Mercenaries

RUNE’S rich baritone rolled over the docking deck as every man and woman who could get off duty stood listening. When the last notes faded, the crowd broke into whistling applause. Cassidy smiled indulgently at the flush of pleasure on his face as he bowed.

Just about the entire crew of the Starrunner had assembled on the launch deck. It was the only place on the ship big enough for a gathering that size, and it was still packed.

Everyone was in a good mood, too, judging by the yells encouraging Rune to sing another song. With a grin, he allowed himself to be convinced.

“All that and gorgeous, too,” Trin sighed in Cassidy’s ear as he launched into the next song. “It’s really not fair.”

“I’ll bet I can guess what the others are,” Zaria said, plucking a canapé from a tray carried by a passing robot. She bit into it and moaned at the flavor. “Food that didn’t come from a ration pack. Yum. Your work, Trin?”

Trinity shrugged. “Some of it’s mine, some of it is a gift from the New Galvastonians.” She’d taken over the hydroponics department after discovering that the crewman in charge had no idea what he was doing. Experienced farmer that she was, she’d soon had it producing fresh fruits and vegetables that were a hit with the crew. “The president sent his personal chef up with a transport full of goodies.”

As the robot looped around her on its floaters, Cassidy filched something colorful and exotic from its tray. “Judging from this and the victory bonus they paid, the Galvastonians must be pretty happy with us.”

“A lot more so than the Kalistans are with the Dharani, anyway.” Trinity’s smile was brightly nasty. “I understand all the Tribeships are headed for Kalista. Apparently somebody tried to stiff somebody.”

“I hope the Tribeships kick their asses,” Zaria said. “Serves the greedy bastards right for invading in the first place.”

The three women had become quite close since Trin and Zaria had joined the Starruner’s crew. Cassidy was glad to see both of them had settled in well. Sebastian, as executive officer, had quickly put Zaria’s genius for organization to good use. Cassidy suspected it wouldn’t be long before Captain August made her quartermaster.

Her attention wandered back to Rune as the crowd broke into whistles and cheers. She only hoped he settled in as easily as her friends had.

Of course, the Starruner was a mercenary vessel, and mercs were used to being enemies with people they later fought beside. She suspected the rest of the crew would come to appreciate and trust Rune quickly enough. Particularly since he’d gained the captain’s seal of approval, not to mention a spot in the fighter wing.

CASSIDY keyed open her quarters, and she and Rune reeled inside. He promptly pulled her into his arms. “That was . . . an interesting party.”

“There was certainly a lot of newlywed cooing going on,” Cassidy said, stepping full against him and hooking her hands behind his neck. “When the women weren’t teasing me about my handsome captive.”

“Kiss me, Captive.” She rose on her toes and took his lips. His mouth was silken, soft, a delicious contrast to the ridges and hollows of his hard body. The hands around her waist tightened. They both groaned.

Rune sent his tongue questing delicately between her lips, tasting her, and she swirled her own around it. He cupped her backside, gave it a gentle squeeze, stroked. She angled her head and closed her teeth gently over his lower lip in a teasing bite. The fingers caressing her butt tightened, pulling her against the erection swelling behind the fly of his unisuit. Unable to resist, she rolled her hips as their tongues dueled gently, gliding and retreating in sweet carnality.

When they finally broke the kiss, both were breathing hard. He rested his forehead against hers, panting. His free hand rose to cup her breast. Squeeze. Stroke.

Rune went still except for a sudden inhalation. When he lifted his head, there was a surprising vulnerability in those pale eyes. “Are you sure?”

He cupped the side of her face with long, warm fingers. “I know you feel . . . grateful for what I did. Shielding you. Going with you. But—”

“This isn’t gratitude, Rune.” He wants reassurance, she realized, startled. This big, powerful warrior felt as vulnerable as she did. She rested both hands on his chest. The warm muscle flexed nervously under her hands. “I’ve fought beside men all my life,” Cassidy told him softly. “One or two of them has saved my life. But I never felt about any of them the way I do about you.”

“I love you.” His voice was low, rough. “Finding you was like discovering something that had always been missing from my soul. It’s just . . . right.”

This time when she kissed him, he pulled her off her feet. With a moan Cassidy coiled her legs around his waist as he turned with her, stepped to the bed. They tumbled to the gel mattress with a soft plop, then promptly began pulling at the seals of each other’s uniforms.

Something tore. Cassidy didn’t care, too intent on getting at Rune’s warm skin. Her boot hit the wall with a thump. He wrestled the other off her foot, then gave it a toss. Pulled her suit the rest of the way down her legs. Stood just long enough to push his own uniform past his hips. His cock sprang out at her, bobbing and flushed with heat.

She sat up and reached for it, closing her fingers around its warm satin width, smiling at his groan of pleasure.

Rune caught his breath as she opened her mouth and took him in, swirling her tongue over the head. “Oh, no,” he muttered, pushing her back and catching her behind the knees. Spreading them. “My turn.”

A moment later they had themselves arranged—Rune on his back with Cassidy straddling his face while she slid his length into her mouth. The sensations he created with the first wickedly skillful stroke of his tongue sent jolts of feral pleasure up her spine.

She tried to distract herself with the hot, smooth length of his cock, swirling her tongue over the velvet head. He groaned against her sex. Purring, she started feeding his length into her mouth, intent on working him completely down her throat.

But Rune was every bit as skillful as she was, as he demonstrated with swirling tongue flicks that soon had her squirming. A strong finger found her sex, slid inside for a slow, deep thrust. Cassidy moaned. Let go long of his cock enough to pant.

Eyes narrowing, she swooped her head down and engulfed him, feeding him completely down her throat. This time it was his turn to groan.

Then he slid a finger up her backside and chuckled at her gasp. Pumped his hand. She almost choked on his cock at the darkly carnal sensation.

Panting, she drew back and released him. Looking over her shoulder at his masculine grin, she gave him a mock glower. “Are you challenging me?”

Then they attacked each other. Lips and tongues and teeth, caressing, sucking, and biting. Hands cupping, fingers stroking. Soon every nerve in Cassidy’s body was quivering in time with Rune’s deep pants.

The next thing she knew, he’d tumbled her onto her back. She spread her thighs wide as he pounced, bracing one hand beside her shoulder as he aimed his cock for her wet sex. His first stroke tore a groan from her lips. She wrapped her legs around his waist and rolled her hips up at him.

Rune bent his head to rake his teeth gently over her nipple. “Ohhh, yeah,” she purred, her eyes shuttering in bliss. She threaded her fingers into his short, dark hair and held him close as he licked and played, thrusting slowly, sweetly.

Finally he looked up at her, his eyes blazing. “You taste so good.” Driving in a deep, hard lunge that made her gasp, he groaned. “You feel so good.”

“Mmm. So do you.” She ground up at him, enjoying the way his cock shuttled in and out of her slick core, filling her so deeply, so completely. Clinging to his broad shoulders, she stared up into his face, watching pleasure close its grip on him, tighter and tighter with every sweet entry. A flush rose over the brutal cheekbones, and his lips parted.

But there was more than lust in his glittering gaze. Tenderness softened his hard features as he looked down at her. The love there was so pure, so intense, that it took her breath.

Until at last he threw back his head with a shout, driving all the way to the balls in her, grinding deliciously down on her clit. Her orgasm rose in a sudden hot wave and swept her away with a frenzied cry of completion.

Finally Rune collapsed over her, and Cassidy wrapped her trembling arms around his sweat-slicked shoulders. With a groan, he rolled over, tumbling her with him.

Panting, her senses still shimmering from the aftermath, she lay draped across his muscled torso, listening to him breathe. She felt sweetly dazzled, sated.

Long moments passed before she felt capable of speech or thought. Unfortunately, the first thought that occurred to her was a worry.

Stroking her fingertips through his dark chest hair, she said, “You’ve given up a lot for me. Your people, your home. I hope you won’t regret it.”

His chuckle vibrated against her cheek. “Oh, believe me, love—I won’t. Especially not if you keep rewarding me like this.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about me regretting my choice, Cassidy. That party today . . .” He hesitated, his gaze going distant. “There was such warmth between your crewmates, a sense of camaraderie. It brought home to me how little of that I knew on the Conquest. We were too busy guarding our honor and our thoughts. Jockeying for advancement, fighting duels to prove our skill and worthiness. I could never drop my guard, not even with my Wing Brothers. Any sign of weakness would be instantly seized and turned against me.”

He stroked a hand through her long, tangled hair. “I think that’s why I was so determined to capture you. I wanted someone in my life I could love without fear of being met with contempt.”

Cassidy smiled slightly. “Believe me, Rune—the last thing I feel for you is contempt.” She let the smile bloom into a grin as she sat up to straddle him, contemplating his stirring cock. “Now, lust, on the other hand . . .” She stared into his eyes. “Marry me.” The question was an impulse, but she meant every word.