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Cathian turned in the copilot seat and smiled. “Just another day in the life we live. It rarely gets boring.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” York lifted her hand and kissed it, then grinned at Cathian. “It was extremely boring before Sara came into my life. You were just too occupied with Nara to notice all the down time.”
Chapter Ten
Sara woke to York kissing her shoulder. She lay on her stomach, her naked body stretched out on the bed. A smile curved her lips. They’d arrived back on The Vorge and basically locked themselves in their cabin. He’d showered, and then made love to her half a dozen times until they’d fallen asleep.
“Good morning.”
“It is,” he chuckled. “I love waking up with you.”
She rolled, reaching for him, and brushed her lips over his. “And I love sleeping with you.”
“I love how adorable you are while you sleep. You pet me.”
“I do?” That surprised her.
“Yes.” He nodded. “Your hands roam my body. It feels wonderful.” He paused, frowning. “Let’s go have breakfast. Your stomach is rumbling.”
It was. They’d had a snack for dinner but not much more the evening before, not in the mood to mingle with the crew in the dining hall. That would have meant getting out of bed and putting on clothing. She rolled over and stood, wincing.
“That’s another reason we’re not staying in bed all day.” York backed up toward the shower. “You’re sore.”
“You’re big.” She followed him. “I’m not complaining one bit about that, though.”
He chuckled. “Go shower. I’ll get our clothing.”
“You’re not going to join me?” She pushed out her lower lip, giving him a pout.
“Don’t do that, bond mate. I’m on to you.”
She laughed. “Yeah. Okay. But I like to see you wet.”
“I can say the same for you, but you need to be fed. It’s my duty to make sure you’re taken care of. Priorities, bond mate. Food. Then we’ll return here and I’ll give you a massage.”
She halted, staring up at him. “Seriously?”
“I love to touch you.”
“Alright. Then I’m about to break speed records on showering and eating.” She rounded him and entered the bathroom, turning on the water.
The sound of his laughter made her grin as she stood under the hot water.
Sara’s thoughts turned to her previous life, comparing it to the one she had now. It amazed her how happy she felt. Earth had always been a struggle. To pay rent, to keep her job despite crappy bosses, to have enough money left over to eat. Now, she was about to enjoy a big meal, spend time with the huge blue man she’d fallen in love with, and looking forward to a massage from his talented hands.
She finished washing her hair right as York entered the stall. The sight of his muscled, amazing body would never get old. She reached out to stroke his abs but he jerked back, laughing.
“No. Food, massage, and then sex.” He licked his lips. “Though I love your taste more.”
“You’re teasing, and that’s just mean.”
“Never, my Sara. It’s a promise of what I plan to do later. Remember, priorities. My turn to get clean. Out!”
She was a bit sore. The guy had a big, thick cock, and she wasn’t exactly used to marathon sex. But in time, she was pretty sure she would be—and that sounded fantastic.
She exited the shower, dried, and then brushed her teeth. He joined her when she was getting dressed and they left the cabin a few minutes later.
Some of the crew were missing when they entered the dining hall. York explained they were on duty. Dovis had the bridge, Mari was doing a repair, and Marrow was cleaning out the shuttle they’d used to go to Relon.
York steered her toward a table where the captain and Nara sat with the Pods. Sara dug into her meal, enjoying the chance to spend some time with her new friends.
She was nearly finished eating when all three Pods suddenly stood up.
“Raff, come with us. Captain, we’re needed on the bridge,” One said.
“Shit,” Cathian muttered. “Who’s approaching now?”
“No one. Dovis sent a mental message that Rex and your father have commed,” Two answered. “They are demanding to speak with you immediately.”
“They’re going to pull some shit,” Three grumbled. “At least Dovis thinks so.”
Sara lost her appetite. She knew that Cathian’s father was also his boss, and that he’d gone against orders by not turning her over to the prince.
York saw her alarmed expression and stood, too. “We’ll go.”
The captain turned at the door. “We’ve got this. Enjoy your meal.” He glanced at Sara and smiled. “It’s going to be fine.”
Raff paused next to him. “Let the fun begin. I love messing with those assholes.”
They left. Midgel got up and returned to the kitchen.
Nara hesitated only seconds before smiling and rushing after the group heading for the bridge. “They do have this, but I get so turned on watching my life-lock give hell to his asshole father and that piece-of-shit assistant of his!”
That left Sara and York alone in the dining hall. He lifted her hand, kissing it. “Don’t look so frightened.”
“What if they fire Cathian and all the crew? I know The Vorge belongs to the Tryleskian people. Doesn’t his father pretty much run things there? We could lose our home.”
York released her hand, grabbed her, and placed her on his lap. “That will never happen. Let me tell you a secret.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, peering into his beautiful blue eyes. “Will it make me feel better?”
“It will. We get into trouble all the time. It would shock Beltsen Vellar if his son actually complied with his every order. And I already told you about Raff. He’s an effective deterrent for Cathian’s father. Stop worrying, Sara.”
“They fled out of here fast, though, as if it was urgent.”
“I’m sure their haste wasn’t out of fear. It was anger on Cathian’s part. The rest just enjoy watching the show. You haven’t met Beltsen or Rex. When you do, you’ll understand what shaft-heads both males are. It’s rather enjoyable to watch when they get taken to task.”
She let that sink in. “You’re sure things will work out?”
He nodded, his expression sincere. “Absolutely. What should be consuming your thoughts are our plans after breakfast. I’m finished eating. Are you?”
“Yes.”
He adjusted his hold on her, lifting her into his arms as he stood. “We’re still on our honeymoon. Are you ready for that massage?”
“That sounds perfect.”
“You’re perfect, my Sara. I love you.”
“I love you, too, York. I feel so blessed to have found you. And very grateful that Nodo was such a bitch.” She grinned.
He laughed, carrying her toward their cabin. “I’m relieved you saved me from her. Let’s forget about Nagway.”
“Yeah. We should focus on making babies instead.”
He halted, locking his gaze to hers.
“I figure with the way we can’t keep our hands off each other, the fact that I’m not on any form of birth control, and with your body changes, we’re so going to get pregnant soon.”
“Babies would be amazing! We’ll have the cutest Parri-and-human-mix children of them all! I’ll post their pictures just to make the other parents feel envy.” He began to walk again, his strides faster than before. “We should have at least a dozen.”
She laughed. “Let’s try one or two and see how we do with them first.”
“Whatever makes you happy.”
“I already am.”
* * * * *
Raff stood to the side, out of video range, as Cathian took the captain’s chair and the vid screen connected their ship to the Tryleskian home world. Beltsen Vellar’s face came into view.
Raff reached down, unconsciously fondling one of the blades strappe
d to his hip.
He held a grudge against his uncle, but he tried to let it go. Cathian had saved his life and given him a future the day he’d learned of Raff’s existence. He’d flown The Vorge to Gluttren Four, the shit planet Raff had been raised on, taking him from there.
It would only cause problems if he killed Cathian’s father.
“How dare you!” Beltsen hissed. “You turned the prince over to the Relons and ruined a perfect business opportunity for us. Our family would have made a fortune in profit!”
Cathian rose to his feet. “How dare you. That Dunng was a slaver, a piece of shit, and no amount of crystals are worth ruining our family name! Think on that.”
Rex, Beltsen’s assistant, made an appearance behind him. “No one would have found out.”
“Wrong. I would have told everyone.” Cathian sat back down. “I don’t know why I expect either of you to have any integrity. Both of you disappoint me.”
“One female wasn’t worth the loss of profits.” Beltsen’s face turned red as he snarled, “I know you value humans, but no one else does. Their planet is barbaric, and now word is spreading that they’re selling their own people. The Vax contacted me to see if we wanted to purchase females from Earth. They have an arrangement with the humans’ government.”
Cathian gripped the chair hard enough for the metal arms to creak in protest. “You’d better have refused.”
“Of course I did,” his father spat. “We don’t deal in slaves here, and I certainly don’t want more of our people contaminated the way you’ve been by your sex worker.”
“Nara,” Cathian snarled. “You’ll address my life-lock properly. She was not a sex worker.”
“She was bought, wasn’t she?” Rex sneered. “To feed you during your heat. It was either that or prison for her, wasn’t it? For smuggling drugs?”
“That’s right.” Beltsen smirked. “Stop threatening me, son. You have no room to talk about integrity and shaming the family name. You whisper a hint of scandal to the public, and I will do the same. No one would accept a sex worker into high society on our world. Never mind that she’s human and beneath a Tryleskian of your standing. She’d be shunned by everyone.”
Raff knew his cousin was about to lose his temper. Not that he’d blame Cathian if he wanted to plot a course to the planet to personally beat the hell out of both males. That would get him arrested, though. It was one thing to play mental games, but another to blatantly air their grievances for all to see.
He strode into range of the viewing screen, knowing both males would see him. He stopped behind Cathian and gripped his cousin’s shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze in warning. Cathian glanced at him, his features a barely concealed mask of rage. He gave a sharp nod and sealed his lips together. Raff released him.
Beltsen’s look was one of disgust. “And I’m getting tired of you using him as a threat, Cathian.”
Raff looked up, holding the man’s gaze. “He’s not the one you have to worry about, Uncle.”
Beltsen flinched.
“You see, Cathian is much nicer than I am. He warned you how bad it would be if anyone were to learn your brother got a female pregnant, knew about it, but abandoned her and his child on an uncivilized planet. It would ruin your family’s precious good name.” He moved around the chair, standing next to his cousin. “Do you know what my life was like?”
Beltsen waved as if unconcerned. “I read the report Cathian sent.”
“Then you know what I’m capable of. I had to kill to stay alive. I was the only Tryleskian on the planet, taller and more muscular than anyone else. Every thug tried to force me into service for them. But I’ll never be a slave to anyone. Life was difficult at best…and my mother was murdered. I hold you and your brother responsible for her death. She would be alive if you both hadn’t abandoned her while pregnant.”
Beltsen began to shake his head. “That’s not my fault.”
“You personally rescued your brother after his ship crashed on Gluttren Four, covered up the fact that he’d gone into heat and got my mother pregnant. She was three months along the day your shuttle landed. Don’t lie. You should have taken my mother home with you. Given her a good life. She bore a Vellar male for your family!”
His uncle glared at him. “There was no verification of that. For all I knew, she was pregnant by another male.”
“Lies—and any medical scan would have revealed I was a Vellar.”
“It’s plausible.” A cunning expression tightened Beltsen’s features.
Raff suddenly displayed a blade to the screen. “There’s an interesting story about this weapon that you’ll want to hear.”
“I don’t care,” his uncle snapped.
Raff gave him a cold smile. “My mother sent out messages to the Vellar family when I was five years old. She didn’t think she could keep me alive much longer, and she pleaded for help. Imagine her relief when two Tryleskians arrived a few weeks later, looking for us. They said that you’d sent them, Uncle Beltsen. They told us to pack. We were being saved.”
Sweat broke out on his uncle’s forehead and his eyes narrowed. “I never—”
“What?” Cathian stood fast. “This is the first I’m hearing of this.”
Raff motioned him to silence, glowering at his uncle. “They got us alone…and proceeded to laugh at how stupid we’d been to trust them. One of them took a liking to my mother, and dragged her into the bedroom. The one left with me said he’d been paid to end your problem.” He flashed the blade. “He pulled this out and came at me. But I’d already had to kill by that age. He was so cocky, so certain I wouldn’t put up a fight.”
Raff’s voice deepened. “That was a fatal mistake. He died quickly. Then I rushed into the bedroom and took out the second one by jumping on his back. He had my struggling mother pinned under him while he attempted to rip the clothing from her body. It was too easy to slit his throat.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Beltsen denied.
“There were papers in one of their pockets, Uncle. A contract. An agreement to pay them for killing us—with your signature. I still have it, and I’ve made copies. Proof that you hired killers to take out your own blood. You knew with certainty that I was a Vellar. And you attempted to have us murdered to cover it up forever. You failed.”
Beltsen’s complexion took on a sickly hue. Rex quickly dropped from sight behind him.
Cathian snarled. “How could you?”
Raff didn’t spare his cousin a glance. “This is the last thing I’m going to say to you, so pay close attention. I will end you if you continue to fuck with Cathian, his life-lock, or threaten to take The Vorge from us. If you try to hire more assassins—and actually send a competent team next time—upon my death, that contract will be released to every ruling family on Tryleskian. I’m certain you’ve made plenty of enemies. You’ll go to prison for the rest of your life.
“Cathian allowing me to make The Vorge my home is the only reason you’re breathing. You try to take my home away, or fuck with the only Vellar I give a shit about, and you stop. Don’t ever forget it.” He turned away but looked back briefly. “I like Nara. Fuck with her, you fuck with me. Make certain no rumors spread…or that contract will, too.”
He walked out of view and waited by the door.
“We’re done here,” Cathian growled. He cut the signal.
“He’s afraid,” One stated.
“We didn’t sense his thoughts. He’s too far away,” Three murmured. “But it was clear.”
“I think I even peed myself a little bit,” Two whispered, glancing at Raff. “You are excellent at threats.”
Dovis chuckled. “I’m glad you’re on our side. I doubt they’ll be eager to fuck with us again for a while. If ever.”
Raff nodded. “I meant every word. My loyalty is to our family on The Vorge. They will never separate us. Not without dying.”
His cousin gave him a shattered look. “I had no idea. Why didn’t you
ever tell me that he sent assassins?”
Raff hesitated. “You’re an honorable man, Cathian. When I heard you’d landed on the surface and were looking for me, I thought your father had sent you to try to kill me again. It’s why I let you find me so easily. When I was a child, after that happened, my mother and I fled to the desert to hide in a cave for a few years. She feared they’d send more teams after us. I was done hiding and running once I reached adulthood. But you didn’t come at me with a blade. You opened your arms and accepted me as your family. You apologized for what had been done to me, and I saw your shame over our fathers’ actions. It tortured you. I didn’t want to add to your burden of guilt.”
“You still should have told me.”
Raff sighed. “I didn’t see a reason until today. I’m done with their threats and their attempts to control us. It ends now.”
Nara approached him, touching his arm gently. “I like you, too. And you’re scary as hell, by the way. Thank you. I’m grateful you’re part of my family.”
He nodded, his gaze locking on Cathian. “It’s also time I end my hunt.”
“Hunt?” Nara glanced at Cathian, then back to Raff.
“There’s one more male responsible for his mother’s death, who Raff hasn’t found,” Two explained. “He hunted down the rest of the group that murdered her. It’s all he can do to avenge her death, since taking out his uncle and his father isn’t an option. At least not yet…unless they’re stupid.”
“I’ll set a course to Gluttren Four. We have some business to take care of in a system near there. I’d planned to do it next month, but fuck my father’s schedules. We’re doing things our way from now on.” Cathian tapped the controls and glanced at Raff. “How much time do you need?”
“Perhaps a week. But I won’t leave the surface until I find the bastard.”
“Done. Do you want help? Dovis and I would back you up. York, too, I’m certain.”
“This is something I need to do alone.” He turned, exiting the bridge.
Raff wished he could kill a couple of Vellars, men who truly deserved it, but he’d settle for the one remaining male who’d been successful in murdering his mother. Vengeance would be his.