Chapter Five

 

 

 

Temis and Gren successfully ignored one another for the duration of the trip to Mornio. Once they landed, however, Temis couldn’t help asking the questions that had been building.

“Why Mornio? Why did you land here, of all places, when we’re trying to keep a low profile?”

She looked through a portal at the seedy little town of Reykhold, Mornio’s infamous port town. It was popular reading material for Mardu’s peacemakers, a sterling example of what they worked so hard to prevent happening on their own planet.

Mornio’s rich mine deposits attracted huge numbers of criminals bent on plunder and power. She shouldn’t have been surprised by Gren’s familiarity with Reykhold, yet he seemed a step up from the scum that normally frequented the town.

“Right now you need me a hell of a lot more than I need you. This is my world, Temis.” Gren spoke without heat, the ice in his expression alerting her to be extremely wary. “Do what I tell you when I tell you and you’ll get out of here unharmed. Play with me and you’ll wish you hadn’t.”

He opened the shuttle doors and strode out without a backward glance.

Steamed, Temis followed intending to set him straight when he stopped suddenly, causing her to ram into his back.

“What—” she began when a large shirt hit her face.

“Put that on.”

She noted the clothing stand they’d stopped in front of, as well as the older Mornian studying her with wide eyes. “Excuse me?”

“I said put it on.” Gren turned to face her after saying something to the man in his native tongue. “Unless you’d rather showcase your breasts to the rest of Reykhold?”

She stared down at her torn shirt and flushed with embarrassment. Furious, she threw the shirt on. Gren’s face didn’t soften at all, and she began to see just how he’d earned his reputation. He seemed wholly untouchable, his emotions locked under the cold, cruel demeanour that now encased him from head to toe.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Molesting me in public. You tore it in the first place,” she muttered, earning a frown. Secretly pleased she’d managed to rile him, she waited for him to explain where they headed.

Instead, he nodded to the old man then continued down the road towards the more crowded centre of town.

The reality of Reykhold was far worse than the vids she’d studied. Finished red Mornian steel filled the town, making the village a bloody scene of gluttony and filth. The roads were dusty, a pale yellow reminder of what the raw steel of Mornio looked like before it melted.

Peopled with races from every planet, Reykhold served as a conglomeration of the desperate and greedy. Slavers and merchants comingled, no one reviled in a town filled with the underbelly of the system’s richest planet.

As they passed vendor after vendor, coming closer to the actual storefronts in the shopping centre, she noticed the growing number of looks thrown their way.

“Gren,” she said in a low voice, but he ignored her. “Gren,” she said louder and grabbed his arm to stop him.

He turned around. “What?”

“People are staring.”

“I know.”

“You know?” When he turned to continue, she latched onto his forearm again, uncomfortably aware of the tingle that spread down her arm at the contact. “That’s it. You’re going to explain a few things to me now. Right now.”

Gren’s eyes seemed to glow from within, a startling flare of emerald annoyance as he took a step closer, pinning his chest to her breasts. “A slave has no say against her master, and direct disobedience is handled promptly, without question.”

She opened her mouth to ask what the hell he meant when he hoisted her over his shoulder and swatted her behind with a whack loud enough to be heard down the street.

Her slap met several snickers and outright laughter from those around them, and she hit whatever part of Gren she could reach. Unfortunately, he held her with arms of iron, and pounding his back was like pounding a steel slab. When she tried kicking at him, he smacked her again, then followed with an uncomfortably warm caress that sucked the breath out of her.

To her horror, he pushed her trousers down, exposing her ass. He slid his fingers between her crack and further, over the embarrassingly wet lips of her sex.

“That’s right, sura,” he purred as he continued to walk down the street. “Relax and ask no questions. The less you know the better. And if you think to keep fighting me, know I’ll strip these trousers completely off you and give the people on the streets more of a show than what I’m doing now.” He shoved one finger, then two, inside her and kept them there.

She froze, completely stunned at her body’s response to his touch. That Gren could so manhandle her in public, and that her body apparently liked it, made her question her sanity. An image, a flash of Gren’s mouth between her legs, popped into her mind again and she wondered what, by Norak’s breast, was happening to her.

Her mind sifted through the facts and strange memories she’d had since meeting Gren, working in a frenzy to make some sense of his seeming manipulation of her mind and body. Something wasn’t right, and the tense coiled sensation in her loins proved it. Her reaction to Gren was anything but normal.

He started thrusting his fingers inside her, faster and deeper. He pinched her clit and she moaned, determined to ride though this, whatever this was. She wouldn’t let him have the upper hand, wouldn’t let him… “Gren, stop. Please,” she begged, and cried out when he pulled an orgasm from her right there on his goddamn shoulder.

 

* * * *

 

Finally, the damned woman stopped fighting and sagged into an orgasmic bliss. Gren withdrew his hand from her pussy and licked his fingers clean, well aware of the attention he drew. People would talk, and they’d tell one and all he had his peacemaker well and truly bound.

What he wouldn’t give to have her really bound.

Swallowing his disappointment, he pulled her trousers up to cover her magnificent ass. He walked with purpose and wound around Nikos, a popular tavern, to a back stairway.

Jora was guarding the entrance, as expected. Gren nodded a greeting and waited for the large man, a native of planet Ragga, to give him entry. Raggas were the best in security, and worth their weight in currency. Not many could outmuscle a Ragga, and Jora was no different than his inhumanly strong countrymen.

After a careful study, Jora grinned and punched in the appropriate codes on the security panel then stepped aside to allow Gren entry.

“You’re all secure,” Jora rumbled before stepping back to guard the stairwell. “Facilities are working. Enjoy.”

Gren took the steps quickly, glad the beks he’d spent to safeguard this hideaway had finally come in handy. He punched in the key code and waited for the door to open to his two-roomed cubby.       

He waited at the entrance to the darkened room, conditioned to always expect the worst. He entered only when his senses told him the room was indeed secure. That Temis continued to lay serenely over his shoulder pleased him. At least now he only had to worry about her in the relative safety of this room. After securing the lock behind him, he flipped on a nearby light and set her on her feet.

Temis wavered before finding her balance. She glanced around her in bemusement, still silent, though he could feel her seething, no doubt about his less-than-gentlemanly treatment.

A large bed, locked chest, scarred table and scattered chairs were all that occupied the room, with the exception of the built-in wall storage common in Mornian buildings. A small lav sat off to the corner behind the room’s only other door.

Temis’ gaze eventually returned to him. Instead of the fiery glare he’d expected, she fixated on his hands.

Not sure what that meant, Gren waited for her to speak. He wondered just how far she would try to push him this time, and if he could control himself enough not to throw her down on the bed and fuck her until she begged for mercy.

It had taken all his control on the shuttle not to show her how criminal he could actually be. The little peacemaker pushed his buttons like no one else ever had. After all he’d been through to help the peacemakers on this disaster of a mission, and she had the gall to accuse him of wanting to engage in criminal activity?

He’d lost his first vacation in years, been beaten unjustly, and thrown away his first taste of Thraian passion. The knowledge that Temis reacted to him, that she could be his for the taking while she ranted and raved at him made him burn with the desire to fuck her until neither of them could speak.

His Theshan senses constantly reared whenever near her, teasing him with the idea of enthralling her, of chaining her to his side until he tired of her delectable body. He felt the temperature rise, could feel his cock hardening at thoughts of Temis at his command.

Shaking his head, he glared at her, almost wishing he’d never met her. Almost.

“What is this place?” she asked in a soft voice, her violet gaze finally rising to meet the heat in his face.

“A safe place, for now.”

She blinked and stepped back, away from him, as if sensing the precariousness of her position for the first time. Then, apparently realising what she’d done, a hardness settled over her face and she straightened.

“I want you to tell me what’s going on, Gren. No more excuses. I want to know what you’re planning. Now.”

Her hands settled on her hips in an authoritarian stance, and against his better judgement, Gren found himself admiring her courage. Her determination to control the situation and him finally penetrated his irritation, and his lips curled into a grin before he thought the better of it.

“You do realise I can do anything to you in here, and no one will come running?” he asked in low voice, the threat he’d intended buried under his amusement.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m shaking with fear.”

“You’re not afraid at all, are you?”

“I can handle anything you throw at me,” she said coolly, her hands on her hips. She closed the distance between them. “And if you don’t start answering my questions, you’ll take what I throw back.”

He groaned with frustrated laughter and sank down into the bed. “I can’t believe fate would be so cruel to stick me with a woman like you instead of the vacation I deserve.”

She grimaced. “Like it or not, fate definitely has a sense of humour. Trust me, I’d much rather be working with my peers on this than a man I don’t trust and frankly, don’t like.”

“You like me well enough when my lips are on you though, don’t you?” he asked slyly, pleased at the pretty blush that stole over her cheeks.

She cursed under her breath and made fists at her sides.

His earlier good mood restored, he relented enough to tell her, “You want explanations? Fine. Pull up a chair and listen without interruption.” He waited until she sat, her brows set in that stubborn line he was coming to know all too well.

“After you peacemakers beat the hell out of me, for no justifiable reason I might add, I did some thinking—in my cell. I knew Sernal hadn’t turned on me, so that meant Rorn was the problem. Sernal mentioned bad peacemakers; Obviously Rorn is a suspect.”

“Yes, but—”

He continued with a glare. “I decided to escape without Mardu help. The less interaction I have with them, the better my cover. You, on the other hand, made a perfect hostage. A beautiful woman, a peacemaker no less, under my control would ensure a safe escape from Lady Justice, at least until I could find security.

“Then something Rafe said made perfect sense. Sernal mentioned to him how obsessed Rorn seemed with you. I had my answer. I’d take you and turn you into my ‘slave’, to barter for easier entry into the slaver’s market. Once there, I have no doubt we’ll find those women. I just need to find out exactly when and where. In the meantime, I have to make sure we’re seen together. You need to be appropriately subservient.”

He couldn’t contain a smile at the thought. She bristled but said nothing. He waited for the questions, the objections sure to follow, and wasn’t disappointed.

“I agree with most of what you’ve said. But me, a slave?” She snorted. “No one will believe that.”

“They will. You have no idea what the slave markets are like, do you?”

She frowned and shook her head.

“Almost without exception potential slaves are drugged to ensure cooperation. They’re led to the auction after blatant displays of what pleasure they’re capable of bestowing.” Disgust filled him, the memories of the two auctions he’d attended burned indelibly on his mind. Gren stood and began to pace. “Then they’re positioned for sale. But the special ones, the most beautiful and treasured slaves, are sold at private parties. You don’t want me to tell you the things they make the slaves do there.”

“How do you know all this?” Temis asked quietly. Her eyes narrowed. “Have you bought and sold slaves of your own?”

He immediately shook his head, regretting he’d been so open about the market in the first place. “No. Never. I’d rather die than be a party to—” She blinked at his vehement denial, and he quickly changed the direction of conversation. “The reason I mentioned this, Temis, is to let you know why you have to appear under my control.”

“The barbaric display in the street,” she murmured with disapproval.

“Exactly.” Thoughts of what she might have to do to get them into the auction disturbed him, so much so that he began to reinvent his plan.

“What are you thinking?” she asked and stood, coming to his side.

“Maybe you should return to Lady Justice.” Distracted, he paced away from her, away from the bed, and imagined his next course of action. “I could always contact Elisa for this. She’d fit. Go back to Lady Justice. Tell everyone you escaped.”

“Oh no, you don’t.” She strode to his side and wrenched him to face her. “I’m in this until the end. This is my mission, and it’s my duty to help those women. Lead Sernal trusted me with this, and I won’t let him down.”

He scowled at her. “Sernal? What the hell does he matter in this?”

“He’s my superior, a man I deeply respect.”

He heard nothing but professional attachment in her tone and relaxed.

“Besides, rescuing those women will be a lot easier with a woman, namely me, involved. Trust me, you’ll be just as scary to them as their kidnappers. Maybe more,” she added, aggravating him all over again as she eyed him with a discouraging frown.

Being Thesha, he could easily command the missing women to obey his orders. He held more power over the female mind than any other creature in the system. But he couldn’t tell her that. His kind lived in secrecy, and for good reason. Too many slavers had made them ready victims. At the thought, his anger grew, and he focused it on Temis, trying to combat his desire.

“So you find me intimidating, do you?” he asked softly. “That’s nothing compared to the fear of what you might have to do to prove your compliance once we reach the enemy.”

Her shoulders straightened, and she pursed her full, luscious lips. “I’m not afraid of you, Gren. I’ll do whatever I need to for the mission.”

An answering heat welled within him at her carelessly thrown gauntlet. “Anything, hmm?”

“I’m not an innocent young woman to be protected. I can hold my own, and I can definitely take you on.” Her chest heaved and her eyes glittered with hunger. He could see how excited she became at thoughts of tangling with him, of possibly besting him.

His cock swelled with the need to be inside her, and he threw caution to the wind. He took a small step back. “Then, sura, I know you’ll be able to dominate this challenge with ease.”

His fingers teased the front clasp of his trousers, and he watched her eyes grow wide, with anticipation and a hint of alarm she tried to hide. The last time she’d taken him in her mouth, she’d been partially enthralled, given to her basest needs. But now, of her own volition, she’d have to take charge. “Not scared, are you?” he taunted.

She shook her head, her gaze fixed on his hand. “I can handle you, Gren.”

“Good,” he murmured and reached for his straining cock. He withdrew it from his trousers and held it before her, completely hard, his slit wet. “Then take me in your mouth.”

 “Is this what you mean about proving my submission?” Her voice was throaty, thick with want. He could smell her cream, and remembrances of the dream state when he’d tasted her forced him to control a shiver.

“I told you you’re going to have to be convincing at the auction, sura. The drugs you’ll supposedly be under lessen inhibitions and enhance the user’s sensuality. You’re going to have to be at ease with your sexuality or it won’t work. What’s it going to be, Temis?”

 

Temis’ mouth watered at the juicy offering. The small bead of dew poised at the tip of his shaft drew her like a magnet.

Though she knew he tested her, she couldn’t help wanting to meet his challenge. The thought of licking him, of tasting his seed again, made her hungry. And it made her wet. The time of discovery was at hand. The woman within her demanded to be set free.

“Do it, Temis.” His eyes glowed a brilliant emerald against his hardened face.

She glared at him even as she knelt before him. A slight grin curved his lips as he leant forward. His cock almost brushed her mouth, and his smile faded. He tried to stifle a moan.

When she licked her lips, he muttered under his breath. She breathed in the musky scent of his desire and rubbed her legs together, feeling an answering pulse in her clitoris.

Gren pressed forward, bringing his cock in contact with her mouth.

Temis swallowed hard, no longer able to pretend this was all an act. She wanted him, as a woman wants a man. The warrior within her would allow no half-measures.

She touched her tongue to him tentatively, curious, and felt him tremble. She glanced up to see his face tight, his lips compressed, his eyes closed as he maintained careful control.

On her knees she should have felt subservient. But his expression returned all the power to her. She licked him again, this time harder. His face was a mask of agony as he held still.

Smiling, she opened her mouth wider and engulfed him. He surged deeper and swore. Heady with her newfound power, she stroked him with her tongue, applying pressure when he jerked and hissed.

To hear him moaning her name, to feel his hands in her hair, clenching with desperation, forced her to understand her own desire.

“Temis,” he breathed and rocked between her lips. He was huge, silky soft and rock hard, so much more than she’d ever imagined. “Yes, sura, more.”

Lost in her sexuality, Temis did more than take all of him. She revelled in his taste. More fluid leaked from his arousal, proof of the desire he couldn’t hide. He pumped slowly, aided by her hands around his tight, lean buttocks.

She smiled around his cock and stared up at him.

“Now who’s in charge?” she murmured and licked the underside of his shaft.

He caught his breath and stared down at her with such hunger she felt helpless to stop. Watching him, she slowly eased her mouth back over him, taking him deep to the back of her throat.

He swore softly and continued to thrust in and out of her mouth, never taking his eyes from her.

Temis licked and sucked and teased. She wanted—no, needed—to swallow him whole, to feel his seed trickle down her throat.

As if Gren sensed her thoughts, he hardened like a rock and quickened his strokes.

“Oh, yes, yes,” he groaned.

An answering arousal flooded between her legs. The more she sucked him, the greater his pleasure, until she could almost feel what she did to him.

“Now, sura, now,” Gren uttered in a hoarse voice and came hard.

She swallowed his cum, the thick, sweet mass of seed that coated her throat like honeyed cream. In the doing, she experienced a coil of heat in her core, enveloping her in a desire so intense, a bliss so profound, she saw stars as Gren continued to come.

Sometime later she heard him call her from a distance. She blinked sleepily and felt a large hand on her waist, stroking her side. She focused on the blurred form in front of her and saw Gren looking at her with concern.

“Hmm?” She felt satisfied in a way she’d never felt before. She lay on her side facing Gren on the bed. Yet her mind, her spirit, soared on another plane altogether.

Gren’s eyes darkened to black. “You’re in wainu,” he said with amazement. He stopped stroking her hip and pushed her flat onto her back. “How is this possible?”

She smiled dreamily and caressed his hard face with tingling fingers. Everywhere she touched him she felt heat, and she wanted to share that marvellous pleasure with him all over again. Even as she thought it, his eyes shone with understanding.

“Are you reading my mind? You’re some kind of telepath, aren’t you? Or did you drug me like you said you would?”

He shook his head and smiled, a mysterious grin that made her clit throb.

“Sura, you have no idea what pleasure you’ve been missing. Before we’re done, you’re going to beg me for more.”