Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Author’s note

Beth and the Barbarian

Alien Abduction Book 2

Honey Phillips

Copyright © 2018 by Honey Phillips

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author.

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design by Melody Simmons (bookcoverscre8tive.com)

Edited by Nikki Groom @ Indie Hub Editing services (www.indiehub.co.uk)

Chapter One

Dragar swore silently as he watched the human female slip out of the small mountain cabin and start walking down the narrow trail to the lake. Why would her male allow her to be out alone at night? Even if the humans were somewhat deficient in their ability to detect prey via their senses, surely her male would have wanted to accompany her and provide protection against the more routine dangers that could occur with a dark evening and a steep rocky trail.

Shaking his head at the foolishness of human behavior, he cautiously approached the cabin. Perhaps with the woman out of the way, he could determine why the Serigali ship had landed here. As far as he could tell, this cabin was only the habitation for miles. Why were they so interested?

Dragar had been back-tracking the path of an Ithyian slave ship. The ship had picked up the escape pod used by his Chief and the woman they were contracted to protect when they were forced to abandon a sabotaged ship. Unfortunately, the slave ship had also crashed and, while both Chief Jakkar and the woman had escaped, there wasn’t enough of the ship remaining to determine if it had been part of the plot. Despite his original certainty that the Ithyians had been involved, his investigation indicated that it really had been a coincidence that the paths of the escape pod and the slave trader had crossed. Because his Chief had been badly wounded, the Ithyians had picked up a prisoner from Earth to render the medical aid that they were unwilling to provide. The fact that they had picked up a human female with no medical experience only confirmed Dragar’s assessment of their failure to be part of the plot—and their lack of intelligence.

Just as he had confirmed that this planet was the source of the human captive, his long range scanners had picked up the approach of the Serigali ship. Earth was a primitive planet, not sanctioned for Imperial contact, and whatever they were doing here could not be legal. He swore again as he considered the all-too-likely possibility that the Ithyians had revealed news of the planet, and the presence of desirable women for the slave trade, to the wrong parties. However, as unfortunate as that might be, he was here merely to make sure that there was nothing else concealed in this cabin to explain the Serigali interest and to confirm that they had not had a part in the larger conspiracy against his species.

Moving silently to the uncovered windows, he took a quick look inside the cabin. The interior consisted of one large room and it was easy to see why her male had not insisted on accompanying her—there was no one else present in the empty room. There were two closed doors against the back wall, but he couldn’t detect any sign of life behind either one. Pausing for a moment, he extended his senses. He could hear the faint noise of the female’s feet as she moved slowly but confidently down the trail. He could also distinguish the faintest hint of her scent—a delicate sweetness that caused a stirring in his groin, a stirring that was both unexpected and unwelcome. Forcing the feeling aside with practiced ease, he stepped quickly up onto the porch and through the unlocked door. Foolish female.

Inside the ceiling soared up to the roofline, creating an unexpectedly spacious feeling in the small room. Skylights opened between the beams and would fill the room with sunlight during the day. One end of the room contained a wood stove and a small food preparation area. A bed covered with colorful fabrics and pillows occupied the other corner next to the stove. The rest of the cabin consisted of a workspace, and it was immediately obvious that the woman was a painter. Finished and unfinished canvases were hung on the walls and stacked along the edges of the space.

After his brief, initial survey, he moved to the two closed doors. One led to a storage room and the other to a small bathing facility. Both were empty. Returning to the main room, he started a quick but thorough search, checking for any signs of advanced technology or any hint of why the Serigali might have chosen this area to land. As he searched the bed, he caught more of the woman’s scent. Unable to resist, he picked up her pillow and inhaled the tantalizing aroma. This time his cock undeniably stiffened. Cursing himself for a fool, he returned the pillow and moved across to the workspace. A similar search revealed nothing. Frustrated, he stopped and looked around once more, his eyes traveling across the dozen or so paintings on the back wall twice before he finally realized what he was seeing.

The central painting was of the Albringar, the Place of Judgment, on his home planet of Sardor. There was no mistaking the vast natural amphitheater carved out of massive black rocks, stern and forbidding against the pale sky. Not the current sky, marred by swirling red clouds as the planet’s core gradually disintegrated, but the clear white sky that had loomed overhead when he had faced the Council and been found Outcast.

Too stunned to move, he gazed at the painting until his sensitive hearing suddenly processed the increased noise from the surrounding woods. He had made a terrible mistake—the Serigali weren’t looking for slaves, they were hunting.

Beth closed the cabin door and took a deep breath, enjoying the crisp pine scent of the surrounding forests. The weekend in Seattle had been exciting and the gallery opening gratifyingly positive, but she needed to get back to her cabin and her work. She had always been unusually sensitive to her surroundings and the constant pressure of people and their emotions in the city left her feeling drained and tired. The solitude of the isolated cabin and the absence of neighbors usually gave her a sense of rest and peace. Yet, for some reason, tonight a curious sensation of unease was making her feel restless and uncertain. Pushing aside the feeling, she flung a towel over her shoulder and headed for the lake. She didn’t bother with a bathing suit since there was no one within miles of her cabin.

The night air had turned cool but the sun had been shining all day, and at this time of year the lake water would still be warm enough to be enjoyable. She loved these late night swims with only the moon for company, but with every step down the path, her uneasiness intensified. By the time she reached the lake shore, her hands were starting to shake. She stepped out of the dark woods on to the small beach, expecting to feel a corresponding sense of relief as she entered the open space; however, her tension ratcheted up another notch, with each rustle from the bushes seeming ominous.

This is ridiculous, she scolded herself, heading for the edge of the water. The lake was as serene as always, rippling gently against the bank under the pale moonlight, edged by the heavy forest that climbed the sides of the surrounding mountains. She dropped her towel and kicked off her shoes before easing her sweatpants down her legs. Another, louder rustle sounded behind her and she hesitated with her hands at the hem of her sweatshirt. It’s nothing. But even as she tried to convince herself, she was turning back toward the woods.

The trees were dark and silent and she tried to breathe a sigh of relief, but before she could catch her breath, two creatures emerged from the undergrowth as if they were emerging from a nightmare.

The strange beasts were tall and covered with dark fur, although she could see surprisingly complicated metal cuffs around each wrist and an equally complex belt around each thick waist. Long arms ended in hands equipped with vicious claws and their upper bodies hunched forward as if ready to drop to those clawed hands and move on all fours.

Other than the metal bands, they were completely naked and all too obviously male. Enormous snouts with heavy jaws dominated their faces while small, green eyes were set far back in their skulls. Pausing at the edge of the woods, they surveyed her and something unpleasantly like a laugh emerged from the one on the right. Before she could react to the sound, they started to move toward her, still upright but using an odd shambling gait that covered a surprising amount of ground.

The movement startled her out of her frozen shock and she ran for the trail, her heart pounding. Before she could go more than a few steps, one of the creatures was in front of her and she stumbled back to avoid its outstretched claws. The other one was behind her and the pair began to circle her trembling body. She tried to turn with them, keeping them both in sight, but they moved too quickly and one was always behind her. Feinting to the right, she tried to escape to the left but a clawed hand flicked out and a searing pain tore across her thigh.

The pain was mind-numbing and she looked down in shock at the blood seeping down her bare leg. The disturbing laugh sounded again and she looked back up to see the one who had clawed her leg was licking her blood from his hand with every evidence of enjoyment. Even worse, his other hand was stroking a slick, red erection, making bile flood her throat so quickly she had to choke to keep from vomiting.

Her body was shaking from fear and pain but she refused to stop fighting. She made another abortive attempt to escape the pair and this time the claws caught her across her arm, slicing straight through her sweatshirt and deep into the skin beneath. Unable to help herself, she cried out and the noise seemed to spur them on. They came closer, striking more rapidly—quick, shallow cuts that drew blood each time they connected with her skin. Both creatures were now enormously, hideously erect and terror kept her moving but her legs were tiring and the blood loss was making her dizzy.

Once more she tried to feint but her wounded thigh betrayed her and she stumbled, collapsing to the ground. Dazed, she crouched against the sand as the pair approached, one at her head and one at her feet. Her mind was screaming denial but her body was locked in frozen horror as they started to bend over her.

A deafening roar split the quiet night and all three looked up to see a massive figure emerge from the path. He was enormous, easily topping the two assaulting her and, despite the leather vest he wore, she could see muscles bulging along every inch of his massive arms and broad chest. Beth knew there was something different about him; his eyes were glowing white, and even in the dim moonlight his features were not quite human. She should have been even more afraid. Instead, she felt the oddest sense of calm push back her fear.

The creatures attacking her apparently did not share her relief and both of them rushed at him simultaneously. She cried out and scrambled to her feet, swaying a little but determined to help her rescuer. He didn’t need her help. Before her startled gaze, he drew a long knife and sliced the first creature’s throat. The body collapsed to the ground in a spray of blood, dark in the moonlight. The second creature circled, slicing the man’s arm with one those lightning fast claws and Beth cried out again as she saw blood well up in the wound.

Moving just as quickly, the man hooked the creature’s leg with his foot and sent him sprawling. Before he could recover, the man followed him down and there was another spray of dark liquid blood before the creature went still. The man wiped his knife and stood up.

His movement triggered her own and, without thinking, Beth ran across the short distance, threw her arms around his waist and buried her face in the massive warmth of his chest.

Dragar stared down at the small woman clinging to his body in disbelief. Between his size and his scars, most women feared him and he knew that the battle rage made him even more intimidating. Even Sardoran women who were used to warriors tended to approach him with caution—or at least they had before his actions made him undesirable. Instinctively, his arms enclosed her tiny frame and she nestled closer. She was small, but the soft body pressed to his was undeniably female, and as her delicate fragrance reached him, his cock sprang to instant rigid attention.

Cursing himself as ten kinds of a fool, he forced his attention to the current situation which was rapidly going from bad to worse. Not only did this woman have a painting of his home world—a painting that should have been impossible—they now had two dead alien bodies on a planet which could not know that aliens existed. He was going to have to destroy the bodies, but even as he started to consider his options more noises reached his ears. Goddess dammit, there were more Serigali loose in the night.

“We have to go. Now.”

The woman looked up at him with wide, startled eyes, understanding his urgency if not his words, and damn if he didn’t get even harder. He looked at her bare legs and bare feet and realized that she wouldn’t be able to run. With a muffled curse, he slid an arm under the smooth skin of her ass and picked up her slight weight. She understood immediately, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck with a trusting gesture that pulled at something long forgotten inside him. Pushing the unfamiliar emotion aside, he headed up the path, determined to reach the questionable protection of the small cabin before the rest of the Serigali pack arrived.

Chapter Two

Beth wrapped her arms and legs tighter around the huge stranger as he moved quickly and confidently up the dark path, and then buried her face in his neck. He smelled wonderful, wild and musky in a way that seemed to echo her beloved mountains, but was completely unique and masculine. She should be in shock, but the terror of the whole unbelievable experience was muffled somehow, pushed back by his presence. And yet he, too, should have terrified her.

She peeped up at him from underneath her lashes. The moonlight was faint under the trees but she could see enough to confirm that he definitely wasn’t human. His skin was a dark slate gray and seemed to shimmer when the light hit it. She couldn’t detect a trace of hair and his nose and ears were different—not unpleasant, but flatter and more slitted than human features. Cruel scars tracked his face from outer eye to lip and she could feel more scars against her cheek. They should have made him more intimidating. Instead, she wanted to kiss each one.

What the hell was wrong with her?

The rational part of her mind tried to convince her that she should be more frightened, but instead, all she could think about was the warmth of his arm against the bare skin at the edge of her panties. Just thinking about it made her nipples bead and she wiggled slightly, trying to increase the amount of skin to skin contact. His skin didn’t feel exactly like human skin. Instead it had a slightly pebbled texture that felt amazing against her naked flesh, and she wiggled again. His breath caught and she didn’t think it was from exertion. She had felt the long, hard bar of his cock when she had hugged him earlier. After her earlier experiences she should have felt repelled and frightened. Instead, the memory made her pussy moisten and she wiggled again.

He growled and his lips drew together so tightly she could see the scars grow white against his dark skin. Okay. Perhaps she should stay still and let him concentrate on saving their lives.

As soon as they entered the cabin and he slammed the door shut, he lowered her to the ground and, somewhat reluctantly, she unwound herself and stepped away. They gazed at each other in silence for a second and the tremor of excitement flickered again. He was so tall her head didn’t even reach his shoulder, and so massive that his shoulders were almost as broad as the door. A leather vest left his arms and neck bare and she could see more scars disappearing under the edge of the garment. He was wearing tight, leather pants that showcased strong, muscled legs and an erection large enough to make her breath catch in her throat.

His face was hard, almost cruel, and twisted by the terrible scars across one side, but her fingers suddenly itched for her charcoals, wanting to capture the proud strong lines and the underlying suffering. And his eyes; his eyes were amazing, no longer white but stormy gray and cat-like. He surveyed her with equal intensity and as his gaze traveled down her body and flicked over her bare legs, his eyes turned to molten silver. She started to move closer but he turned away and surveyed the cabin.

He said something in a low rumble that sent pleasant tremors up her arms but it was obviously not a compliment. As she followed his gaze, the reason was obvious. The cabin was practically indefensible. The wide windows that looked out on the porch let in lots of sunlight but would also let in those creatures just as easily. She had no doubt that a few panes of glass would not stop them. Fortunately, the rest of the windows were original and too small for them to climb through. The skylights were equally large but she thought—hoped—that the creatures couldn’t climb the steep roof.

“How many?” she asked.

The man looked at her impatiently. She held up her hand, counting off fingers. In response, he held up one hand, touching each finger. Okay, five wasn’t that bad. He had dispatched two without much problem. Then he shrugged and touched each finger again and her heart sank. Ten was going to be a problem.

While she tried to gather her courage, he moved into action, dropping the old-fashioned bar latch across the door and upending her kitchen table across one window. He also dragged her antique armoire across the floor and slid it in front of the other window as her jaw dropped. It had taken four men to haul it in when she originally bought it and he moved it as easily as she moved a kitchen chair. Kitchen…

Her knife drawer contained a large butcher’s knife, a sturdy utility knife, and a long filleting knife. She laid them out on the counter, trying to decide if she could handle the weight of the butcher’s knife, just as an enormous hand reached down and picked them all up.

“Oh hell, no. You have to leave me something.”

She held out her hand and he studied her face. He growled something but she just shook her head. “I can’t understand you and I don’t care anyway. You can’t leave me defenseless.”

Reluctantly, he handed over the utility knife and then pointed to the bathroom.

“You want me to hide in there? Not going to happen.”

He glared at her and she actually saw his muscles flex and knew he was preparing to drag her off anyway when his head tilted to one side. With one step he was at the light switch and the cabin was plunged into darkness. The room suddenly seemed huge and dark, the only light coming from the pale moon and the dim glow of the woodstove. That gave Beth another idea and she quickly inserted one end of all of the metal fire tools into the glowing coals. With her knife in one hand and her iron frying pan in the other, she crept back to the man’s side.

He gestured toward the bathroom again and she shook her head. There was no way he could defend both windows and the door. And since the bathroom door didn’t lock, she could be trapped in there by one of those things while he was still fighting them off out here.

A board squeaked on the front porch and they both froze. With a resigned shrug, he pointed to the window blocked by the armoire. While it didn’t cover the window completely, it blocked enough that only one creature at a time could get through. Nodding, she moved to one side of the window and tightened her grip on the frying pan.

The night exploded as both windows shattered at the same time. Simultaneously, a heavy body thudded against the door, but the massive timbers barely moved. The windows, however, offered no resistance and a furred body was already half way through her window. She slammed the heavy frying pan down on the back of his head and with a dreadful cracking sound, his skull shattered and he crashed at her feet. Blood and other substances splattered her body and an awful stench filled the air.

Sickness rose in her throat but another body was already trying to climb through the window and she swung again. This time she only managed a glancing blow and the creature kept coming. She swung again and again; dimly aware that the creatures were snarling and her companion was roaring. More of the creatures had made it through the larger opening in the second window, and he was surrounded but he was flinging bodies away with that same shocking ease.

The second creature finally collapsed but a third was right behind him. She lifted the frying pan again but the heavy weight was starting to tell and her arm was shaking. The creature swiped his claws across her wrist and the pain startled her into dropping the pan completely. Blindly she swung the knife in her other hand and felt the sickening give as it sank into the creature’s neck. A shocking jet of blood spurted from the incision and he collapsed. The three bodies were now wedged into the window frame, blocking another attempt and she fell back, panting for breath and fighting back tears at the pain in her wrist.

Bodies surrounded the man, and even in the dim light she could see blood covering his arms but he was still upright and fighting. Kneeling, she reached for the poker she had placed in the stove. Just as her fingers touched it, the sound of breaking glass filled the cabin and shards from the skylight rained down on her head. Flipping over instinctively, she felt rather than saw the body plummeting towards her and raised the poker. The creature slammed into it, slammed into her, blood streaming over her clenched hands and the snarling muzzle only inches from her face. She tried to scream, still breathless from his weight and then he was gone. The cabin was silent again and the big man was kneeling beside her, gathering her into his arms.

Dragar clutched the small female to his chest, burying his face in the soft silk of her hair and breathing in her delectable fragrance. His heart had literally stopped when the Serigal had flung itself through the shattered skylight. The female was amazing. He was still infuriated that she had refused to obey his order and seek shelter, but he couldn’t help but be impressed. Despite her small size and obvious lack of experience, she had defended herself as fiercely as any Sardoran woman.

Unfortunately, her bravery had reached its limits and she was shaking in his arms, small muffled sobs escaping her lips as she tried to burrow closer. Again, the fact that she looked to him for comfort was both unnerving and gratifying, especially as she had seen all of his flaws in the harsh artificial light of the cabin. He raised his head at the thought, stroking her hair soothingly when she protested and clung harder.

His night vision was excellent and he counted bodies rapidly. She had disposed of four and he had accounted for eight. Assuming this was a standard Serigali mission, that meant only one was left—the one guarding their ship. He knew that he had to dispose of the last enemy but as he looked down at the woman clinging so desperately to him, he realized he couldn’t leave her yet. If the Serigali were on standard orders, he had at least an hour before the pilot would get suspicious. In the meantime, he would attend to his human.

Rising to his feet with her cradled in his arms, he carried her into the bathing facility. A curtain covered the small window and he made sure that it covered the window completely before he turned on the small light over the sink. The woman blinked and flinched as the light came on.

“How do you know how to work light switches?” she mumbled.

A surprised laugh escaped him and she opened her eyes. She was tear-stained and covered in blood, her breath still shuddering in her lungs, but she eyed him with surprising alertness.

“You understood what I said, didn’t you?”

Dragar nodded and started to put her down. She protested immediately as he started to move away so he kept an arm around her as he explored the facilities, until a warm flow of water started from the overhead pipe. Once again, he tried to leave her but she clung to him with determined hands.

“Please, don’t leave me,” she whispered.

He pointed to the water but she shook her head and pulled him closer.

“You need a shower, too.” She ducked her head and then looked at him from under her lashes with such a mixture of innocence and seduction that his cock started to stiffen. “We can share.”

He started to shake his head but silent tears immediately filled enormous gray eyes.

“Please,” she repeated. “I’m hanging on by a thread here and I really need you close to me.”

Reluctantly he nodded and was rewarded by a shy smile. She let go of his hand, watching cautiously to make sure he didn’t head for the door, and then pulled her bloody, torn top over her head. Underneath she was wearing a thin garment that caressed her slender curves and he couldn’t help noticing her nipples thrusting against the sheer fabric. Her fingers grabbed the hem and she cast him another one of those half innocent, half seductive glances. As he met her gaze, her breath caught and she lowered her hand.

He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed as she tugged him toward the water. Stopping her long enough to kick off his boots, he followed her into the shower. He considered removing at least his vest but his uniform was designed to handle water and he didn’t want to expose her to more of his scarred flesh than she had already seen.

As soon as they were both under the water, she moved back into his arms, sighing as the warm water streamed down their bodies. Occasional shudders still shook her delicate body but he could feel her relaxing against him. He found a bar of soap and began cleansing the blood from her body, anger starting to throb in his veins as he realized how much of the blood was hers and just how much damage the Serigali had inflicted. Her body was covered with cuts, ranging from small scratches to deep claw marks on her thigh, wrist and shoulder.

He touched her as carefully as he could but she flinched from even his gentle touch and he growled in frustration before pulling away. She immediately seized his arms.

“I’m okay. It stings but I’ll get over it.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.” He knew that she couldn’t understand his words but she studied his face and then reached for the soap.

“I’ll do it. Just…just stay with me.”

Dragar nodded, keeping a steadying hand around her waist as she finished washing her legs and arms. When she reached her chest, she stopped, impeded by the thin top. She gave him that look again. “This is silly. I’m going to take my tank off. You don’t have to look if you don’t want to.”

She thought he wouldn’t want to look at her? He was still trying to process that concept when she shimmied out of the damp cloth in one swift movement and every drop of blood in his body went straight to his cock.

Her breasts weren’t big but they were perfect, from creamy flesh to big pink nipples that hardened under his rapt gaze until they seemed to be reaching for him. Dragar was desperately glad he had kept his uniform on since the tight leather confining him was a constant reminder that he could not have this woman. He was ashamed of his reaction; he knew she was wounded and hurting, but all he could think about was fastening his mouth around one of those taut tempting peaks.

She took in his reaction and her eyes dropped to his groin. They widened but there was still no fear in her face when she looked back up at him. She took a deep breath and her breasts thrust out even further. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” she murmured. “Oh well, in for a penny, in for a pound.”

Before he could decipher her strange words, she bent over and slid her panties down her naked legs. Dragar seriously wondered if he was going to pass out as he stared at her naked body and his cock hardened to stone. For some reason, he had assumed that all humans would be like his Chief’s mate—all ripe golden curves. Instead, this human was like a shaft of moonlight with creamy skin, long slender legs, and those pert breasts that begged for his mouth. Even her hair was like moonlight, a long swath of white gold reaching from her head almost to that delectably rounded ass. And her eyes—wide and gray, they changed almost as swiftly as his as her emotions played across her face. Right now they were dark with unmistakable desire.

Unable to resist any longer, he pulled her against his body and reached for the soap again.

Beth relaxed against the tall alien’s massive body. Her rational mind was still telling her that she should be afraid, but as long as he was touching her, she felt…at home. The rush of water and the clean fragrance of the soap didn’t prevent her from detecting his underlying scent and she breathed in the wild, musky smell. Her back was against his massive chest and she could feel the contrasting textures of wet leather and bare skin. Little ripples of excitement fluttered in her belly. He was washing her carefully, removing the last traces of blood from her skin, but he was being too careful.

The last few hours were a horrifying blur but she needed this, needed to feel his hands caressing her, making her feel alive. As he reached her chest, she pushed her breast into his hand. The scrape of his rough palm across her nipple made her gasp and she pushed harder into his hand. She could feel the solid weight of his cock behind her and she tried to reach back to touch him but he grasped both of her wrists easily with one hand and lifted them above her head.

He released her hands but she wound them around his neck. The position arched her upper body so that her breasts thrust out while her ass pressed against him. She thought she heard a low groan as he finally dropped the soap. His hands came back to her body, hard and demanding, and she moaned with relief. Her cuts were still stinging, but the lingering pain only added to her excitement as his hands stroked down across her chest and firmly cupped the slight mounds, tugging her nipples until they were throbbing and distended. She writhed against him, giving herself up to the pleasure of his touch. One hand slid between her thighs, stroking her swollen folds with two thick fingers, and she exploded, shuddering against him as he held her in his strong, hard grip.

As her tremors slowed, she turned in his arms to nestle into his massive chest and he held her close and stroked her hair. She could feel his shaft throbbing against her stomach and she reached for him. Grasping her hands again, he stepped back quickly, his eyes suddenly…alarmed? Embarrassment flushed her cheeks as she realized she was standing there naked and he was still fully clothed. He seemed to read her confusion because he pulled her back against his body, still maintaining a grip on her hands, and took her mouth in a kiss so intense that she almost came again. His mouth was hot and hard and demanding, his tongue plunging deep into her mouth, and she moaned and urged him deeper. He tasted wonderful. She could feel the sharp edges of his teeth but it only added to her exhilaration.

When he finally released her mouth, she muttered a protest and he smiled. He reached around and shut off the shower before lifting her easily out and wrapping a towel around her. Sleepily she let him pat her dry, exhaustion starting to take over as the euphoria of her climax wore off and the pain of her cuts started to penetrate. Leaving her wrapped in the towel, he moved to the bathroom door. Immediately she started to panic, but he held up one finger. Forcing down her fear, she nodded and he moved quickly through the door, blocking her view with his body.

Her knees weakened and she collapsed on to the small stool by the vanity. Her pulse started to speed up but before she could get too anxious, he reappeared, handing her a pile of clothes. Gratefully, she pulled on panties and a camisole. Now that he was back, she grew calm enough to notice with some amusement that he chosen her nicest pale pink, silk set. However, he had also brought her softest sweatshirt and yoga pants. She pulled the warm fleece over her head, wincing as it touched her wrist and shoulder. With gentle hands he rolled up the sleeve away from her wounds.

Beth’s brain finally started to function and she pulled out her first aid kit. The man immediately took the kit, examining the contents rapidly before gesturing for her to remove the sweatshirt once more. With swift, competent hands, he bandaged the deepest wounds and then helped her pull on her top again. He tried to help her with the pants but even the soft cloth was too painful against her wounded thigh. With a shrug, he abandoned the effort.

Once more he held up a finger and she nodded and sat down again. The panic was a little easier to hold back this time but the muffled dragging noises didn’t help. She was just about to go in search of him when the door opened and he held out his hand. Grasping his hand, she followed him into the main room.

Chapter Three

The smell of death lay heavily over the room and she opened her mouth, trying to lessen the sweet gagging stench. He had only turned on one small light, but it was enough to see that her beloved cabin was completely destroyed. The bodies of the strange creatures had been piled next to the wood stove and she quickly averted her gaze. Her workspace was even worse, canvases broken and torn, paintings splattered with blood. Beth’s eyes filled with tears. Fortunately, much of her work was in Seattle as part of the gallery show but everything she was currently working on had been destroyed. Somewhere at the edge of her consciousness was a nagging sense of loss but she refused to acknowledge it. She looked up at the wall, immediately searching out her two favorite paintings, and breathed a sigh of relief that they seemed to be crooked but intact.

Her companion had followed her gaze and she was surprised when he pulled one of her favorites down from the wall. He asked something in his low rumbling voice but whatever intuition she had where he was concerned was silent about his meaning. He growled, obviously frustrated.

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand.” She hesitated. “How did you know that that particular one was important to me?”

He looked startled at her words and barked another question. This one she thought she understood.

“Why? I don’t know really but it haunts me. This place—” Her fingers brushed the canvas. “Such a sense of pride and pain…and loneliness.” She looked up and saw the truth written on his face. “You know this place, don’t you? It means something to you.”

He nodded slowly but the pain in his eyes kept her from asking any additional questions. She moved to the wall and pulled down her other favorite. It was swirling abstract, done in shades of charcoal, black, and silver, but with a hint of an underlying pattern.

“What about this one? Do you recognize it?”

The man cocked his head and studied it. She thought she saw something flicker in his expression but he only shook his head. A sudden wave of exhaustion swept over her and she placed the painting carefully on the floor. She staggered as she straightened and his hand was under her arm, supporting her, and she clutched it gratefully.

The numbness was definitely wearing off now. Every inch of her body hurt and her knees felt shaky and weak. Flashes of the night’s events were pushing their way to the surface and her stomach started to churn. All she wanted was to lay her head down and forget everything in the oblivion of sleep but the cabin was uninhabitable.

“Where am I going to go? I can’t stay here.” Beth waved her hand absently around the cabin, noticing distantly that her fingers were trembling. The big man’s hand tightened on her arm and he frowned.

“Can I go with you?”

The words came out without conscious thought and she didn’t know who was more startled. Her eyes flew to his face and he looked as shocked as she felt.

“No, I know I can’t. I’m sorry; I don’t know what I was thinking. Of course I can’t go with you. I know you’re not from Earth. I’m sure you have places you need to go. But I’m so lonely and you make me feel so safe and—” She knew she was babbling but she couldn’t seem to stop the words tumbling out of her mouth until she realized that he was shaking his head. “What? Are you saying that I can’t go? Or that I can’t stay.”

He gestured around the cabin and shook his head.

“I can’t stay here?” A totally irrational sense of relief filled her and she sagged against him. “So I can go with you?” He hesitated and she was suddenly afraid again but he merely frowned and nodded somewhat reluctantly. Smiling up at him, she put her arms as far around his enormous body as she could reach and hugged him. His muscles turned to stone beneath her grasp, but she simply inhaled his wonderful scent and snuggled closer. For one brief second, he curved his arm around her shoulders and then he was pulling her loose with surprisingly gentle fingers.

Frowning, he looked down at her clothes and pointed to her feet. She started to move across to the armoire but the floor was still littered with shards of glass. Fortunately, it was safety glass or the pieces falling from the skylight would have ripped her open but it was still uncomfortable to bare feet. With a low growl, he picked her up and carried her across the floor. Her shoes were tumbled together in the base of the armoire and yielding to a sudden impish impulse, she pointed to her favorite pair of black high-heeled sandals. He looked from the sexy heels to her bare feet and his eyes turned molten silver.

Hmm, so even alien men liked heels? Beth had a sudden vision of herself, naked in those heels in front of him, and her nipples instantly tightened. He obviously noticed and the glow in his eyes intensified. She started to melt against him but he had already turned back to the jumbled collection of shoes. He picked out a sensible pair of sneakers and slipped them on to her feet.

Once she had shoes on, he released her. She immediately missed the warmth of his body, but she meekly followed him out of the cabin and down the steps. Within a few paces it was apparent that she had misjudged her strength. Her knees were rubbery and each step took an enormous effort, but she bit her lip and kept walking, determined not to ask for help. Her companion had moved slightly ahead but he turned back as soon as she began to drop behind. He took one look at her white face and had her back up in his arms before she could move another inch.

This time he carried her cradled against the broad expanse of his chest and Beth sighed and nestled close, burying her face in his neck. He felt so good—warm and strong—and if she had just had a little more energy, she would have explored the sculpted muscles rippling against her skin. Instead, her eyes were drifting closed. She was half asleep when he stopped in front of an empty clearing.

He pulled out something ridiculously like a television remote and pressed a button. The air shimmered and then a spaceship appeared between the trees. It was vaguely triangular, with a pointed nose and a sleek shape that suggested speed even when resting quietly in the clearing. He pressed another button and a doorway opened in the upper section, a ladder descending to the ground. He looked at her and then at the ladder, sighed, and placed her gently over his shoulder before he climbed up.

The inside of the cabin was dim and she was barely aware of her surroundings as he laid her on a soft surface. He moved away and she tried to protest but he was back before she could summon the strength. There was a tiny sting in her neck and she was vaguely aware that he was pulling off her shoes before exhaustion took her and carried her off into darkness.

Dragar looked at the female lying on his bunk and tried to make sense of his conflicting emotions. The bunk was sized for a Sardoran warrior and she looked tiny and helpless. His protective impulses flared, but then she murmured something and stretched in her sleep and the heavy top she was wearing slid up, revealing a strip of pale bare skin and lust immediately consumed him. Giving in to the impulse, he gently removed her outer layer of clothing, leaving her clad only in the pink silk he had selected. She murmured again as he stripped her, but the sedative he had given her kept her unconscious. He stroked the silky expanse of her long, bare legs, his fingers playing at the edge of her panties as he remembered the pale, gold curls nestled between her legs. He stroked over the soft fabric and felt her immediate response. He leaned closer, breathing in her delectable fragrance as it intensified.

And then he straightened up and cursed himself for a fool. Sooner or later she was going to come to her senses and get over her inexplicable trust. When she did, she would be frightened at best, repulsed at worst, and he did not want to do anything that would add to either emotion. He tried to force himself into a state of clinical detachment as he applied healing gel to her wounds. Pulling a blanket up over her tempting body, he swung down the ladder and used the remote to hide the ship once more. He was reluctant to leave her unprotected, but this was the safest place she could be right now.

He knew where the Serigali ship had landed and he moved quickly through the woods in that direction. As he had hoped, the lone guard was on the ground, pacing the clearing and looking bored. Dragar slit his throat before the guard even knew he was there. The ship was open and he hauled the guard inside. He didn’t have time for more than a cursory examination but he made a copy of the log files before setting the ship for silent self-destruct. In the morning, there would be nothing left but a mysterious pile of ashes.

Impatient to get back to his little female, he hauled the two bodies from the lake up to the ruined cabin. The bodies were heavy but had to be disposed of with the rest of their pack. Stacking them with the others, he sprinkled accelerant around the room. The resulting fire would be highly localized but burn hot enough to incinerate the evidence of any alien presence. He retrieved the paintings of the Place of Judgment and the other one that gave him an odd sense of familiarity. After a brief hesitation, he also added another abstract in tones of pink and gold. Art supplies were scattered across the floor, mostly destroyed, but one sketchbook was intact and he took that, along with a packet of charcoal. The last thing he took on the way out the door was the black heels.

By the time he returned to his ship, Dragar was feeling the strain of the past few hours but he was unwilling to linger on this planet any longer. Dawn was approaching and the chance of discovery increasing. Leaving the shields on, he lifted the ship to just above the tree line, checking to make sure that nothing remained of the cabin or the Serigali ship. Satisfied that there were completely destroyed, he headed into space.

Rubbing a tired hand over his face, he glanced back at the peacefully sleeping female. What the hell was he going to do with her? By Imperial edict, he should have disposed of her, but he hadn’t spent the last hours defending her only to terminate her life now—and he knew that he was absolutely incapable of such an act. He could also sell her into slavery or retain her as his personal slave but neither prospect appealed to him, although a brief fantasy of her kneeling at his feet in a slave garment had his cock stiffening immediately.

Sighing, he set the auto-pilot for Sardor Two, soon to be the new home for his people. His Chief had a human mate and he was sure they would take this female into their home. He instinctively opposed the idea of her in another warrior’s home but he firmly pushed the objection aside. It would be best for her, and if she was with Jakkar and Anna, at least he could see her occasionally.

She was still curled into his bunk and he longed to climb in next to her and take her in his arms, but refused to allow himself to succumb to the yearning. Distracting himself from the sight of her appealing body, he rummaged through his supplies until he found a translator bug to slip into her ear. Finally, he lowered the top bunk and lifted her onto it. He forced his arms to let go when, even in her sleep, she sighed and snuggled against him. He normally slept naked but his earlier reasons for remaining clothed still applied and he kept his uniform on as he climbed into his bunk. He couldn’t resist rubbing his head against the spot where she had been sleeping and letting her fragrance soak into him. His cock jerked violently in instantaneous response. Five days alone in a ship with a woman that he shouldn’t touch. A sardonic smile twisted his lips. If nothing else, this trip would do wonders for his self-discipline.

Sometime later, he awoke to the sound of small muffled sobs from the upper bunk. He stood up immediately, leaning over the trembling body and stroking her hair. “Shh, little one.”

Her eyes were still closed but as soon as he touched her, she flung her arms around his neck. He tried to pull back but she clung fiercely. So much for self-discipline. With a muffled curse, he pulled her into his arms and lowered them both into the bottom bunk. She immediately curled her body into his, tears still trickling from under closed eyelashes, and he stroked her hair until her breathing slowed and they both slept.

Chapter Four

Beth woke up completely surrounded by warm, hard male. Her aches and pains had disappeared while she slept, although she had a vague memory of crying in the night and then being safe in his arms. Now his head was buried in her neck. One warm arm covered her stomach and his hand was curved firmly around her breast. His leg enclosed hers and she could feel a very definite erection pressing against her hip. Mmm. She wiggled a tiny fraction and it jerked in response. Her nipple immediately tightened against his palm and a throbbing ache started low in her belly.

Rational Beth was screaming that she was crazy. She was on an alien spaceship with an enormous alien—mmm, definitely enormous—and her entire life had just been irrevocably altered. She knew that rational Beth was right, and she also knew that the trauma of the previous day was not going to go away immediately, but right now, she felt safe and warm and undeniably aroused—again. Which was rather amazing in itself—men had simply never interested her. However, as soon as this man touched her, her sex drive suddenly appeared. The memory of her behavior in the shower made her blush, but it had been incredibly satisfying. Maybe she was only turned on by aliens? The thought amused her and she bit back a giggle as she considered her options.

The obvious solution was to wake him up and encourage him to take advantage of her nearly naked body; however, considering his reluctance of the night before, and the fact that he was still wearing that annoying uniform, she wasn’t really sure that that would work. Of course, if she got him worked up enough before he was fully awake…

Moving as little as possible, she slid her top out from under his hand until he was grasping her naked breast. The feel of his rough, warm palm sent a shiver down her spine and she arched into his hand. His fingers tightened instinctively and she had to bite her lip to keep from moaning with pleasure. Her pussy pulsed in response and she could feel her panties starting to dampen.

She paused for a moment but he was still breathing evenly into her neck so she worked one hand into the fraction of space between their bodies until she could wrap her fingers around his erection. Well, almost wrap her fingers around his erection. His cock was a massive throbbing bar, much too big to enclose with her hand. Excitement, and a pleasurable hint of fear, coursed through her veins and she could feel her heart start to speed up. She stroked as much of the long hard length as she could, relishing each responsive jerk, but the awkward position limited her movement and she wanted more.

Carefully, she investigated his waistband, sighing in relief when she encountered a familiar fastening. Apparently, buttons were universal. She slipped the top button free. The broad head of his cock immediately pressed against her fingers and she stroked her thumb across the slippery surface. His wild musky scent intensified and he growled against her neck. She froze but he didn’t move and she carefully worked another button free. With each button, more and more of his steely length filled her hand and her pussy started to pulse in slow, demanding throbs.

Once more, her thumb stroked across the head and he growled again. His hand tightened on her breast, clamping down on her nipple with a demanding pressure that had her pressing into his hand. She muffled a moan, still not sure if he was awake, and then he rolled on top of her. His mostly uncovered cock pressed between her legs and slid against the damp silk of her wet panties, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her system. He lowered his head and she just had time to see that his eyes were still closed before his mouth closed over hers. He tasted so good, warm and male and wild, and she moaned into his mouth. His hips rocked his cock against her throbbing core and she wrapped her legs around him, angling her body to increase the pressure. His fingers still tormented her breast, pinching the tight peak with a pressure that should have been painful but only added to her excitement. He rocked harder, faster, and she exploded, a soft cry tearing from her throat. Almost simultaneously, she felt him shudder and press harder against her willing body and then jets of hot liquid were covering her stomach and breasts before he collapsed into her arms.

Sighing with pleasure, she wrapped her arms around him and pressed kisses into his neck. She knew the minute he woke up enough to realize what had happened. Every muscle in his body hardened and he raised his head to stare down at her with eyes that were wide awake. They were still liquid silver from arousal but white sparks started to appear as he looked down at her, her top up around her neck, his cum coating her body, and his cock filling the unfastened opening of his pants.

“Good morning.” She smiled and tried to lift her head for a kiss but he pushed himself upright, off of her and off of the bed. He backed away, buttoning his pants with angry hands.

“What the hell were you doing?”

“What was I doing? There were two of us in this bed.”

“But one of us certainly didn’t go to bed with his pants undone.”

“Maybe you were hot,” she suggested a little weakly, suddenly feeling guilty. “Hey, how come I understand you?”

“I put a translator bug in your ear. Don’t change the subject.”

Beth sat up and pulled down her tank, her pleasant afterglow evaporating in the face of his anger. The feeling of guilt intensified and all of a sudden she wanted to cry.

He cursed and knelt on the floor in front of her, cupping his hand around her cheek to look into her dejected face.

“Little one, you can’t play this game. It’s too dangerous. I don’t know why you want me but I’m not the right one for you.”

She raised her chin and stared back at him. “Isn’t that my decision?”

“No,” he growled, and returned to towering over her but she saw the flicker of silver in his eyes and her confidence returned. He could try and deny it but she knew what she wanted—and she knew that he wanted it as well. She was just going to have to find out why he was so resistant.

Tacitly letting the subject drop, she rose to her feet and offered her hand.

“Hi, I’m Beth Hudson. Nice to meet you.”

He looked at her hand, then her innocent expression, then roared with laughter. As he laughed, she caught a glimpse of sharp white teeth and over-sized canines that bore a close resemblance to fangs. Rational Beth pointed out that she should be afraid but she only relaxed into the sound of his laughter and grinned at him. A smile still curved his lips when he grasped her outstretched hand. The scars down his face pulled at one side of his mouth, twisting the smile and giving it a sardonic edge.

“I’m Dragar, of the Clan—”

He hesitated and she prompted, “Clan?”

“Clan Leijona.”

There was a note of sorrow in his voice and his smile had disappeared, but she didn’t pursue the subject. Instead, she looked around the small cabin. “So this is what a spaceship looks like?”

Like the ship, the room was triangular, with a rounded apex filled with instrument panels. In the apex, two chairs were surrounded by the semi-circular console. The back wall contained the bunk they had been sharing, flanked by tall cabinets. An airlock on one wall presumably led outside and on the other, a ladder rested above a sealed hatchway. The rest of the walls were filled with metal cabinets. Everything was in soft shades of gray, even the rubbery floor surface and it was curiously soothing.

“This is pretty much it. The engines, life support systems, and a small cargo hold are below.” He opened the door to one of the tall cabinets next to the bed. “This is the san—the sanitary facility.”

She peered in but it was simply a tall empty cabinet. “You’re kidding right?”

He laughed again and the low rumble sent pleasant shivers up her spine. She could get used to that sound. Reaching past her, he showed her a row of small buttons. One caused a toilet to emerge and the other gave access to a tiny wash basin.

“What does this one do?” She reached in and pressed the third button before he could speak and a flood of warm liquid poured down over her head. Spluttering, she jerked back and rammed straight into his hard body. He caught her automatically, his laughter dying as she pressed against him. She wiggled a little and felt his immediate response before he growled and stepped back. Feeling triumphant—he definitely wanted her just as badly as she wanted him—she ignored his withdrawal.

“I suppose since I’m already wet, I might as well take a shower. Are there any towels?”

“That button is for drying.” He pointed to it and then handed her a small, white cloth. “For cleansing. Also, the sanitary liquid is not for drinking—keep your mouth closed. If you can.”

Had he just made a joke? She narrowed her eyes at him and was rewarded by the slight twist of his lips. Swinging her hips a little too emphatically, she stepped into the small room.

Dragar stared at the closed door, trying to suppress images of Beth’s naked body soaking wet. When she had inadvertently started the flow of water, she had spluttered like a half-drowned linae and looked completely adorable. But as she had stepped back into him, all he noticed was the soft warmth of her body and how her wet top was almost translucent. Adjusting his suddenly aching cock, he cast a longing look at the tumbled bunk, still not believing that she had seduced him in his sleep. Her fragrance had haunted his dreams and it had been so easy to believe he was dreaming when he felt her soft warm body under his, his shaft sliding against the warm, wet haven between her thighs. And the sight of his seed streaking her pale body was unbelievably erotic. He had wanted to rub it into her skin, marking her as his own, and only his shock had pulled him away.

Despite the power of his earlier release, his cock was really throbbing now and he adjusted it again, trying to decide how he was going to make it through the next few days without a constant erection. Finally, deciding that it was impossible, he cursed himself as a fool, and went to check on the auto-pilot. Everything was proceeding correctly, so he plugged the Serigali log disk in and started on the analysis. He tried to concentrate on the task at hand but his ears kept listening for the san door to open. As soon as the faint click reached his ears, he spun his chair around.

She stood in the doorway, flushed and glowing and gorgeous. Her hair had dried to a silky, pale gold cloud and he clenched his hands to suppress the urge to bury his fingers in it. The pale pink top and panties had obviously been washed but they were still slightly damp and clung to every curve, her ripe nipples thrusting against the fabric and tightening under his gaze. Her cheeks flamed delightfully and she gave him that seductive, innocent look that turned him to stone. His hands clenched the arm rests as her gaze drifted down his body, lingering a little too long on his groin.

“Aren’t you going to take a shower?” she asked innocently. “Or is that uniform permanently attached?”

His lips curved, but she was right. Standing under a flood of hot liquid might help to release some of the tension he felt. While he debated, she moved over to the bunk and began straightening the covers. The sight of her delectable ass bent across the mattress almost caused a groan to escape his lips and suggested another advantage to the privacy of the san. He made it as far as the door before the problem hit him. He was too big to remove his clothes in the tiny compartment.

He looked over at Beth. She was curled in one corner of the now neatly made bunk watching him curiously. He was pretty sure that she had already realized his dilemma and when one brow rose mockingly, he was convinced. Damn it. Nudity was a part of Sardoran culture and he shouldn’t have been so uncomfortable, but no one had seen him completely naked since he had received his scars. He hated to see her recoil from the ugly sight, but perhaps that was the answer. Perhaps that would convince her that her foolish desire for him was unfounded.

Despite his decision, he had to force his fingers not to tremble as he unbuttoned his vest. Letting it slide off was harder than marching into battle. He didn’t know what he expected to see in her face—pity? revulsion? —but her eyes only softened and a curious sense of relief diminished his nervousness. Sliding off his pants was much easier since only a few of his scars extended below the waist. This time her eyes widened and her small tongue flicked across her lips. His cock jerked at the sight and her plump, pink lips parted. It was too much and he plunged into the san with more haste than grace, turning the shower on and fisting his cock at the same time. A few desperate strokes and he came hard, shuddering against the wall, but he could already tell that it wasn’t going to help. He wasn’t going to be satisfied until he released his seed into the hot tight depths of her soft little body.

By the time he emerged from the san, he was feeling more composed and his shaft had finally subsided—at least temporarily. He looked for his uniform but it was no longer on the floor. Instead Beth handed him his loincloth with another of her seductive smiles. The brief leather garment was standard attire for warrior training and all he usually wore on board ship since the recycled engine heat kept the temperature pleasantly high during the day shifts. He looked at the small piece of leather and then down at his scarred body and finally shrugged. If she could take it, he could. He fastened the cloth around his waist and looked at her. She licked her lips and flashed him another smile.

“Now what do we do?”

Fighting down the impulse to give her very specific instructions, he turned back to his control chair. Behind him he heard her gasp and he froze. He had never thought the scars on his back were as bad as those on his front—his torturers had preferred to see his face while they worked on him—but perhaps he was wrong. Her fingers touched his skin and he shuddered but she only traced them along his clan mark.

“So that’s what it is.”

“What it is?” Greatly relieved that her gasp had not indicated anything more, he turned to face her.

“The painting—the gray abstract—it’s the same as these markings.”

“My clan mark?”

“If you mean the tattoo on your back, yes.”

At her nod, he walked over to one of the storage compartments and pulled out the paintings.

“You brought them? Oh thank you.” Her arms circled his waist and he absently returned the hug, staring down at the image in his hand. The softness and the swirling colors had confused him but now that he took a closer look, the resemblance was obvious. Not only did the painting reveal a clan mark, it was his clan mark—right down to the twisted lines where his scars intersected the intricate design.

“How did you do this?” His tone was harsh and she stepped back. He kept a gentle grip on her arm but she refused to look at him, twisting her fingers nervously.

“I don’t know. I…I just have these images in my head.” She looked at the paintings. “These started haunting me about six years ago.”

Six years? That was right about the time he had been Outcast. How could she have known? It was almost inconceivable except that he was holding the proof in his hands. He stared at Beth, noticing that she was studiously avoiding his eyes. There was something she wasn’t telling him.

For a fleeting second he considered the possibility that she was somehow involved in the terrible events on Trillium but rapidly discarded the idea. All of his instincts shouted that she was just as innocent as she appeared. While he needed to know what she was concealing from him, he wasn’t concerned that her secrets composed a threat to him or to Sardor.

“I also brought these.”

He handed her the sketchbook and charcoal. A delighted smile lit up her entire face and he realized that even if she had been a Serigali spy, it wouldn’t have made the slightest difference to him.

Chapter Five

Beth curled in the corner of the bunk, her fingers moving easily over the page of her sketch book as she watched the tall figure in the command chair, and enjoyed the view of his hard, male body. She was so glad that she had rooted through his possessions and found the leather loincloth. Not only was it ridiculously sexy, it left all those rippling muscles in plain view, including most of an unbelievably impressive ass. Her nipples peaked and she tried to force her thoughts in another direction. Her pussy had been throbbing almost constantly since this morning and she wanted him with an intensity that appalled Rational Beth. Rational Beth argued that he was entirely too big—and he probably was—but her pussy didn’t seem to care. She was inclined to side with her pussy.

Unfortunately, no matter what she wanted, he obviously had himself under firm control. Despite her teasing glances and casual touches, he wouldn’t let her near enough for any serious seducing. If it wasn’t for the fact that he had kept that impressive erection all day, she would have been seriously discouraged. However, with such an amazing reward in store, she was just going to have to find a way through his defenses.

The only time she had really been close to him had been during their meal. He had shown her how to reconstitute the dried food—which turned out to be surprisingly edible—and she had made lunch. A retractable table came up out of the floor and they sat next to each other on the bunk while they ate. He was telling her about his plan to take her to Sardor Two and she was listening without any great degree of enthusiasm. A new planet sounded exciting and even his rather stark description made her long for her paints. But…

“Are you going to be there?” she interrupted.

He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Occasionally.”

Dragar started telling her about his Chief’s mate and, while she was interested in meeting another human female, especially one mated to a Sardoran, she couldn’t repress a pang of jealousy. He obviously liked the other human. She knew it was childish but the more he talked, the more desolate she felt. He was going to abandon her on a strange planet with strange people while he went off god knows where—probably to get laid after all the time he had spent refusing her. A tear crept silently down her cheek.

He sighed and lifted her into his lap. “Don’t cry, little one.”

She curled into the warm, hard strength of his body, immediately feeling better, and he cuddled her close as he explained that his people were moving to the new planet because Sardor’s core was unstable and the planet was disintegrating.

“Why occasionally?” she interrupted again.

“What?”

“If your people are transitioning to the new planet, why aren’t you going with them?”

“There have been incidents,” he said slowly. “It seems likely that someone has targeted Sardorans for extinction.” The idea sent a chill down her spine. “I have been tracking the last incident, trying to uncover who was behind it.”

“And have you?”

“No. It’s a shadow game and the only clue so far has been an extremely unpleasant assassin who is now dead. Fortunately, he was rather memorable.”

“But, why you?”

“Why me, what?”

“Why are you the one traipsing through the galaxy and tracking him down?”

His fingers stopped stroking her hair and she felt him stiffen.

“Perhaps it’s the best place for me to be.” His words were casual but she could hear the pain behind them. Sitting up, she put her arms around his neck and softly brushed his lips with her own. Groaning, he responded by pulling her closer and deepening the kiss until her head was spinning and her nipples were swollen and ripe. She could feel the heat of his erection beneath her butt and she couldn’t help wiggling against it. As much as she enjoyed the feeling, Beth didn’t want him to push her away, so as soon as he tensed, she raised her mouth and snuggled back down into his arms. After a very long second, he relaxed and started stroking her hair again.

He was telling her about Jakkar and Anna when he tensed again. Confused, she looked up at him and saw that his gaze was focused on her hand. Without realizing it, she had been stroking his scars while she listened to him, following the twisted lines with a gentle finger. She knew he was sensitive about them but they didn’t bother her. The idea that someone had inflicted such pain on him was appalling but the resulting marks were not ugly. They had a certain primitive beauty and showed the strength it had taken to live through what had happened to him. She opened her mouth to ask him about them but before she could speak, he gently but firmly removed her hand from his chest and placed her back on the bunk. He hadn’t spoken for the rest of the meal.

Now she closed her sketchbook, rose and stretched. His eyes followed her and she added a little extra sensuality to her movements before moving close to his chair to study the timer. It was nothing like the clocks she knew but he had explained that time on the ship was divided into three increments, one for sleeping and two for activity. The end of the second shift was approaching.

“Should I prepare the next meal?” She was practically whispering in his ear and she could see the slight tremor of his muscles as her warm breath reached him. His ears were somewhat smaller than human ears but, as she had discovered, even more sensitive. He nodded wordlessly and she moved lightly away, pleased at his response.

Her pleasure diminished considerably as they ate their meal and he informed her that Sardor Two was only four days away. She scowled after him as he disappeared into the san, pretty sure she knew what he was doing in there and that it wasn’t helping her cause at all, although the idea was extremely exciting. Four days to seduce her reluctant prince? Prince… An idea struck her and she smiled again as she hurried to prepare the cabin before he returned.

Dragar lingered in the san, determined to prove that he had his body and his mind under control. The thought of Beth’s soft fingers tracing his scars caused his stomach to clench in an uncomfortable mixture of anxiety and desire. He was so used to considering them hideous—a view that most Sardorans would share—and yet his little one didn’t appear repelled at all. She obviously still wanted him just as much if her behavior over the course of the day was any indication. Her attempts at seduction were both sensuous and innocent, and the combination was extremely hard to resist. Unfortunately, while she seemed to have accepted his scars, his two other reasons for resisting her were unchangeable. His first consideration was that her body was just too delicate. She was so tiny and fragile and he was large, even for a Sardoran. They simply couldn’t be physically compatible. And even if they had been, he couldn’t risk it. Once he released his seed into her body, he knew he would form a mating bond—and he had nothing to offer her.

Resolve firmly in place, he stepped out of the san and his body immediately betrayed him. Damn. Apparently she had discovered the button that converted the bottom bunk into a bed for two and she was stretched out sensuously, creamy skin glowing and her hair like river of pale fire down her back. Her long, bare legs extended toward him and for the first time, he noticed that her tiny toenails were a delicate shade of pink that matched her thin silk garments. For some reason that detail turned his shaft from hard to painful.

“Beth,” he warned.

She smiled and sat up and he could see the nipples he had tried so hard to ignore all day thrusting at him.

“I have an idea,” she said. “Why don’t you come and sit down?” She patted the bed invitingly. Her breasts jiggled temptingly with the movement and all he could do was shake his head. “I promise I won’t touch you. I just want to tell you a story.”

“A story?” That was the last thing he had expected.

“Sit down,” she repeated, and patted the bed again. Feeling rather like he had the first time he went into battle, Dragar cautiously approached the bed and sat down.

“Why don’t you dim the lights?” she suggested. Her translated voice was too soft for the ship systems to pick up—he had started reprogramming it during the last shift but the work wasn’t complete. Reluctantly he followed her directions and lowered the lights to a soft glow, allowing her to talk him into reclining comfortably against the wall. Or at least it would have been comfortable if he hadn’t been so tense. True to her word, she hadn’t touched him and now she knelt next to him, close enough so that her delectable fragrance wrapped around him but a hand’s width away.

“So this is a story about us.”

“Us?” he repeated, even more nervous.

“Well, us as we could have been under different circumstances. If you had just been in the neighborhood, so to speak, and those beasts hadn’t been hunting me.” A bleak expression crossed her face and he almost reached for her, but she pushed it away and continued.

“In my story, I am sitting on the chair in my garden. The sun is shining and I can hear the bees buzzing around my flowers. It’s very hot and I’m just wearing my thinnest clothes.” She stroked her fingers lightly down her front, just grazing her breast, and his heartbeat started to speed up.

“I look up and there you are standing over me. So big and strong and powerful. And I know that you can do anything you want to me.”

Now his palms were sweating.

“But I’m not afraid. You can tell me to do anything.” Her small pink tongue darted out to lick her lips and her hands grasped the hem of her top. “When you tell me to take off my clothes, I don’t hesitate at first.” She raised the hem, slowly revealing each inch of skin up to the bottom curve of her perfect breasts. She paused, the thin silk brushing against her skin with each breath she took. “But then I feel shy. What if you don’t like the way I look?”

“I’ll love the way you look. Take off your clothes.” His voice was hoarse but he didn’t care, as long as she kept lifting the fabric.

Silk rippled against her skin and her breasts were bared to his hungry gaze, creamy skin glowing in the soft light and her full pink nipples already engorged. He clenched his fists to keep from reaching out and plucking the tempting peaks. Her hands dropped down to the waistband of her tiny, pink panties and she slanted him a look from under her lashes.

“Take them all off.” He knew he shouldn’t be playing her game but he wanted to see her entire luscious body. She stood up, skimming the small scrap of fabric down her long legs, and immediately returned to her kneeling position. This time she spread her legs slightly and he could see a teasing glimpse of delicate pink between the glistening pale gold curls.

“You reach out and cup my breasts.” Her hands echoed her words, curving around each soft mound while her thumbs rubbed back and forth across each plump tip. “You tease my nipples, stroking them, and then tugging them harder.” Again she mimicked her words, grasping the tempting buds between thumb and finger and pulling them out before squeezing them hard enough that she gasped. His cock throbbed against the confining leather of his loincloth and he could feel the moisture dripping from the head.

Her delectable aroma intensified and her eyes were wide and dark. He knew his were glowing silver as he gave in to her fantasy.

“I slide my hands down your body.” His voice was a low rumble and she was still looking at him with those enormous innocent eyes. “Do it.”

Her hands caressed the soft skin of her stomach.

“My fingers reach between your legs and spread your lips so I can see every inch of your soft, wet pussy.”

Obediently, she followed his instructions, moving her legs further apart and finally giving him a full view of the delicate pink folds. She was so perfect and so tiny. His nails were starting to draw blood from his palms.

“I stroke you.” He barely managed to get the words out but she responded, keeping her labia spread and circling her clit with her other hand. He could see the small, pink pearl swelling at her touch and hear her panting as she moved her finger faster and faster. “Now, little one. Come for me.”

Her body convulsed and he could see the tremors shaking her delicate frame. With an anguished moan his control snapped and he pushed her back against the bed, burying his face between her thighs and lapping up every drop of her sweet fluids as she shuddered against his mouth. He gentled his tongue and let her calm until only an occasional quiver remained.

Beth opened dazed eyes and looked at him and despite his best intentions, a smile curved his mouth. “Hang on, little one. We’re not finished yet.”

Succumbing to temptation, he kissed his way up her body until he could plunge into the honeyed depths of her mouth. He knew that she could taste herself on his tongue but she only moaned a little and returned his kiss more fiercely. After he had kissed her almost long enough to satisfy his craving for her sweet taste, he started kissing his way back down her body. Her nipples were still long and full and he lingered there, pulling them into his mouth over and over until she was arching her back and clutching his head. With a satisfied growl, he moved lower. Her cleft was swollen and wet and he licked it with long, gentle strokes, sending the tiniest of flicks across her engorged clit.

Beth moaned, grasping his head, and he pressed one thick finger into her tiny opening. Goddess, she was tight. Despite the slick fluids bathing his finger, the snug passage resisted the intrusion. His heart sank; he had been right—she was too small. He started to pull back but she moaned again and thrust against his finger. Her body relaxed the tiniest fraction and his finger slipped completely inside her body. She felt incredible, like hot, wet silk wrapped around him. Keeping up the long gentle strokes of his tongue, he slid his finger in and out of her body until she squirmed against him. Wanting to prolong her pleasure, he slid his finger out and explored lower, to the even tinier pink opening between her buttocks. The perfect rosette tempted him and he let his finger glide back and forth across the delicate flesh, enjoying her response as she trembled. He teased the small opening and was just about to pull back when she thrust against him and the tip of his finger slid past the tight ring of muscle.

He froze, scared to move and hurt her, but she pressed up impatiently and his finger slid deeper as she writhed against his mouth. Very gently, he slid his thumb into her pussy, hardly daring to believe that her fragile body accepted his intrusion. She bucked against him again and his doubts disappeared. He set a demanding rhythm with his finger and thumb and drew her swollen clit into his mouth, sucking it with equal intensity. She came almost immediately, crying his name, and satisfaction roared through him. Both channels spasmed around his embedded digits and the thought that he might eventually sink his cock into those hot, wet depths almost sent him over the edge. He licked her softly until her breathing slowed and then gently withdrew from her body.

Beth could barely open her eyes but she wanted to see Dragar’s face. She had never felt anything so intense—or satisfying. Her body was still quivering with pleasure. His face appeared above her and she reached for him as he kissed her so slowly and sweetly she almost cried. Her hand cupped his face and she trailed her fingers down the twin scars. This time he didn’t pull away, but smiled down at her.

“Go to sleep, little one.”

Something nagged at her and she forced her sleepy brain to concentrate. “But you didn’t…What about you?”

An amused growl rumbled against her chest. “I’m very satisfied. Go to sleep.”

He tucked her against him and she snuggled close and drifted off.

She woke during the night, unable to remember her dream but with tears streaming down her face. Dragar immediately pulled her closer and held her, stroking her hair until the rending sorrow eased and she could sleep again.

Chapter Six

Once again, Beth woke up surrounded by a warm male body. This time she didn’t hesitate to wiggle closer, pressing kisses into Dragar’s warm neck. He growled and she knew that he was awake. He rolled over her and she smiled up at him. Something had changed in his face, and his eyes flared silver as he reached down to kiss her. His mouth was hard and demanding and she arched up against him. He thrust his tongue harder into her mouth and she moaned a little and pressed closer, her nipples hard, hot points against his chest. They were both panting by the time he pulled away.

“Enough, little one, before I forget my good intentions. I need to check our position. A captain does have some duties, you know.”

She couldn’t help pouting as he started to remove his warm body and he lowered his head back down and nibbled on her plump lower lip before whispering in her ear.

“But if you’re a good girl, maybe we can have story time again tonight.”

A shiver rippled through her and she arched against him, but he laughed and stood up. She watched him disappear into the san, enjoying the view every step of the way, and wishing she could join him. Unfortunately, his massive body filled the tiny compartment and wouldn’t leave much room for her.

She was trying to decide if that might be fun anyway when a beeping noise sounded from the instrument panel and a light started flashing. That couldn’t be good. She turned to the san door but Dragar was already out and on his way to the controls.

“What is it?” she whispered.

“Another ship. Too far for me to detect the signature yet.”

Not quite sure why she was frightened, Beth crept closer and pressed against his side. He threw her a quick glance and slid an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry, little one. We’re not exactly the only ship in the galaxy.”

Nonetheless, they both relaxed as the ship moved further away and the alarms ceased.

“Was it those creatures?”

“The Serigali?” He studied the now silent panel. “I can’t eliminate the possibility, but I don’t know why or how they would have tracked us. I need to spend more time analyzing their log.”

He leaned against the back of the command chair and frowned at the long-range scanner. Beth suddenly realized that the enormous expanse of hard flesh pressed against her side was completely naked. He had rushed out of the shower without stopping to dry off or put on clothes. Little droplets of liquid were sliding down the sculpted muscles of his back. She followed their path with her eyes as they highlighted each impressive ridge before reaching the even more impressive curve of his ass. Unable to resist, she traced the tracks with her fingers, cupping his buttock and squeezing the taut flesh.

He responded instantly, eyes turning silver, and she tightened her grip. “Do you have to do it right now?”

Clearly undecided, he hesitated. She wiggled her fingers a little further and teased the sensitive cleft. Her nipples had beaded and she rubbed them against his side. He growled and she gave him an innocent look.

“Log first,” he said reluctantly. “I have to know if you are in danger.”

She sighed and removed her hand from his ass. “Fine. Is nudity the uniform of the day?” Her fingers reached for the bottom of her tank but he grabbed them.

“No, it’s not. I’m going to finish my shower and start on the log.”

“Are you sure? I would really like to wash these clothes—and not on my body this time. It’s too warm in here to wear much.” His jaw clenched and she knew that he was thinking about her running around the small cabin naked. She loved teasing him. “Next time you abduct someone, you should let them pack a bag.”

“I did not abduct you,” he ground out. “And there will not be a next time.”

Not sure why the comment had bothered him, she backed away.

“There are clothes in that locker,” he said curtly, and headed for the san, turning away too quickly for her to catch more than a brief glimpse of a truly impressive erection. Not that she had much experience in that department but she was willing to learn. And she really wanted him to be the subject of that study. Damn the man, why wouldn’t he let her really look at him?

Biting her lip, she searched the locker. On first glance it appeared that everything he owned was leather and enormous but she finally found some shirts made out of a soft, cotton-like cloth. They were cut like sleeveless tee shirts with a deep V-neck. The fabric felt wonderful and she slipped out of her pink set and pulled a black shirt over her head. His wild musky scent wrapped around her along with the soft fabric. The shirt reached to mid-thigh and the neck dipped halfway down her chest, exposing a considerable amount of cleavage. The shoulders fell almost to her elbows and with a little judicious shrugging would slide right off of her much narrower frame. This would work.

Dragar stepped out of the san while she was experimenting. His eyes immediately flared to molten silver but he only pulled on his loincloth and walked to the command chair. Pleased with his initial reaction, she made them both mugs of cafir, a bitter drink that was the only alternative to water on the ship. She brought him the drink and lingered, standing at his elbow until he sighed and pulled her into his lap.

“I like seeing you in my shirt, little one,” he said, and gave her a long, slow kiss. By the time he lifted his head, she was breathless and her pussy was pulsing. She could feel the long, hard length of his cock beneath her butt but when she wiggled against him, he clamped her in place. “I’m looking at the log. You can stay if you keep still.”

Beth nodded. His strong body surrounded her and she was…happy right where she was. She watched curiously as he turned to the controls. After a manipulating some buttons, a holographic image appeared in front of them. The image consisted of various colors lights and some odd symbols in a three dimensional grid. He rotated it slowly, occasionally expanding one of the lights or retrieving more of the symbols, and she studied it with him. Almost an hour passed while he made two slow rotations and then he paused, leaning back and tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the chair arm.

“There’s a pattern, isn’t there?”

“You can see that?” He sounded surprised and Beth poked him.

“I’m an artist. Of course, I can see patterns. It doesn’t mean I understand what it signifies.”

“Tell me what you see.”

“They are making a circuit. Those seven lights…” She pointed at them. “They appear over and over in the same frequency and the same distribution. The others appear to be random, either deliberately or accidentally obscuring the pattern.”

He nodded. “My assumption would be that it is deliberate. But why?”

“What are the lights?”

“Places where the ship stopped—space stations and planets. They don’t seem to have a lot in common but they are all standard destinations. Except those two…” He gestured at two of the lights. “The green one is an Imperial pleasure world. The Serigali are primarily hunters and small traders. I’m not sure why they would have been invited, or welcome on a world populated by rich aristocrats.”

“Maybe they’re bored,” she suggested, and he gave an amused growl. “And that one?”

She pointed at the other light and felt him tense around her.

“That’s Trillium, a claim world.” His voice was as tense as his body. She waited for him to continue but he didn’t say anything else. She started to ask him what a claim world was, but before she could get the words out, he had lifted her gently out of his lap. “I’m going to research some of these random worlds.”

It was clearly a dismissal. Feeling unexpectedly hurt, Beth retreated to the bunk and sought refuge in her sketchbook. As always, drawing soothed her and she didn’t notice time passing until her stomach rumbled. Laying her work away, she prepared a meal. Dragar joined her, looking grim and distracted, and ate without speaking. She expected him to return the controls immediately, but instead he sighed and sat back. Some of the tension seemed to leave his body and he pulled her into his arms, resting his head against hers.

Dragar cradled Beth’s small body in his arms and tried to makes sense of his conflicting emotions. The day had started so well. He liked sleeping with her, liked feeling her nestled into his arms, and he definitely liked waking up with her. Her sweet scent tantalized him until he wanted to bury himself inside her. Last night had been unexpectedly promising. Despite her tiny frame, she responded so openly to his touch. He began to consider that with time and training, she might be able to accommodate him after all. His cock stiffened as he considered how he would train her. He was willing to take all the time she needed—and he would enjoy every moment.

But seeing Trillium had reminded him of his other limitation. No matter how much he wanted her—or how much she seemed to want him—was it really fair to her? He had no wealth, no holdings, and an uncertain place in his clan. He could not form a mating bond with her.

Forcing his attention back to their current situation, he decided it was time to return to the subject of her paintings.

“Now, little one, we need to talk about these images of yours.”

This time he could feel her tense but he merely cuddled her closer and waited. Beth took a deep breath. When she finally spoke, her voice was so low he could barely hear it.

“My parents died when I was very little. My foster parents were too old to adopt but they took me in anyway. They were very kind to me.” She paused. “I always felt a little different. School was hard for me.”

“Why?” he asked. She was obviously intelligent, as well as sweet and beautiful. He couldn’t imagine why she would have had problems.

“I’m…sensitive to other people. Sometimes I pick up their feelings. And when I’m around a lot of people, it feels as if there is something pressing at me all the time. It’s why I live where I do.”

“You’re an empath?” He was surprised but not shocked. It was a rare talent but not unheard of, especially for artists. She relaxed a little and he wondered what reaction she had expected from him.

“I don’t really know. It doesn’t happen all the time or with everyone.”

He hesitated but he really wanted to know. “What do you feel from me?”

“Warmth. Strength. Security.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “You make me feel safe and happy, like I’m home.”

The words shocked him. How could he provide a home for her when he didn’t have one? And yet, he knew what she meant. When she was in his arms, he felt…complete in a way he had never experienced before. She leaned back a little to look into his face. Her hand reached up to stroke his face and he felt her fingers touch his scars. He didn’t think she had done it intentionally but it reminded him yet again of why he was not suited to her. He pulled her hand away.

“Your faith in me is misplaced, Beth.” But he couldn’t make himself release her. “And the images?”

She hesitated. “Sometimes I just pick up images. Usually they are from people who are close to me and they represent places or things that are important to them.” She peeped up at him but he kept his gaze neutral. “When I was in high school I didn’t have many friends but I was close to one girl. I knew she vacationed at the beach every summer and I decided to paint her a picture. I had this vision of a beach cottage and it seemed appropriate. When I gave it to her, she just stared at it.”

She twisted her fingers together, and he covered them gently with his own. “When she asked me where I got the photograph, I had no idea what she was talking about and made the mistake of telling her so. It turned out to be an exact painting of the place where she stayed every summer, right down to the cracked flowerpot next to the door. She…didn’t react well.”

Her words were mild but he could hear the pain in her voice. Dragar’s arms tightened around her and she buried her face in his shoulder, breathing in his scent while she trembled. He turned over the possibilities in his mind. The ability to pick up images from those around you was an even rarer talent but some of the priests of the Goddess made similar claims.

She tried for a casual shrug but couldn’t hide the tension in her slender shoulders. “I didn’t make that mistake again. I buried myself in my art and avoided people as much as possible. When my foster parents died, they left me a small amount of money—enough to buy the cabin and let me concentrate on painting. Now I sell enough to support myself. I only go into the city occasionally for openings. It’s a peaceful life but sometimes…I get lonely.”

She fell silent, nestling into his shoulder again. He was astounded by her strength because he knew only too well the price of that kind of life. He had forced his past away and managed to create a life that worked. It wasn’t as restricted as hers but he was always conscious of that sense of distance. Of that same sense of loneliness.

“It still happens,” she continued finally. “But only when I’m close to someone, and I’m not close to many people. Also, now I can usually tell if what I’m painting is coming from my head or someone else’s.”

“But you weren’t close to me. We were light years apart.” He kept his voice calm, even though his heart had started to pound. She had sensed him long before they met. What was the connection between them?

“I hadn’t met you so I didn’t recognize the source—but somehow, I knew you.” She took a deep breath. “Look at the sketch I did this morning.”

The image was stark, the charcoal strokes dark and harsh, and the scene rendered with minimal detail. Tall blocks, houses perhaps, surrounded a central space with a tall column in the middle. A small figure, almost invisible among the buildings, stood to one side.

He could feel her watching him as he surveyed the sketch. He started talking quietly, his fingers playing with the edge of the paper.

“Warriors begin formal training at age seven. Usually we train in our home district but my father had died not long after I was born and my mother wanted a new mate. She sent me to a different district.”

“At seven?” She sounded horrified, but he merely shrugged.

“It used to be standard practice and it’s still not uncommon. That is the central square in Angarholt, the district where I was sent.” He hesitated. “I never went home again. She caught her mate and they went campaigning together. They died together.”

“Oh, Dragar.” She tried to hug him but he closed the sketchbook, moved her away, and stood up. He didn’t want to think about that day and how lost and abandoned he had felt. Angarholt had turned out better than he had expected. Jakkar’s family had taken him in and he had made a friend and found a home. But the image of that day was just another reminder that everything he loved would be taken from him. He was destined to be alone.

“Every image you get from me represents loneliness. Perhaps you should consider why.”

Dragar stared at the holograph, trying once again to concentrate on the image and not on the female curled on the bunk. How could one small woman be such a distraction? He knew she was unhappy and he knew it was because of what he had said. But it had been the truth and she needed to know that there was no future between them. The knowledge didn’t stop him from feeling like he had betrayed her.

Beth shifted on the bunk and her sweet scent wafted through the air. His body responded instantly and he slanted a glance at her out of the corner of his eye. She was focused on her sketchbook and his shirt had slipped off her shoulder, exposing her delicate collar bone and the slight upper swell of her breast. His cock started to press painfully against the leather of his loincloth. From the moment he had seen her tiny body wrapped in his shirt, his possessive impulses had been raging. He liked having his mark on her, even if it was just a shirt. He gripped the chair arms, trying to control the impulse to stride over to the bed and make his claim irrefutable.

By the time they sat down to eat, his head was throbbing as hard as his cock. After a silent meal, he headed for the san, desperate to relieve at least one source of pain but as soon as his hand closed around his rigid shaft, he knew it wasn’t going to help. Swearing, he simply leant against the wall and let the hot liquid flow over his head. He finally emerged and froze. His reprogramming efforts had been successful and she had been able to dim the lights but there was still more than enough light for him to see the vision waiting for him.

Beth was lying on the bed on her stomach. Her head was resting on her arms and his shirt had worked its way up far enough that he could see the bottom curve of her ass, her creamy skin a shocking contrast to the dark fabric. She heard him come out and looked over her shoulder, eyes wide and dark. He reached for his loincloth but her voice halted his movement.

“Please…” She bit her lip. “Please let me look at you. I won’t touch you if you don’t want me to but I’ve never really seen a…seen you before.”

He hesitated and she rolled up on to her knees in one graceful motion. “Come here.”

Dragar knew it was mistake but he moved to the bunk and dropped down beside her. He reached for the blanket but her small hand grasped his wrist.

“Please,” she repeated.

“Very well.” He laid back and closed his eyes, trying to pretend that he didn’t feel her gaze as an almost physical heat against his skin. She was quiet for a long time and then he felt the warmth of her hand, hovering close to shoulder.

“May I touch you?”

He couldn’t think of anything he had ever wanted more. Growling an assent, he opened his eyes and watched as her pale fingers fluttered down to touch his arm with a feathery caress. Forcing himself to lay still, he let her explore him, her fingers like a hot wind across his skin as she stroked his arms and investigated the contours of his chest. Moving closer, she caressed his legs in long, gentle motions. By the time she reached his groin, he was shivering, waiting for her touch. She slid her fingers along the sensitive line between hip and thigh and paused, hovering at the base of his cock.

“May I?” she whispered, and he could only nod his head, hands knotted in the covers.

More delicate touches—her fingers tracing the length of his shaft and darting beneath to cup the heavy weight of his balls. He groaned and she paused. “Am I hurting you?”

“No.” It was all he could manage and she studied his face with worried eyes. He met her gaze and she looked startled for a second before giving him that innocent, seductive smile. She cupped him again and this time her hands were sure and confident. His hips jerked involuntarily.

Leaning closer, she studied his cock and he could feel her warm breath tickling the responsive skin. She tried to close her hand around his throbbing length but he was too big and her hand was too small. It didn’t matter. He had never felt anything as exquisite as her soft touch. Then she pulled her hand up the rigid length and he almost exploded. Three more times she repeated the agonizingly gentle movement and then he felt her breath again, whispering across the thick head of his cock.

“I’ve never done this before. Tell me what to do.”

Lifting up on to his elbows, he watched as she swept her small pink tongue across the weeping head. The sight was unbelievably erotic but the moist warmth of her tongue was even better. His whole body convulsed. She paused and then lifted her head and looked at him as she licked her lips.

“You taste wonderful.”

“Little one, you are testing my self-control.” His voice was hoarse and her eyes widened.

“Am I doing something wrong?”

“No, you’re perfect. Do that again.”

She smiled and lowered her head. Her tongue swept out again and she started licking him, circling the head and moving up and down his shaft in long slow strokes. One hand was still fisted around the base of his cock while the other caressed his balls. Her delicate touches were tantalizing and frustrating at the same time.

“Put your mouth around me.” He couldn’t stand it any longer.

Her full, pink lips closed around his cock and the swollen head slid into the hot depths of her small mouth. He knew he was too big for her but his cock jerked up into her mouth anyway. To his amazement, she didn’t flinch away but took him deeper. His hands were fisted so tightly into the blanket that he could feel the cloth tearing but he kept his body immobile. Slowly feeling her way, she took him deeper still and he groaned again. His cock hit the back of her throat and she drew back slightly but didn’t release him. Instead, her lips closed more firmly around his aching shaft and she slid her mouth back up. The tight suction felt incredible. She raised her head almost to the point of releasing him and then dropped back down. Over and over she repeated the motion, starting to moan low in her throat. The vibrations added to the sensation and he knew he wasn’t going to last.

“I’m going to come,” he warned, afraid of overwhelming her. He expected her to pull back but instead she sucked harder, her lips stretching around his swollen cock. The pressure increased at the base of his spine and his balls tightened and then he exploded. His hips jerked uncontrollably and he felt the hot liquid erupting from his body. Her mouth was hot and avid and he could feel her taking his seed deep into her throat. She kept swallowing, still moaning, until he collapsed back on the bed. Her mouth softened and she licked a few last times and then gave a satisfied sigh.

“That was amazing.”

He barely had the strength to move but he pulled her slight body up until she was sprawled on top of him.

“Definitely amazing,” he agreed. He held her for a few minutes, feeling at peace with the world, and then she squirmed a little and he realized that he could feel the heat of her moist cleft against his stomach. Her fragrance drifted upward, intensified by her arousal, and he hardened again instantly. Perhaps it was time to give her a little more training.

Lifting her body until she was sitting on his, he pulled his shirt over her head. As always, the sight of her naked body took his breath away. Her big pink nipples were already swollen and he teased them gently. Gradually he increased the pressure until she started gasping, thrusting harder into his hands. He could feel her slickness increase as she rocked her pussy against his stomach in time with the pull of his fingers.

Rolling them both over until she was on her back, he slowly moved down her body. He intended to take it slowly, but as soon as he settled his body between her legs, she thrust up against his mouth. He laughed softly, enjoying the way she shivered as the vibrations hit her engorged nub. His tongue gently stroked the sensitive flesh as he worked one thick finger into her opening. She was still incredibly tight but her body accepted the intrusion much more easily this time. Excited that his suspicion about her ability to adapt to him had been correct, he tried to add another finger.

Once again, her body resisted but he was determined to stretch her further. He sucked her clit into his mouth, stroking it firmly with his tongue. She started writhing almost immediately and he pulled harder on the sensitive bundle of nerves. She arched against his hand at the same time he pushed down. The resistance suddenly disappeared and then she opened to him as she came, crying out his name as she pulsated around his fingers.

Satisfied, he lifted his mouth and froze. Even before he looked down, he could smell her blood.

“Goddess, I’m sorry, little one.”

Dragar’s voice sounded really strange and Beth forced her tired eyes to open.

“Why are you sorry? That was wonderful.” She smiled at him but he didn’t return the smile. He looked pale and sick.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Hurt me? What are you talking about?” She didn’t understand the problem. He sounded so stricken.

Mutely he raised his hand and she saw traces of blood on his fingers. Oh. She had felt some pressure and a stinging pain as she pressed against his fingers but it hadn’t seemed important compared to the magic of his mouth. If anything, the minor pain had helped send her over.

“Dragar, I’m fine. You didn’t hurt me.”

He didn’t seem to be listening, still regarding his fingers with horror. She sighed and sat up.

“Look at me. Please.”

He finally raised his head but it took her a minute to find the words. She knew she was turning pink.

“I think you broke my hymen.” His guilty look didn’t change. “I’m a virgin.”

Now it changed; he looked more appalled.

“You’ve never been with a man?”

“No. I…I never wanted to. Not before I met you.” Her cheeks were so hot they must be flaming red by now. “I’m glad you did that. It means it will be easier when you-when you…”

She was at a loss for words and he was shaking his head and backing away.

“Don’t worry, Beth. I will never hurt you again.”

“I know you won’t—” But he had disappeared into the san. He returned with a damp cleansing cloth, gently cleaning between her thighs but not touching any other part of her body.

“You don’t understand. I want—”

“I am not going to hurt you.”

He wouldn’t listen and she finally gave up. Her heart sank as he lowered the top bunk and carefully lifted her into it.

She tried one more time. “I don’t want to be up here. I want to be with you.”

“It’s not a good idea. I can’t control myself around you.”

“I don’t want you to control yourself!” She was on the verge of tears but he just shook his head and moved away. He turned off the lights and settled into the lower bunk.

Beth had never felt more alone as she laid there in the dark. The tears finally came, slipping down her cheeks as she cried herself to sleep.

Chapter Seven

Dragar had been sitting in the command chair for a long time when Beth finally woke up. He had lain sleepless in his bunk for hours, listening to her quiet sorrow and fighting the urge to go to her. She had finally settled into a restless sleep but he hadn’t been able to follow her example. Instead, his mind churned restlessly as his honor and his desire fought a pitched battle. The knowledge that she had never been with a man filled him with dismay as well as an unwilling delight. He was delighted because, while he had expected her to have been with others, the thought of another male touching her sweet flesh made rage start to throb in his temples. But he had just assumed that she had been untouched for a while and that he could slowly and gently remind her body how to accept a man. If she had never been breached at all, there was no way he would ever be able to stretch her to the point where she could accept him without pain.

He had finally given up on sleep and returned to the controls. He kept the lights low since he could see well even in the dimness and tried to concentrate on his analysis without any particular success. The auto-pilot was still on track and in three more days, he would be handing Beth over to Jakkar and Anna. The ever-present loneliness would be so much worse now that he had experienced the delight of a companion.

Beth stirred finally and he turned, intending to help her from the bunk but she slipped down without even looking at him. She walked into the san, still naked, and Goddess help him, his shaft hardened immediately at the sight. His mind might recognize that she was an impossible dream, but all his body wanted was to throw her on the bed and plunge into her hot, tight depths. He cursed himself for a fool, but it didn’t stop him from watching the door until she emerged and drinking in the sight of her bare flesh. She pulled on her pink panties and thin top. He felt an unexpected pang of disappointment when she ignored his shirt and instead pulled on the shirt she had brought from earth. Finally, she brightened the lights but she only made a mug of cafir and retreated to the bunk.

Fine. It was probably just as well if she ignored him; it would be easier for both of them when it came time to separate. At least that’s what he tried to tell himself. It didn’t work. By the time mid shift approached, he was fuming. She hadn’t even opened her sketchbook, just sat on the bunk staring into space with a lost look on her face. How dare she act so sad and hurt when all he was trying to do was protect her? The fact that she didn’t appreciate his restraint grated on him.

Eventually she stood up and, after a brief hesitation, made food for both of them. She didn’t announce the meal but simply placed it on the table and starting picking at her food.

He stalked over and sat down next to her, deliberately crowding against her body. For the briefest second he felt her soften but then she jerked and pulled away. He immediately yanked her back.

“Why are you doing this?” She was starting to get angry. Good. It was better than that limp sadness. “You made it quite clear last night that you didn’t want to touch me.”

“I’m trying to protect you,” he snarled, frustration surfacing.

“Well, I don’t want to be protected. And you don’t get to decide when you can touch me.”

“It’s my ship. I can do whatever I want.”

“It’s my body.” She started pulling away in earnest now and his warrior instincts roared to life. He pulled her into his arms, subduing her easily, and held her while she struggled. She could barely move but the feel of her squirming against him sent arousal shooting through his veins. Her eyes widened and she stopped moving as she felt his erection thrusting against her.

“Stop doing this.” Her voice was low, still breathless from her struggles.

“Doing what?”

“Reacting to me. Making me think you want me.”

“I do want you,” he gritted out between clenched teeth.

“No, you don’t. As soon as you found out that I was a virgin, you couldn’t get away fast enough. I’m sorry I don’t have enough experience to satisfy you. Take me back to Earth and I’ll screw every man on the planet if that’s what makes you happy.” She was shouting now and he could only stare at her as her words penetrated.

“You think that’s what this is about?”

“What else would it be about? I know I’m probably not very good, but you could have taught me.” The anger had vanished as quickly as it had appeared and her voice was shaking.

He sighed and gentled his grip, cuddling her instead of holding her down. After a brief resistance, she softened and nestled closer. Her small body felt so right in his arms. He rested his head on hers and tried to explain.

“Beth, I call you little one for a reason. You are so tiny and delicate. If we were to mate, I would hurt you.”

“You haven’t hurt me so far,” she argued.

“Not even last night? Honestly?”

“I felt what you did but just for a second and…” Her cheeks turned pink. “It felt exciting. I came really hard.”

Dragar stared down at her. It was true, he had felt her coming but he had been so horrified that her blood was all that had registered.

“I was trying to train your body to accept me,” he finally admitted. “Perhaps with time…” Even as the words left his mouth he realized the problem.

“I can wait if I have to.” She was smiling up at him, not noticing the pause. “Maybe you should train me some more, right now.”

“Little one, we don’t have that much time. We will be landing on Sardor Two in less than three days.”

Her face fell and she looked away. “Couldn’t you stay there with me? At least for a while?”

Dragar considered it. There was really no reason he couldn’t stay with her until she was settled. His self-appointed mission wasn’t making any progress. Under other circumstances, he would have been happy to stay with her forever, but he had nothing to offer her.

“Perhaps for a little while. But I will have to leave. And you won’t be able to come.”

Beth looked at him, her eyes wide and solemn. “I will take whatever time you can give me.”

His throat tightened but he shook his head. “Little one, you deserve much better than me.”

“I don’t want anyone else. Dragar, I have been waiting for you my entire life; I just didn’t know who I was waiting for. Now I do. And if I have to keep waiting for the rest of my life, I will.”

He groaned. There was no way he would be able to walk away from her. He had to put a stop to this right now. But then her soft arms slid around his neck.

“Kiss me,” she whispered. “And then train me some more.”

The temptation was too much. He took her mouth hungrily, demanding her response, and she arched against him. Her mouth was hot and sweet and he slowed the pace, exploring each crevice and drawing her response out until she was uttering soft moans in the back of her throat. When he finally lifted his head, her mouth was damp and swollen. His hand moved to the small swell of her breast and the taut peak surged into his hand. Her shirt had ridden up and he could feel the damp silk of her panties and the soft skin of her ass writhing across his lap, the frantic motions tormenting his aching cock. Impatient to feel more of her bare, silky skin, he reached for her shirt.

The alarm sounded. Damn. They both froze, and this time the sound immediately grew louder. Fuck.

He stood up, Beth still in his arms, and carried her to the second command chair. Quickly he fastened her in, hoping that the restraints—designed for much larger Sardoran bodies—would be enough to keep her secure. He dropped into his chair and strapped down. The alarm was still blaring and he shut it off, concentrating on the scanner results instead. The other ship was coming fast. Beth wasn’t talking but he could see how pale she was.

“It’s a Serigali ship,” he confirmed, as soon as he could detect the signal.

“Can we outrun them?”

From the time he was born, it had been drilled into him that honor demanded that warriors did not run from battle. He knew only too well how strongly that concept was ingrained in Sardoran society—and the penalty for disregarding it—but he would have fled from the scene without the slightest hesitation if it meant he could remove her from danger.

“No. We’re faster in short bursts but I can’t beat their speed over any distance.” He didn’t have any choice; he took the ship off auto-pilot. “Don’t worry. We’re more maneuverable and I have some tricks up my sleeve.

“I’m not worried.” Her voice was quiet but firm and he shot a quick look in her direction. He could see the trust in her eyes. She managed a shaky smile and it strengthened his determination. Damned if he was going to let anything happen to his little female.

The Serigali ship was getting closer and he began a series of zigzags, sending the smaller ship in a sequence of arcs in front of their pursuer. The larger ship was in firing range now and started discharging their laser cannons. Dragar’s face tightened and battle rage began to throb through his veins as he realized they were trying to completely destroy his ship. He had assumed that they intended to disable the ship and take them prisoner, but instead they seemed focused on wiping any evidence of their existence from the galaxy.

A heavy vibration rocked the ship. They had proximity bombs in their arsenal. The bombs were rare and expensive. How the hell could they afford them? It didn’t matter. They might have all the toys but he was a better warrior—and a better pilot. This was an exploration ship, not a fighter, so his weaponry was limited. He would have to make every shot count.

A fierce grin spread across his face. They would soon learn that they had underestimated him. Another blast slammed the ship, this one close enough to cause the ship to cant to the left. Hastily, he straightened out and resumed the evasive pattern. The Serigali ship was close enough now that it had to continually adjust its course in order to keep them in the line of fire. With each wide arc, he forced them to turn a little more sharply while he cut a little closer to their exhaust vents. Another swing… A little more… There. He locked onto the target and fired. The laser pulse was a direct hit. A cloud of vapor jetted from the small opening, and there was a brief pause. Then a roar of triumph filled the small cabin as series of flares exploded inside the larger ship.

He roared again. Beth was looking at him uncertainly.

“We got them, little one.”

Her gorgeous smile lit up her face. Quickly, he released both sets of restraints so he could gather her in his arms and kiss her. He demanded her tribute as a successful warrior and she gave it eagerly, her mouth warm and willing beneath his. The battle lust was still racing through his veins and his earlier doubts seemed unimportant.

“I believe we were interrupted.” He rumbled the words against her neck as he nipped at the sensitive skin and she shivered delightfully. “As soon as I get us back on course, we have unfinished business.”

Unwilling to release her, he pulled her into his lap as he resumed his seat at the controls. She snuggled closer, nibbling his neck as he tried to concentrate on setting the auto-pilot.

“Damn.”

“What’s the matter?”

“That last explosion did more damage than I realized. The auto-pilot is offline. Also life support has switched to reserves.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“We’re in no immediate danger. The system is fully redundant. But it has to be repaired. If that was the only problem I would take the chance on repairing it on Sardor Two but I can’t fly the ship manually for three days.”

“Can I help?”

He hugged her but shook his head. “I don’t think we have time to train you as a pilot. Let me see if there is somewhere nearby where we can get repairs.”

Dragar searched the maps and groaned. He searched again but it didn’t look like there was any other alternative. Fate was a bitch. He was going to have to renew his acquaintance with Kievan Rus.

Chapter Eight

Beth studied Dragar’s face. He looked tense and unhappy but it didn’t seem to be the ship that was worrying him.

“What’s wrong?” she asked softly.

“The only place that’s close enough is Sigrast. It’s a space station.”

That didn’t sound too bad. “And?”

“And it belongs to Kievan Rus.”

She waited and he didn’t volunteer any additional information. “And?”

He frowned at her and then apparently realized that the name meant nothing to her. “I forget that you don’t know much about our culture. Kievan is…was Sardoran. He was a disgrace to the entire planet and he was eventually declared Outcast.”

He stopped talking but he didn’t seem to be through, so she waited. When he finally continued, the bitterness in his voice surprised her. “Usually when someone is declared Outcast, they sneak away to die. Kievan only became more flamboyant. He fought his way up until now he owns and runs this station. Anything that can be bought or sold makes its way through here. Kievan always gets his cut and the dirtier the deal, the better he likes it.”

“Will he harm us?”

The pause lasted a little too long but then he shook his head. “Probably not. He does have a sense of honor, however twisted it may be. If he gives his word, he will keep it.”

“But?”

“He never does anything for free. We have…a history. That might grant us some favor with him but I just don’t know the way his mind works well enough to be sure.” He shrugged and then looked down at her face. “I don’t like the idea of you being near him.”

Beth was starting to feel a little anxious about that as well but she smiled up at him. “You’ll take care of me.”

“Always.” The word hung in the air while they looked at each other. Before she could respond, he turned to the controls and set their course.

Flying the ship manually involved constant monitoring and a fairly frequent series of small adjustments but didn’t seem to require much concentration. Dragar made the corrections almost automatically, his thoughts obviously elsewhere. He hadn’t asked her to leave so Beth stayed curled in his lap and watched him. His face was tight and the scarred ridges white against his dark skin.

“What does it mean when you say someone was declared Outcast?”

His entire body went rigid beneath her. When he eventually spoke, the words seemed to come from a hollow place inside him.

“It is the worse punishment given to a Sardoran warrior. If a warrior is accused of dishonor, he is tried in the Place of Judgment. If he is found guilty, he is declared Outcast and banished from Sardor for a period of years. However, no one expects him to return after the time is up.”

“Why not?”

“Most die without the support of their clan. And if he did live, many would not welcome his return. They would not trust him to behave with honor in the future.” He looked at her and she saw the flash of pain in his eyes. She knew.

“You were declared Outcast?”

His face tightened even further but he met her eyes. “Yes.”

Beth knew she looked shocked but she just couldn’t process the information. Dragar was a dark, complex, violent man, but dishonorable? She couldn’t—she didn’t believe it—and her special sense didn’t believe it either. She shook her head slowly and his scars whitened. He started to lift her and she realized that he misunderstood her reaction. She threw her arms around his neck.

“Oh no, you don’t.”

Her response startled him and he stopped.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t you dare push me away. I don’t for one second believe that you ever acted without honor. But even if you had, even if the whole damn galaxy declared you Outcast, it wouldn’t mean a damn thing to me.” Tears were starting to slip down her cheeks as she clung to him, desperate for him to listen to her. He was so still she couldn’t even feel him breathe but she could feel his heart beating rapidly against her side.

At last, he relaxed. He gave her a sudden, quick smile. His eyes were warm but still he shook his head.

“Little one, I am touched by your loyalty but you’re wrong. I did not behave with honor although—” He hesitated. “I think I did the right thing. Of course, it’s easy to rationalize one’s actions when one wants desperately to believe one was right.”

“Do you think Kievan Rus thinks he was right?”

The question startled him but he tilted his head and considered it. “Actually, I suspect he does. Which means I am even more likely to be wrong.”

“Do you want to tell me about it?”

“No, but you should know what kind of a man I am.” His voice was hard and she suddenly realized that this was his way of punishing himself. She started to protest but he wrapped his arms around her and told her about the campaign on Trillium.

Trillium was a pretty planet. Everything from the vegetation to the indigenous species was soft and feathery and pastel. None of the native species were aggressive. The most predominant species was tiny and cute and friendly, with soft, silky, pink fur and huge pink eyes. They danced around the warriors constantly. Even the climate was soft—warm and damp with constant moisture to feed the thousands of sparkling streams and tiny waterfalls. Any one of a hundred species would have considered it an ideal place to spend some time.

The Sardorans hated it. The colors were too pale; the air was too damp. The cute animals were annoying and no challenge to hunt. Worst of all, there was no one to fight. The warriors had been contracted to guard the planet while it was evaluated to determine its suitability as a claim planet. The chief criterion to make the claim viable was that no existing sentient species existed. Dragar and his fellow Chiefs had no doubt about the lack of intelligence on the planet, but it wasn’t their decision. They were there simply to make sure that no other species tried to jump the gun—either in establishing a claim or removing evidence of sentience.

Dragar’s squad were youngsters on their first contract. Even though they were bored and restless, he insisted on maintaining military discipline. The warriors trained and patrolled, and growled their discontent. When word finally came that the Serigali were trying to establish a stronghold, the news spread with alarming speed. The Chiefs met to discuss tactics. The Serigali had chosen a surprisingly defensible location for their camp—an isolated bluff with rivers on both sides and a sheer cliff to the rear. The location had puzzled Dragar. The Serigali were not usually tacticians, they preferred fast violent battles where their numbers and sheer viciousness gave them an advantage. There couldn’t even be that many of them since all larger ships were tracked in and out of orbit. The only large ships allowed were the supply and science ships. Somewhat reluctantly, the other Chiefs had agreed to let him investigate.

Climbing down the cliff, he had gotten close enough to find out the truth. The camp was crawling with Serigali; the Sardoran troops were seriously outnumbered. In addition, they were being led by a race that he didn’t recognize but who obviously had battle experience. They were setting traps for the warriors.

He had returned and shared the news. It didn’t make any difference. Orders came from their employer. They were to attack with a full frontal assault. No matter how strongly he had argued that they would be walking into a slaughter, the decision was made. The Sardorans had agreed to a fighting contract and their honor would not allow them to retreat. After a long, sleepless night, he rose early and sent his youngsters to the transport ship, telling them that there was a change of plans. They grumbled but obeyed. They were off the planet before the battle started. A battle that killed every remaining Sardoran except for him. An explosion had come too close and he was knocked unconscious, half-buried under a pile of rocks. When he regained consciousness he was a prisoner. He was alone in a dark room for two days before they started torturing him.

Those long, hellish weeks before he managed to escape changed him. The physical pain was overwhelming, but the mental pain was worse. His captors taunted him, telling him that he had betrayed Sardor. That he was not an honorable warrior. By the time he returned to Sardor, his physical wounds were mostly healed but something had shattered inside him. He had not fought the sentence.

Beth stared at him. “You were Outcast because you saved your men?”

“I violated the contract.”

“That’s absurd.” The whole thing sounded insane. She narrowed her eyes. “Do civilians always command your battles?”

“Of course not. They hire us for our military expertise. But this was an Imperial contract and they always reserve the right to direct the battle.”

“So why did they order a battle that was only going to get everyone killed?”

He stared at her and she could almost see the wheels turning in his brain. She suspected that he had been so obsessed by his own guilt he had never considered the situation before.

“I just assumed that the officer in charge was incompetent,” he said slowly.

“Was there something on that world that someone wanted?”

“Trillium? No. No mineral rights, no valuable natural resources, no challenging prey. It would have been turned into a resort planet.”

“Would have been?”

“Yes. The claim was frozen after the battle.” He sighed and shook his head. “It doesn’t make any difference. I deserved my punishment.”

Stubborn man. She obviously wasn’t going to change his mind so she let the subject drop. “Where did you go?”

“I came to Sigrast Station. I knew that it belonged to Kievan Rus and I needed work. I was only allowed to leave with my ship and a few personal possessions. My holdings were confiscated.”

He shrugged but she heard the pain in his voice and she wondered how much he had lost.

“It was not a bad decision. I…worked for him for a while. Eventually he arranged for some contracts for me. I would probably still be there except that I heard that Sardor was dying. I went ho—I went back.”

“Why?”

“I’m still a Sardoran.” He shrugged again. “It seemed like the right thing to do. Jakkar was willing to accept my services.”

Beth wondered if anyone else had been willing. He had returned to the people and planet that disowned him because they needed help. And he doubted his honor? She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him fiercely. After a second, he returned the hug, burying his nose in her hair.

The trip to Sigrast Station took the rest of the day shift but the time was curiously peaceful. They were both worried about what was to come but Dragar seemed more relaxed, as if telling her about his past had lifted a weight from his shoulders. He had to spend most of the time in the command chair but he liked it when she curled up on his lap. She told him some of the happier memories of her past and he regaled her with tales of exotic worlds. While they talked he frequently played with her hair or kissed her neck.

As the day wore on, they quieted, both anxious about the upcoming landing.

“There it is,” Dragar said, at last.

Chapter Nine

Beth stared at the image filling the view screens in stunned amazement. She had expected something small but instead the station was enormous. Four huge rings were connected by spokes to a giant cylindrical center section. Twinkling lights speckled the surface, most predominantly around the rings. The rings themselves were concentrated around the top half of the cylinder. The bottom half was riddled with openings of various sizes and she could see a steady traffic of ships flying in and out.

“How many people live there?”

“At least a thousand on a regular basis. Several thousand more in transit at any given time.” Dragar frowned at her. “Is that going to be a problem for you?”

The question startled her. “I hadn’t thought about it. I suppose it depends on how much I can pick up from non-humans.”

“You don’t seem to have much problem reading me,” he said, a little drily.

“But I’m sure you’re exceptional.”

He grinned and kissed her but turned to the controls.

“This is Sardoran ship Utrimt, requesting clearance to dock.”

“Pilot?” The voice that responded was warmly female.

“Chief Dragar, Clan…Leijona.”

“Purpose?”

“We need repairs.”

“Passengers?”

“I have a female with me.” The term sounded very distant and she scowled at him.

There was a long pause. Then the voice said, “Proceed to Docking Bay X Eleven. The beacon will lead you there.” A hesitation. “Welcome back, Chief Dragar.”

“Thank you.” His voice sounded strained, but he sighed and made a small adjustment to the controls. “The beacon will lead us in. We should prepare.”

Lifting her gently to her feet, he marched to the locker. He was wearing his leather pants and after a short pause, added the sleeveless vest he had worn on Earth. Swiftly he pulled on his boots and fastened the twin daggers around his waist.

“What should I wear?”

Obviously startled at her question, he turned to survey her as she waited by the command chair. She was back in her pink panties and camisole and he gave a slow heated look from head to foot.

“As much as I like that outfit, I don’t think it would be appropriate. Where are your Earth clothes?”

She hesitated. “Could…could I wear your shirt again?” Feeling her face start to heat, she hurried on. “I know it sounds silly but it would make it easier for me.”

He frowned and started to shake his head. “Too much skin.”

“Not necessarily. Look.” Hurrying to the discarded shirt, she pulled it on, arranging it so that the V-neck was at the back. It still revealed the upper portion of her back but her hair covered most of the exposed skin. More importantly, it felt right to have this sign of his claim on her body, to have his scent surrounding her. His eyes glowed as he surveyed her and she knew that he felt it, too.

“I suppose that would work,” he admitted reluctantly. Before he could change his mind, she grabbed one his belts. She had to wrap it twice to get it to fit, but it pulled the shirt in and made it resemble a dress. The sneakers didn’t really work but she didn’t have much choice. If only she had a mirror...

His eyes dropped to her bare legs but before he could speak there was a distant clank and the ship shuddered.

“We’re docked.” Grabbing her hand, he pulled her against his side and opened the airlock. The ladder descended. Without pausing he picked her up and gently threw her over his shoulder for the descent. She started to protest that she was quite capable of descending a ladder but decided against it. Why not let him keep her as close as possible while he could?

At the bottom of the ladder, he carefully placed her on her feet but kept her tight against his side. The dock was not overly large; she could see walls not too far away. Only four other ships stood on the open floor, all of them about the same size. They were in various states of repair, with parts scattered across the metal floor. The entire space was a dingy gray, stained and obviously worn She could smell oil and burnt metal. Before she could finish her survey, the sound of approaching footsteps made her start and press a little closer to Dragar.

The being approaching them was short and slim with vaguely reptilian features. What she could see of his skin was covered in green scales but most of his body was covered with a hooded black cloak. He stopped a cautious distance away and bowed politely.

“I am J’Ssett. My masster wishes to ssee you.” His voice was low and calm, the slight sibilance not unpleasant.

Dragar’s body was tight but he nodded once. “Very well.”

As they turned to follow the cloaked figure, Dragar bent to whisper in her ear. “Little one, I won’t let anyone harm you but I can’t promise that we won’t be separated temporarily. If we are, know that I will always come for you.”

The fear that had been held at bay by curiosity came rushing back. She tried to smile at him but she knew it was a pitiful effort.

“I know you will,” she finally managed. He smiled and his mouth dropped over hers. The warm press of his lips reassured her and she slid her tongue into his mouth, seeking the deeper comfort of his hot mouth and wild delicious taste. She felt his cock harden against her soft belly and then he was returning the kiss with a passion that left her breathless. By the time he lifted his head, she was tingling. This time her smile was genuine.

J’Ssett was waiting patiently by the door. He swept a considering glance across the two of them and she blushed a little, but he only led the way out of dock.

As soon as the doors opened, she stumbled. She could feel the press of emotions surrounding her like a great weight. Apparently she was sensitive to non-human minds as well. Clenching her fists, she told herself that there was no need to panic. If she could handle trips to the city, she could handle this. Forcing back her dread, she took several slow, deep breaths, glad that Dragar was so close. The weight receded until it was uncomfortable but bearable. Dragar was watching her and she nodded reassuringly.

They had emerged in a small corridor, as stained and dingy as the dock they had just left. Following J’Ssett through a maze of similar corridors, they finally entered a much larger passageway. A light but constant flow of traffic filled the wide space, with both pedestrians and small vehicles vying for the right of way. Beth couldn’t keep her eyes from widening as she took in the pedestrians. Beings of all sizes and shapes traversed the space. Most of them were humanoid but with a wide variety of features and skins. Some were very close to human. Others, not so much. An alien whizzed by them, his upper body humanoid, his lower body encased in a clear wheeled container filled with liquid and... tentacles. Trying not to stare, she pressed close to Dragar’s side. Several of the aliens did not share her reluctance, stopping to survey her from head to toe until Dragar growled. After the third time it happened, he grabbed J’Ssett’s arm and brought the smaller alien to a halt.

“Give me your cloak,” he demanded. His eyes were starting to spark white and she could feel the rage pouring off of him.

J’Ssett looked at him and then at Beth. With what might have been a smile, he handed the garment over. He was only wearing a jeweled loincloth underneath but the sudden expanse of bared skin didn’t seem to bother him. Dragar wrapped the cloak around Beth’s shoulders.

“Too much skin,” he growled. Grateful for the anonymity, she hugged the cloak to her neck. The cloth was soft and had an odd musty smell. It wasn’t unpleasant and she was too glad to have it to complain.

Dragar was still tense, his eyes white, so she reached up and kissed him gently on the cheek.

“I’m sorry about the shirt. I needed to have your scent around me.”

He sighed and his eyes darkened to gray. “I know. I wanted it, too. But you are unusual…and desirable. I also didn’t expect to be traveling the entire length of the station.” His eyes narrowed at J’Ssett but the small alien only gave a deprecating shrug and resumed the journey. Eventually they stopped before a wide bank of doors and J’Ssett ushered them into a small room. There was a sudden sensation of movement and Beth realized that they were in an elevator.

When the door opened again, they were in a different world. Gone was the noise and traffic, the dingy corridor and the smell of bodies and machinery. Instead they entered a large, white room with walls and floor of polished stone. She could hear the gentle tinkle of running water and caught a hint of flowers. The constant press of emotions diminished and a sense of calm swept over her.

Ahead of them, a thin curtain swayed gently between two columns and J’Ssett led them through the shimmering barrier. Beth gasped as they passed straight through and she realized that the curtain had not been made of fabric at all. Passing through the veil caused a cool, not unpleasant, tingle on her skin.

The space beyond was even more magnificent. The polished, white stone floor continued but the ceiling soared high overhead. A row of immense columns led the way to an enormous expanse of glass. As they traveled down the colonnade, she caught a glimpse of the rooms to either side. White was still predominant but there were hints of bright colors and rich metals, along with some sculpted plants and the occasional shimmer of light on water. The effect was stunningly beautiful and obviously expensive but very cold.

As they passed between the final pair of columns, Beth gasped and clutched Dragar’s arm. The last room was all glass, from walls to floor. A seeming endless panorama spread out in front of her and opened beneath her feet. Fighting a wave of dizziness, she realized that the room projected out into the center of the cylinder. The entire structure was hollow.

More sculpted plants and a small fountain were the only visual cues of where the room ended and she focused on them, trying to ignore the sickness rolling in her stomach. She had never been good with heights. Dragar frowned down at her as he felt her tremble, but she could only cling to him and shake her head.

“I believe the female is not enjoying the view.” The voice was deep and smooth, like dark chocolate, but as cold as the vast expanse of stone and glass that surrounded them. Dragar tensed and turned, still holding her tightly.

Beth gasped again as she took in the man standing between the columns. He was obviously Sardoran, but unlike Dragar’s rich charcoal skin, his was a shimmering gold. The warm, metallic color was accented by an open white vest that fell from broad shoulders to bare feet. Beneath the open vest she could see white leather pants. He was as tall as Dragar but didn’t have Dragar’s massive bulk. Lean muscles covered his taut frame and as he stepped forward, he moved with the sinuous grace of a lion. Everything about him was leonine and she had a sudden urge to paint him as King Midas, reclining on a throne of gold with his enemies’ heads in a pile at his feet.

“Kievan,” Dragar acknowledged, his voice carefully neutral.

“Dragar.” Kievan leisurely surveyed Beth from head to foot, and for some reason she blushed and clutched the cloak a little more tightly. “I believe J’Ssett would appreciate the return of his clothing.”

Dragar hesitated but slipped the cloak off of her shoulders. Her legs felt shockingly exposed, even though the shirt hit her at mid-thigh. Desperate to avoid looking at Kievan, Beth watched as he returned the garment. The reptilian alien sniffed it with a quick smile and covered himself.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“You are mosst welcome.”

Dragar returned to her side and put a possessive hand on her shoulder. His presence gave her courage and she lifted her chin, finally looking back at Kievan. As she suspected, he was watching her closely and she had to fight the urge to tug the hemline further down her legs. As she watched his lips curled in a slow, appreciative smile.

“Did you bring me a present? I don’t recognize the species.”

“No,” Dragar growled, and his fingers tightened. “She is human and not available.”

“Human?” Kievan quirked a brow ridge. “Not a species I am familiar with—has her planet recently been admitted to the Empire?”

“No.”

“Do you have a business contract with her?”

“No.”

“Is she your slave?”

Beth jumped and Dragar’s hand grasped her even harder.

“No.”

Kievan smiled and she shuddered. She had never seen such a cold smile. He paused and she had a feeling that he was playing with them.

“Why are you here, Dragar?”

The change of subject startled her and the tension had not yet left Dragar’s body.

“I need repairs to my auto-pilot and to the primary life-support system.”

“Really?” Kevan was definitely enjoying this. “How do you propose to pay for them?”

“I have credits.”

“And you know I won’t accept them. Especially since your last words to me were that you hoped you would never see me or my Goddess damned station again.”

Dragar’s grip was really starting to hurt and she shifted her shoulder. His fingers immediately loosened and he pulled her back against his chest. His arm came around her waist in a protective gesture. She couldn’t see his face but the warmth of his body comforted her. Kievan watched them, his face expressionless.

“What do you want?” Dragar finally asked.

“You know what I want. Three rounds.”

Rounds? What were they talking about?

“Very well. But all in one shift.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. And make it tomorrow.”

“No, I’m afraid that’s impossible. I will need to circulate the word that you are back.”

“You bastard. That’s why you walked us through the corridors, isn’t it?”

He shrugged delicately. “Publicity always increases profits. And your ship will take—” He looked at J’Ssett who immediately responded, “Three days.”

“Three days to repair. I will schedule them for the last day so you have time to prepare.”

Dragar growled. His arm was a solid bar across her stomach.

“Very well.”

“Good.” Kievan nodded and she didn’t think he had ever doubted Dragar’s agreement.

“And now for the female.”

“What about her?”

“She doesn’t appear to have any means of support. How is she going to pay for her accommodation?”

“I will provide for her.”

“And I already said that I wouldn’t accept your credits.” Kievan’s eyes swept over her again and she shuddered as his eyes flared gold. Dragar’s arms clasped her so tightly that she could barely breathe but she didn’t care, burrowing back against him.

“It’s never going to happen.”

Kievan surveyed the two of them and something flickered in his eyes.

“What is her claim on you?” He actually sounded curious.

“It is my claim on her. I have claimed her as my mate.”

Happiness bubbled up in Beth’s veins. She wasn’t sure exactly what he meant but it sounded right. It sounded permanent.

Kievan smiled and she knew he was going to say something terrible. “Weren’t you negotiating a claim with Ingirun?” Dragar turned rigid behind her at the same time that hurt crept over her. It was stupid to think that he had never been in love before.

Satisfied with his effect, Kievan continued smoothly. “Oh that’s right. She died on Trillium, didn’t she?”

That little piece of news was even more devastating, but it helped her understand why he felt so guilty. Forgetting her hurt feelings, she stroked his arm softly. He relaxed fractionally.

“You have claimed this female?”

“Yes.” At least he sounded sure about it.

Kievan stalked closer and she forced herself to not to flinch.

“And yet I see no mating cuffs. A clan mark?”

Dragar shook his head. Kievan leaned closer and sniffed delicately. “And I don’t smell a mating bond.”

“We were waiting until we got to Sardor Two for the ceremony.”

“Really? J’Ssett, what did you observe?”

“They act like a mated pair,” the small alien answered quietly. Kievan was obviously displeased with the answer. He tapped his fingers against his chin for a moment.

“Very well. I will accept your claim on one condition.”

“What?” Dragar’s voice was impassive.

“You will have the full traditional claiming ceremony here. The full ceremony, Dragar.”

“No. You can’t put her through that. She isn’t Sardoran.” What couldn’t he put her through? Her stomach twisted.

“One could argue that since she isn’t Sardoran, she can’t even take part in a Claiming Ceremony.” Kievan shrugged. “My condition is that you have the full ceremony. And if you don’t go through with it…” He leaned closer and stroked one cold finger down Beth’s cheek. “If you don’t go through with it, I will take her.”

Dragar growled and snatched her out of reach of Kievan’s hands. She could only stare at the golden alien. When he touched her, she felt his emotions. They were like ice crystals, cold and sharp and frightening. And yet there was something else, something hidden so far within that she couldn’t be sure, but it felt like pain. He must have read the sudden sympathy in her eyes because an odd expression crossed his face before he resumed his usual mocking mask.

“I assume you accept the condition?”

“Yes.” Beth could hear the reluctance in Dragar’s voice and was suddenly afraid that he didn’t want to go through with the ceremony at all. She couldn’t bear it if he was only going through with this to protect her. She twisted around to look up into his face.

“Are you sure about this?” she whispered.

“Are you? It may be…difficult for you.” Not exactly the response she had been looking for but then she saw how he braced himself for her rejection. A warm glow of certainty filled her. Whatever the ceremony entailed, she could face it if it meant that they could be together.

“Absolutely.” Her voice was confident and he smiled. He bent to kiss her but his lips had barely brushed hers before Kievan interrupted.

“I hate to disturb this touching scene,” he drawled, but there was a strange note in his voice. “The ceremony will take place tomorrow evening. In the meantime, I must separate the two of you.”

He held up his hand as Dragar immediately protested.

“Dragar, you know the tradition. I could make you wait the entire three days but, under the circumstances, tomorrow night will be fine. J’Ssett, take her to Barrack W5.”

“You can’t take her there.” Dragar looked horrified and she tried not to panic.

“I can and I will.” Kievan hesitated. “I am not going to keep her here in my quarters if I can’t have her. There she will be guarded by my men and she will be safe.”

“She had better be. If anything happens to her, you will pay.” Dragar’s voice was as cold as Kievan’s and twice as deadly. Kievan looked at him and then nodded. “I take responsibility. You have my word that she will be protected.”

Dragar sighed and some of the tension left his body. He held her a little away from him and studied her face.

“You will be safe, little one, but I’m worried that you will be afraid. Can you trust that I will come for you?”

She looked into his eyes and her heart skipped a beat. “Always.”

He pulled her into his arms and held her, not trying to kiss her this time but letting her absorb his heat and strength. Unable to bear the thought that Kievan would separate them, she gathered her courage and slipped free.

“J’Ssett, take her to Barrack W5. Make sure that everyone knows she is under my protection.” The implied threat in his voice sent shivers up her spine but it also restored some of her confidence. Who would dare to challenge this man?

“And loan her your cloak again,” he added.

Bowing respectfully, J’Ssett handed her the cloak. She clasped it at her throat. Afraid to look at Dragar and let him see the tears in her eyes, she followed the small alien down the long colonnade. As they passed through the shimmering veil, she couldn’t help turning. He was still watching her, his rigid figure highlighted against the glass before the veil concealed him.

Chapter Ten

J’Ssett led her back into the elevator. By the feeling in her stomach, they were going down this time. He courteously avoided looking at her as she fought to get the tears under control.

“Where are you taking me?” Her voice was shaky.

“To where the fighters are housed.”

“Fighters? But I’m not a fighter.”

He gave her a glance that would have been amused if it hadn’t been so respectful.

“Thiss ssection of the sstation iss under the complete control of Lord Kievan. You will be protected.” The slight sibilance in his voice was curiously soothing.

Before she could ask any more questions, the elevator stopped. They entered a corridor, clean and white but obviously utilitarian. The pressure on her senses wasn’t as heavy here but much more intense and she reeled. So much anger, so much pain.

“Misss?” J’Ssett’s hand was beneath her elbow. She forced herself to breathe, slow steady breaths, until she regained her control.

“I’m fine.”

He gave her a worried look and didn’t remove his hand. Grateful for his support, she allowed him to escort her. The corridor turned right and they stopped before a massive gate. Two extremely large aliens stood in front of it. They were humanoid but with heavy, wrinkled, grey skin and tusks curling from their mouths. They leered at her but before they could say anything, J’Ssett spoke.

“I am escorting thiss lady. She iss under the personal protection of Kievan Rus.”

Both men flinched and dropped their eyes. One hurried to open the gate and they passed through. As they did, she noticed that the guards had massive wings furled against their backs.

Twice more, the process was repeated. Beth was starting to feel distinctly uneasy, although the emotions that surrounded her now were more focused and easier to handle. Was she being sent to jail?

“Is this a prison?”

“Not exactly.”

That wasn’t particularly reassuring but before she could demand additional information, they passed through the last gate and into a corridor lined with barred doors.

“It is a prison.” She accused J’Ssett.

“No. These are the warrior barrackss. The sseparate rooms are to prevent fighting.” He hesitated. “However, my masster has requessted that you share a room.”

“What? Are you kidding me? I’m not going to share a room with a dangerous warrior.”

She tried to pull away but the hand at her elbow was unexpectedly firm.

“It iss for your own protection.”

Beth was starting to panic but she couldn’t free her arm. She was about to aim for J’Ssett’s scrawny little throat when he opened one of the doors and pushed her gently through. A tall figure rose from the bed. Beth’s pulse was racing and it didn’t slow down when she realized that the figure was a woman. A Sardoran woman.

“What have you brought me J’Ssett?” She had a pleasant voice, low and amused.

“A female under my masster’s protection. He requessts that you take care of her. He will reduce the rounds owed by one if you accept. Do I have your vow?”

The woman scanned Beth’s trembling body and laughed.

“I can certainly see why she might need my protection. Very well. You have my vow.”

“Thank you.” He turned to Beth. “You will be ssafe, misss. I will come for you tomorrow.” He bowed his head and disappeared before she could respond. The woman had returned to her bed and Beth avoided looking at her as she surveyed her surroundings. The room was quite large and surprisingly nice for a barrack—or a prison cell. Everything was white and spotlessly clean. Two beds sat in opposite corners, with a table and chairs in the third corner. A narrow partition separated the back half of the room with a door centered in the partition.

Finally gathering up her courage, she turned to face the Sardoran woman, only to find her studying Beth with evident amusement.

The woman was strikingly attractive, her warm skin halfway between Kievan’s gold and Dragar’s charcoal. She was dressed in leather pants and a tight leather halter that laced between small breasts. Every inch of exposed skin—and there was a lot of exposed skin—was toned and muscular. She wasn’t bulky but she had a lean strength that made Beth feel extremely small and soft.

“I assume you’re not here to fight?”

“Fight? No, of course not.” The woman wanted to fight with her? There was no way she could hold her off. She began to back away.

The woman laughed. Her voice was higher than Dragar’s but it had the same rumbling quality and for some reason Beth relaxed. As she did, she realized that she couldn’t feel any hostility coming from her new roommate and she managed a smile.

“Let’s try that again. Why are you here?” the woman asked.

“I’m waiting for a Claiming Ceremony. Kievan Rus said I would be safe here.”

The woman’s brows shot up. “A Claiming Ceremony? With a Sardoran male? You?”

She surveyed Beth and Beth blushed.

“Have the Elders relented so much?” the woman asked.

“What are you talking about?”

The woman hesitated. “Claiming Ceremonies are only performed between two Sardorans. You are obviously not Sardoran.”

“I don’t understand. Kievan Rus insisted on the Ceremony.”

“Did he?” She arched a brow. “Interesting. I wonder what game he is playing.”

“You mean we can’t really be mated?” Beth tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach.

“It’s not quite that straightforward. A Sardoran has already taken a human mate.”

“Jakkar and Anna?” Relief flooded through her. “I heard about them.”

“The Elders haven’t officially recognized the claim. They haven’t denied it, either, since Jakkar is a hero to our people. I’m not sure that they would be so tolerant to another warrior.”

The sinking feeling was back. Beth looked at the other woman. She was studying her closely but didn’t seem angry or offended.

“Does it bother you that I’m not Sardoran?”

“Not particularly. I haven’t always kept to my own race either.” She winked at Beth’s startled look but then her face sobered. “But I am concerned about your size. Have you already—”

“Already what?” The woman wasn’t listening. She walked over to Beth, leaned down and sniffed. Beth was getting really tired of people smelling her.

“What are you doing?”

The woman returned to her bed looking thoughtful.

“So you haven’t. Are you sure about this? You’re awfully small.”

“What difference does that make? Oh.” Beth blushed again as she finally realized what the woman meant. “How do you know we haven’t already had…sex?”

“Because if he had released his seed inside of you, I would be able to detect the mating bond.”

“What?”

“When a warrior releases his seed inside a woman he has claimed, he changes her scent. We call it the mating bond.”

Beth didn’t think her face could get any redder. Did the whole world have to know about her love life? Her knees felt rubbery and she lowered herself onto the other bed.

“So Kievan knew that, too?”

“Undoubtedly.”

Beth thought back over the time on the ship and blushed. “But he did release his, uhh, seed inside of me, in a way. Does that mean he hasn’t really claimed me?”

The woman looked amused again. “To be more precise, he has to release his seed inside your woman’s part. But if you have already taken his seed elsewhere, then you know his size.”

Could this get any more embarrassing? She managed to nod.

“And you are not afraid?”

“A little,” she finally admitted. “But I want him, all of him.”

“But the two of you haven’t mated?”

“He doesn’t want to hurt me.”

The woman’s brows arched again. “He must be unusually considerate for a warrior. Usually they just take what they want unless you can convince them otherwise.”

She scowled down at the floor for long minute while Beth wondered what she was remembering. Finally, the other woman shook her head and looked back up.

“So what is the name of this oh so considerate warrior?”

“Dragar, of Clan Leijona.” She could hear the pride in her voice.

The woman’s mouth dropped open and she stared at Beth.

“Dragar the Scarred? Dragar the Fierce? Dragar the Outcast?”

“He isn’t an Outcast any longer. And he shouldn’t have been one to begin with. He is the most honorable person I know and your stupid planet doesn’t deserve him.”

The woman snarled at her words but Beth didn’t care. If the woman took offense, it was too damn bad. She tensed, preparing to defend herself but the woman finally relaxed.

“I can see why he is attracted to you, little sister.”

“Sister?”

“Of course. I am Rianen, also of Clan Leijona. When the Claiming Ceremony is performed, you will become part of my clan.”

Part of the clan? Dragar hadn’t mentioned that. “I’m Beth.”

“I am pleased to meet you, Beth.”

Rianen cocked her head at a sound that Beth couldn’t detect. “The lights will be dimmed soon. If you wish to use the san, do so now.” She gestured at the door in the partition.

When Beth returned, Rianen was lying on her bed with her eyes closed. Beth climbed into the other just as the lights went out.

“Sleep well, little sister. We will talk more tomorrow.”

When Beth woke the next morning, she opened her eyes to see Rianen sitting cross-legged on the other bed and smiling at her.

“Did you sleep well?”

She actually had slept well. While she had awoken several times during the night, knowing the other woman was there had been surprisingly comforting. It also helped to have Dragar’s shirt; it made her feel close to him.

She smiled at Rianen and stepped out of bed. The other woman’s eyes widened and Beth looked down anxiously, afraid that she was somehow indecent.

“Goddess, you’re small.”

“You said that last night.” She scowled at the other woman. She knew she was small. Why did everyone have to keep pointing it out?

“Last night you were still wearing that.” Rianen pointed at the discarded cloak. “Are you sure that you’re ready for Dragar?”

“Oh my god. You’re as bad as he is. Women’s bodies are designed to handle men’s bodies. And Dragar may be big but he’s not as big as a baby and we can handle those, too.”

Laughing, Rianen held up her hand. “Peace, little warrior.” She looked speculatively at Beth. “How big?”

“Oh, my god.” Beth stomped off to the san. She couldn’t handle this first thing in the morning.

When she returned, Rianen was noticeably subdued.

“I’m sorry, little sister. Sardoran women often discuss these things. I did not mean to offend you.”

Beth sighed and sat back on her cot. “Earth women do, too. Or at least I think they do. I never had a close girl friend.”

“You have one now.” Beth felt her eyes fill at the quiet words.

“Thank you,” she whispered. The women smiled at each other.

“So how big is he?” Rianen asked.

Beth threw her pillow at her.

A guard appeared shortly thereafter, entering the cell to set two trays on the table. He eyed Beth with open curiosity but when he tried to approach her, Rianen immediately stepped in front of him.

“Back off, Omazz. She is under the protection of Kievan Rus.” The man paled and backed away.

Rianen sighed as he left the cell.

“Damn. I was almost hoping he would push it. I could use a good fight.”

The women sat down to eat. Aside from the inevitable mug of cafir, there was a bowl of some type of fruit, and what could almost have been pancakes. It was all tasty and there was a lot of it. Once Beth satisfied her initial hunger, she eyed the other woman curiously.

“What are you doing here?”

“I owe Kievan Rus. He helped my squad out of a bad situation and I agreed to fight for him.” She scowled at the room. “But he doesn’t like me so he’s making me wait.”

“Fight for him?”

“Yes, in the pits.”

“The what?”

“The fight pits. It’s one of his chief sources of income. People pay to watch, and of course they bet and he holds the stakes.”

The room wavered around Beth. “Is that what Dragar agreed to when he said three rounds?” She could hardly get the words out.

“Yes. I owed him two but, thanks to you, now it’s only one.” She grinned cheerfully at Beth.

“You agreed to fight?”

“Well, of course, that’s what a warrior does. And I’m damn good. Also, Kievan’s fights are fair. He always pits you against someone evenly matched.”

Beth clenched the table. “But Dragar…”

“Why are you worried?” Rianen tilted her head. “Despite his past, he’s the strongest warrior I have ever seen.”

She tried to nod. She knew he was good; she had seen him fight. But she had also seen his scars. The idea of Dragar wounded made her stomach knot so hard she was afraid she would be sick.

“Little sister.” Rianen’s voice was stern. “Look at me. This may be hard for you but you must never let him see this worry. You showed pride in him last night. You must always show him that pride.”

Beth nodded as the words penetrated. She knew only too well that streak of uncertainty he carried. He would be hurt if she didn’t believe in his strength.

“You’re right. Thank you for telling me.”

They finished their breakfast in silence.

Chapter Eleven

After breakfast, Beth asked Rianen to tell her more about Sardor and Sardoran ways. She wanted to understand Dragar.

The world that Rianen described was in many ways utterly alien. The Sardorans were a harsh violent race, beyond anything that Beth had ever encountered in her sheltered life. And yet, they had a sense of pride, of history that she could understand. She also envied the close ties between families and clan members. Hearing Rianen call her little sister had filled her with unexpected warmth.

“Can you tell me about the Claiming Ceremony?” she asked, feeling a sudden burst of shyness.

“The ceremony is performed at sunset so I assume it will be at the beginning of night shift since there isn’t technically any sun on a space station.”

Beth nodded. “Kievan said tonight.”

“On Sardor the ceremony is always performed outside, but obviously that won’t work. I’m sure Kievan will come up with something. It might even be appropriate.”

“And then?”

“A close female relative usually accompanies the woman to the Claiming Circle. Traditionally, every warrior present makes a blood offering to the Goddess.” She frowned. “Again this is usually done using a ceremonial bowl but I doubt that will be part of this ceremony.”

“Go on.” The idea of a blood offering made Beth queasy but at least they didn’t want her blood.

“The couple exchange vows.”

“Vows, what kind of vows?” she interrupted.

“Whatever you feel. Whatever you want to say.” Rianen waved her hand casually, ignoring the look of panic Beth could feel spreading across her face. She had no idea what to say. I love you, my big alien didn’t exactly sound right. Wait a minute, love? The feeling settled into her bones with absolute surety. Of course she loved him. She had probably loved him before they had even met. A smile spread across her face as she tried to focus her attention back on Rianen.

“Then he gives you your mating cuffs,” Rianen continued. “But he probably won’t be able to make those here.”

“Will that matter?”

“No. They are just symbols. Normally he would give you the clan mark also but he probably doesn’t have the marking device, either.”

“Clan mark? You mean that huge tattoo on his back?”

“It’s the same pattern but it’s much smaller. With the device it’s instantaneous.”

“Do you have a clan mark?”

“Of course.” Rianen turned her back and Beth could see the intricate design on her shoulders. She recognized some of the elements from Dragar’s mark but this was smaller and more refined. It also seemed to be incomplete.

“Is it finished?” she asked cautiously. She didn’t want to offend the other woman.

Rianen raised her brows. “You can tell that it is incomplete? If I am ever claimed, my mate will finish the design. Since I am a warrior, he will do it the traditional way.”

“Traditional way?”

“With a needle and ink, just as this was done. The marking device is only used for non-warriors.”

The idea of Dragar marking her was curiously appealing but she knew he would never do it. He would be much too worried about hurting her.

“Is that the entire ceremony?”

“Yes, these days the exchange of vows is really all there is to it—well, except for a lot of hard-drinking and a big party afterward.”

Beth was getting that uneasy feeling in her stomach again.

“Kievan specifically said the full traditional ceremony. What does that mean?”

Rianen stared at her. “That bastard.”

“You’re not making me feel any better. What does that mean?”

“Traditionally, mating claims were negotiated. Each party is making commitments not only to each other, but to and for their family and clan.” She sighed. “Because the ceremony affected so many others, they had to be sure that the mating bond occurred.”

“Which means?”

“Which means he has to bed you as part of the ceremony.”

Beth’s mouth opened but no sound came out. She choked and tried again. “In front of everyone?”

“There has to be at least one witness,” Rianen admitted reluctantly.

“I don’t think I can. I’ve never even…”

“You’re a virgin?” Rianen sounded as appalled as Dragar had when he found out and Beth blushed. “Dragar agreed to this?”

“Kievan said that if he didn’t, then Kievan would take me.”

The string of curses that followed didn’t exactly translate but Beth gathered enough to understand that Rianen wanted to perform extremely painful actions on Kievan’s various body parts. When Rianen finally calmed down, she came and sat next to Beth.

“Little sister, you want to be with Dragar, don’t you?”

Beth nodded.

“Then you will have to be brave. Just concentrate on him.” She hesitated. “There are drugs that could make it easier.”

“Drugs?”

“Something to make you less afraid. To make you more…excited.”

Beth managed to smile. “I’m not worried about the excited part. Dragar has that effect on me as soon as I see him. He has a lot more control than I do.” Her eyes widened as she considered her words. “What if he can’t go through with it?”

Rianen snorted and shook her head. “A warrior not able to perform during his Claiming Ceremony? It couldn’t happen.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. He’s always very…responsive.” Damn, she was blushing again. “But he is so worried about hurting me. That’s why he keeps pulling back. Why we haven’t—”

The other woman considered her and sighed. “Then you will have to fight him.”

“Fight him? I don’t understand.”

“The oldest part of our tradition is that a warrior claims a mate by defeating her. The woman always fought. If you start to fight him, his instincts will take over.”

Beth nodded. She remembered their brief struggle on the ship. As soon as she tried to get away he had restrained her and she had felt him harden against her. But he hadn’t hurt her.

Rianen still looked worried. “But be careful. The more you fight the more dominant his instincts will become. In making you submit to him, he could hurt you. Especially since…”

“I know,” Beth muttered. “Since I’m so small.”

“And unbreached.”

Beth looked down at her hands and realized that she was trembling. Would she dare to provoke Dragar? She had never faced physical pain. As much as she trusted him, she knew he could easily hurt her if he wasn’t in control. Even worse, if he did hurt her, she didn’t think he would be able to forgive himself.

Soon after their talk, the cell doors opened so that the fighters could go to the training facilities. Beth watched in amazement at the variety of aliens who passed by. Despite the differences, they all had one thing in common—they looked big and mean. Fear for Dragar curled in her stomach but she tried not to let Rianen see it.

Instead of going for training, Rianen stayed with Beth. She exercised in the cell and then started showing Beth some simple moves. The third time Beth hit the floor she wiped the sweat out of her face and glared at the larger woman.

“Dragar’s never going to want me if you leave bruises all over my body.”

To her surprise, the other woman paled. “It won’t stop him wanting you, but it might make him decide to give me a few bruises of my own.”

Beth scowled. There was no way Dragar was going to get close enough to another woman to leave bruises on her body. “He’d better not.”

Rianen read her expression and laughed. “Trust me, little sister. It wouldn’t be fun for either of us. But perhaps we should stick to demonstrations rather than practice.”

The practice continued until the same guard brought lunch. Beth was sweaty and little sore but she had enjoyed the morning. It wasn’t until they sat down to eat that all of her concerns came rushing back. She picked at her food but couldn’t force herself to eat. Rianen watched her anxiously but didn’t speak.

After lunch, Beth took a shower. She wasn’t sure when Kievan would send for her and she wanted to at least be clean. As soon as the liquid started flowing, she burst into tears. Her emotions were so tangled she couldn’t concentrate on any one of them. She desperately wanted to be mated to Dragar, but she was afraid he was only doing it to save her. She wanted to finally have sex with him but she was afraid of what she would have to do to get him to agree. The ceremony itself frightened her and the thought of a witness horrified her.

By the time she emerged she had her emotions under control but she was still pale. Rianen took one look and came over and hugged her. Beth relaxed into taller woman’s arms, tears pricking at her eyes again. She had spent so much of her life without physical affection, afraid of what she would pick up when she touched someone. Unlike with Dragar and Kievan, she didn’t sense anything from Rianen but the woman’s concern was obvious.

Time dragged after that. Rianen tried to teach her a card game but Beth couldn’t concentrate well enough to really pick up the rules. Finally, she settled on telling Beth tall tales about places she had been and battles she had fought. By the time J’Ssett appeared at the door, Beth was as calm as she was ever going to be—a calm that disappeared as soon as the small alien appeared.

He opened the door and bowed respectfully.

“It is time for the ceremony, misss.”

Beth stood up and put on the cloak with shaking hands. She started to follow J’Ssett to the door. Rianen gave her an encouraging smile and Beth stopped abruptly.

“I would like Rianen as my escort.”

“I’m not sure that’s posssible,” he answered slowly.

Beth lifted her chin defiantly. “Kievan Rus stated that it was to be a traditional Claiming Ceremony. By tradition, I should have an escort.”

A flicker of something like amusement crossed his face. His hand reached for his ear and he moved his fingers across it in a complicated pattern as she frowned at him. After a brief pause, he nodded.

“Very well.”

“You will come, won’t you?” Beth belatedly realized she hadn’t actually asked Rianen if she wanted to take part.

“With great pleasure, little sister.” She grinned and stood up.

Beth took a deep breath and followed the two out into the corridor.

Chapter Twelve

Dragar paced the room impatiently. The time since Beth had left passed in a blur. The thought of her alone and defenseless ate at him constantly. He clung to the fact that Kievan had put her under his personal protection. On Sigrast Station, Kievan’s word was law and he was completely ruthless in enforcing it. But it only took one slip, one drunken or stupid person, and she could be lost to him forever. He realized that he had clenched his fists so tightly that his palms were bleeding and forced himself to relax. He didn’t exactly trust Kievan but he had given his word—Dragar had to have faith in that.

At Kievan’s insistence, he had practiced in the training facilities. He didn’t need the training but Kievan wanted to circulate the news of his return. At least knocking his sparring partners across the room had given him an outlet for his anxiety. But he was no longer in the ring and his anxiety was back, not just about his little one’s safety but about the ceremony to come.

Damn, Kievan. When he had insisted on a Claiming Ceremony, Dragar had actually been happy. Because of the circumstances he could console his conscience with the knowledge that, no matter how little he had to offer, he was a better choice for Beth than Kievan. Kievan might be rich and powerful but he would hurt her and he couldn’t allow that. But why had he insisted on a traditional ceremony? Did he sense that Dragar wasn’t sure if he could go through with the mating?

He groaned and sat, sinking his face in his hands. He still wasn’t sure that he could put his little one through this. There was no more time to prepare her. The idea that he would hurt her, that she would turn from him in fear, actually made him tremble. Goddess dammit. He resumed pacing, so lost in his thoughts he didn’t hear the door open.

“Dragar,” Beth said softly. He whirled to face her and stopped in wonder.

She looked beautiful. Her pale gold hair was pulled back from her face with a silver clip, accenting her delicate features. Her long gown was the exact shade of pink as her plump lips. He had been afraid that Kievan would dress her in some outrageous outfit but this dress was almost modest. True, the silky fabric clung to her slender body and showed the contours of her perfect breasts a little too clearly, but the neckline was high and the hemline was low. The modest cut didn’t stop his body from responding. He gritted his teeth, trying to control his reaction, and realized she was biting her lip.

“Don’t you like it?” Beth sounded uncertain and he cursed himself.

“So much I’m afraid to move.” A puzzled look crossed her face until he added, “I don’t want to tear it off of you.”

She laughed and the worried look disappeared.

“It is pretty, isn’t it?” She twirled in front of him and his jaw dropped. The front may have been modest but the back was not. The gown fell straight from each shoulder to her hip bones, revealing every inch of her back from the fragile nape to the soft swell at the top of her ass. Just beneath the ripe curve of her buttocks, the fabric opened again, split down to the floor and revealing her long bare legs. His cock throbbed and his nails were back to digging holes in his palms.

She swirled to a stop and looked at him, the worried look reappearing as she took in his frozen stance.

“Come here.” It was all he could manage, but her cheeks turned as pink as her gown. Without hesitating, she threw herself into his arms. He groaned as her slender curves pressed against his body and her delicate fragrance wrapped around him. She belonged in his arms. His fingers traced the silky skin of her bare back and she shivered.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you, too, little one.” His mouth closed over hers and she met it as eagerly as ever, wrapping her tongue around his and drawing him deeper into the hot, sweet depths of her mouth. Her nipples rubbed against his chest, the hard points tempting him beyond reason. Without releasing her mouth, he bent down and curved an arm under her delectable ass, lifting her up his body until she was pressed against his throbbing cock. Not hesitating, she wrapped her legs around him and he groaned again as her gown rode up and he could feel her warm skin. Nothing mattered except the little female he held so tightly. His female. He needed her. Now.

“I’m afraid you’re getting a little ahead of yourselves.” The cold voice shocked him back to his senses. Instinctively he swung around, putting his body between Beth and Kievan. The man stood in the doorway, casually dangling a pair of shoes from one finger. He ran an appraising eye over the two while Dragar let Beth slip to the ground, keeping her behind him.

“What are you doing here?” he snarled.

“It’s time for the ceremony. You both seem to be ready.” His voice was mocking and Dragar couldn’t help another growl escaping his lips. Beth clutched his hand and stepped up beside him.

“We’re ready,” she said. Her voice was low but confident and pride washed over him. “Are those my shoes?”

“You searched my ship?” Dragar couldn’t decide if he was more embarrassed or outraged.

“I had to check for contraband.” Kievan’s look dared him to deny it but he forced his anger down. Beth walked over to get the shoes and he wanted to rip the other man’s hand off when he saw their fingers touch.

“Should I help you put them on?” Kievan asked.

Dragar roared and pulled Beth back in his arms. “I’ll help her.”

The other man nodded but his lips curved. Turning his back on the mocking smile, Dragar steadied Beth as she slipped them on. The heels changed her posture. They accented her breasts and her ass, and changed her walk into something sensual and challenging. His erection had barely subsided and now it sprang back into full demanding life.

“Thank you for bringing them,” she whispered. Her smile warmed him and his embarrassment faded.

“You look beautiful.” He stroked her cheek and she leaned into his hand.

“Very touching,” Kievan snapped. “Dragar, come with me.”

“I’m not leaving her alone.”

“She won’t be alone. She has an escort.”

Dragar blinked as the Sardoran woman appeared behind Kievan. He suppressed a scowl as he recognized her.

“Rianen,” he said coolly.

“Warrior.” She eyed him frankly and he waited for the reaction. The disgust at his scars, the hesitation about his status. She surprised him. Her gaze was assessing but not unfriendly. “I will bring your mate to the ceremony.”

He dropped an uncertain glance at Beth but she smiled encouragingly. “I’m fine. Rianen will take care of me.”

“Very well.” He turned to follow Kievan out of the room. Behind him, he heard Rianen whisper to Beth. “Don’t worry, little sister. Everything will be fine.”

Little sister? Had Rianen really accepted Beth—and his claim—that easily? Lost in his thoughts, he almost bumped into Kievan when he entered the claiming room and then stopped.

The room was astonishing. A circle of black stone flooring at one end of the room was surrounded by torches. Behind the circle, an immense image of a setting sun expanded the boundaries of the room. Careful arrangements of plants and rocks, sprinkled with tiny lights, led to the circle. They could have been outside on Sardor except that Sardor had never been this controlled or this perfect.

“Thank you. She will appreciate this.”

Kievan looked almost startled before his face hardened. “Your audience is equally appreciative.”

Dragar followed his gesture and his muscles tensed. The other end of the room was glass. Behind the glass, rows of seats climbed to the ceiling and every one was filled. A soft noise made him turn back and he watched in horror as a claiming platform rose in the center of the circle.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because I can. Because you deserted me. Because the Elders will be angry. Take your pick.” He shrugged carelessly, but Dragar heard the bitterness in his tone. It had never occurred to him before that Kievan might have felt just as alone as he had. During his time on the station, they hadn’t exactly been friends but they were comfortable with each other. At least they had been until Dragar decided to return to Sardor.

“You know why I went back.”

Kievan shrugged again. His face was cold and mocking once more.

“It is no longer relevant. Take your place in the circle.”

Beth paused outside the door. “I’m afraid.”

She hated to admit her fear to Rianen but she was shaking. The other woman gently lifted her chin so they could look at each other.

“Do you want Dragar as your mate?”

“Yes.” She didn’t have any doubts about that part. “I love him.”

“Then just concentrate on that. Everything else is irrelevant.”

Beth took a deep breath and nodded. “Thank you.”

“Any time, little sister.”

Rianen opened the door and Beth’s astonishment momentarily banished her fear. The room was dark except for the warm light of a setting sun and a path of twinkling lights that led to Dragar. His massive body was silhouetted in front of the sun image and she drew courage from the strength he radiated. As she watched, torches sprang to life around him and she could see his face. His gaze was fixed on her and she smiled. Unable to look away from the passion in his eyes, she let Rianen lead her down the path until she was standing in front of him. His wild scent surrounded her as his warm fingers closed over her cold ones and her fear disappeared.

A gentle breeze swirled around them and added to the illusion that they were outside. Music was playing softly in the background, a low, haunting melody that added to the sense that the two of them were alone in the universe. She heard Kievan speak but his voice was low and didn’t break the spell.

“In the name of the Goddess.”

There was a pause.

“In the name of Goddess,” Rianen echoed. She appeared beside them and Dragar released one of Beth’s hands. He extended his hand to Rianen and repeated, “In the name of the Goddess.”

Rianen drew a blade across his outstretched palm and blood dripped into a small bowl, already red with blood. Beth remembered this part of the ceremony from Rianen’s description. Out of the corner of her eye, she was vaguely aware of Rianen drawing a small branch through the blood and then scattering it to the four corners of the world. She knew it was happening but it seemed distant. Her whole being was focused on the man in front of her, looking at her as if she were the only woman in the world.

The room was silent, waiting.

“In the name of the Goddess, I, Chief Dragar of Clan Leijona take you, Beth Hudson, as my mate. I will protect you and provide for you. Always.”

“I, Beth Hudson, take you, Dragar, as my mate. I will provide a home for you. Always.”

The simple words expressed what was in her heart. She knew he understood her promise. His eyes blazed silver as he smiled at her.

Grasping each hand in turn, he slid heavy silver cuffs on each of her wrists.

“I made them for you, little one.”

Her eyes blurred with tears and she could only nod. Bending forward, he brushed her lips tenderly and she threw her arms around his neck. Her heart was so full it ached.

“And now for the main event.” Kievan’s voice was cold and hard, jerking her out of the soft daze of happiness. As she stared at him, the lights started to brighten. Dragar growled and pulled her against his chest. She followed his gaze in shocked horror and saw the glass panel at the end of the room, the waiting audience. The blood drained from her face but she straightened her spine. She could do this. She had to do this. And then Kievan raised the glass.

The storm of emotion pressing at her was beyond her ability to resist. The room was too small and the feelings too intense. She might have been able to handle the lust, the desire for the sight of her naked body, but too many of them wanted pain. They wanted to see a brutal fucking that left her hurt and bleeding. Tears streamed down her face. Her knees collapsed and Dragar lifted her in his arms. She buried her head in his shoulder trying to breathe in his scent, trying to build her barriers, but she could only cry and shake.

“What are you doing?” Rianen’s voice was loud and angry.

“There have to be witnesses.” Kievan sounded as cold as ever but the words were almost…defensive.

“Damn you, Kievan. She’s a sensitive. You’re hurting her.” Dragar sounded so angry. She wanted to reassure him but she was incapable of speech. Spikes of pain hammered her head and the walls began to spin.

“Please. Stop this.” He was begging Kievan. Begging for her. He couldn’t do that. She tried to force out a protest. All that emerged was a tiny whimper.

In addition to all of the other emotions, she could feel Kievan’s rage—rage mixed with the slightest hint of doubt. Unable to help herself, she whimpered again.

“Very well.”

The torment ended as suddenly as it had begun, but she was too weak do more than clutch Dragar’s shirt with trembling fingers. Wincing at the movement, she turned her head to the end wall. The glass wall had reappeared and as she watched, a curtain covered it, hiding them from the crowd beyond.

She managed to turn her head enough to see Kievan. His jaw was clenched and his eyes angry.

“Do you realize what this will cost me?”

“I do. Thank you,” Dragar said quietly. For a fleeting instant Kievan’s eyes softened.

Rianen sighed. “I thank you also, Kievan.”

“I don’t want your thanks, either of you.” But he didn’t sound sincere. Beth wondered how much he had missed the acceptance of other Sardorans. Her head had finally stopped spinning and she pushed a little against Dragar’s hold. He didn’t need to hold her like a baby. His arms tightened. She wasn’t going anywhere.

The four of them looked at each other. Kievan’s face was once again cold and mocking.

“Our deal remains the same. You must complete the full Claiming Ceremony. Rianen and I will witness.

“Oh no, I will not,” Rianen immediately protested.

“Fine. We only need one witness. But I am not leaving. I have decided that I prefer a private show anyway.”

Dragar looked down at her and she tried to smile reassuringly. She could handle this.

Rianen looked at Kievan. She seemed to realize that he had been pushed as far as he was going to go. “At least turn down the lights and let them have the illusion of privacy.” She nodded at Beth. “Good night, little sister.”

“Thank you, Rianen.”

The doors closed behind her and this time the three of them looked at each other.

Kievan hesitated, then dimmed the lights. He could still see them but the soft lighting created the illusion of an outdoor setting again.

Dragar lowered her to the claiming platform.

Chapter Thirteen

Beth laid back and closed her eyes. The platform was soft but the black silk covering was cold against her bare back. A faint trembling made her body quiver as she tried to slow her breathing.

“Ssh, little one.” Dragar settled down next to her and stroked her hair. His tenderness only made her shake harder.

“Let’s try this another way.” Gently he lifted her into his lap, surrounding her with his warmth. She buried her face in his neck, trying to calm her racing heart. He held her until her shaking stopped, stroking her head and murmuring soothingly. Gradually she relaxed into the safety of his embrace.

As her fear left, she became more aware of his body, the hard strength of his broad chest, the pebbled texture of his skin, the corded muscles of the arms that held her so protectively, the heated length of his cock under her thigh. Her nipples tightened against the soft silk of her gown.

When she lifted her head, he kissed her. His mouth was gentle, just brushing hers, and she wanted more. She wanted the heat of his mouth, wanted his tongue thrusting against hers. She licked the seam of his lips but he didn’t open. Angling her head, she bit down on his lower lip. That did it. His mouth came open, surging down over hers with the heated intensity she longed for. She moaned and opened for him. Instinctively she moved closer and she felt his cock jerk against her. Her pussy pulsed and she squirmed in his lap. His hand cupped her breast, thumbing her taut nipple through the thin silk, but she didn’t want anything between them.

“Take my dress off,” she whispered. He looked over her head and she knew he was looking at Kievan but she no longer cared. Everything she wanted was right here in front of her. He clenched his teeth and nodded. With slow, careful hands, he drew the dress up over her head. The silk caressed her over-sensitive body and her breath caught as the sensation rippled through her. When the dress was off, he laid her down on the platform. She caught a glimpse of Kievan over his shoulder. He was watching them intently, his eyes glowing. The knowledge sent a shiver of forbidden excitement down her spine. She felt beautiful and sensual.

Dragar pulled off his clothes and laid down over her, shielding her body. He kissed her again and she forgot everything except the pleasure of his mouth and his intoxicating taste. When she was breathless, he moved lower, nibbling at the sensitive curve of her neck. She moaned. He growled a laugh and his mouth dropped to her swollen breasts. He pulled as much of the soft mound as he could into his mouth and she arched against him. His tongue tormented her nipple, circling it, rolling it against the roof of his mouth, and then he scraped it with his teeth. The slight sting went straight to her aching clit and she pushed against him, desperate to relieve the growing tension. He held her still and repeated the process on her other breast.

By the time he spread her legs and parted her thighs, she was dripping. Her engorged clit throbbed and she cried out as he brushed it gently with his tongue. He repeated the motion and she came with a shudder, crying out his name. He soothed her with his tongue and gently pushed one thick finger into her throbbing pussy. She wanted more and pushed against his hand. He inserted another finger, spreading the tight channel and her nerves sparked. He felt so good. She pushed against him again and he tried to add a third finger. It didn’t hurt but she felt her body resist. He froze.

“Don’t stop.” She tried to push against him but he had already removed his fingers. He lifted his head and looked at her. The sorrow in his eyes devastated her.

“I can’t hurt you, little one.”

“So you’re just going to give me up?” she whispered.

“Never. I will return to work for him.” Her breath caught as she realized what he meant. He was going to fight for Kievan in exchange for keeping her safe. She grabbed his shoulders but he was already starting to pull away. She could feel his determination. Dammit. This wasn’t the answer. Rianen’s words came back to her. She was going to have to fight him. She only hoped that neither one of them would regret it.

“Then let me up.” She kept her voice cold and started pushing against his arms instead of clutching him. His hands tightened immediately. “I said, let me up.” She struggled harder.

“Why are you doing this?” His voice deepened.

“If you aren’t man enough to take me then I might as well go to Kievan right now.” The words seared her tongue but she forced them out.

“Never,” he roared. His eyes were turning white. Her heart was racing but she couldn’t stop now. With a sudden twist of her hips, she slipped free of his hands. Before she could take advantage of her freedom, he pounced on her. His massive body covered hers, holding her immobile between his strong thighs. The feel of his thick cock against her swollen cleft forced a groan of pleasure from her lips. She pushed feebly at his legs but he grasped her hands and pulled them over her head. The position arched her body against his and he held her there as he slid the entire hot, hard length of his cock between her distended labia. Forgetting her plan, she wrapped her legs around his hips, desperate to increase the contact between them. Using one hand to keep her wrists in place, his other hand reached for her breasts. His eyes were still white with anger and his fingers twisted her engorged nipples mercilessly. The tight pinch sent eclectic sparks straight to her throbbing pussy. Her breasts throbbed, her pussy throbbed, her entire body demanded his touch.

His hand moved lower, grasping his cock and positioning the swollen head against the tiny opening to her body. He felt so big and fear flickered through the daze of lust. He thrust once and the engorged crown forced its way into her tight channel. It burned as he spread her open and she cried out. He froze immediately but she locked her legs around him so he wouldn’t retreat.

“Just give me a minute,” she panted.

“I don’t know if I can. I want you so much.” His voice was hoarse, tortured.

Despite the urgency of his words, she could feel his doubts starting to surface. She couldn’t give him time to think.

“I want you, too.” Biting her lip, she twisted against him, wrestling with his hold on her wrists at the same time she thrust her hips up. With a roar he surged into her until he was completely embedded. He was enormous, burning her, stretching her until she was split open beneath him. Tears sprang to her eyes but along with the fiery pain was an equally fiery burst of pleasure. Her body clenched around him and she tried to breath.

“Goddess. So tight. So hot.”

He pulled back slowly and she cried out as the sensations bombarded her. The pain was still there but so were sparks of pleasure. Her body didn’t want to release his. He moved his hand to the top of her cleft and circled her sensitive bud with his thumb. The swipe of his rough digit against the engorged flesh sent the flames roaring higher. She caught her breath as he paused with only the massive head inside her body. She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. His muscles tensed and then he surged into her as he pressed down on her clit. She exploded, her body clenching around his rigid length. The feel of her body convulsing around his rigid cock sent her over again and a second climax shuddered through her.

Dragar roared and thrust into her over and over, pounding into her body in shock-waves of pain and pleasure. She rose to meet him, desperate for him, wanting him to possess her completely. He seemed to grow even larger and then he thrust so deeply that she could feel him against her cervix as his body convulsed and his seed flooded into her. She came again, sobbing out her climax and shuddering with pleasure.

He collapsed over her and she threw her arms around his neck, holding him in her arms as his body shook. When he finally raised his head, he saw her tears and flinched.

“I’m so sorry, little one. When you fought me I lost control. I didn’t mean—”

She put a finger firmly across his mouth. “I knew what would happen. I wanted it. I wanted you. I love you, Dragar.”

His eyes blazed silver. “I love you, too, little one.”

Before his mouth closed over hers, Beth heard the door shut as Kievan quietly left the room.

They lay together for a long time. Dragar cradled Beth in his arms and she sighed with contentment. He started kissing her neck, sending shivers down her arms, and she felt him start to harden against her. Rational Beth pointed out that her body probably wasn’t ready for round two yet but she ignored her and turned to face Dragar. As he started to caress her, a knock sounded.

Dragar spun to face the door, sitting up, and pushing her behind him. J’Ssett entered, head bowed and eyes respectfully averted.

“My masster has ssent me to return the female to the barrackss.”

“No,” Dragar growled.

“My masster assked me to remind you that you owe him three rounds. He won’t rissk your performance because you are…disstracted.”

“He knows damn well that I won’t be distracted.”

An almost imperceptible shrug. “Perhapss. Those are his orders. Your female may join you again tomorrow night for a visit.”

Dragar sighed and nodded. “Very well. Wait outside.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” Beth whispered.

“I know, little one. I don’t want to leave you, either. Kievan is playing games but it’s within his rights as the fight master. Let’s get you dressed.”

He lifted Beth to the floor. She tried to conceal it but she winced as she stood up. He noticed it immediately.

“I did hurt you.”

“I’m a little sore,” she admitted. “But under the circumstances, that’s perfectly normal.”

He wasn’t listening. His eyes searched her body and he flinched. Following his gaze, she realized that he had left a number of marks. Her nipples were red and swollen, a bite mark clearly visible on the inside curve of one breast. Fingerprint shaped bruises circled her wrists and marked each hip. Her thighs were streaked with semen and a tiny amount of blood.

“I didn’t even smell the blood. I’m so sorry, little one.” His voice was desolate and she reached for him but he held her gently in place, using the silk coverlet to cleanse between her thighs before slipping the dress over her head.

“Dragar, I’m fine.”

He nodded but he wouldn’t meet her eyes. Again she tried to reach for him but he stepped back and dressed quickly.

As soon as he finished, she stepped forward. “Dammit, listen to me.”

J’Ssett opened the door before she could continue. She could have screamed with frustration.

“Take care of her,” Dragar ordered, and strode out of the door. He didn’t even kiss her goodbye.

Fighting tears and an overwhelming sense of despair, she followed J’Ssett back to the barracks. For all intents and purposes, this was her wedding night and she was spending it in a cell with another woman. Of course, the way Dragar was acting, she wouldn’t have been much better off with him. The stubborn man wouldn’t even listen to her. By the time J’Ssett ushered her into Rianen’s room, anger was beginning to override her sorrow.

The lights were dimmed but Rianen sat up as soon as she entered. “Why are you back? Is everything all right?”

The concern in her voice was too much and Beth burst into tears. Cursing softly, Rianen sat her on the bed and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. She didn’t speak until Beth finally quieted.

“Now, tell me what happened. Did that bastard Kievan cause any problems?”

“No. He stayed but it was okay. At first I was really conscious of him but in a weird way, it was kind of exciting.” She hoped it was too dark for Rianen to see the color staining her cheeks. “But then I forgot him and it was just the two of us.”

She heard Rianen sniff quietly and give a low laugh. “It doesn’t usually happen this quickly but I can already tell that the mating bond was formed. So Dragar obviously overcame his reluctance.”

“Not completely. I had to fight him a little bit.”

“Are you hurt?” Anxiety sharpened Rianen’s voice.

“No, I’m not,” Beth snapped, then sighed. “I’m sorry. Dragar thinks I am and he wouldn’t listen to me when I told him that I was fine.”

“Why does he think you’re hurt?”

“He left some marks. And I’m kind of sore,” she admitted reluctantly.

“How sore?” Rianen still sounded anxious.

“Would you stop? I’m fine. It was a little painful but it was exciting and wonderful and I was so happy. But then Dragar freaked out and J’Ssett dragged me back here and Dragar didn’t even kiss me goodbye. He’s never going to touch me again.” She was crying again by the time she finished talking.

“Of course, he’s going to touch you again. A warrior can’t resist his bound mate. No matter how guilty he felt, I’m surprised he let the two of you be separated.”

“Kievan insisted. He said that I would distract Dragar.”

“He’s probably right, but he’s still a bastard. It’s not like Dragar is one of his stable.”

Beth sighed. “I really wanted to stay with him, even if I wasn’t quite ready to…try again. And the longer we’re apart, the longer he has to convince himself that he hurt me and that he’s a terrible person.”

“When are you going to see him again?”

“Tomorrow night.”

“Good. That gives us time to think up a plan. Go take a shower. There is some salve on the shelf that will help.” She handed Dragar’s shirt to Beth. “Then put this on, surround yourself with his scent, and go to bed and dream of your mate.

Beth tossed restlessly most of the night and woke as soon as the lights brightened. All she could think about was Dragar. She needed him so badly it was a constant ache. Rianen studied her pale face and cursed Kievan again.

“I can’t believe he separated a mated pair immediately after the Claiming Ceremony. It’s just cruel. You need to be together.”

“I need to be with him, but he doesn’t seem to need to be with me.” She couldn’t keep the depression out of her voice.

“Beth, listen to me. I am absolutely sure that his entire body is demanding you.” She shook her head. “I can’t even imagine the type of self-control he must have to resist that call. It is amazing enough that he resisted when the two of you were alone on the ship, but now? He is in actual physical agony.”

“I don’t want him to be in pain.” The thought horrified her.

“I know. And your presence will ease him, just as his will ease you. You just have to wait until tonight.”

“And hope that I can get past his wretched self-control.”

“We’ll work on that,” Rianen promised. She tapped her fingers thoughtfully. “A new outfit might not hurt. I have some credits available and I can probably get Omazz to help.”

“You can’t spend your money on me.”

“Of course I can. You’re officially my sister now. And besides, I consider it a challenge. There’s more than one way to defeat a warrior.” She winked at Beth, and Beth laughed.

When Omazz brought breakfast, Rianen stepped outside to have a brief conversation with him. She refused to give Beth any details. After breakfast they exercised again. Beth was still sore but the exercises warmed her muscles and by the time they finished, she felt much better. Rianen went to take the first shower and the sight of her clan mark gave Beth an idea.

“Who did your clan mark?” she asked as soon as Rianen returned.

“My first Chief. It’s tradition.”

“Have you done them?”

“Sure. I did several of my squad.” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why?”

Beth took a deep breath. “I want you to give me one.”

“Are you sure? It’s going to hurt.”

“I don’t care. I want his mark on me.”

Rianen surveyed her thoughtfully. “It would make him even more possessive.”

“Good. That means it will be even harder for him to resist me.”

A smile curved Rianen’s lips. “That’s true.” Then her face fell. “But I don’t have a pattern. I’ve always used one.”

“Not a problem. As long as you can get me something to draw with, I can give you the design.”

“You remember the details?”

“Of course.”

“And you’re sure about this?”

Beth nodded emphatically, pushing down the flicker of fear. When Omazz brought lunch, Rianen had another conversation with the big guard. He returned shortly with paper and inks, as well as a box which he handed to Rianen with a bow. Beth took the drawing pad and drew a smaller version of Dragar’s mark. She handed the sketch to Rianen.

“Excellent. It’s very detailed.” She hesitated, then pointed to a section of the drawing. “These lines aren’t part of the standard design.”

“I know—but they are part of Dragar’s mark. That’s what I want.” She saw the realization cross Rianen’s face.

“You are an excellent mate, little sister. I’m glad you are part of our clan.”

Beth watched as the other woman opened the small box, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. First Rianen pulled out a bowl which she filled with ink. Next she pulled out what looked like a small branch, embedded with needles. The butterflies turned into birds.

“Ready?”

She could only nod, afraid her voice would betray her. Rianen positioned Beth face down on the bed, then rapidly sketched the design on her skin. The first flick of the needles shocked Beth and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. Rianen kept a steady rhythm, tapping the needles with a quiet precision. It was uncomfortable but Beth adjusted to the sensation more quickly than she had expected. The design took over an hour and left Beth feeling shaky but satisfied. Rianen finished by cleansing the area gently and spreading a thick green gel over the design. Rather to Beth’s surprise, the residual burn faded immediately. Tired from her restless night and holding still for the tattoo, she drifted off.

When she woke up, Rianen was watching her with a smile that Beth immediately mistrusted. “What?”

“Your outfit arrived,” she said innocently, gesturing to a package on the table.

Eyeing her suspiciously, Beth opened the box. All that was inside was a few scraps of black silk and a bunch of silver chains. “I can’t wear that.”

“Oh yes you can. It matches your cuffs.”

Rianen alternately bullied and cajoled her into wearing the outfit. She insisted on arranging Beth’s hair. Considering she didn’t have any hair herself, Rianen did a remarkably good job and appeared to enjoy herself immensely. Beth was pacing the room by the time J’Ssett appeared.

He entered the room and hesitated.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Beth wasn’t quite sure why she was panicking but his hesitation alarmed her.

“The warrior says it will not be necesssary for you to come to him tonight.”

“What?” Pain twisted Beth’s heart but was replaced almost immediately by a blinding rage. He wouldn’t even see her? That was so not happening. “Take me to his room.”

He paused. “You are under the protection of Kievan Rus.”

“So? If you’re worried that he will hurt me, don’t be.” Beth’s voice was low and dangerous. “By the time I’m through with him, he’s the one who will be hurting.”

Rianen cheered. J’Ssett stared at Beth for a moment and then his shoulders started to shake. It took her a minute to figure that he was laughing silently. She glared him and pulled her cloak tighter around her neck

“Take me to him now.”

J’Ssett controlled his laughter, bowed deeper than ever before, and led the way.

Chapter Fourteen

Dragar slammed the door to his room. For some twisted reason, Kievan had housed him within his own apartments. The room was large and luxurious, with an enormous bed draped in white silk. The end wall was glass and looked out into the center of the cylinder where he could see the lights from other rooms. The bathroom was equally large and luxurious, and he prayed that an hour under an icy shower would help to relieve the fire coursing through his body. Every instinct he possessed demanded that he seek his mate but he couldn’t risk it. He was not going to hurt her again. The pain in his body could be ignored but the pain of hurting the woman he loved wouldn’t heal.

He was two steps into the room before he caught her sweet scent. It was even richer and more enticing since they had mated. Liquid fire ran through his veins. Unable to prevent himself, he turned. Beth was standing by the window, one hand on the back of a large, white chair and the other resting on her cocked hip. His mouth dried and his cock throbbed painfully as he took in her outfit—what there was of it.

A silver collar circled her neck, matching the mating cuffs still fastened around her slender wrists. Silver chains descended from the collar to cover her breasts, separating each time she took a breath to reveal plump pink nipples. Another chain circled her slender hips and disappeared into the pale gold curls between her legs—a fact he could see quite clearly since the outfit’s skirt consisted only of a long, narrow strip of sheer black silk attached to the hip chain. The black heels made her long, bare legs look even longer.

“It’s not necessary for me to come to you tonight?” The ice in her voice tore at his heart but she shook her head as he opened his mouth. “How dare you?”

She stalked toward him. He couldn’t back away. He couldn’t think. All he could see were her enticing nipples bouncing toward him with each step.

“I thought we were a couple now. You don’t make the decisions for us.”

He tried again to open his mouth, even though he knew no words were going to come out, but she wasn’t waiting.

“And if you tell me that you don’t want to hurt me one more time, I’m going to scream. Do you really think anything you do to me physically would hurt as much as you rejecting me?”

Her words stung enough that he managed a response. “I’m not rejecting you.”

“Yes, you are, and I’m not finished.”

She was so close now that her intoxicating fragrance surrounded him. His body screamed mine. He grabbed the wall, determined not to touch her.

“I am a grown woman. I know what I want. I want you. I wanted you last night.”

“I hurt you.” His hand was clenching the wall so tightly that he felt it start to give beneath his fingers.

“You left some bruises. You didn’t hurt me.” Her tone finally softened. “I wanted your hands on me. I wanted your mouth on my breasts. I wanted you thrusting inside me. I was so hot, so wet. I still am.” She slid her hands down across her breasts, briefly circling each taut peak. One hand slid between her legs and emerged, fingers glistening. She reached up and stroked her sweet nectar across his lips. He was paralyzed, unable to move.

“I’m your mate, Dragar. I want you; I hurt for you. But I’m tired of begging. If you can’t overcome your fear for me, then we need to part.”

She turned toward the door. For the first time he saw the silver chain descending into the deep crevice between her buttocks, saw the fragile line of her slender back, the intricate black wings of her clan mark. No, not her clan mark—his clan mark, down to the scars that interrupted the design. Possessive pride surged through him. She was showing the galaxy that she was his.

“You are never going to leave me,” he roared. “You are mine.”

She paused and looked over her shoulder. “Then you are going to have to fuck me and prove it.”

A tidal wave of silver lust poured over him. He grabbed her waist and lifted her to his chest. She gasped and her legs wrapped around him. He slammed her back against the window, frantically freeing his cock. He pushed the chain between her legs aside, scraping it over her swollen clit, and thrust inside her. She was so tight, so hot, so wet for him, and she cried out as he entered her—but he couldn’t stop. Her hands clutched his shoulders, small nails digging into his skin as he surged into her again and again, forcing her back against the glass. His hand reached between them and tugged the chain so it rubbed her with each stroke. She cried out once more and convulsed around him, her already tight channel squeezing his shaft so strongly it was almost painful. He thrust again and came so hard his vision blurred, flooding her with his seed.

Her hands had moved from his shoulders to his neck. She wrapped herself around him, pressing soft kisses into his neck and his chin and anywhere else she could reach. His legs felt shaky but he retained enough strength to carry them to the bed before he collapsed, pulling her small body on top of his and holding her close.

“Mmm,” she sighed. “I definitely like this mating thing.”

The obvious satisfaction in her voice thrilled him. He finally allowed himself to believe that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. This tiny, perfect creature belonged to him. Her body not only accommodated him but welcomed him. Despite the intensity of his release, his cock was already stiffening again.

“We’re not through yet,” he growled, and she shivered happily.

“In that case, I should tell you that there is another part to this outfit.”

“It certainly seems to be missing something,” he said drily.

“Wait here.” She slipped away before he could protest. He turned his head to watch her, enjoying the sight of the silver chains flickering against her creamy skin.

She returned and knelt next to him. “Here. Rianen wouldn’t tell me what they were, but I can guess.” She gave him handful of metal while she made some quick adjustments to the collar of her outfit. The chains cupping her breasts fell away but she left the collar on. He looked down at the silver in his palm and smiled.

“Little one, you are a constant surprise.”

Leaning forward, he fastened his mouth around one pink nipple and sucked it deep into his mouth. She moaned and he sucked it harder, relishing the sweet taste of her skin and her soft cries. When her nipple was dark pink and distended, he slipped the silver clamp around it, watching her carefully as he tightened it. He stopped as soon as her eyes widened.

“Too tight?”

She bit her lip but shook her head. He repeated the same process on the other nipple.

“Very pretty,” he approved. The two clamps were joined by another silver chain and he flicked it gently, watching as the slight tug made her eyes widen again. Then she smiled, the innocently seductive smile that made his heart turn over, and dropped to her hands and knees.

“Rianen said not to put me on my back because of the clan mark. Would this work?”

Beth looked back over her shoulder as Dragar growled and rose up behind her. His chest gleamed from their early exertions and each sculpted muscle flexed as he leaned toward her. The scars twisting across his chest only added to his masculine allure. He was beautiful—and he was hers.

With one hand he urged her legs apart. He ripped the thin silk veil away with an impatient noise but left the chain sliding between her nether lips. It was embarrassing to be spread so wide, to know that he was studying every detail of her wet, swollen pussy, but it was also exciting. She shivered and tilted her hips back toward him.

“Don’t be impatient, little one.” The low rumble of his laugh added to her excitement and she wiggled a little more. “Be still.” He fastened his large strong hands around her thighs. She loved it when he held her so forcefully. She felt open and needy and tried to wiggle again. His hands held her in place easily.

“Please, Dragar.”

“Since you ask so nicely.” A broad, wet tongue swept the length of her cleft and she moaned. He stroked her over and over with his tongue, long, gentle strokes that rolled the chain against her swollen flesh. Her pussy ached, wanting more.

“Can you hold still?” he whispered. She nodded even though the warm rush of air from his breath made her shiver. He released her legs and she tried desperately to remain still, to not press back against him. His fingers danced lightly over her and she shuddered. He probed delicately at the snug entrance to her channel and she fought to keep from moving.

“So beautiful. So soft and pink.”

His finger moved higher, teasing the sensitive opening between her buttocks.

“So pink here, too. Would you like a little silver plug opening you for me?”

She couldn’t stand it; she bucked against him, trying to bring her needy flesh closer to his hands. A hard palm smacked one soft cheek and she gasped. The brief sting faded almost immediately but her arousal only increased. She bucked again. He laughed and smacked the other cheek.

“Also very pink and pretty, but I don’t think I’m helping you keep still.”

His hands returned to her thighs and he spread them further apart. With a sob of relief, she felt the broad head of his cock probing at the entrance to her pussy. She tried to thrust back but he held her immobile and she could only wait. At last he entered her, moving so slowly that she felt every inch as she stretched around him. The torturous progression fired every nerve ending. She couldn’t move, only shiver with pleasure as he took possession of her body. When he finally reached the end of her snug channel, he curved one hand around her stomach and slid it between her thighs. He stroked her clit as he held her impaled on his cock, still unable to move, unable to do anything except feel. Holding her firmly in place, he reached up with his other hand and tugged gently on the chain dangling between her nipples. The sudden shock of pain pleasure was too much. She shattered around him, the room spinning madly. Her body tried to jerk but he held her still, absorbing every ripple of her climax until she finally calmed.

Releasing the nipple chain, he moved his hand to her hip. The other hand still cupped her firmly between her thighs. She still couldn’t respond as he stroked slowly in and out of her. She no longer had the strength to support herself and her upper body collapsed against the bed. The changed angle thrust her ass higher in the air and sent him deeper with each thrust. The hand on her hip moved over and his thumb teased her puckered rosette. Her hips flexed, seeking more of the tantalizing touch. He groaned and pushed his thumb into the tiny opening. She shattered again, too weak to do more than gasp. The slow strokes didn’t stop and she rode the waves of pleasure mindlessly. Finally, he swelled inside her. He groaned out her name and she felt the hot jets of his seed bathing her womb.

He slipped from her body with a satisfied sigh and pulled her into his arms. She nestled closer, exhausted and utterly content.

A soft knock sounded at the door.

“What?” Dragar growled.

J’Ssett’s soft voice answered. “It iss time for the female to return to the barrackss.”

Dragar’s arms closed around her. “It’s not going to happen, J’Ssett. I am spending the night with my mate. If Kievan wants to challenge me on this, tell him to come himself. And he had better be armed.”

There was a quiet noise that might have been a muffled laugh.

“Very well.”

Beth looked at Dragar anxiously. “Is Kievan going to challenge you?”

He chuckled and pulled her closer. “I doubt it. He likes being an asshole but I don’t think he really wants to fight me. But if I have to kill him to spend the night with you, I will.”

Chapter Fifteen

Beth stood in the shower, relaxing into the warmth of Dragar’s hands as he washed her gently. The bathroom of Dragar’s suite was enormous, and completely covered in polished white stone. The giant shower had more than enough room for both of them, with water pouring from multiple jets. She winced a little as he ran the cloth between her legs, and his eyes darkened. She smacked his shoulder. “Stop it.”

“You’re hurt.”

“I’m sore; I’ll be fine.” She sighed. “I thought we got past this last night.”

“I got carried away. I wanted you too much to worry about it.”

“And now you don’t want me anymore?”

He looked down at her and growled. Grabbing her hand, he pressed it against his rigid cock. “I always want you, little one.”

“Good.” She stroked him gently, loving the feel of soft skin over the hardened flesh beneath. “I want you, too.”

She dropped to her knees, one hand still stroking him, as her other hand cupped his balls. His wild musk was stronger here and she nuzzled her cheek along the length of his shaft. She looked up and his eyes were blazing silver, his fists clenched at his sides. Still watching his face, she licked him, tracing the pulsing veins with her tongue. At the tip she swept the drops of fluid into her mouth, reveling in the wild, salty essence.

A low, continuous growl was coming from his chest. Smiling, she circled the broad tip with her tongue over and over, pausing only to dip into the weeping slit.

“More?”

“Goddess, yes.” The strain in his voice made her feel powerful, desirable. He wanted her and she wanted to bring him pleasure. She closed her mouth around the swollen crown, just holding it and enjoying the feel of him inside her mouth. She made a slow circle with her tongue, flicking underneath, and he gasped and surged further into her mouth. His hands cupped her head as he worked his way deeper. He was so big it was overwhelming but she wanted as much of him as she could get. She fisted the base of his cock, unable to close her hand completely but holding him as tightly as she could as she took him deeper. Her lips met her fingers just as he reached her throat. She choked and he immediately pulled back, but she tightened her mouth and sucked hard as he withdrew. When only his head remained in the close embrace of her mouth, she slid back down his shaft, swirling her tongue.

Her other hand was gently caressing his balls. Remembering the way he had touched her, she slid one finger deeper, exploring the sensitive flesh behind them. His body jerked as she reached the tight pucker. She swirled her finger around the opening, gradually pressing deeper as she increased the speed of her mouth, sucking harder and faster. His hands were clamped around her head, not hurting her but encouraging her, and she took him deeper, worked him faster. She felt the muscles in his legs tighten, felt his balls draw close. She pushed her finger deep inside his body and he came with a roar. His seed flooded her mouth and she swallowed greedily, relishing the torrent of hot liquid.

His hands gentled and he leaned over to draw her to her feet as she released him.

“That was amazing.” His voice was still ragged and satisfaction filled her.

“I thought so, too.” She smiled up at him and he kissed her, stroking his tongue deep into her mouth. Her nipples rubbed against his hard chest and she suddenly realized how aroused she was by what she had done to him. Her pussy ached and her cleft was swollen and wet. She moaned into his mouth, sucking on his tongue, and rubbed harder against his chest. His cock was hardening again, and she rubbed against it as well.

“Do you want something, little one?” Dragar teased. He gripped her hips and held her further away from his body. She pushed back impatiently but he kept her suspended as he looked around the shower. Sitting on the marble bench that formed part of the shower, he pulled her closer but when she tried to climb into his arms, he turned her around so that her back was to his chest. Then he lifted her over his lap, dropping her down until she felt the head of his massive cock nudging her swollen entrance. She tried to push down but he laughed and lowered her slowly. She gasped as he spread her open. The tight channel was still sore but he felt so good she didn’t mind the slight sting.

He responded to the tension in her body and kept her suspended with one big hand while the other circled around to tease her engorged clit. Each flick of his fingers made her shiver. Her pussy opened as her excitement built and more fluid released from her body. She sank deeper until he filled her completely, head pressing against her cervix. Still teasing the sensitive bundle of nerves at the top of her cleft, his other hand plucked her nipples, rolling them until she gasped, and then soothing them with gentle caresses. She reached up and locked her hands around his neck, pushing her breasts further into his hands.

Impatient to move, she tried to lift up but she had little leverage in this position. His hand moved from between her legs and a gentle spray of water whipped across her engorged clit. She wiggled and the spray returned, harder this time. She looked down to see that he was using a control to manipulate the spray. Her legs were spread open over his lap, her labia parted around the pink inner flesh. Another squirt of water. This one didn’t let up but pulsed against her swollen nub. She quivered with each pulse. His cock filled her and she felt the resistance each time her pussy tightened. The water pressure increased, pulsing harder and harder against her clit, the sensations overwhelming her. She tried to squirm away but there was no escape. Desperately she clung to his neck as the pressure and pleasure increased until she came with a scream.

As soon as she did, Dragar moved, gripping her hips and thrusting her up and down his cock as her channel convulsed around him. Each time he forced her down he hit her cervix and each time she convulsed again. Her climax never seemed to end and she was lost in a daze of pleasure. With a final massive thrust, he swelled and came, more hot liquid jetting deep inside her pussy. He swept his hand over the swollen oversensitive nub, it was too much but she screamed and came a final time, shattering in his arms.

They clung to each other, breathless and spent. Beth’s heart finally slowed and she unwound her hands from Dragar’s neck. He lifted her free and then turned her so that she was cuddled in his lap.

“You’re killing me,” she teased. For once he didn’t look worried or concerned, just laughed and nuzzled her neck.

“The feeling is quite mutual.”

“If you don’t get down to the training room, someone is certainly going to die. But I don’t think it will be from pleasure,” Kievan’s cold voice interrupted. Beth gasped and looked up. Kievan was standing in the entrance to the bathroom. Despite his words, his eyes were appreciative as he surveyed her all too naked body. Her cheeks flamed as she flung an arm across her breasts.

Dragar growled and pulled Beth closer. “Get out.”

“Only if you promise to follow immediately. You have one minute.” He disappeared but left the door open. Dragar swore but pulled Beth to her feet. He ran a cleansing cloth quickly over their bodies and then wrapped her in a large towel. He didn’t seem concerned with his own nudity as he strode back out into the bedroom, keeping her behind him.

Kievan spoke before Dragar could say anything. “The fights start in an hour. I let you have last night, but it’s time to honor our agreement.”

Beth stepped forward. “I’m going with him.”

“No, you’re not,” Dragar objected.

“I am not going to sit in that room and wonder what is happening. I can’t stand it. I want to be with you.”

“You can’t come near the fighters. It’s too dangerous.”

She lifted her chin. “Then I’ll sit in the audience.”

“No. It’s still too dangerous.”

“She can sit with me,” Kievan said. Startled, they both turned to face him. He shrugged. “I’m going to watch the fight from my private box. No one will bother her there.”

Dragar’s jaw clenched. She reached out and grabbed his hand.

“Please. I need to see. I need to know you are alright.”

“I don’t like the idea of you seeing me fight.”

“I’ve already seen you fight, remember? You were wonderful. You saved my life. I know you’re going to win, but I still need to be there.”

“Very well,” he agreed reluctantly. She threw her arms around him but as she did her towel started to slip. Growling he yanked it back up and glared at Kievan.

Kievan smiled. “I’ll arrange for more appropriate attire.” He left the room. Since Beth wasn’t about to put on the silver chain outfit again, she left the towel wrapped around her while she curled up in a chair and watched as Dragar dressed quickly. Worry was gnawing a hole in her stomach but when he strode over to her, clad in leather, he looked so big and imposing that she felt reassured.

“Don’t worry, little one.” He kissed her gently. She kissed him back, gulping back a sob. He ran his hand down her cheek and left the room. As soon as the door closed, the tears started to flow. They were still flowing when Kievan returned with a box under his arm.

“I’m not going to take you anywhere while you’re crying. You have ten minutes to stop that nonsense and get dressed.” He dropped the box and turned to go, but he stopped at the doorway. Back to her, he spoke quietly. “I bet on him—and I never lose.”

He was gone before she could respond but his words comforted her. She pulled herself together, washing her face with cold water. Her hair was still wet so she pulled it up into a high twist and opened the box.

Once dressed, she stopped for a quick survey. The gown was silver, accenting her mating cuffs, with a halter neck and a hem that dropped to the ground in the back but only reached her thighs in the front. The neckline was cut very low but only revealed the inside swell of her small breasts. She looked beautiful and elegant, sexy but not blatant. The man really did have excellent taste. She slipped on the black heels and went to join Kievan. He looked equally elegant, dressed in his usual white but with heavy bands of silver embroidery down the sides of the long open vest, obviously chosen to coordinate with her dress. Stopping in front of him, she waited while he ran his eyes slowly up and down her body.

“Excellent.” His approval was obvious and she couldn’t help a pleased blush. “Remove the shoes.”

“What?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Swallowing hard, she slipped the shoes off. The difference in height and the sight of her bare feet made her feel suddenly vulnerable.

“Before we go, there is something you need to understand, my pet.” Kievan’s voice turned cold and her stomach twisted.

“I often have female accompaniment at the fights. The females are for my pleasure. In order to avoid drawing undue notice, you will act that role.”

Her mouth was so dry she could hardly get the words out. “What does that mean?”

“It means you will be quiet, respectful and subservient. You will walk one pace behind me unless I call you forward. You will be seated at my feet. You will act pleased if I touch you. You will not speak unless I speak to you.”

She scowled at him, and he was in front of her so quickly she didn’t see him move. He grasped her chin and lifted her face until she was staring into the burning gold of his eyes. “And that expression will never cross your face.”

Beth nodded and he released her chin and stepped back. “Very well.”

He picked up a matching silver cloak from a nearby chair and started to place it around her shoulders, stopping abruptly as he saw the clan mark.

“What is this?” He sounded…odd, but she couldn’t read the note in his voice.

“You know what it is—it’s my clan mark. Rianen did it yesterday.”

“She marked you by hand?” Still that unusual note.

His fingers traced the design, so lightly she could barely feel them, but her skin shivered beneath his touch. The icy force of his presence, enhanced by the physical contact, softened for the briefest instance. Then his hand was gone and the cloak was around her shoulders. He led the way out of his apartments without another word. She followed, one step behind.

Chapter Sixteen

By the time they reached the fight pits, Beth was shaking. The walk through the corridors had been unexpectedly difficult. Without Dragar’s comforting presence, the emotions around her pressed harder. An undercurrent of excitement filled the air, especially as they neared the entrance to the fight pit. A huge arch, looking like it was carved from primordial stone, led to the pit. She brushed it curiously with her fingers as they passed beneath it, but it felt exactly like it looked.

Once inside, Kievan led her to one side and they circled up a seemingly endless spiral. Corridors disappeared off to each side of the ramp and the crowd diminished as they climbed. At the top of the spiral, a curved corridor led off in both directions. Directly in front of them were two massive guards and a shimmering red curtain. Kievan nodded to the guards and passed through the curtain, Beth following in his wake. As in his apartments, the veil was not fabric, and it parted around her in cool rush. A large antechamber held a bar and comfortable seats, but Kievan moved straight across the room and out through another curtain, this one of gold fabric, and out onto a balcony. Beth followed obediently, then stopped and swayed as the impact of the crowd reached her.

Kievan caught her as her knees weakened and she clung gratefully to his arm. “Bow your head,” he ordered. She obeyed, only too glad to close her eyes and lean on him. The dominant emotions pressing on her were excitement and cruelty, making her shudder as she tried to calm her breathing. Kievan waited patiently as she tried to get herself under control. As her breathing slowed, she realized that he had posed them on purpose so that he stood tall and arrogant while she cowered against him. She wanted to rebel at the image but even if she had the strength to push him away, she remembered his commands.

Keeping her head down, she glanced around the balcony. A row of large chairs curved across the front of the space, their ornate gold frames cushioned with white fabric. Gold silk curtains like the ones they had passed through covered the walls at the back of the box, and the floor was covered with thick, white carpet. At first she thought the balcony simply dropped off into space but a glint of glass reassured her. Beyond the glass railing, she could see tiers of other boxes, leading down into rows of seats. They were at the highest point of the vast arena and her stomach dropped as she saw the sand covered floor far below. Figures were moving back and forth, raking the sand smooth, and her throat dried as she realized they were also covering patches of blood.

Kievan’s fingers tightened on her arm and he moved them forward, stopping in front of the largest chair. A white, silk cushion was placed on the ground in front of the chair. Slanting a quick glance to each side, Beth realized that each chair had a similar cushion.

“I am going to remove your cloak, my pet. Stand still and let them look, then kneel on the cushion. Do not turn your back to the crowd.” Kievan’s voice was low and stern. She nodded.

He removed the cloak and there was a roar from the crowd. Beth trembled at the increased excitement and the rising lust but she locked her knees and held still. When Kievan pressed down on her shoulder, she knelt gratefully. He sat in chair behind her and pulled her back against his legs. The warmth of his body was shocking against the naked skin of her back but she kept herself from flinching.

“Very good, pet.” He stroked her hair. The gesture was curiously relaxing but her body still trembled from the press of emotions. “Look at me.”

When Beth didn’t immediately respond, hard fingers grasped her chin and forced her face up. She knew her mouth was trembling and her face was white. He frowned.

“J’Ssett.”

She jumped as the small alien appeared from behind one of the curtains.

“Bring me a Bliss stone.”

“Yess, masster.”

Kievan looked at her puzzled face and smiled, his fingers stroking her chin. “I think this will help you to relax.”

Before she could ask any questions, J’Ssett returned. He was carrying a pendant with a pink ball suspended from a fine chain. Kievan took it and dropped it into her hand. As her fingers closed over it, the ball changed from solid pink into ripples of light and dark shades that swirled across the surface of the ball. It was heavy and warm in her hand and she started to relax, feeling a sense of comfort and warmth spread through her veins.

“That’s better,” Kievan said. He picked up the chain and she reluctantly released her fingers long enough for him to drop it over her head. The ball nestled between her breasts and she immediately covered it with her hand, letting the warmth seep into her. As she held it against her skin, the warmth increased until a pleasant flush covered her skin. Dreamily she leant back against Kievan’s legs, enjoying the heat of his body and the solid strength of his legs. Her nipples peaked and a slow ache started between her legs. She wound tighter around his legs, reveling in the sensuous feel of the smooth leather against the swollen points of her bare nipples. Bare nipples? With a gasp she pulled back, blushing furiously as she realized that she had parted the top of her gown so that she could get closer to him. Even as she blushed, she wanted to move back.

“What…what is happening?” The words had a hard time making it past the thickness in her throat. Soft pink clouds filled her mind, making it hard to think.

“Just relax.” Kievan’s voice was low and soothing, compelling her obedience. The pink haze increased and the ache in her pussy increased. As she relaxed toward him, his hand slipped past her hair and on to her bare back. His fingers brushed the clan mark and a spark went through her, clearing her mind enough to realize that something was wrong. With a hoarse cry she found the strength to rip the pendant off her neck and drop it to the carpet. As soon as she lost contact with the pink ball, her mind cleared.

“What the hell are you trying to do to me?”

His fingers clamped on her shoulder as she tried to scramble away. “Remember where you are, pet. Do not fight me.”

“I’m not letting you put that thing back on me.”

“Very well.” He hesitated. “Believe it or not, I really only thought to calm you. I didn’t realize that you would have such an…interesting reaction. The Bliss stones affect different races in different ways.”

“Does it affect you?” She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“Not at all. Which is probably just as well—I have enough vices already.” He couldn’t conceal the bitter edge to his voice. “Most species receive a sense of comfort and many of them also get an increased level of arousal; although, it is unusual for it to hit that fast and that hard.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Then you are the exception. It is a very popular—and profitable—business on Sigrast.” He studied her flushed face. “And you do look better.”

Beth started to protest and then realized that he was right. Even though she was no longer touching the stone, the crowd’s emotions were more distant, muted by the lingering after effects. For the first time, she was able to look around the arena. The domed roof sent a constant flow of bright light washing down on the crowd and the ring at the bottom. The boxes on their level were occupied by only a few richly dressed people but the crowd increased as the rows of seats neared the arena. The final level was packed with standing aliens. Even as she watched, a fight broke out in the crowd below and she flinched as a spray of blood gushed into the air. Dragging her eyes away, she noticed the glow of Bliss stones sprinkled throughout the crowd. The flickers of pink drew her attention and she had a sudden longing to pick up the pendant lying at her feet.

“Now, lean against my legs like an obedient pet. It is time for the matches to begin.” Kievan’s voice interrupted her and drove any thought of pink stones out of her mind. Huddling close, she peered down into the empty ring below. Her heart stopped as Dragar emerged from a tunnel at one side of the ring. He was clad in his leather loincloth but it was topped with a heavy metal belt. His knives hung at either hip but the rest of his skin was bare, shimmering in the bright lights of the arena. Every corded muscle stood out and the scars etching his body just added to the impression of strength and danger. The crowd let out a roar.

“Round One. The Barbarian against The Whip.”

“The Barbarian?” Beth couldn’t help the outraged question.

Kievan laughed. “It was his choice. He never wanted to fight under his own name.”

The reminder that he had done this before, that he had been Outcast, caused a lump in Beth’s throat. She hated to think of him here and yet, he had survived. He had found a way to live with what had happened. She glanced back at Kievan and found him watching her.

“Thank you for helping him before.”

Surprise flickered across his face for a second before he assumed his usual mocking mask. He shrugged. “He made me a lot of credits.”

She dipped her head, acknowledging the words but still convinced that there had been more to it than that.

Another roar from the crowd drew her attention. Dragar’s opponent had entered the arena. She hadn’t seen this species before. His skin was a dark oily green, almost featureless under the harsh lights. He was tall, although not as tall as Dragar, and much thinner. She started to relax and then the alien extended his arms. The reason he was called The Whip was sickeningly clear. Each arm ended in long tentacle that cut through the air with uncanny precision. She could hear the crack as he lifted them high and then whipped them down.

“Begin.” Her hands curled into fists as the announcer’s deep voice echoed through the chamber.

The two men circled each other, Dragar moving with his usual predatory grace. A tentacle flicked out and Beth fought back a cry as a line of blood appeared across Dragar’s arm. The crowd cheered, excited by the sight of blood. She could feel the rising blood lust but it was still muted enough by the Bliss stone that it didn’t overwhelm her.

A tentacle whipped out again but this time Dragar darted to one side and his knife flashed. The tentacled alien roared and Beth saw green blood spurt from the injured limb. Sickness rose in her stomach but she kept still, refusing to look away. The battle continued. More cuts appeared on Dragar’s arms and legs but the alien was also dripping green blood across the white sand. With a lightning fast movement, Dragar closed in, slipping between the outstretched tentacles. The alien jerked back but it was too late—Dragar’s knife was buried in his throat.

The crowd erupted in an explosion of noise and Beth sank back on her heels, trying to still her racing pulse. Dragar stepped back from the dead man. His chest heaved but his stance was poised and firm. He looked up and their eyes met. Beth was burning conscious of her position at Kievan’s feet. She would have pulled away but his hand clamped down on her shoulder before she could move.

“Behave, pet, or you will have to leave,” he whispered in her ear. Even across the distance that separated them, she could see Dragar’s eyes whiten as he watched the scenario. She forced a trembling smile to her lips and bowed her head, hoping that Dragar understood. When she looked back up, he had turned away, moving to the entrance of the tunnel as servants removed the dead body and raked the sand clean.

The second bout was worse. Dragar’s opponent, The Boulder, was massive. He was taller and broader than Dragar, moving with the heavy force of an avalanche. Each time his fist connected, Dragar flew back against the wall. Fortunately, Dragar was much faster so the powerful fists didn’t connect that often, but Beth could see the damage they inflicted. It was impossible to hear over the roar of the crowd but she thought she heard a rib crack when the massive alien pummeled Dragar’s side. He never touched him again. The man thundered forward, trying to take advantage of the hit, and Dragar leaped, using the other man’s momentum to propel himself upward and on to the alien’s back. His knife rose and fell and the mountainous alien collapsed.

The crowd went silent for a brief second, as stunned as Beth, and then erupted again.

“I don’t understand.”

“He severed his spine.” Kievan laughed softly. “I suspected he was just playing with him.”

“Playing with him? Is he insane?”

“He’s a Sardoran warrior, pet. This is what we…what they do.”

She stared at him in shocked disbelief and then whirled back to the arena. Once more, Dragar stood looking up at her. His face was drawn and she could see the scars standing out against his skin but his stance was still strong. He gave her a quick nod before returning to the tunnel.

The wait was longer this time and it required six servants to drag the body of the enormous alien from the arena. Excitement buzzed through the air and she could feel an odd frenzy pushing at her. Kievan’s legs were tense against her back.

The third match was announced. Dragar’s opponent was named Shock. Beth leaned forward, curious about the last fighter. She relaxed a little as a slender blue alien appeared. He was wearing a silver suit and wasn’t much taller than she was. Dragar eyed him across the arena and for the first time, she could see caution in the way he held his body.

“Who’s that?” She whispered to Kievan, her relaxation turning to dread.

“Something we have never faced before.” His voice was grim, but she didn’t dare to tear her eyes away from the scene below to look at his face. The two men were still circling each other and the crowd was chanting. The blue alien suddenly leapt into the air and flung his hand at Dragar. A bolt of energy flew from his fingertips and hit Dragar’s leg. He staggered, almost going to his knees. Beth’s heart pounded against her chest.

“How can he fight that?”

“He’ll find a way.” She wasn’t sure if Kievan was trying to convince her or himself. Shock leapt again and another bolt of energy seared across the sand. Dragar avoided it, but only barely. He advanced toward the blue alien but his opponent was as fast as he was and slipped away. They continued to circle each other and twice the alien managed to zap him. The first time he hit his left shoulder and as they resumed the circle, Beth realized with a sinking heart that Dragar’s left arm was hanging at his side. The next time, Shock hit his leg again and this time he went down. With a high-pitched screech, the blue alien closed in but Dragar managed to roll away after slicing a long bloody streak down his opponent’s arm.

Still crouched on the ground, Dragar’s left arm was tucked into his stomach. Tears spilled down Beth’s cheeks but she couldn’t look away. He had to survive this fight; he had to come back to her. Shock came closer to her fallen warrior, launching two more bolts as he advanced. Each time, Dragar evaded the blasts by a tiny fraction. The alien drew back his hand a third time. A bright flash filled the arena, along with a keening cry. Blinded by the light, Beth blinked at the sands, trying to force her eyes to focus.

The blue alien was crumpled on the ground, Dragar’s still body next to him. Her heart stopped beating, every inch of her focused on the motionless figure far below. Dragar’s hand finally moved, followed by his leg and then he was pushing himself erect, his hand clenching a piece of blackened metal.

“I don’t understand,” she whispered.

“The belt. He used the metal belt to return the energy and overload the Oephosi’s system. Goddess, I could make millions with him.”

“Millions?” Rage coursed through Beth’s veins but it was abruptly forgotten as Dragar lifted his head toward their box. He moved slowly, but he was moving—alive. Her eyes filled with tears but she kept her gaze on his face. She raised her hand and placed it over her shoulder, feeling the clan mark on her back as she bowed her head. When she looked up, his eyes were blazing silver. He repeated her gesture and then turned to the tunnel, limping but upright.

Chapter Seventeen

Beth sagged on her cushion, elation and fear fighting for dominance. He had won but he was hurt.

“I have to go to him,” she demanded.

Kievan’s muscles were still tense and his voice was hard. “I should be very angry with you for that affecting little display. The only reason I don’t take you over my knee and beat you is because there aren’t any other Sardorans in the crowd.”

“Why are you so angry?”

“Because a Sardoran would have understood the bond between you—which would make you an obvious target for anyone out to hurt Dragar. It also calls my neutrality into effect and makes your appearance at my feet suspect.”

“I’m sorry. I just wanted him to know how I felt. Please let me go to him now.”

Kievan sighed and released his anger. “Very well, my pet. Although I assure you he would prefer to recover first.”

“I don’t care. Take me to him.” She had to see him, to examine his wounds, to know that he was all right.

J’Ssett appeared in the entrance to the balcony.

“I was just sending for—”

Before Kievan could finish, J’Ssett approached and leaned over to whisper in his ear. Kievan swore long and fluently. Bending quickly, he wrapped Beth’s cloak around her shoulders. She started to get up but he pressed her back down. “Stay here at my feet.”

She started to protest but his voice turned hard. “If you ever want to see your mate again, stay here at my feet. Keep your head bowed. Don’t react to anything I say. Do you understand?”

Frightened by his urgency, she nodded. His head tilted at a sound she couldn’t hear. He forced her head down and she huddled against his legs as he sprawled back in his chair, looking totally relaxed. J’Ssett slipped quietly behind a curtain.

From the corner of her eye, Beth saw three men enter the balcony. The first was tall and slender, with red skin and dark hair. Even with her limited view, she could see small black horns curling from his forehead. The resemblance to Earth images of the devil was unmistakable and she had to control a shudder, pressing closer to the warmth of Kievan’s legs. The man was dressed in a tunic and pants of a rich crimson and black brocade that swirled hypnotically. The two men behind him were large and solid, concealed head to foot in armor. The armor was solid matte black except for a red crest on each pectoral plate.

“Kievan Rus,” the first man said. His voice was smooth, but Beth had to conceal another shudder as she felt the cold rolling off of him. Unlike Kievan’s crystalline ice, this man felt like a barren wasteland, endlessly bare and freezing, but overlaid with a sadistic cruelty that made her skin crawl.

“Your Highness. An unexpected pleasure. To what do we owe this honor?” Kievan sounded the same as always, cold and slightly mocking, but she could feel the tension in the muscles of his legs.

The man shrugged. “We stopped for supplies and I decided to sample your…entertainment.”

“I hope you found it satisfactory.”

“Quite.” The man paced to the edge of the balcony, staring down at the empty sands. “The last fighter was quite impressive.” Her palms dampened as she realized that he was talking about Dragar.

Kievan responded with his usual calm. “I have always thought so.”

The man turned back toward them, leaning casually against the railing. “It occurs to me that my own stable has become somewhat limited. I wish to purchase him.”

“Unfortunately, he’s not a permanent part of my stable. He’s working off a debt.” Kievan reached down and stroked Beth’s hair as he spoke.

The man straightened and his two guards moved closer. “That’s not really my concern. Most things are available—for the right price.”

Kievan’s hand moved to her shoulder.

“Of course, your highness. I assume you realize that the right price would be quite high?”

Could he really be considering this? Beth jerked but Kievan’s hand clamped down. Unfortunately, the slight movement attracted the man’s attention.

“A new pet?”

“Yes. I’m still training her.” Kievan pulled her up into his lap, keeping the cloak around her, and fastened a possessive hand over her breast.

“Hmm.” Beth could feel the man watching her and she forced herself to stay calm in Kievan’s hold. “Look at me, pet.” His voice was demanding and she had to fight the sudden urge to turn to him. What the hell was wrong with her? She managed to keep her eyes down. The man shrugged lightly when she didn’t respond. “Perhaps we can do more business when you are through with the training.”

Kievan nodded. “We’ll see if she turns out to be worthy of your attention. But I believe we were discussing price?”

“I have…friends who could arrange for a supply of Bliss stones. There would be a percentage due on each shipment but any remaining profit would be yours.”

“How large a supply?”

“Fifteen per cycle.”

“Twenty-five.”

The man shook his head and his eyes narrowed. “You’re really not in a position to negotiate, are you? It would be unfortunate if anything happened to this delightful little enterprise you have here.”

Kievan laughed but she could feel his rage beating at her. “Very unfortunate.”

“Good. We understand each other. Have him at my ship within the hour.” The man hesitated, and Beth could feel his eyes on her again. “Send word when she is trained.”

The three men left and Beth immediately started struggling against Kievan. He didn’t have Dragar’s massive bulk but he held her just as easily.

“Hush. I’m thinking.” He stared at the empty arena, frowning

“You can’t sell him to that man.”

“Actually, I could.” His eyes turned cold as he looked down at her sprawled across his lap. Beth was burningly aware of his hand on her breast. He stroked his thumb across the peak and she felt her nipple tighten in response.

“Damn you, stop that.”

He laughed, but it wasn’t an amused laugh. “It would be very easy to sell Dragar to Prince Ustrod. It would make me a lot of money. And I’m rather tempted by the idea of keeping you.” He pinched her hardened nipple. She couldn’t help shivering. “You’re a responsive little thing.”

“I don’t want you. I want Dragar.” Tears gathered in her eyes. “I would hate you.”

His voice hardened. “Is that supposed to deter me? Your feelings are of no consequence to me.”

A tear slipped free and rolled down her cheek. Kievan’s mouth tightened. He squeezed her breast firmly with his long, strong fingers before he dropped his mouth over hers. Remembering Dragar’s reaction to her struggles, Beth didn’t pull away but she forced her body to remain limp and unresponsive.

He lifted his head and something glinted in his eyes. “I could make you submit to me. I might not even have to use the Bliss stones.”

The memory of her unwilling arousal made her shiver. How long could she hold out against that?

“And then what? Give me to Prince Ustrod?” she said defiantly, but she could hear her voice shaking.

Kievan frowned and shook his head. “It would be a shame to go to all that work and then have to pass you over to his highness.” He stood up, holding her against him for a second before placing her firmly but gently on her feet. “Come.”

“Where are we going?”

“If I’m going to get the two of you off my station before the Prince comes looking, we need to move quickly.”

She gaped at him, stunned by his sudden capitulation, but he had already turned away. J’Ssett appeared and Kievan issued hasty instructions on getting Dragar to the ship. The small alien nodded, his face as imperturbable as ever, but Beth could see his hand tremble slightly as he raised it to his ear and started tapping out his communication.

Leaving J’Ssett on the balcony, Kievan tugged her behind one of the curtains and pressed a hidden switch. A door opened in the paneling, revealing a tiny chamber.

“Come on.” He tugged again.

“In there?” She stared at the dark opening.

“Unless you would rather stay here?” He was back to his usual mocking self.

Biting her lip, she stepped inside. He followed immediately. The small circular room was so tiny that she was pressed against him. He put an arm around her waist but she didn’t have room to pull away.

“Hold on.” The bottom dropped out of the room and they plummeted downward. Beth gasped and grabbed hold of Kievan with both hands. She could feel him chuckle and his arms tightened around her. Plastered against his body, she could also feel a definite erection and she prayed that he was really going to release them. The downward pace suddenly slowed and they hit bottom with only a minor thud. They stood in the darkness for a brief second, bodies still pressed together, and she heard him sigh.

“I’m going to regret this.” She thought as she felt his lips brush her hair, and then the door opened. They were in one of the dingy corridors close to the docking bay. Kievan released her waist but grabbed her hand and strode rapidly down the deserted corridor. She struggled to keep up with him.

By the time he led her into the dock where their ship was parked, she was breathless. The bay, too, was deserted. Before she could panic, the door opened again and Dragar appeared. He was still covered in blood but he was walking. She tried to go to him but Kievan still had hold of her hand. Dragar’s eyes whitened and he growled, “Let go of her.”

Kievan held her a moment longer as Dragar prowled toward them but finally released her. As soon as he did, she threw herself against Dragar’s broad chest. His strong arms closed round her and he gave her a hard, possessive kiss. He froze suddenly and sniffed. When he raised his head, his eyes were paling.

“What did you do?” He glared at Kievan.

“Nothing.” Kievan shrugged but his body was poised and ready. “Prince Ustrod paid me a visit.”

“Did he touch you?” Dragar demanded, staring down into Beth’s eyes. His hands clamped down on her shoulders.

“The prince?”

“No, Kievan.” His fingers were hard on her shoulders but Beth didn’t think he was angry with her. How much should she tell him? Kievan was still tense and waiting.

Beth bit her lip. “He held me when the prince was there. And in the elevator.” Dragar growled and started to raise his hands. She grabbed them and placed a swift kiss on each one. “It’s fine. He was a gentleman.”

Kievan raised a somewhat mocking brow but his tension eased. Dragar’s eyes darkened. “I don’t like his scent on you, little one.”

“It doesn’t need to be now that you’re here.” She smiled and he kissed her again.

“We really don’t have time for that,” Kievan drawled.

“What’s happening?”

“As I was saying, Prince Ustrod paid me a visit. He wants to buy you from me.”

“You don’t own me.”

“That didn’t seem to bother him.” Kievan looked at Dragar. “I wonder why he’s so interested.”

Dragar shook his head. “I have no idea.”

“Interesting. He gave me an hour to produce you. I suggest you depart immediately.”

“What’s going to happen to you when you don’t send me to him?”

Kievan contemplated his nails. “It will probably be unpleasant. But I have a couple of downed guards and an appropriately bloody trail. Since he was so impressed by your fighting skills, he shouldn’t be too surprised by your escape.”

“Maybe I should stay. Together we could convince him that he doesn’t want me.”

A sudden fierce grin crossed Kievan’s face. “Tempting. But where princes travel, Imperial Guards are not far behind. I have no desire to see my station blown to pieces.”

Dragar hesitated and Kievan sighed. “Take your mate and leave. I should mention that Prince Ustrod also expressed an interest in her. He wants me to let him know when she has been trained.”

Dragar growled and pulled Beth back against his chest.

“Exactly.” Kievan nodded. “Now go.”

“Thank you, my friend.” Releasing Beth, Dragar extended his hand to Kievan. The other man looked startled but stepped forward and clasped his arm. “If things get too hot for you here, come find me.”

“On that primitive new planet?” Kievan shuddered slightly. “Not appealing.”

Dragar laughed and turned to the ship. Before he could head for the ladder, Beth stepped toward Kievan. She looked at Dragar. “Stay there.”

Not waiting for his response, she reached up and kissed Kievan lightly on the cheek. “Thank you,” she said softly.

His face softened slightly. A twisted smile crossed his face, even though they could both hear Dragar starting to growl again. “If you get tired of him, just let me know.”

She only had time to grin at him before Dragar snatched her away, threw her over his shoulder, and started up the ladder. Beth raised her head enough to wave at Kievan before she smacked Dragar’s butt.

“I can climb a ladder by myself, you know.”

He growled and kept climbing. Inside the cabin, he dropped her unceremoniously into the co-pilot’s chair and fastened the restraints.

“As soon as we are away from here, you will remove his scent.”

“Are you jealous?”

“Do I need to be?” He was setting the controls and didn’t look at her. Beth reached over and laid her fingers over his.

“Never. I love you, Dragar.”

She felt the tension leave his fingers. “I love you too, little one.” He squeezed her hand and placed in back in her lap. “But you’re still taking a shower.”

Chapter Eighteen

As soon as the ship left the station, Dragar sent Beth to the san. Their mating bond was still too new; Kievan’s scent on her scraped at his nerves. He watched the controls but there were no signs of pursuit. The possibility that Keivan had tricked them—sending them off the station so that he could disclaim responsibility—crossed his mind but he discarded it. For whatever reason, Kievan had decided to help them. He just hoped the price Kievan would have to pay for assisting them wouldn’t be too high.

“Is he going to be all right?” Beth’s question echoed his thoughts. She stood behind him and slipped her soft arms around his neck. He smiled as her sweet scent enveloped him, no longer tainted by the other man.

“I don’t know. He’s very clever and he has a lot of connections. But challenging a member of the Royal House is always dangerous.”

“Why did the prince want you?”

“I have no idea,” he admitted. “I have heard rumors that he has his own fight pit. It’s certainly not unheard to coerce someone to fight, but they don’t usually trouble Sardorans.”

“Maybe he was just impressed by how amazing you are.” Beth’s voice was a low purr as she started nibbling her way along his neck. His cock, already half-erect from her soft touch and delectable fragrance, sprang to full attention. He spun around and pulled her into his lap.

“What are you wearing?” His voice deepened. A band of red fabric circled her hips, starting low on her waist and ending high on her thighs. Another band clung to her breasts but did little to conceal the pert mounds or the puckered nipples thrusting against the thin cloth.

She giggled. “Someone left me a package of clothes. There are a few new things, plus everything I wore on the station—including the chain outfit.”

Apparently he could get harder. Then he frowned. “I should provide for you.”

“Do you want me to take this off?” She ran her fingers across the top of the breast band, pushing it down until it caught on the ripe bud of her nipple. He put his hand over hers, groaning as he felt the plump peak press against his fingers.

“I need to set the autopilot first.”

“Mm.” She nestled back against him, tracing the edge of his vest. Her fingers moved more and more slowly and he felt her tension even before she spoke. “Dragar, who was Ingirun?”

The fear he hadn’t felt in the arena settled over him. He had left this part out when he had told her about Trillium.

“She was a warrior.”

“And you were going to claim her?”

“We were in negotiations,” he admitted.

“Did…did you love her?” Her voice trembled.

He sighed, trying to decide how to explain, and felt her begin to pull away as she misinterpreted his reaction. His hands tightened. “No, little one. I didn’t love her.”

“But you were negotiating a claim?”

“It was an advantageous match. Her clan had a long history.” He wondered if Beth had any idea how much that would have meant to him at that point in his life. To have gone from homeless child to an alliance with one of the highest ranked clans on Sardor. “And I wanted a mate, a home.”

He raised her chin, his heart hurting when he saw the tears in her eyes. “But she would never have been my true mate. I know that now. I love you, Beth, more than I ever realized was possible.”

A watery smile broke through before she bit her lip. “What happened to her?”

“As Kievan so kindly pointed out, she was part of the contingent on Trillium. I told her to leave and she refused. We argued.” He didn’t tell her that Ingirun had accused him of cowardice and dishonor. “Even if she had survived, there would have been no further negotiations. But I should have found a way to save her.”

“Oh, Dragar. You can’t save everybody.” She pulled his head down and kissed him so sweetly that his pain and guilt drifted away. When at last he raised his head, they were both smiling.

She settled back into his arms. “So, where are we going?”

The question startled him. He hadn’t really thought about it; he had just planned on resuming course for Sardor Two. Working for Jakkar wouldn’t be as profitable as taking a mercenary contract, but at least Beth would be with him. Now her question made him think again. Was that really where he wanted to go? Where he needed to go? He turned the options over in his mind.

“I want to take you to Sardor.” he said finally.

“Sardor? Why?”

“I want to record our mating.”

“What?” Beth shot up straight. “Rianen told me that our mating wouldn’t be recognized.”

“Perhaps not.” Her eyes were wide and frightened and he smiled at her. “But it should be. I intend to speak to that effect.”

“Speak?”

“In the Place of Judgment.”

“But…but if they don’t recognize it, couldn’t they declare you Outcast again?”

“They could. But it doesn’t matter.” He tried to find the words to explain. “Last time I thought I had made the right decision but I wasn’t sure. I doubted myself and I didn’t fight the sentence. This time I know I’m right. I love you. You are my mate and I want everyone to recognize that. I will fight for you.”

“But what if you lose?”

“Then I will be declared Outcast again.” He sighed. “It will hurt me but not as much as it would hurt me to know that I didn’t fight for you.”

Her eyes filled with tears and she stroked his scarred cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, little one. As soon as I set the autopilot, I’m going to prove just how much.”

Dragar opened the view screens as the ship approached Sardor, and Beth stared in silent fascination at the approaching planet. It was both like and unlike the pictures she had seen of Earth from space. She could recognize land masses but these were heavy and dark, ranging in color from bronze to black. The oceans were pale, swirling sheets of gray and green. Instead of white clouds, the planet was veiled by streaks of red mist, deepening to an opaque crimson over several large areas. There was a harsh beauty to the sight but she shivered, suddenly aware of how far she was from everything she had ever known. Dragar had been watching her face and pulled her over into his lap. She cuddled against his warm body and took comfort in his strength.

They sat in silence as the planet grew larger until, at last, a voice broke into the quiet cabin demanding identification.

“Chief Dragar, Clan Leijona,” Dragar responded. He followed by reeling off a series of identification numbers.

There was a long silence. Dragar’s hand tightened on the armrest.

“Permission to land granted. Proceed to Ballara Spaceport.”

“I intended to land directly at Leijona Home.”

Another long silence. “Are you alone?”

The armrest started to bend. “No. My mate is with me.”

“Proceed to Ballara Spaceport. Sardor Control out.”

“What’s going on?” Beth whispered.

“I don’t know. The only two people who know that you are with me are Jakkar and Kievan.” He sighed. “Damn. I hoped to keep this quiet until it was time to make my claim, but it looks like it’s too late for that.” He looked down at her frightened face and hugged her. “Don’t worry, little one. Everything will be fine.”

She tried to smile but it must not have been much of an effort. Dragar ran a finger down her cheek, then bent his head and kissed her until the only thing that existed was his mouth on hers. By the time he lifted his head, her smile was genuine.

Reluctantly she returned to her chair and strapped in for the landing. As at Sigrast, control of the ship was handed to a landing beacon as soon as they were within range. Beth caught brief glimpses of towering black mountains against a reddish sky before they flew into the top level of a vast hangar complex. The ship slid quietly to a halt.

“Come on, little one.” Dragar helped her out of the chair. He hesitated at the airlock and she lifted a brow.

“Are you going to let me climb down by myself?”

“I don’t want to but I want my hands free.” He reached into the locker next to the door and removed his weapons. Speechless, she watched as he strapped on a shoulder holster in addition to his usual knives.

“You’re not making me feel any better.”

“We’re planet-side now. This is my usual gear.”

“Maybe you should give me one since I’m dressed as a warrior.”

Dragar looked her up and down with the slow warmth that heated her blood. Kievan had provided her with an outfit much like Rianen’s with tight leather pants and a laced halter but the leather was a soft silvery shade.

“Nothing can make you look like a warrior, little one. You’re far too delectable.”

She blushed and he cupped her cheek before opening the airlock. He took two steps down the ladder and then leaned back far enough that she could climb down beneath him. During the rest of the brief descent, he kept his body between her and the rest of the hangar. His protection was comforting but the fact that he felt the need to do so was not.

At the bottom, he turned, keeping her tucked against him. The hangar was a vast space, with reddish light flowing in from high windows in the walls. She could hear activity from one end but the area where they had landed was quiet. Their boot heels rang on the metal floor as they crossed to a large curved opening. Through the arch, a gate barred their passage, with a glass enclosed booth to one side. A Sardoran warrior stood inside, frowning at them.

“Chief Dragar. Who is this female? I don’t recognize the species.”

“This is Beth. She is human. She is my mate.”

The man’s frown remained. Beth lifted her chin as he studied her, taking in the outfit and flicking over her mating cuffs. “That’s not possible. Unless you have a business contract with her, you must declare her as a slave.”

Dragar growled. “She is my mate. I have come to record my claim—and to make a statement in the Place of Judgment.”

The guard shook his head. “It is forbidden for her to enter. If you do not declare her as your slave, then she will be held as a prisoner.”

“I will not be separated from her.” Dragar’s hand moved to his holster and the guard paled. He made a furtive movement and little red lights suddenly appeared on the inside of the arch. Beth’s throat was dry. This was not going well.

“Maybe I should go with them,” she whispered. “You can make your argument and come back and get me.”

“It’s not going to happen.” He wouldn’t even look at her so she slipped in front of him, keeping away from the holster.

“Dragar, I can live with being in jail. I can’t live with you getting killed because of me.”

He gave her one quick glance. His eyes had paled but his smile was as gentle as ever. “I’m not letting you go, little one.”

A lump filled her throat but she nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“What does she have on her back?” the guard suddenly demanded.

Startled, Beth looked over her shoulder at the man. He was staring at her back. “It’s my clan mark.”

“You went through the Claiming Ceremony?”

“Yes,” Dragar said. “I told you she was my mate. We performed the full traditional ceremony. I even have a witness.” Despite the gravity of the situation, his lip curved.

“Which is why you are here to record the claim?”

“That’s what I said. Are you going to let us proceed?”

There was a moment of silence. Beth could see the man’s lips moving but couldn’t hear any words. Apparently the booth could be sound proof when necessary.

“You will wait here,” the guard ordered. He raised his hand when Dragar started to object. “Someone is coming for you. It will not be long.”

Dragar subsided, although his body remained tense. Beth moved closer and he tucked her under his arm, keeping his other hand on his weapon.

“What’s happening?” she whispered.

He raised a shoulder. “I assume they are sending a welcoming committee.”

Looking down at her worried face, he smiled. “Do not be concerned. If they are coming to tell me that I’m not welcome, it gives me an opportunity to convince them.”

“We could leave and you could try again from Sardor Two.”

“If I have to, I will. But you deserve this, little one. So we will wait.”

Chapter Nineteen

The wait seemed interminable, but it couldn't have been more than a few minutes before Dragar stiffened. Through the gateway, she could see a small group of Sardorans approaching, led by a large bronze warrior. As soon as they were close enough to recognize, Dragar relaxed.

“Open the gate,” the stranger demanded.

“Are you taking responsibility, Controller Jakkar?” the guard asked.

“Of course. Chief Dragar is a valued member of Clan Leijona. I have never had reason to doubt his honor.” Jakkar looked directly at Dragar as he spoke and Beth felt the slight shudder that ran through his body, although he maintained his usual stern expression.

“Very well.” The guard opened the gate and they stepped through.

Dragar walked through without another glance at the man, keeping Beth against his side until they reached the small group of warriors. Dragar and Jakkar clasped arms and she could feel the affection between them.

“It is good to see you, my friend,” Jakkar said before looking at her. “Apparently you have returned from Earth with more than just news.”

“I did,” Dragar said proudly, and drew her forward. “This is my mate, Beth.”

Beth started to extend her hand, but Dragar immediately pulled her back against his side.

Jakkar laughed. “I am pleased to meet you, Beth.”

“Not that I’m not pleased to see you,” Dragar said. “But what are you doing here, Jakkar?”

“When I received your message, I realized that I should have done the same thing long ago. I also thought that some assistance might be helpful.” He gestured at the other warriors. “The rest of our squad agreed.”

Each warrior came up to Dragar and clasped his arm while he murmured his thanks, shooting brief, curious glances at Beth in the process. None of them said anything to her and she felt curiously shy, although they were projecting nothing more than curiosity, spiked with harmless lust, and a very obvious respect for Dragar.

“We should go,” Jakkar said, gesturing to the passageway leading away from the port. “If I know my little human, she is already fretting about our return.”

“You brought Anna?”

“And Kylesh.” Jakkar smiled. “I have opened Leijona House for the occasion so as not to wake the entire city when she cries.”

“What do you mean…your human?” Beth asked, frowning.

“My slave, of course.” He winked at Dragar and both men laughed. Beth stopped dead in her tracks.

Dragar immediately turned to her. “Do not worry, little one. He was joking. Jakkar is every bit as much Anna’s slave as she is his.”

“He is quite correct,” Jakkar said. “I’m sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you.”

Beth couldn’t detect any malicious feelings from the large warrior, so she nodded and slipped her hand into Dragar’s, following quietly as they resumed their walk. Two men moved automatically to the front of the small party, while the rest clustered around them. The men discussed the Serigali maneuvers but she paid little attention as they walked through another gate, this one open, and emerged on a landing overlooking the city.

Ballara spread out before them. It wasn’t large, especially compared to many human cities, nestled in a bowl between black stone hills. She could see people and vehicles moving but the city had a curiously deserted air and she wondered how it would feel to know that your planet was dying. Directly across from them, the hills became sharper and more jagged and she knew instinctively that the Place of Judgment lay there. She shivered and focused on the rest of the city instead.

Wide steps led down from where they stood to a plaza at the bottom. From there a broad avenue stretched across the city to what looked like a cluster of government buildings. Retail establishments clustered along the main avenue, but behind them small walled estates rose in concentric circles towards the surrounding hills. None of the buildings were more than five or six stories tall, all carved out of the same black rock that surrounded them. The brutal severity was broken only by frequent patches of greenery and the lush gardens that surrounded each house.

Dragar led the way down the steps and the entire party entered a large vehicle that lifted quietly away from the ground. Beth bit back a gasp and clung to Dragar’s hand as it accelerated rapidly. Everyone remained standing, talking easily, despite the speed and the sudden movements, as she desperately tried to keep her balance. Dragar saw her struggle and tucked her safely against his side as the city whizzed by, too fast for her to absorb.

The vehicle finally stopped and they exited in front of a high stone wall, a large gate the only break in the expanse. Jakkar exchanged a few words with an unseen guard and the gate opened, revealing one of the verdant gardens she had seen from the hill. With another clasp of Dragar’s hand, and a nod to Beth, their companions disbursed, heading for the rows of barracks that lined the inside walls. Jakkar led the way to the main house, winding along a narrow path through exotic, fragrant shrubbery. Four stories tall and with no windows on the ground floor, it didn’t appear welcoming at first glance; however, she could see large arched windows and small balconies on the upper floors.

Jakkar took them through a set of doors that must have been at least a foot thick, into a small hallway which made two sharp turns before ending at the base of a narrow, winding stair. Dragar laughed at her confused look.

“Siege tactics,” he explained. “This house was designed when battles between Clans could become violent.”

“But that doesn’t happen now?”

“Once we realized that our planet was dying, those petty feuds became unimportant.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly, squeezing his hand.

“Don’t be. Everything has its cycle.”

“Are you going to stand here and philosophize all day or can we continue?” Jakkar demanded.

Dragar laughed. “You’re just in a hurry to see your mate.”

‘Wouldn’t you be?”

“Always,” Dragar said, and bent down to give Beth a long, slow kiss. She melted into him, her pussy beginning to pulse, before she remembered Jakkar. Her nipples tightened but she pulled back, only to look around and see that they were alone.

“Where did he go?”

“Probably to do the same thing we were just doing.” He gave her nipples a teasing pinch. “We should go before I ravage you here in the hall.”

When she gave their surroundings a speculative look, he laughed and pushed her gently toward the stairs. She loved seeing him like this, almost light-hearted, and she silently thanked Jakkar for coming to support them.

The barren military appearance stopped at the top of the stairs, an ornate archway leading into a large living room scattered with comfortable furniture in soft jewel tones. Jakkar had a curvy human woman backed against a wall, kissing her as thoroughly as Dragar had predicted. One hand curved possessively around her bottom and he was sliding his hand toward her breast when Dragar coughed. The woman jumped and pushed Jakkar away before rushing over to embrace Beth in a warm hug. The impact of her emotions washed over Beth, but she picked up only warmth and caring.

“I’m so happy to see another human again!” When she pulled back, her big, golden-brown eyes were damp. “I’m Anna.”

“Hi. I’m Beth.”

“I love your outfit,” Anna said, and Beth blushed despite the sincerity in her words. Next to Anna’s lush curves, she felt like a schoolboy in her slim leather pants and halter. Anna rushed on. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t come with Jakkar to meet you. We left Sardor Two in a hurry and I swear my assistant is incapable of independent thought. I was too busy making sure I had everything that Kylesh needed to make sure she understood what to do. But it’s all taken care of now.”

“Your assistant?” asked Beth, a little dazed by the flow of words.

Anna giggled. “It’s silly really. I’m quite capable of organizing the land claims by myself but Jakkar worries that taking care of Kylesh as well is too much for me.”

“You need your rest,” the big warrior said firmly as he stepped up behind his mate and tucked her against his side.

Anna rolled her eyes at Beth but she could see how the other woman nestled back against her mate. Before she even had a chance to feel neglected, Dragar mimicked Jakkar’s actions, the warmth of his body surrounding her. Anna gave her a knowing smile, before pushing Jakkar away again.

“Come with me. I’ll show you to your room and you can meet Kylesh.”

Beth gave Dragar an uncertain look, but he nodded, kissed her softly, and sent her off with Anna.

“You have a beautiful baby,” Beth said, as Anna put the now sleeping baby back in her crib. She had been entranced by the tiny infant with the mop of gold hair and shimmering Sardoran skin.

“Thank you.” Anna looked at Beth speculatively. “You know; the doctors were convinced we wouldn’t be able to have children. Then when Kylesh was born, they said it was a one in a million chance.”

Beth looked at her, trying to decide how she felt about the implications. Finally, she smiled. “I understand. It would be wonderful to have a baby with Dragar.” A lump pushed its way into her throat. “But if it doesn’t happen, that won’t change the way I feel about him.”

Anna shook her head. “I’m glad, but that’s not where I was going. As it turns out, I’m pregnant again.”

“You are? Congratulations!”

“Thank you. You’re the first to know. I didn’t want to tell Jakkar until after we were here because he would have gotten all protective and refused to bring me.” She hesitated. “But my point is—I’m no longer convinced that it’s all that hard for a Sardoran to get a human woman pregnant. And if the two of you are as…enthusiastic as Jakkar and I are…”

“Oh.” Beth realized that her hand had dropped to her stomach. The other woman watched her, eyes sympathetic.

Beth frantically tried to count days in her head. Could that be right? She counted again. Oh god. She started to laugh.

“What?”

“Do you realize that less than three weeks ago I was at a gallery opening in Seattle…and now I’m on a strange planet somewhere in the universe and I might be pregnant with an alien baby? Could my life be more like a supermarket tabloid?”

Anna laughed as well but as they quieted, Beth’s eyes filled with tears.

“Are you all right?” Anna asked.

“Yes. A little scared. I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

“There might not be anything to be ready for. Jakkar and I were together for several months before I got pregnant the first time. I think we need to find out about Sardoran birth control.”

“We?” She couldn’t help teasing. “Haven’t you heard of the proverbial horse and the barn door?”

Anna rolled her eyes. “Yes. And I’m thrilled to be having another child. However, I might want to take a break after this one. Since I have no intention of discontinuing my, umm, marital duties, birth control seems to be a necessity.”

“Damn, I should have asked Rianen.”

“Rianen?”

“She’s a Sardoran warrior that I met. I’m sure she could have told me.”

“Since she’s not here, we will need to ask our men. Unless you’re planning on celibacy until you find out?”

A slow blush heated Beth’s cheeks. “I would rather not.”

Anna jumped to her feet. “Then let’s go ask.”

“Together?”

“Why not? I need to tell Jakkar, anyway. And if you wait until you’re alone with Dragar—”

“I might get distracted,” Beth finished for her. The two women smiled at each other and Anna led the way back into the other room.

Dragar and Jakkar were sitting on the balcony and looking out over the city to the mountains beyond. Dragar laughed at something Jakkar said and Beth felt a little pang as she realized how content he seemed. How could he risk giving up this feeling of companionship, of family? But then again, Jakkar was taking the same risk.

The men looked up as the women approached. Anna slid happily into Jakkar’s lap. Beth blushed but took Dragar’s hand and curled up with him. She wasn’t used to being with him around other people but it always felt right to touch him. He bent down and kissed her and she stopped worrying about anyone else.

“I missed you,” he whispered.

“I was only in the other room.”

“Much too far away.” He curved his hand over her breast. Cheeks flaming, she pushed his hand away and sat up straighter. However, when she shot an embarrassed glance at the other couple from underneath her lashes, she saw that Jakkar had actually slipped his hand into Anna’s gown to caress her nipples. The other woman moaned softly and Beth looked away, discomfited and aroused.

Dragar studied her pink face and peaked nipples. “I believe it is time to say good night.”

He stood up and threw her over his shoulder. She heard Anna start to call out but her words dissolved in another moan and Beth raised her head enough to catch a glimpse of Jakkar’s hand pulling Anna’s gown up over her legs.

Dragar strode impatiently through the halls, stopping only to lock their bedroom door before throwing her onto the bed. He stepped back to remove his clothes and she watched appreciatively as he stripped away his vest to reveal the muscled expanse of his chest. But as she raised up on one arm to get a better view, Anna’s words came floating back.

“Dragar, do Sardorans have birth control?”

He froze, one hand on his belt. He had been watching her but now his gaze dropped to the floor and she couldn’t read his expression. She was about to prompt him again when he finally spoke.

“There are options,” he said slowly. “Usually warriors—male and female—have implants when they are under contract.”

Beth tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her chest. “So you have an implant?”

“No, not for over a year. Mine expired while I was procuring the claim rights for Sardor Two. Since then—” He shrugged. “It didn’t seem necessary.”

“So I might be pregnant?” Her mouth started to curve up and she realized that her hand had dropped to her stomach.

“Yes. And you can’t have an implant if you have already conceived. Also, the implant is not designed for human physiology. It would have to be adjusted.” He wasn’t looking at her, his body still and tense.

“I think it would be at least another week before I’m due. How soon could a doctor tell?”

“Tell?” he asked absently. He didn’t even seem to be listening.

“If I’m pregnant.” What was wrong with him?

“Tomorrow. Our doctors can detect pregnancy within one cycle.” Startling her with how fast he moved, he dropped to his knees in front of her, bowing his head over her hands. “I’m so sorry, little one.”

“Sorry?” Her lip trembled.

“I didn’t think. I should never have taken the chance.”

A desolate hole opened in her stomach. He didn’t want a baby. Or maybe he just didn’t want to have a baby with her. What had she been thinking? Despite feeling as if she had spent her life waiting for him, they barely knew each other. Pulling her hands away, she stood up and paced to the balcony doors. The magnificent view started to blur before her eyes. Trying desperately to control her voice, she said, “Fine. I’ll go to the doctor tomorrow.”

“We’ll go.”

“That’s not necessary. You don’t have to be involved.” Her voice hardened as anger started to replace her sorrow.

There was a moment of silence behind her. “If that’s what you want.” She heard him leave the room and her anger disappeared in a wash of misery. She rested her head on the cool glass and let the tears come.

Chapter Twenty

Dragar strode into the main living room. How could he have been so foolish? True, they had all assumed that Kylesh had been a one in a million chance, but he had known it was possible. How could he have taken the chance with Beth’s safety? She was too tiny; she would never be able to give birth to a Sardoran baby. The thought of his little one’s body torn apart by childbirth was unacceptable.

Restlessly he paced back and forth, fighting the impulse to return to their room as the night wore on. He hated not being with her but she seemed so sad, sad and angry. She must blame him as much as he blamed himself. If she wanted him to stay away from her, he would—no matter what it cost him.

A door opened and he turned eagerly. Perhaps she had forgiven him. Instead, Jakkar entered the room. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have a little human of your own to play with now?”

Dragar turned away, unable to respond. After a minute he forced a casual response. “Why aren’t you with yours?”

“She’s hungry. I think I wore her out—and she needs to keep up her strength.” Jakkar’s voice was light but Dragar could hear the concern in it. His anxiety grew. Unable to keep still, he resumed pacing. When he looked up, Jakkar was watching him.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Jakkar’s words replayed in his head. “Why does Anna need to keep up her strength?”

A wide smile split Jakkar’s face. “She’s pregnant. We’re going to have another child.”

“Oh, no.” Dragar groaned, and dropped into a chair, burying his head in his hands.

“That’s not the reception I anticipated,” Jakkar said coldly.

“I’m sorry, my friend. I’m truly happy for you. It’s just I’m afraid that Beth might be as well and she is too small.” He looked up at Jakkar, eyes haunted. “I didn’t even consider the possibility. I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Is Beth upset?”

“Of course she is. I was careless with her safety.”

Jakkar frowned. “Is that what she said?”

He scowled at the other man, trying to remember if she had actually accused him. “No, but how could she not blame me?”

“What did she say?”

“Not much. I told her how sorry I was. But when I told her we could go to the doctor and find out, she didn’t want me there.”

Jakkar sat down on one of the couches and rubbed his chin. “That’s odd. Anna was so thrilled; she wanted me to go with her.”

“Beth doesn’t want me.”

There was a long silence before Jakkar spoke again. “Is it possible that she thinks you don’t want to be there?”

“What?”

“Most mated couples look forward to having children together. You seem to be appalled by the idea.”

“Of course, I’m not appalled. I would love for us to have a child.” His throat closed as he realized how much he wanted to see Beth with their child in her arms. “But I can’t stand the thought that anything could happen to her.”

“Dragar, believe me when I say that I understand. I couldn’t bear to be away from Anna when she was pregnant. If she had let me, I would have carried her everywhere. I almost tore the medical offices to shreds when she went into labor. I’m pretty sure I threatened to cut off Doctor Bergthor’s fingers if anything happened to her.” He hesitated. “But she was fine and now we have a beautiful daughter. And she is just as excited about this baby.”

“But Beth is so delicate.”

“Is she? She fought at your side. She befriended a female warrior. She handled Kievan Rus. She mated you in a traditional ceremony. She even had your clan mark inscribed on her. That doesn’t sound too delicate to me.”

A surge of pride raced through Dragar. Jakkar’s words were true. His little one had faced all of her trials with grace and strength. For the first time, he let himself feel the initial joy he had felt at the idea, before the joy had been swallowed by fear and guilt. Then he remembered her small figure standing in front of the window, hands clenched.

“Goddess, she does think I’m horrified by the idea.”

“Then I suggest you return to her and disabuse her of the notion.”

Dragar jumped up but paused before he left. “Thank you.”

The other man shrugged. “Maybe it was my turn to help you, my brother.”

Brother. The word echoed in Dragar’s head. They had been brothers once but he had pushed it aside with his shame. Even after he returned, he kept himself distant, unwilling to face the pain of losing that feeling again. And now he had it back—or perhaps he was the only one who hadn’t realized that he had never lost it. He inclined his head.

“Brother.” Dragar grinned. “Now go feed your mate.”

Their room was dark and silent. He could barely see Beth’s small body in the enormous bed. He undressed and slid under the covers, deciding not to wake her if she slept but unwilling to wait to hold her in his arms. He slid carefully across the sheets, only to find her huddled in a rigid ball at the very edge of the bed. She resisted when he tried to pull her close but he ignored her struggles. At least he tried. As always, her resistance started to inflame his body and he clamped her arms to her sides as his cock stiffened.

“Why are you here?” she hissed.

“Because you are my mate and you sleep with me.”

“I don’t want to sleep with you.” She squirmed against him and he rolled on top of her, keeping his weight off of her but not letting her move away. “Aren’t you afraid that you’ll get carried away? That you might make the terrible mistake of making love to me and accidentally getting me pregnant—if I’m not already?” Her words were angry but he could hear the underlying tears. Goddess, Jakkar was right.

“Little one, listen to me.”

“No, let me go.” She started to struggle harder. He groaned and rocked his erection into the warmth between her legs. She gasped and arched up in response but immediately pulled back. “Stop that.”

Sighing, he ordered the lights up to dim. The sight of her face, flushed and tear-stained, tore at him but he needed to see her.

“Little one, listen to me.” She shook her head and opened her mouth but he covered it with a firm but gentle hand.

“I’m sorry that I reacted the way I did. I was…I am…worried. You’re so small, too small to have a baby.”

Her eyes narrowed and she bit him. Startled, he pulled his hand away and she took advantage of his surprise to slip free and scramble out of their bed.

“Damn you, Dragar, you have done this for the last time. Don’t you realize how many times you have hurt me emotionally because you’re so damn worried about my size? I’m smaller that you because I’m a woman. But women have sex. Women have babies.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“You keep saying that, but you keep doing it anyway. What is it going to take to convince you that I can handle anything you can dish out?”

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I never thought I would be gifted with a mate, especially one as precious as you. I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you.”

For a moment her eyes softened, but then her anger returned. “I don’t believe you. If you’re going to stay here, I’m going to find somewhere else to sleep.”

His own rage surfaced. “You will do no such thing.”

“Why not?” She glared and turned away from him. His instincts took over. One hand seized her wrist and the other tore the flimsy nightgown from her body. The sight of her delectable naked body did nothing to cool his anger.

Her eyes widened. “Wh…what are you doing?”

Without bothering to respond, he grabbed her, threw her across his lap, ignoring her attempts to wiggle away, and delivered two hard smacks to her ass. The slaps echoed in the quiet room and she squeaked. Horrified, he stopped but he didn’t release her. His hand prints were a vivid pink against the creamy white of her sweet little ass. As he tried to find the words to apologize, he realized two things—he was rock hard and he could smell her arousal. He remembered how she had responded to him on Sigrast, even though he only given her two light strokes that time.

Now she squirmed across his lap, but he didn’t think she was trying to get away. Before he could change his mind, his hand came down twice more across those luscious curves. She jerked and caught her breath on a sob. He slid his hand between her legs. As he suspected, she was wet and swollen, pushing against his hand.

“I think you like this, little one.”

“No, I don’t.” The huskiness in her voice betrayed her.

“Do you want me to stop?”

“Y-yes?”

Praying that his hunch was correct, he spanked her again, delivering six more strokes before he stopped. Given the size of his hand and her small frame, her whole bottom was now flushed with color. He pushed her further over his knee, spreading her legs so he could confirm his suspicions. Her labia were flushed and damp and he could see the hardened nub of her clit peeking out from under its hood. He ran a teasing finger lightly over the impudent bud and saw the shiver cross her delicate back.

Lifting her up back up onto his lap, he saw her wince as her bottom landed on his thigh but he ignored the immediate feeling of guilt. He suspected that if he apologized now, she might indeed leave him. When he placed a gentle finger under chin and raised her face, her eyes were wet and her cheeks flushed, but the anger had disappeared.

“I know you are strong, little one. If you will try and have patience with my fears, I will do my best not to hurt you again.” He placed a hand across the slim curve of her stomach. “I can’t think of anything I want more than to have a child with you.”

Beth threw her arms around his neck, covering his face with kisses, before drawing back abruptly. “I don’t know for sure that I’m pregnant.”

Looking at her glowing face, Dragar knew he had made the right decision. He gave her a slow, wicked smile, and turned off the lights. “Then perhaps we should increase our chances.”

Beth caught her breath at the look on Dragar’s face, disappointed when he turned off the lights. “I want to see you.”

“And I want to see you—but I don’t want anyone else to have that pleasure.”

Before she could question him, he brought his hand to her breast, squeezing the small mound with an unyielding pressure that brought her arousal soaring back. She had never thought she would enjoy being spanked—and perhaps enjoy was not quite the right word—but she couldn’t deny that her body had responded. He rolled her nipple between his fingers, applying a firm pressure right on the edge of too much. She moaned and pressed into his hand.

“You will have to be quiet.”

“Quiet?” Her thoughts scattered as he slid his hand between her legs, using two thick fingers to spread her open so his thumb could tease her needy clit. She arched her back, trying to force him to apply more pressure. Instead, he gave a dark chuckle and rose with her in his arms.

“Not yet, little one.”

Before she could question him, he opened the doors and strode out onto the balcony. Ornamental screens blocked the sides but the front was open to the lush gardens below and she could see out across the far wall to the city spreading out before them. The balcony was in shadow but small lights twinkled along the garden paths and she could see lights shining in the barracks that lined the garden walls.

“What are you doing?” she whispered. A cool, flower-scented breeze swept across her body and she was suddenly, thrillingly, conscious that she was naked. Her already stiff nipples tightened until they ached.

He laughed again as he cupped her breast. “I thought you would enjoy this, my sweet little exhibitionist.”

Before she could protest, he turned her so that she faced outward and lowered her down so that her hands could grip the balcony rails. Her feet didn’t quite reach the ground but he remained behind her, supporting her body with an arm under her stomach.

“Dragar!” Panic and exhilaration warred for dominance and her breath came in excited little puffs.

“Ssh,” he soothed as he stepped closer, and she could feel the hard bar of his erection against the heat of her freshly spanked bottom. “No one will see you. No one will even look up here. As long as you are quiet.”

And with that, he grasped her hips in his hands and plunged into her with one long, hard stroke. As always, her body struggled to cope with the invasion and she bit her lip in an effort not to cry out. He paused for a fraction of a second to let her adjust, before starting a series of hard, demanding thrusts. The night air whispered across her exposed front, making her supremely conscious of her nudity as she clutched the railing with both hands. He felt even larger than usual, taking her from behind this way, and she began to shake as her climax approached.

Dragar curved over her, the warmth of his body against her back only emphasizing her exposed front, and whispered in her ear. “Do you like this, little one? Knowing that there are others below us, others who might look up and see you bent over before me? Who might see you naked and vulnerable, as you struggle to take my cock in your tight little pussy?”

As he spoke, a burst of laughter echoed across the garden. His naughty words and the thrill of possible discovery sent her over the edge and her body convulsed as a short, sharp cry escaped her lips. Dragar groaned and started pounding wildly into her pussy, his thrusts wild and erratic. All she could do was hold on, still quivering from her own climax, skating a fine edge of pleasure and pain as he went deeper, harder, until at last he exploded inside her, the warm rush of his seed sending her into a second shuddering climax.

Dragar collapsed over her, his hands slipping around to cradle her against his chest. His harsh breathing vibrated against her back and she nestled back into him as much as she could in the awkward position. A warm feeling of contentment spread through her sated body.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He gave a startled laugh. The resulting movement caused a pulsation in his still embedded cock and she clenched around him. With a muffled groan, he lifted her free and straightened up, cradling her against his chest as they slipped back through the curtains into their room. Without releasing her, he settled them onto the bed and kissed her gently.

“I am the one who should thank you.” Cupping her face in his big hands, he studied her in the dim light. “Thank you for giving me another chance. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for making me feel no longer alone.”

Tears sprang to her eyes as she reached out a finger to trace his scarred cheek. “I was just saying thank you for trusting me enough to push my boundaries.” Her mouth trembled but her smile was genuine. “But what you said is just as true for me. I thought I would spend my life alone, and now I have you. I love you, Dragar.”

“I love you, my Beth.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Beth couldn’t keep the smile off of her face despite the ordeal still ahead of them. They were going to have a baby. The doctor had been more than a little surprised, but quite certain. He had promised Dragar that the news would be kept quiet until after the trial. Her fingers tightened on Dragar’s arm and he stopped. He was still looking dazed and she realized that he hadn’t really expected it to happen so quickly.

“Are you sure you are happy that we are going to have a child?” she asked.

“Little one, I am thrilled. And scared.” He held up his hand as her eyes narrowed. “I know you will be fine but I am going to worry. Be patient with me.”

“As long as you keep making love to me like you did last night, I’m willing to put up with an occasional lapse.” She smiled at him from under her lashes, and then gasped as he pulled her hard against his chest. He bent to take her mouth in a slow, demanding kiss. She opened to him and melted against his body, enjoying the hard length of his erection pressing into her soft stomach. Tightening her arms around his neck, she wiggled closer, rubbing the hard points of her nipples against his chest.

“If you keep that up, I’m going to take you right here,” he growled. She relaxed against him, no thought of denial in her mind, but he reluctantly released her. “Little one, we are in a public tunnel.”

She blushed but a wave of heat swept through her and she swayed toward him. He shook his head. “This curiosity of yours will be the death of me. Come. We have an appointment to keep.”

The reminder splashed ice water over her rising desire. Biting her lip to keep it from trembling, she nodded and took his hand. They were walking through an ornately carved tunnel to the Place of Judgment. Dragar had explained that the long stone passageway emerged directly into the amphitheater. Most of the crowd would already be in place when they arrived.

As they approached the rock arch at the end of the tunnel, she could hear the noise of the crowd and feel the emotions starting to press on her. She stumbled and Dragar threw her a worried look.

“I’m all right,” she said quickly. “But there is a big crowd, isn’t there?”

“Yes. Are you sure you want to be here?”

“Of course, I do. I belong at your side.” She paused, trying to separate the emotions traveling over her. A lot of curiosity, some anger, and a little hatred—but not as much as she had feared. She relaxed a little. “I’m good. Let’s go.”

Jakkar and Anna were waiting at the entrance. Kylesh was cradled on Anna’s hip.

“You don’t have to do this,” Dragar told Jakkar.

“Yes, I do.” He looked at Anna and his face softened. “I want to.”

“Well?” Anna demanded. Beth smiled and the other woman let out a delighted squeak and hugged her. “Congratulations!” Beth returned her hug, tears trembling on her lashes, while Jakkar clasped arms with Dragar and congratulated him.

They were still smiling when a long note sounded from the arena. Together they stepped forward.

Bright sunlight beat down on them and Beth stopped, blinking as she tried to get her eyes to adjust. The Place of Judgment was just as it had appeared in her painting—a huge natural amphitheater carved out of jagged black rocks. The sky above was not solid white as it had been in her image, but covered with swirling red clouds. A hot, dry wind swept over them and she could smell the rock baking in the heat. They had emerged at one end of the great bowl, stepping out onto a natural slab of stone elevated above the surrounding rocks. Beyond the platform, Sardorans were packed into every open space. A semi-circle of men and women were seated at the far end and Beth felt her stomach knot at the sight. They were the Council of Elders.

As they moved to the center of the platform, one of the Elders stood.

“Controller Jakkar, why are you here? This session is to judge Chief Dragar’s actions.”

“Chief Dragar is here to be judged because he has claimed a human mate. I have also claimed a human mate.” Jakkar’s voice was strong and firm.

“We are aware. However, given your…reputation, we have allowed the claim. Chief Dragar, on the other hand...”

“Chief Dragar is my clan brother. He is an honorable warrior. Whatever decision you make with regard to him, I will accept on my behalf as well.”

The crowd muttered and Beth caught the flashes of approval. Dragar made a half step forward but Anna grabbed his arm. “We discussed this, Dragar. It is the right thing to do.”

“He was just supposed to speak on my behalf,” he protested.

“He is speaking on your behalf. As they say on Earth, he’s putting his money where his mouth is.” She laughed at his confused expression. “Your mate will explain later. Let him do this.”

While they were talking, the Elders had held a brief discussion. With obvious reluctance, the man who had protested sat back in his place.

Another man stood. “Chief Dragar, you have been accused of claiming a mate who is not of Sardoran blood.”

“I have.”

“You are aware that such a claim is forbidden.”

“I am.”

“Why have you defied our traditions?”

“Because she is my mate. The bond would have existed without the Claiming Ceremony but it would have been wrong to deny her the ceremony. The full ceremony was performed on Sigrast Station.”

“Yes.” The man’s face twisted in disapproval. “Kievan Rus was kind enough to advise us of the fact. Why have you returned here?”

“In order to record our mating—as is proper for every Sardoran warrior.”

“You are aware that we could declare you Outcast for this. The sentence would remain until you repudiated this human.”

“Then it would remain for the rest of my life,” he growled. “I will not put aside my mate because we have become too steeped in tradition to understand when circumstances have changed.” He gestured around the space. “This is our world, our home. But this world is dying. That does not mean that we are dying. We have lost many but that does not make us less. Thanks to Controller Jakkar, we have a new world, a new home. I believe that with that new world comes the opportunity to change our traditions. I have discovered that home is not just a place. It is where you belong. With your clan. With your mate.” His hand tightened over Beth’s. “I have found my home and I will not lose it again.”

There was moment of silence. One of the Elders stood. He regarded Beth with disdainful eyes. She glared at him and he looked shocked, then slightly amused.

“You mentioned that we have taken heavy losses. We need to rebuild our people. How can we even be certain that this race is truly compatible?” His deep voice rolled across the rocks.

Jakkar stepped forward again, leading Anna and Kylesh, but before he could speak the Elder waved his hand.

“Yes, yes. I understand that you have succeeded in fathering a child but our scientists have agreed that it was a rare phenomenon. One child does not disprove my point.”

“Make that two children.” Jakkar curved a possessive hand around Anna’s waist.

Dragar pulled Beth in front of him and repeated the gesture. “Make that three.” The pride and happiness in his voice was so obvious that tears sprang to Beth’s eyes as the arena exploded with comments. The Elder eyed them, then nodded and sat, conceding the point.

Another Elder stood. He didn’t even glance at Beth. “The ability to breed is hardly the only qualification required of a mate.” He managed to make it sound as if even discussing the subject was distasteful. “A true mate instills courage and discipline in her offspring.”

Activity to one side of the platform attracted Beth’s attention. With a jolt of surprise, she saw Rianen emerge from the group of warriors clustered there. She jumped up onto the rock and strolled casually across the broad space, stopping at Beth’s side and grasping her hand. “Little sister.”

Her greeting was easily heard across the crowded arena and a low buzz of comments resulted from the familiarity. Beth smiled at her and squeezed her hand.

Rianen turned to face the crowd. “Elder Anakol speaks of discipline. I can assure you that this human has immense discipline.” Grasping Beth’s shoulder, she turned her so that her back faced the audience. “Even though she is not a warrior, she chose to have Dragar’s clan mark inscribed on her—in the traditional way.” She swept Beth’s hair aside, revealing the intricate design. Another, much louder, series of comments erupted from the crowd.

As Beth swung back around, she saw the elder’s face darken. Was he angry? Rianen bent down and whispered in her ear. “Elder Anakol prefers the traditional ways; however, his mate refused to be marked this way and made him use the device instead.”

Beth cast a rueful glance in the man’s direction. “So he is going to hate me even more now?”

“You’d be surprised. He honors you for your choice.”

The crowd had quieted slightly and Dragar stepped forward. “My mate is also courageous. As Rianen says, she is not a warrior—but she stood by my side against twelve Serigali.” He paused for a just a second to savor the astonished faces. “She killed four of them.”

The crowd exploded. Out of the corner of her eye, Beth saw the elder return to his seat. Her heart thumping against her ribs, she waited. No one else stood up. Did that mean the questions were over? Was it time for the vote? Fighting her fear, she slid her cold hand into Dragar’s large, warm one. He tightened his grip and she felt the strength flowing off of him. Rianen was on her other side and Jakkar stood shoulder to shoulder with Dragar, Anna and the baby firmly within his arm. Together they looked out over the amphitheater. A sudden warmth surged through her and her fear disappeared. Whatever happened here, she had found the family she had always wanted.

Epilogue

2 months later

Beth stepped back from her easel and curved her hand over the slight bulge of her stomach. A tiny flutter responded to her movement and a smile split her face. Today was the first day she had felt the baby move. She couldn’t wait until Dragar got home so she could tell him. With a puzzled frown at the emerging painting, she crossed the large, sunny room to make a cup of tea.

The home that Dragar had built for them on Sardor Two had a remarkable resemblance to her cabin back on Earth—with a few Sardoran improvements. Skylights topped the large vaulted space but these were made out of an impenetrable crystal, as were the many windows that surrounded the room. He had also insisted on adding a large bedroom, a roomy bath with endless hot water, and a cozy nursery. Cradling her mug, she went to the nursery, eying the half completed mural with satisfaction. She had combined a rocky Sardoran landscape with a blue Earth sky, then scattered colorful animals among the rocks. Some were in full view, other half-hidden amongst the rocks pleased her. Dragar enjoyed finding the hidden ones and she was just contemplating where to place the next figure when she heard his distinctive footstep.

“Little one?”

“Coming.” She walked back to the main room, pausing a moment to enjoy the sight of a half-naked Dragar as he stripped off his leather vest. Since their mating bond had been approved and his status confirmed, he had assumed command of the battalion of soldiers assigned to protect Sardor Two as they prepared for the upcoming migration. He often spent the morning training with them and now his skin glistened in the warm sunlight. She couldn’t resist wandering over to run her hand over the broad sculpted expanse of his chest, stroking his scars with a loving hand, before letting her fingers trail down from his chest to tease his stomach. As always, he responded to her touch, his eyes darkening and his cock straining at the tight leather of his pants. Her fingers traced the growing bulge and he growled, putting his hand over hers and using her hand to massage his rapidly hardening shaft.

“Do you need me again?”

At her blush, he laughed and cupped her breasts over the thin fabric of her dress. Already swollen from her pregnancy, the sensitive flesh immediately responded to his touch, her nipples hardening against his palms. A needy ache began to pulse between her legs. The hormones running rampant through her body left her in a constant state of arousal, one that Dragar was more than happy to attend to. He lifted her into his arms and she wrapped her legs around him, moaning as the damp heat between her legs met the hard warmth of his ridged stomach. She squirmed, dragging the tight buds of her nipples across his chest.

He lifted her higher so that he could reach her mouth, parting her lips so he could tantalize her with slow, drugging kisses. The caress of his tongue against hers just ramped up her arousal and she wiggled impatiently, trying to slip her hand down to release his cock.

“Are you in a hurry, little one?”

“Yes. Please, Dragar.”

To her dismay, he lowered her to the ground, letting her feel every inch of hard muscle on the way. “I don’t have much time. I really just came home to eat.”

Her mouth dropped open. He’d never refused her before. Pregnancy enhanced rage flashed over her so quickly, she missed the teasing light in his eyes.

“You don’t want me now that I’m pregnant? Is that it?” Dismay filled his face and he stepped forward but she backed away. “Don’t you come near me, you…you… barbarian.” He frowned, his eyes starting to lighten, but she was too angry to care. “Just leave me alone.”

Part of her knew that she was acting irrationally but that part was buried beneath anger and hurt and frustrated lust. Without waiting for a response, she whirled and fled the cabin. Most of the homes in the new colony were built along a towering mesa on one side of a large lake. Dragar had built their house in the woods on the far side of the lake, close enough to visit easily but far enough away that the emotions of the others didn’t bother her.

As she stood on the porch, trying to let the calm beauty of the surrounding forest soothe her temper, she heard a loud roar from inside the cabin. Instinct took over and she started to run. Thick beds of orange moss softened her footsteps as she fled through the black trunks of the native trees. She heard Dragar behind her and her breath caught, a rising tide of excitement washing away the last of her anger. As his hand touched the back of her dress, she twisted to one side and heard the shoulder seam rip.

The silver vines that climbed the trees caught at her hair but she ducked and kept running, her throbbing clit a constant pulse between her legs as the thrill of the chase sent her arousal soaring. Dragar was right behind her as she slipped through a gap in the trees too narrow for him to follow. He growled and this time he caught enough of her dress to tear it open down her back. She felt the fabric fall away, leaving her in only a small pair of panties as she fled further into the forest.

Only temporarily delayed by the detour, he was right behind her again as she emerged into a small clearing at the base of the cliff. There was nowhere else to run and she backed up against the rock, her eyes wide and her pulse pounding. Deep down, she knew he would never hurt her, but now, watching him stalk across the clearing toward her, every inch a warrior, shivers of delicious dread raced down her spine. Her fingers clutched the rock wall, seeking support as her knees weakened.

“Never run from me,” he ordered, his voice a deep, rumbling growl that turned her nipples to stone. Despite the urge to escape, she didn’t move. “You think I’m a barbarian? Perhaps I should show you how much of a barbarian I can be. Is that what you want, little one?” Her mouth too dry to answer, she could only stare at him, supremely conscious of her almost naked body.

For a fraction of a second his face softened as he stepped closer. But then he pulled out his knife and her heart rate increased. “Don’t move.”

Despite her trembling legs, she managed to freeze in place. With slow precision, he slit the sides of her panties so they fluttered to her feet. He parted her folds with two thick fingers, sliding them between her legs before drawing them back. They could both see her arousal coating the digits before he raised them to his mouth and tasted the evidence.

Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes as they darkened with desire. “On your knees.”

Grateful to relieve the strain on her shaking knees, she sank down on the soft moss. Kneeling before him only made her more conscious of his size, but looking up at his face reassured her. Despite the stern warrior mask, she could tell how carefully he was watching her and her tension eased, leaving only excitement behind.

“Now open your mouth.”

At his order, she cast a nervous glance around the small clearing. They were alone but she knew that the warriors frequently hunted in these woods. What if someone stumbled across them? As the thought occurred to her, she actually felt the slickness between her thighs increase.

“But—”

“No talking.” With one hand he released his cock, using the other to tangle in her long hair and draw her forward. She had only a second to catch his wild scent before the broad head parted her lips. Usually when she pleasured him with her mouth, he let her take it slowly, clenching his fists while she licked and teased as she tried to accommodate his size. This time he simply kept thrusting until he hit the back of her throat, letting her choke for a second before he withdrew slightly. Now that he was seated, he put both hands in her hair, using it to guide her head as he fucked her mouth. Her nipples throbbed and her pussy ached, and her whole world narrowed to the thick shaft driving into her mouth. Her hands came up to cup her swollen breasts, trying to relieve the ache, and he gave a dark chuckle, never pausing in his stokes.

“That’s right, little one. Touch yourself while I take your mouth.”

She shuddered and he pressed deeper, further than he’d ever gone before. Her throat convulsed around the wide tip and he groaned, his pace increasing. Abandoning her breasts, she brought her hands to his hips, urging him deeper into her throat. She could feel his resistance and knew he was still tempering his strength but she pushed forward, taking as much as she could, swallowing repeatedly around the hard bar of flesh, until he exploded with a roar, sending jets of seed down her throat as she gulped desperately, trying to swallow it all.

As soon as the last drop left his cock, he pulled free. Before she had a chance to catch her breath, he laid back on the moss and lifted her over his body, tugging her down on his still erect cock. Pleasure spiked through her and she came, her tight channel fluttering wildly around his thick shaft as she gave herself over to the exquisite pleasure. When she regained her senses, he was watching her, eyes swirling with passion.

“You’re so beautiful. I love seeing you like this.”

With a start, she realized that he had positioned them so that she faced the woods. If someone emerged from the woods, they would see her whole naked body, her pussy stretched open around his cock, her breasts swollen and ripe. They both felt her channel clench and moisten. She tried to lean forward but he easily held her in place.

“Is that what you want, little one? For a hunting party to come upon us and see your luscious little body?”

She shuddered. Perhaps it was because Kievan had witnessed her deflowering, perhaps it was because she was an artist, used to watching others, but the thought of someone watching her still filled her with a strange excitement. Her hips jerked restlessly, trying to rub her throbbing bud against Dragar’s hard body. Instead, he slid his hands up her sides, rough palms leaving a trail of awakened nerves, until he could cup her aching breasts. He played, twisting and pinching the taut peaks until she was panting. Then with a last tugging pull, he abandoned her nipples, moving his hands to her hips and placing a thumb against her needy clit as he began raising and lowering her over his now fully erect cock. Without his restraining hands she could have leaned forward, but she didn’t, relishing the air on her exposed body.

“Play with those pretty little nipples.” She moaned and lifted her hands to her breasts, squeezing and tugging the ripe buds. “Harder.”

His words sent another spike of desire through her and she pinched harder, shooting spikes of pleasure straight to the aching flesh between her legs. The sliding sensation as he withdrew, the hard plunge as he entered her, the constant pressure against her clit, the fantasy of a watching audience but the reality of Dragar’s presence beneath her—they all combined to send her soaring. He pressed down on her swollen nub and she exploded, white light sheeting across her vision as her body convulsed, clamping down on his cock so hard she could hear him groaning through the roaring in her ears.

As soon as her body softened, he flipped them over, driving into her with hard thrusts that would have sent her flying across the moss if she hadn’t circled her legs around his hips, clinging desperately as her passion rose to meet his. One of his hands went to her shoulder, the other to her hip, holding her down so she couldn’t move, only tilt her hips up to meet his strokes. A particularly hard lunge tipped her over into ecstasy, just before he roared and exploded.

His body rested against hers for a long moment as they both tried to catch their breath. When he finally lifted his head, an odd expression crossed his face. Her heart sped up. She knew her pale skin would show every trace of the both the chase and their love making, and prayed he would understand how much she had wanted it. While he always satisfied her, he had been so gentle with her since they discovered her pregnancy that she occasionally missed the raw passion of their earlier encounters.

“Your mouth is swollen.” He brushed a finger across her lips. “Your nipples are red.” Another finger swept across the still tight buds before he leaned back and parted her legs. “Your pretty little pussy is swollen and red.” Two fingers this time, teasing the oversensitive flesh and she couldn’t conceal a flinch. She tensed, waiting for his reaction.

“I love it,” he growled. “I love seeing the result of my hands on your body. I love you, little one.”

With a happy smile, she relaxed beneath him. “Not afraid of hurting me anymore?”

“I’m always afraid of hurting you,” he said seriously, and her heart thumped. “But I trust you to let me know if I am. I trust myself to know when to stop.” He slid a slow finger back across her clit and she winced and raised her hips at the same time, but he only laughed. “And I know when you’ve had enough. Come, little one. Let’s go home.”

Dragar carried Beth back to their cabin, cradling her in his arms, despite her protests that she could walk. He stopped frequently to kiss her, delighting each time in her response. When they emerged from the forest, he paused briefly to enjoy the sight of their cabin. A feeling of satisfaction washed over him, thrilled that with the return of his holdings, he had been able to provide his little one with the home she deserved.

Once they were in the privacy of their house, he reluctantly put her down, nestling her in the soft cushions of the couch. Her pale skin glowed against the dark fabric and he admired the new curves she was developing. The marks on her body didn’t bother him at all in the face of her glowing, happy face.

“I can’t believe you did that.” She gave him a sleepy smile. “What if someone had been hunting?”

“You needed me. That was more important.” He turned away to hide his own smile. Rianen, now his second in command, had been ordered to keep the area clear all afternoon; however, his little one didn’t need to know that. No one except him was ever going to see her naked again but he didn’t mind indulging her wanton streak. He had planned a slightly different game for the afternoon but everything had turned out even better than he expected, although he regretted that she had gotten so upset before he could suggest that they take their love making outside. Still, her rage and the resulting run had only added to the excitement. For both of them, he thought, looking back over his shoulder at her relaxed posture and purring contentment.

Turning to the kitchen to fetch her a drink, his eyes caught on her new painting. “Little one, what is this?”

“Do you like it?” She gestured from the easel to the pink and gold painting he had brought with her from Earth. “I was looking at that this morning and I had the urge to try painting it again, but it turned out differently this time. There is a definite pattern.”

Trying to understand what about it had caught his attention, he studied the painting. Something about it felt familiar, but it was just out of reach. Throwing a blanket around her shoulders, she came to stand next to him, looking at her new work before turning to the one on the wall with a thoughtful expression.

“Have you ever seen a Bliss stone?”

“No,” he answered absently, still staring at the painting on the easel. “I’ve heard about them, of course. They’re the latest designer drug, calming but also arousing—and very expensive.” Her words finally penetrated. “How do you know about them?”

She bit her lip and looked down. “On the station, Kievan gave me one.”

“He did what?” he growled.

“Don’t worry. He took it off as soon as he realized what it was doing.”

A vein pulsed in his temple and the world started to pale. “What was it doing?”

“Um.” A delightful pink covered her small face but he was too enraged to pay attention. “Well, it did make me feel kind of excited.”

“That bastard.”

“Calm down, Dragar. He didn’t take advantage of it, I promise. And it did help with handling the emotions of the crowd, even after he removed it.” He growled again and she continued quickly. “But the design in the stone, it was very similar to my first painting. I just don’t understand how it relates to this one.”

Pushing his anger aside, he focused on the painting again until he realized why the seemingly random organization of pink had caught his attention.

“Trillium,” he said finally. “Remember I told you that the species we saw most often were small fluffy animals?”

“Yes,” she giggled. “You said they were too cute to hunt.”

“Did I mention that they were pink? They were always dancing around us. I never paid that much attention but this… This is how they arranged themselves.”

“In a pattern? The same one every time?”

“No.” He swore silently, trying to remember, but they had all tended to disregard the furry little annoyances. “I think there were at least a few more.”

“What if they were trying to communicate?” she said slowly.

“If they were, it could mean that they would probably qualify as sentient. No one could claim the planet.”

“Did someone?”

“No. The claim process stalled which means it belongs to the Empire. I heard it was going to be an Imperial pleasure planet.”

“But if it’s associated with the Bliss stones…” She turned back to study the other painting. “I feel that there’s a connection but I can’t be sure.”

“Someone is making a lot of money off the stones. If there is a connection, they wouldn’t be too concerned about the rights of a few animals.”

He looked at her as he considered the implications, fighting back a surge of guilt. If only he had noticed the patterns before... The urge to blame himself grew stronger but instead he took a deep breath, releasing the emotion as Beth had taught him to do.

“Can you do something?” she asked finally.

“Maybe.” He sighed. “I made some connections while I was assisting with the negotiations for the claim of Sardor Two. If nothing else, I can probably get someone to start an investigation.”

An excited smile lit up her face. “I thought I caught a glimpse of some additional patterns as you were speaking. If I paint more of them, it might help whoever investigates to recognize that they’re trying to communicate, especially if you can remember under what circumstances each one occurred.” Her eagerness faded when she saw him watching her intently. “Does it bother you? That I may be able to pick these up from your memories?”

“Little one, I am just awed by your talent.”

Her eyes filled with tears and he drew her close, running a soothing hand over the pale silk of her hair, as she burrowed into his chest.

“I never thought anyone would understand. I always thought I would spend my life alone,” she whispered.

“As did I,” he said, lifting her beautiful face. “Beth, you have healed me in so many ways. You gave me back my Clan, my people. But more importantly, you gave me your love. Now that we have each other, we never have to be alone again.”

“Don’t forget we have the baby, too.” A happy, if somewhat watery smile crossed her face, and then she jumped. “Oh. Can you feel that?”

She brought his hand to her stomach and they both waited in silent anticipation. Just as he was about to shake his head, he felt it. The tiniest flutter of their child against his hand. Contentment filled him as he stood in his quiet house, his mate in his arms, their child nestled beneath their hands, home at last.

Author’s note

Thank you for reading Beth and the Barbarian! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Whether you loved the book or not, it would mean the world to me if you left an honest review on Amazon. Word of mouth is incredibly helpful for authors and I’d love to know your thoughts!

The science fiction romance community is amazing! I’m truly grateful for the love and support I have received both from readers and my fellow authors. I’m especially thankful for Bex McLynn and Tiffany Roberts – and if you haven’t already read their books, I highly recommend them!

Also in the Alien Abduction series:

Cam and the Conqueror

He made a bargain. She’s the payment.

How much is Kievan willing to sacrifice for love?

Available now at Amazon!

Deb and the Demon

An alien prince. A pregnant slave.

Can they form a new kind of family?

Available now at Amazon!

Ella and the Emperor

An alien emperor. A silent young woman.

Can an emperor lose his heart to a human slave?

Preorder now at Amazon!

And if you missed the first book in the Alien Abduction series, you can find Anna and the Alien at Amazon!

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Author’s note