Battling Rapture (14 page)

It felt as if the door opened in slow motion until it was
completely ajar and Cam stood directly across the room from her. Niki moved
forward. Cam vibrated with excitement, but she didn’t move and Niki frowned.
Her eyes travelled over Camryn and found Lord Huntu’s large hand clutching
Cam’s skirt.
What the hell?
She looked at him and back at Camryn. When
Niki reached the halfway point in the room, he released her skirt and Niki
relaxed as Camryn shot forward.

Niki braced herself just in time as she was engulfed in a fierce
hug. Niki’s arms came up more slowly. She locked them behind Cam’s back and
held on tightly. She closed her eyes and let the familiar scent and feel of the
only person who’d ever loved her envelop her. She would let herself have this
moment. Hugging someone didn’t make her weak, even if the hugging happened in
public. She was just really glad Cam was alive.

“You scared me. We looked for you, but all we found was your
pack,” Niki whispered.

“I know. I took a nap and woke up to a Trogo patrol.”

Camryn loosened her hold and Niki held on for a moment
longer, then took a step back.

“Let me look at you,” Camryn said. “You look good. Are you
well? What happened on Tuetvon?”

Niki smiled a little. “I’m fine. How are you?”

“You keep asking me that. What do you think is wrong with
me?” Camryn frowned.

“Niki,” Rhine said softly.

She stiffened, but got the hint. She wouldn’t assume the
worst of her new in-law, yet. “Are you going to introduce me to your husband?”

“Oh yes.” Camryn turned and pulled her toward the frowning
man.

He was scary as hell. Instead of the stoic look the others
showed to the world, his eyes were narrowed, and frankly, she’d seen scowls
before and that was a scowl. He wasn’t as tall as Tor, but he was just as big.
Plus there was something in his eyes. She knew he was a predator. She’d seen
the look before.

“Niki, this is my husband, Venn.”

Niki stared up at the man and narrowed her own eyes. She
held out her hand. “Lord Huntu.”

He looked down at her outstretched hand.

“She wants you to shake her hand, babe. It’s a custom from
home,” Camryn said.

He engulfed her hand with his larger one and pumped it up
and down before releasing her. “Hello, Niki. I’m glad you arrived safely. I
hope you will stay.”

She had a funny feeling he was trying to tell her something.
“Oh you’re gonna have to throw me out to get rid of me.”
I’m watching you,
big guy.

“I don’t get what’s going on here. Venn, you be nice to my
sister,” Camryn said.

Niki recognized that tone. Somebody was getting ready to get
chewed out and it wasn’t her.

He looked down at his wife and his entire expression
changed. Even his posture softened. He pulled Camryn toward him and Niki
reluctantly let go of her hand.

“What have I done wrong?” he asked.

Camryn sighed. “I’ll tell you later.” She turned to the
Alta
crew. “Thank you for bringing my sister to me. I’m sorry you were detained by
beast people. Everybody go rest. I have an awesome late dinner planned. Niki, I
have a room for you near mine.”

“No,” Rhine said.

Camryn frowned up at him. “No?”

“She stays with me,” he said calmly.

Oh no he didn’t.

Camryn squared her shoulders and Niki prepared to step in
and head off the verbal smackdown Cam was getting ready to give Rhine. Then Cam
cocked her head and smiled.

“Ooh,” Cam said. She looked back and forth between Rhine and
Niki. “Have you two been shackin’?”

“Cam,” Niki said plaintively.

“What is shackin’?” Venn asked.

“If it has anything to do with having sexual relations,
they’ve been doing it a lot,” Bronwyn said.

Camryn howled with laughter.

“What do you know about sexual relations, Bronwyn?” Venn
said.

“Nothing. At this rate I never will.”

“Bronwyn,” Rhine and Venn said together.

It hit her then that they were a family and she didn’t
really belong. She headed for the door, quietly. She didn’t want to ruin
anyone’s fun, but she didn’t feel like laughing.

“Don’t leave, Niki. I’m sorry,” Camryn said softly.

That Cam felt she had to apologize for making a joke cut her
a little. She’d sent her husband’s family across galaxies to look for her and
Niki should be able to spend a little time with her. But she couldn’t right
then. She’d reached her max and she just needed a break.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got her and I’ll bring her back for
dinner.” Rhine took her arm and led her from the room.

She allowed it because she was about to make a semi-clean
getaway. He led her up a set of winding stairs and down a corridor. She watched
each turn, determined not to be lost or dependent on someone else to get
around.

“So, I guess you’re going to tell me what I did wrong,” she
said.

“No, I think you feel bad enough. I am going to ask you why
you were so antagonistic toward Venn.”

“I was nice.”

“Your body language was aggressive. You challenged him with
your words as well. Why?”

He paused in front of a door and laid his palm against the
key pad. The door was designed the same as the ones on the ship. It slid open
and he guided her a little more roughly than normal into the room. She jerked
her arm away, but he wouldn’t let her go.

“Okay, I understand you mean business. You can let me go.”

She watched as his jaw tightened and a vein on his forehead
pulsed. His hand squeezed her upper arm a little harder before he released her,
a finger at a time.

“What were you thinking?” he asked.

“I was thinking that the sweetest woman I know is married to
a damn predator. You know what’s worse? She probably thinks he’s just
misunderstood.”

“Venn would never hurt Camryn. He loves her,” Rhine said.

She pointed her finger at his chest. “Look me in my eyes and
tell me he’s not capable of extreme unremorseful violence.”

Suddenly a chime sounded. She looked around for the origin
of the noise.

“It’s the door,” he said. “Enter.”

The door opened and Venn stepped into the room. Niki stepped
back on the ball of one foot, and held her leg loosely in case she needed to
kick out quickly. They both looked at her with narrowed eyes.

“You’re a spitfire, aren’t you?” Venn smiled, but it never
touched his eyes.

Rhine moved closer to her and she realized he’d placed
himself slightly in front of her.

“You’re my wife’s one weakness. We both know it. She wants
you here. I want her to be happy. I won’t let anything interfere with her
happiness. Or anyone.”

“Don’t threaten her, Venn,” Rhine said.

“I can speak for myself. I won’t believe a man has Cam’s
best interest at heart until I see it for myself. If you know so much about us,
then you know a man tried to get between us before.” She looked around. “I
don’t see him anywhere, do you? When and if I discover you’re who’s best for
her and you truly love her, I’ll back off. Until then, expect to find me
questioning every move you make regarding her. I am her last family member. I
may not be as big as you or as strong, but I will protect her with my last
breath.”

It was a big speech she made and very likely a stupid one.
He needed to know her sister wasn’t alone. If anything happened to Cam, she
would make sure he paid for it.

“I see. I didn’t realize you cared for her. She doesn’t
think you do,” he said softly.

It felt as though he punched her. She wasn’t quick enough to
hide it. He watched her so closely he had to have caught the pain which lanced
through her belly. Rhine reached back for her and she tried to evade his grasp,
but as usual, he was too quick.

She held her free hand up to hold him off. If he tried to
hold her, she was unsure what she would do.

She faced Venn again. “Screw you. You just keep her safe and
treat her right and we won’t have any problems.”

“Niki,” Rhine began.

“No. I don’t need your sympathy.” When she pulled her arm
away, he let her. She turned and walked away from them.

She heard arguing behind her, but didn’t turn. There was a
bedroom at the rear of the chamber. She sat on the side of the bed and kicked
off her shoes.

The chime sounded again and the men fell silent for a
moment.

“Enter,” Rhine said.

She listened to the swish of the door, but didn’t look up.

“Venn, what are you doing here?” Camryn said. “Rhine. What’s
going on between you two?”

“Everything is fine, sweet,” Venn said.

“Uh hmm. What’s wrong with Niki?”

“I’m fine, Cam. It’s the shoes. You know I feel more
comfortable in boots or sneakers. My feet hurt.” She looked up and smiled.

Camryn held a red dress and a strawberry blonde woman behind
her held a purple one. Camryn walked toward her.

“That’s okay. We’ll get the cobbler to make you some boots
at least. We’ve brought you two choices for dinner tonight. They’re made for
you, so if the last things fit, these should too,” Camryn said.

Niki focused behind her for a moment. The men were obviously
tense. They whispered now, but it was a safe bet they still argued about her.
Niki didn’t want Rhine to be at odds with the cousin who was kind to him when
he was an abused little boy. She was going to have to be more careful how she
showed her distrust of Venn.

She turned back to Camryn, who was watching her closely.
“Who’s this?” She nodded at the other woman.

“This is Awya. She is my personal assistant and my friend,”
Camryn said.

“I’m her lady’s maid, Mistress Niki.”

Niki could see the ease between the two women and admitted
her jealousy to herself. She and Camryn had been close once.

“Will everyone be calling me Mistress Niki now?”

“Yes, don’t fight it. Ordanians are very strict about
certain things. You will just make them nervous and they will ignore you
anyway,” Cam said. She didn’t seem bothered by it.

She watched the women hang the dresses in the closet.

Camryn moved back to her and leaned close. “I know I didn’t
send any bras. Awya can measure you for them later. She doesn’t like to create
them without the correct measurements,” she whispered.

“That’s fine.”

Camryn hugged her and Niki hugged her back a little tighter
than necessary.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Camryn whispered. “Urge Rhine not
to be late, will you.”

Niki nodded. Camryn walked over to the now silent men. She
watched Camryn push and prod her husband out of the room. Awya followed.

She tensed as she waited for Rhine to come in and chastise
her for being too aggressive. She’d ignore him, of course. She’d already
promised herself she wouldn’t make waves for him with his cousin. If Venn wasn’t
psychotic, one day she would be gone and he would still need to have a good
relationship with the man.

She looked up when he stopped next to her. She couldn’t read
his expression at all. He walked around her and sat closer to the headboard.
Then he pulled her onto his lap and held her until she stopped struggling. She
sighed. She thought she’d told him she didn’t need sympathy.

He adjusted so his back was against the headboard and he
could stretch his legs out on the bed. He stroked her hair and kissed her
hairline. Apparently he was a dirty fighter.

She was in no position to defend herself against comfort and
patience. So she gave in. She allowed her body to relax into him. She tucked
her legs between his powerful thighs and she used his scent to calm her nerves.
He was better than lavender on a pillow.

It was times like these when she could almost forget he was
capable of single-handedly killing an opponent in hand-to-hand combat. It was
almost as if he was two people. Cold and unfeeling with others and warm and
caring with her.

She was a different person with him as well. She’d never
allowed anyone to hold her. When she’d had sexual relationships in the past,
she’d had more of a grab your gratification and run mentality.

Rhine wanted to have conversations and lie around holding
her. She bet if she let him, he’d hold her hand in public. She had to draw the
line somewhere. Maybe hand holding in public would be the one thing she
wouldn’t let him do to her. That certainly left a lot of room for mischief.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

She shrugged.

“We need to get dressed,” he said.

“Do you all really change your clothes for dinner?”

He nodded. She rolled her eyes and climbed off him.

He pulled her back. “If you need me tonight, just ask.”

She couldn’t be angry he thought she needed him. So far she
hadn’t been very pulled together. It was nice to know he was there to help,
though.

“I won’t need any help. Thank you for defending me to your
cousin.”

“Anytime.”

Chapter Eight

He’d missed being home. They were all different at Huntu
Keep. They laughed more and weren’t as careful about keeping their countenance
neutral. They’d made light of their experiences on Tuetvon as they recounted
events for Venn, Camryn and Hans. He couldn’t relax fully. He was too busy
monitoring Niki.

She smiled and laughed, but there were moments when she
would completely fall silent and tense up. And she watched her sister. Every
interaction was analyzed. If Camryn frowned, Niki looked ready to pounce until
she smiled again. While this made Rhine nervous, it calmed Venn considerably.

After dinner, Camryn led them into the Blue Room. He gave
Niki a little more freedom by standing with Venn across the room from where she
sat on a settee with Camryn, holding her hands.

“Relax, Rhine,” Venn said softly.

Rhine looked at him. “She’s not always predictable.”

“I’m just returning advice you offered me,” Venn replied.

“She hits and kicks when provoked,” he said.

“Will she hit Camryn?” Venn’s posture stiffened.

“Not likely. Bronwyn either. But you or I are possible
targets.”

Venn smiled and relaxed. “She’s just one small woman.”

“Never underestimate her. She’s good. If she’d been born
with the strength of an Ordanian woman, she would be a serious threat. I’d put
my money on her against a non-hyper male or female.” His voice dripped with
pride.

“Camryn also uses this tone when she speaks about her
sister.” Venn replied.

Rhine watched as Camryn dragged Niki across the room to
them.

“Dr. Falk can be here tomorrow to remove the brand after you
fill out Niki’s emancipation papers,” Camryn said.

“I’m not freeing your sister, Camryn,” Rhine replied.

He stared at Niki, but kept part of his attention on her
sister. Niki crossed her hands over her chest, but looked quite bored as she
stared at him. Her sister, on the other hand, squeezed her eyebrows together
until a line appeared between them and tightened her mouth.

“I don’t find that funny. I don’t believe it either.
Especially not coming from you,” Camryn said.

Venn glared at him, but Rhine just raised his eyebrows.
Surely, the man wasn’t going to be a hypocrite.

“Don’t worry about it, Cam. I don’t acknowledge his
ownership, so why are you worried?” Niki said.

“I’m worried because if you try to go anywhere on your own,
someone is just going to catch you and return you to him. And that’s if they’re
nice. If they aren’t, they’ll take you and keep you for themselves or sell you.
Did you enjoy the slave camp and hanging out naked, being gawked at by anyone
who happened to pass by?” She whispered the words fiercely.

“Of course I didn’t enjoy it, Cam.”

“Venn, do something,” Camryn said. She held her hands
clasped in front of her as she beseeched her husband.

“I could break his legs, but he would still own her and
there isn’t anything I could do about it,” Venn told her.

“Break his legs?” Niki asked. She seemed a little shocked.

Camryn nodded. “While I don’t normally condone violence, on
this occasion—”

“Cam!” Niki said.

“You’re not staying a slave and that’s final,” Camryn said.

“I’m afraid she is. Even broken legs won’t sway me,” Rhine
said.

Camryn launched herself at him. Niki stepped in front of
him, but Venn caught Camryn before she could wrap her hands around his throat.
Niki immediately turned to him.

“Why are you making her angry on purpose? What are you
doing?” she asked.

He shrugged and watched her closely. He didn’t even smile
smugly because she’d stepped in front of him to save him from being assaulted
by her sister.

Venn called his name to get his attention. “I’ll give you
time, but get this worked out.” Then he tugged his wife from the room.

He could feel the eyes of the rest of his family on them,
but he concentrated on Niki.

“Fine,” she said finally. “But let’s talk about this in
private.

He led her back to his room and allowed her to precede him
inside. She walked to the sitting area and perched on the edge of a cushioned
armchair. He sat opposite her on the sofa and relaxed against the back.

“You want something in return for signing the emancipation
papers. You know I don’t care how many deeds you hold because you aren’t my
master. I do care that Camryn does and it hurts her. I do care that her husband
is going to get pissed in direct proportion to how stressed she becomes about
this situation. He would be the same guy who has the eyes of a killer and just
matter-of-factly stated your limbs were optional. So let’s deal. What do you
want?”

He didn’t say anything. After a few minutes, she raised her
middle finger at him in what he assumed was a rude gesture and then she stood.

“I want your promise you will stay with me for the next
year. We sleep in the same bed each night. If I have to travel and you can’t
go, you stay with your sister until my return. At the end of the year, we
reevaluate.” He hoped a year would be enough time for her to see she could be
happy with him.

She sat back down. “You want me to commit to having sex with
you for a year?”

“No, the commitment is living with me and sleeping in the
same bed with me. If I can’t get you to want me, I don’t deserve to sink into
your pussy.”

“There is something wrong with you,” she said.

“Do we have a deal?”

“What about A’Di?” she asked.

“I don’t want to sink into A’Di’s pussy.”

“Rhine.”

“Yes.”

She sighed. “That’s good to know. I meant, what will happen
to her? Will you let her go free too?”

“She may not be as thrilled about it as you think,” he
warned.

“I don’t care if she’s thrilled. Free her and let her make
her own decisions about her life. Hell, maybe she would like to go back to her
planet,” she said.

“Her planet is gone. A sun close to Rary went supernova.”

“Wow.”

“Even if I free her, I will still be responsible for her
until she’s settled.”

“No, you think you will still be responsible for her, but I
like that about you,” she said.

“What will you give me if I undertake the troublesome task
of getting the Rarian settled?”

“I won’t try to crack the back of your thick skull in.”

She was a keeper. “I can keep you from doing so on my own.”

“What do you want?”

“More time.”

“How much more?” she asked.

“Seven months, and you must figure out what she wants to do
once freed.”

“Man.” She sounded a bit plaintive. He tried not to take it
personally.

“Do we have an agreement?” He stood.

“This isn’t one of those relationships where I have to be
faithful and you get to bang anything with a hole, is it?”

She said some really alarming things sometimes. “Bang?”

“Sex. Fuck. Screw,” she said.

“If there is any banging to be had, we will have to make do
with each other. I don’t share and you don’t seem to be the type.” The way
she’d set the rules for A’Di had been his first clue.

She rose from the chair and held out her hand. He grasped it
and pulled her closer.

“Deal,” she said. “Now let me tell Cam so she won’t be up
all night.” She pulled back.

He held firm. He pulled his information pad from his waist
and sent Venn a message. He tossed the pad on the sofa table.

“She knows. Now since I want you, I guess I better get
started making you want me too.” He smiled.

“So arrogant,” she whispered.

“Luckily, I think your pussy likes me.”

“I don’t know if I like you. Not two minutes ago you were blackmailing
me. I think maybe we should just
sleep
.” She attempted to pull her hand
away.

“So it’s the hard way tonight? You need to be convinced.” He
tried to sound reassuring. He walked her toward the bedroom. She tried to trip
him.

He opened his senses fully. His nose had already told him
she was becoming aroused. He listened for a change in her breathing to match
the accelerated rise and fall of her breast.

Unfortunately, she liked for him to chase her. He’d warned
her about exciting him by fighting and inducing a hunt. He’d explained if she
didn’t want him, the best way to communicate that was to show indifference. She
hadn’t managed it yet.

He was already overstimulated by all the things which
classified her as a level one exotic. When she triggered his need to subdue
her, he found it impossible to resist.

He suspected she got a rush from experiencing dominance in a
controlled way. Anytime he allowed his strength to overpower her aggression,
she transmitted a rush of pleasure. Since the first time they were together and
he’d bruised her wrists, he’d been careful not to harm her. He had to be
constantly on guard because once she submitted to him sexually, she seemed to
enjoy it all. Pleasure and pain were equally enjoyable to her.

He needed to protect her, even if it was from herself—or
him. He gave her what she needed, but was determined not to damage her. Caring
for her, sexually or otherwise, was his first priority.

In the bedroom, he let her go to see what she would do. She
grinned as she spun away. She wanted to play.

“If you can catch and pin me before I make it to the door,”
she said with a shrug, “I’m all yours.”

He really tried to remain calm. The blood rushing to his
already engorged cock made the task slightly painful. She came at him fast and
strong. He blocked each punch, backhand and kick. He didn’t want to hurt her
and she knew it. She used the handicap against him mercilessly.

But he really didn’t have the patience for it today. She was
his. He’d outmaneuvered her. At least for the next year and a half. He turned
away from her and lunged to the bed. He clutched the coverings until he heard
her run up behind him. Then he flung the covering at her, taking advantage of
her surprise to wrap her tight and pull her close.

“I think you are caught and pinned,” he whispered.

“That was a dirty trick,” she said.

“You mean like trying to assault me with tacky beast shifter
figurines our first night on Tuetvon?”

“That was different.”

She appeared so disgruntled he couldn’t resist kissing her.
As usual, she melted into him. Her mouth was warm and wet beneath his. He
pulled back slightly and nibbled the corners of her lips. He unwrapped the
edges of the covering and tossed it back on the bed. He held her tightly
against him to minimize her chance of escape while he undressed her. His cock
twitched as he unfastened her dress and pushed it down over her hips. It landed
at her feet silently. He lifted her and tossed her on the bed.

He admired the jiggle of her breasts for a moment before she
propped herself up onto her elbows. He pulled her shoes from her feet and
pulled her leggings and panties off at the same time. He paused to gaze at her.

“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my
life.”

She widened her legs and slowly slid her hand down between
her legs. “I would think, looking at Ordanian women, I would be too different
for you to find me attractive.”

He watched as she parted the lips of her pussy with her
fingers and began to slowly rub her clit before stopping to gather juices from
her canal and use it to lubricate her clit.

“You are not merely attractive, Niki, and you know it.”

He tore his gaze away from her dripping cunt to stare at her
face. She was smiling, the look in her eyes wicked. He tore his clothes away
from his body. She watched hungrily. His focus returned to her fingers, which
circled her clit faster now.

Naked, he fisted his cock, using the precum from the tip to
ease his hand up and down his shaft as he watched her pleasure herself. Slowly
he walked closer. He trailed the fingers of his free hand lightly up her ankle,
leg and thigh to rest at the entrance to her pussy. She shivered.

“Are you watching or helping?” she asked, breathlessly.

“Both.”

He slid two fingers slowly inside her. He rubbed his shaft
faster as he began to push his fingers in and out of her cunt. Her fingers flew
against her button now. Her inner walls tightened around his fingers.

“Harder,” she said.

He obliged, going from gentle thrusts to aggressive ones.
Her pussy clamped down on his fingers as she fell back with a cry. Her fingers
covered her clit and she touched his sticky fingers with her own. She shivered
from the inside out and he watched and felt it all.

He pulled his fingers from her body and crossed to his
dresser. He rummaged inside until he found his ceremonial neck cloths. He
grabbed them and returned to the bed. She hadn’t moved. Her eyes were closed
and she still clutched her pussy.

He really wanted to dive into her tight pussy and pump until
he spilled inside her, but he wouldn’t. She would like that, but she would
enjoy what he was going to do a lot more. He caressed her ankles before pulling
them together and tying them with one of the neck cloths.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

She frowned, but didn’t resist as he turned her over and
pulled her to her knees. He pulled her arms behind her back, crossed them at
the wrists and tied them as well. He placed one hand on her neck while one
clutched her wrists. He pressed gently on her neck until she bent forward at
the waist and her cheek touched the bed.

Her breathing was erratic now. Her body shook slightly. He
pulled the tie from the end of her braid and slowly pulled it apart. He spread
her hair around her. He stood back and observed what he’d done. Her lips parted
and her little tongue peeked out and licked her lips.

“You know, I should make you suck my cock now.” He waited
while she groaned. “You did say you belong to me, didn’t you?”