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She moaned as she felt the head of his cock nudging the flesh of her sex, parting her slowly, slipping through the hot moisture that had gathered there to ease his way inside of her. He went still when he had embedded his rock hard cock to the hilt inside of her, pulling away from her so that he could look down at her as he slowly withdrew and then pushed into her once more. She lifted her hands to his shoulders, gazing up at him as she countered his rhythm, then looked down, between them to the point where their bodies joined. Raphael followed her gaze, moving slowly as he watched their flesh meld, separate and join.

A shudder went through him. He hesitated a long moment, groaned and began moving again, faster, plunging deeply inside of her. Victoria dug her heels into the mattress, meeting each hard thrust of his cock with one of her own, clutching his shoulders more tightly until he lowered himself so that her breasts rubbed against his chest with each thrust of his body. The stimulation sent a flood of heat through her, sent her careening toward fulfillment. She pulled his head down and thrust her tongue into his mouth. When he closed his mouth around it and sucked, her body convulsed, the muscles in her belly clenching around his cock, milking him of his seed. He groaned into her mouth, and finally pulled away, gasping, spent.

Victoria tightened her arms around him, wrapping her legs around his thighs and holding him to her. She didn’t want to let go. She realized she never wanted to let go.

Finally, gently, he disentangled himself from her and lay beside her, pulling the covers up over them.

The sheets were damp, but she found she didn’t care. She moved against him, demanding silently that he hold her close. He slipped his arm around her, stroking her back. She was half asleep when he spoke. “I shouldn’t have come.”

She nuzzled against him and kissed his chest. “I’m glad you did.”

“I wanted to ask you to do something for me.”

Victoria pulled away and looked up at him. “What?”

He frowned. “I understand that it was never part of your plans and it’s a lot to ask, but I’d like for you to keep this.” He caressed her belly.

Victoria stared down at his hand for a long moment before she realized what he was talking about. “Raphael....”

He put a finger to her lips. “Shhh. I know you need to think about it, that you haven’t decided. I just wanted you to consider it. It would ... please me to think that my son was with you.”

Victoria flipped over, putting her back to him. “Don’t talk like that. I can’t accept that nothing can be done.”

He placed his hand on her arm, leaned down and kissed her shoulder. “Stubborn. I’ve always loved that about you.”

Victoria sniffed. “I find that hard to believe.”

She felt him smile against her shoulder. “That’s because you never understood that I love everything about you.”

She swallowed with some difficulty. “We still have the containment. We could retrieve it, use it to transport everyone.”

Raphael sighed. “It was specially designed for the ship that brought us. You know as well as I do that the odds are astronomical that it would fit in the hold of another ship, even assuming they would be willing to jettison their cargo to accommodate us. And what is the likelihood that the ship would be equipped with a pulley system that would work to hoist it? If you think I want to accept this, you’re mistaken. I’d like nothing more than to go with you.”

Victoria sighed and turned over. “I don’t want to talk about it. I want you to make love to me until I can’t think of anything at all.”

* * * *

The Kaymons attacked again just before dawn. They were caught off guard, for this time the creatures found their way through the ventilation system. A half a dozen managed to slip in before the motion censors went off and Quinton, Caroline and Sylvia were struck down as they ran from their sleeping quarters.

Roach managed to shoot Brown in the leg with the laser rifle before the last of the Kaymons were brought down. Roach threw his rifle down when he saw what he’d done and rushed to see how seriously he’d injured his coworker, whereupon Brown did his utmost to choke the life out of him.

When Tuttle and Albert finally managed to separate the two, both men were in need of medical attention.

Gasping, as much from the adrenaline rush as the expenditure of energy, Victoria rushed to the monitors, watching closely until she was certain the surviving Kaymons had retreated from the general area. “Let’s move it! Now people!” she yelled at the group that had been hand picked to outfit the CAT.

Grabbing up weapons and equipment, everyone raced for the door, paused to check the stairwell, and then pounded down the stairs. They arrived at the lowest level somewhat winded, checked it cautiously, and waited while Victoria checked with Barbara to make certain the Kaymons were still in retreat.

At the all clear, the cover was lifted from the access pool and they dove, swimming toward the mines, where the CAT had been parked. Victoria had reckoned without the effects the water would have on their speed. It took them nearly twice as long to outfit the CAT as she’d calculated.

She kept a close watch of the time, alternating by checking the long range sensors.

Raphael swam to her, gripping her arms. We’re ready. Donna and Carol have volunteered to go with me and Xavier. Don’t fight me on this, Victoria. You’re needed here.

Victoria studied him a long moment and finally nodded. She looked at her watch. They’re liable to be swarming again before you’re done. Be careful.

He pressed his lips to hers briefly. I’ll see you when I get back, he said when he pulled away.

She nodded, watching as he and the others climbed into the CAT and started it up. When the CAT had vanished in the murky depths, she called the workers together and returned to the habitat to pace and wait.

Minutes ticked into hours. Victoria kept glancing at her watch, wondering if they’d reached the site in the time calculated, and then, if they had managed to set the charges in the time they’d calculated. Periodically, she checked the video feed and the censors. Finally, she realized she was making everyone jittery with her display of nerves and retreated into her quarters.

The projected time of detonation came and went. Victoria discovered that she’d chewed her nails down to the quick and began pacing again.

Suddenly, all hell broke loose. A noise, like a deep moan echoed hollowly through the habitat. It shivered. In a moment, the faint waver had become hard shaking and every proximity monitor went wild.

Victoria snatched the door open and raced into the rec room. The video feed from beneath the habitat showed billowing clouds of silt. Tumbling through it, Victoria could see a dozen or more Kaymons. “They were too late,” she said as the proximity censors topside let out a sharp cry of warning. Dimly, she saw the outline of the CAT as it rolled to a halt beneath the habitat. “Stay put,” she muttered. “Just stay put.”

To her horror, she saw the doors opening.

“Shit! They’re coming in! I need four people, now!” She yelled, grabbing up her rifle and heading for the door without waiting to see who would follow.

Reaching the access level, she started hauling on the wench to lift the top from the access pool. As soon as it had risen a foot, Raphael, Donna, Carol, and Xavier squeezed through and rolled from the lip of the pool. She released the wench and grabbed her rifle up. “The sensors are going crazy. They must be everywhere,” she said as she turned and led the way back to the stairwell.

Raphael fell into step beside her, then pushed ahead of her, grasping the door first and pulling it open. They scanned the stairwell and started up. They were nearing the third level when they heard the distinct sound of a door opening.

“Hello the habitat!”

Victoria exchanged a glance with Raphael, hardly daring to believe someone had come for them. “We’re here!” she yelled. “Coming up!”

“Make it fast! There’s a hell of a storm blowing up here! We need to get off this rig before the ship’s damaged by flying debris.”

“We’ve got wounded,” she yelled back. “Give us ten!”

She pounded on the door of the officer’s level when she reached it. “Our ride’s arrived,” she said when the door opened and Brown looked at her in surprise. “Grab a stretcher. Let’s get these people up there.”

Brown grinned. “I think I can make it under my own steam ... even if I have to crawl.”

Victoria grinned back at him, feeling giddy with relief. “I’ll give you a hand. You might crawl too slow to suit them.”

The wind snatched the door from her grip when she opened it onto the lower deck, slamming it back against the wall. She staggered, almost falling with Brown. Regaining their balance, they leaned into the wind and struggled to climb the exposed stairs that led to the upper deck.

Finally, they reached the upper deck, however, and staggered toward the open bay doors of the ship that awaited them. Victoria was on the gang plank before she recognized it. Looking around, and then up, she met Captain Huggin’s gaze. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

He smiled wryly. “I hope you can properly appreciate the fact that I just threw away a forty year career,” he said as she came even with him.

She studied him a long moment. “We’ll see. After I get through with them, you might find they’re anxious to do the right thing.”

His brows rose, but he dismissed whatever questions rose to mind. “We need to get everyone in here as quickly as we can. We’re not going to be able to take off if the wind gets much harder.

Victoria nodded and released Brown. Turning, she waved the others up, urging them to hurry. Roach brushed past her and kept going. Tuttle scrambled up the gangplank behind him, nearly falling twice. Behind her, Clarence and his kitchen help struggled to make their way into the hold, leaning against the pelting wind.

It was then that Victoria discovered none of the injured had been brought up. Raphael, Xavier and Barbara stood near the stairwell, watching, but unmoving. She stared at Raphael with a mixture of surprise and anger. Placing her hands around her mouth, she shouted at him to bring the injured.

Captain Huggins gripped her shoulder. “We can’t bring them.”

She glanced at him. “You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’m leaving any of my people on this hell hole of a planet!” she said furiously.

“We can’t take them! We don’t have the containment!”

“We’ll retrieve it!” Victoria said furiously.

“We can’t! Not in this.” He paused, saw she wouldn’t listen and added, “I’m under orders not to bring them off planet for any reason,” he said angrily. “If I did, you can be damn sure we’d never make it back to any port.”

“They won’t know if you don’t tell them,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Victoria!”

She turned, saw that Raphael had come to stand behind her. “Bring everyone up. We’re leaving.”

He shook his head slowly, smiling faintly. “I know you think you can do anything, but you can’t fight this.”

“I’m not leaving you!”

“No. You’re being taken away,” he said and pulled her close, pressing his lips to hers. Victoria threw her arm around his neck, holding him tightly.

“We can do this,” she said. “I’ve got the weapon I need.”

He caressed her cheek, touched her neck. Something shot through her, like a static charge. It was the last thing she remembered as darkness claimed her.

Chapter Seventeen

Victoria felt herself shaking. She frowned, then realized that she was being shaken. With an effort, she opened her eyes. Brown was standing over her.

She blinked. “Where am I?”

“We’re on the ship. Leaving our people, that’s where we are. What’re you going to do about it?”

Victoria jackknifed into a sitting position. The sudden motion made her head swim. “What the hell was I hit with?”

“Damned if I know. Raphael touched you on the neck and the next thing I know, you’re falling into a limp pile in his arms. Captain Huggins dragged you up the gang plank and pulled it.”

Victoria got up. “I need a weapon. How long was I out?”

Brown produced two pistols, handing her one of them. “Too long.”

Huggins glanced around when Brown and Victoria entered the cockpit, then returned his attention to the controls. “I’m sorry, Anderson. I would’ve done something if I could, but my hands are tied.” His heart skipped a beat when a cold, round metal object settled on his temple. He didn’t have to look to know what it was.

“I’m sorry, too, Huggins. I want you to know I will deeply regret splattering your brains all over Grant over there, but I’ll do it anyway if you don’t turn this ship around .... right now.”

Huggins slid a sideways glance at her. “You’re bluffing.”

“Are you willing to bet your life on it?”

“You’re not qualified to pilot this ship.”

“You really think I’m going to worry about a little thing like a license after I’ve murdered you?”

He paled. “What I meant was, you don’t know how.”

“I’m a fast learner. But I don’t have a lot of patience right now. I’m going to give you to the count of five.”

Huggins hesitated.

“One.”

“All right!”

“You’re going to set it down right where you dropped the containment.”

He threw her a startled glance. “That’s over the water. I can’t hold it there in this weather!”

“I’ve got confidence in you.” She turned to Brown. “I’m going below to get everything situated. Let me know when to open the bay. If either of these two try anything, shoot them.” She thought about it several moments. “On second thought, I believe I’ll take Grant with me. She might decide to play with the transmitter.”

Grant threw a frightened look in her direction. “I won’t. I swear I won’t.”

“She’s my navigator. I need her.”

“You’ll get by without her,” Victoria said, grabbing a fistful of Grant’s tunic and hauling her out of the seat.