Rebel (14 page)

Lutton pushed in with two fingers and she
gasped into Ashton’s mouth. Pleasure unfurled with each stroke,
making her feel wicked and wanton. She shouldn’t be enjoying this.
It was a sacrifice, necessary to earn their freedom.

No. This was no sacrifice. They were
celebrating life, reveling in sexual intoxication.

When Lutton positioned his cock, Corry
pushed back, accepting—no
welcoming
him. He murmured words
she couldn’t understand, some sort of chant, perhaps a prayer.

Grasping her hips, Lutton dragged her up
until only the head of Ashton’s shaft remained inside her. She
braced herself against Ashton’s chest and his hands covered her
breasts. Lutton guided her down, his cock sliding out as Ashton’s
slid in.

Corry cried out, her senses stretched as
tightly as her body. She’d never dreamed such pleasure existed,
such intensity. She clenched her inner muscles and both men
groaned. She soared, exhilarated by passion’s power.

“Move, my love,” Ashton whispered. “Pleasure
us all.”

Lutton showed her the movements, but it was
easier for Corry to control. Her head reeled, her heart thundered
and lights danced before her eyes. She rocked, thrust, slid,
releasing one cock as she captured the other.

Ashton rolled her nipples. Lutton clutched
her hips, urging her on, speeding the pace. They undulated
together, straining as one. Guiding her head back and to the side,
Lutton covered her mouth with his. She parted her lips and welcomed
him with a swirl of her tongue. Ashton arched into her. Lutton
matched the movement of his tongue to the thrusting of his
cock.

The drums accelerated, louder and faster, as
the men pounded into her. Tearing her mouth away from Lutton’s,
Corry cried out loud and clear. Pleasure tore through her body,
racing from her head to her toes and back again. She pulsed, shook
and screamed, unashamed of her powerful release. Ashton thrust
deep, shaking violently as he came. Lutton followed a moment later,
his face pressed into her hair.

They collapsed into the grass in a tangle of
naked limbs. The drums faded. The ceremony ended. Lutton kissed her
shoulder and slowly withdrew.

“I will think of you fondly,” he whispered,
and disappeared into the night.

A long time passed as she lay there sprawled
across Ashton’s chest. “Have the others gone?”

He raised his head and looked around. “I
think so. Are you all right?”

“It’s not an experience I’d care to repeat
every night, but yes, I’m fine.”

Holding Corry close, Ashton sat and wrapped
her legs around his waist. Her snug sheath hugged his cock. He
wasn’t willing to lose the connection, the intimacy. A humid wind
played across their perspiration-slick bodies as they stared into
each other’s eyes. She raked her fingers through his hair, her gaze
filled with tender affection. His heart leapt and his insides
clenched. Did she realize what she revealed with her expressive
eyes?

The past two nights had moved him in ways he
didn’t fully understand. He was relieved to have the rituals
finished, yet they had been the most intensely erotic experiences
of his life. He stroked her face, loving the way she leaned into
his hand.

“What happens tomorrow?” he asked.

“Lutton or one of the others will lead us
through the jungle.” She sounded distracted, dreamy. Her contented
sigh warmed his wrist. “The nearest transport station is in
Sanctuary, four days from here, but there’s a settlement a few
hours away with beasts large enough to ride.”

He chuckled, tracing the lush fullness of
her lips. “You weren’t satisfied with riding this beast?” She
didn’t respond to his teasing. A wary sort of sadness clouded her
expression. “What are you thinking about?”

“Am I still your prisoner?”

“How can you ask me that?” He stroked her
neck and squeezed her shoulder. His fingers lingered against her
skin. “You saved my life. If the executive council wants you
apprehended, they’re going to have to find you themselves.”

She turned her face away. “How did this get
so complicated?”

Complicated didn’t begin to describe the
feelings twisting through him. He wanted to shelter her, protect
her, but he knew she’d never allow it. A true zealot would never
agree to hide. “Do you have somewhere to go? You can’t return to
Borrelly.”

“I’ll figure out something.”

He took her chin in a light grasp and guided
her face back toward his. She stared at his mouth, refusing to meet
his gaze. “Korbin has to release Danette and Palmer. The coalition
isn’t going to negotiate with terrorists. You have to approach
them—”

“Don’t you think we’ve tried?” She scrambled
off his lap. “My father sent countless petitions detailing the
abuse and neglect, and they
silenced
him because of it.
Believe what you like. The executive council doesn’t give a damn
about the other outposts.” She stomped into the pool.

Ashton watched her dive beneath the surface,
her body sleek and gleaming in the moonlight. What the hell was he
going to do? Like it or not, he was falling in love with this
hot-headed rebel.

He waded into the water, waiting for her to
surface. She gasped as he wrapped his arm around her waist and
pulled her back against his chest. “I can help you if you give me
half a chance. Your stubborn pride is going to cost you this
conflict. You won’t solve anything by threats and
intimidation.”

“We’ve tried diplomacy.” She remained stiff
and unmoving in his arms. “It got us nowhere.”

“Maybe you need a better diplomat, someone
more familiar with how the council thinks.”

She turned, resting her hands on his chest.
Her gaze searched his face, intense and wary. “Why would you help
us? You’re one of
them
.”

“A certain little rebel has made me curious
enough to investigate. If your issues are legitimate, I’ll
negotiate with the executive council.”

“Why?”

He leaned down, brushing her lips with his
as he whispered, “You know why.”

“This can’t be about me.” She pushed him
away. “Investigate. Better yet, visit Shanty Town. I welcome your
help, if you believe in our cause, but I don’t want a personal
favor.”

“Fair enough.” He cupped her bottom and
lifted her against him, smiling into her eyes. “You have to make me
a promise first.”

Her gaze narrowed and she tilted her head.
“What?”

“Give me one week to complete my
investigation. During that week you stay out of sight and agree to
have contact with no one but me.”

“Korbin has to know—”

“It’s an all-or-nothing deal. I want you
safe, and contacting Korbin compromises your security.”

“Will you contact him? Let him know I’m
safe?”

Pausing, Ashton considered the options. He
resented the hell out of Korbin for allowing Corry’s involvement in
the rebellion, but her request was a fair compromise. “All right.
I’ll let him know you’re safe, if you promise to stay put.”

“Where are you thinking of taking me? The
council will have agents out looking for us by now.”

“As far as anyone knows, you never left
Borrelly. I’ll take you to a place on Halley Prime with better
security than coalition headquarters.”

“Where’s that?”

“The Pleasure Palace. Petra guarantees the
safety and anonymity of every client. Besides, she’s the last
person in coalition space most people are willing to cross.”

For a long, silent moment she stared up at
him with wide, uncertain eyes. Finally, she nodded. “One week.”

“We’ll work this out together, I promise.
We’ll find a way.” He covered her lips with his. Her tongue surged
into his mouth before he could deepen the kiss. Sucking gently on
her tongue, he absorbed her taste, her texture. He touched her with
gentle patience, memorizing each contour of her satiny flesh.

Her breasts filled his hands, her nipples
already hard against his palms. She was a delight, a wonder, so
giving and passionate. She wrapped her legs around his waist,
relaxing in the water.

Hooking one arm under her bottom, he reached
between their bodies with his other hand. Smooth, soft, ready, she
gasped as he parted her folds and pushed inside. Warm and
welcoming, her core rippled around his fingers. She felt so
good.

He slid in and out, enjoying the heat and
her uninhibited response. She arched, her head falling back on her
shoulders. Moonlight bathed her face and breasts. Pushing deep, he
bent to her nipple, suckling firmly as his fingers worked her
core.

He wanted to feel her come, to watch her
face as orgasm drove reality away, but his cock ached and his balls
had drawn up tight against his body. Lifting her hips, he entered
her in one smooth, sustained thrust. Her hands clutched his
shoulders, her inner muscles squeezing his shaft. Ashton
moaned.

“Can I stay inside you forever?” He
whispered the words into her hair. “You feel so damn good!”

“Forever?” Sadness flickered in her gaze and
her kiss tasted of desperation.

She was right. He couldn’t promise her
tomorrow. Why had he spoken of forever? “Lie back. Float on the
water. I want to enjoy the view.” Keeping her legs locked around
him, she floated. Her hair fanned out around her face and her arms
drifted at her sides. Spectacular. She took his breath away and
made his heart ache.

“Don’t jump.” He grinned and activated his
implants, making his cock vibrate. She groaned, her entire body
quivered, and her inner muscles clenched rhythmically. “Come for
me. I love watching you come.”

Her thighs flexed against his waist and a
breathless whimper escaped her throat. “I can’t…like this.”

“Yes, you can. I’m not moving until you do.”
He increased the intensity, pressing on her mound, pushing her clit
closer to the vibration. She thrust her breasts toward the moon and
surrendered. Each deep pulse of her release caressed his cock.
Panting, he deactivated the vibration and increased his diameter.
She cried out again, her pussy fluttering wildly.

“Too much?” he asked.

“No.” She gasped. “Just move!”

He pulled her up, guiding her hands to his
shoulders. “Lock your elbows and hold on tight. I need hard and
fast right now.”

“Thank God.” She chuckled then moaned with
his first forceful thrust.

Bracing his legs far apart, he drove up into
her wet, willing body again and again. Hard, fast, deep, wild, he
gave them both what they craved. His hands clutched her ass and her
nails dug into his back.

Tension knotted his muscles and his balls
drew up tight. He thrust to the hilt and held her to him, coming in
long, shuddering waves. He groaned into her hair. The pulses of her
orgasm around him felt nearly as good as his. For a long time he
just held her, the moment too perfect for words.

With obvious reluctance, Ashton separated
their bodies and Corry lowered her legs to the ground. They waded
through the water hand in hand, enjoying the tranquil setting and
the tingling afterglow.

All the unanswered questions awaited them on
the shore.

“You’re planning on getting me a security
waiver?” she asked as they started back toward the village.

She knew enough about the Pleasure Palace to
understand what he had in mind. The sex emporium frequently
attracted off-world clients who had no other interest in Halley
Prime. They were issued diplomatic waivers, allowing them full
access to the Pleasure Palace without the usual security scans and
background checks required to visit Halley Prime.

“No one will know where you are,” Ashton
stressed.

“As long as I stay inside the Pleasure
Palace.”

“This will ensure your safety until we can
develop a long-term strategy.” He raised her hand to his lips and
kissed her knuckles, his gaze gleaming in the moonlight. “Can you
think of another way for us to be together while we negotiate peace
between your world and mine?”

“No,” she admitted. A gentle breeze teased
her damp skin, reminding her that they were still naked. “It’s a
good plan.”

“Meals will be delivered to your door and
I’ll instruct the service personnel not to look at or speak with
you. Unique customs of visiting dignitaries are nothing unusual for
Petra’s staff.”

Pausing on the narrow path, she pulled her
hand out of his. “Why are you on a first-name basis with the owner
of the Pleasure Palace?”

He chuckled and recaptured her hand. “Father
likes to forget the connection whenever he can, but Petra is my
mother’s sister.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. His mother
sympathized with the rebels and her sister owned a thriving chain
of sex emporiums. Premier VinDerley had more than his share of
skeletons in his closet.

“I guess the only real question is, can we
trust ‘Aunt Petra’?”

“It should never come to our needing to
trust her. The sort of security we require is standard for each of
her elite clients. Still, if things turn ugly, it should comfort
you to know she’s been supporting your cause for years.”

“The rebel cause is being financed by the
owner of the Pleasure Palace?”

“Why do you sound surprised?” He tucked her
hand in the crook of his elbow and resumed their trek down the
path. “Korbin never told you the identity of your primary
benefactor?”

“Korbin never told me a lot of things.”

They ducked into the hut where she had been
prepared for the ceremony and Ashton pulled her into his arms. “The
Perrlain have some bizarre ideas, but I think they got one thing
right. We need to live our lives to the fullest and cherish each
moment the Deity grants to us.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more.” She
pressed against him, savoring his heat and the tenderness so
evident in his expression. Her heart swelled with affection and
desire. “Tomorrow might belong to the revolution, but tonight
belongs to us.”