Pirate's Price (12 page)

Bhakati lifted her and Vihlok parted her
thighs, draping her legs over his shoulders. She whimpered. Her
pussy rested against Vihlok’s mouth and Bhakati held her steady,
his arm wrapped around her waist.

Vihlok devoured her, licking and thrusting
into her core. His lips closed around her clit and he sucked. She
cried out, shocked by the burst of pleasure released by his
demanding kiss. He repeated the cycle until her head swam. Licking
and sucking, drinking of her passion.

At some silent signal Bhakati lifted her
into his arms. She sagged against his chest, weak, yet tingling.
Vihlok frantically unfastened her cuffs then stripped out of his
clothing. He sat on the edge of the bed and Bhakati placed her in
his arms.

“My love, my sweet slave, never doubt my
devotion again.”

“I won’t, Master.” He kissed her then, his
mouth tasting of her cream.

He turned her and brought her down astride
his lap. The position was familiar and she spread her legs wide,
offering herself without abandoning the submissive role. Firmly
gripping her hips, he pushed inside, filling her by degrees. Then
he framed her face with his hands and pulled her with him as he lay
back across the bed.

Bhakati moved in close, stroking her bottom
and the sensitive crack between her cheeks. She felt a small
intrusion then a warm gush as her body filled with lubricant.

Vihlok looked beyond her as he said, “Be
careful.”

“Of course, Sir. I only inflict pain when it
heightens the pleasure.” His fingers grew bolder. He circled her
anus with one hand while he dipped between her thighs to caress
both Vihlok and Rana. “Push back against me, Mistress.”

She slowly raised her hips and groaned. The
rocking motion dragged her off Vihlok’s cock and pushed her onto
Bhakati’s fingers.

“Again.”

She repeated the motion with more
conviction. Bhakati spread his fingers, preparing her as she
relaxed and accepted the penetration. Vihlok kissed her neck and
the underside of her jaw, patiently waiting for the other man.

After inserting a second lubricant pellet,
Bhakati positioned himself. “Whenever you’re ready, start the
motion and I will do the rest.”

A thrill danced along her nerve endings. He
was waiting for her, ensuring her surrender was genuine. She took a
deep breath and pushed upward and Bhakati drove in. Tighter and
tighter she stretched. Stinging heat intruded on the pressure. She
gasped and shuddered.

“Take your time,” Vihlok encouraged as he
eased his hand between their bodies. His marvelous fingers found
her clit and began a circular motion.

Bhakati’s thighs pressed against her ass,
his entire length inside her. She grasped Vihlok’s shoulders and
reveled in the fullness.

“Move,” she whispered. “Please, Master,
move.”

He needed no other encouragement. With long,
slow strokes, Vihlok filled her pussy. Bhakati mirrored each
movement, sliding in as Vihlok pulled out. Vihlok maintained the
maddening pace until the very end. Each stroke was an intentional
assault on her composure, and Bhakati followed his lead.

Clasped between them, impaled by them, Rana
was overwhelmed. Sensation crashed upon sensation, spiraling up
through her only to inundate her as the searing wave returned. She
cried out, then screamed, unable to suppress the sound.

Vihlok arched beneath her, driving deep
inside her cunt as he shuddered in release. Bhakati echoed his
pleasure, the distinct throb of his cock triggering aftershocks in
Rana’s trembling body.

She collapsed across Vihlok’s chest,
breathless and replete. Bhakati carefully separated his body from
hers and discreetly left the room.

“What have you learned?”

Umar fisted his hands beneath the shelf in
the comm booth. His personal transmitter wasn’t powerful enough to
reach Peronite, so he’d been relegated to public facilities. “The
ship in question is in one of the maintenance bays. Have you ever
heard of a brothel called the House of Bliss? There are strong
indications that that’s her current location.”

A rare smile parted Vega’s lips. “I’ve heard
of it. She was rescued from a wedding and taken to a brothel? How
deliciously ironic.”

“I don’t believe she’s in any danger.”

“Then why are you bothering me?”

Umar heard a familiar voice in the
background, but he couldn’t make out the words. Tarun! Despite
Vega’s assurance the night before, the king obviously had a new
favorite.

Clearing his throat, he wiped every hint of
expression from his face. “I need an invitation to get through the
door. This is an exclusive club.”

“Tell them you’re previewing the club for
me.”

“I need official authorization. They won’t
care who I say I am.”

“I’ll send it. Now get busy!”

Slamming open the door to the tiny cubicle,
Umar strode toward the lift. Tarun was with Vega even now. The
realization ate at his gut. He’d had misgivings about this mission
from the beginning and now he knew why. What better way to dispose
of two unwanted complications than to send one after the other?

Well, Vega was in for a surprise.

He took a public lift to Level 4 and asked a
middle-aged man direction to the House of Bliss. The man swept his
travel-rumpled clothes with a derisive glance then pointed out the
way.

After standing in front of the unmarked door
for a moment, he spotted the palm scanner. Instead of opening the
door, the scanner activated the security system.

“State your name and purpose for this
visit.”

“Umar, Envoy for King Vega of Peronite. I am
expected.” At least he hoped to hell he was.

“One moment, please.”

He looked up and down the hallway, annoyed
by the delay. The longer he thought about Vega’s slight, the
angrier he became. Even if he killed the bitch and dragged her body
back to Peronite, Vega would only return the favor in kind. He knew
too much; it was as simple as that.

The door slid open, revealing the most
beautiful woman Umar had ever seen. Silky blue hair framed her face
and spilled onto her shoulders. The muted geometrical pattern in
her tunic coordinated with ankle length pants.

“Welcome to my house, Mr. Umar. How may we
serve you?”

Summoning all his haughty effect, he started
to launch his practiced routine. He was King Vega’s trusted
emissary and no one was allowed to interact with the king until he
approved them first. The words turned to ash in his mouth as he
looked into her eyes.

“Princess Rana is in grave danger. I’ve come
to warn her.”

Rana snuggled against Vihlok’s side,
absently stroking the hair on his chest. It fascinated her. Jaque
and Pavel had both been devoid of body hair. She propped herself on
her elbow and smiled. “Can the rest of my lessons be private? We
have so little time together. I don’t want to share you with
anyone.” As if to mock her request a chime sounded. “What is
that?”

“Privacy interrupt.” He tossed back the
covers and got out of bed. “Bliss only uses it in extreme
emergencies.”

She rolled off the other side and reached
for her bathrobe. Vihlok didn’t bother with clothing. He strode
into the sitting room and responded to the page. “What’s going
on?”

“There is a man asking to speak with your
companion. He claims to have information regarding her safety. He
is unarmed and quite insistent.”

Rana could only presume the lovely Elloni
was Bliss. “Who is she talking about?”

“His name is Umar,” Bliss replied. “Standard
security verified his identity.”

Shoving her hands into the pockets of her
robe, Rana crossed to stand beside Vihlok. “Send him in.”

“Who is Umar?” Vihlok asked as Bliss blinked
off.

“Vega’s lover.”

“What?” Without explanation, he rushed into
the bedroom and rifled through his discarded clothes. “Why would
you tell her to let him in?”

Rana followed him as far as the doorway. “I
want to hear what he has to say. She said he was unarmed.”

Vihlok tugged on his pants so he had
somewhere to hide his pulse pistol and returned to the sitting
room. The door slid open and Umar stepped through the threshold.
Vihlok greeted him with a vicious right hook.

Umar staggered back a step, wiping blood on
his sleeve. “I’m here to help her!”

“You had that coming,” Vihlok insisted.

“Why are you here?” Rana didn’t bother
hiding her smile. Her heart had soared as she watched the bastard’s
head jerk back and blood spew from his lip.

“Vega sent me to kill you.”

Vihlok drew back his arm, but Rana stopped
the second blow. “Why did you change your mind?”

“Because I’m next. I know his secrets and
he’s found a new toy. That means I’m expendable.”

“What do you want from us?” Vihlok
sneered.

“I’ll help you take down Vega, but you’ll
have to protect me. I’ll need to disappear permanently.”

“That is easily arranged.” The growl in
Vihlok’s tone promised mayhem.

“What happens if your mother dies?” Umar
asked Rana.

“Are you threatening my mother?” Rana was
aghast at his audacity.

“No need. Her transport exploded halfway to
Devaunt.”

Rana just stared at him, too stunned to
speak. Vihlok wrapped his arms around her and tucked her head under
his chin. “Even if it’s true, you son of a whore, you could have
shown some tact.”

“We don’t have time for tact! Vega has your
handmaiden. He intends to execute her for sabotaging your mother’s
transport as soon as he’s manufactured the evidence.”

“Then Kashi wasn’t on the cruiser?” Rana
whispered.

“You’re more concerned about a fucking
servant than your mother? You’re more twisted than I am. You didn’t
answer the question. Who is next in line to rule Devaunt?”

“I am,” Rana admitted. Her ears were
ringing. She needed to slow her breathing and calm down.

“Are you sure?”

“What are you getting at?” Vihlok
snapped.

“Vega is her
husband
and has been
since the night he… tested their sexual compatibility. The wedding
ceremony was only a formality. Kidnapping her didn’t change a
thing.”

Rana pushed away from Vihlok’s arms, needing
to face this at his side not from the shadow of his embrace. “He’s
right. If mother is really dead, my husband will be named regent.
And if something happens to me, Vega will become Emperor of
Devaunt.” She turned back to Umar. “Was this his intention all
along?”

“He intended to rule through you, but this
suited his purposes even better.”

“We need to get to my ship,” Vihlok said. “I
have to contact Fibros.”

“Who is Fibros?” Umar asked.

“Kashi’s lover. We can’t have him storming
the palace until we have a plan.”

“You can’t storm the palace period,” Umar
argued. “This must be fast and stealthy. The element of surprise is
your only advantage. Once Vega realizes you know what he’s up to,
he’ll batten down the entire planet.”

Rana’s stomach cramped as they approached
Vega’s presence chamber. This bastard had killed her mother and
plotted to take over her home world. She had never hated anyone as
vehemently as she hated this man.

“You’re not alone, princess,” Vihlok said
quietly. He walked at her side, adorned in the uniform of the
Devaunt royal guard or as close to one as they were able to
assemble with so little time to formulate a strategy. “You can do
this.”

Kashi’s life hung in the balance. She
had
to do this. No,
they
had to do this. She calmed
herself with the correction and composed her expression.

Umar was the only one who knew Vega’s plan
for Rana so no one questioned her return to Peronite. Two
additional ships had made the jump from Spaceport Makar. According
to Vihlok, one would ensure their protection and the other would
dispense justice. He’d offered the enigmatic explanation with a
secretive smile, but refused to say any more.

The two larger ships remained in orbit,
while Rana directed the Peronite Transport Authority to clear “her”
cruiser to land within the palace compound. Having learned
arrogance and expectancy from her mother, Rana fell easily into the
role of grief-stricken royalty.

Two of Vega’s men flanked the double doors
to his presence chamber. Both were heavily armed. They had to be
incapacitated soundlessly or others might be alerted. Fast and
focused. There was no room for hesitation.

“He’s expecting me,” she said as her party
reached the doorway.

Vega’s men looked at each other then one
turned toward the door. Vihlok slammed the butt of his rifle
against the side of one guard’s head, while Fibros took out the
other. They dragged the unconscious bodies into an adjacent
antechamber, then two of Vihlok’s men took up the original
positions. No one would be fooled for long, but the counterfeit
guards would alert them at the first sign of trouble.

“Ready?” Vihlok asked.

“Can we just blast him? I’m not sure I can
even pretend to be civil.”

“Once Kashi is safe, you can be as nasty as
you like.”

Rana took a deep breath and nodded toward
the door. Her dress was another ridiculous ordeal that constricted
her breathing and restricted her movements. To think that she had
actually agreed to a lifetime of dresses like these.

Vihlok and Fibros shoved the doors open and
Rana swept into the room. Vega sat on his throne with a pretty
young man on his lap. The king’s hand was buried inside his pet’s
pants, enjoying his new toy.

“Go stand against the far wall,” she
snapped.

The pet scrambled off Vega’s lap and quickly
righted his clothing. He looked at the king uncertainly and Vega
waved him away.

“Rana.” The pleasure in Vega’s voice didn’t
begin to reach his cold eyes. He held out his hand for her kiss and
she ignored the gesture. “This is a surprise.”