Aiden hadnat touched him the whole time, standing as still as a desert snake trying to decide whether to flee or strike. Ky had his hand firmly against the nape of Aidenas neck, holding him as fast as an iron collar.
aThis,a Ky murmured. aThis I can do.a The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds at DNAmo had at least not taken away the joy of kissing his best friend.
Aidenas eyes filled with blue, and Ky kissed him again. Their lips b.u.mped and explored, tongues tangling. The heat of Aidenas mouth fascinated Ky, and he delved to the corners of it.
His c.o.c.k swelled as he tasted and probed, liking the feel of Aidenas breath on his face and the scent of him so close. Ky felt pulsing at the base of his staff, ready to go at this new sensation.
Aiden splayed his hand across Kyas chest, his thumb flicking the nipple ring. At the tingling sensation, Kyas seed threatened to burst from him.
aIf I donat stop, Iam going to come in my pants,a he said against Aidenas cheek. aThe great, powerful Dom you live with.a Aiden pulled away slightly, but his hand remained in place on Kyas chest. aWe should stop then. Iam not paying for your laundry.a Kyas clouded mind tried to come up with something witty to say, but the console chimed just then, saving him the effort.
He turned away, breaking the contact, his body temperature in the stratosphere.
aThe lady canat resist,a he said.
Aiden followed him to the console. Ky brought up the message which contained one word.
No.
Ky laughed and twined his fingers together, cracking his knuckles. aSheas on the hook now. Later today, we reel her in.a Aiden folded his arms over his hard chest. Ky could read the signals rolling off him, the chemicals sliding through the air to mix with his. There were two very erect Shareem in the room, that was for sure.
aGood,a Aiden said quietly. aIad like to see her again. In the meantimeaa He feathered light fingers through Kyas hair. Ky reached up and pulled him down for another long, satisfying, tongue-filled kiss.
Chapter Five.
The Train.
When the next message came, Brianne nearly panicked. I canat want this. I canat.
Warm afternoon sun slid through the shielded windows of her office and touched her fingers on the keypad of her console. A text message blinked softly.
You are ready.
Her hands slick with sweat she typed, No.
She sent the message, trying not to feel disappointed in herself. The Shareem would soon tire of the game and move on to another woman.
What shead read about Shareem told her they could not touch a woman until she said they could. It was a built-in mechanism to keep them under control. No Shareem could ravish a woman, whatever Dranis thought. Once she said no, the Shareem had to leave her alone. So that was that.
Brianne let out her breath as she tried to put the incident and the messages behind her. She needed to concentrate on her upcoming functions, a charity for the small communities beyond the dry sea and a project to allow children in the poorer parts of town to learn music.
The console chimed softly and a new message spread itself on her screen.
Take the last outbound train of the afternoon from Pas City toward Elred. Move to the front car after the stop at Ahjed. We will have two hours of uninterrupted journey.
Good G.o.ds, the Shareem called Ky must be sitting at his console right now. His dark brown hair would be tumbling to his waist, his intense blue eyes fixed on the screen, waiting for her reply. Her cold sweat returned.
It would be so easy for her to turn the messages over to her head of security, to let him track down the Shareem and punish him for stalking her. That would be the wise thing to do.
Her imagination returned to the coffee bar and the blond Shareem dipping his tongue into the cream, blue eyes fixed slyly on her. Her heart beat swiftly.
She wrote, What part of no donat you understand? and sent it.
Not a moment later came the reply. You are so ready.
Brianne slammed her hand to the consoleas off b.u.t.ton. She rarely turned off her console, because she received important messages all the time, but she couldnat take any more of this.
She pictured Ky smiling his Shareem smile on the other side of the screen, knowing shead be on that outbound train. No matter what she tried to tell herself, she knew deep down inside that shead go.
She wouldnat be able to resist.
As the hover train shot her northward, Brianne understood why the Shareem had wanted her on the service to Elred. This late on a weekday evening, very few travelers were interested in the remote communities along the canyons to the north. After Ahjed, the front car was completely empty.
Hover trains were steered from the rear, the car guided by grav fields which interacted with the field of the track. The front car gave a view of miles and miles of nothing fading to dark as the glaring sun set.
Brianne touched controls to opaque the windows between the front car and the one behind it, although no one sat in that car either. Alone, she sank into a seat and watched the walls of the box canyon close in on the train.
Two hours ahead was Elred, a small community of crystal miners and people who wanted to retire someplace quiet and remote. Deep wells dug by state-of-the-art equipment allowed people to exist in the dry canyon where water hadnat flowed above ground for at least a million years. Shead been there once at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new well. Very few had turned out for the event.
When the door of the car opened behind her she tensed but didnat turn. She knew the Shareem entereda"she could feel the strange combination of excitement and relaxation pour over her as it had in the coffee bar.
aClose the door,a a male voice said.
She jumped, thinking he meant for her to get up and do it, but she heard another man rumble in the affirmative and then the door closed. Dear G.o.ddess, both of them.
Brianne looked around in alarm. The blond Shareem shead seen in the coffee bar turned from closing the door and bathed her in a slow smile. Her blood heated and she swallowed, knowing he remembered every detail of her reaction to him. He carried an intricately carved box under his arm, which he set carefully on a seat.
The Shareem with him looked like he had no humor in him at all. Dark brows drew together over his Shareem-blue eyes and his bulging arms were folded across his leather-clad chest.
This was Ky, she recognized from his holo photo in the ministryas database. He was not as tall as Aiden but more ma.s.sive, his dark hair flowing in tangled waves to his waist. A level three, made for bondage and domination, not just s.e.xa"more s.e.x than a woman could handle. Walking s.e.xuality.
I came here to apologize to them. Nothing more.
Her tightening quim told her she lied to herself.
She dipped her head in a cordial nod while Aiden smiled and Ky scowled. She could at least be polite.
aI am Brianne daAroth,a she said.
aWe know who you are,a Ky rumbled. His voice was rough and grating, used to command.
aI sincerely apologize for the inconvenience of your arrests.a Brianne was expert at saying the proper thing even when agitated. aMy bodyguards acted without my knowledge. I a.s.sure you, the mistakea"a aStrip,a Ky said abruptly.
aa"will be made up to youa What?a aStrip,a Ky repeated, unmoving. aSo I can paddle your a.s.s.a aLevel threes like to get right to the point.a Aiden casually opened the carved box revealing a row of glittering bottles resting on black velvet. His voice was lower, quieter, more seductive. Come with me, darling, and Iall make you feel good, it said. aWe canat force you. You might enjoy having me help you out of your clothes, but if Ky does it, he wonat be gentle.a Brianne glanced at Ky whose hard face gave truth to the words. aBecause youare a level one?a she stammered at Aiden.
aYes,a Aiden said. aLevel ones are about pure sensuality. Oils smoothed on you so my hands glide over you. A piece of silk brushed over your skin. Water trickled down your back to slide between your a.s.s cheeks.a She swallowed, feeling each sensation as Aiden described them as palpably as if he were doing them.
Aiden lifted a bottle from the box and cradled it in his palms. aKy will tie your hands and spank you until you do whatever he wants. Iall smooth your body with oil and do whatever you want. Which would you like first? Maybe Ky to punish you and me to soothe it all better?a She looked from one to the other, backing up a step. aI didnat come here fora"anything s.e.xual. I came to apologize, to offer recompense. Nothing more.a Ky moved toward her. aYes, you did.a aDid what?a He confused her.
aYou came here for something s.e.xual. If you didnat want that, you would have sent a note.a She shook her head. aI have no intention of having s.e.x. Ever. Iave never had s.e.x. Not with a man.a Aidenas smile widened. aThen you have had it with a woman?a Brianne gasped. aNo, of course not.a aThereas no shame in enjoying a woman.a aI meant that Iad gone to the clinic,a she said hastily. aIam not a virgin. But Iave neveraa aHad a man inside you,a Aiden finished. aHad his c.o.c.k fill you until you moaned with it, never had him make your p.u.s.s.y wet.a A vision suddenly shot into her mind of Ky buried deep inside her, his muscled arms bunching as he drove himself into her. Aiden would hold her head in his lap, hands soothing as Ky f.u.c.ked her.
And f.u.c.ked was not a word Brianne daAroth was used to using. They were doing something to her, the pair of them.
Mirth danced in Aidenas eyes as though he knew what shead just thought. The two of them had every intention of doing something to her, his look said.
aRemove your clothes,a Ky said. aIam losing patience.a aIad do it,a Aiden advised. He caressed the gla.s.s stopper of the bottle, finger moving lovingly around it.
Her heart squeezed. aWhat if someone comes in?a aThey wonat,a Aiden said. aThis train is mostly empty, only a few hardy souls in the back who donat look like theyall move until the last stop. Weare alone.a Ky added in a soft voice, aIf they do come in, what will they see? You naked for us?a Brianne blushed. Shead never been bare in front of anyone but her doctor, a middle-aged woman who saw the human body as a collection of biological components. Never in front of a man, or anyone whoad be interested in her in a s.e.xual way. She didnat know anyone interested in her in a s.e.xual way.
Ky took another step toward her. Brianne looked at his large hands and could almost hear the fabric of her robes tearing. She grasped the top clasp. aAll right. Iam stripping.a She touched the catch that held her robes in place and the magnetic seals came apart. She wore no body monitors, having removed them and left them in her apartment. Shead left her pagers, too. Shead told her bodyguards that she would spend the rest of the afternoon and evening meditating and didnat want to be disturbed. Everyone on her staff understood, thinking she needed to recover from her aordeala yesterday.
Shead come out here alone with no way for her bodyguards to find her.
She had to be out of her mind.
But they were Shareem. They could not harm her. Their programming made it so that they would do only what she wanted.
In their own special way.
The look on Kyas face told her that head push the boundaries as far as possible, never technically violating his programming.
Brianneas heart beat swift and hard. She let her robes fall, catching them before they could touch the floor. Aiden took them from her, smoothing them over a seat. Beneath the robes Brianne wore a plain sleeveless tunic of costly fabric that skimmed her body.
She sensed their pheromones rise as they looked at her. Ky had a definite bulge in the front of his leather leggings, and Aidenas eyes were brilliant blue. Two Shareem males aroused.
Because of her.
It was exciting making men excited. Dranis had never been excited in his life.
aKeep stripping,a Ky said.
Brianne put her hand to the clasp at the back of her neck. aI am betrothed,a she said.
Aiden smiled. aWe know. We saw it on the digitals. You could have brought him along.a The idea of Dranis going anywhere near Shareem or having s.e.xual thoughts at all made her snort with laughter. aThat would never happen.a aHe wouldnat give you pleasure?a Aiden asked, sounding genuinely curious.
aNot Dranis. I am not marrying for that.a aWhy not?a aSheas highborn,a Ky said in disgust. aSheas the highest-born of all. They never marry because they like someone.a aI have to,a she flared. aI have to make this marriage. Itas expected of me.a aSo you picked him out, why? Because he wouldnat bother you too much?a aYou know nothing about it.a aI know more than you think.a They stopped, Brianne breathing hard, Ky holding her gaze.
aLeave her be, Ky,a Aiden said softly.
To Brianneas surprise, Ky shot Aiden a sideways look then nodded. Aiden caressed the bottle again and for some reason Brianne felt soothed, like he had stroked her skin.
aHighborn women,a Ky said again though his voice was not as harsh. aYou almost got Aiden terminated and you didnat even know it.a aMy bodyguards acted without my authority. They thought I was in danger.a aGood thing our friends found out,a Ky said. aOr you might have apologized to Aiden too late. I would have lost my best friend. Does that mean anything to you?a aOf course it does. I would have felt terrible. I already do feel terrible.a Ky shot Aiden an ironic look. aIt would have upset her. Poor little thing.a aKy,a Aiden said in a warning tone.
Ky ignored him. aWhat are you going to do to make it up to us?a aWhat do you want me to do? I am very wealthy as you keep pointing out. I can make a generous donation to anything you wish. I truly want to apologize.a aAs if money could make up for it.a Aiden lifted his hand. aHey, wait a minute. I like money.a Ky reached into a pocket and pulled out what looked like short strips of leather attached to a handle. Her eyes widened. aWhat is that?a aA flogger. Are you brave enough to take it?a She kept her gaze fixed on the leather. aTo take what?a aYour punishment. You said you wanted to make it up to us.a aAnd that will clear things between us?a aIt will be a start,a Ky said.
The blue in Aidenas eyes had widened again, and Brianne felt a strange la.s.situde come over her. They truly had suffered, and she should have been more observant about what her bodyguards were up to. It had been her responsibility. If it made them happy to have Ky spank her with the flogger, thena She swallowed. Spank. Flogger. Oh G.o.ds.
Ky sent her a small smile. aAre you brave enough, little princess?a aIam not a princess.a aYou are in everything but name. Pampered, spoiled, highborn, hiding behind shielded walls. Can you take a Shareem?a aOf course I can.a La.s.situde, excitement, worry and need rolled together to make her shake.
aCan you? Show me.a He didnat believe her. Ky expected her to cry off, to tell them to stop, to s.n.a.t.c.h up her robes and run to the back of the train where other pa.s.sengers lingered. He had brought her here fully believing shead never go through with it. His half-smile told her so.
Enraged, she grabbed clasp at the back of her tunic and wrenched it open. The tunic unfastened automatically and she pulled it off along with her underwear. She did it quickly, nearly ripping the garments in the process. He thought she was afraid, did he? A weak highborn woman too timid to strip in front of a Shareem, too weak to take the attentions of a level three?
She was completely naked before she realized what shead done.
Aiden roved his gaze up and down her body, his face still. aNow that is perfection.a Cool air touched her skin and her c.l.i.t began to tingle. The sun had gone, the sky darkening, streaked with burning pink.
She was naked in a train. In front of two Shareem.
Ky didnat waste time admiring her. aTurn around and put your hands on that pole.a He indicated a vertical pole attached to the end of a seat. aAbove your head.a Brianne obeyed. Shead kept her shoes on, soft embroidered slippers made for an afternoonas meditation. They made no noise as she walked over to the pole. Drawing a breath she grasped the cold metal, her arms reaching high.
She felt them behind her even as her fingers closed around the hard pole. Ky in cool leather touched her on one side, Aiden in linen that smelled of male and scented oil touched her on the other.
The strange relaxation shead been feeling increased, making her limbs warm and loose, widening her mouth into a smile. Pheromones poured over her, making her nipples tighten and her quim wetter than shead ever felt it.
Her smile turned to a gasp when Ky wrapped leather tethers around her wrists and secured them to the pole.
She turned to him, eyes wide, but he did not look at her. His dark hair slid over his leather tunic, his eyes as intensely blue as Aidenas.
Aiden removed the stopper from his bottle, scenting the air with dark spice and flowers. aDo you like this one?a he asked. aI have others. This one seems to fit you.a The odor reminded her of the jasmine that flowered in her force-shielded garden as well as cinnamon and cardamom, expensive spices shipped in from off-planet. Cinnamon and cardamom were her favorites.
aYes,a she breathed.
Aiden poured a stream of oil into his palm then eased the scented warmth onto her skin. A feeling of deep contentment mixed with excitement swirled through her. Aidenas strong hands smoothed her shoulders and down her sides, then across her waist and upward to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. His fingers slid over her nipples, teasing them into points.
aYou like this.a His breath touched her ear.
Who wouldnat?
aOh yes.a aEnjoy it,a Ky said. Head moved to her side again, leather brushing her skin. His eyes had filled with blue.
He flicked his gaze to Aiden, and she thought she saw a brief spark of pain. He caught her focus on him and quickly masked his expression.
aWhy are you doing this?a she asked.
aBecause you had us arrested,a Ky answered at once.
aAnd then you let us out,a Aiden said.
aI couldnat let you die,a Brianne babbled. aIt wasnat fair. Youare not animals.a aSo many think we are.a Kyas body brushed hers, his erection obvious.