesh but the slight sting only drove him on. Gasping for breath, their lips finally parted. Her mouth went to his shoulder, covering every inch she could reach with kisses. His head dipped into her neck, breathing her in as he fastened his mouth on her soft skin. She shivered beneath him. He could feel the pressure building at the base of his spine, his balls drawing up, but he couldn’t stop the relentless stokes.

“Hurry, sweetness,” he groaned. As the words left his mouth, his climax roared over him, driving him hard into her tight body. His mouth clamped down on her neck. She cried his name and he felt her convulse around him, her pussy clenching around his cock in silken waves that milked every last drop of his hot seed.

Breathless and content, he stayed buried inside her body as he kissed her again, long and sweet. When he raised his head, she was smiling at him and his heart stuttered.

“I love you, little flower.”

“I love you, too.”

He dropped his forehead to hers in a brief benediction, then gave her a slow, wicked smile.

“You know, pet, this is my private yacht.”

She nodded, eyeing him curiously.

“That means that the main statement room is fully equipped—toys…chains…”

They both felt her pussy convulse at his words and her eyes went heavy.

“Please, Master. Put my cuffs back on,” she whispered.

He reached into his pocket for the gold bracelets then paused, staring at them before shaking his head. “I should have realized when I made these.”

“Realized what?”

“Look at the design.” He traced the small rosettes. “Each link is a little flower. I had already claimed you, sweetness.”