Second Chance (12 page)

58 Second Chance

Chapter Eight

Laci had no idea where they were or how they had accomplished it, but the Norik had a large planet all to themselves. A shuttle took them down to the single spaceport on the planet. She had seen enough, heard enough on their walk through the complex of buildings to know that this was the home base of the Norik and if there were other people here, they had very little power.

A mixture of anger and frustration raged through her. Her plans, which she’d refined over the last few days, were wasted, destroyed by this discovery. No matter how hard she tried or what method she used, she wouldn’t be able to leave this planet without those two large Norik at her side—or at least with their express permission.

Their home wasn’t even near the space port. They had a small planetary hover-shuttle and Darion piloted it as they left the port. The men’s home was isolated, surrounded by forest. It was the only dwelling that Laci could see in the immediate area. It was a large building—it seemed much too large for only two men. Perhaps there was another Norik or two who shared the building with them.

Alek caught her staring at the large, pale gray, unadorned building as the shuttle swept around in a wide arc before landing. Architecturally, it was simple. It was rectangular and two-storied.

“We’re on the
Chimau
so much, surrounded by others, that we like to have a little privacy when we are here.” Alek studied her green eyes. “I appreciate it more now that you’re with us. We don’t have to confine ourselves to a single room now. We have the house and the forest around it to fully enjoy your charms.” He reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “Your eyes are so expressive.”

“The only thing you confined to your quarters was the actual act.” Laci’s narrow-eyed disbelieving look had no effect. “Most of the time when you took me out of the room, I returned minus my top and very aroused. You thought nothing of one of you finger-fucking me with a small table shielding your actions while the other one played with my breasts.”

“Yes, it was very frustrating to have to restrict ourselves.” Darion widened his stance. Laci watched his hand move to his belt and then she noticed his hard cock pressing against his black pants. “You have no idea how much we wanted to have you across that table you mentioned.”

They had deliberately missed her point. The table had shielded only the visual details of what they had been doing. There had been no way Laci could hide her reactions. She had moaned and writhed, begging for release at times.

The men at the tables around them had known what was happening. At first, she’d been embarrassed and excited by it at the same time. Later, it had become the norm, but

59 Rebecca Airies

no less exciting. She’d soon realized that the other men found nothing special about seeing a woman without her top or seeing a man nibbling at her breasts.

The landing on the small pad near the house was smooth. They disembarked from the shuttle in companionable silence. Alek and Darion each carried large bags as they ushered her along the tree and bush-lined path toward the building.

“Do you live here alone?” Laci eyed the surrounding forest. Conical, green-leaved
sarlich
trees towered above the shorter, round-topped, purple-leaved
nachi
trees. The sweet scent of the
timasu
drifted to her and she knew that there were vines somewhere in the area.

“Of course,” Alek frowned. “Why would you think anyone else would live here?”

“It’s a large building for just two people.” Laci gestured to the large edifice they approached. The base which housed the ninety women she had worked with was smaller than that house.

“We have always liked to have space, freedom to move.” Darion shrugged. “I am sure that we will enjoy it more now that you are here with us.” The leer on his face implied very definite plans for how to enjoy this extra space. “I intend to make love with you in each of these rooms before we return to the
Chimau
.”

They opened the door and the lights in the entrance came on at the same time. The furnishings were minimal. Darion and Alek led her through the wide entrance hallway. To the right, double doors gave entrance to a large room with cream-colored walls, a couch, two chairs and colorful rugs on the glossy gray floor. The door to the left was shut. She saw staircases on both sides of the corridor. The hall led to a formal dining room with a large, elegant dining table. The dark wood of the table gleamed with a fresh coat of polish and at least twenty chairs surrounded it.

“You use this?” Laci asked.

“Only on occasions when we have guests,” Alek revealed. His hand brushed across her back. “We use the smaller, more intimate dining room when there are no more than six here.”

“You said no one else lived here. You cook for yourselves and clean this place?” Laci raised her eyebrows. That she hadn’t expected to hear.

“When it is just us, yes,” Alek laughed at her incredulous expression. “You think that we want servants to cater to our every whim? As I said, we like our privacy. Having someone here to clean and cook for us would not allow us that. Do you not cook and clean for yourself?”

“Well, yes,” Laci knew no other way. The Norik, however, had more resources—and they were men. She just couldn’t see Darion or Alek sweeping a floor. “It’s just that the Norik seem so much more established than my group is.”

“We may be more established, but we have our priorities.” Darion’s firm voice held a teasing inflection. “Come see the bedroom. I want you again.”

60 Second Chance

Although she fought it, Laci knew that she was going to dream of Satira’s life. She recognized the feel of the dream even as she slipped into it.

Satira walked into a large, busy campsite. Many tan tents—all very advanced in design and material—surrounded a central work area. The faces of the people in that camp showed no surprise at her entrance. Satira smiled as she sidled up to one of the men in light green clothing.

He was as tall as she was and his brown hair and pale face looked greasy. She pressed her body against his as her hand boldly stroked his cloth-covered erection. The man’s smile was cold, the look in his eyes calculating as he studied Satira. He lifted his hand and dangling from his fingers was a small packet, which he swung in front of her face. Satira dropped to her knees.

Laci stirred, wanting to wake up, but once again fell into her dream.

Satira lay under that man as he thrust into her. She was wild, her body writhing and twisting, crying out as she climaxed. Satira got to her feet as soon as he rolled off her.

“I have to go. Rionis and Aleksin will return soon,” Satira whispered, her voice tremulous.

“If all goes well, we won’t have to limit our time together soon, my Tira,” the man said, but the look in his eyes belied those promising words.

There was a flash and a scene change, Laci struggled toward consciousness, but fell back into deep sleep.

Satira sat in the small cell. Misery, regret and anger swirled within her mind as she recalled what she had done. Satira’s body was shaking. Pain was a constant companion now. Her lover had betrayed her. Although she appeared calm, Satira’s anger was boiling. She wouldn’t take his abandonment with a smile as she had taken the poison he’d fed her. She would make him pay for his treachery.

When the guards came for her, Satira went with them. She was calm as they took her to a stark, white lab. Computers hummed on desks and machines whirred as they analyzed samples. Cuffs at her wrists restrained her and the guards held stunner-sticks to discourage any thoughts of attack.

Satira could see the man who’d been her lover across the room and couldn’t believe her stupidity. This was the man whom she’d betrayed her people for. No, Satira corrected herself. It hadn’t been for him. It had been for those little white tablets he’d given her with such regularity, until he had all of her people and no longer needed her.

“You can go,” The thin, narrow-eyed man told the guards with supreme confidence. “This little animal will behave.”

The two guards gave the man a dubious look but left.

“Come here,” The man ordered.

Satira stalked closer to him. When she was a mere step a way from him, she sprang. The chain at her wrists served as a garrote as she landed behind him. She tightened the chain around his neck. His hands came up to the chain as she pulled. He couldn’t make a sound. Satira heard a crunch but continued to pull on the chain, even when he sagged to the floor. She stopped only when she was certain he was dead. Satira pulled the chain from under his head. She couldn’t change what she’d done, but she could see that her people were free of this torment. She took the man’s ID badge.

61 Rebecca Airies

She swiped the badge at one of the computers and entered a command. She moved to the wall and pushed on one of the small squares, then moved down the hallway at a fast run. The lights began to flash, and her sensitive eyes couldn’t adjust to the constantly changing levels of light. Blinded, she ran into the door and stumbled forward as it swung open. She hit the railing…

* * * * *

Laci sat up with a gasp. Her eyes sought the two men sleeping beside her. After the revelations of the dreams, she wondered how they could even stand to look at her. Satira had been the reason for their imprisonment.

She looked to her left at Darion and then to her right at Alek. They both appeared to be sleeping soundly, which was surprising. Most of the time, they were both awakened by her thrashing during a nightmare. She almost wished that they were awake. She felt sick inside and didn’t know what to do. From the looks and manner of those on the ship, she’d known Satira hadn’t been trustworthy. She’d suspected that Satira had told a few lies. That, she could have overcome, gained their trust. She had never imagined anything like this.

Careful not to wake them, Laci crawled down the middle of the large bed. She cautiously climbed over the blue and green blanket which was bunched at the bottom of the bed. She needed some time to think. Without a doubt, she would wake one or both of them if she stayed here. She wanted to be held, and if she stayed, she would give in to the urge to cuddle up against one of them.

* * * * *

Alek watched as Laci quietly left the room. He’d awakened when she had begun tossing and whimpering in the grip of her nightmares. He frowned. Where did she think she was going? She knew that there was no way that she could escape. He’d seen the acceptance in her eyes when they had landed on Mevaea. She wasn’t going to try to leave them.

Alek stood and looked back over his shoulder to Darion. Darion merely raised his brows, pulled the pillows up and piled them against the high, wooden headboard. He lounged back against them, completely at ease. “I’ll come after you if you don’t return with her soon,” he offered from his relaxed position.

“If I return alone, you know that she’s gone outside and not just a step or two.” Alek lifted his eyebrows at Darion’s apparent confidence. “Then you can get out of the nice warm bed and come help me.”

Darion laughed softly and closed his eyes.

They both knew she was still in the house. She’d only gone downstairs. Her movement had stopped in a room almost right below them. She had apparently wanted some time alone. Alek hoped she’d had enough, because anything that drove her from

62 Second Chance

their bed was cause for concern.

Alek didn’t bother with clothing. He went after her as he was, going down the stairs and into the hallway. He pressed the pad next to the door and stepped into the room. Laci was sitting on a black couch in the small study, her knees pulled up to her chest, her head laid on top of them. Alek stood helplessly and watched her curled in that position, her shoulders hunched, looking so lost and alone. He hated to see her in any kind of pain. She lifted her head and looked back over her shoulder. He could see the sheen of tears in her eyes and on her face.

“How can you look at me like that?” Laci drew in a shaky breath and stared across the room at the dark surface of the large desk. She should have known they would wake up and miss her, but she wasn’t ready to face them. Everything was still raw and painful. Right now, she hated that woman and everything she had done.

She could see no hatred or blame in Alek’s golden eyes. He only looked concerned. He was naked, his red hair mussed from sleep, and impossibly sexy. She knew her nose was red, her eyes puffy and reddened and wished she looked better for him. She definitely cared what Alek and Darion thought of her now.

“Look at you how?” Alek strode forward to stand near the couch on one of the colorful rugs placed around the room. He reached out to brush his hand over her shoulder, but let it drop to his side when she flinched from his touch.

“How can you look at me with anything other than loathing?” She hated what Satira had done and she hadn’t even been there. It made little difference to her that, in the end, the woman had sought to try to make everything right.

Alek frowned, confused. “Why would we hate you?”

“I have her face, her body. I’m not a relative. I am
her
—a clone of her. After what she did, how—”

Alek grasped her shoulders and drew her to her feet. “You aren’t her. You’ve said it yourself. Genetically, you’re identical, but you couldn’t be more different from her if you tried.”

“Alek,” she whispered. She wished she could believe him, but that woman was her.

“Satira had her problems long before we met her. She was addicted to those drugs the scientists gave her. As we said, she was a woman of our time. The way she was raised was different from the generations that went before.
Be’rai
, don’t look like that. You’re not responsible for anything she did.”

“She had a lover, even after you were bonded!” Laci blurted. She opened her mouth to go on with her list of Satira’s offenses, but his fingers settled across her lips in soft rebuke. How could the woman have done that when she had two men devoted to her?

“We knew. His scent clung to her at times. We knew from the first time we met her that she didn’t want to marry two men. She hated that she was tied to us, couldn’t handle what that meant.” Alek sat down on the couch and pulled her onto his lap. He held her close.