The Game (24 page)

“What do you hope to find?”

“Anything. Nothing. You never know.” Zac pulled a toothpick out of his pocket, stuck it between his lips and began to chew. “Can’t leave any stone unturned.” He shifted his burly body in the chair. “Seems to reason that your cousin and Miss Ambrose are connected, if not intimately—” he pinched the bridge of his bulbous nose before he gazed back at Seth, “—perhaps their relationship has something to do with her mother.”

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Even the little ounce of hope the detective offered, that no affair existed between Chastity and Josh, made Seth feel better. But why hadn’t Chastity told him about her mother? And why had she walked out on him without a single explanation?

Seth glanced at his watch, it glowed five o’clock. Three hours before the slave auction began. He had to stop Chastity from going through with it. The transport from Baccarac to Zygoman left in fifteen minutes. It took approximately two and half hours to travel from one planet to the other. He’d make it if he hurried.

“I’ve got to go.” Seth raced for the door. “Call me as soon as you find out anything.”

“You b—”

But the man’s words were cut off as the door slid shut. Heart racing, Seth’s feet pounded down the hall. Fortunately, he had met with Zac Lawrence in a conference room at the Transport Station. The loading platform was just around the corner. Seth was pissed that he’d had to leave Zygoman, instead of Zac coming to him. But they both agreed that a central meeting place was for the best. With a leap, Seth jumped aboard the conveyor. He barely took a seat in the lounge before the transport shifted into gear and lifted off.

The first beer went down with difficulty. His nerves were stretched tighter than the membrane on a drum. The second brewskie slid down easily as he began to relax. Seth wanted desperately to believe that Chastity loved him. Just the thought made his cock harden. He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and released the pent-up breath in his lungs.

God, her long legs, lithe body, succulent breasts, and oh, the treasures that lay between her thighs.

His erection jerked. He cupped a hand over it in an effort to quiet the wild thing, succeeding only in dredging up memories of Chastity’s hands caressing, her hot wet mouth licking and sucking, taking him deep between her cherry-ripe lips. His hips thrust and a breath caught in his throat.

His eyes popped open. “Ah, shit.” The damn place was crawling with people and here he was seconds away from jacking off.

Seth squeezed his legs together and inhaled deeply, but it didn’t help much. Because he knew once Chastity was in his arms again he would strip her naked, slowly, removing each article of clothing one piece at a time. He would speak of love with his eyes, his hands and his body. There would be no doubt in her mind after he branded her, drove his cock deep into her pussy, that she was his and his forever. His erection stood at full-mast.

“Fuck.” He leaped to his feet and began to pace. This was going to be the longest two and a half hours of his life.

A sonic boom exploded around him. The carrier bounced and Seth almost lost his footing as he grappled to stay upright. A couple of women began to scream, their 131

Mackenzie McKade

husbands attempting to calm them. A small child, maybe two, was crying as his fearful mother gently soothed him.

Chaos reigned until a teleporter entered. The tall, lanky man cleared his throat, a small sign of his own unease with the situation. “We have run into a meteor shower. It’s nothing to be concerned about. Please remain seated. If you need to move about the cabin, please be careful.”

Meteor shower? That was all Seth needed. He took a seat next to a window and peered out. Flying sparks and fragments pelted the transport. The banging against the hull was unnerving. At least he didn’t smell smoke or anything burning, and they
were
still in the air.

A yank on his sleeve brought Seth about. A small boy stared at him. “Are we going to die, mister?”

Seth scanned the room for a mother or father who might be looking for their son. Everyone seemed involved with someone else. It appeared the child was alone. Moisture glistened in the little boy’s eyes, tugging at Seth’s heart. He patted his thigh and the kid smiled, crawling into his lap. Seth brushed his hand soothingly over the child’s head. “Not today, little man. I’ve got something important to do.”

A man next to them grinned. “Hey, aren’t you—” he shook a long finger, “—

uh…Seth Allen?” He snapped his fingers. “Yeah, you’re Seth Allen.” He slapped his knee, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe his luck. “Kid, do you know you’re sitting on the lap of the 2104 Astral-ball Champion? Maybe even the greatest Astral-ball guard in the universe.”

The boy beamed up at Seth. “Really?”

Seth nodded.

The child leaped from his lap. “I’ve gotta tell Nanna.”

Seth’s brows dipped. He scanned the room again for someone looking for the boy.

“Where is your Nanna?”

“Bathroom.” And in a split second the boy was off.

“Charles Lacker. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Seth accepted the outstretched hand of the short man.

“Where you headed?”

Before Seth could answer, his tele-communicator rang. “Excuse me. I’ve been waiting for this call.” Seth lifted the receiver to his ear as the line crackled and popped.

“Zac, is that you?” Seth rose and on unsteady feet made his way from the lounge into the hallway, the ship’s tilt increasing the difficulty of walking. “Zac?”

“Mr. Allen—” The static increased. Seth moved further down the aisle. “Mr. Allen.”

“Go ahead, Zac, I can hear you now.” There was a long pause. “Dammit, Zac, talk to me.”

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“Mr. Allen, I’m afraid you’re not going to be happy with what I have to report.”

Dumbstruck, Seth listened to the unbelievable story Zac began to unravel. Several times it felt like his heart jumped into his throat. When the man finished and hung up, Seth released the breath he didn’t know he held.

Slowly, he snapped the tele-communicator closed, then quickly opened it and began to call Zygoman. Dead air greeted him.

This couldn’t be happening. He burst into the lounge, locating the telecommunicator near the bar. Jerking the receiver from the receptacle, he pressed it to his ear.

Again nothing.

Desperately, Seth yelled, “Does anyone’s tele-communicator work?” Immediately, phones were whipped out of pockets and purses, but each face staring back at him, each head shaking “no”, sent a chill through his bones.

He had to stop the slave auction.

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Chapter Thirteen

Tatiana held up a long evening gown that looked like it had been spun from gold.

“It’s a gift from Master Shawn.” A gleam of interest shone in the woman’s eyes. Chastity’s palm smoothed over its softness. “It’s beautiful.” She knew the clingy fabric would mold and caress every curve of her body. The long sleeves went past the wrists, ending in a point at the middle finger. Each sleeve had a small thread that would slip over a digit to keep it in place. With a high neckline, her body would be totally covered, except for the slit that traveled up her thigh, allowing a hint of skin to be displayed.

It was a dress of seduction. Show nothing—tell all.

“Apparently, since your Master isn’t here to choose your wardrobe for tonight, Master Shawn took it upon himself to supply you with this.” Tatiana held up heels that glistened. “And these.”

Chastity’s palm covered her mouth.

Glass slippers?

In this erotic fantasyland was she to be Cinderella? And if so, where was her Prince Charming?

She thought of Seth and the elation she had felt only moments ago disappeared. Tatiana laid the articles on the bed. “What’s wrong?”

Chastity shook her head and forced a weak smile. “Nothing. Will you help me into to that exquisite gown?”

It would do Chastity no good to want what she couldn’t have. Nor would it do any good to postpone the inevitable. Another man would share her bed tonight. Dressed, Chastity couldn’t remember when she’d felt more beautiful. Tatiana had pressed a special blend of lilac, henna and other unique ingredients that guaranteed to heighten arousal into her skin. The oil the woman had used made the dress slither across Chastity’s flesh, an erotic caress that kept her ardor at a slow burn. Chastity felt the flush of excitement between her thighs and shivered. Her skin felt stretched tight over her body, hypersensitive to every thread of fabric. This was almost as bad as Terrance’s chastity bell.

For a brief moment Chastity thought of masturbating. Of slipping her fingers along her swollen lips, dipping them into her wet pussy and stroking her clit to a climax, just to prove that the dress couldn’t withhold her orgasm like the bell had. Her breasts tingled. She cupped them in her hands, her eyelids closing as her fingers danced over her nipples, teasing and playing.

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When her eyes opened Tatiana was smiling. “Are you ready? Or do you need a minute or two, or three…?”

Chastity groaned. “As ready as I’m ever going to be.”

As she stepped out into the night, Chastity couldn’t help but appreciate the stars and the two crescent moons that seemed to spoon each other like lovers in the ebony sky. This planet was indeed a paradise.

Click. Click. Click. She listened to her heels striking the cobblestone path. Where was Seth? Had he left her for good? Would she never again feel his caress upon her breasts, his cock sliding in and out of her sex?

The dress was doing unusual things to Chastity. She swore she felt Seth’s touch, his mouth upon her breasts, sucking, licking and biting. Moisture pooled between her thighs and she trembled. She needed his body pressed to hers like she needed air to breathe. Without him she wasn’t whole, complete.

Passion Flower was standing at the entrance of the ballroom when Chastity arrived. The woman didn’t appear to be her usual calm self. Instead, she gave Chastity an uneasy smile and pushed open the doors.

When Chastity entered, a hush fell over the room. Then Tor appeared before her. The man who had humiliated her, pinched her nipple on stage in front of thousands of people, bowed and extended her his arm in a display of gallantry that sent her heart racing.

Frozen in place, she snapped her slack jaw closed when he raised her hand and placed it in the fold of his arm. Then he escorted her to the platform where the individuals to be auctioned stood.

To say she stood out like a sore thumb would be an understatement. Most wore the clothing of a slave. Some even had rags and chains on, to denote their stage in life. Still others wore the black leather trappings of bondage. A couple of women were decked out in baby-doll pajamas.

Among all the servitude Chastity felt like a princess.

As she looked about, the crowd split like the red sea parting, and then Shawn emerged. He smiled and she felt heat fan her face.

The man had said she would be a queen in his bed. And to all present he staked his claim, approaching her and drawing her out of line, to his side. In was a blatant act of possession. She was his. It was obvious to everyone in the room—except for Dawson.

Dawson slithered to their side. He pinned Shawn with a steely glare. “When does the bitch go up for bid?”

The smile faded from Shawn’s face, and his fingers clenched into fists. Before he could react, his brothers appeared out of thin air, restraining his arms. The low grating growl he released sent a shiver up Chastity’s spine. 135

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How could she have ever thought him a teddy bear? This man was as dangerous as either of his brothers. “Still waters,” Tatiana had said, but “silent and deadly” seemed more apropos.

“Due to her contract with Voyeur II, Miss Ambrose will not be auctioned tonight, or any night.” Shawn’s statement stunned Chastity, as well as his brothers. Their blank stares revealed that this was the first they’d heard of the arrangement.

“You’re fucking kidding,” Dawson blurted. His face reddened with such speed Chastity thought he might have a stroke. “I want the bitch.” Spittle sprayed from his mouth. “She’s mine. I have plans for her.”

In a slow deep voice, Shawn murmured, “Well, you can’t have her.”

Dawson took one more look at the three men before him. “We’ll see.” The avowal lingered on the air like a foul green cloud, before he spun on his toes. An eerie mien of danger and retaliation followed him out the door.

Breath gushed from Chastity’s lungs. She struggled to inhale. Shawn’s touch was gentle as he gave her arm a squeeze. “He can’t hurt you.”

Tor moved in between them. “I think we need to talk.”

Chastity felt small, insignificant, surrounded by the three large men. It didn’t help when Terrance frowned at her as if saying,
this is all your fault
.

“You’ve broken the contract with Voyeur II.” Terrance glared at Shawn, before he refocused his scorn in her direction.

“I don’t see it that way,” Shawn calmly replied.

Tor’s lashes swept his cheeks. He shook his head. “How do you see it, little brother?”

“If Dawson had won the bid, Miss Ambrose would be in danger. You know as well as I that the man is a son of a bitch. He already made one attempt to harm her.”

Tor and Terrance exchanged glances.

“When?” Tor asked, looking at Chastity for affirmation.

“A couple of days ago. He attacked me. Shawn and Tatiana stopped him before…”

Chastity’s words drifted off.

“I should have banished the man from the island the night of orientation,” Tor grumbled through gritted teeth. He exhaled making a whooshing sound. “What’s done is done. But I want the bastard watched.” He pinned both brothers with a glare. “Any more infractions I will personally toss his sorry ass out of here—no matter how influential he is.”

Exasperated, Terrance ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck, little brother, you’ve got us in a heap of trouble with Dawson, Voyeur II, not to mention Allen when he returns.”