Chapter Seven

“Too good to last?” His eyes narrowed, making Seriana want to break into loud, embarrassingly awful tears.

This week had been perfect. Absolutely, incredibly perfect. If a lingering sense of unease occasionally hit her during quiet moments, she’d ignored the feeling. It had been too heavenly to have Abjon to herself. All that sensual male devoted to fulfilling her every desire. It was unreal.

He’d been all she’d imagined a man could be, tender, loving, sexual and giving. When not making love, they’d discussed everything from poetry to politics.

However, she made no mention of his livelihood, and he made no mention of the fact that she’d fled from him. Instead, they’d wiled away the hours swimming and sunning, basking in Fidei’s paradise and in one another.

“Now that my father’s here, we’ll have to get back to reality.” She couldn’t help feeling depressed. “You’ll go back to pirating, I’ll go back to keeping my father’s books, and this interlude will fade into a pleasant memory.”

“Only pleasant?” He looked amused, and her sorrow swiftly turned to irritation.

“I’m so glad you’re not concerned about my father. He’s killed men for less than what you and I have done this past week.”

One brow rose. “You’re kidding, right? Seriana, you yourself told me your father was throwing us together. Of course he’ll accept me. He’s lucky to have me as it is,” he muttered.

“You don’t understand. My father wanted us together, bonded by marriage.” She waited for horror to pass over his face, since the word ‘marriage’ had that effect on most men she knew.

He shrugged. “I still don’t understand the problem here.”

“The problem is this—I’m not marrying you,” she spaced out each word.

“Why not?”

“Why not?” She blustered, astounded by his obtuseness. “You’re a pirate, that’s why.”

“And if I weren’t a pirate? What then?” He stepped closer, staring down at her with a disturbing intensity.

She stared back, lost in his flame-filled gaze, wishing beyond all hope that she could have this man in her life forever. But she refused to live with someone who would constantly jeopardise their future, all for want of materialistic possessions.

If Abjon were a peacemaker or soldier for the greater good, she could live with his dangerous profession. But to risk life and limb on a daily basis, for naught but profit? And Aphra knew what ends he employed to gain such profit. No, not even for Abjon could she abandon her hope for a better future. Her eyes misted. Just thinking about the loss and heartache their separation would bring filled her with loss.

“But you are a pirate,” she said softly, breaking eye contact.

He cleared his throat. “What if I told you I love you?”

She froze. “Do you?” How she managed to ask that in a calm voice she’d never know. She felt as if her entire existence hung on that one answer.

“I do.” His words were solemn, the loving expression in his gaze open and honest.

Tears began pouring down her cheeks, and her heart felt as if it were being ripped in two.

“I’m sorry, Abjon, more than you’ll ever know.” She sniffed, wiping at her eyes. How can you say you love me and not know who I am inside? I can’t keep living like I did with my father. I’m not a criminal and never will be. “I won’t live with a man who does what my father does. And we both know you’ll never give that up.”

He smiled then, completely breaking her heart. “So sure of that, are you?” He grazed her cheek with one finger. “We only have one more day together, Seriana. If you won’t say it, then show me how much you love me.”

The words locked tight in her throat, she threw herself at him, seeking haven in his arms, in the pleasure only he could give. Mouth to mouth, heart to heart, their bodies spoke of a love not to be denied.

* * * *

Abjon and Seriana met her father the following day in his suite at the Colassa. Rover Blue sighed with relief as he enfolded his daughter in a smothering hug.

“Easy,” Abjon chided, giving Rover a dark look.

Her father snorted, ignoring the Ragga. “By the goddess, Seriana.” He marvelled as he turned her in his arms. “Seeing you now, it’s as if you’re an entirely different person than my sweet little girl.” He glanced at Abjon knowingly. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

Abjon gave her a wolfish grin, despite her strong warnings from yesterday and this morning. “Indeed. She’s delectable.”

Her father stared from Abjon to her, his smile widening, and she felt as if ‘doom’ were written on her forehead. “I told you she’d see the light. So when is the marriage ceremony to take place?”

“I’m afraid there won’t be one,” Abjon said, matter-of-factly. Her eyes narrowed, as did her father’s.

“What?” Rover asked.

“She won’t have me.”

“Why won’t she?” Her father glared at her, giving her the Blue scowl that made lesser men tremble.

“I can’t,” she blurted, wondering why Abjon hadn’t seemed more emotional. If he’d truly meant that he loved her, he should have sounded more upset. Instead, he sounded as if he couldn’t  care less.

“Why can’t you?” Rover cursed. “I’ve worried my head off for a year, only keeping out of the search because your giant here promised he’d return with you. Then I hear from one of my sources that he’d found you.” He glared at Abjon. “And he didn’t have the decency to say a thing to me about it. That was a month ago!

“Don’t think I don’t know what you two have been doing in all that time. This boy’s lusted after you since the day he first saw you, and you’ve avoided him for the same reason, I expect.” Her father rolled his eyes when she gasped in surprise. “Hell, Seriana. You mooned over the lad every chance you saw him. What did you think, that I hadn’t noticed how extremely ‘uninterested’ you always were?”

Abjon, she noted, wore an extremely satisfied expression.

She blushed, knowing everything her father said was true. She’d admitted as much to Abjon, but her father made her sound like a love-sick zafu. Scowling at her father for making her feel like she was twelve again, she let loose the leash on her emotions.

“Fine. You want to know why I don’t want to marry him? It’s because he’s too much like you.”

“What?”

“You heard me. I don’t want a man who thieves and murders on a whim. I don’t want someone who will always put me last, who thinks he’s above the laws that give our system a measure of order. What you do isn’t right, Father. And I’ve been telling you that for years!”

Rover blinked at her. “Yes, well,” he blustered, looking to Abjon for support.

But her lover simply shrugged and shook his head. “Don’t look at me. You dug the hole, you get out of it.”

“And another thing. You took Abjon under your wing years ago, making him just like you. This is the kind of man you want for your daughter? A man who would sooner kill another for gain than lift a finger at decent, honest work?”

Abjon scowled. “Now wait a minute, Seriana—”

“This is the man you would have me wed? A killer, a thief, a mercenary? Hell, Father, he’s almost worse than you!”

“Thank you.” Abjon tilted his head and said wryly, “For a minute there I thought you didn’t like me.”

“I love you, you idiot. That’s not the point.” She continued to berate her father, who stood dumbstruck under her tirade. “I hate keeping your books. I hate living on Mornio, and I hate knowing there’s the possibility you might not return when you go raiding. And another thing,” she continued in huff, talking as fast as she was able. “You—”

Overwhelmed by the barrage of emotions she’d been suppressing for so long, she missed Abjon’s overjoyed grin until he yanked her violently towards him and kissed the breath out of her.

“Thank Aphra,” she heard her father mutter. “Damned if her dead mother hadn’t suddenly appeared and possessed my shy, quiet little girl.”

Abjon ended the kiss, and she had to lean on his arm, her knees were so weak. “She’s not shy, and she’s definitely not quiet. She’s my woman, and it’s about damned time she finally realised that fact.”

“Abjon.” She struggled in his imprisoning grasp. Apparently, he’d missed the part about them not marrying.

“No, love, you’re mine,” he growled and turned to her father. “She’s not running the few legal ventures in your dirty organisation anymore, Rover. In fact, aside from fatherly visits that have nothing to do with your activities on Mornio, you won’t be seeing her or your grandchildren until you clean up your act.”

Rover’s eyes widened. “Grandchildren?”

“Not yet,” she snapped, embarrassed Abjon would discuss such personal business with her father, in her presence, no less. She turned to Abjon and poked him in the chest. “And where do you get off telling my father how to behave around me?”

She tried to scowl, but Abjon’s heart-stopping smile vanquished her anger.

“Seriana, I love you, but you’re too tender-hearted when dealing with your father. With Rover Blue, only direct intimidation and the promise of violence works.”

“Violence?” Rover blustered.

“And command. I’m ordering you to leave her well enough alone.” Abjon agreed. “We both know my fleet can take yours, anytime I want to,” he added, menace in his tone.

Seriana gasped and wriggled to get free, but Rover merely raised his eyebrows. “You think?”

“I know.” Abjon stared at her father, and she prayed the standoff between them wouldn’t turn ugly.

“Damn me,” Rover grumbled and shook his head. “I believe you mean that. Even with all you gave up.” He and Abjon exchanged a heavy look, one that had her curiosity running rampant.

“What are you two talking about?”

Abjon tugged her away from her father and stroked her cheek, a gentle gesture that seemed to soften him. “I asked you once before what you would do if I wasn’t a pirate.” Her heart sped with hope, with anticipation. “I told you I loved you.”

“But—”

“Seriana, I’ve worked these many years to be able to make a future for us.” He waited while she digested his words. “I’ve loved you forever. The only reason I worked as hard as I did with your father was to make a strong enough presence to keep you safe, and to make a good enough living to finally break free. I’ve been completely legitimate in all my enterprises for a year now. I’m a free trader, one who owns a fancy little island named Fidei, as a matter of fact. If you hadn’t run like you did, we could be celebrating our one year anniversary tomorrow in paradise.”

She could only stare at him in wonder. As Rover Blue’s Second, Abjon had commanded most of the System’s underworld, a position of authority prized by everyone she knew. “You gave up all that power, all that prestige for me?”

“For us,” he corrected and kissed her. “I’ve always known how you felt about my lifestyle. And honestly, it wasn’t something I ever really wanted either. I was pushed into it at an early age as a means of survival.” He grimaced. “But that’s behind me now. The more I knew about you, the more I grew to love you. I want the same things you want, Seriana.”

Her eyes welled.

Her father cleared his throat. “Well, go on girl. Tell him you love him and you’ll be marrying. And maybe I’ll give some thought to handing over the reins, too. I’m getting older, and I definitely want to see some grandchildren before I go.”

“Don’t push, Rover.” Abjon glared her father into silence before returning a bright-eyed gaze her way. “I built that house on Fidei for you, love. And I’ve seen how much you enjoy working in that cookery at the Colassa. Be with me and you can have anything your heart desires.”

She had eyes only for Abjon, for the man who had done so much to be with her, aware of the unfettered joy filling her soul.

“I only want you, Abjon Afier. I love you, and I would be happy— no, honoured—to join you in Lifebond.”

He blinked, surprised. “Lifebond is a Ragga concept, Seriana.” He glanced at Rover and leaned closer to whisper, “That means taking another Ragga’s seed into your body, in addition to mine, at the time of conception. The only way to ensure the birth of a Ragga child.” He leaned back and cleared his throat. “But I would be happy to have you any way. We could make children, non Raggas, the traditional way as well.”

“I know,” she said with a sly grin. “I studied everything I could get my hands on about the Ragga culture the day after I met you.”

He grinned, his eyes alight with an inner fire. “You did, eh?”

“I did. But our bonding wouldn’t be complete without a true Ragga ceremony. After all, I can’t birth little Ragga boys without the Lifebond.”

His eyes took on a suspiciously wet sheen, and he hugged her. “I love you so much, Seriana.”

“And I love you,” she said between tears.

They jolted when her father closed his arms around them. “And I love both of you,” he said in a thick voice. “Imagine. My brains, Abjon’s brawn, and your looks, Seriana. We’ll rule the entire System in no time at all!”

“No son of mine will be involved in anything illegal,” she warned with a laugh.

“Of course not,” her father agreed, a twinkle in his eyes. “I was talking about your daughter.”